Desert Rose

Back to blogging

2010-12-20T22:27:00.003-07:00

Reading this old blog that I happened to randomly remember the other day, I felt like I should blog again.
The problem is, being in Syria for a while I haven`t written anything in English. I fell like I`ve forgotten how to write at all!
I feel like the guy Zacharia`s cousin talked about, the guy who comes to learn Arabic, doesn`t learn it well enough and forgets his English being out of practice and isn`t able to communicate anymore.

My aunt sent this to me

2006-11-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

To all the wonderful kids who were born in India/Pakistan/Bangladesh and survived the 50's,60's and 70's:

First, we survived being born to mothers, some, whose husbands smoked and/or drank while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate whatever food was put on the table, and didn't get tested for diabetes. They were mothers who did not check their blood pressure every few minutes.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets, and then we rode our bikes we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking or going out on our own.

As children, we would ride incars with no seat belts or airbags. We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, fromone bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We would share a dosa, dip a chapatti into someone else's plate of curry without batting an eyelid.We ate jam sandwiches or pickle on bread and butter, raw mangoes with salt and drank orange squash with sugar and water in it. We ate at roadside stalls, drank water from tender coconuts, ate everything - Bhel Puri to bhajias and samosas, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day during the holidays, we were never ever bored, and we were allowed freedom all day as long as we were back when the streetlights came on, or when our parents told us to do so. No one was able to reach us all day by mobile phone or phone.

And we were O.K.

We swam with an inflated tube which we got from somebody who was replacing their car tyres. We ran barefoot without thinking about it, if we got cut we used iodine on it which made us jump. We did not wash our hands ten times a day.

And we were OK.

We did not have parents who said things like "what would you like for breakfast, lunch or dinner". We ate what was put in front of us and best of all, there was never any leftovers. We fell out of trees numerous times, got cut, broke bones and teeth.

We ate fruit lying on the ground that we shook down from the tree above. And we never washed fruit. We had a bath using a bucket and mug and used Lifebuoy soap. We did not know what shampoo and conditioners meant.

Yet this generation of ours has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

Please pass this on to others who have had the luck and good fortune to grow up as kids in India / Pakistan in the 50's 60's and 70's.

Those were the days my friend !!

Ayaat Allah

2006-10-16T00:07:00.000-06:00

Soothing soft music of tiny rain drops splashing on the roofs and pipes
Colours of Allah

complexity of Life

2006-10-07T00:28:00.000-06:00

Sometimes life is so complicated.
Our actions, reactions, thoughts and responses.
Sometimes we can handle huge problems with extreme ease, with the help of Allah of course
But sometimes tiny little things can create
such a web of complications in our mind
Such a storm in our feelings
That we end up behaving in ways that we don’t want to
Our response is so sudden and so foreign that it takes sometime for ourselves to digest what just happened
Then we yearn to turn back time
We long to fix things

Somewhat like what Allah mentions in the Qur’an. About how people will ask Allah to give them some time to relive their lives so they could fix their mistakes and worship Allah alone.

Donate Generously

2006-10-01T16:41:00.000-06:00

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barkatuh,

Alhamdulillah, the blessed month of Ramadan is upon us once again. May Allah make it a month full of his blessings and mercy for us all, Insha'Allah.

We would like to remind and invite everyone to the iftars MSA will be hosting on campus every weekday in the basement of SUB. Anyone and everyone is welcome.

It would be wonderful if you could also share some of your energy in helping out with the Iftar in the spirit of kindness and rahma.

Your donations (food and/or monetary) would be greatly appreciated.

Subhanallah this year we have about a 100 students who share MSA iftars every weekday. Inshallah this is an opportunity for you to share in the Du'as and rewards to feed soo many people.

You do not have to provide food for 100 people , partial donations of food/money for 10-20-50 people will also be REALLY Helpful. May Allah put Barakah and rewards for your donations.

If you would like to donate, please email
Zacharia: zalkhatib@gmail.com,
Fahad: fafzal@ualberta.ca

If donating food, please include the day you would like to make the donation for.
Please fwd this mail to anyone you think would be interested in grabbing this opportunity for Allah's blessings, rewards and mercy.

Jazzak Allah Khayr, Wasalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah

MSA Dinner

2006-09-21T16:26:00.000-06:00

Assalaamu Alaykum,

Insha'Allah we will be having an MSA welcome back dinner this Friday September 22 at 4:30pm in the Meditation room, basement of SUB.

We apologize for the short notice. We will also, Insha'Allah, have a short talk by Zacharia Al-Khatib, and Shaykh Ahmed Qandeel Themed "The Fast of Ramadan & the Furious Shaytan". The dinner, as usual, if free of cost.

Insha'Allah, this will be a great opportunity to meet and greet you fellow muslim brothers and sisters on campus, welcome the new brothers and sisters, as well as enjoy a free meal!
We hope to see everyone there!

Wassalaam,
MSA

SubhanAllah

2006-09-13T18:40:00.000-06:00

Tampa woman who lost eight relatives in the 9/11 attacks converts to Islam as tensions simmer from the memories and new terror plots. But she presses on.

(click here to read full article)

Her mother named her Elizabeth after the queen of England. More than fourdecades later, she took another name: Safia Al-Kasaby, reflecting her newidentity as a Muslima.

Safia, 43, is an unlikely candidate for conversion. She claims Jewish andPuerto Rican ancestry. She is a former sergeant first class in the AirForce National Guard. And she lost eight relatives - one uncle and sevencousins - in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

AWWWE, CUTE

2006-09-10T21:47:00.000-06:00

WELCOME TO THE NEWEST ATIQ/SIDDIQUI ADDITION...

Sarah and Fawaz bhai had healthy little baby Ibrahim this morning...

