What I learn from being a 'student leader'.

Nearly a decade and a half ago, I was one of the most active student leaders during my undergraduate years in Edinburgh. It has taught me a lot of things, and on top of the list were goal setting and group maintenance, and of course, HAVING FUN being one fantastic leader.

source: www.utexas.edu.

Goal Setting

As a leader, I realised that it was essential to listen to the needs of the group that I was leading. Yes, some groups do have their predetermined goals, but it didn't have to be just that. In order to set the groups' goal (not our own!), it was important to ask the team members - 

1. Is the goal realistic? (Projected participants will be able to come since it is held mid-term.)
2. Is it attainable? (Can we achieve what we plan to do?)
3. What is the anticipated end-result? (At the end of the programme, at least 50 first year students will join the group).
4. How many members are expected to participate in attaining the goal? (Full co-operation, and not hangat-hangat tahi ayam/melepaskan batuk ditangga).
5. What are the reliable sources? (Who can actually REALLY help us in realising the plan? Is she/he/it available? Contacts available in hand?)

Group maintenance

With this, what I meant was keeping the members' interest with you as their leader, and with the group that they join. It is essential to know what are the motivations for students to part of a group. Some of the reasons might be;

• A desire to learn and develop new skill
• A desire to feel useful and needed
• A desire to be a part of activities that have importance
• A desire to gain visibility and recognition
• A desire to help others
• A desire for a sense of security
• A desire to reduce loneliness

Hence as leaders of members who have variety of personal needs, we as leaders need to remember that our 'subordinates' need

• to feel supported
• to feel appreciated and rewarded
• to feel that the tasks given to them challenge their abilities
• to know that it is ok to make mistakes
• to know that resources (and yourself, as a leader) are available to help.

View yourself as a team player more than a leader... 

Pix credit to Carsten Reisinger

All in all, being a student leader

• I learn how to be more responsible and organised person.
• I learn to observe people's behaviour, how to approach people when asking for help.
• I communicated better with peers and superiors.
• I discovered the ways on how to plan effectively and accomplish the plans successfully, as a team.
• I found out how to trust the right people (the hard way), and how to re-trust others.
• I noticed that dispersing a huge plan into tiny units of jobs, needs a lot of planning but would have a greater result - a successful event and an ecstatic team.
• I had a very strong stand (and still am) towards musyawarah - effective, short, brief and to-the-point meeting.
• I learn to compliment my team members and praise them for the job well done... (even it was not up to my standard.. )
• I understood that resolving conflicting ideas within team members needed a fair mind, and not emotional heart (and lots of patience, too!) (Have planned to write an entry on CONFLICT.. soon insha Allah..)

During those years, I learn all of these from many leaders around me, my Abah, Mak, Abang Shah-Kak Tie, Abg Sham-Kak Ninie, Ustaz Azman-Kak Anis, Abg Wan Saiful, Abg Cairul, late Gillies Haughton, Ruby Rennie, to name the very few...

To all student leaders out there, whether you're heading a big society, small dorm, tiny-weeny sub-unit, with glamorous status or not, ENJOY yourself as a student leader. Enjoy the learning curves, the ups and downs. It'll make you stronger and more independent. It'll make your uni life more enjoyable.. I enjoyed mine, each and every bit of it... alhamdulillah. 

Wallahu'alam

What I learn 'by following their dreams, not mine..'

Supporting your children's interests is important. The key words were made bold. It should be their interest, and NOT ours. Many times I have seen parents had fallen into the traps of forcing promoting their children into activities that the children didn't enjoy.

It is important as parents, to notice what our children enjoy by paying attention and observing what makes them smile and laugh, and sometimes imitating it in front of the mirror. My husband and I frequently discussed ways for our children to explore their interest and ways to help them learn through and about their interest. Books and encyclopedia were explored and Al Fateh realised that books are fantastic tools to learn more about his interest, and google search as well! (You go, boy!! =D)

For six year old Al Fateh, he has memorised most of the tennis players while we watched the OZ/US/French Open & Wimbeldon tournaments, imitating their grunts and moves during play time. We brought him to the uni's tennis court several times and had a bit of fun hitting some balls. My husband admitted that he has strong ball sense and good strong strokes for a boy his age. With Allah's will, we met Kak Raihan, a colleague of mine, who's son was playing on the court next to ours, and she advised us to send him (AF) to a professional coach. 

