A little of my handiwork with the Camera ...
(Perth, Vines Resort, Swan Valley April 2009)
These little babies were a beauty to see especially early in the morning during our walks -:)
Friday, 29 May 2009
Kangaroo...thou spirit of Australia... -:)
A little of my handiwork with the Camera ...
(Perth, Vines Resort, Swan Valley April 2009)
These little babies were a beauty to see especially early in the morning during our walks -:)
Death: More Than Just An Individual's Life Being Taken Away
In the past few weeks, sadly there has been the fast and unexpected demise of the young and old, some through tragic accidents and some through long-term illness and others just so unexpectedly. Nevertheless, the loss of an individual, old or young is felt deeply within the community and a harsh reminder that life can come to an end so abruptly. My thoughts on death relate to the article below I have read on many occasions. Maybe at some point I can touch on this subject from my personal experience but for now I thought I would retrieve it from my files and share it on here. My deepest thanks goes to the author who has expressed the entire topic magnificently and May Allaah the Almighty reward him tremendously for his outstanding work. It is my humble request that those readers who find their way to this article, take time to read it through in its entirety God willing. May Allaah bestow his Countless Mercy on all those who have departed this world and illuminate their graves and grant them the highest place in Paradise Ameen.
Jummah Muabrak
Aisha
---
by Abu 'Abdir-Rahman Navaid AzizAl- Madeenah An-NabaweyyahThe night of the 17th of Safar 1428
All praise is due to Allah, who reminds his slaves that their lives have an appointed time and that the successful ones are those who are saved from the Fire and entered into Paradise, when He says:
"Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception." [Al-Qur'an 3:185]
And reminds them that death will reach them no matter where they are when He says:
"Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!" [Al-Qur'an 4:78]
And reminds them that regardless of what their status in this world, they will face death. Even if they are from the greatest of warriors, or the most powerful of rulers, or even a Prophet when He addressed His Messenger, upon whom be peace, saying:
"Verily, you will die and indeed they shall die as well." [Al-Qur'an 39:30]
And reminds them that they should take heed, because a time will come where they will ask for respite to do more deeds yet shall not be granted this request when He says:
"And spend of that with which We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: 'My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give sadaqah of my wealth, and be among the righteous.' And Allah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do." [Al-Qur'an 63:10-11]
And I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but He and may His salah and salam be upon the Prophet Mohammad, his companions and those who follow their way in righteousness until the last day.
Death is indeed a reality that we all have to face one day. For most of us we will have to go through mourned times over our lost loved ones before we actually face our own destiny. And at that time, even though we may not realize it, Allah is bestowing a great favor upon us by reminding us that we to will one day face such a fate, so it is indeed time to be reminded.
Tonight Allah, the Most Exalted, bestowed such reminder upon me by taking away the life of my grandfather, may Allah encompass him with His infinite mercy and blessing and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the hellfire. Amin. As my mother, may Allah protect her and increase her in righteousness, broke the news to me I could feel the ground being taken from under me, just as it had recently been taken from under her, and it was at that very moment that a sad reality hit me quite hard. Death is not just an individual's life being taken away but rather it is so much more. It is a wife losing her husband, a child losing his father, a sister losing her brother, a grandchild losing his grandfather, one who was in need losing someone they would resort to, and the list goes on.
The only sadder reality than losing my grandfather, may Allah have mercy on him, was the fact that it took a close family member of mine to pass away before I realized the actual pain and anxiety that death causes. May Allah forgive us for our heedlessness in not sympathizing and empathizing with our brothers and sisters who die and lose loved ones everyday. Amin.
Even though it has just roughly been over two hours since I was informed of this great loss a lot of thoughts and reminders have crossed my mind which I feel are incumbent upon me to share with you today, in accordance to the statement of Allah, the Most High:
"And remind, for indeed the reminder benefits the believer." [Al-Qur'an 51:55] #
Firstly: Never take your Islam for granted by not sharing it with your family and friends. When Allah blessed you with Islam, He placed upon you a responsibility to convey its message to all of mankind. And from the crux of the message of Islam is worshipping Allah alone. For it is indeed this very crucial element that is the criterion between entering Paradise or not. As Allah, the Most High, says:
"Verily, Allah does not forgive that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives all except that to whom He pleases, and who so ever sets up rivals with Allah in worship, has indeed committed a tremendous sin." [Al-Qur'an 4:48]
So which one of us, with the slightest bit of faith and true love, would want to see one of our beloved prevented from Paradise?
Secondly: Know, that by having come into this world Allah created a bond between you and your parents that no one can ever take away. And has placed upon you a responsibility that should not be taken lightly at the very least.
After having spoken to my mother, may Allah preserve her, I longed from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul to be there with her, comfort her, and take care of her every want and need. But due to my currently being overseas, I must live with the guilt of not being able to have been there for her in her time of need. May Allah forgive all of us for our shortcomings. Amin.
As for those of you who have your parents alive and close by, I advise you as a well wisher to be as righteous towards them as possible, lest that you are ever away from them in a time of need, you will not be burdened with the guilt that you did not do your best while you were able to.
