I'm Not a Mind Reader nor a Decision Maker

Assalamualaikum,

"If you tell a person you have just met that you're taking an introductory psychology course, don't be surprised if he or she asks, 'So, are you analysing me right now?'" (Lilienfeld, 2012)

This is so true. I have met many people who said the same thing. Let me clarify things about psychology.

1. Psychology is defined as a study of human mind and behaviour. It is a study to understand people better and as for me, it helps me to understand myself better. However, we cannot fully understand people because humans are too complicated, aren't we? We can only try to understand and not to judge based on what we see because there're more stories we don't know. 

Actually, psychologists still debate about the definition of psychology since there are too many ways in defining it. As what I said, humans are too complicated that the term "psychology" is still debatable.

2. No one can read your mind. There is no brain study, which can read your mind, so far. Seriously. 

“To me, mind reading is where something is wholly subjective and private, and I can’t tell from what you’re doing or looking at, what your mental state is,” said Frank Tong, a neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University. 

3. A psychology student or experienced psychologists do not know the whole story if you don't tell them. There are many factors affecting the behaviour and feeling of others. It could be other external factors and internal factors that they won’t tell. I'm pretty sure that people won't tell you EVERYTHING. There're things that best kept within ourselves. Therefore, psychologists usually do not make a decision for you but they will guide you to think deeply about your decision.

Therefore, when people ask me, "can you read my mind?" I would say "No.” Seriously, I don’t know what are you thinking of but I guess, you think that I can read your mind. The way we can know what other people think is by asking questions, but people have an option not to answer.

When people ask me "What do you think a career that best suits me based on my interest and personality?" I would say, "Be whatever you want to be as long as it benefits you and others.” This is because sometimes, our interests and personality do not really reliable in determining what we really want. We will discover new things about ourselves as time goes by. Our interest and personality will keep changing. The way we think, the way we look at something. Everything will change. That’s why I would say, do whatever you want to do be whatever you want to be but remember the important point: it must be beneficial to you and others. Consider to read this article: http://aiman-kisah.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/why-i-changed-from-engineering-to.html

We can only predict if there is a burden of proof. For example, someone is sad. Then, she calls her parents talking about academic. So, we can assume that a person is sad because of the academic performance. However, it could be other factors that make her sad. 

We can only see what people want us to see. We can only know what people want us to know. There’re always stories that remained secret.

I really appreciate those who come to me and asking my opinions regarding the decisions they need to make, but I apologise for cannot make a decision for you. Because, how close we are, how many stories we share, we could never get the whole story. How hard I try to be in other people's shoes, it still won't feel the same.

That's why there's a saying in Malay, "berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu yang memikul."

I can only hear your stories, offers you support, and give my humble opinions. I can only lead you to think about your future plan and thinks about the consequences of the decision you made. After all, only you know yourself better and only Allah knows you best and knows what's best for you :)

Don't be afraid to dream. Don't be afraid to start. 

Believe in yourself and put faith in Allah.

p/s: If I were given a power to read people's mind, I would rather not to. Because knowing more about people has already made me feel scared of people in this world. It would be scarier if I know what people think and I would end up stay at home and not meeting people, which is not good. That's the wisdom of Allah. He does not reveal what shouldn't be revealed.  

Spring Trip

Assalamualaikum,

Sudah seminggu berlalu meninggalkan cuti pertengahan penggal bersama sahabat-sahabat tercinta. Kalau nak diungkap rasa rindu dengan trip kita, memang tak mampu diungkap dengan kata-kata.
Kadang-kadang bukan tempat yang membuat kita bahagia dan gembira, tapi orang yang bersama-sama kita.
Tempat biasa pun boleh jadi luar biasa dengan orang yang bukan biasa-biasa di hati saya (Norsyairah, 2015) kan?

Sebenarnya tak tahu nak mula dari mana sebab setiap perjalanan kita ke tempat yang kita tujui itu terlalu banyak yang hendak diceritakan sebab semuanya sangat menarik. Tempat yang kita singgah mungkinlah tak banyak sebab rezeki untuk bercuti di situ 5 hari dan 2 hari penuh telah digunakan untuk program Negarawan (insha Allah 2 hari yang SANGAT berbaloi :))
Tapi, apa yang banyak adalah mutiara-mutiara pengajaran yang saya belajar daripada sahabat-sahabat semua yang tak dapat untuk ditukar ganti. Pengajaran tentang hidup.

