Recap: Leadership course by Dr Tareq Suwaidan

Bismillah.

*smiling* I know I know it has been ages. But one thing for sure is that something has succesfully pulled me back in here. Long story cut short, last Saturday (18^th Oct 2014), my family and I went to a leadership course delivered by one of the Muslim Brotherhood leader, Dr Tareq Suwaidan from Kuwait. I was excited even the day before knowing that I would be listening to someone my dad known from his uni as they spent the same years pursuing degrees in the US. And also I have never met any Muslim Brotherhood leader. Having heard so many amazing profiles and had wanted to meet them personally and see them with my own eyes. Alhamdulillah, all praises to Allah for the opportunity to listen and to be in the event.

Below are few points from many that I managed to scribble on my Samsung gadget while listening:

“History will repeat itself. Not by event but by cycle.”

“You cannot have change without pain.”

“Huge problems facing the Muslims today are backwardness in behaviour (look at our behaviour to the parents, if caught in bad traffic), cleanliness, management, effectiveness and most importantly in ideology (Islamic understanding) and leadership. Someone asked me when do you think the Muslim will be ready and revive? I answered him, “When they can put their shoes properly on the rack in the mosque, then they are ready.”

“No behaviour will change until you change the ideology. We often see parents treat their children with punishment. “If you do like this, you will get this”. It should have been explaining to the kids and encouraging them. Make them understand.”

“The purpose of Islam and purpose of the prophet Muhammad sent to us was for us all to be happy here in this world and also happy in the hereafter. Not to rule the world or to prove that we are the best.”

“We must think with love not with prove. It is not our purpose to prove them wrong when they refuse to believe in what we believe. “

“Imam Shafie said that whenever there is a major opinion clashes among scholars, nobody should attack anyone or each other.”

“It is not enough to have a good goal, behaviour, knowledge and intention but not competency.”

“Do not confuse leadership with taqwa.”

“Age and seniority are not criteria for leadership. And do not confuse with gender.”

 “In leadership, men can decide right away. Women would normally hesitate. But women are better in three areas; creativity, consulting, and when they plan men have no hope.” J

“Freedom and free election must come first then only comes shariah law because shariah can only be effective under a free environment.”

“It is impossible to be united. So let’s be united on issues. Look for issue that can unite people.”

“To change the ideology, we must emphasize on the education and media.”

Of course there are many more and longer. MashaAllah. 

All I can say that the two-hour session went unnoticeable and it was mind boggling and thought provoking. At the end of the session Dr Tareq reminds us to reflect on our understanding of the deen (the religion) as it is the ultimate and ideal solution to many challenges today. May Allah reward Dr Tareq for his work and effort and make us all under His guidance and mercy. Ameen ya robbana.

25

Bismillah.

This month marked my 25th birthday. Im a quarter-century old now. Haha. Sounds old enough? :)

On the first day of work this year, I received a card and a small-size coffee chocolate bar from my employer which were found on my table. That was a bit new for us all in the department to get such on birthday occasion. Anyway, thank you. For those who made the effort to spare some of their time getting a boring girl like me something to walk home with i.e. the yummy cake and pretty presents, I thank you in a great amount. For those who remember my birthday and took all the hassle to get to my FB page and posted a wish though I unrevealed it, I deeply thank you and thank you. :')

Anyway, this year I purposely didn't write any post on 2013 resolution since I wanted to bring it together on my birthday which happened right after new year. 

Knocking on twenty five has actually made me think what have I done for the past years. Twenty five sounds like a very long time if you have to wait that long to grow a durian tree or to get to your turn to perform hajj pilgrim. But to pursue everything starting from learn ABC and 123, to be able to know various behaviour of human and how to respond to them, to be able to tell if this people have potentials or whether they can be trusted or not, to be qualified to get a job interview or to get a well paid job, a twenty five years seemed not to be enough or rather short period of time.

As we grow up, and I look back, I came to realized those rules once applied when we were younger has no longer binding us. When I was younger, I was not easily allowed to go hang out with friends at the malls as many of my friends had. At that time, I felt so uncool not to be able to do other things than go to school with friends. My parents would usually probe me with, 'Who are coming?', 'Would there be any boys joining?', 'What would I be doing with my friends?', 'What time will I be back?' etc. Now, they don't really throw me lots of that anymore. :) I actually feel thankful for what my parents had put me on. Because now I actually ask myself those questions before I swing my legs out from house. So, that has trained me to do self-check, weighing and considering before decision is made.

And when we were much younger, parents would buy us clothes. We didn't bother what to wear because we were so busy playing hide and seek in our so called 'maize' play ground in the mall. So parents had to pull us out from the rail of clothes to make us try out new garment in the department store. Now, they still bring us to the malls when buying clothes. It is just that we are not there to game anymore. We are there to help them select as our opinions are counts and matters now. Those are a few from many indicators that spell 'You are big girl now, Tasneem.' ;)

Life is a mystery. Sometimes it is exciting sometimes it goes the other way around. But I definitely learn something in my early 20's which is do not afraid to dream big. Not just dream but go higher and farther. Dream impossible if you want. As Allah mentioned in Qur'an:

"And man can have nothing but what he strives for."Surah Al Najm (53:39)

Aim for the stars. Even if you failed, you may land on the clouds or even better on Mars! At least you are going somewhere. :)

I definitely have a plan to live life for the next years. Just sometimes you would as well come up with a back-up plan, you know, should this does not work for you then you know life is not going to end because you have another considered direction to turn to. The second best option to path down. Hoping  whatever my plan is, Allah will always be in every steps of it. Ameen.