"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: 'My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.' " [Al-Qur'an 17:23-24]
Lastly: Do not be insensitive or inconsiderate of people. I know that the statement is very vague and ambiguous, but I believe it is its ambiguity and vagueness that makes it all the more powerful.
Approximately two minutes after I felt the ground was being taken from under me a close friend of mine, may Allah grant him forgiviness, called and jokingly said: "Do you have a disease that prevents you from answering text messages!?" At that very moment I was just awestruck and at an absolute loss of words to say the very least. Even though I do not blame him for not knowing of my particular situation, I do feel it is very sad that we often fail to realize that someone may be going through hardship and not even attempt to give them the benefit of the doubt. What I find even sadder in this situation is how having lost a grandfather to many illnesses and diseases, that we as conscious individuals, can joke, jest, and belittle any sickness or disease. May Allah forgive us for what our surroundings have made of us. Amin.
On a more pertinent note, when people lose loved ones they need the love and support of people around them to get over it. One of the best ways to do this is to just be there to talk to them in the initial stages of the shock, and as time goes on try to get them to re-adjust to their regular routines and daily lives. One of the biggest mistakes that people, who want to do good, can make is to bring up the topic of a lost one when the family of the deceased have just begun to get over them. A loss of a loved one is like an open wound, it needs time and care to heal, so do be careful not to pour salt where it will only harm.
Indeed, the reminders found in death are many and thus some of our predecessors would suffice by just saying the word "death" in their Friday sermons. So I hope the few reminders I extracted were beneficial, fore mostly to myself. As like all other reminders if there is no physical implementation in regards to what is said, then its presence is just as good as its absence, and I pray to Allah that this is not the case.
May Allah have mercy upon all of the deceased of the Muslims. May He grant them firmness in answering. May He widen their graves and fill them with light and many pleasures. May he protect them from any punishment and harm in the grave or in the hellfire. May He enter them into the highest of paradise in the companionship of the prophets, martyrs, truthful ones, and the righteous. May He make the deaths of deceased a lesson for those they have left behind. May He grant comfort, solace, and firmness to those they have left behind, and may He replace all of their sorrows and dismays with unlimited pleasure and joy in this life and the next. Amin. Amin. Amin.
"Their call therein will be, 'Exalted are You, O Allah' and their greeting therein will be, 'Peace.' And the last of their call will be, 'Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!' " [Al-Qur'an 10:10]
Jummah Muabrak
Aisha
---
by Abu 'Abdir-Rahman Navaid AzizAl- Madeenah An-NabaweyyahThe night of the 17th of Safar 1428
All praise is due to Allah, who reminds his slaves that their lives have an appointed time and that the successful ones are those who are saved from the Fire and entered into Paradise, when He says:
"Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception." [Al-Qur'an 3:185]
And reminds them that death will reach them no matter where they are when He says:
"Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!" [Al-Qur'an 4:78]
And reminds them that regardless of what their status in this world, they will face death. Even if they are from the greatest of warriors, or the most powerful of rulers, or even a Prophet when He addressed His Messenger, upon whom be peace, saying:
"Verily, you will die and indeed they shall die as well." [Al-Qur'an 39:30]
And reminds them that they should take heed, because a time will come where they will ask for respite to do more deeds yet shall not be granted this request when He says:
"And spend of that with which We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: 'My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give sadaqah of my wealth, and be among the righteous.' And Allah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do." [Al-Qur'an 63:10-11]
And I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but He and may His salah and salam be upon the Prophet Mohammad, his companions and those who follow their way in righteousness until the last day.
Death is indeed a reality that we all have to face one day. For most of us we will have to go through mourned times over our lost loved ones before we actually face our own destiny. And at that time, even though we may not realize it, Allah is bestowing a great favor upon us by reminding us that we to will one day face such a fate, so it is indeed time to be reminded.
Tonight Allah, the Most Exalted, bestowed such reminder upon me by taking away the life of my grandfather, may Allah encompass him with His infinite mercy and blessing and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the hellfire. Amin. As my mother, may Allah protect her and increase her in righteousness, broke the news to me I could feel the ground being taken from under me, just as it had recently been taken from under her, and it was at that very moment that a sad reality hit me quite hard. Death is not just an individual's life being taken away but rather it is so much more. It is a wife losing her husband, a child losing his father, a sister losing her brother, a grandchild losing his grandfather, one who was in need losing someone they would resort to, and the list goes on.
The only sadder reality than losing my grandfather, may Allah have mercy on him, was the fact that it took a close family member of mine to pass away before I realized the actual pain and anxiety that death causes. May Allah forgive us for our heedlessness in not sympathizing and empathizing with our brothers and sisters who die and lose loved ones everyday. Amin.
