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Today is Saturday, May 19, 2012
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A Wedding Story

Apr19

Alhamdulillah …

It has been 19 days that I am now a happily married woman and I can’t be more thankful for this blessed life. Everyday, I wake up feeling so grateful to Allah that I managed to progress through to the next phase of life. I have always thought that weddings and marriages are far-fetched and will happen to others but not to me.

I can't recall the exact date that both Miftah and I decided to get married but I think it was sometime back in February 2011. We did not have a long courtship period.

In Malay traditional customs, as soon as a man announces his wish to marry, an engagement date will be set when families of the couple meet to discuss the wedding plans. The adat bertunang (engagement custom) is normally held at the bride's home and this took place on 30th Apr 2011 for us.

In terms of preparations for our wedding, I feel that it is similar to preparing a corporate event but the primary difference is that relatives tend to be more sensitive so we had to be delicate in our decision-making and try to manage objectives, emotions and the level of involvement by others. Furthermore, the two of us decided to have a combined function as compared to a traditional Malay wedding, which usually involves one function on the bride's side and another on the groom's side so we had to be very mindful of the wants and needs of each other’s family.

It was definitely a rollercoaster ride throughout the whole period of wedding preps. A word of caution that I would like to highlight to future brides and grooms is to ensure that you go through the agreement with the bridal service providers thoroughly. I made the mistake of assuming some items were included in certain packages I took and failed to ensure that it was printed in black and white. Professionalism must be maintained even if the service provider you engage might be directly related to you unless maybe the service providers are your own parents. Eventually, it is still a business deal.

Another point to note is that it is highly encouraged that you have your own checklist and mark your own deadlines. Do schedule a few meetings with your décor provider, photographer, videographer, food caterer, mak andam and other service providers. It is good if you can have one final meeting at least a week with all those involved to run through everything and check if anything has been missed out. You need not do all these on your own and can always assign your trusted friend or relative to be in the loop.

Last but not least, now that the event is officially over, my husband and I would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to everyone who had been involved one way or another!

Our Heartiest Thank you …

Kadi Hassan Bin Salim for facilitating our nikah ceremony

Kak Wani from Gubahan Cinta for the gorgeous sireh dara

Kak Yani from Fantazia Wani for the pretty and delicious cupcakes

Lulu AlHadad from Lulu AlHadad Designs for the exquisite gown I wore for my solemnization

Fadlin M. Saffri from One Avenue for the wonderful videography

Khai and his team from Khai Fotoatelier for the artistic photography

Rizman and his team from Artiste Seni Budaya Tepak Sireh for the entertaining dance performances

Abang Zubir Abdullah and his team from Orkestra Budi for the soothing traditional music

Shahrul and his team from Nur Iman Kompang Group for the entertaining kompang & nasyid performance

Sabir from Sns Gift Ideas for the dainty wedding favours

Yati from Redboudoir Henna Art for the inticate henna art design

Cik Aini & Cik Zul’s Catering for the delicious food

Maid-of-Honour, Farah Lulu and Best Man, Rozaiman for ensuring the timeliness of the itinerary and the smooth-running of the wedding event

Bridesmaids: Nor Adha, Alya Aman, Adlina Adil, Jannah Ismaeil, Izati Ngaliman, Nur Shamila, Athirah Rosli, Siti Nabilah and Fatin Izzati for willingly adopting the bridesmaids duties

Parents and parents-in-laws for always supporting us

Each and every relative for the presence, contribution and involvement in the event

Each and every relative for the presence, contribution and involvement in the event

And thank you to all our guests, comprising of family and friends for sharing our joy and for praying for our well-being.

 

Much Love,
Shasha & Miftah




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Reality

Mar26

Don’t look at expressions on faces. Don’t listen to what is said with tongues. Don’t let tears sway you. They are all but products of human skin. It changes everyday. Look instead for what is under the skin. Not the heart either, as it also fluctuates, nor the mind, as it changes its point of view whenever it changes its perspective. Moreover, the mind may accept at present what it denied in the past. Even scientists change their theories.

No, my son! If you want to understand a human, look at his or her action in a moment of free choice. Just then you will get very surprised as you may see a saint prostituting, and a whore praying! You may find a physician drinking poison, and you may get shocked by your friend stabbing your back, while your enemy saving you! You may see a servant who acts as noble as a master, and a master acts as despicable as the lowest servant! You may see kings taking bribes and wretches giving charity.