Kalau semua ingat lagi, masa mula-mula sampai, semua orang pun macam tak tahu nak ke mana sebab memang tak rancang sangat. Tapi, alhamdulillah semua orang dengan kumpulan masing-masing dapat singgah tempat lain-lain dan saya percaya mesti banyak sangat benda yang dipelajari. Kumpulan saya sendiri, kami dapat mengenali diri masing-masing dan mula selesa antara satu sama lain. Sebelum ini, kenal sekadar kenal, bukan kenal betul-betul tapi, melalui perjalanan kita, masing-masing tahu, "oh, dia ni macam ni kalau benda jadi gini." "oh, dia ni boleh jadi macam ni kalau tengah takde mood." dan macam-macam lagi yang kita tahu tentang orang yang kita gelar sahabat.

Banyak insiden yang berlaku sepanjang trip yang bila diingat balik sangat melucukan walaupun masa benda jadi, gelabahnya Allah sahaja yang tahu. Mula-mula, beg seorang sahabat tertinggal di suatu tempat. Malam-malam baru perasan. Apa yang menarik, tiada pun yang marah sahabat tersebut. Masing-masing bantu carikan dan ada yang tolong temankan ke tempat beg tersebut tertinggal. Saya rasa terharu sebab masing-masing sanggup tunggu walaupun semua penat dan dah malam. Akhirnya, sahabat saya jumpa juga begnya.

Lepas itu, benda yang rasa macam kelakar tapi tak kelakar masa benda jadi ialah tak pandai nak guna aplikasi Uber. Aplikasi ini membolehkan kita dapat tambang $25 free kalau naik teksi jika ada kodnya. Semua orang dah dapat kod dan disebabkan malam, maka masing-masing pun setuju nak naik teksi sebab barang sangat banyak. Kami beli barang masak untuk 2 hari tambah dengan beg yang kami bawa dari Brisbane, jadi memang tak sesuai kalau nak naik train. Jadi, kami pun setuju nak naik teksi. Saya antara kumpulan pertama yang naik teksi dan sampai ke rumah yang ditujui. Tapi, banyaklah benda jadi. Tambang untuk ke rumah yang ditujui itu agak mahal sebab jauh. Seingat saya dalam $80++. Kami fikir, masing-masing ada $25 free dan kalau kongsi dah $100. Jadi, boleh sahaja dapat free. Tapi, kami tak pandai guna aplikasi tersebut. Sepanjang dalam teksi, semua kalut cari jalan. Ada yang call orang, ada yang cuba berkali-kali untuk guna aplikasi tersebut, ada yang layan driver teksi cakap. Tapi, akhirnya semua kecewa dan hampa. Sampai sahaja di rumah, hanya $25 sahaja yang free, selebihnya kena bayar. Jadi masing-masing kongsi. Disebabkan kumpulan kami tak berjaya nak mendapatkan tambang percuma, mereka yang selebihnya masih di sentral akhirnya naik train sebab semua pun tak pandai guna aplikasi tersebut. Saya tak dapat bayang bagaimana mereka dengan barang yang banyak sangat boleh naik train, menempuh perjalanan yang jauh malam-malam. Mestilah rasa bersalah juga. Kita sedap-sedap naik teksi, mereka terpaksa naik train. Tapi, saya sangat terharu bila masing-masing pun berlapang dada sebab masing-masing tahu, bukan salah sesiapa. Kalian memang hebat! tabik spring :D

Kemudian, sepanjang 2 hari suntuk kami ke program Negarawan.

Selepas selesai program Negarawan, malam tersebut, beberapa orang ditugaskan untuk mengambil kereta untuk digunakan sepanjang trip 2 hari. Tapi, malam tersebut mereka tak balik sebab tak jumpa jalan balik. Dah tak jumpa jalan balik, handphone pula mati tak boleh nak call sesiapa. Dah penat, para pemandu yang berjiwa kental ini pun tidurlah di universiti, ada yang tidur rumah kawan. Esok harinya, baru semua selamat pulang dan masing-masing sangat penat. Kesian sangat saya tengok tapi kalianlah antara orang penting dalam trip ini :)

Kemudian, 2 hari kami berjalan dan belajar.
The rest is history.

kalau dilihat pada mata kasar, terlihat ada garisan horizon di hujung sana. Tapi, apabila kita berlayar ke sana, tidak terjumpa pun mana garisannya dan kita terus berlayar (Mona, 2015). Itulah agaknya hidup, proses belajar berterusan yang tiada garisan penamat melainkan tamatlah riwayat kita.

