Bosnia 2015

Assalamualaikum, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

All praise to Him, the Ruler of the World, and salawah upon Beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

I went to Balkans area. One of my destination was Bosnia-Herzegovina. This time, I travel to a place where Islam came and the people accept it. The country has so many potential to be one of the great Islamic country, yet so many tragedies happened to the region.

Sarajevo has faced so many wars and death. If you go there, you can see a lot of graveyard across the city. From the Ottoman empire to Austro-Hungarian empire, and the break up of Kingdom of Yugoslavia, so many people had died.

First world war started in Sarajevo. The heir to the throne was killed in the city. That was one of the bloody tragedy. So many people were involved in the war, and so many lost their loved ones.

During the break up of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1991, the Sarajevo was surrounded by Serbian army. So many people fled to neighbouring countries, like Montenegro, German and others. The situation was so dire that nobody was able go out the street, neither the children can play football at the field.

Nejla, one of the friends I made in Sarajevo told me the dark stories. She was born in the era, lost a lot of relatives during the period. Her family escape to Montenegro for shelter as the city was very dangerous to live in. Nejla told me the conflict between Muslims and Christians in Bosnia nowadays, that much resemble a civil war in modern world.

War Memorial of Children Sarajevo

I visited the monument erected for the memorial of the lost during the period. It was such a sad moment that people killed each other because of their differences. I went to yellow fortress up on a hill to see the whole city and to my view, I saw a lot of gravestone, spread over the city, the martyr of the fallen people during the war.

Near yellow fortress

City of Sarajevo during the night

Nejla and her friends were so friendly. The first time I came to Sarajevo, I was treated with Pita and cookies, a Bosnian specialty. Its shaped like a pie but tasted like our murtabak, but you can choose the fillings, either meat, potato or vegetables. I like it very much. I also had Cevapi, which looks like kebab. Eat it while you hungry and it is so delicious. Also, I met Mr Shahril Kadir, a solo traveller from Malaysia. We talked a lot about our trip and he treated me with Burek. Alhamdulillah rezeki.

Pita, I will miss this.

Something I had, which also very delicious. I think it's called Bosanski Lonac.

Cevapi

In Mostar, one of the city that badly attacked during the war I met Sumija. We talked about a lot of things, from the country condition to the people. They (the Muslims) also having a conflict with Croats people. Sumija and her family fled to Koln for shelter during the war. She was very nice. She helped with car rental & breakfast. If I got the time in future, I will come to visit Sumija and Nejla. Insya-Allah.

The famous Mostar bridge, Stari Most.

I met Mr Mustafa during my visit to Tekija, Blagaj. Though he doesn't speak English, but luckily I can understand a bit of German. He told me the story of the Tekija. Also, I met two traveller from Thailand and a group of chinese Malaysian who were so kind to offer me a ride to Montenegro.

Tekija, Blagaj.

I really like Bosnia. The food was good. The people were nice, though some people were nice to you because you have money. And also they have a lot of Masjids almost everywhere. I really miss the sound of azan 5 times daily and the feeling for jamaah prayer in proper Masjid.

Masjid in Mostar

 Masjid in Pocitelj

Masjid in Bascarsija

One regret from my trip was I didn't spend enough time in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I will come again to Bosnia, to learn about their culture, people and food. I met a lot of people that helped me and gave me advices and tips for travel. Alhamdulillah. Insya-Allah I am planning for future trip to this beautiful places.

"O Allah, give the people I met during my journey a lot of baraqah and rezeki. Guide us to righteous and take us to Your Jannah."

Illaliqa'. Wassalam.

Easter 2015: French Riviera

Assalamualaikum, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

All praise to Him, the God of this world, and salawah upon the Last Messenger Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

I went to Nice, French Riviera. It was hot and nice place. I met a Korean girl, who was very nice showing me around Monaco. She is a traveller too and I am glad I joined her for the day.

What I found in Nice was there were a lot of Muslim community over there. Halal food wasn't that hard to find. Alhamdulillah.

While I was in Cannes, I received the news that my flight home was cancelled due to air-traffic controller strike. A lot of flights were affected and mine was the worst case of all.

I remained calm and tried to get hold of internet for the next bound to London. As I went to the train station to take the first train back to Nice, there was and incident where bomb threat, caused many trains to cancelled.