2006-09-08T08:10:00.000-06:00

2006-09-08T07:52:00.000-06:00

Learn Urdu

2006-09-07T19:59:00.000-06:00

Check out my new blog to learn Urdu
For all you USL students out there

www.urduforyou.blogspot.com

3 things

2006-09-06T09:38:00.000-06:00

Post Umrah withdrawal Syndrome

I'm not liking this background

2006-08-09T15:27:00.000-06:00

All you bloggers and non-bloggers do something worth while and start writing in BBC forums because seriously, people filling out these forums have twisted views:

BBC FORUMS, CLICK HERE (I fixed it)

India

2006-08-04T08:06:00.000-06:00

Everyday in India is amusing

click here to see the Indian monkey business

Construction

2006-07-30T15:09:00.000-06:00

TEMPLATE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

This is so much fun

2006-07-28T17:54:00.000-06:00

Awkward Situation

2006-07-18T10:40:00.000-06:00

I just took a break at work and was reading in a corner in the Staff Lounge, a fairly big room.
15 minute break was over, got up and turned to leave through the door in the opposite corner of the room.
Almost at the door when I noticed a beared brown uncle sitting on one of the many square tables for four. We both nodded our head and said Good Morning as a professional routine and I was on my way out. I could feel his stare on my back as if he wanted to say something.

As I pushed the door:

Uncle: Are you Muslim?
I turned back with a hesitant smile thinking what do you think, of course I'm Muslim: "Yes"
Uncle with an excited look: "Mashallah, I'm Muslim too"
Me with hesitant smile and a nod muttered under my breath: "Alhamdulilah"
and quickly walked away...

Now I feel like I should have said something. The uncle looked quite excited and eager to talk to a Muslim hijabi working for the City. You know the look of pride and happiness, the pride of being Muslim and seeing Muslims practicing their faith in non-muslim countries. Yeah, that's the look he had.
I'm usually very hesistant to talk to any stanger men and respond with a straight face smile to any conversation started. This time I felt I should have said something because he didn't start a conversation just for the sake of talking but because he was so happy to see a Muslimah and more so to see a Muhajabah.
So he might have thought I'm arrogant and rude.

What should you say or do in such awkward situations?

Petition

2006-07-17T15:46:00.000-06:00

Please sign "Save the Lebanese Civilians Petition"

I'm not sure how this petition will help but I don't want anyone to forgo the opportunity to be part of anything that remotely has a possibility of helping in anyway.

Woman Da'ees

2006-07-14T11:05:00.000-06:00

Have a look: Woman Preachers
Make sure you go through all the pictures (by clicking next) to complete the story :)

Symposium

2006-07-07T12:08:00.000-06:00

Everyone is going to the Symposium I hope...

I haven't heard Zia Khan since a LOOONG LOONG time....

Another announcement

2006-07-05T16:39:00.000-06:00

Alhamdulilah we have another announcement :)

Nosheen Waheed
engaged to
Shuaib Ahmed (from calgary who now lives here)

The Hot News :D

2006-06-26T00:23:00.000-06:00

ok I can't hold it in any longer, I've told my husband, I've told my cousin, I've told my best friend and now I need to tell the world...

HANNA REKIEH
engaged to
Imran Waheed (siblings: Nosheen the pharmacist and Noman Waheed)

Oh man, this is so exciting... Now I get to teach Hanna some Urdu along with my disappeared student Salwa :D :D :D

Hmm maybe I should call her first

~ HOT NEWS ~

2006-06-25T10:59:00.000-06:00

It's the season of interculture marriages :)

One more engaged last night...... I don't think I can anounce just as yet, you know the formalities, families have to announce to relatives and friends before the news gets out :)

I'm so excited...
The guy is brown (paki), we don't really know him but some of us do know his sister
The girl is our very own beloved Leb sister :)

any guesses? the news should be out by tonight or tomorrow Inshallah....

SubhanAllah

2006-06-14T16:34:00.000-06:00

For all those who can understand urdu this is a MUST read, if you can't read then get someone to read it for you. Subhanallah a good source to let the tears flow from the stone hearts

"Thenceforth were your hearts hardened: They became like a rock and even worse in hardness. For among rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth; others there are which when split asunder send forth water; and others which sink for fear of God. And God is not unmindful of what ye do" Qur'an 2:74

Hawaii Discovers Islam

2006-06-09T10:01:00.000-06:00

Hakim Ouansafi, the president of the Muslim Association of Hawai'i, said that prior to Sept. 11, there had been an average of three converts per month.
In the two months since then, there have been 23.

read on

Marriage in Islam

2006-05-30T23:33:00.000-06:00

by Shahina Siddiqui

Marital love in Islam inculcates the following:

Faith: The love Muslim spouses have for each other is for the sake of Allah that is to gain His pleasure. It is from Allah that we claim our mutual rights (Quran 4:1) and it is to Allah that we are accountable for our behavior as husbands and wives.

It sustains: Love is not to consume but to sustain. Allah expresses His love for us by providing sustenance. To love in Islam is to sustain our loved one physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually, to the best of our ability (to sustain materially is the husbands duty, however if the wife wishes she can also contribute)

Accepts: To love someone is to accept them for who they are. It is selfishness to try and mould someone as we wish them to be. True love does not attempt to crush individuality or control personal differences, but is magnanimous and secure to accommodate differences.

Challenges: Love challenges us to be all we can, it encourages us to tap into our talents and takes pride in our achievements. To enable our loved one to realize their potential is the most rewarding experience.

Merciful: Mercy compels us to love and love compels us to have mercy. In the Islamic context the two are synonymous. The attribute Allah chose to be the supreme for Himself is that He is the most Merciful. This attribute of Rehman (the Merciful) is mentioned 170 times in the Quran, bringing home the significance for believers to be merciful. Mercy in practical application means to have and show compassion and to be charitable.

Forgiving: Love is never too proud to seek forgiveness or too stingy to forgive. It is willing to let go of hurt and letdowns. Forgiveness allows us the opportunity to improve and correct our selves.

Respect: To love is to respect and value the person their contributions and their opinions. Respect does not allow us to take for granted our loved ones or to ignore their input. How we interact with our spouses reflects whether we respect them or not.

Confidentiality: Trust is the most essential ingredient of love. When trust is betrayed and confidentiality compromised, love loses its soul.

Caring: Love fosters a deep fondness that dictates caring and sharing in all that we do. The needs of our loved ones take precedence over our own.

