.Ingredients for a great Usrah.

Only Allah knows when was the last time I had an Usrah. Clearly Usrah means family, but it's not that kind of Usrah I'm talking about more like a formal Usrah meeting once a week. It was a norm when I was at my University. Usrah was my compulsory activity once a week.

It's been a year since I started working so it means I have spent a year without Usrah.

Just imagine how my Iman must have been.

.Disaster.

Alhamdulillah lately Allah keeps on popping the word Usrah in my mind.

I guess Allah is giving me the signal of urgency to begin it again a.s.a.p!

I'm now in a process of gathering sisters for my Usrah. InsyaAllah plan to have it at my home once a week. Alhamdulillah, My Imam is in full support of this. Meanwhile, I'm trying to carefully have the Usrah organized. I'm no expert in any of the knowledge field but whatever knowledge Allah has instill in me, insyaAllah I'm planning to share with others.

Fiqh? Sirah? Tauhid?

I'm clearly have no idea what to start with. InsyaAllah it all depends on who my Mad'u (s) will be. Then from our 1st meeting, InsyaAllah I'll decide what is the priority.

Anyway, I use this little book for my reference when I started Usrah of my own. Alhamdulillah it has been a great help (may Allah reward the author, amin). The important recipes are all well describe to begin a blessed Usrah of my own.

Last but not least, I want to thank deeply all of my solehah naqibah(s) for helping and guiding me through some part of my life journey. May Allah reward all of you with His Highest Jannah, amin.

Ukhti Safani, Ukhti Siti Aminah, Ukhti Aishah, Ukhti Syida, Ukhti Eqa, Ukhti Wan, Ukhti Wawa, Ukhti Muslihah, Ukhti Wani, Ukhti Norafiza, Ukhti Farhana.

We are physically separated in this temporary world. May Allah gather us eternally in the Jannah, amin.

I have 2 weeks of school holiday.

Excited? Unfortunately, NO. After a year of hectic schedule, spare time really terrify me.
Spending time on bed and couch do seems tempting but NO I don't have any plan on doing both of those.

First, I just want to make sure I spend some quality time with my family - especially My Abah and My Nenek.. The last time I met these two lovely human being was ages ago!

Then definitely pampering myself at a spa. I can't afford oversea holiday this time around, so I'm desperately hoping my spa would insyaAllah take my mind off to Italy or at least Bali.

;)

Then, I'm planning to have a quiet date with my favorite man - Edward Cullen.

;)

Afterwards, a buoyant date with Happy Feet and Puss In The Boots - might watch these 2 movies with my siblings.

;)

Catching up is definitely in my schedule during school holiday. (Strengthening ukhwah is a light and easy ibadah insyaAllah, every Muslim should spend our time on working Habbluminannas) I have a few girl friends in mind (& heart) I really want to meet. May Allah make easy my plan, amin.

Any physical activity? Oh, you bet! Intend on having my fingers on handling bowling ball.
Hope I can manage insyaAllah.
Taking my sisters for bowling soon.

Last but not least, I'm thinking of visiting as many 'Gardens' (Majlis Ilmu) as possible insyaAllah. I already have some seminar in my list to join.

Oh not to forget, I also want to get my Master application done.

Allahummayasir wa la tuasir, Rabbitamim bil khair.

Happy holiday Khalifah. Let's spend our time wisely insyaAllah. Remember how Allah stress the importance of time in Al-Asr.

Take care o our Iman and ourselves wisely insyaAllah.

Till then.

My Pride!

At-Tahrim:6

"O you who believe! Ward off from yourself and your families a Fire(Hell)".

Reminder from Allah, it's crystal clear. Easy to understand, digest and practice insyaAllah :)

Alhamdulillah, Allah's will : my sisters and I we gather at least once a week at my home.

We pray together, eat together then end our night with mini halaqah of our own.

Yesterday was merely a short topic about Qurban.

