I hope you enjoy looking through my journal... Lol... it's not going to be riveting I promise!

Golly gosh!

Peace to you all

It really has been too long - hasn't it?
I honestly cannot believe that it has been over a year since I wrote a journal entry. I find that absolutely shocking.

I have, on the other hand, made frequent visits to DA, and favouriting and whatever else while I've been here for brief moments.

Anyways,
I'm not sure if I'm going to be back back - maybe I'll write some stuffs...

Hope you're all very well indeed!


Moi xx

I hope you enjoy looking through my journal... Lol... it's not going to be riveting I promise!

Asalamu Alaikum all

[link] << If you want to listen to it

I’m looking back throughout the years
to breathe is hard and my eyes are choked with tears.
Your face and hair are full of light, now it will soon be time to go.
I feel you feeling calm now. Did the angel let you know?

For all the wisdom and tea you gave to me
let me offer something now, so warm and comforting and sweet.
Can you hear me whisper to you as you sleep?
La ilaha ilallah. Did you always understand?
Can you feel me take your hand?

Flowers, house plants and I - you helped us grow,
now as I hold your cup - how were you and I to know
I’d care for you and look for hints of paradise as I bend to wash your feet?
Our minutes fade like photographs or crowds from an evening street.

For all the wisdom and tea you gave to me
let me offer something now, so warm and comforting and sweet.
Can you hear me whisper to you as you sleep?
La ilaha ilallah. Did you always understand?
Can you feel me take your hand?

I dreamt that we sat in the kitchen like we used to, having tea
the apparition vanished, as in life’s reality.
“We will meet again,” is what I’m sure I felt her say,
“on the day when veils and secrets of the heart will be torn away.”

For all the wisdom and tea you gave to me
let me offer something now, so warm and meaningful and sweet.
Can you hear me whisper to you as you sleep?
La ilaha ilallah. Did you always understand?
As I let go of your hand?For all the wisdom and tea you gave to me
let me turn to something now, so warm and comforting and sweet.
God give us peace in our final sleep.
La ilaha ilallah. Give us patience to understand.
Ya Ghafour, Ya Rahman.

What is finally in the heart?
What is the final choice?
God knows, and all that we can claim
are just memories of a voice.

Translations:

La ilaha ilallah. = (There is) No god, except The God.
Ya Ghafour = Oh, Forgiver!
Ya Rahman = Oh, Merciful!

By Dawud Wharnsby

Below are some of my favourite photographs I've ever taken. I was looking at a few and really loved to see how my photography has developed over the years...

I hope you enjoy looking through my journal... Lol... it's not going to be riveting I promise!

Asalamu Alaikum Everyone!!

I hope you're all good and well, and i'm sure you can tell what the topic for todays journal will be!!! "Can I have a drumroll please"

The Eclipse!!
Well done for all those who got it right... lol

SO how many of you actually got to watch the spectacle? Doesnt it just inspire awe and wonder? Well you know it really got me thinking. The copper colour was astounding, and all the event did was highlight the absolute perfection of the universe. I'm not an astronomer or anything but I was thinking, if the moon was for example a Metre closer to the earth (yeah I know the tides and everything would go wacko but thats not what i'm getting at) chances are right - that the earths shadow would not cover he whole moon? No idea, but it just got me thinking. Anyone got an answer for that it would be interesting to hear.

Well also It gots me thinking as well about the ages of man. You know like... generations and generations of tribes and peoples and how they behaved and lived. You know the reason I was thinking about those people is because the true majesty of the eclipsing of the moon *subhan'Allah* was a bit more dull for us than those who lived hundreds or even thousands of years ago. My reasoning is this. As I walked over to my friends house with a plate of yummy food (because as Muslims we're told that one of the best things to do during an eclipse is give charity) and if you must know what the yummy food was (close your eyes vegetarians) It was a nice naan bread with charcoaled chicken, beef and lamb... with chicken wings, chips and salad. Yummy. So yeah, as I walked over to their room (we live on the same campus) I stared up and noticed that the moon was almost covered. You know once when I was younger, our street had a total black out. All the electricity was gone, and it was the first time In my life that I actually saw and noticed how the moon lit up the earth. I mean it was the first time that when I was standing outside I noticed when a fat cloud covered the moon... not by actually staring at the moon but suddenly being shrouded in darkness. It was scary, everything covered in that chalky light... the bushes looked menacing. And then I thought, with so many street lights and stuff how does something like the eclipse make an impact on our lives. I mean, people in ages of old used to cry, and shriek in the night when the moon disapeared from sight or when the sun disapeared in the day... they used to sacrifice animals... humans... children... adults, virgins and widows. They would pray to the "Gods" to return the light back to them and they would sacrifice 400 people just to have it. Within an hour or two it would come back and all would be well.... well... only for the people not counted in that 400.

