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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Reflections... |
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| Maliha |
| 07/22/02 at 15:43:36 |
| [slm] My dear :-) and ;-), I miss you all!!!! Throughout our travels i peeked in every once in a while, couldn't stay away cold turkey ya know? Anywayz, the connections were sooo slow, I had just that.... a chance to peek in. I can't begin to describe the beautiful journey we've been on...Subhana Allah from the mountain peaks of Makkah to the enchanting warmth of Madinah, from the serenading peace of Mombasa, to the ancient pathways of Zanzibar...I can still hear the melodies of ocean waves and taste the saltiness of desert winds...My soul remains mesmerized in the memories of the grandeur of the Kaabah suspended in fajr's sweetest rays, and maghrib's tranquil cloaks. We made our Umrah in the depth of the night, and watched the sun rays embrace fellow seekers steeped in Worship and Praise. The next six glorious days were spent between Makkah and Madinah, souls suspended from the rest of the world, consciousness enveloped within folds of Allah's infinite Grace and Mercy. From the Kaabah's entrancing presence, to the winding streets rhyming with Quranic recitations...from bill boards calling to Rememberances of Allah, to the beautiful figurines of veiled women, wrapped like pearls in the depths of oceans, from the cheerful countenance of Madinan hospitality to the soul wrenching bitter sweetness of leaving the Rasul's nest...My soul still weeps for yet another chance to experience what these hollow words have failed to apprehend. We spent three days in Jeddah, amidst the bustling traffic, gigantic shopping centers, fast foods, frantic consumerism, and rapid discontent... How close the distance, yet how far the essence...My soul wept for arabia's (the dunya's) dichotomous existence. The journey to Mombasa was one filled with soul stirring connections…Surrounded by a sea of familiar faces, older, wiser, new generations of youth, most I couldn’t recognize. Yet from all flowed a generosity that brought tears to my eyes many a times. The desolate conditions people lived in (compared to the Western world) did not diminish for a second the sweet magnanimity with which we were received in. Delicious Swahili dishes were prepared laced with the sweetest spicy delights, gifts kept pouring in, small and large, Jasmine flowers so delicately sown with roses made to “scent” my hair, bakhoor for my clothes, sweets with tea, and invitations to celebrate and connect. I saw my brother, father, and other beloved members of my family who i hadn’t seen in seven years. It was an emotional time, healing, connecting…I still miss the calls of adhan and sweet sense of ease and understanding of being around my culture, surrounded by the beauty, madness, sweetness, fun, contradictions, frustrations, laughter, and delight, of my people. We made a short trip to Zanzibar, a beautiful island off the coast of Tanzania. Much like Mombasa it’s history is entrenched in the Arab conquest, landmarked with architecture of ancient mosques, and pathways reminiscent of a different time, a distant era. We went amidst an international festival of dhows, so we were able to enjoy delicacies by the water front, art exhibitions, and the chance to connect with beautiful people. The blissful yesterdays are wrapped in golden memories, such are the tapestries of our lives, weaved in colors of joy, tears, nostalgia, and dreams…We are back in the states, but somehow, our spirits are still unsettled…yearning for a different melody…the sweetest dream. PPS: I made lotsa duahs for y’all :) Sis, Maliha :-) |
| Re: Reflections... |
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| jaihoon |
| 07/22/02 at 16:07:41 |
| [wlm] welcome back sis maliha. May Allah bless your heart with peace. |
| Re: Reflections... |
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| BUSHRA |
| 07/22/02 at 17:01:20 |
| [wlm] It is so nice to hear from you again, sis. Maliha. I always enjoy reading your posts :-X, mashallah its good to hear that you two have had a blissfull start in your marriage :) (what can be more amazing then spending your first few days of marriage in peace and tranquility of MAKKAH and MADINAH). May ALLAH bless you and your spouse and always shower your path with happiness. :-* Ameen. Bushra :-) PS: This was a mesmerizing post , you should add it to your website :) |
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| Mohja |
| 07/22/02 at 17:30:38 |
| [slm] Welcome back sr maliha :) You've been missed! Mash'Allah it seems you had an awesome time. May Allah bless you always. Jazaki Allahu kheyran for the du'as. take care :-) |
| Re: Reflections... |
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| BroHanif |
| 07/22/02 at 18:13:32 |
| [slm] Welcome back Sis, what a beautiful account. I think the icing on anyones wedding stage cake is the opportunity to go on hajj or umrah, I think the experience is simply out of this world. Please make dua for us all during this ttough time... Give your husband my warm salaams and take care of each other. Until then... Salaams Hanif |
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| ahmer |
| 07/22/02 at 18:22:48 |
| [slm] that was deeeeeeeeeeeeppp subhan'Allah. Few people have the ability to both feel and express the things soo profoundly! May Allah keep the good out of your pen flowing..!! No wonder why Allah has sworn by the pen... It just reminds me of these words of Allah... By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,- 'Read, in the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists), has created man out of a clot, Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not." (96.1-5). |
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| se7en |
| 07/23/02 at 02:31:14 |
as salaamu alaykum, we've missed you Maliha :) |
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| Marcie |
| 07/23/02 at 12:19:08 |
| [color=Teal] [slm] Sister Maliha, It is nice to see that you are back. :-* You presence has been truly missed. Insha'Allah your marriage will continue to be a blessed one. :) [wlm] marcie :-)[/color] |
| Re: Reflections... |
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| Kathy |
| 07/23/02 at 21:22:40 |
| [quote author=Maliha link=board=bebzi;num=1027367016;start=0#0 date=07/22/02 at 15:43:36] [slm] I made lotsa duahs for y’all [/quote] [wlm] What a beautiful gift to all of us. Jazak Allah who Khirun |
| Re: Reflections... |
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| wardah |
| 07/24/02 at 08:12:59 |
[slm] wow!!!!!! :o Mshallah i enjoyed reading your post, made me drift off into a dream, and now back home again :-) lol! if you get what i mean Good to hear that you've enjoyed urself, and Subhannallah ur experience must have been a great one too! jazakallah khair for your Duaa's [wlm] |
| Re: Reflections... |
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| Aurora |
| 07/24/02 at 11:44:40 |
| MashaAllah what a beautiful account - JazakAllah :) |
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| M.F. |
| 07/24/02 at 16:18:05 |
| Thank you sister Maliha for the account and Jazakillah khair for the du'a. We miss you around here. May Allah grant us all a visit to His house very soon. Ameen. I recently heard on a tape that Allah made the ka'ba so that every time a person saw it, he becomesmore attached to it. |
| Re: Reflections... |
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| mwishka |
| 07/25/02 at 09:05:37 |
| sis maliha, it's so nice to see that you're back. i'm happy for you that you had such a beautiful and wonderful start to your marriage, and that you got to travel home and see family. and thanks for giving us such a thoughtful and enjoyable account of your travels..... i especially liked thinking of this Umrah in the depth of the night, an experience at night, as compared to day, can often be much more revealing. it sounds like your nighttime there was like this - very deeply affecting. welcome back. mwishka |
| Re: Reflections... |
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| theOriginal |
| 07/26/02 at 14:50:10 |
| [slm] Isn't Zanzibar the coolest of places? The Stone Town Community is so rich in Muslim heritage, that when I went, I ended up staying longer than I had planned. The people are so nice, and the architecture (especially of some of the older hotels) is unbelievable. I felt like I was in a storybook when I went. MashaAllah, it is good to hear that you liked it too. I don't remember Mombasa (I was too young), but all of Eastern Africa has a different SMELL to it. Man! Next time you go, let me know, I'll join ya :) SF. |
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