Since we are still in the mood of it, I might as well share Sirah related to it with my sisters.

The experience I had with my sisters are very rewarding ; reward from Allah.

I kept thinking over and over before we had this kind of gathering.. that I spent energy and time to help 'outsiders' saving themselves from Hellfire, but what have I done to help my family. When it comes to family wise, its never easy to preach especially when it is done with my family members who are a lot older than me. So dakwah bil-hal can take over insyaAllah.

But then, when it come to my sisters, I'm the eldest so insyaAllah it is easy insyaAllah to voice out directly certain things we want to share or to correct.

InsyaAllah I'm trying my best to have our own version of Islamic sleep over party once a week.

Muslimin Muslimat, have your own version with your family. It is our humble effort to fulfill our 1st and 2nd responsibility as Khalifah and saving ourselves from Hellfire.

InsyaAllah, amin.

Da'wah obligation.

It's not easily done when it involves mad'u that have blood ties with us, yes?

We can be bias and get easily disappointed when things didn't go our way.

Sometimes it feels much easier if we just let go and ignore but Allah has made it (crystal) clear to us -

His servants : to protects ourselves and our family from the Hell fire [At-Tahrim:6].

I sometimes wonder, the pace I keep whether it's too fast or to slow for my family to follow.

I remember a quote from Saidina Umar - to nurture our generation according to what time we live in.

One therapy / one method / one way does not fit all. What used to work before may no longer works now.

No bil-lisan involved as much when I'm with my family, mostly it's mere bil-hal.

I celebrate the steps taken but there are times I tend to get impatient and seriously mad at certain choices done by my family. The saddest and most pathetic part is, its not because it only brings loss to Islam but mostly it brings loss to me.

I can't help feeling stupid and jealous of petty little things.

*sigh*

Still, Lailaha Ilallah message needs to be send out across.

No matter who my mad'u are.

It is now time to recharge, need to get my naqibah(s) involve this time around,

my Iman battery is way too low, I end up (sometimes) give up.

My family;My everything.

*Alhamdulillah, managed to have a quick visit at Nenek's yesterday.

May Allah protects you always, Nenek.

Amin.

Sister's Time.

Alhamdulillah, finally :)

We went to The Curve - and had dinner at Teh Tarik Place. I ordered Char Kue Tiaw and Ribena Lychee, masyaAllah, marvelous! It was so delicious. Yum!

We wanted to watch Dream House actually but none of the tickets available suited our time so we spent the night talking and updating each other's latest news.

:)

Hajar was presenting her planning for the next two month during school holiday &

Alhamdulillah : spending herself at Pondok is one of her choice.

Aida? = still super excited about her coming convocation

& started to consider on purchasing her own ride.

Overall, I am relief to hear their plan and glad I am directly involve in their process of making decision.

I feel helpful and useful. I honestly envy at other families who practice their own tradition and stuff. InsyaAllah am planning in making our own.

Nothing big for a start, just something simple but meaningful insyaAllah.

:)

And yes, we even had plan for our next date together. Only us!

Can't wait!

By the way, you know what I found last night at The Curve?

It's Papier !

Shop that sells scrapbook materials.

I was in heaven!

:)

Yippie!

I left my two babies wandering around by themselves and I stayed at the shop.

I discovered last night my new hobby is expensive. Well, to me it is. Colorful papers that costs RM100 is expensive, okay? I mean, it doesn't seems so when it comes to handbags/shoes/clothes but papers?? Seriously? Now, that I start, I don't plan to stop. I looked for things that was the cheapest they sell.

*grin*

( I am in budget mode ... I have a few other occasions that need money! )

Color Paper : RM3.50 each.

Flower : RM22.

Embosser is from Daiso.

I quickly ran to Daiso to buy it.

Last but not least - a plain cover book for me to decorate. I bought this one at Kinokuniya.

This book is meant for my Khalifah Method class with Dr. Alini.

I even already have title for this book, it's called ;

Khalifah Journey.