I didnt really get to see the moment the moon was totally covered. We stood up in prayer (another thing that we're advised to do) and worshipped our Lord who for us created the Universe with such precision and perfection. My back WAS KILLING ME!! Then I got a cramp in my foot. You see, the everyday prayers dont usually take any longer than 10 minutes. Prayers of the eclipse ... well its narrated that Muhammed (PBUH) stood up in prayer for the length of Al-Baqrah and when he saw the eclipse he went running to the mosque to pray and when the prayer was finished the eclipse was over... So we're looking at HOURS. For those who don't know Al-baqrah is the longest sub - chapter of the Quran (our holy book).

Also I contemplated over the narration that when Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)'s son died (Ibraheem) there was an eclipse. Superstitious people came running to the prophet exclaiming that the Sun had eclipsed because Muhammed (PBUH) was filled with so much woe. People who didnt even believe in his prophesy came running saying "you must be a prophet because the Sun eclipses for your son and Muhammed (PBUH) was annoyed. He was annoyed because the eclipsing of the sun is... a scientific miracle well I think anything scientific is a miracle . And he turned the people away telling them that the sun didnt eclipse because his son had died but rather its something that happens in nature. I'm quite astounded by the narration because if nobody believed in what I said and something had happened like that I would have used that as an opportunity and be like "oh yeah... see... I told you i'm a prophet... look... the sun is even upset because my son had died" I'm not a very good person .
Anyways my friend read from Juz Amaa (the last chapter) which is compiled of loads of sub-chapters called Surahs. She read from Al-Haq which means The truth... I was late so I missed the first Raka'ah and then we stood for the rest. You know Allah subhanu tested me last night, because in my head astaghfir'Allah I was complaining "oh why did I join this prayer, its sooo long, my back hurts :blah: " and then I got a cramp in my foot.... It was almost as if he gave me an excuse to leave the prayer... but Alhamdulillah... I stuck it out, and after I made the intention that I was not going to stop the prayer the cramp went away and I was thorougly impressed with my friends who had actually prayed the first raka'ah... OH and I was even more impressed with Muhammed (PBUH)'s Sahaba... Imagine standing in prayer for the WHOLE of the solar eclipse... Subhan'Allah (that means "All praises to Allah) thats takes guts.

I mean its one thing standing in prayer, but a total different thing standing with concentration... respect... and khushu' (humility) that takes A LOT of strength mentally and physically.

I hope you all enjoyed the eclipse regardless of whether you have a faith or not, it really is a testimony to the beauty of our universe.

Cya guys!! Oh... and no features today!

Below are some of my favourite photographs I've ever taken. I was looking at a few and really loved to see how my photography has developed over the years...

I hope you enjoy looking through my journal... Lol... it's not going to be riveting I promise!

Asalamu Alaikum All!!


*does a little dance I'VE BEEN FEAATURED... I'VE BEEEENN FEEEAATUUREDD!! lah lah lah lah lah lah!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was featured by


CHeck out her stuff... she's a cheeky!!



The first person that I will be featuring today is;
alsiafy




You know whats interesting about Alsiafy's gallery? It's that you can see his progress and its amazing... he's progressed soooo quickly and now he's coming close to a pro. If you look at his earlier digital manips and then his newer ones you cant help to just be in awe!!


The Second Person that I will be featuring today is;
Cutedemon



His work is BRILLIANT he has such a command...expertise... control over lighting and what looks good. His work is also extremely varied so YOU SHOULD go take a look!! Please!!


Okay, thats all for my features today! Maybe in a few days time I will start putting more of you up at a time... Please have a look at their stuff it really is great. Have fun guys!!

Below are some of my favourite photographs I've ever taken. I was looking at a few and really loved to see how my photography has developed over the years...