Lastly,

Ok. Blabbering stops now.

Much love,

TY.

Sweet November

Bismillah. 

Finally, I have got the chance to sit down properly in front of the computer and do some writing.

Okay. Quit blabbering. Since this is one of my medium to record things that happen in my ordinary life. Today, here's the new entry.

Alhamdulillah, all praises goes to the only one, Allah Al Mighty. There are a few good things that has occurred and another will occur in my life. 

My career seems to give me way for the past few weeks. Honestly, after a really long 'climbing' and 'holding' on, I would have to admit, to stop right there and leave would be the easiest way out. Then again, that is what most people do. To search for a comfortable and safer zone. I won't lie that I did think of giving up like many times. Only God knows. But I did not want to be just another person who giving up. Life is not easy and we all know that. I just thought that if I could not make it here, then how am I gonna survive other place? So, I tried and worked hard for it. Prayed hard too. Self motivating was what I did excessively. Until just then, it fall right in front of me. All my work, hardship, pray and patience has been answered. Alhamdulillah, this month has witnessed a step up in my career. And million of thanks goes to the people around me. You guys had no idea how each and everyone of you had inspired and made me think and ponder on life. :)

Another thing is I am gonna do what I always love to do. Travelling! InsyaAllah, in 3 days time, I will be on a jet plane. And the place I am gonna conquer is actually has been in the family list of places to go for quite some times. Dad has expressed his interest to visit this country since I was like 19 years old. And now, insyaAllah, we are close to that. Preparation and packing has been running loosely for the past two months. Hopefully, Allah let us explore the part of the world that he created. Hoping for a safe and smooth journey too. And mostly importantly, to add value to oneself after returning from the trip.

Sahih International

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. - Surah Al Hujurat, verse 13

Indeed.

May we all be in His guidance and circle of iman and taqwa. Ameen.

Stay positive and have faith in Him

Have a sweet november, dearies! :)

Something from Lost and Found

Bismillah.

Found this in tagged photos of mine on Facebook. This came from the lowest scroll of photos. I totally forgot I had this.

It was actually my exam schedule for the last semester before I went on my intern.

The Art of Negotiation, Global Marketing, E-commerce, International Accounting, and Strategic Management (the most talked lecturer at that time. I remember feeling like in a military class. It was so 'strategic' and militarized. Nontheless, I passed the subject! Alhamdulillah.Thank you, Sir!)

And I loathe exams. Yeah, tell me about it, man.

But I love art. I love drawing. Love colouring.

So, due to the reason and just to make me fall in love in exams, I have turned this exams timetable sheet into something I do not mind to lay my eyes on. At least.

Oh how I am missing student life now. It was easier. Just attending lectures for a couple of hours in  a day and flexibly spend the rest of the day. Be it revising lecture notes, reading novels or mags, cooking, do laundry, surfing, hanging out with friends, go movies or stay at home simply doing nothing.

Those days.

P/s: Thanks Farahin for taking this photo. You knew I am gonna miss this, Ms Roomate! hehe :)

As a kindergarten kid

Bismillah.

Lately, I went through old photo album and found myself chuckling when I saw those early days photos in preschool.

I went to Tadika Maisara in Kepong. On the day I was registered, we had to buy the preschool uniform. Mother asked me what uniform do I want to wear, pinafore dress or baju kurung (Malaysian female traditional wear). Mother made an attempt to explain advantage of each choices. I remember the point that I fell for that led me to go for baju kurung which was when she told me that baju kurung has pocket that I can put my money and other things in it. :D

I remember getting on the yellow school bus every morning. Father would made a mug of hot choc for me and sister as breakfast and packed a chocolate bar for me. And I held it tightly I did not want to lose it but I actually squashed it and the chocs melted in my hand before I reach school.

Some of the events at preschool;

School trip to National Zoo. 

Kecil-kecil tak pandai lipat skirt kurung tu pasal labuh sangat sampai tak perasan dah mop lantai zoo.

Kali ini berjaya menjaga tepi kain sendiri  ;p

Below picture was taken during sports day.

And during award winning day, I was in the performance group for bhangra dance. It was so much fun that I was keen to go for rehearsals. And I love the golden blouse with red skirt. Mom who was not the type who would buy some short-period wear, was asking the teacher to rent the dress instead of buying it. But I pleaded her to buy it so that I can keep it and wear again later. ;) Just don't ask me where the dress is now. ;p

Those days are the early exposure of commitments. We started to learn to commit by waking up every morning to go to preschool, and be engaged with someone or something other than family and home. Those days went pretty fast I could hardly remember much. Thanks to my parents for capturing them.
Oh how I miss those days where minds were still light and free. :)