The Last 10 Days

The Last 10 Days. Does it sounds like a title from a new released movie in the cinema? Or maybe like a title of a suspense, thrilling genre novel in the new arrival section of famous book stores? It could be a poem, a sad one. It could be from a journal entry of someone, anyone. What do you think?

Assalamualaikum to All. Anne has been reinstated and is now writing in the house. It has been a while and I hope you are doing great in this blessing month of Ramadan. Anne's Dictionary of Life defined 'Blogging' as Reaching Hearts with Lessons from the Your Life Story. So, let's update a little. I just came back to IMU, starting my final year, with tears before leaving the Northern Land and with unexplainable determination the moment flight landed yesterday noon at Subang Airport.
When a new phase begin, a more challenging obstacles are waiting ahead to bring us closer to Allah, always have that in mind comrades.

Truthfully admitting, I am always anxious of the wave ahead. The burden of stepping into final year is unexpectedly even heavier that what I thought, but it is Ramadan. I feel strengthen even with the thought that it is a special month to Muslims. Month of Miracles. My faith to Allah doubled and tripled because I know HE's got my back. This is really a weird feeling that I am feeling. The usual, never fading protection and security from Allah to me, felt the greatest this month, I sense the difference and I hate the fact that, Ramadan would end in just half a month.

Cracking my mind up over a topic to write on, forcing frozen non-existing ideas to melt, opening the box of mood, hoping that I would have at least a little of it, left somewhere in any corner of the box, which unfortunately, none was. I finally decided to read on some stuffs in the internet and happen to read a piece of wonderful writing from my favourite writer, Yasmin Mogahed in her official website, which you could give yourself a touching tour of saving your soul whenever you feel like you are in need of it. I  found this nice title to write about.

Yasmin Mogahed wrote on four things that we can do in the last 10 days of Ramadan which are:

Set a private meeting with Allah, 

Locate a time for reflection 

Go for a trip with Allah  

Grab the Night of Power

Busy throughout the days, of course. So spare some hours in the night before Sahur to meet Allah, privately. (Or, you didn't even wake up for Sahur?) Well, if that is the case, reading this would not help. Hold on grip to the fact that this last 10 days only comes once in a year, make an effort to connect to Allah. You can pray, you can read Al-Quran, you can just recite Dua. There is no limit to what you should do and it is what you want to do. 

The Prophet ﷺ said: “When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One, descends towards the lower heaven and proclaims: ‘Is there anyone supplicating to Me, so that I grant his supplication? Is there anyone begging of Me for anything so that I grant him his wish? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness, so that I forgive him?’” [Bukhari and Muslim].

(Copied From: yasminmogahed.com)

Let us try to not use our tight schedule to the reason we could not find any free time for a self reflection everyday. I am reminding myself, at least. I know if possible, I would want to finish every single task in my to-do-list. But it never ends. Sometimes drowning and forgetting, take you a step away from the real reason of living, don't you think? We are struggling so hard till it breaks our head apart. What do you live for? This question appears in my head when I begin to seriously think about life. Take this golden opportunity in this blessing month, to reflect more. It is best when there are no distraction around you and begin reflecting. It never fails in making me feel better but I am not sure about you. You will never know, unless you try.

What do Yasmin Mogahed means when she wrote 'Trip with Allah'? First of all. If we are to go for a trip, what are the possible reasons to it? 

• It's semester break, I need to go somewhere to de-stress
• It has been quite a while since everyone in the family get together, so let's have some bonding time with each other
• I want to get away from my problems and come back fresh and new

Indeed. We need to get away, sometimes. That's what she wrote, which is cool. With just Allah as your companion, bring yourself closer to him on the last 10 days. Away from the demanding world, but closer to Allah that creates this world. One of the thing that people always talk about when Ramadan is approaching or arrived.

• Aisha (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to practice I`tikaf (seclusion) in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan” [Bukhari].

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever prays during the night of Qadr(power) with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

• Aisha (ra) said: “I asked the Prophet ﷺ, ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?’ He said: ‘Say: O Allah, You are Oft-Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.'” [Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi]

• [Copied from yasminmogahed.com] 

With a good intention, I am just sharing what I just read. May the good in this entry be spread and reach more hearts. Even if it is lacking on my part, I hope that at least, one thing from here, touches the deepest part in your heart.

I end my, my writing here. I hope to greet you even sooner. Maybe later, but at least, I will try. So you too. Give a try. The process of bringing our heart, mind and ourselves to Allah is not something that can only be done in Ramadan. The battle is ongoing throughout our life. It is suppose to keep on going despite you are winning or failing. 

AnneZR

p/s: Dear pretty course mate, that came and greet me while I was writing this. I hope you enjoy reading this.