Kindness: The Seerah (biography) of our beloved Prophet is rich with examples of acts of kindness, he showed towards his family and particularly his wives. Even when his patience was tried, he was never unkind in word or deed. To love is to be kind.

Grows: Marital love is not static it grows and flourishes with each day of marital life. It requires work and commitment, and is nourished through faith when we are thankful and appreciative of Allah blessings.

Enhances: Love enhances our image and beautifies our world. It provides emotional security and physical well being.

Selflessness: Love gives unconditionally and protects dutifully.

Truthful: Love is honesty without cruelty and loyalty without compromise.

Branding Pakistan

2006-05-30T23:27:00.000-06:00

http://pakistanimage.blogspot.com/

URGENT DU'AS NEEDED

2006-04-19T23:17:00.000-06:00

Ok everybody it's time again for me to write finals and for you to make LOTS of Du'a for me Inshallah

The Prophet, sala Allahu alaihi wa salam, said “Whenever you make a supplication for another believer and he is not present, an angel will say ‘and same to you.’”

Here is what you have to say in your prayers:

"Oh Allah you are The Most Merciful, Rahman and Raheem, Please have mercy on Saman. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Allah Please let Saman study all the right things for her exams, let her remember those right things and/or miraculously place the right answers in her brain, if she has no clue what the answer should be. Also make her successful in all her halal endeavors that are benificial for her in duniya and akhira."

JazakAllahu khairun

Mawlid?

2006-04-15T16:38:00.000-06:00

Mawlid by Mufti Taqi Usmani

2006-04-15T16:27:00.000-06:00

These posters really don't help during Finals!!

Teens without Borders

2006-04-08T13:41:00.000-06:00

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Lifestyle/2006/04/07/1524310-sun.html

Sarabjit Embraces Islam?

2006-04-05T21:03:00.000-06:00

I don't understand why people have to make excuses for why others are leaving their faith
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1667818,000500020000.htm

Disturbing

2006-03-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been noticing a lot of Muslim girls and guys, usually known as "good" MSA type Muslims, have taken to swearing publicly in times of utter frustration and anger. People who would otherwise never be heard swearing or yelling somehow justify it if it’s written online or said out loud among friends when they are extremely emotional about something. Somehow it becomes acceptable and OK “sometimes” when you “just have to let it out”. It disturbs me, disturbs me a great deal.

Hmmm
I was wondering how our youth can even bring these words to their minds let alone voice them.

Surely all of us go through problems since Allah has promised us the test of hardship and calamities:
"And verily we will make them taste of the near torment (in this world) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter) in order that they may return (repent)." (As-Sajdah: 21)

But our response to problems is what differentiates Muslims from disbelievers.

So I was thinking what I should do during stressful times, what can I do instead of swearing and spasing, who should I seek help and guidance from? Of course the answer is in the words we say more than 17 times a day “iyaka na’budoo wa iyaka nasta’een” “Only you we worship and only you we seek help from.” Definitely we need to turn to someone who is aware of and understands our situation more than us, who knows its causes and consequences. The Only One, He who has power and authority over everything, He before whom everything on the earth and in the skies prostrates and obeys.

Let us turn to Him and ask Him for guidance instead of following the “pop culture” and using the four-letter word.
Let us successfully face external hardships by creating peace within ourselves.
Let us create that internal commitment with Allah which is automatically expressed externally
An internal commitment that will be externally expressed through words such as “Alhamdulilah, astagfirullah, help me Allah” instead of foul language.

"Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." (Ar-Ra'd: 28)
Extraordinary situations call for some extraordinary ibadah.
"O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salat (prayer). Truly Allah is with the patient." (Al-Baqarah: 153)

Perhaps we turn to spasing because we feel hopeless and helpless? At such times we (including myself) must remember all gain or loss lies only in Allah’s control and only He can help us come out of the situation He puts us in.

"Verily Allah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty." (Al-Hajj: 40)
"So do not become weak, nor be sad, and you will be superior if you are indeed believers." (Al-Imran: 139)

Also let’s say we swear and die a while later, is that the last word you want to say or write before you die?

"By the time, verily man is in loss. Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds and recommend one another to the truth and recommend one another to patience." (Al-'Asr)

Next time we hear/see each other using such language lets encourage a change in attitude and remind each other of what is good and what is wrong.

If we cannot change ourselves, how can we expect the conditions in the world to change?

"Verily, Allah will not change the condition of a people as long as they do not change their state themselves." (Ar-Ra'd: 11)

10 Way to Easy Hasanaat/Naiki/Rewards

2006-02-26T23:28:00.000-07:00

1. Give a copy of Quran to someone and each time they read from it, you will gain hasanaat.

2. Donate a wheel chair to a hospital and each time a sick person uses it, you will gain hasanaat.

3. Share constructive reading material with someone.

4. Help in educating a child.

5. Teach someone to recite a dua. With each recitation, you will gain hasanaat.

6. Share a dua or Quran CD.

7. Participate in the building of a mosque.

8. Place a water cooler in a public place.

9. Plant a tree. Each time any person or an animal sits under its shade or eats from the tree, you will gain hasanaat.

10. Share this with someone. If one person applies any of the above you will receive your hasanaat until the Day of Judgment.

Safety Tips for Women

2006-02-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

I got this in my email:

It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body
If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy.
The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat th! ey will get the worst of it.
As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.
B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.
IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWA! YS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP. It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door."
The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a
serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

Cricket fans

2006-02-12T18:16:00.000-07:00

Don't people have anything better to do?
LOL... typical desi style, lets not call it wild lets call it bold and fighting for what they believe....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4707166.stm

Quotes

2006-01-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

I was going through some quotes that I save whenever I come across something inspiring.