Hence, during the car ride home, we asked Al Fateh to think about whether he wants to pursue his interest with a proper coach. We purposely asked him to decide since we believe that he's old enough (at six) to know his own likes/dislikes (and at he wont blame us for sending him to places he has no interest in, later!). I believe, by asking him to think rationally, it will make him realise that the ball is in his court, and we don't mind if he says 'No'. We told him all the details he needs to rationalised, i.e the place, time, day, what will the others do when he's playing, other positive outcomes by leading healthy lifestyle, etc.

He agreed.

The next week, we went to the tennis complex in Kuala Terengganu for his first training with a 'real' coach. Alhamdulillah, he enjoyed himself.. even up until now.

AF first day with Coach Marzuki.

What I learn from  following Al Fateh's dream;

1. Pay attention and observe your children's interests.
2. Nurture them by asking questions and explore more of their interest. How?
• By reading related books (with loads of pix for children) and encyclopedias (and silently developing their interests in books!)
• Explore the interest hands-on... (they'll love you for it!)
3. Do not be pushy. Let them decide to pursue it or not. But before deciding, discuss and rationalise the decision. You are (silently) teaching your child critical thinking skill.

May Allah enriches us with more ideas (ilham) and skills in educating our children to be strong and intelligent caliphs.. amin. 

Wallahu'alam..

What I learn from 'Al Fateh's last day on Iqra''

Al Fateh managed to complete his Iqra at the age of 5, alhamdulillah. 

We also thank Allah for bestowing us patients and determination in setting a good role model amongst Al Fateh's siblings.Yes, there are some days when he really test our patients to the core - not being serious and more interested in doing something else. But as parents, the need to set a straight forward rule is essential. And we have to stick to it, however cheeky a child can be.

Kids needs routine, kids love routine. Al Fateh knew that he has his practices of Iqra' after maghrib (almost) daily.

During Majlis Khatam Quran Negeri Terengganu, October, 2011.

But I must admit, the issue has a deeper root than that.

The need for young adults to understand the importance to find a wife/husband who has (good and in-depth) knowledge of Islam, and put a minimum requirement for him/her to at least pray 5 times a day and can recite the Quran well. Having a husband who is well versed had strongly assisted the teaching process for Al Fateh, alhamdulillah, since there were days when the younger kids tended to be cranky.

It's important so that we, as ladies will be very sure that our lives (and the children's) will always be in the path of Allah. Once you've put that requirement, it's crucial that you have to match it too! And be sure, that Allah has promised that 'And good women (are) for good men, and good men (are) for good women. [Quran 24:26]

We, as parents, however busy we are with our lives and career, we need to find time to fulfill our duties towards our kids. We always remind ourselves that we will be held accountable for this trust on the Day of Judgment. We, as parents, are essentially responsible for the moral, ethical and the basic and essential religious teachings of their children. I remembered in one of our sisters' gathering when this hadith of Rasulullah s.a.w. was told, it gave me shivers:

"Take care! Each of you is a shepherd and each of you shall be asked concerning his flock; a leader is a shepherd of his people, and he shall be asked concerning his flock; and a man is a shepherd of the people of his house, and he shall be asked concerning his flock; and a woman is a shepherd of the house of her husband and over their children, and she shall be asked concerning them.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] 

 

From Al Fateh's Iqra' journey, I learned that as a mother, I must always be aware that I am serving as a role model in my behavior, and my attitudes. Every mother should be conscious of her role and do her best to make it beneficial for the development of her children as they set out on the journey of life. And it all starts from home.

Another lesson learned is that we can and should teach our own child! YES, WE CAN! Especially the basics of reading. Just imagine how much good deeds we would collect when our children start to read the Quran and other books or media. We ourselves, with our own hands, have taught them each and every single letter. Masha Allah. May Allah fosters determination and patients for us to teach our own, aamin.

  p/s: Ya Allah, please give me the same strength in teaching Alwani, Yusuf, Fawwaz & Uwais on how to read! Aamin. 

What I learn 'when Uwais turns blue!'

Ammar Uwais and Affif Fawwaz had been coughing for about 5 days. The MDs in the local government clinics advised me to breastfeed more frequently, since it was not advisable to give cough syrups to newborn babies.