Even though it has just roughly been over two hours since I was informed of this great loss a lot of thoughts and reminders have crossed my mind which I feel are incumbent upon me to share with you today, in accordance to the statement of Allah, the Most High:
"And remind, for indeed the reminder benefits the believer." [Al-Qur'an 51:55] #
Firstly: Never take your Islam for granted by not sharing it with your family and friends. When Allah blessed you with Islam, He placed upon you a responsibility to convey its message to all of mankind. And from the crux of the message of Islam is worshipping Allah alone. For it is indeed this very crucial element that is the criterion between entering Paradise or not. As Allah, the Most High, says:
"Verily, Allah does not forgive that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives all except that to whom He pleases, and who so ever sets up rivals with Allah in worship, has indeed committed a tremendous sin." [Al-Qur'an 4:48]
So which one of us, with the slightest bit of faith and true love, would want to see one of our beloved prevented from Paradise?
Secondly: Know, that by having come into this world Allah created a bond between you and your parents that no one can ever take away. And has placed upon you a responsibility that should not be taken lightly at the very least.
After having spoken to my mother, may Allah preserve her, I longed from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul to be there with her, comfort her, and take care of her every want and need. But due to my currently being overseas, I must live with the guilt of not being able to have been there for her in her time of need. May Allah forgive all of us for our shortcomings. Amin.
As for those of you who have your parents alive and close by, I advise you as a well wisher to be as righteous towards them as possible, lest that you are ever away from them in a time of need, you will not be burdened with the guilt that you did not do your best while you were able to.
"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: 'My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.' " [Al-Qur'an 17:23-24]
Lastly: Do not be insensitive or inconsiderate of people. I know that the statement is very vague and ambiguous, but I believe it is its ambiguity and vagueness that makes it all the more powerful.
Approximately two minutes after I felt the ground was being taken from under me a close friend of mine, may Allah grant him forgiviness, called and jokingly said: "Do you have a disease that prevents you from answering text messages!?" At that very moment I was just awestruck and at an absolute loss of words to say the very least. Even though I do not blame him for not knowing of my particular situation, I do feel it is very sad that we often fail to realize that someone may be going through hardship and not even attempt to give them the benefit of the doubt. What I find even sadder in this situation is how having lost a grandfather to many illnesses and diseases, that we as conscious individuals, can joke, jest, and belittle any sickness or disease. May Allah forgive us for what our surroundings have made of us. Amin.
On a more pertinent note, when people lose loved ones they need the love and support of people around them to get over it. One of the best ways to do this is to just be there to talk to them in the initial stages of the shock, and as time goes on try to get them to re-adjust to their regular routines and daily lives. One of the biggest mistakes that people, who want to do good, can make is to bring up the topic of a lost one when the family of the deceased have just begun to get over them. A loss of a loved one is like an open wound, it needs time and care to heal, so do be careful not to pour salt where it will only harm.
Indeed, the reminders found in death are many and thus some of our predecessors would suffice by just saying the word "death" in their Friday sermons. So I hope the few reminders I extracted were beneficial, fore mostly to myself. As like all other reminders if there is no physical implementation in regards to what is said, then its presence is just as good as its absence, and I pray to Allah that this is not the case.
May Allah have mercy upon all of the deceased of the Muslims. May He grant them firmness in answering. May He widen their graves and fill them with light and many pleasures. May he protect them from any punishment and harm in the grave or in the hellfire. May He enter them into the highest of paradise in the companionship of the prophets, martyrs, truthful ones, and the righteous. May He make the deaths of deceased a lesson for those they have left behind. May He grant comfort, solace, and firmness to those they have left behind, and may He replace all of their sorrows and dismays with unlimited pleasure and joy in this life and the next. Amin. Amin. Amin.
"Their call therein will be, 'Exalted are You, O Allah' and their greeting therein will be, 'Peace.' And the last of their call will be, 'Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!' " [Al-Qur'an 10:10]
Thursday, 28 May 2009
And so Man United fail to triumph at UEFA…
I am no mad footie fan, nor do I know much about the game, but periodically I take an unannounced interest in the game, usually around this time, when it’s all coming to a closure...the Grande Finale. So as I was driving to work, yesterday morning listening to the Radio I heard hoards of fans were making their way to Manchester to watch the UEFA Champions League, final game on the big screen, probably all those wannabees that wished they were there for the game in Rome but never quite made it, so as a consolation prize, in their eagerness made their way to the big screen! And then there are those that couldn't even manage that, so proclaimed the complete ownership of the TV screen in the home; this is where if you are not a mad footie fan, you do not suggest that you want to watch that all new nature show on TV tonight or any other show for that matter except the footie. This is where we accept that this is going to be the longest and frustrating 90 minutes, it is something that we all have to get over and done with especially if you are living with siblings, dad's mates...anything that breathes with the passion of football.
I carried on making Supper and finishing the chores as the TV continued to blare, the tempo rising every so often. The match was progressing well but hardly in favour of the home team. Tensions were rising, each hopeful kick turning in to a hopeless effort! The boys were not coming home with the Cup and I merely suggested to these mad fans hoarding the TV screen to accept it. That’s when I got the look that would kill, hmm think that’s my cue to shut up and give some encouraging words like hey there is still the second half to go..though in my head I am thinking how fruitless this is!
