It seems like Ramadhan is often misunderstood or simply arrives unnoticed by many. The fact that Ramadhan is conveniently associated with "the month of no eating and hipster food at bazaars" to most of my non-Muslim friends (and unfortunately even some of us Muslims to), alerts me to the paucity of awareness on the blessed month all Muslims around … Continue reading Yes, Not Even Water
Tag: thoughts
The Month of Qur’an
"Don't think of it as the month of fasting, think of it as the month of Qur'an." And so my perspective changed tremendously thenceforth after watching NAK's lecture on Ramadhan a year ago. This year, I am embarking on a self-imposed 30-day reading challenge, a de-tech and detach from social media challenge, & some personal goals that … Continue reading The Month of Qur’an
The One About Love, Relationships & All That Jazz
I try to not talk about this topic, mainly because I do not want to partake in the already prevalent discussions online & offline on this thing called love (and partly because my opinion may be an unpopular one). But I guess it's inevitable, no matter how meticulously I've tried to skirt around it. So here's my two cents... … Continue reading The One About Love, Relationships & All That Jazz
Quiet Mornings
On the 30th of January 2016, exactly one year ago, Quiet Mornings saw the world. My friend, Cherilyn, and I, launched our debut self-published poetry book. Both of us have been working on this project together quietly for the past year and a half. The entire process took more than that, but it was worth the wait. … Continue reading Quiet Mornings
A Page off My Journal
So that was it. The end of non-fiction class. The funnest class out of all other classes I'm taking this semester. Also the only class that isn't my major. Hopefully I'll get to do poetry and advanced creative writing next semester and file at as a minor. Funny how I enjoy my electives more than … Continue reading A Page off My Journal
Reflecting on 2016
If 2015 was punctuated with endings, loss & leaving, this year was the complete opposite - beginnings, gaining & an enlightening rediscovery of love. Publishing a collaborative poetry book project which was once a mere sliver of an idea, embarking on a calling, & the opportunity to be invited again to where light is... it'd be … Continue reading Reflecting on 2016
My Mom Told Me to Never Take My Crown Away
A friend once asked me, "So Humairah, what's your hijab story?" Almost every Muslim woman I know who dons the hijab would have their personal 'hijab story', which is basically a turning point in their lives which made them decide to don the headscarf for the first time, an obligation we Muslim women need to fulfill in obeying God. So I told her … Continue reading My Mom Told Me to Never Take My Crown Away
Singapore Writers Festival 2016
It's that time of the year again when my weekends and days are book-ed at the Singapore Writers Festival! The theme this year? Sayang - an untranslatable Malay word capturing pragmatically both love and loss in a single expression. I missed out on some interesting programmes due to many overlapping schedules. Nonetheless, here are the notable panels I managed to catch: Story … Continue reading Singapore Writers Festival 2016
A Letter to My Fifteen-Year Old Self
Dear you, I know there are days when you doubt yourself. Days when you wished you were prettier, smarter, funnier. When you're exhausted from everyone's expectations. Listen: you are enough. Shut out your doubts. Learn to build your confidence and quieten them down. You are the most intelligent, beautiful, hilarious, never-to-be-repeated person the world will … Continue reading A Letter to My Fifteen-Year Old Self
This Life is Temporary
I've been thinking about what Muhammad Ali said during one of his interviews. A boy asked him what he'd do after he retires from boxing. He did a breakdown of the years - most of the hours we have we'd spend it on sleeping, schooling, commuting, so whatever time we have left, that's the amount … Continue reading This Life is Temporary
The Book Jacket 