Bits and pieces from past Ramadhan

Bismillah.

Wishing all Muslim readers "Ramadhan Kareem"! May we take maximum advantage in these 30 days by doing more good, improve what is lacking and make this holy month full of blessing as a turning point in doing so, InsyaAllah. Reminder to myself and all.

Being in this fasting month, at times childhood memories will come and knock our doors...

...vision blurring...

...It took hours for my parents to wake us kids up for sahur. The process was long. To shake us up from sleep was one thing, to get us to the bathroom to wash our sleepy face was another. And from bathroom to the dining table not to forget (since each of us would try our luck to slip away and get back to bed or sneaked out to sleep on the sofa). When everyone was there at the table, it was unusually quiet for a family with five small kids. Yes, we were all there sitting but our eyes still shut. Even if we were eating, we chewed our food in slow motion with eyes closed or half opened. And sometimes our parents would took our zombi face pictures cause they know we hated it and to make sure we are awake and finish the food.

May Allah bless our parents for their efforts in moulding us with constant patience. ;')

Rasulullah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Have your pre-dawn meal (sahur) because there is a blessing at the pre-dawn meal time.”

(Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)  

The Prophet recommended taking the sahur (night-time meal). He said:"Do not miss the sahur for it is blessed; take even a mouthful of water. God and his angles greet those who take their sahur."

Now that I am no longer that kid, I started to appreciate sahur as it helps me to go through the day better. For me having sahur before fasting would automatically tell my mind that I am prepared and ready to go down the battlefield, to face the day of hunger and abstinence. Even when in boarding school or in campus, being away from my parents, I still wake up for sahur. And Alhamdulillah, I am glad that I was placed with roommates who appreciate the same. Sometimes we went out to mamak stall at around 4am in the morning just to have sahur since there was no food at home. Sadly, some youngsters don't even bother to wake up for sahur. May Allah guide them.

I had experienced sahur in my mother's hometown in Pulau Sebatik in Tawau, Sabah. It is a small village and the local community would assign people to go around the village about an hour before sahur time by pickup truck and let the Qur'an recitation or selawat from the cassette blared from the speaker to wake the whole village up for sahur. Cool huh? Not that we can find that here in the city area. hehe. 

So, Muslimin and Muslimat, try to make your sahur even if it's just a gulp of water. 

Have a productive day and smile always! (:

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.

And I shed a tear to a goodbye

Bismillah.

Today is the day where they will leave Malaysia. Again. After spending a week here. They are going home tonight. Midnight flight as scheduled. Time flies and that I feel a lot when best things happen.

I wish I could send them off to the airport. To bid and wave final goodbye. Unfortunately I'm working today. But I told myself that I would give them a call before midnight. Before they go on board.

After I reached home at about 9pm, and was doing some cleaning, I was thinking of them. Really. How yesterday's outing was greatly good yet too short. Imagining that they are not going home for good tonight. Hoping to rewind it some other times again.

When I walked into my room, I checked my phone. And saw a text message and one missed call.

*Oh my oh my* 

I touched on the envelope icon on screen and the message says;

"Selam, we are heading towards airport, we all feel that time spent with you was too short, all the best to you and your families, Seida, Serif, Davud n Delila..."

:')

Quickly, I checked out call log on the phone, and it was from Serif. 

With an overwhelming heart, I returned the call and we were exchanging words and best wishes. And both were wishing, hoping and praying that we could meet again in future. Whether in Malaysia or Bosnia. As Seida said earlier, she always prayed to come back to Malaysia and when all of us were least expecting it, thought that it was almost impossible, Allah has granted and allowed them to walk again in the land of Malaysia. Allahu akbar! Never lose hope in Allah. Never. :') And I can then meet them in my country this time. 

And I can't put words on how I felt after we hung up the phone. All I know I was shedding tears. Oh how I love them in the name of Allah. Never that I regretted my decision taking the path to Bosnia and to have met them. And everyone there. 

"O Allah, bless them. And their land.

And let me walk in Bosnia again. Ameen Ya Robb."