Often times we become so "comfortable" with people that we tend to slip from good character and call it "kidding" or "being ourselves" ..... We also slip sometimes in anger, loose our character and start cursing or snaping at anyone we see.
At such week moments here are two beautiful quotes to remember along with "a'udhubillah himinashaitan nirrajeem"

Just a little something to reflect on:

Whenever kindness is in a thing it adorns it, whenever it is removed from it, it disfigures it. [Muslim]

The person of bad character is like a piece of broken pottery, which can neither be patched up nor returned to clay. [Imam Ghazali]

Hmmm

2006-01-17T23:47:00.000-07:00

I feel the need to put up something on my blog but I don't know what...
Mehreen asked me to come back with a big bang, with something substantial and intellectually stimulating, I don’t think that’s happening this time.

Found this on another sister's blog "i guess i really dont care too much to blog right now... "

Hmmm, I don't know if it's the same for me. Do I not care enough, about blogs, to blog these days? or do I not care enough, about anything outside my blissful bubble, to blog right now?

I think the sister meant she doesn't care enough about blogging itself whereas for me all my spare time "pondering" and "concerns" about and for Allah's creations has now boiled down to self-involvement. I feel like I am living in my private little bubble cut off from rest of the world.

So dear readers I hope to get suggestions and help to come out of this bubble, back to reality and communication or maybe you should just leave me be in my dream bubble, it seems like quite a happy place....

Our Engagment

2005-12-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

Good News

2005-12-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

This is not about me, guess who else got engaged...

As salam 'alaikum everyone! This email has some very good news...

Somewhere off in fairytale land,

A young lady was being asked for her hand,

No one thought that this could be,

How would this turn out?...it was a mystery,

It turned out well because we know in fairy tale land,

That the girl must say yes when he asks for her hand,

So the planning will start for the big day,

Lots of excitement, as people come from far away,

So now you may ask who these two people may be,

With a little patience you will soon see,

But first, let me tell you a little about her,

And once you find out you will concur,

This petite little lady is white as snow,

And we all know for brown people that point's a go,

Her chipmunk giggle make people think,

This girl is sick get her something to drink,

And he, well he is not so small,

At 6'2 he is actually quite tall,

So just when you thought opposites attract,

You have no idea, this is no act,

I believe Jungle Fever has been given the name,

Because these two people are not the same,

This was written to be by The One up high,

This match is beautiful…it may make you cry,

So now I will tell you, and I'm proud to say,

That Farooq and Salwa are now on their way,

To a life together with peace and love,

And forever they will be thankful to The One Above!

We are happy to announce the engagement of

Farooq Maseehuddin

Salwa Elladen

(Please remember them in your Du'a)

This email has been sent to you by:

Fatima Elladen, Saman Atiq & Maleeha Maseehuddin

Another fairytale comes to life... By Mehreen Rashid

2005-12-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time
In a magical land
There was a desert rose
Blooming in golden sands

There came an admirer
Oh, the beauty of the rose
He halted and idolized
His heart simply froze

He reached out his hand
Wishing to bring together
His life and the rose's
He shall treasure her forever

And so he proposed
This knight on noble steed
To the princess, so lovely
He asked, "Do you agree?"

And, she, so shocked
Looked into his blue eyes
And said, "Why, ofcourse
You don't have to ask twice!"

And this is how it happened. The princess, Saman Atiq, and the prince, Zacharia al Khatib are thus royally engaged.

Sincerely,

Mehreen Rashid (the royal bridesmaid)

Bismillah

2005-12-24T01:12:00.000-07:00

As someone left a comment about making an announcement post
Ummm, let's put it plain and simple:

Bismillah

I've found my prince charming : )

Who? wouldn't you like to know.....
In other words,

I am now engaged Alhamdulilah to the vice president of MSA

(sorry, good desi girls don't say their fiance's name)

2005-12-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

2005-12-18T01:53:00.000-07:00

"Our heart beats approximately 67 times a minute; every time it wants to beat, it asks Allah, "Am I permitted to beat?" If Allah says yes, it beats and, if He says no then the life ends." Khurum Murad (Islamic Scholar)

Ah The Guilt of Life

2005-11-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

Marble Slab Honey ice cream with scor bar mixin in a waffle cone on a weekday = extreme guilt

you know how unhealthy that is and how many calories that is?
hmm maybe I shouldn't put this up on my blog, it would constitute of negative publicity of marble slab

I need to starting pondering again

2005-11-24T20:08:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to post for a while but I don't know what to write. Lets see where this post leads us, will it be short or long? substantial or nonsense?

It seems like mMy brains have been switched off from all thought provoking ideas. My soul, that once functioned on being aware and creating awareness for importance of socio-political-economical issues in the light of Islam, has been so preoccupied with other stuff that I feel like I've lost who I was. I need to start re-thinking, I need to wonder again...

I wonder who’s problems are greater?

1. People who struggle to feed their children, who work 12 hour shifts as brick layers in the scorching heat of India, in inhumane conditions, with no shoes or proper clothing on construction sights and get paid less than 10 rupees per day (less than 25 Canadian cents).

2. People who live in Canada with any imaginable luxury according to the developing nations (PEACE, clean water, clean air, electricity, job availability, food banks, homeless shelters, access to education, internet, fridge, transport, etc etc). Yet they worry about making ends meets to buy another car, to buy a better bed, to buy another pair of clothes, to pay their bills, so they can put a third meal on the table for their children….
Consumerist societies can make anyone feel poor and struggling, I think.

3. Hindu girls who commit suicide because of so much mental torture, for not being able to get married just because their parents can’t afford “enough” dowry.

4. Muslim sisters who go through all the stress because there just aren’t enough good Muslim men left in North America? The ratio for unmarried Muslim women to unmarried Muslim men in Canada is 25:1 I think as they mentioned on the little documentary on CBC last weekend (don’t quote me on this one). The problem about growing number of single Muslimahs is so great that they actually aired a 20 min show on CBC. Those sisters who are just so picky, the sisters who are still waiting for Mr. Perfect at the ages of 30 and above and are so stressed because of the societal pressures? I mean everyone has the right to find the right person and get plagued if it just doesn’t seem to be working but is that comparable to the number of women getting divorced, being burnt by in-laws or committing suicide because of dowry in this day and age?

I can go on forever but I must stop since sleep and fatigue overtakes me and I might just drop. Is my problem of not getting enough sleep greater than all of those mentioned above?