The game was coming to a closure and at 2 goals down the favoured team’s dream to bring the Cup back to Manchester for 2009 was well and truly over. Defeat is a cruel thing. I can’t imagine devoting the entire season to football, coming so close, but not quite getting there. As the final whistle blew, these guys who had just sat and watched 90 minutes of football felt totally rejected, disappointed, useless and defeated. Barca had outgunned Man U and that was the final result! I actually felt sorry for them and all those fans out there especially all those truly devoted fans. The TV switched off and they disappeared. I suppose they didn’t want to watch the ceremony, I did but I guess I would be rubbing salt to the wound and so thought best to leave it.
It sur
e sucks. Of course, I would never understand how it feels and nor do I intend to find out. A game is a game right…?.. These boys work hard throughout the competition and give it their best (shot) and sometimes it just isn’t meant to be. Sometimes the better team wins and I guess this time around Barca were the better team and triumphed. This was a big challenge and Barcelona rose to it while Manchester United no doubt made mistakes and just were not good enough on the night. It was a defeat no doubt about that, but it takes a lot to accept defeat. But more importantly acceptance of defeat is not enough. Defeat isn’t a bad thing. It’s not all misery and gloom. Sure the initial feeling is always of complete hopelessness but they soon wear off and in fact defeat is and can be a good thing. It calls for improvement, rethink, reshape. It is a reminder that no matter how good things are going, it can all just come to a stop at any point. This goes without saying, not just for football but for absolutely everything else in our lives. Yes its a game…but not a game played and forgotten. There will be much speculation, questions, blame, and whatever else for the game and the teams over the coming days and weeks…I would say it’s a time to reflect…and there is always next year -:)
I never thought I would say this but it does bring a lot of entertainment to our screens, fills a lot of our newspapers and makes up much of our radio broadcasting so…
Long live football…
I carried on making Supper and finishing the chores as the TV continued to blare, the tempo rising every so often. The match was progressing well but hardly in favour of the home team. Tensions were rising, each hopeful kick turning in to a hopeless effort! The boys were not coming home with the Cup and I merely suggested to these mad fans hoarding the TV screen to accept it. That’s when I got the look that would kill, hmm think that’s my cue to shut up and give some encouraging words like hey there is still the second half to go..though in my head I am thinking how fruitless this is!
The game was coming to a closure and at 2 goals down the favoured team’s dream to bring the Cup back to Manchester for 2009 was well and truly over. Defeat is a cruel thing. I can’t imagine devoting the entire season to football, coming so close, but not quite getting there. As the final whistle blew, these guys who had just sat and watched 90 minutes of football felt totally rejected, disappointed, useless and defeated. Barca had outgunned Man U and that was the final result! I actually felt sorry for them and all those fans out there especially all those truly devoted fans. The TV switched off and they disappeared. I suppose they didn’t want to watch the ceremony, I did but I guess I would be rubbing salt to the wound and so thought best to leave it.
It sur
e sucks. Of course, I would never understand how it feels and nor do I intend to find out. A game is a game right…?.. These boys work hard throughout the competition and give it their best (shot) and sometimes it just isn’t meant to be. Sometimes the better team wins and I guess this time around Barca were the better team and triumphed. This was a big challenge and Barcelona rose to it while Manchester United no doubt made mistakes and just were not good enough on the night. It was a defeat no doubt about that, but it takes a lot to accept defeat. But more importantly acceptance of defeat is not enough. Defeat isn’t a bad thing. It’s not all misery and gloom. Sure the initial feeling is always of complete hopelessness but they soon wear off and in fact defeat is and can be a good thing. It calls for improvement, rethink, reshape. It is a reminder that no matter how good things are going, it can all just come to a stop at any point. This goes without saying, not just for football but for absolutely everything else in our lives. Yes its a game…but not a game played and forgotten. There will be much speculation, questions, blame, and whatever else for the game and the teams over the coming days and weeks…I would say it’s a time to reflect…and there is always next year -:)I never thought I would say this but it does bring a lot of entertainment to our screens, fills a lot of our newspapers and makes up much of our radio broadcasting so…
Long live football…
Friday, 22 May 2009
Personalities...each unto their own..
Well in my opinion, no specific category in personality tests will be the exact right one for you, its usually vague and consists of many attributes that you can tick and say, yes, yes, no , yes, yes that's me, no definitely not me and so on..
Anyway my brother sent me the link to the ipersonic test and I thought what the heck, let me take it. Five questions, each with two options to choose from, except the statement in the options appear a bit confusing..so with the best of what I thought I knew about myself, I took the test and results are:-
I'm an Analytical Thinker (AT)
My types are - are reserved, quiet persons. They like to get to the bottom of things - curiosity is one of their strongest motives. They want to know what holds the world together deep down inside. They do not really need much more to be happy because they are modest persons. Many mathematicians, philosophers and scientists belong to this type. Analytical Thinkers loathe contradictions and illogicalness; with their sharp intellect, they quickly and comprehensively grasp patterns, principles and structures. They are particularly interested in the fundamental nature of things and theoretical findings; for them, it is not necessarily a question of translating these into practical acts or in sharing their considerations with others. Analytical Thinkers like to work alone; their ability to concentrate is more marked than that of all other personality types. They are open for and interested in new information.Analytical Thinkers have little interest in everyday concerns - they are always a little like an “absent-minded professor” whose home and workplace are chaotic and who only concerns himself with banalities such as bodily needs when it becomes absolutely unavoidable. The acknowledgement of their work by others does not play a great role for them; in general,they are quite independent of social relationships and very self-reliant. Analytical Thinkers therefore often give others the impression that they are arrogant or snobby - especially because they do not hesitate to speak their mind with their often harsh (even if justified) criticism and their imperturbable self-confidence. Incompetent contemporaries do not have it easy with them. But whoever succeeds in winning their respect and interest has a witty and very intelligent person to talk to. A partner who amazes one with his excellent powers of observation and his very dry humour.