God, I can't wait to start on my project already, but time is now occupied with other stuff. Hopefully, I can start off soon, amin.

I vow to myself :

starting this week my focus should be solely on my family.

My school is having exam this week. No preparation for lesson need as much.

I can now put my time to my family - especially my sisters. Little concern arise from my mother, she is worried about things, as the eldest I feel responsible to take away her worries insyaAllah.

I'm going to meet my sisters tonight. InsyaAllah there will be a lot to be celebrated about. Aida is having her convocation soon then Hajar is finally free from her PMR today. Taking them out for a quiet dinner and catching up.

I'm not sure about the other sisters , but since I got married I feel a little bit left out. Aida and Hajar sometimes plan things without involving me. Sulking? All the time, but I tried to (always) have my thought rationalize.

Alhamdulillah, so far I succeed. I'm sometimes tired you see to have things plan initiate by me. I feel as if I'm the only one who care about this sisterhood, but deep in my heart, I know it's not true = because every time, my sisters and I meet for any occasion, I can still sense their sincerity and warmth from their hugs.

With that, I simply melt and touched.

InsyaAllah, meeting up tonight is for me to strengthen ukhwah between me and the person who shared the same tummy to live in for at least 9 months.

Allahumma yasir wa la tuassir, Rabbi tamim bil khoir.

My role as khalifah daughter : I have to put my mother's concern as one of my priorities after My Imam. I'm trying my best insyaAllah, though I know I can't satisfy everybody's want and needs all the time. But I have to keep in mind, I should always try my best.

I miss her terribly :')

.my baby.

I can't even recall the last time we spend moment together. The thought of we are drifting apart make me sick. Aida was my world (& my heaven), she still is and will always be insyaAllah.

It seems I couldn't find time to allocate just for her. What we used to do was - we would just drop everything in hand just to meet each other and spend time together. Now, no longer, and the truth is - it just terrifying me.

Aida, I want you to know : Kakak miss you so much.

InsyaAllah we'll spend time together soon, amin.

Just us.. like our good old days.

Iftar With K. Mun ;)

I had a lovely night. Alhamdulillah.

It's Friday already!!

Yippie! Yahoo!

No, I'm not excited because tomorrow's holiday, but because I'm going to have a lunch date with Abah & Aida! Have you seen Jumper? Ya, the movie.. Abah is like somebody like that. He's travelling all over the world - working unfortunately ;p Today, he's maybe in US then two day after that he's in Bangkok! I have to make appointment just to have a quick glance on him. So insyaAllah tomorrow I'm going to meet him and report all the latest details.

Allahummayasir wa latuasir rabbitamimbilkhoir.

Today, I'm so happy.

Right before I went to sleep last night, I received SMS from my pricipal -

"Salam Zarina, that was the best ukhuwah circle we've ever had. You definitely have style girl. Well done! Nanti Kak Shomi belanja Nando's k."

Yes, I was in charge of this month Ukhuwah Circle. Alhamdulillah, everything went as planned. Such a great relief! Alhamdulillah. I do hope I've please everyone, insyaAllah.

I didn't capture any of my moments yesterday - just a picture of Abang Syidi - the ustaz in charge of mini tazkirah ;)

(Abg Syidi, cepatlah kahwin!)

Catching Up

with Aida is a must!

Especially when I have a LOT to spill and no one around is qualified nor trusted enough to hear. Hubby is entitled - its just that I need some girly girl opinion ;)

It's no coincidence when Aida and I were both craving for cheesecakes. As we normally would have the same appetite at almost at the same time. So headed to Secret Recipe (as that was the only place we could afford at the moment) heeee...

Besides, Aida has finally landed on her 1st job.. ;) congrats dear.. so proud of you! So this catching up was a mini celebration between us two ;)

p/s: dapat gaji jangan lupa belanja Kak. teehee..

Baby, may there be more cakes in our life together ;)