Benarlah, kadang-kadang bukanlah di mana kita berada tapi dengan siapa kita bersama yang menjadikan sesuatu perkara dalam hidup kita sangat terkesan untuk dikenang.
Saya teringat kata sahabat saya,  "Saya tertanya, do I belong to this group? Tapi, bila semua sudi untuk menghadirkan diri dalam trip kali ini, saya rasa, yes, I'm belong to this group." (Nadhirah, 2015)

And yes, me either. I feel belong to this group.

Sahabat,

Akan ada masa-masa yang kita mungkin bersengketa,

Kita mungkin bermasam muka,

Kita mungkin berburuk sangka,

tapi, sahabat percayalah,

itu semua #bolehsettle bak kata Afini Dini,

dan bila boleh settle,

percayalah,

kalau dah kata sayang dan cinta, tiada lagi "tapi" bak kata Norsyairah.

Norsyairah juga berkata, "untuk kita terima seseorang kerana kelebihannya, itu biasa. Tapi, kalau kita mampu terima seseorang dengan kelemahan-kelemahannya, itulah ukhuwah."

Semua tahu, bahawa kita semua hidup bersama manusia,

memanglah akan ada masa kita lihat sisi-sisi kelemahannya,

tapi adakah itu membuatkan kita meninggalkannya?

Kalau orang lain mampu untuk menerima kelemahan dan kekurangan kita,

kenapa tidak kita?

Manusia, tiada sempurna. Andai mampu kita bantu menutupi kelemahannya dan membantunya mengatasi kelemahannya, buatlah. Kerana percayalah, akan selalu kelemahan kita ditutupi oleh mereka yang ikhlas bersama kita. 

Belajar daripada Wanita Columbia

Assalamualaikum.
Hola. Buenos Dias.

Alhamdulillah ada juga kesempatan untuk menulis di sini setelah beberapa minggu sibuk dengan berbagai-bagai perkara terutama assignments.

Saya hendak berkongsi tentang pengalaman saya berkenalan dengan seorang saudara baru kita yang sangat mengujakan untuk diceritakan. Saya kira banyak dalam kalangan pelajar muslim di the University of Queensland kenal akan satu susuk yang baru sahaja menjadi saudara baru kita. Tidak perlu untuk saya sebutkan namanya kerana saya rasa beliau tidak selesa untuk dihebahkan buat masa ini tentang penghijrahan beliau ke dalam Islam. Namun, namanya cukup indah sekali maksudnya, pure and clear yang sangat sesuai dengan beliau yang diberikan hidayah oleh Allah untuk kembali kepada fitrah sucinya.

Saya sangat teruja untuk bercerita kerana beliau mengajar kami banyak perkara. Antaranya, kesungguhan dalam menuntut ilmu. Saya berasa sangat rendah diri melihat kesungguhan beliau. Setiap kali beliau ke surau, beliau akan membawa sebuah buku nota dan sebatang pen untuk mencatit perkara-perkara baru yang beliau belajar. Beliau tidak malu bertanya walaupun karakter orangnya sangat pemalu (comel sebenarnya). Banyak nota yang beliau catit untuk lebih memahami Islam. Kadangkala beliau bertanya perkara yang kami tidak tahu dan hal ini sebenarnya menyuntik semangat kami untuk lebih mengenali deen ini juga. 

Selain itu, beliau juga mengajar kami (terutamanya saya) untuk mengenali dan mengingati orang lain. Setiap kali berjumpa dengan orang yang baru beliau kenali di surau, beliau akan mencatit nama mereka dan bertanya maksud nama mereka. Beliau juga bertanya tentang kesukaan-kesukaan mereka. Semasa kali kedua beliau menemui saya, beliau sukar mengingat nama saya, tetapi beliau ingat akan maksud nama saya iaitu Sky dan beliau memanggil saya Sky (tak pasti nama saya berasal daripada perkataan Arab atau bahasa lain tapi rasanya maksud nama sky). Entah mengapa saya sangat teruja apabila beliau memanggil saya Sky sebab saya sangat suka nama tersebut. Mudah-mudahan menjadi doa kerana kadangkala bila rasa serabut, saya akan memandang langit kerana langit sangat menenangkan. Mudah-mudahan Allah menjadikan manusia di sekeliling saya juga berasa tenang dengan saya. Kebetulan, beliau juga suka akan warna biru. Harap-harap beliau suka saya juga sebab langit warna biru (haha). 