ćao ćao i vidimo se, inshallah!

Awaiting Guests

Bismillah.

Next week, I will receive guests from far far away, Bosnia. Yeay! Mr Šerif and Seida Mustafić  (remember the post on Sledging) are coming back to Malaysia, along with their kids, Davud and Delila, after 12 years they left Malaysia. They used to live in Malaysia for 8 years. I bet they have a pretty long list-to-do in mind. Tom yam soup! Durian! Seremban! And the list definitely goes on and on. hehe. I am feeling excited for them. Yeah, thinking how lucky for them to come back to their second home. Hey, I miss my second home too! Doesn't that count? :P 

 Seida and Šerif

Oh, what bring them down here after 12 years?

Well, our well known architect, Dato Haji Esa Mohamed (who designed Kuala Lumpur International Airport etc) is a friend to them. 

I met Dato Haji and his Bosnian Australian wife during Sarajevo Business Forum 2011.

And then, me and my friends and also Šerif and Seida, along with other Bosnian friends were invited by Dato Haji Esa for a dinner at Park Prinčeva. 

Nice place, though.

Dato' Haji Esa was trying to get some camera shot and Šerif (in red shirt) was sitting next to him. And I was at the end of the table. :P

Dato Haji Esa's wife with Seida and Delila

So, they are coming down soon to attend Dato Haji Esa's invitation on his daughter's wedding.

Aww..

Can't wait to meet them. 

Any idea on where to bring them in KL? :)

Wondrous Sunset in Sarajevo

Bismillah.

My breath has been taken away by this so scenic view. Sarajevo, you are just a small city at the heart of Europe that your existence is hidden from the world. Yet you are so beautiful and I am fortunate to found you.

Will you call me to come back to you?

Because Sarajevo, I'm in love...

And will always be.

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. :)

Blue Hue

Bismillah,

Electric blue reflects modernity.

  An energized hue.  

p/s: I adore this electric blue top very much but prefer it to be a little bit loose. Sure looks good on anybody ;)

*Credit to Kayra, a Turkish clothe line.*

Mint Green Love

Bismillah.

Isn't this soothing?

To be honest, I never fancy green. I have no idea why. The closest tone to green I have ever picked is turquoise, which is actually blueish tone of light green. Those green tops that I have in my wardrobe are presents and as far as I remember, only this one light green Punjabi blouse I picked for myself after mom said the other colour which is pink was too sweet for me. ;p

I realized that I have a crush on this calm and soft green colour for the past few weeks after I saw an advertisement of a gorgeous model wearing this mint green dress every time I pass by an escalator in KL Sentral station. 

Definitely the ad is not Taylor Swift that I'm referring to though she looks very relax and casual in that pastel colour. <3

What more can I say, Ms Mint Green will get the honour to be placed in my top colour list. Kicking out the second runner up of Ms Yellow to stand tall next to The Queen of Purple. 

What is your 2012 colour? ;)

Meaningful Pages

Bismillah.

Many thanks to the magazine editor. This is a definitely a perfect wrap for a perfect memories. Alhamdulillah. <3

The ending of his life. How is ours?

Bismillah.


Tonight, I logged into Facebook as usual only to find out news that startled me. A junior from my boarding school passed away this evening that is reported to be drowned. I have not got any more details from that. I could say that I barely know him apart from the fact that we were in the same house team (Tariq Ibnu Ziyad). The thing that really got into me is than he died so young at the age of 23. Comparing myself who is a year older that him, I feel incredibly grateful that I have lived one year extra than him. Alhamdulillah, for the chance and time to let me work on my credit to add to the ‘right’ shoulder while struggling to lessen the ‘left’ weight. Nonetheless, I think of his family. They probably had no idea that their son or their brother who looked so fine and healthy this morning actually is going to leave them forever later in the evening. May Allah ease their loss. 