It takes some time before Analytical Thinkers make friends, but then they are mostly friends for life. They only need very few people around them. Their most important ability is to be a match for them and thus give them inspiration. Constant social obligations quickly get on their nerves; they need a lot of time alone and often withdraw from others. Their partner must respect this and understand that this is not due to the lack of affection. Once they have decided in favour of a person, Analytical Thinkers are loyal and reliable partners. However, one cannot expect romance and effusive expressions of feelings from them and they will definitely forget their wedding anniversary. But they are always up to a night spent with stimulating discussions and a good glass of wine!
In work - As an Analytical Thinker you are one of the introverted personality types. You are not particularly suited for dealing with others, working as a part of a team and be in the position of “continuous exchange“, you would much rather work alone, and dwell on your thoughts undisturbed. You usually put a critical distance between yourself and others that enables you to be the keen and incorrupt observer of life.This distance can be truly bridged by only very few other people. That is probably caused by the fact that you are not all that interested to share your thoughts with others. Generally it is sufficient for you to have clarified a matter for yourself or that you have understood something; the continuous in your eyes mostly superficial chatter of the people around you becomes rather annoying.You prefer to work independently and appreciate having a lot of time and quiet in order to concentrate on the really important things: Structuring ideas, comprehending complex causalities, understanding of the universe, its rules and the logical analysis of systems. You absorb new information like a sponge and your memory is legendary. Once you have learned something, you’ll never forget it - unless you consider it to be irrelevant for some reason and decide that it seems to be better purging it from your data storage.
Hmm... in love...When falling in love, you can turn into a real surprise package! Normally those around you probably see you like most Thinkers as slightly preoccupied, a little absentminded, maybe even a little arrogant. You also give the impression of being quiet, cool, distanced and deliberate - everything is true. It is also true that you rarely fall in love because your expectations of your partner are very high and only very few will meet them. However, when it happens to you, things - especially for an introverted Thinker - can get pretty intense. Then you even throw your previous taciturnity overboard, and compared to your normal behavior, you get loquacious and drippy. But that usually doesn’t last long, as soon your analytical and rational part returns from its vacation, puts the entire matter under a microscope without mercy, and woe to your partner if he/she did not reach the required standards in some respect! You have a very clear mental picture of your expectations and in this respect you are much too hardheaded and stubborn to be ready for any compromises. You would rather be alone than to put up with the second best, thank you very much. For your partner, the change from the love poem writing, romantic Romeo, to the cool strategist, is sometimes rather bewildering and not easy to deal with. Here, they think they have hooked the great romantic, and in reality you belong to the most unemotional and logical types around. If your counterpart is a very emotional type, this cold shower can lead to a few problems between you because, after the initial effusiveness is gone, he/she won’t be able to squeeze all that many declarations of feelings and vows of love out of you. Once the courtship period is over, you simply don’t see the necessity any longer. Emotions are suspect to you anyway, because they are capricious and you give your partner only occasionally a glimpse into your innermost feelings. That hurts many types very much and makes them feel rejected and taken for granted. You, on the other hand, are uncomfortable if you feel pushed into an intimacy you don’t like, and frequently you don’t understand what your partner expects of you.
Adjectives which describe my type: introverted, theoretical, logical, spontaneous, rational, analytical, intellectual, sceptical, pensive, critical, quiet, precise, independent, creative, inventive, abstract, eccentric, curious, reserved, self-involved, imaginative, unsociable, determined, modest, careful, incommunicative, witty.
Now that's put me in a pensive mood... -:)
Aisha
Anyway my brother sent me the link to the ipersonic test and I thought what the heck, let me take it. Five questions, each with two options to choose from, except the statement in the options appear a bit confusing..so with the best of what I thought I knew about myself, I took the test and results are:-
I'm an Analytical Thinker (AT)
My types are - are reserved, quiet persons. They like to get to the bottom of things - curiosity is one of their strongest motives. They want to know what holds the world together deep down inside. They do not really need much more to be happy because they are modest persons. Many mathematicians, philosophers and scientists belong to this type. Analytical Thinkers loathe contradictions and illogicalness; with their sharp intellect, they quickly and comprehensively grasp patterns, principles and structures. They are particularly interested in the fundamental nature of things and theoretical findings; for them, it is not necessarily a question of translating these into practical acts or in sharing their considerations with others. Analytical Thinkers like to work alone; their ability to concentrate is more marked than that of all other personality types. They are open for and interested in new information.Analytical Thinkers have little interest in everyday concerns - they are always a little like an “absent-minded professor” whose home and workplace are chaotic and who only concerns himself with banalities such as bodily needs when it becomes absolutely unavoidable. The acknowledgement of their work by others does not play a great role for them; in general,they are quite independent of social relationships and very self-reliant. Analytical Thinkers therefore often give others the impression that they are arrogant or snobby - especially because they do not hesitate to speak their mind with their often harsh (even if justified) criticism and their imperturbable self-confidence. Incompetent contemporaries do not have it easy with them. But whoever succeeds in winning their respect and interest has a witty and very intelligent person to talk to. A partner who amazes one with his excellent powers of observation and his very dry humour.