Incident happened one after another. It was really bad evening. Alhamdulillah everything gone well in the end. I asked myself, if this is a fate of God, to let me spend more days in Nice, there must something behind it. I started to wonder around the city for clues and hopeful insight.

What I found was, despite the great life in the city, I saw poverty behind it. A lot of people were begging for money, to keep their stomach fill. A small boy approached me, asking for money, as if he was trained to do so, every single day.

I was a bit sad to see such situations. The poors were ignored, less treated as a human being. I can't blame every person who ignored them by the street. Once, I walked pass an old lady by the market, I had a mixed feeling. I returned, I emptied the last coins in my pocket, in hope it can help her buy some food.

Sometimes we see the bright of a place that we went. But we failed to see the dark sight, not until we truly explore around. I always asked myself when I set for an adventure, whether I want to be a tourist, who capture beautiful pictures, taste different food, or be a traveller, who try to engage with the local culture and comprehend them.

I choose both. The time on this world is limited, I want to fully used the chance that Allah gave to me to its fullest. I want to learn about the country, its culture(people and food), the history and say my prayer every time I amazed.

I rarely buy any new stuff like my friends used to do, not until I really need it. I cooked almost everyday, not because I cheepskate, but I want to save for travelling. I tracked down every single penny I spent since years ago, so that I can make a budget and eliminate whats not needed.

I'm sure many people can go travelling, if they have their own ways to save.

"O Allah, thanks for every moments You bestowed upon me. I am really grateful to You to give me a lot lf chances to go out, to see Your beautiful world. I believed You have a good plan for me ahead, please direct me towards a better Muslim and don't let me walk astray from Your righteous path."

Illaliqa'. Wassalam. :)

Healing wound

Assalamualaikum, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

All praise to Him, the Creator of this beautiful world, and Salawah upon the Last Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

How do we want the wound to heal, if we don't stop the bleeding?

Same with human,

How do we want to improve ourselves, if we don't stop the sinning?

Think and ponder. Clock's ticking. Our lives are short, but more than enough.

Why? Because He created us. He knows what we don't.

get up this instance. you'll know how awesome you'll be when you are closer to The Creator. Away from the smelly sins.

Illaliqa. Wassalam.

How Friendship Breaks?

Assalamualaikum, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

All praise to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds,

and peace and prayer be upon the Final Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

HOW FRIENDSHIP BREAK?

Both Friends Will Think The Other Is Busy

And Will Not Contact

Thinking It May Be Disturbing...

As Time Passes

Both Will Think

Let The Other Contact

After That Each Will Think

Why I Should Contact First?

Here Your Love Will Be Converted To Hate

Finally Without Contact

The Memory Becomes Weak

They Forget Each Other

So Keep In Touch With All

And Pass This Message To All Your Friends

I Don't Want To Be One of This Kind

So, Here I Am Sending Mail To Everyone

Just To Say

Buddy

I Am Fine

Please Keep In Touch

Have A Nice Day. :)

"Believers are each other's brothers. Restore peace among your brothers. Have fear of God so that perhaps you will receive mercy."

(49:10)

"O Allah, surely You are the One who fills us with lots of loves, towards family and friends. I hereby beg You, my only Lord, to maintain this pure and sweet warm feelings among us, so that we will not forget and mock each other. Upon You I leave my love ones and bless us in what we are doing whatsoever."

Illaliqa. Waalaikumussalam

Life is Tough

Assalamualaikum, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

All praise to Allah, the Supreme Ruler of the world, and salawah upon Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

Have you guys experienced hardship, to the point of breakdown? Well, personally, i did. Last two weeks were quite tough for me. So many challenges happened back then. I lost my watch, the one my mom gave me. Then, my computer was broken, the one also from my mom, right before I need to submit an assignment. My iPhone strangely switch off by itself, constantly, which also was given by my mom. And the list goes on.

harith, don't overreating. :P

I don't know why, but everything related to mom, seems to lose, one by one. I hope there's no hidden meaning behind this tragedy. Back then in Malaysia, I used to ask my mom for almost everything. "Mom, I need to upgrade my laptop", "Mom, can I have this and that", and stuff. Here, of course thousand miles away is a barrier. I have to independently sought out for solutions of these life-threatening problems. It feels like the end of the world, when everything went wrong. But, alhamdulillah, I have Allah to watch over me, watch my back, and my future as I walk this path of a strange world.

