sliosciacra

Assalamu'alaikum.

Beeeeeeeeeeeen a month, and I'm so late for every promise I have made before. I've promised to tell you about 'the detailed matters'.Now April is going to be over and I just post it. Late is better than never, but the earlier the better. I actually feel insecure since po was acquired by tw. There's an issue of po's shutting down. I'm on the side who confused by the issue and thinking whether it is good for me to keep on posting here or I should export my whole posts and change my blog to the other blogging service. 

'Nough but that. Back to the topic. Before going 'there', I prepare myself, fikriyah, jasadiyah, and ruhiyah. It's not okay, going to do something without proper knowledge. It's like talking but know nothing about the meaning of the talks. Like going without destination.

Before even my family decided to go, I bought this book. The magnet attracted me, I couldn't resist not to buy it at a discount-book shop. One of the must read books, I think. Blending Islam, science, and all the things you don't think related but the truth is that they ARE related to each other. This, the Amazing Baitullah, has great impact for my preparation. The author, Mr. Sudarmojo wrote this: "A great writer is someone who reminds the reader of The Source of Inspiration."

The book explained about Makkah as the center of the world, about the history of Kaaba, about the spiritual journey, about our lives. Some of the chapter had successfully made me cry and remind me of my wrongdoings. About the vertical lights that the author's mother saw when she pray in front of Kaaba, that was also what I saw there. Subhanallah.

I also read other books. From  tips and tricks to dua book, I read it all. They give me abundance infos I was looking for. Eventhough I still think the books are not enough, when the time came for me and my parents to go, I stop reading the books, just carried the one I really need with me.

Besides that I also tried not to sleep late to maintain my blood pressure and immune system. Talking about the immune system, SA (Saudi Arabia) is one of the countries in the meningitis belt area. Meningitis is a serious inflammation in meninges (brain's membran) caused by Meningococcal meningitis. SA and some other Africa countries have the highest prevalence. Every one who intends to go there should be vaccinated. Me and my family were vaccinated less than 17 days before we go. Unfortunately the vaccine will activated the immune system effectively after 28 days, so it was frightening, negative thinking was covered my mind.

There were also times when I tried consuming herbal immunostimulant. It feels strange and .. just strange. haha. Then I stop, realizing that it has nothing to do with what's disturbed me. I don't know how it works, actually, so I need just to stop that. Then I decided to let the thinking washed away by this word: Bismillahirrahmaanirrahiim.We surrender our fate to Al-Malik. He is The One who held our fate anyway :).

In fact, some of my travelmates even had just been vaccinated 10 days before we go, and they keep calm. Also there are some ppl who actually can't accept the vaccine due to their conditions. So it was just okay. InsyaAllah.

Tips for one who is going there without vaccination or weak immune system: wear your masks every time you go out. If it's not a paper-made mask, wipe it with warm water first before you wear it to help you to breath easier. And, don't push yourself too hard without considering your health. Our bodies need to be balanced. I'm not encouraging you to be lazy here, but the important thing is, know your capacity and keep a healthy lifestyle there. By so we can pray solemnly :).

About the debt I had to anyone, whether it was valued by money or not, I tried to pay it all before I go. And I apologized to my friends. It was so sad.

When the day was coming. There's no words can describe my feeling. When we finally reached Medina, I could hardly speak. Maybe it was just my eyes blinking in admiration without pause. Alhamdulillah.

The umra itself, done when we reached Makkah. One need to have a good stamina to do the thawaf and sa'i especially. Because the two activities need a lot of efforts. Even though Masjidil Haram was just opened that month, flocks coming from everywhere. Thawaf needs a lot of efforts because the man and the woman together, walking around the Kaaba while praying. There are times when we were pushed by the other groups. Meanwhile, Sa'i needs more efforts. It was more distant than Thawaf. I realized why Allah Swt. made Sa'i into one of sunnah activity, it really describes what loyalty and love of the mother to the child is. The real rocks of Shafa and Marwah, we can try to step on it, and it was real hard. What a strong woman, Siti Hajar is. :)

After umra was finished, we could do thawaf sunnah everytime we want. We can also do any good amal we want because 1 good-doing is paid off by 100.000 merit there in Makkah and remember, that is also count for wrongdoing.