Both babies were sleeping, but Uwais hardly wakes up for his feeds. Each time after Fawwaz completed his 'turn', I woke Uwais up for feed. He sucked once or twice, then doze back off to sleep. I thought it was just motion sickness from the long car ride two days back, and it might be a reaction from the one month immunisation jabs.

But after subuh prayers, the mother's instinct knew that something was not right. I picked up Uwais, he was cold but breathing. Fawwaz was active like he normally is. I called a good friend of mine, Pipah, a pediatrician, and she advised me to visit the government clinic as soon as possible. 

We left the house, with all the five children and rushed to the local clinic, which was about 7 minutes from home. At the traffic light near the clinics, Uwais, who was wrapped warmly in my arms turned bluish on his lips. 

As we arrived in the emergency room at the Klinik Kesihatan Wakaf Tengah, I shouted for help. A familiar nurse came and urgently put Uwais on a bed, putting a big helmet-looking dome on top of Uwais head, and quickly poked the oxygen hose into the dome. Within seconds, Uwais cried and responded to the treatment. His hands were waving and kicked his tiny feet wearily. Alhamdulillah. Only Allah knows how helpless I was.

Dr S came to the ER, and she was terribly shock since I just visited her the day before for consultation regarding the boys' coughing symptoms. She immediately advised me to admit Uwais to the hospital for observation. So in a super rapid ambulance, we traveled from Wakaf Tengah to Kuala Terengganu in 15 minutes (the journey usually takes 30minutes)!!

2 hours in the ER and everything was well. We were sent to a pediatrics ward, and within 5 minutes, a group of doctors came to Uwais' bed for their ward rounds. Two of the docs were suddenly signalling each other, and I knew something was VERY wrong. One of them asked me to stand away while they were performing CPR to Uwais. He stopped breathing, again. Within the 15 minutes, Uwais stopped breathing 4 times.

He was rushed to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), again, he turned blue. The two paeds specialists worked hand in hand quickly and in half an hour, Dr N called me in. As I saw Uwais, I kept my emotions in control though it hurt me to the core, looking at his body being poked on both his arms, hands, and feet. He was intubated, fully using the breathing support because his irregular breathing pattern. Dr N and her team was still in the process of diagnosing his illness. I asked about Fawwaz, since I knew Fawwaz's cough was worse. She advised me to bring him in as well.

Ammar Uwais, 3rd day in NICU, HSNZ. Extubated from the breathing support, Alhamdulillah.

~~ Fast forward - 6 days later ~~

I 'checked-out' from 5A ward, and both Ammar Uwais and Affif Fawwaz were discharged from their respective wards (6CD and NICU). Yes, all of us were under the same roof but being located in three different wards. They were diagnosed with pneumonia, and it got worse since they were premature babies and their organs were still under-developed.

Discharged day, 11.12.11

HSNZ charged nothing for the comfortable and superb service given to all three of us. Alhamdulillah. A HUGE BIG Thank you to the Neonatal wards (NICU, 6CD, 5A) staff for their great support and service.

Lesson learned;

1. Parents, especially mothers, please don't get panic if something gets (really) wrong to our children. We can't think straight in panic mode. Keep calm. Zikr, salawat syifa'.
2. When your child(ren) is ill, act quickly, especially parents with premature babies. 
3. Trust government hospitals. They have very capable hands. They charge minimally, and it's usually FOC for government servants. 
4. You need support, physically and especially, emotionally. Alhamdulillah, my husband is a very responsible husband and father. He took care of the three older kids on his own for the week, and still came to visit us in the hospital everyday during lunchtime. And alhamdulillah for my wonderful and supportive parents who drove up to Terengganu to help out. The emotional support was needed and longed-for. 
5. Never give up hope, and never stop asking help from Allah. It was devastating to see your child being poked all over and looking so lifeless. Talk to Him, pray to Him. He listens to you. 
6. Ask questions to the Specialist. You need to know what's wrong, what's better, and what can be done to help your child(ren) gets well quicker. It's their job to answer our query.
7. Be there for your sick child. Talk to them, give them gentle strokes even they are babies. They will somehow know we are there. It's devastating to see a lot of babies in NICU unit being left to struggle alone to survive.