Seterusnya, beliau juga mengajar kami untuk saling mengenali manusia pelbagai bangsa dan bahasa. Beliau belajar beberapa perkataan Bahasa Melayu dan saya juga belajar beberapa perkataan Bahasa Sepanyol. Dua hari lepas, Allah menggerakkan hati beliau untuk menginap di rumah saya satu malam. Pada malam tersebut, kami tidur agak lewat walaupun kami semua jenis yang tidur awal sebab masing-masing rancak bersembang. Masing-masing tak mahu lepaskan peluang untuk saling mengenali. Kami juga memberitahu beliau bahawa dalam Islam, tiada satu bangsa pun lebih daripada bangsa lain kerana memang sudah termaktub dalam kitab Al-Quran, sumber utama yang patut dijadikan panduan.

“Hai manusia, sesungguhnya Kami menciptakan kamu daripada seorang laki-laki dan seorang perempuan dan menjadikan kamu berbangsa-bangsa dan bersuku-suku supaya kamu saling mengenal. Sesungguhnya orang yang paling mulia antara kamu di sisi Allah ialah orang yang paling bertakwa antara kamu. Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Mengetahui lagi Maha Mengenal.”

(Q.S. Al Hujurat Ayat 13)

bukankah kita semua berteduh di bawah langit yang sama?

Kesimpulan daripada cerita saya ialah setiap hari kita akan berjumpa dengan banyak orang. Setiap orang mengajar kita banyak perkara dalam hidup. Kita hanya perlu bersikap terbuka untuk belajar perkara baru. Kadangkala kita terlalu taksub dengan kumpulan bangsa kita sehingga kita lupa bahawa kita semua manusia. Kita lupa bahawa warna darah kita semua sama. Hapuskanlah sikap-sikap perkauman yang tidak membawa kebaikan. Allah jadikan kita semua berbangsa-bangsa bukan untuk saling bertengkar tetapi untuk saling mengenali. Bukankah seronok dapat mengenali bangsa lain dan meluaskan hubungan silaturrhim? Hati rasa lebih bahagia dan tiada rasa dendam yang membara. 

Sekian.

Assalamualaikum (Salam sejahtera ke atas kamu)

Nota kaki:

Hola : Hai

Buenos Dias : Selamat Pagi 

Adorable Faith - Part 2

4. Our Trials and Happiness in Comfort and in Hardship

source : Islamic Sunrays

This world isn't a place of pleasure or complete justice -  that is in the next life. Allah says:

"...And we try you with mischief and with good, and to Us you will be returned." (21:35)

So, it is the true Believer that perseveres;

"Alif, Lam, Mim. Do people think they will be left alone having merely said, 'We have believed' while they have not been tried? We have certainly tried the ones before them and Allah will surely know those who have been truthful (in their claims of belief) and those that are liars." (29:1-3)

We need to always be reminded that the greater a pleasure is in this life and more beautiful and joyful, the greater is its version in the eternal Paradise. So, the more a believer sees the riches of others and their worldly comfort, the more he/she gets inspired to work deeds of righteousness in obedience to Allah for the superior life of the Hereafter in Paradise. Allah describes them;

"And whoever wanted the Hereafter (eternal Paradise) and strove for it as is befitting for it, then such ones their striving is (rewarded with) gratefulness."

Therefore, not a moment to waste without anything Islamic in this life;

"And rush to the forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise, the breadth of it is as great as the breadth of the skies and the earth - prepare for the God-fearing (and pious)" (3:133)

5. Let not Others Derail Our Journey to the Hereafter

i.  Difficulties posed by tyrants

Any difficulties posed by tyrants do not deter a believer. Allah ensures that others will check them and stop them. Allah says,

"Had it not been that Allah keeps away some people by others, the earth would have been spoilt; but Allah is full of grace for all the worlds." (2: 251)

Even though the tyrants kill a believer, harms him/her, they cannot really hurt him/her because Allah is rewarding the believers - martyred or victorious now.

ii. Dealing with this worldly loss and turning it into an eternal gain!

