Happy Days

All Praise is due to the Most High, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

"The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it." ~ Mother Teresa

How better to start off my first blog entry for this year than with these words? Today after many days have indeed passed I am finally putting thoughts to words. The sun has peaked its beautiful face out and all the trees, flowers and birds seem to be smiling and singing a happy song. God is great...indeed! Life is happening all around us and hope can be found even when isolation is knocking at the door.

These are the days I will remember for a very long time and as I have adjusted it seems soon I must adjust back to my usual cup of tea. I can't help but feel that I would soon miss these days that at the start seemed inevitably and dauntingly long. I must endure I said to myself and slowly but surely endurance turned into enjoyment and oh how sweet that transition is. Family and friends, I am indeed blessed and for them I will remain indebted for days past, now and always.

Being different is easily envied. At some point, it may be true that everyone wants to be the centre of attention. However it is hardly ever desired in those who are. I have learnt to accept all of mine and to be able to be me through it all. Always a challenge at first but soon life continues to happen. Being true to oneself is the best way to accompany that cycle.

I thank all who have given me this opportunity and I remain forever more humble, grateful and insightful as I have ever been.

Blogging with purpose,

Le-Ann Mariamlelue

A Year has Passed

I begin in the name of the Most High, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

One year has passed since I started this blog and through its course I am continuously developing my inner personality. Giving voice to the written has helped me express myself in ways that help release one from all the burdens we carry around in our conscience. What started off as an avenue for expression that was built for the purpose of having something worthwhile to look forward to has become an integral part of me and how I give voice to what is inherent in me. Today is a much brighter day and from the clutches of feeling hopeless I am free. Express all that is in your heart and you will have your glimpse of freedom right on this material earth. I thank all who supported me in this effort, though my blog is humble you all made it into importance by your presence here.

I am thankful for the 1200 plus visits during this year and I think to myself with almost 3 visits a day there is no room for me to be ungrateful. My written voice has been heard, alhamdolilah (all praise be to God).

I wrote this poem to commemorate my blog’s anniversary. Read and comment if you so please as I gladly welcome them.

***

Everlasting Voice

One year has passed by swiftly,
As my written voice stands humbly,
To climb out of the grave of depression,
Took pen to paper in the form of expression,
I thank God above for all the inspiration,
In the hope for everlasting salvation,
My growth with thee is limitless,
As time sells deception to the faithless,
I mark this day with my words of gratitude,
As I constantly seek enlightenment from your sanctitude.
The pen shall write till the ink has run out,
The heart shall express without any doubt,
The mind shall endure to see another day,
The soul shall taste freedom along this way.

19th August 2009

***

Without forgetting we stand at the brink of yet another blessed month of Ramadhan and I take this time to wish all of you a most sacred and beneficial month of Fasting and Ibaadah inshaAllah khair…Ramadhan Kareem to all!



I now share with you an excerpt from the work of Maulana Jalal-ul-din Rumi on the month of Ramadhan

"There's a hidden sweetness,
In the stomach's emptiness,
We are all lutes, no more, no less,
If the soundbox is stuffed full of anything, no music,
If the brain and the belly are burning clean with fasting,
Every moment a new song comes out of the fire,
The fog clears, and a new energy makes you run up the steps in front of you,
Be emptier and cry like reed instruments cry,
Emptier, write secrets with the reed pen,
When you're full of food and drink,
Satan sits where your spirit should,
An ugly metal statue in place of the Ka'aba,
When you fast, good habits gather like friends who want to help,
Fasting is Soloman's ring,
Don't give it to some illusion and lose your power,
But even if you've lost all will and control,
They come back when you fast,
Like soldiers appearing out of the ground,
Pennants flying above them..."


Blogging with purpose,
Mariamlelue

[Photography by: Asma Mirza

& Pink Sherbet Photography]

Shahr Ramadhan - Tamer Hosny

What is that?

What is that?

"And your Lord has decreed that you do not worship anyone except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as] 'uff' [i.e., an expression of irritation or disapproval] and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: 'My Lord! Have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.'" [Quran 17:23 -24]

I recently came across a short Greek film that showed the true essence of reality as we easily forget that we were once helpless and to that same end we will return if we do live till old age. As I sat watching it, tears rolled down my cheeks and I felt as though something was erupting in my chest. It is easy to forget that we could not even walk on our own. As we gain independence we no longer need the comfort of a parent’s arms. In like manner can we begin to imagine how easily we forget all that our merciful and patient Rab (Lord) has done for us and continue to do for us even though we remain ungrateful. For all the times I myself was forgetful I cannot count and nor do I want to remember as it leaves me feeling hopelessly flawed. For the time that I have now, I hope to take the lesson learnt and make it habit…character, inshaAllah. I leave you now with the video that I promise you will be 4 minutes and 13 seconds well worth it!



"Respect is what we owe; love, what we give” ~ Philip James Bailey quotes (English Poet (Festus), 1816-1902)

Blogging with purpose,
Mariamlelue

Thanks for Life

"Qul in-na Salaatiy wa nusukiy wa maHyaaya wa mamaatiy lil-laahi rab-bil ‘AAlamiyn"
Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds"
[Quran 6:162]

May the days that I have passed, the ones that I am currently passing and those that I am about to pass, continue to be a journey of the conscious mind ultimately for the purpose of pleasing the Creator. I make this prayer at this junction in life as I stop, stare into the distance ahead of me and look back at where I came from. As I take in the moment, I notice my surroundings and begin to be thankful for everything and everyone in my life. God bless you all, it is indeed more than the heart's wish to be blessed with the company of so many great personalities. "It eh look so bad", or as my friend would say "It don look so bad". For all small islanders, no explanation needed but to everyone else yes there is a difference and believe me you can distinguish between them!

For once I can appreciate the sound of laughter in the midst of anxiety and loss. I hear the friendly wishes of my dear ones and I know they haven't forgotten me or forsaken me. I feel the warmth of their embrace as I spend time in the company of family. I spend this day in gratitude to the Almighty and in joyous celebration of all those people in my life who've made a measurable difference.

"Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the Verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And Tomorrow is only a Vision;
But Today well lived makes Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!"
~ Kalidasa

Blogging with purpose,
Mariamlelue