 Wallahu'alam


   

What I learn from 'love at first sight'.

No matter how painful the pregnancy journey and labour were, the first sight of my boys demolished all the hardship. That's Allah's special gift to us mothers. Immediate cure. Subhanallah. 

3 days old twins. (Look at my HUGE hands as a comparison to the teeny twins!)

Lesson learned, after every hardship, Allah will always bestow us ease and relieve. And the beauty of it is, you forgot how bad the hardship was, since your heart is overflowing with happiness and gratefulness towards His gifts for you..

Praise be to Allah.

Abi and the twins - the first met face to face on their 10th day.

Abi experienced, once again, love at first sight... unconditional love of a father.

Previously, my husband first saw his twins via Skype from Mecca. He arrived on KT2 flight from Jeddah and met his latest clans on their 10th day off-womb. Alhamdulillah... And in 2011... Abi was the biggest winner, a wonderful hajj experience, a book and a set of twins!

Love you & Bravo, Abang!

What I learn from 'You'll never walk alone 1 - Caesarean experience'

Firstly, no... this entry has no connection with Liverpool (though my husband is a die-hard Liverpool fan!)

This entry is dedicated to the O&G team in Hospital Tuanku Jaafar Seremban who had been wonderfully calm and reassuring throughout the labour process of my twins.

~~~ Flash back ~~ 

I'm only at my 34th week of pregnancy but the signs of labour pains were becoming vivid. Swollen feet, severe back pain, the persistent and consistent pain of contractions. But of course, as always, I was in denial. Just another Braxton Hicks. I have been in labour three times previously, and I was pretty sure how the 'real-actual' labour feels like..

Nonetheless, since my husband was away performing his Hajj (May Allah bestows him ease in his Hajj and accepts all his ibadah,  aamin Ya Rabb!), I was in the fantastic, 1st class care of my parents. Mak looked cool and relaxed (she saw me delivered Al Fateh and Alwani in King Eddie!), kept on saying 'Say your zikr,' but Abah was the opposite. He rarely saw me in pain, and I think it's hard for dads to see their daughters (and sons) in a super uncomfortable phase. And so, he pleaded (and begged) me to pay a visit to the hospital.

Being an obedient daughter, I followed his suggestion, though I'm pretty sure I was not in real labour (still in denial, ahak!!). So,at 2.45pm 3.11.11, I went to the screening room of the O&G department with my battered pink pregnancy book. And gave myself up to the Med Team of HTJS, literally and physically!

~~

2.50pm

No, I was not dilated (well, only 2cm) but the MD was concern since my contractions were pretty close and long (4 in 10mins). Then I was wheeled to see the Head of the O&G, Dr K, and did the ultrasound, to see whether the twins were behaving themselves in there. And yes they were, at 34weeks & 6days, Dr K estimated them to be 2.3 kgs each. Then THE question asked, 

'Are you ready to have your twins today?' As easy as that!?!! 

- 'Aren't you busy doc?' (still in denial!! Oh Azza, come on!!!). 

He said, 'I'm free at six, we can have it done then!'

- 'Can I text my hubs, first?' (texting... tit tit tit...)

(answered, Semoga Allah permudahkan urusan ayang. Abang doakan semuanya selamat dan Allah menyediakan segalanya yang terbaik. Terima kasih kerana menjadi seorang mujahidah yang tabah dan isteri yang solehah)

'What did he say?'

- 'Errmmm, yes?! He said go on with the procedure'.

4pm

Papers were signed, blood were taken, hospital gown were given.

5pm

I was wheeled to the prep area aka labour hall. Lying down, listening to my 'neighbours' screeching, huffing and puffing, grunting and squealing - fighting their own lives for another one. 

I silently prayed that Allah grant them ease and to me too. 

I prayed for my husband, Abah and Mak to be calm and not to worry too much about me. 

I prayed that my kids at home aren't misbehaving.

I prayed for the ease of the caesarean procedure.

I prayed that my aurat would not be opened unnecessarily.

I prayed a lot... (as I was taught by a Lebanese friend, back in Muslim Ladies College in Perth that it is during this specific time that our prayers would be heard and answered, insha Allah.)

A friendly and soft spoken staff nurse came to me and told me gently that she was going to insert a catheter into my bladder and she told me to stay calm and to recite alot of salawat upon Rasulullah s.a.w.