I tried putting myself in his place. I realized that I felt intimidated as I was wondering about so many things: 

1. Have I told my parents that I love them with every beat of my heart that I owe them eternally? 
2. Have I told my siblings that they made me feel perfect though I am not?
3. Have I owed anyone and still have not repaid the debt? 
4. Have I asked for forgiveness from those I hurt?
5. Have I hurt anyone unintentionally and they still feel hurt?
6. Have I done everything I could to lie peacefully in Barzakh and after that going through Qiyamah?

And before I could ask myself more, I decided to search for the tranquility answer. 

“To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:156)

Al-Fudhayl ibn Iyyadh (May Allah have mercy on him) said to a man, “How many (years) have come upon you?”

He replied, “Sixty years.”

He said, “Therefore, for sixty years you have been going to your Lord and you are about to reach (Him).”

So the man said, “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return!”

So Al-Fudhayl asked, “Do you know the meaning of that (statement)? You are saying, I belong to Allah as a servant and I am going to return to Him. So whoever knows that he belongs to Allah as a servant and that he will return to him, then he should know that he will be stopped. And whoever knows that he will be stopped, then he should know that he will be questioned. And whoever knows that he will be questioned, then let him prepare an answer for the question.”

[Jami al-Ulum wal-Hikam of Ibn Rajab]

Like word of wisdom that we frequently hear, "we should work like we are gonna live forever, as well as we should live today like we are going to die tomorrow." 

To God we belong, to Him is our return. 
May Allah lead us all the way in our very life. Long or short. Ameen.

A look back on Twenty Eleven

Bismillah.

Today is the first day of Twenty Twelve. Facebook is crowded with New Year’s wishes. Everybody is busy wishing everyone a happy new year, I just could not bother to wish everyone the same. Not that I am anti-social or something, it is just that my mind is busy sorting and thinking.

I look back on my Twenty Eleven and see how wonderful and awesome it had been. Travelling was major for last year. I pictured myself as Elizabeth Gilbert in “Eat Pray Love”. I discovered unique food in Bosnia and had tasted how good the pizza is in Italy.

I have got to see how Muslim community live their lives in Europe when the main religion is Christian. 

And found love from amazing people that I met from every part of the world.

Girls from work.

With Pakistan Embassy's staff in Bosnia. She cooks really good biryani.

With fun Turkish girls. Photo taken at International University of Sarajevo.

At Tekija. Mingling around with Bosnian women during supper.

With the Malaysian Embassy's staff in Bosnia.

With lovely Ajla Alic, a good friend of mine.

Having coffee at one evening with Indonesian students in Sarajevo after playing paintball.

Say hi to Avdija, actress of "Angin Rindu Sarajevo"

Not long after graduated from business school, career path knocks in. And still taking the excitement and also bruises from it. (I can be a little exagerrated sometimes. haha)


And three months after that, my beloved brother finally ties the knot at Woodlands, Singapore.

My only brother big day

And I'm thinking of making Twenty Twelve a sequel. InsyaAllah.

I know that good girls do spill it on paper, putting their goals that they wanted to achieve this year in a numbered list. I never really have a wish list. A proper one, I meant. I don’t really write it down. Not even in my diary. I feel embarrased if someone might just read it. Haha. I prefer my dream list to be kept in my mind. Someone told me that wishes and hopes are best to be kept to yourself, which somehow is not a great idea because I keep forgetting them simply because I could not see them.

But I have been thinking to make some changes. I wanted to visualize my targets this year, writing it down somewhere. So, that I can always see them and be reminded by it. In general, I wish to become a better person. To be more independent. To be more patient. To be firm but soft. To be more grateful. To be generous but wise. On top of everything, to add more value to Tasneem Yusmadi. Aged and improved. And for that to materialized, tons of effort and patient with high determination will be required. I will give this a big try. Pushing myself if I had to. I know that the journey would be bumpy sometimes, but that is the recipe for success. I have got to take them in. As Allah promises : 

"ALLAH does not change a people´s condition unless they change what is in themselves…." [13:11]

So, do what we need to do. You want to change, so be the change.

Happy new year 2012! 


Selamat Tahun Baru 2012! 


Sretna Nova Godina 2012! 