Don't run away from something that Allah will surely test us. Allah reassures us all in Quran,

"We will surely try you with something of fear, hunger, and loss of wealth, lives and fruits. So, give glad tidings to the Patient. Those, who, when a calamity befalls them, say, 'Indeed to Allah we belong and to Him we are returning' Such are the ones on whom are praises from their Lord and mercy; and it is them who are the prosperous" (2: 155-157)

All the hardships we face in this world may be an expiation for our sin, and a deliverance from the punishment of hell fire. Hence, a hard time doesn't knock a believer, it only strengthens and reassures them.

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said: "Trials will not cease afflicting the believing man and the believing woman in their self, children, and wealth, until they meet Allah without having any sin." (Sunan tirmidhi 2399)

Always remember that Allah will never test anyone beyond their limits.

Mus'ab bin Sa'd narrated from his father that a man said: "O Messenger of Allah! Which of the people is tried most severely?" He said: "The Prophets, then those nearest to them, then those nearest to them.  A man is tried according to his religion; if he is firm in his religion, then his trials are more severe, and if he is frail in his religion, then he is tried according to the strength of his religion. The servant shall continue to be tried until he is left walking upon the earth without any sins." (Sunan Tirmidhi 2398)

In conclusion, Allah sends angels to help those who keep an Islamic outlook on life. Allah describes in the Quran,

"Indeed those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then stay upright (in their deeds), the Angels descend upon them (at time of death, saying), 'Do not be afraid (of the future) nor be sorrowful (of anything missed or befall you in the past); and have the glad tidings of the Paradise that you were promised. We are your patrons (helping and protecting you) in the life of this world (Dunya) and in the Hereafter. And for you therein is whatever that your soul's desire and for you therein is whatever you make a claim for - a (generous) hospitality from (Allah) a Forgiving and Merciful One!" (41: 30-32)

Adorable Faith - Part 1

Assalamualaikum.

Last weekend, I had attended two awesome courses which are "Adorable Faith" and "Fiqh of Marriage" by Sheikh Aslam AbuIsmaeel. So, in this entry I'm going to share about "Adorable Faith" because it is the fundamental of being a muslim before anything else. 

1. Purpose of life and Relationship with Allah

souce : islamic quotes

Allah says in the Quran,

"O mankind, worship your Lord, the One Who created you and those before you, perhaps you may attain righteousness. The One Who made the earth a bed, the sky a canopy, and sent down from the sky water and brought there from fruits as sustenance for you. So, do not set up partners with Allah while you know!" (2: 21-22)

What do we get from these two verses?

Basically, each and every creation around us has the purpose and function to fulfill. Let's look again, Allah says, he made the earth a bed, the sky a canopy, He sent down from the sky water and brought there from fruits as sustenance for you. Each and every creation is there for a purpose. Can you see that everything is made for our benefits? Subhanallah. If the other creations have their own purpose, it's strange if Allah made us without any purpose to fulfill. So, what is our purpose of life?

"And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."" (2: 30)

"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me." (51: 56)

*You may refer to my past entry about this to clarify my points here

So, each moment in the life of a believer is purposeful and can be spent :

i. Doing haram action in disobedience of Allah displeasing Allah which leads one to Hell-Fire!

ii. Or spend it doing a merely permissible (mubah) action that is neither an encouraged rewarding act nor forbidden and thus may be a wasted precious moment but at least not a sin.

iii. Or spend it doing something that is in obedience of Allah via an action that will get the pleasure of Allah, reward in the eternal life, and blessing in this life! 

"But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer- it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah]" (17:19)

2. What Really Matters -  Effect of Sins or Piety upon Happiness


source: tazkiya

Our focus in this life is to do as many good deeds as possible because good deeds bring happiness in dunya and Hereafter while sins make this life worrying and the eternal life a misery. 

Does it means that human cannot even make a sin? Definitely no. Fallling into a sin is possible, but get back on track with istighfar and tawbah. 

Anas narrated that the Prophet s.a.w said: "Every son of Adam sins, and the best of the sinners are the repentant." [Sunan of Tirmidhi and of Ibn Majah, classed as Hasan]

Notes to remember: Don't justify a sin, say that it is the fault but do repentance again and again. It's not about never do a sin, it's about trying to avoid sins and get over it by repentance. As long as a person is trying their best, Allah forgives an inadvertent relapse.