Another 10 minutes, another staff nurse (SN A) came in and told me that she heard me saying to an Indian nurse that I wanted to change into the op cap (looking like the green shower cap) only when I was in the OT. There are too many people here. And Alhamdulillah, she brought with her a special op cap which covered the head, as well as the neck. I changed straight away. Allah answers your prayers if you asked for help.. remember, you never walk alone!

6pm

SN A came again to my cubicle. She told me Dr Krishna called in and he might be half an hour late. SN A asked me if I would like to perform my Asr prayers first, but I need to do it sitting down. Alhamdullillah, Allah creates ways for me to make this experience more beautiful. SN A gave me spray bottle for my wudhu' and I performed my first Asr prayers on a hospital trolley!

6.45pm

I was wheeled into the OT. Even up to this time, I kept my composure calm and composed. I must admit that He must have supplied me an endless 'tranquil pills' - that's the power of zikr and salawat upon Rasulullah. I believed that Allah has assigned me this path, performing the c-sect, giving birth to twins alone-ish, giving birth in Seremban, and not in Kuala Terengganu, premature labour, etc. Nevertheless, He didn't make the path rougher, He wants to show me that His plans are the best...

To be continued in 'You'll never walk alone 2'..

What I learn from 'You'll never walk alone 2 - Caesarean experience'

Continuation from 'You'll Never Walk Alone 1'

7pm

I was greeted at the OT door by an anesthetist. Fluently verse in English and Malay, informing me all the risks performing spinal during the c-sect op. During the Q&A, I politely asked the anest that I really wanted a reassurance that the spinal would work during op, I had a bad experience with Yusuf, whereby the epidural didn't work since all the meds were tubed onto the hosp bed. 

She was very kind by telling me that she would prove to me it'd work. 'And don't stop your du'as and zikr, they are our weapons as Muslims', masha Allah, another support sent by Allah! Allahu Akbar!!

7.15 pm

I was wheeled into the actual OT where the operation would be held. I saw some familiar faces (SN A, Dr Anest) smiling under their surgical masks. By the way, I still had big contractions and in between one of the contractions, SN A and another nurse propped me up and asked me to recite salawat, bismillah and shahadah, and sit very still - so I did. After completing the shahadah, Dr Anest called, 'Spinal in' and patted my shoulder. Praise to Allah, it was done so smoothly that I was not in pain, and most importantly, I was not agitated!

(within a minute, I felt pin and needles on my toes then no sensation at all. I tried to wiggle my foot, but nothing happen. It was a weird feeling, I must admit!)

Dr Anest then came next to me with a pin, and said, 'Do you feel anything?'

- 'What do you mean doc?'

'I'm pricking your thigh..' (then she pricked the same pin onto my arms)

- 'Ouch!'

'So the meds is working, insha Allah. Dont worry, you are in superb hands. This surgical team is the best!' consoled Dr Anest.

- 'Alhamdulillah. Thanks alot Doc!'

Then a formal introduction begins. Yes, the have a taaruf session in the OT! They introduced themselves.

'First surgeon, Dr K'

'Second surgeon, Dr Q'

'Anesthetist, Dr Anest'

'Pediatrics, Dr X' 

'First catcher, SN A'

'2nd catcher, SN X'

'SN Y'

'SN Z'

'Patient?'

Silent...

'Patient?' called Dr K again.

- 'Oh I need to introduce myself as well?'

'Yes, ma'am!'

- 'Hi all, you're going to cut AZZA JAUHAR AHMAD TAJUDDIN'

And everybody laughed.

And so the procedure started. My bed was strategically situated under the shiny new aluminum lights, whereby the reflection was directly on the operated area. Yes, I was able to see the whole procedure, LIVE and EXCLUSIVE!! I can see people playing with the inside of my body!!! 

I faced the left, SN A told me gently not to face that side, since there was alot of tools.

I faced the right, another staff nurse told me that my bp reading was not stable if I face that way.

I looked up, shut my eyes, SN A called my name, I answered, she said please keep my eyes open, so that they knew that I was awake. 

Oh no!!! I need to look at the LIVE telecast!!!

Yes, I saw the surgeons cut three layers of my tummy, putting a 'transformers gadget' which opened up the cut to a nice size. slide through some organs (I think) and.......... taraaa... first twin in a pouch! It was grey! Dr K pulled it up and showed me and quickly handed him to the first catcher, '1945, first twin', announced Dr K.

The next minute, the second was pulled, another grey pouch. 'Just like in the shopping center, buy one get one free!' I exclaimed. 