It takes some time before Analytical Thinkers make friends, but then they are mostly friends for life. They only need very few people around them. Their most important ability is to be a match for them and thus give them inspiration. Constant social obligations quickly get on their nerves; they need a lot of time alone and often withdraw from others. Their partner must respect this and understand that this is not due to the lack of affection. Once they have decided in favour of a person, Analytical Thinkers are loyal and reliable partners. However, one cannot expect romance and effusive expressions of feelings from them and they will definitely forget their wedding anniversary. But they are always up to a night spent with stimulating discussions and a good glass of wine!
In work - As an Analytical Thinker you are one of the introverted personality types. You are not particularly suited for dealing with others, working as a part of a team and be in the position of “continuous exchange“, you would much rather work alone, and dwell on your thoughts undisturbed. You usually put a critical distance between yourself and others that enables you to be the keen and incorrupt observer of life.This distance can be truly bridged by only very few other people. That is probably caused by the fact that you are not all that interested to share your thoughts with others. Generally it is sufficient for you to have clarified a matter for yourself or that you have understood something; the continuous in your eyes mostly superficial chatter of the people around you becomes rather annoying.You prefer to work independently and appreciate having a lot of time and quiet in order to concentrate on the really important things: Structuring ideas, comprehending complex causalities, understanding of the universe, its rules and the logical analysis of systems. You absorb new information like a sponge and your memory is legendary. Once you have learned something, you’ll never forget it - unless you consider it to be irrelevant for some reason and decide that it seems to be better purging it from your data storage.
Hmm... in love...When falling in love, you can turn into a real surprise package! Normally those around you probably see you like most Thinkers as slightly preoccupied, a little absentminded, maybe even a little arrogant. You also give the impression of being quiet, cool, distanced and deliberate - everything is true. It is also true that you rarely fall in love because your expectations of your partner are very high and only very few will meet them. However, when it happens to you, things - especially for an introverted Thinker - can get pretty intense. Then you even throw your previous taciturnity overboard, and compared to your normal behavior, you get loquacious and drippy. But that usually doesn’t last long, as soon your analytical and rational part returns from its vacation, puts the entire matter under a microscope without mercy, and woe to your partner if he/she did not reach the required standards in some respect! You have a very clear mental picture of your expectations and in this respect you are much too hardheaded and stubborn to be ready for any compromises. You would rather be alone than to put up with the second best, thank you very much. For your partner, the change from the love poem writing, romantic Romeo, to the cool strategist, is sometimes rather bewildering and not easy to deal with. Here, they think they have hooked the great romantic, and in reality you belong to the most unemotional and logical types around. If your counterpart is a very emotional type, this cold shower can lead to a few problems between you because, after the initial effusiveness is gone, he/she won’t be able to squeeze all that many declarations of feelings and vows of love out of you. Once the courtship period is over, you simply don’t see the necessity any longer. Emotions are suspect to you anyway, because they are capricious and you give your partner only occasionally a glimpse into your innermost feelings. That hurts many types very much and makes them feel rejected and taken for granted. You, on the other hand, are uncomfortable if you feel pushed into an intimacy you don’t like, and frequently you don’t understand what your partner expects of you.
Adjectives which describe my type: introverted, theoretical, logical, spontaneous, rational, analytical, intellectual, sceptical, pensive, critical, quiet, precise, independent, creative, inventive, abstract, eccentric, curious, reserved, self-involved, imaginative, unsociable, determined, modest, careful, incommunicative, witty.
Now that's put me in a pensive mood... -:)
Aisha
Ya Abed al-Haramain
O Worshipper of the Two Holy Masjids!
Had you witnessed us in the battlefield
You would have known that, compared to our Jihad,
Your worship is child’s play.
For every tear you have shed up on your cheek,
We have shed in its place, blood upon our chests.
You are playing with your worship,
While worshippers offer your worship
Mujahideen offer their blood and person (life).
The smell of nice perfume of is for you,
And our perfume is the dust and dirt (which is more pure),
And it has reached us from the sayings of our Prophet,
The martyr is not dead,
This is a true correct saying, in which there is no lie.
The dust of the people of Allah is never equal,
To a thousand men, whilst the smoke is climbing.
This is the book of Allah between us,
The martyr is not dead - and this is no lie.