3. This World and the Next Life

source: lion of Allah

This world can be tempting and beautiful but if you do good deeds, Allah will definitely grant you His blessings. So, be on Allah's path and don't get deceived by the sinner's temporary enjoyment.

"Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land. [It is but] a small enjoyment; then their [final] refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place. But those who feared their Lord will have gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein, as accommodation from Allah. And that which is with Allah is best for the righteous." [3:196-198]

In fact, the enjoyment of dunya is, for some people, an unenviable trial

"And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring." [20:131]

See you in the 2nd part. Insha Allah 

How Can I Not Love Them?

Assalamualaikum,

cliche photo for the first day 

welcome to the University of Queensland!

Alhamdulillah, it has been a week I'm in Queensland, Australia furthering my study in the University of Queensland. That's mean it also has been a week I'm staying here with awesome akhawat in BM (Baitul Marjan. I did get the name wrong when the first time I heard BM. haha) Ok, by the way, I just want to share my moments with the members of Baitul Marjan here for a week.

The first time I entered this lovely house, all the akhawat here were really welcoming. They were very helpful and nice. I started to taaruf with kak Adilah, kak Shanad, kak Farah, kak Faie and kak Karam. The first three days here, they brought me a tour around Brisbane such as South Bank, shopping complex (Toowong) and around University. There are also some nice akhawat accompanied me here (Kak Aimi, Kak Syai, Kak Fini, Kak Ayuni and a lot more people that I couldn't list them all). They always ask me if I need anything. They provide me with their winter clothes because  I'm still adapting to the weather since I can't really bear a cold weather. They remind me to cover the lectures I couldn't attend for a week. They suggest me books to read. They cook delicious food I couldn't resist and they do appreciate small things. For example, last Friday was the first time I cooked for 6 people. I never cooked for so many people before this and of course, I was quite nervous and anxious whether the food will turn out like what I wanted it to be or not. It happened to be that the food did not turn out well. I was quite frustrated but all the sisters here really gave me supportive comments, 

"Takpe, mula-mula lagi kira bagus ni"
"Good job Azzura! malam ni kita makan masakan zura"
"Jazakillah Azzura masakkan untuk kami"
"Nanti kami masak, kami ajak sekali zura masak dengan kami"
"Nanti akak ajar awak masak tomyam"
"Ala, dulu masa akak mula-mula pun akak belajar dari senior juga. No worries."

I really feel touched. As for me, the food wasn't that good but their comments really comfort me.  

picnic at South Bank

from left: kak Shanad, kak Faie, kak Adilah, kak Karam and me

not in photo: kak Farah because she had usrah during this time

Here, in Baitul Marjan, I feel like staying at home because they really treat me as if I am their real "adik." They even called me "adik" just like what my family call me. We do things together as a family such as cycling, dancing, cooking, watching videos and reflecting on it and many more. I just met them for a week but we do have a chemistry as I feel like having a new family here. I always said to my parents that they do not have to worry much about me because I'm doing really well here. Ibu once said,

"nak lepaskan anak perempuan ni bukan mudah. Lagi kat tempat orang. Sakit pening tak boleh nak jenguk."

However, now, she said to me,

"Kirim salam dekat semua orang kat rumah. Cakap terima kasih jaga anak ibu."

Now, ibu can feel more relieved when she knew that her daughter is doing well here. Alhamdulillah.

Besides knowing this awesome akhawat in my new home, I also get to know some married akhawat such as Kak Ayuni with her adorable little Yusra and Kak Farah with the cute little Hana. Kak Ayuni always pays us a visit, so I always got the chances to play with Yusra. Playing with kids somehow released my stress because even it's just the first semester but I got a lot of works to do (I start to have planner and I really need it from now to organise my life). I'm amazed actually with all the akhawat that I've known. How do they manage their time with study, usrah, daurah, husband, kid, and many other commitments? This is amazing. It won't be that easy, right?

cute little baby Yusra

Mama Farah with adorable little Hana

I guess, I'm always surrounded with great and nice people. They're such a precious gift from Allah that I couldn't exchange with anything else. I once had a bad assumption towards my sahabah who planned to send me to the seniors' house since I expected that they will live with me in Australia. I did feel bad about it to the extent I felt that they don't want me. Haha. How funny. However, when I got their explanations and after I have already been here, I feel so grateful that they planned this for me. Lesson learnt is that we never know what will happen in the future, just expect that Allah's plan always be the best. Put faith on Him. Always pray for the best and He surely will give what we need.