Dr A chuckled then told me, 'I should tell my wife that! By the way, I have a set of twins too, both girls, SN A has a set of girls as well, Dr K has a boy and girl twins, Dr X the paeds is expecting twin boys!'

Dr K, 'A room full of privileged parents of twins!'

Then the sewing process took place. It took Dr K half an hour to sew me up. Upon finishing, Dr A quickly asked Dr K's permission to leave the OT to perform the maghrib prayers. Subhanallah, I was helped by good Muslims, alhamdulillah!

SN A and SN X then approached me with my boys! Masha Allah... those two babies were swimming in my womb minutes ago, and now, they are breathing on their own. Smooched them, confirmed their IDs on the blue tags on their feet and they were then moved to NICU.

Twin A, Twin B

2.1kg, 2.2kg

1945, 1946

3-11-11

Alhamdulillah Ya Allah for making the experience a beautiful one. You ease the way... thank you Allah.

 

What I learn from 'Blood Sugar Profile for GDM'.

I was requested by the GP in Wakaf Tengah Clinics to perform the Blood Sugar Profile (BSP) test during my 15th week pregnancy check-up. I personally thought something was wrong but I was ensured by the Medical Officer that it was a procedure for risky pregnancy cases (multiple pregnancy for me) as well as as patients whose parents are diabetic. Since I belonged to both, I was obliged to do the BSP test. 

BSP is basically a test whereby the nurse will prick your fingers to get some blood and measure the amount of sugar in your body. The reading target for normal amount (in Malaysia) is 3.5 - 5.9. There will be four readings per day - before breakfast (0730), post breakfast (0930), post lunch (1300) and post dinner (1700). The reading would show whether the organs in your body are working as it should. And if the reading is not right, meaning too high, it means you're prone to be diabetic and your baby in the womb might be bigger than usual. Close monitoring needs to be done.

Oh, before that, you need to drink this cupful of syrup... thick one. It's not diluted and it's yucky!! hahah... (and dont throw it in the drain when the nurses are not watching!!)

So, during the whole pregnancy, I did 4 BSP tests in Klinik Desa Mengabang Telipot. Went there 4 times per day when the blood was needed. Here was my results!!

 

Alhamdulillah, my readings were good. And I did not cheat! Cheating in the sense that, some of other patients openly told me that they skipped meals in order to get good readings. Some didn't eat the normal food that they usually take. 

However, it defeats the purpose of doing the BSP, isn't it? These tests are meant to inform the doctors (and ourselves, too) on how our body works and whether medications are needed to control our illness. To make sure that they know the baby(ies) in our wombs are not going to be huge, to avoid complications during birth. So, cheating is unnecessary, ladies!

A few lessons learned during the whole of this BSP procedure. Firstly, dont be scared. It's just a routine and you are not going to die while undergoing this procedures. The pin prick feels like a kerengga bite.

Secondly, dont cheat. The medical team doesn't know that you're cheating, it's not their problem anyway! The problem is yours, later on. When the baby is overloaded with sugar and it gets so huge (because you only skip meal 4 times during the whole pregnancy, but the rest of it... jeng jeng jeng...), there might be complications. So, one of the purpose of BSP procedure is to inform the med teams about your condition, and steps to avoid complications later on. So, again, please don't cheat.

Thirdly, dont skip appointment. Yes, it is a hassle, but it's for your own good, and the life in your womb, too!

Wallahu'alam.

What I learn 'from Hajj 1432 - I'm waiting for Your call...'

My husband left for Hajj on KT2 early this morning. Our earlier plans to perform Hajj together was being denied by Allah, for He has other plans for me. I failed the health examinations for the Malaysian pilgrims - I am (8 months) pregnant. I have waited for this call ever since we registered with Tabung Haji and banked in all of my mas kahwin & hantaran money (dowry) 2 days after the akad nikah ceremony (17th of August 2004).

After a lengthy discussion, we came to an agreement that my husband would perform his Hajj first, and insha Allah, when Allah calls for me to visit His noble house, I'll accept His invitation. And I pray that Allah will make the path of Hajj easy for me, pre, while and post-Hajj.

Pic was not taken during pre-departure! =D