Anyway Allah mentions in the Qur’an Surah baqara verses:

155. And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits (meaning wealth); and give good news to the patient,

156. Who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are Allah's and to Him we shall surely return.

157. Those are they on whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and those are the followers of the right course.

So I guess the greatest problem is to submit to Allah, we will all be tested in some way or another but to submit by being patient at times of calamity and being thankful at times of happiness IS the real problem of life… Something all of us should be striving for.

Quote from Jumma

2005-11-18T23:11:00.000-07:00

I'll rephrase a quote that I heard today that touched me in every sense.
I think just this quote would be more than enough to be the entire khutba.
It's funny how sometimes a little reminder leaves a deep impact on what you already know and fully understand.

So the rephrased quote

"The heart of one you try to please belongs to Allah"

I think the real one goes like "The heart of one you are trying to please belongs to The One who you just disobeyed"

Take home message: Try to please Allah and ask Him to please the hearts of people you try to please

Math 314

2005-11-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

Mathematics of Analysis is quite a boring lecture... I wish we didn't have lectures, we would do so much better if we just learnt stuff on our own with books, notes and occasional help sessions.
Classes are such a waste of time... I sit in class right now and write up this post because I am so bored.

Hasbi rabbi plays in my head...

My favourite quote these days has to be:

"Maafi bi Qalbi Ghair Allah"

I wish the entire Muslim Ummah and I reach the point where we could say this with all sincerity... Ameen

Translation: "Nahi meray dil mai koi Allah kay siva" - it sounds nice in urdu too
"There is no one in my heart other than Allah"

I think that's what it means, at least that's what I gathered with my poor Arabic, I hope I'm not totally off....

SO TRUE

2005-11-16T23:12:00.001-07:00

These comics are actually funny and so true!
I stole this off Monazzah's blog.... The first one is SOO true, I think ALL hijabis have encountered all three types of people..
Maybe we can talk about our funny hijab stories... Hey that could be someone's article in the next MM!

http://www.ninjabi.com/1.php

Hmmm

2005-11-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life seems so complicated. Things just don't work the way we think they would.
Sometimes we anticipate negative reactions from people but they turn out to be the opposite.
Sometimes the opposition or problems arise from totally unexpected places.
Sometimes we do have strong or vague ideas of what is to become but to no avail.
Sometimes you have things all planed out but suddenly everything turns upside down, for the better or worse we don't know. But there is always good in what Allah plans, we just don't understand in our limited ability to comprehend His great plans.
I don't think we can ever tell what will happen until we reach the climax point.

These are the times that remind us of how Allah works in mysterious ways.

Reminds us of His beautiful attributes that we often forget:

Al-Mu'akh-khir
- The Delayer

Al-Muqaddim
- The Expediter

The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.

Al-Baatin
- The Hidden, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.

Al-Lateef
- The Subtle One

P.S. Does this post sound vague? Someone just told me the other day that I sound vague like the aunties "ok beta"

Some quotes that make you smile

2005-11-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

I think Salwa found this quote on Islamica, I just re-remembered it as I read Mehreen's blog

"time and hijabis don't wait for anyone, time passes by and hijabis get married"

Patience is a Virtue

2005-11-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

002.286 "On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear"

2005-11-07T22:29:00.000-07:00

The nightbefore Eid.... Eid Henna :)

2005-11-07T22:28:00.000-07:00

Eid Cake from marble slab

2005-11-07T22:27:00.001-07:00

Some more aunties at the party

2005-11-07T22:27:00.000-07:00

Eid dinner

2005-11-07T22:26:00.000-07:00

Eid party has begun

Lost

2005-10-31T22:13:00.000-07:00

Ok ok I'm updating!
Sorry peoples I was a little busy with midterms, Sana's rishta thing and just other stuff. Things were just crazy busy for a while (they still are) but the princess decided to bless you guys with her blog presence. I really don't know what to write because I can't think straight, just had a midterm today. And Salwa I do have my sanity, thank you. "Guesswho" thanks for defending me but the wink at the end wasn't really necessary.

Ever had the feeling where you think your mind will explode with a whirl of thoughts?
Ever had:
So much to think about, so much to do, so many dreams that may never come true, so many desires that will never leave our fantasy land, may not turn into reality.... So many wishes that may never be accomplished...

Such a tug of war between western individualism, desi culture and Islamic values. Who wins? none... a little bit of each fills my colour pallet.

Sometimes I wonder why we waste so much time indulged in entertainment..... where is it getting us? parties, movies, friends, the colourful world just takes us deeper into the sea
of deceit,
of lies,
of fraud.
Why do we deceive ourselves? We know the world is a lie then why do we look for momentary pleasures, temporary bliss when we know that Allah is The Light Everlasting and that eternal peace and satisfaction is guaranteed by Allah if we submit.
Surrender to Allah and emerge in a new light of internal serenity of the soul....
But Allah asks us to live our lives, be a participant in the game of life not just an observer in the corner.

Why then does He make it so difficult to stay in the world yet expect us not to get lost?

What should we do?
submit as Ibrahim a.s did I guess "Samai' na wa ata'ana" (Surah Baqara I think)

"ya aiyoo hal-lazina aamano, astaeenoo bis sabri was salah, In-nallaha ma'as sabireen........ wa bashiris sabireen.......Ulaika Alayhim Salawat min Rabbihim Wa Rahmah, Wa Ulaika Humul Muhtadoon"
Surah baqarah- aayat 153...156...157

May Allah help us all, Eeya ka nastaeen: Ihdi nas siratal mustaqeem, Aameen.

Du'a

2005-10-24T16:38:00.000-06:00

I'm in dire need of du'as, please make du'a for my midterms this week....
Ask Allah to "let Saman study the right things for her exams, help her retain all that she studies and if she has no clue what the answer is then please just guide her to the correct one..."
JazakAllahu Khairun

Oh and a piece of advice:
Stay away from boys, they are a fitna... trust me they are...

Social status?

