Move has two meanings. One is of course referring to the the act of moving, physically going towards a specified direction. The other, refers to a change or development. Personally, this year was a year of moving and being moved, in both senses of the word. The year had seen me move to a new … Continue reading The Year We Moved
Home
We all have reasonsfor moving… What is home? To me, home is the sweet, inviting smell of asam pedas wafting from the kitchen to fill the living room. Home is waking up to my parents talking over breakfast at the cosy kitchen table; ten pieces of prata on a plate for everyone to share. Home … Continue reading Home
The Day I Became a Mother
Every mother has her birth story. Here’s mine, one year later. It also happens to be the week the world celebrates Mother’s Day, so here are my thoughts slish-sloshing and pouring out into what I hope are coherent words. Sharing this to document a milestone, a memory, as I try to make sense of the … Continue reading The Day I Became a Mother
The Year of Running, Rebirthing, & a Divine kind of Relying
Someone once defined tawakkul as a blind reliance or trust in God. I think 'blind' isn't the right word to use to describe the concept of relying on our Lord. Tawakkul requires awareness, effort and hard work on our part before allowing God to move the pieces to where it's meant to be. We are … Continue reading The Year of Running, Rebirthing, & a Divine kind of Relying
Building Our Boats
why does it always come as a shock when we know that death is the only certainty? perhaps life is designed in a way that drowns us and makes us forget that we are only here for a moment. that our bodies are but fleeting casing our souls that are permanent. so when someone disappears … Continue reading Building Our Boats
What Cools Your Eyes?
I was moved to tears after watching Yaqeen Institute's Episode 7 of Attaching to Allah series, where Imam Omar Suleiman discussed with the panel on what do we define as 'coolness of the eyes'. The meaning is so incredibly poignant and profound if we ponder deeply. وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ … Continue reading What Cools Your Eyes?
A Moving Sea between the Shores of our Souls
Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let … Continue reading A Moving Sea between the Shores of our Souls
To Live in the Fullness of Every Day
We are at the tail end of yet another year and I am moved to pick up my pen to write and reflect on the lessons the year has taught me. I guess you could call it a personal yearly tradition. At any point I find myself feeling a sort of overwhelm and helplessness amidst … Continue reading To Live in the Fullness of Every Day
Your Love is On Reserve: How to Find Love in a Bookshop
It's a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman past her twenties and in possession of a stable career, good degree, decent looks and fine manners must be in want of no man... who doesn't deserve her, obviously. See, I'm tired of the 'smart girls stay single', or 'girls like you intimidate men', 'we don't … Continue reading Your Love is On Reserve: How to Find Love in a Bookshop
An Ode to My Favourite Bookshop
I can't recall the first time I was acquainted with your space. Was it with a friend? Or alone? Either way, you feel like home. The paperbacks, hardcovers, pocket books and tomes are enough to accompany my languid afternoons flaneuring down Bussorah Street. All my friends know I can't leave the precinct without paying you … Continue reading An Ode to My Favourite Bookshop