It's not like I never solve my problems myself before, it's just that, being here, far away from my family reminds me how important their support is. I have to spend in about £900 just for a new laptop, so that I can start to make my report, and hey this is how I updated the blog :). Because of that, I'm at the edge of broke. I need to save up for my spain winter trip. :)

I want to become stronger, independant, and mature in every angle. I want to deepen my knowledge, thinking skill, decision making action and life skill, somewhat cooking skills. :P I want to be useful to the world, not how useful the world is to you. I want to be a part of renaissance of Islam. Because that's what we were promised. We will rise, and win. In shaa Allah.

My very precious friend used to say:

"I want to become rich, so that I need not to beg to anyone else except the God Himself."

I just talked to my mom over the phone. It relieved all this stressed. Sometimes the far away ones are the most comforting in your life. :)

I found this hadith during my sight-seeing in Sheffield last week:

On the authority of Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with both of them, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) took hold of my shoulder and said, ‘Be in the world as if you were a stranger or a traveller along the path.” And ibn Umar would say, “If you survive till late afternoon, do not expect [to be alive in] the morning. If you survive till morning, do not expect [to be alive in] the late afternoon. Take from your health before your sickness and your life before you death.”(Recorded in al-Bukhari)

This hadith reminded me of how near the death with us. And we should have appreciate every moment Allah blessed us upon. :)

Illaliqa'. Wassalam.

Sometimes the sweetest apple is at the top of the tree.

Assalamualaikum, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

All praise to Him, the Supreme Ruler of this world, and salawah upon Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

"Being a Muslim is not only showing others a good example, but also SMILE during the hard time."

I met so many people, from various background and characters. I know few muslims over here, who do not take their religious into their life. It was quite a let down when you are a friend, and yet you can't help them find the meaning of Islam. I tried my best to show the true Islam I brought with my limited knowledge. So far, I'm yet far from my goal which is to help them move closer to the Creator. I argued but I lose to my lack of convincing skill.

I was very depressed. Mixture of sad and anger blend within me.

I went to a performance just now. It was a violin and cello musicians group name Maggini Quartet. The performance was splendid and awesome. During the break between two plays, I met an old man, who told me about Malala Yousafzai. She is a girl who fight for the education for girls in Pakistan. She should get a medal of her bravery and enthusiasm. Being a young girl and fighting for her nation is two different things which hardly find nowadays.

She was shot for her fights and being hospitalized in Birmingham ever since. Let's pray for her recovery.

I've been asking myself, if this is how the Muslim themselves treat their religion, how can the world see Islam as the true religion? Why even the Muslims didn't practice their so-called true way of life? Why did the Muslims shot the girls because her act was against the government policy? How can this religion proven the best for the mankind? How can the west accept Islam as the peace and serenity?

They might have confused and grasped the wrong views and perspectives of Islam if these kind of issues prolong.

For my anguish, I believed I've done the best. The results will always be from Allah. We just need to istiqamah in our effort. Every effort is taken and rewarded. It's upon us, who is willing to take the challenge either to gain credits for His bless and hereafter, or just slip it away. For now, I will continue to enlighten people to the righteous and be awesome. Even Rasulullah (PBUH) smiled during hard times when his preach was rejected thousand years ago. He even prayed for hidayah to be bless upon the non-believers.

Depressed not. He is always watching over you.

I know that I'm not a very pious person myself. But I want to become better, and working my best to increase my iman. I know that I need to practise like the Prophet (PBUH) did to devote himself to Allah. I know it's easier said than done, but again, it's efforts that counts. He will reward you, if not now, in the Jannah later. Insya-Allah. :)

True indeed.

"Believers, if you help God, He will help you and make you steadfast (in your faith)." (47:7)

Sometimes the sweetest apple is at the top of the tree. Not giving up the climb after few obstacles, you will get it. A reward for yourself.

If you know what I mean. :)

Don't give up on your faith

Love comes to those who believe it

That's the way it is

-Celine Dion-

still need to learn more about these new world.

Illaliqa'. wassalam.