A quick show up

Bismillah.

My apology for vanishing into thin air for quite some time. I have been ‘wearing’ the status of career woman for about a month and a half and hoping for many months to come. The work is tough. It’s harsh. It’s so much pressure. Yet, I’m learning a whole lot than I know. I become more aware. More proactive. And more clear of what I should be doing. And I like of what I am becoming. It’s a self-development I am talking about. I believe anyone would feel good having to realized how they have gone one or couple steps ahead from where they started. Alhamdulillah. All praises to Allah for giving me the will to stay despite the fact that it is so difficult for me to stay and keep going. To my beloved father who has always be there to check on me every night before he goes to bed to see if I am doing alright. Many thanks to the rest of family members who always being supportive and positive when my colleague’s family suggesting her/him to resign. Alhamdulillah for whatever reasons that make me breathe till this second. J

Okay. This is sounding like a novel author expressing his acknowledgement. Haha.

Actually, I wanted to post something on travelling as I was looking at old pictures of what could I write on. Well, seems like there are a lot of things to be blogged about. This year has marked as the most travelling year for me. Coming from Asia Pacific to the Europe region. And back to Southeast Asia. Alhamdulillah. So, I wanted to remember all the awesomely great time I had by writing them down. But I need ample time to write them. My take home work has always filled my free time now. Thank god I managed to finish them early for this weekend. That is also the reason why I am here now for this short and quick posting. Before Sunday starts again and work begins.  Yeah. Probably, not in this post. Next time, then. InsyaAllah.

May we all be in the circle of Allah’s guidance and blessings.

Paintball or Painball?

Bismillah.

I had the chance to play paintball last April. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I was excited because that would be my first time playing. Nervous since they said it hurts to get hit by the bullet. But then, since to play here is cheaper than in Malaysia, I thought it’s best to have my first time here. =)

Big thanks to my friend here who introduced me to his good friends who own this paintball equipment. They also pick us to the place and sent us home. That was really nice of them to give us a ride to and from the paintball place. J

There were ten of us, half boys and girls. The three boys are Indonesian who studying in International University of Sarajevo (IUS). We were supposed to play in a ruined building since when I first requested to play paintball, it was winter time. It was chilly that’s why the best place that they can offer is in a ruined building. But since it had been delayed for many times, due to some occasions, finally, we got to play and  the best part was since the spring was coming, we got to play in the woods! And I tell you, this woods is so much like in the ‘Twilight’ saga movies. Cantik! I was thrilled! =P

So, above are the pictures for the day.

Team Eagle! Yeahh!

Team Kick Ass! Boooo...HAHA

Kerim was filling the guns with gas.

Before the game started

After the first game,...

We looked just like we had done with some art class, don't we?

Sergeant Nadiah was hit at chest and shoulder

Teya still alive huh :)) Give me five!

...took a break...

Kerim was giving instruction..

Head shot on Atan! hehe

And also on SJ! hehe

We started play at 12noon and the war lasted for about two hours. And when we finished battling in the woods, I was announced to refill bullets the most which means that I used so many bullets than anyone there! What? Okay, I did shoot randomly, but hey, I did make some head shot, ya. For a first-timer like me, to make a head-shot it’s like wow! So, it was totally worth it. =P

Congratulations, my team did not win big. haha I really had fun playing and also it’s fun to shoot your good friend! ;P And thanks to Ihsan, Belly and Aizza for joining. Really glad that u joined. :D

Since they said that if you don't get bruises, then you are not playing paintball, so I proudly say that I brought home two bruises, one of my right shoulder and another on my left thighs. Guess what, the next day, everyone was suffering from muscle pain. Probably, due to lack of warming up before we play. Serves us right!

Everyone looks fat with the uniform. haha. But I think this thick uniforms help minimize the pain :)

It's a wrap guyss! :D

Found a field near the woods...Awesomee! So much like in countryside in the Hannah Montana The Movie =P

On our way back to Sarajevo... I fell in love with this valley right away 

With Nadia

SJ and Atan