And.. another one. I will talk about less serious matter. The cellphone voucher. There are some choices available there. I have already chose one provider when at last I got the other provider's sim card. It's okay, though, because the data service price was cheaper. I don't use it too often to call and text my family in Ina anyway, using messenger is more than just enough. *hoho *whatastingypersoniam. One thing is, I don't like updating my status on tw, because I don't think it's necessary. It will only risen the narcissm inside of a human soul. Just a form of riya, I think.

Umm. and also. Do you know? SA's currency unit is Riyal. But have you heard about halala? It's more like cent. 1 halala = 0,06 Riyal. But only some ppl come from outside SA know that. What a business trick the seller had done all this time. haha. In Jeddah, I ate a bowl of Bakso for 10 Riyal. Exxxpensive. Made by Ina ppl, to cure our homesick to this lovely (?) country.

I couldn't get enough writing about the journey. Maybe I miss something. But overall, I thank Allah for everything and I hope everyone can go there and feel the peacefulness which never will be found at any other places in the world.

I hope I'm not riya. I just want to share my experience and I hope everyone can have better ones. :)

May Allah Swt. always be with us.

Salaam,

Rahma

p.s: let me know if you want to read the books I've mentioned in my post, i'll be happy showing it to you. :)

I've just realized that my post lacks of pics. pardon my plain world, I'm playing better with words. :}. But I will add some pics.

Assalaamu'alaikum. wr wb.

The plan has been made one year ago. This year, the day has finally come. Finally, I went to the holy places that everyone, esp muslim, longing for. Tears rolling down upon my cheek when I saw the places with my very own eyes.

"Subhanallah. Laa ilaaha Illallah, Muhammadan rasulullah"

After visiting the places, I tell myself and promise that "InsyaAllah, I will visit it again and again."

InsyaAllah.

Aamiin YRA.

Salam

Rahma.
p.s: I'll share more detailed matters on the next post.
I hope Allah Swt. always shower His blessings upon you.

Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Assalaamu'alaikum.

hey, long tim  e no see :). well I'm back, I cut then paste the image from islamicthinking.tumblr.com

agaain. yeah I know, but it's just that the words simply match with something that disturbed me a while ago.

Actually, there are so many verses from Qur'an and also hadith that explain about patience. I'm going to paste some here:

“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Qur’an, 2:153)

Our prophet Muhammad SAW. said: "No one can be given a blessing better and greater than patience."

It's a hard thing to do. Yes. But it's not impossible if we tried.

My relative once said, "If you asked me about how long someone should keep his/her patience. I'll answer it: forever. There's no limit to patience."

That what he said, years ago. I still remember it until now.

After all, it's anger and its best friends that put our patience to the lowest level. Related to that, you've ever heard about this, haven't you? That when you angry/dissapointed/(any other negative feelings) with something just wrote it down on a paper, then read it back and tear it up. InsyaAllah your negative feeling will be erased in an instance. It's better than to complain or even start a fight.

So, I will try my best to be patient. upgrade my patience-level. and think clearly. I believe Allah Swt. will guide the way. aamiin.

Salaam.

Rahma

via etsy.com

:)

well who would have thought that an exchange between 'cat and lives' and 'life and cats' has made this sentence so~~ cat-ish.
Several years ago when I was a child, I had 6 cats. But they all were ended up thrown away and died, or died, or were ill and then died. T-T
Dear cats, rest in peace. Sometimes I miss you, you know.

oh and also, this bag was made by Chatty Nora. visit her shop to see her other works.

salaam,

Rahma
who hoped for a clearer mind for everyone, including herself.