Look at man when there is no fear to stop him; when caution sleeps, desire gets satisfied and barriers fall. Just then you can see man’s reality: walking on four legs like an animal, or flying like an angel, or creeping like a snake, or eating mud like worms.

Dr. Mustapha Mahmoud

Translated by: Amany Elmorshidy

Grabbed from: http://www.islamicquotes.net/blog/


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Hen Party on 24.02.2012

Mar18

Since young, I have had a reputation to be the easiest person to surprise.

My cousins were racking their brains on how to execute the surprise gathering for me but it ended up more smoothly than they expected it to be.

I was on the way to my Pre-diploma in Islamic Studies Classes at Andalus Yishun with my dear friend, Farah when I was 'kidnapped' at Yishun by Nana, Nania & Nabilah. I was unsuspecting when Farah told me that we will be taking the MRT to class and it didn't cross my mind to ask her why we weren't driving on that day. She just mentioned that she needed to pass something to her friend at the MRT platform and her friend was in a rush. I think I was too busy sharing with her about my stress about the wedding and work. I still didn't get it when we exited at Yishun and we met Nabilah. I thought she was there by coincidence.

Only when I saw Nana and Nania that I got puzzled. I grew even more confused especially when they started saying, "Sorry Sha but you are not going for classes today."

It turned out that everything had been pre-planned and Farah was an accomplice. They had tried to rope in my fiancé as an accomplice but he told them that there is no way that I will skip my lessons as I am very particular about my attendance. They asked him to trick me by saying that there is a last-minute meeting by the wedding caterer but he said that almost everything related to the wedding is being managed by me and there is no way I would buy that. They had no choice but to contact the person who is with me almost all the time - FARAH!

I just thought that Farah was lazy to drive on that day or something like that. She must have had her reasons so I didn't even question her on her decision to take the MRT on that particular day. Yes, I am nice like that. Hee hee...

Nana and Nabilah led me to Sakura at Dhoby Ghaut Green and the table was reserved for at least another 10 people but they refused to tell me who else were coming. I found out soon enough and it was indeed a lovely surprise. One that I would never forget. ALL my female cousins (except for the underaged ones like Ziha and Insyirah) were there. That was a first of such a gathering and I hope there will be more to come. :)

I didn't expect them to be so 'chikopek' though. Hahahaha.. First, they presented me with a card that shocked me with the drawing of certain images on the front cover. They made me snap a picture with that card. They then presented me with their gifts and insisted that I opened it then. I started blushing and didn't imagine that they would actually buy such a thing for me. Most of my cousins are cladded in hijab by the way. It was not the fact that they bought me lingerie that got me blushing but the fact that the choice of lingerie was really.... ermm... CHEEKY!

We had so much fun, laughing and spending time together. After the sumptuous buffet dinner, we continued our mingling session at Nabins where we didn't really snapped photos as the lighting was too dim and we were busy having too much fun.

Thank you cousins! I truly appreciate that surprise gathering and look forward to more of such gatherings!

Telling Nana on how Farah led me to them

Dinner Time at Sakura Internation Buffet @ Dhoby Ghaut Green

I had to edit out the 'explicit doodles' *winks

Excitedly anticipating my reaction as I unwrap the gifts

*Blushes

Leopard Pweents

All the female cousins (minus Nazihah and Insyirah)


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Three's A Crowd

Jan27

There is an old wives’ tale that if you take a picture in threes, the one in the middle will die first or one out of the three will leave the world.

Eventually, wouldn’t all of us die and leave this world?
This world is just a temporary destination and isn’t it Allah who determines our life and death matters?

As Muslims, we are supposed to believe in Qada and Qadar.

The program that Allah made before He created the universe in pre-eternity is called qadar. His application of that program when its time is due is called qada.

Qadar is Allah’s knowing of everything in pre-eternity, what happened and what will happen whether good or bad from pre-eternity to past eternity, their time, place and characteristics, and His ordaining and determining them.

Qada is His creation of things and events when their time is due based on His pre-eternal knowledge and ordaining.

Then, belief in qada and qadar means to believe without doubt that Allah knows everything, that He programmed everything in pre-eternity and that He creates things and events based on that knowledge and program when their time is due.
(Source: http://www.questionsonislam.com/article/what-belief-qada-and-qadar)

By believing in powers other than Allah, we will be commiting Shirk-al-Asghar.
The Islamic prophet Muhammad has classified shirk into two categories:

  • Greater shirk (Shirk-al-Akbar): open and apparent
  • Lesser shirk (Shirk-al-Asghar): concealed or hidden

I would not want to deviate from the topic and ramble on about Shirk but for those who are keen to know more about what it is about, please ask a learned one such as an Ustaz or Ustazah.