Anyway, saying goodbye was not easy for any of us. Tears of sadness of not having the chance to go with him and as for him, knowing that I was heavily pregnant, carrying the twins - it was a big challenge to drive away from Kelana Jaya with blurry eyes! I truly hope one day, I will get the chance to be blessed with the greatest honor by being called to Your noble House... aamin!

And, not making things easier this song was aired on the radio... 

 

Irfan Makki's - I'm Waiting for Your Call.

Miles away, oceans apart
Never in my sight but always in my heart
The love is always there it will never die
Only growing stronger  

tears goes down my eyes

I am thinking all the time
When the day will come
Standing there before you

Accept this Hajj of mine
 

Standing in ihram, making my tawaf

Drinking blessings from your well

The challenges of Safa & Marwah

Rekindles my imaan
 

O Allah! I am waiting for the call

Praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall

O Allah! I am waiting for the call

Praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall

I feel alive and I feel strong

I can feel Islam running through my Veins

To see my Muslim brothers, their purpose all the same

Greeting one another, exalting one's True Name

I truly hope one day everyone will get the chance

to be blessed with the greatest honor

by being called to Your noble House

Standing in ihram, making my tawaf

Drinking blessings from your well

The challenges of Safa & Marwah

Rekindles my imaan

O Allah! I am waiting for the call

Praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall

O Allah! I am waiting for the call

Praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall

 

Before the peak period of Hajj. Pix taken by Mr Hubby on 11/10/11

Ya Allah, grant my husband with mabrur hajj, ease his path to multiple his ibadah.

Ya Allah, please provide the best path for me to perform Hajj. The path that will create the best circumstances and conditions for me, my husband, my children and my parents.. aamin.

O Allah, I'm waiting for your call....

What I learn from 'Izzah Athirah'.

Izzah Athirah, a ten year old school girl from Seremban, passed away yesterday, after being rushed to the GH from her school. She was found weak and seemingly lifeless, after mistakenly left in the car for nearly 8 hours. Aisyah, my niece, told me this tragic story as she arrived from school last night. They were from the same school.

Exactly after the whole school completed the last verse of the Surah Yaa-sin, dedicated to Athirah, a handphone rang, informing them about Athirah's death. Yes, she was still alive, but weak and vomitting after being found in her Mom's Alza at 2pm.

Her mom, a teacher in the same school, left the car keys to a younger sister of Athirah for her to lock it in the morning; was shocked to see Athirah was still in the car during home time, since she thought both Athirah and her sister left the car after finding and wearing their shoes in the car earlier in the morning.

Lesson learned from this tragic episode:

1. Never take things for granted about checking and re-checking your passengers, especially the young ones. I personally need to be caution, especially at this age when Al Fateh and Yusuf love to play hide and seek with each other. 
2. If you are an owner of an MPV, do check the back row of your car, not just the passenger's seat behind you. You might find a 'hidden treasure' trying to scare you - but it's better for them to scare you in a fun way, then in a tragic way.
3. Do head counts of your passengers, especially in the case of Athirah, who had 8 siblings.I know it sounds like school excursion, but never ever take things for granted.
4. Do not leave your children responsible of an adult's duty, especially unsupervised. Leaving the car keys for your younger kids to lock up it's not an option.
5. Make sure that the car is locked (and secure everyone out of it) after you've parked at home. Kids can be super creative in finding places for their hide-and-seek activity.
6. Learn from it, and don't put more blame on the mom, or anyone at all, after this mishap. She suffered more than we know, and thickening her guilt would not help her and the family to move on. For all we know, they have an ensured member of jannah, waiting to pray for them. I am a mother and a teacher, and I strongly disagree of the police's accusation of her trying to kill her own child. She made a mistake and I'm positively sure, she has learned from it, as I do.

Al Fatihah to Izzah Athirah. May you have peace in the barzakh.

(Newspaper articles regarding this tragedy: 1 2 3)