2005-10-20T10:57:00.000-06:00

Standard of living?
What is standard of living?
hmmm.... Standard of living I guess is somewhat related to social status = wealth...

I don't know what I'm trying to say or where I'm going with this but just some random thoughts that were triggered yesterday....

Does money actually matter? Is it important for an individual or a family's wellbeing? I don't think so.
Most of us could be just as happy and do just as well with lot lesser economic means than we have now. I mean we don't need a lot of things we have right now and we can very well do without them.

Isn't a home built on relationships? on emotions?

No I'm not living in a utopian dream, I know that money is important but how much? I seriously think people can be content even if they have "just enough".

This dunya is going to end soon, life is nothing but "part of a day, or a few hours".
The Azaan is called out in our ears at birth and the prayer for that azaan is said when we die ( there is no azaan for janazah prayers).... That's how much time we spend in this world, the time between azaan and salah......
From all the things that we acquire in this short time period what do we take with us? No not the big house, not our social status, not our Mercedes, not the Gucci bags, not the "Indian" sandals, not our clothes from guess, no make-up from M.A.C....

All we take back is our a'maal (actions)....
Yes Allah has asked us to live in this world, He has shown us the way to earn, He has asked the men to be the providers, He has asked the women to be the nurturers of the future ummah.
But then again how does it matter how much one provides for the family as long as one provides, right?

My conclusion: standard of living doesn't matter, you should try to make enough to fulfill the needs of the family. Then "tawakal Allah" rest is up to Allah, if He wills He'll give and if He wills He'll take......

Dowry system

2005-10-18T19:32:00.000-06:00

I still can't get over a statement made by a Muslim man in a more "conservative" part of India while my friend was visiting.

"Her dad will have to pay more (dowry) because she is dark," male neighbor to everyone else in the room.

My friend: "She is sitting right here"

neighbor: "Ya she knows that too" reference to a TWELVE year old girl or should I say child!

Wasn't the Prophet s.a.w sent to this world as a Rahma? Did he not come to abolish all these jahiliyah customs? Then why do we still have such people in our ummah? Isn't Islam suppose to be about the inner beauty?

This post is a forced post for people asking me to update the blog.....

Sorry I don't think I can put my thoughts together and say all I want to say right now. Mind's too occupied with other randomness...

SubhanAllah

2005-10-13T20:24:00.000-06:00

SubhanAllah! Thanx for sending the link Mehreen...
I think the link should have a slogan, ummm maybe
"If she can do it so can you ;-)"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9680098/

On the Lighter Side

2005-10-13T00:00:00.000-06:00

So the HPM was skimming through the "Islamica" magazine today and we found some interesting stuff:

Muslim Matrimony: If you like her, she doesn't like you. If she likes you, you don't like her. If you both like each other, your families don't. If they do then something else is wrong. Go find out what it is. (Every HPM member was like "OMG that is so true")

-Hijab: Islam's answer to Britney Spears (for once I know who that is )

-Tabligi Jama'a: You get your life back after 40 days (I think this was a little batameez, we shouldn't make fun of anyone but it's funny nonetheless)

-Who gave the fatwah against deodorents?

- Islam rejects the cycle of rebirth. Sequels not only suck, they also spoil the original.

- The Muslim world is afraid of it's future. The West is afraid of it's past.

What I learnt from the earthquake

2005-10-11T23:35:00.000-06:00

Alhamdulilah, I don’t think we can be grateful enough to Allah for making us human and for creating everything on this earth for us.

"Khalaqa lakum ma fil ardi jami’a…" "It is He Who created for you all that is in the earth…." – Qur’an 2: 29
"Fabi ai-yi aalaai rubi kuma tukazibaan" "so which of the favours of your Lord with you both deny" Qur’an surah 55.

All we need to do is look around and observe how we are surrounded by Allah’s blessings and bounties that are beneficial and a lesson in itself.
Imagine the sense of peace, which overtakes our mind and heart, around breathtaking beauty of Banff or other awe-inspiring places.
Imagine the magnificence of gigantic lush mountains.
Imagine the sound of a gushing river.
Imagine the serenity of a lake.
Imagine the twinkle that scattered glittering stars bring to your mind.
Imagine the excitement that flows within when you see pretty flowers and exotic plants.
Imagine the joy that comes with dancing peacocks, fish gliding through the sear so effortlessly.
Imagine the rejuvenating smell of rain on fresh cut grass.

But the question is what is it about nature that uplifts our spirits? After a lot of contemplation the thought that sticks out is that all these creations of Allah, in their own realm, are engrossed in their designated tasks glorifying Allah. Ever wondered how if any of these peaceful creations crosses over their domain chaos and terror breaks out. For example the recent earthquake? The Tsunami? Land slide? Stars that break and fall on earth? If the mountains start moving, volcanoes?

Nature is an ayah (sign) of Allah and in these signs he has lessons for us. One of the lessons to be learnt from the recent world events is the domain of creations. If we as humans stay within our boundaries set by Allah and live our life according to the manual He provided for us, Qur’an, like the rest of the creations we can also be a basis of peace, delight and harmony for the world. On the other hand if we cross our limits and instead of taking care of other’s rights we oppress and terrorize them then like other creations we become the cause of horror.

Forget criminals, lets talk about regular normal looking everyday citizens. How can we become a basis of horror for people? Why do we turn into problems for everyone instead of bringing joy to their lives? By not observing the "deen" "way of life" set by Allah: simple everyday things such as not controlling our tongue leads to broken hearts and hurt loved ones. Allah has made this world in such a manner that we can’t live without each other, every individual needs someone else at some point or another therefor it is essential for us to take care of ‘huqooq al e’bad" "Rights of people" along with "Huqooq Allah" "Allah’s rights"…..

Remember that Allah exceeds in knowledge and wisdom anyone and anything we know.

