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.

Random thoughts

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

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

I recalled during my high school days, even the hardest time, the busiest moment, I will find myself back at the corner of the surau, and recite the Quran, at least once a day, how busy I am, I will go and pray at the surau. 

But nowadays, I hardly do that anymore, what happened to my time management? What is my time allocation for Allah? What will I do to please Him?

I can't say there's any improvement, but I'm trying. Let's strive towards His blessing. Insya-Allah.

Pray for my exams pretty please. 

Illaliqa'. Wassalam. 

Bring out the Hero in You...

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.

I'm very sure we had been through hard times. Either in terms of financial disaster, supressed workload, lonely accumulate and stuff, we had been there. It's a lie, if we never been there even at once. Suprisingly, we managed to survive the wall, or stronghold of disaster, which kept emerging from nowhere, just to take us down, to degrade us to earth. Let's walk back our memory lane for a moment, that hard time, we wished we never even done this and that, and some of us even wished we never born to this so-called unfair and cruel world.

"Verily, We have created man into toil and struggle. Thinks he, that none has power over him? He may say (boastfully): 'Wealth have I squandered in abundance!' Thinks he that none beholds him?"

But this ayat doesn't end here,

"Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? And a tongue, and a pair of lips? And shown him the two highways? But he has made no haste on the path that is steep. And what will explain to you the path that is steep?"

(90:4-12)

Eventhough you are at your lowest, there are always people who much more unfortunate than you are. Orphans, homeless, dying patients, and the list goes on. We will be unsatisfied for what we have, because we are humans. That's because we usually look up for those who are wealthy. Let's take this moment, to shift your head, to look upon those who below you, those less fortunate people than you are. That way, we will be more grateful. Watch this video. It will take a while, but the message are outstanding.

saw this one from my friend's post. people nowadays can be so mean. T_T

I always met those beggars, who doesn't has enough money to eat much less place to stay. I did what I capable of, to my strength extends. We sometimes can be a hero, be it giving food for homeless, donate the unfortunate poor kids for education, research for cancer cause and many more. Though our effort is small, but we do work for a change, hope for the best and changed their future.

Let us be an unsung hero, rather than doing nothing and just watch. Our effort is seen by Allah, and count for later on.

"O Allah, for everything I did, make me humble, and bring my small effort a big change, as I hope to create a better future."

I hope want to be a hero without any costume. :)

Illaliqa'. Wassalam.

Muhammad (PBUH) The Chosen One

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

Alhamdulillah, thanks to Allah for giving me the air to breath, for giving me the brain to think. And far more important, to send a human, for us to spread the wisdom, the revelations, the truth about your righteous. In the previous book of revelations, we human were destined with the coming of a new prophet, after Prophet Isa (Jesus) PBUH, where the chosen one should be born into the people of arab, in Makkah.

"(Muhammad), We have sent you for no other reason but to be a mercy for mankind." (21:107)

Muhammad Bin Abdullah is his name. Just remembering his name, my tears suddenly began to drop. How I miss him though I never met him. Longing to meet him is my greatest wish. Because of him, I have found the light in my life, the light of Islam, where the law of Allah is suppose to be practical. His stories were spread across the continent, throughout the time. His journey, a great leader and a loyal slave were recorded within various medium which were read by all sort of ages, who develop a deep interest in knowing this Messenger of Allah.

"Allah has sent me as an apostle so that I may demonstrate perfection of character, refinement of manners and loftiness of deportment." (Malik, Mawatta; Ahmed, Musnad; Mishkat)

There is this feeling, I hold on for many countless time. The feeling of love. A century of leap, his stories reached me somehow, I fall in love with the man who Allah sent us. He demonstrated a good virtue, potrayed excellent leadership characteristics and show us the road of Islam which laid with roses for those who aiming for Jannah and experience thorn for those who tied themselves to the grace of the world. I was born Muslim and yet, I followed less of him. How shame of me when he said "ummati, ummati, ummati" in his final breath. Masya-Allah.

He fought his way to spread Islam. For the sake of future generations, knowing the truth has to be passed on. Although he received quite a number of opposal act, either by material persuasion or mental discrimination, he still stood to embrace the challenge, for the sake of Islam. Even he was forced to leave his homeland, he pleased and submission to Allah's decision. Subhanallah, how strong he is.

Here, I provided a link of a music video of The Chosen One by Maher Zain. Let us reminisce the moment of glory of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

In this historic day, the 12th of Rabiulawal, let us selawat for our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). 

اللهمَّ صلِّ على سيِّدنا محمَّد وعلى آلِه وصحبِه وسلِّم

 

Assalamualaikum ya Muhammad SAW

"O Allah, surely, i've gone astray, divert from Your rightness. Your divine judgement, have i no right to turn against it. Yet, You still grant me the time to repent. Upon this chance, shall i grab till the end. Thank you Allah." :) 

 

My prayers. What's yours?

 

Ya Rasulullah (SAW), this post is dedicated for you. Thank you for loving us all, your ummah.

Thanks for reading. Illaliqa'. Wassalam.

Reminisce The Moment

Assalamualaikum, 

Since 23 November 2011, I've put myself to a state of rehabilitation. Rehabilitate myself from a my first semester at university. Taking an engineering course sure put you through a lot of hell excitement as there are bunch of assignments, quizzes, tutorial need to be done throughout the semester. Lecturers are not that bad to begin with, most of them just practised strict rules during the lecture, yet there's a blessing in disguise. Don't afraid to approach your lecturers as they are also human being, not a bunch of creepy zombies, not a platoon of fused cyborgs. Have you ever watch 3 Idiots, even a fierce lecturer can somehow moved by the kindness and hard work showed by his most troublesome student. Note that. :)

Considering this long 53 days break will come to an end in about a week, I cursed myself for spending most of the holiday on my bed, stayed indoor and done nothing. I even missed some exciting courses which do got a lot of positive responses from the society around the world. Even worse, I can't occupy myself with a marriage course promoted by my friends few weeks back. Haha, devoted future family planning eh? Nope, I don't date anyone right now as I always believe there's a time for everything. Lagipun, carilah redha Ilahi dulu, Dia kn Yang Maha Mencintai... :)

"Believers, have fear of God. Find the means to reach Him and strive hard for His cause so that you may have everlasting happiness" (5:35)

As I walked down my memory lane, there are two major events took places during december. First, I sat for IELTS examination which turned out not so bad. Relocated at Saloma Restaurant instead of Chorus Hotel, my friends and I undergone about 4 hours of mind torturing, agony assessment. In assessing our english skills, a lot of effort was done and we are not gonna bow down to such challenges. Failure is not an option, for every cloud has a silver lining.

Then, on the night of the speaking test, I flew to Sydney to enjoy the rest of my holiday. Quite fascinating isn't it? Yeah, alone in the 7 hours flight sure gave you a sorrow feeling, let alone the back pain. Haha. Sydney turned out to be rather slight deviate from my expectations. With summer approaching, the weather supposed to be warmer, yet the 14 degree celcius made me wear extra clothes and sweater which I brought less. But overall, the places are quite nice and enjoyable. It was good to be there. Alhamdulillah. :)

me otw back from Blue Mountain.

And here am I, in front of the computer, flashing back the time the Allah has blessed us with comfort and pleasure. Proud is a human nature but not bowing down to His absolute instructions is far worse than being arrogant.

"Which of the favours of your Lord do you deny?" (ar-Rahman)

Thank God, for giving me Your time and opportunity to rest and relax. :)

Thank you mom for lending me your money. Appreciate it a lot. Alhamdulillah sejuta kali pon belum tentu cukup lagi. Haha.. 

Illaliqa'