If you have heard the above classic Arabic nasheed regardless of whether you speak or understand Arabic, it will no doubt touch you in one way or another. I heard at one point that there is a narration related to this piece in Ibn Kathir, but there is doubt on its authentication, so I have omitted the narration to avoid controversy. Finally before anyone gets on their high horse about jihad etc, there is more than one striving for the cause of Allah. It is a huge topic, that would make some interesting discussion. The point of sharing the translation of this beautiful nasheed is to search beyond the words. Our Islamic history will undoubtedly prove the striving that our predecessors endured, and while we could never reach to their level, we can still strive even if it is in the simplest form, for the Book of Allah; in many places guides us to so.
“They believe in Allah and the last day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and they strive with one another in hastening to good deeds, and those are among the good”(Qur'an - The Family of Imran, verse 114)
"The most excellent Jihad is that for the conquest of self." (Bukhari)
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Goji Berries...fad or not...they're good..but get the real stuff..
Right..bet you are thinking why on earth a post on Goji Berries..? I heard a discussion on the radio earlier today on himalayan goji berries and it reminded me of my experience. Well, let me explain, the first time I ever heard of goji berries was just under a year ago, when a very dear person to me, was diagnosed with cancer and in attempt to help her through the surgery, treatment and recovery, we ventured at every avenue possible in an effort to make her strong to undergo the treatment but also to support her afterwards. Health is so important that we forget how important it is until it starts deteriorating. Food is pivotal in maintaining good health and we all hear the usual discussions on taking a varied balanced diet, but how many of us actually do, and how many of us know of the enormous benefits of various fresh fruit and vegetables. Do we ever consider the benefits off minerals and vitamins found in the fruit and veg that are available to us? Now I am not asking that we go on a great big learning project or anything but, simply ‘fruit and veg have heaps of goodness’ and that bit of knowledge is more than enough.
So, anyway after some research on the internet, I went in search of goji berries and though not easily available, I did find a herbalist that stocked dried goji berries and then found that they also sold juice full of berries including our much wanted goji berries and so armed with goji berries, we enriched ourselves with all the goodness from the berries, ready to take on the gruelling treatment of cancer.
Now it wasn’t just the goji berries that helped, we completely changed our lifestyle and our shopping consisted of a lot more fruit and veg, some of which we had never thought of having before, though we knew about it, but was just never was part of our diet. But the goji berries was definitely new to us, which we embraced with grace.
Incidentally, these rather small, red, nutritionally rich berries are making its rise from specialist stockist to our regular supermarket, which is fantastic. We are told the goji contains heaps of vitamin C, beta-carotene and iron, are a good source B vitamins and anti-oxidants (just to name a few).
Finally, as with everything, there are those that claim all this hype over the goji berry is a fad. My advice is beware of knock of products and ensure you are buying the berries in its purest form, seek advice and indulge in moderation. There is no harm in trying with caution I say, and if its a benefit then a bonus to grab and at least it get us all eating more fruit. I sure will continue to sprinkle goji over my cereal!
Happy and Healthy Eating -:)
Aisha
Not just the regular traffic...
The journey home from work for the last two days resulted in endless traffic which could be seen as far as the vision would go. It was evident that despite the orderly traffic, followed by the odd chaos at junctions, there had been a grand scale chaos somewhere beyond. It wasn’t just the regular mad rush and tra
ffic of everyone trying to get home, it had to be an accident, spillage, or anything of such scale that would cause this kind of hold-up. Lorries crossing over central reservations, cars and motorbikes colliding and amidst all of this, lives are lost, the injured and the wounded leave the scene, some walk away unmarked, but surely they will walk away with scars that are beyond the comprehension of the naked eye…
ffic of everyone trying to get home, it had to be an accident, spillage, or anything of such scale that would cause this kind of hold-up. Lorries crossing over central reservations, cars and motorbikes colliding and amidst all of this, lives are lost, the injured and the wounded leave the scene, some walk away unmarked, but surely they will walk away with scars that are beyond the comprehension of the naked eye… As I hummed away with Zain Bhika’s ‘Mountains of Makkah’ waiting patiently in the traffic, I recalled mom’s words every morning "drive safely" and we do. I am sure, most of us set off on our journey cautiously with all good intentions to be safe, drive safely and respect the safety of other road users but there are always matters beyond our control that may put us in danger. Who knows what caused those accidents and does it even matter? If one is driving safely, what more can one do? We certainly cannot control the actions of other drivers. Maybe sleep overcame the driver of the lorry, or maybe driver of the car was distracted with a phone call, or the motorbike thought he could squeeze through between the lanes…the possibilities are endless…
It is without a doubt, that any journey we embark on we put our total Trust in God for He God can protect us and protect what is within us and deliver us to our destination, to the best of delivery, and will make easy all our difficulties and for He God, most Merciful is the Facilitator of our journeys.
And so the traffic inched forward, lights turned green and back to red and some of us moved and some us didn’t, but it sure didn’t matter; all wanting to reach their destination but all accepting that these were circumstances beyond our control…at least we were all safe -:)
Aisha
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Colors
I stopped by a dear friend's house yesterday evening to take some food that mom had prepared, I knew Terry much more than Marlene was looking forward to the Samosas. By the time we took the drive out to their house, the rain had descended yet again. I remember a time when the month of May (being the month of my birthday) was always the month where Spring was in its full bloom, but in recent years, especially these last two or three years, we seem to have a lot more rain than anticipated. An in anticipation we wait for Spring to really show its true form and colors.As Terry met me at the door, he led me into the house for me to see the new carpet which had just been fitted that afternoon. As ever, Marlene was oblivious to my arrival as she worked away with the vacuum clearing up the tiny bits of carpet that had been left behind from the fitting.