Ok enough of my rambling, I promise I didn't intend on having an online halaqa. Just the chaotic scenes of terrified and grieved people on Pakistani channels triggered some thoughts…

Kashmir

2005-10-09T23:16:00.000-06:00

The valley of Kashmir echoed with "la ilaha illallah" as people gathered on the streets to witness Allah's power.
- Saturday 9:30 AM India time

It's hard to imagine what Kashmir looks like now, just 3 weeks later.... SubhanAllah

With some of the surrounding villages gone
With hundreds of homeless people walking around aimlessly, traumatized
With the neighbor's homes down to dust
With all most all the walls cracked
With terrified mothers whose young children were away, unsure if there'll ever see them again, unaware of their safety
With mothers who are still paranoid to let their family out of sight
With family and friends, waiting in fear for the after shocks to end, sitting outside in the rain for more than 48 hrs
With chaos
With trauma
With helplessness
With terror
With anxiety

- Please make du'a

"Allah says "Remind, for truly reminders benefit the believers", so in that spirit, I just wanted to mention that the Prophet (pbuh) said that "Anyone for whom Allah intends good, He causes that person to suffer from affliction" (Bukhari) - because its a means for Allah to get closer to His afflicted servant, ie so that theyll turn to Him more sincerely, and He'll turn to them as well" - Zacharia Al Khatib

So true, SubhanAllah everyone we talked to in Kashmir is a bit more closer to Allah than we left then 3 weeks ago.
Pro: Alhamdulilah At least now kashmiris remember Allah in their otherwise busy lives.

~Princess in Disguise~

2005-10-08T00:04:00.000-06:00

Dedicated to All of HPM

Monazaah, way to go!! this is the first gora song that I've ever liked.... even though I didn't listen to it but got the lyrics on your persistence...
It could very well be a Nasheed (something like Dawud W. Ali's "The Veil").. I like I like!

She's just an average girl
Ain't got no mink and pearls
still she's like royalty
She's a princess in disguise
She's got a heart of gold
Within a tale untold,
that's where her beauty lies
She's a princess in disguise
Her smile is like a twinkle in the sky
A diamond in the ruff with the heart of a child
Her true beauty is more then skin deep
Because the essence of a women is hidden underneath

Globalization: A Concern for Muslims?

2005-10-05T16:15:00.000-06:00

Come on sisters lets stop whining about looks and “I’m not pretty” ramble and brothers about "I cna't get married, no education, no job bla bla.." Just look around and you’ll see how we are buried deep with more important issues of life.

Think about the real life, the eternal life, the life after death. How much have we prepared from the prescribed course to enter Jannah? Are we ready to take the final exam? Ramadan is here and it’s about time we shake ourselves awake from trivial worldly problems and concentrate on the akhirah. It’s time to increase our good deeds plenty a fold.

But of course Islam is a way of life as we keep hearing. Qur’an is a manual of how to live our life in this world so our eternal life can be peaceful, Inshallah. Qur’an teaches us politics and economics but did we ever ponder upon how our lives are so engulfed in acquiring or running after the needs/wants created by the media that we have forgotten what Allah taught us about fair trade? Just about every day we hear something about globalization.

I know Monazzah’s first question will be “what exactly is globalism?” Well in the most general sense, globalism refers to the process in which products and services move freely within and among nations. The mass media gives us the impression that the forces of the "free market" are unifying people of the world. We are led to believe that things will steadily get better if we can just keep governments from interfering with the economy that lead to more growth and efficiency.

Yet we also know that jobs are being lost to global competition. We know that the global environment is being threatened (global warming, wear and tear of the ozone layer, extinction of species, poisoning of the world's water supply etc). We see refugees and immigrants by the millions roaming the planet, in search of jobs and protection from conflict and wars, specially Muslims. We also know that inequality is getting worse: just a hand full of large corporations own most of the world's productive resources while millions of people are unable to sustain their families. Many of us have a gut feeling that the global economy has gone wrong. We would do well to trust our feelings.

The world economy is in a state of what is commonly viewed as extraordinary growth. But with this growth has come dangerous and destructive economic disparity.

Many people, particularly those in the East, do not have enough food to eat, resulting in malnutrition and disease. Their governments, which used to subsidize some of their trivial needs, are urged to stop subsidies for food and adopt a more market-oriented economics. Many workers in these economies are trapped in poor working conditions with low pay. Women are often expected to do back-breaking farm and domestic work, with few rights or benefits. In the North America as well, people often find themselves being left farther and farther behind. Even as North America reports budget surpluses, we seem unable or unwilling to provide housing for the growing number of working-class and homeless families, to repair the physical structure of schools, or to provide social services or medical attention for those most in need.

Hadith Qudsi (# 17) “O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another…”

“Be on your guard against committing oppression, for oppression is a darkness on the Day of Resurrection...” ( Reported by Muslim)

As Muslims should we not rise against this globalism? Is it not a form of oppression? Are we not part of this oppression by consuming the global goods and services?

I wonder if we will be questioned about this on the day of Judgment?

2005-10-03T01:15:00.000-06:00

Saira and Mona this one's for you guys... I got a little worried about your sense of "good writing" so I'm posting up some real good writing by someone else. He took what I wrote in my last post and changed it around. It is meant for you to appreciate good writing.

" The rustling of dried leaves clamoring at the feet of mighty trees, illustriously beautiful yet illusory at the time of death. A cycle finished, waiting to be renewed in a glorious metamorphosis – caterpillar to Monarch. Golden coins dancing to the tune of an ageless wind beckoning them to take heed of the ink of the Creator's pen.

The lonely songbird stands on its perch at the melding of trees and water, singing into open skies to no one in particular.
My pen, flowing with ink and adding to the gentle cacophony which pervades the senses. Lips murmuring silent whispers of nothing in particular to no one specific; wearied hands struggling to unleash the raging battles within. Not all who wander are lost.." - Muntaka Shah

2005-10-02T22:33:00.000-06:00

Ever herd the musical whispers of dried rustling leaves on trees? The leaves that look like gold coins dancing on the tunes of the wind?

SubhanAllah, it's beautiful.

Try sitting alone by the warm crackling bonfire on a chilly day surrounded by fall trees, whose leaves speak to the whispering wind. The mind instinctively starts contemplating on Allah's bounty and wonders. SubhanAllah, quite a radiant experience, a spiritual uplift in today's secular society of Godlessness (is that even a word?).