celebrating ukhti Amirah Farhah Zakaria for graduating from the University of Queensland

meeting my best friend since high school is one of the best things in Australia

I remembered my conversation with ibu a few days before I depart,

me : Ibu, this is the decision I've made. Semua manusia ada pilihan dan insha Allah ini adalah pilihan adik untuk pilih sambung belajar di luar negara. Adik harap pilihan adik ni dapat redha Allah dan ibu ayah. Adik harap ini yang terbaik dalam hidup adik dan doakan adik selalu ye ibu.
ibu : ibu redha insha Allah. kalau ini yang terbaik untuk adik, ibu doakan selalu.

I just hope that this is one of the best decisions I've made in life. I always hope that whatever decisions that I made, they're all blessed by Allah and my parents. May this decision benefits ummah too. Amiin.

Beyond Expectation

Assalamualaikum

Everyone in this world has choices to make from the smallest things such as what to eat, what to wear, what to do and many more to the biggest things such as what course to take, what career to choose, who gonna be our spouse. Small and simple things do not require a long time to decide, perhaps we could decide on the spot like what to eat.  Just order and eat. Simple. However, bigger things that will change our life needs a lot more time to decide. Sometimes, we make the right choices but sometimes we do make mistakes. However, I would say that the mistakes are not totally wrong since we can definitely learn from it depends on how we handle the mistakes. 

I would like to share my story, a not so interesting story but interesting enough for me because it's a story of my life. Since I was in standard 6, I have set my ambition to be a motivator (at that time, I never knew that Psychology even existed). From that time, whenever I came to write my biodata, I will write motivator as my ambition. Up until I was in Form 3, I never changed my ambition. However, after I took pure science subjects (Physics, Biology and Chemistry) and Additional Mathematics, I started to change my ambition because my results for those subjects along the way were quite excellent except for Physics (Sorry, Cikgu Rahimah. I do love the teacher but I cannot love the subject).  Therefore, I changed my ambition to pharmacist because I love Chemistry and the Chemistry teacher was so inspiring (Cikgu Azmyee who acts like a father to his students).

I was quite in doubt with my choices after my SPM trial, whether to go for Psychology or Pharmacy. So, I hold my decision after I got the SPM result. I consulted with my counselor and friends regarding the course I want to take which is psychology because I was quite worried about my career in the future. I got positive responses from my counselor and friends since it suits my personality test and interest. Plus, my parents have no objection on any course I decided to take because they put their trust on me to decide for my future. Just that, some teachers were quite unhappy and shocked with my choice because they expected me to further my study in pure science but I have already made my choices and there I go. I applied for MARA scholarship and Alhamdulillah, I got the offer to make preparation at the INTEC Education College before I further my study in University of Queensland, Australia (I'm going there on this Wednesday, do pray for me).  I'm so grateful that in INTEC, I met nice people who always have my back and INTEC is a nice place (the lecturers are so helpful and awesome!). So, I came to join a group of nice people and my life started to change. I did have some difficulties to adapt for the first semester since it was my first time being far from home (home is where the heart is, people say). However, I managed to adapt to my new life with new friends and environment and I've now graduated from the college. 

I guess, I would meet a lot more nice people in a new place and got some exciting experiences. I'm so glad that wherever I go, Allah never makes me struggle alone. I'm blessed to have such great friends and meeting great people in my life. I could not ask for more because having these people in my life is such a wonderful gift from Allah.

Now, I'm going to make the biggest decision in my life (so far) and I believe that I would never be disappointed by asking Allah's guidance and consulting with the people I love in life. Ever since I always got something beyond expectations, I would love to say that Allah will always give us something beyond our imaginations and expectations. He may give us painful experience or event in life that we never expected, yet He never makes us struggle alone because right after the most painful event, He will surely grant us with happiest event in life. Just imagine, the reward for a patient and grateful servant is Jannah, which is definitely one of the greatest gifts from Allah (the greatest gift is the chance to see Allah in Jannah). We, as a servant just need to have faith and keep believing because we would never be disappointed. Never. Everything that happens in our life, including the calamities would just fine if we have faith that with every difficulty, there is ease (Allah mentions it twice in Surah Asy-Syarh to guarantee us).

"Sebanyak mana rasa syukurku, tidak sebanding lautan nikmatMU" 

-quoted-