You may also want to check out the following links:

So anyway, let’s get back to the original topic of THREE.

In Islam, accomplishing certain tasks in odd numbers is significant.
Imam Tirmidhi mentions a Hadith in which Nabi (SAW) is reported to have said, “Certainly Allah is odd and loves that which is odd.”
In Arabic, the first plural number is number three. If a person counts from number one, the very first number which denotes multitude is number three which is odd. It is for this reason, that in certain aspects of Shari'ah, when a large amount is intended, then it must be done in the least odd number which denotes multitude and that is number three.

3 Quls, 3 times of washing for  hands, nose, mouth, face and legs in wudu' or ablution, 3 tala’ in divorce, 3 times of reciting Tasbeeh in Ruku and Sajdah… These are just some of the examples done in threes.

I realised that I always end up hanging out with my girlfriends in threes.
None of us have ever felt like the odd one out and we often have much fun in each other's company.

So who says that three's a crowd?

 


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SAFFANAH (-Hijabis.sg) Tea Party

Nov08

SAFFANAH (-HIJABIS.SG) presents to you: OUR VERY FIRST TEA PARTY!
(*click here for more info)

 

Time
Saturday, January 14, 2012 · 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Location
Lagun Sari , Java Room

381 Joo Chiat Road, OCN Building, Singapore 427621

THEME: "Empowering the Hijab"

Come dressed in your BEST PINK outfit/headscarf.. Get acquainted with many remarkable Hijabis in Singapore! A dazzling event for ALL MUSLIMAHS not to be missed!

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Programme Highlights:
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- Launch of Saffanah (Hijabis.sg)
- Interactive Dialoque session with Ustazah Laila
- Showcase of “new”Hijabis sharing their Hijab journey
- Live demo of “shawl styling” by Farah Lulu
- Special Appearance by a Celebrity Hijabi
- Hijabi friendly Fashion Show
- Get a professional portrait shot of yourself
- Best Dressed Competition
- 10 Lucky Draw Prizes to be won and door gifts for all guests
- Savour our splendid high tea spread and make new friends
- Shop at our mini bazaar from your favourite online retailers

__________________________ __________________________ ______

Admission Fee: S$30/- each (Buy 2 or more at only S$27/- each)
- Ticket price inclusive of donation to Ain Society
(Saffanah’s Official Beneficiary for this event)

TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR FOR MORE INFO,
PM @Farah Lulu on FB OR email to saffanah_hijabis.sg@live.c om.sg.

Payment will be through i-banking or ATM transfer. Tickets will be emailed to you once payment has been made. Tickets have to be printed out and bring on that day for entry. :)

__________________________ __________________________ ______

This event is supported by : Ain Society

Special Thanks to our lovely sponsors:

1) Purple Plumtree Photography & Services
https://www.facebook.com/p urpleplumtree

2) anakABU productions
https://www.facebook.com/anakabupro

3) Flashed
https://www.facebook.com/flashed.photography

4) Lyn's design
http://redtro.carbonmade.com/

5) Sufyaa Contemporary Hijab
https://www.facebook.com/ilovesufyaacontemporaryhijab

6) Aurah Boutiq
https://www.facebook.com/AurahBoutique

7) IStyle (Ifa Harmifa)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/IStyle-Ifa-Harmifa/169044356464319

8) Daania Couture
https://www.facebook.com/DaaniaCouture

9) Chantique E-Boutique
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chantique-E-Boutique/116285715101552

10) Ummah
https://www.facebook.com/pages/UMMAH/118747154806807

11) SUHAIM Enterprise Pte Ltd
https://www.facebook.com/SUHAIM.Enterprise

12) SimplyManeez E-Beautiq
https://www.facebook.com/busana.simplymaneez

(with more pending sponsors to be added soon)

NOTE: THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO ALL MUSLIMAHS ONLY. =)

Both hijabis and non-hijabis are invited. To non-hijabis, we would appreciate if you can put a shawl over your head during the event....

We look forward to seeing you there! May Allah bless us all and guide us to the right direction. Insha'Allah.

 


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