Unfortunately I had to bring my wondering mind back to reality to finish some readings!! *sigh* university will never let us relax...

Clarification

2005-10-01T22:30:00.000-06:00

It seems like I failed to explain the concept of "power relations"
hmmm

I wasn't talking about gender discrimination or inequality.

Privilege: some advantages that are so subtle and so integrated in our social pattern that we don't even realize they are privileges. These just come with being born into a specific class, race, gender, religion, ethnicity etc... Lets say we were not talking about gender but talking about race, (I'm not racist or trying to be racist in any form or way) the white race is privileged in a subtle sense that we don't realize exists. For example it's a common practice to say "white" people and people of "colour", as if the white race is one group and the rest are another group. Why don't we ever say "brown" people and people of "colour" which would include the white race as well?

Oppression: is not your regular straight out deprivation of rights... as I mentioned earlier it's more of a benign version of oppression, an assumed disadvantage. If we look at the power relation between religions and not gender an example that comes to mind is Muslims, no Muslims are not the oppresser but the oppressed. How so? Christianity or entire Christian nation was not blamed for Hitlers actions but when it comes to a "Muslim" performing an unpleasent task the entire Muslim nation is blamed for it. Or another one would be of a Muslim woman in hijab (veil) given the identity of an uneducated, submissive, oppressed by husband or father type of person when she is not (lets not get into this for now I might write a ten page essay on Muslim women if i start)

These two just come with identity.
The self may resist privilege and oppression but it can not simply be shrugged off because identity is a matter of being done to not just doing.

It's not a matter of "back-home" .. Maybe power relations are more prevalent "back-home" but what I am talking about is universal. How many women have we seen in powerful positions in politics? Queen Elizabeth? but wasn't she the one who claimed to possess "the heart and stomach of a man" and people described her as described her as having "a man's brain". Margaret thatcher was repeatedly called "manly". Why? Can't a woman be strong enough to be in power?

It's just how we identify women and I think being identified that way is a woman's strength. Therefore I say women like the enticement. I don't have to lift anything heavy (even if I know I'm strong enough to lift it) because some man will do it for me. If I'm getting a diamond out of being a woman then why not? If I'm being treated like a princess then why not? Why should I work just for the sake of equality (does not include self satisfaction and other reasons) if I'm being provided for?

You see what I mean? benign version of oppression....

I don't even think anyone will read all of the above!!

2005-09-29T23:48:00.000-06:00

Single Relation of Power Model

Power relations

2005-09-29T22:46:00.000-06:00

Conciously or unconsiously our society goes through power relations among gender. Ofcourse men being the "privileged" ones and women going through a benign form of "oppression" .
If we look at the "single relation of power" model analagous with the "teeter totter" (known as see saw in some countries) we see that men are at the higher end and women at the lower as a homogenous group of beings.

Like it or not, believe it or not, men do get an unearned privilege that comes from our social pattern, they have an assumed right and women get the unearned disadvantage. Their lives, oblivious to society, are in a way circumscribed, limited; socially, economically, politically etc.....

hmmm, but is it really a disadvantage?

1. Men are at the top of the teeter totter because women carry all the weight and let them be up there, if it wasn't for women men wouldn't be anywhere

2. If women were to step down from the bottom space men would come flying down, so why don't we leave that space?

3. Most women enjoy the enticement tagged with being a women (I certainly do)

2005-09-28T23:24:00.000-06:00

I just remembered how pretty the moon looked yesterday SubhanAllah...

white moon sat among wispy scattered clouds at early hours of the day

Extremely gorgeous SubhanAllah.... Reminded me of-tala' al badru a'laina for some reason

Over the India fever!

2005-09-27T19:33:00.000-06:00

OK enough of the India jazz... I've just changed this "princess in india" blog into a regular blog so you guys will be reading some normal bloggy stuff on here :)

2005-09-19T07:40:00.000-06:00

My favourite spot in Kashmir

2005-09-19T07:38:00.000-06:00

flowers in our house

2005-09-19T07:37:00.000-06:00

My grandfather's brother and his wife

2005-09-19T07:35:00.000-06:00

SubhanAllah

2005-09-19T07:34:00.001-06:00

AWESOME beauty!! Why would anyone want to live anywhere else?

2005-09-19T07:33:00.001-06:00

dadios

2005-09-19T07:33:00.000-06:00

clay houses on the mountains (picture taken from gondola)

2005-09-19T07:32:00.000-06:00

doesn't he remind you of Mr.Incredible or J Leno?

2005-09-19T07:26:00.000-06:00

bride and groom

2005-09-19T07:25:00.001-06:00

AWWWWWWE CUTENESS

2005-09-19T07:25:00.000-06:00

Bride

2005-09-19T07:24:00.002-06:00

There's a little McDonalds in everyone

2005-09-19T07:24:00.001-06:00

There's a little McDonalds in everyone

2005-09-19T07:24:00.000-06:00

since when is ice cream not vegetarian?

2005-09-19T07:23:00.001-06:00

My cousin's Very Hungry, loud and noisy geese

2005-09-19T07:23:00.000-06:00

the one in brown is my grandmother, the one in blue is her sister and the rest three are their daughters

2005-09-19T07:22:00.002-06:00

front yard of the house

2005-09-19T07:22:00.001-06:00

singing during the pre wedding days

2005-09-19T07:21:00.001-06:00

cute couple (she's not this chubby, just pregnant)

2005-09-19T07:21:00.000-06:00

mother and son

2005-09-19T07:20:00.001-06:00

cute but extremly bratty cousins

2005-09-19T07:20:00.000-06:00

Youngest khala (aunt) and her daughter

2005-09-19T07:19:00.002-06:00

Mom

2005-09-19T07:19:00.000-06:00

my grandfather, his siblings and their spouses MASHALLAH

2005-09-19T07:18:00.000-06:00

Mehreen The new bride... I didn't think I would miss her since she is a new member of the family but I really really miss her along with everyone else

2005-09-19T07:17:00.002-06:00

Guy again