Realising I was here, she switched off and we exchanged our hugs and kisses and I stood in awe of how the room had been completely transformed. In surprise I asked Marlene, how a new carpet turned to a complete re-decorating process. The room had been re-painted and the walls were now in a beautiful warm shade of orange and cream complementing the lovely shade of orange / peach carpet. As we stood admiring the finished effect of the room, we all agreed that the previous pale cream carpet and Egyptian cotton walls, though looked fresh and clean, made the room feel a little cold but now the room had a great deal of warmth to it.
Colors are a fantastic way of expressing our feelings and emotions. To some a color might just be a color and nothing more; red, yellow, blue, green, black, white, but to many color evokes various reactions. Just think how amazingly a child is stimulated by color. The slightest change of shade can make the world of difference for all people and things. As it is often said, colors can make or break the simplest of things. Colors reflect likes and personalities. Red creates a strong impression and can increase the energy level, whereas yellow is welcoming and known to communicate happiness. Calming blues and stress releasing greens to sophisticated shades of purple are just a few shades to mention. Without color, how would we ever express ourselves?
So with Marlene and Terry’s newly decorated room, I decided some re-decorating and color is just the kind of therapy sometimes needed. Now what was left for them both to decide was whether to have a rug (Marlene) or to not (Terry)….and as we exchanged our farewells, Terry was thrown at being outnumbered….both and Marlene and I agreed a rug was definitely needed in the newly decorated room…and what else could be left to decide except the color!
Aisha
Realising I was here, she switched off and we exchanged our hugs and kisses and I stood in awe of how the room had been completely transformed. In surprise I asked Marlene, how a new carpet turned to a complete re-decorating process. The room had been re-painted and the walls were now in a beautiful warm shade of orange and cream complementing the lovely shade of orange / peach carpet. As we stood admiring the finished effect of the room, we all agreed that the previous pale cream carpet and Egyptian cotton walls, though looked fresh and clean, made the room feel a little cold but now the room had a great deal of warmth to it.
Colors are a fantastic way of expressing our feelings and emotions. To some a color might just be a color and nothing more; red, yellow, blue, green, black, white, but to many color evokes various reactions. Just think how amazingly a child is stimulated by color. The slightest change of shade can make the world of difference for all people and things. As it is often said, colors can make or break the simplest of things. Colors reflect likes and personalities. Red creates a strong impression and can increase the energy level, whereas yellow is welcoming and known to communicate happiness. Calming blues and stress releasing greens to sophisticated shades of purple are just a few shades to mention. Without color, how would we ever express ourselves?
So with Marlene and Terry’s newly decorated room, I decided some re-decorating and color is just the kind of therapy sometimes needed. Now what was left for them both to decide was whether to have a rug (Marlene) or to not (Terry)….and as we exchanged our farewells, Terry was thrown at being outnumbered….both and Marlene and I agreed a rug was definitely needed in the newly decorated room…and what else could be left to decide except the color!
Aisha
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Beyond ~ the ~ Horizon
Ok.... so in a total moment of chaos, I found myself drawn towards the world of blogging all over again but in a very different way than before. Maybe it is meant to be a way of healing or just maybe a place to rant.....
and why Beyond the Horizon...well it may become clear at some point....then again maybe not especially if I am just ranting....On a serious note, it is to look beyond what is apparent..every picture tells a story...dont judge a book by its cover...you get the drift, ok that's where we end up with 'Beyond the Horizon'.
Hopefully it wont just be a place to rant, though I may just do that every now and then so be warned, but at some point hopefully I will share stuff that will entail some wisdom...God Willing -:)
I have no plan...which is the beauty of this blog...no set format...no set topic... will just go with the flow..will write (or type as in this case) about whatever is on my mind or whatever is happening around us...or may just reminisce now and again, in fact I want this blog to always continue to be 'work in progress'... coming back to it time and again God Willing-:)
I am no writer, I don't forsee myself publishing books or attending great book conventions and whatnot, this is just purely as ever a collection of thoughts, ideas, annotations of the happenings around me, catalogue of links or writing or pictures that I have found interesting or maybe just plain hilarious.
Blogging is a huge sphere, we all know that, some blogs attract a massive amount of traffic, I don't envisage that for my blog, mainly because it is a place for me to come away from the chaos of the world and reflect. Through my process of contemplation maybe my readers can be entertained in some respect or other. If you aren't then, move on to the next blog..kidding..I do hope you stick around and spare me your thoughts.
and so I finish presenting my first post ..if you know me and you are reading this, that's great but if you are just passing... a huge thanks for reading and getting to the end of this post....please do come back and continue to browse, read... and last but not least...please do leave your comments as they will prove to be invaluable.
Aisha
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