Cute Kids on Telly

Ooh I've got to tell you about this really cute TV series that I've seen a few episodes of.
It's called Faiz Faizah, it tells the story of cute kids living together in an orphanage house. (It's indonesian by the way).

Faiz, who is around 5 years old and his friends in the orphanage met a girl whose name is Faizah, who is also around 4-5 years old. Faizah does not live with them as Faizah comes from a wealthy family and she is an only child. I think the orphanage house and Faizah's house are near to each other so that's why they hang out and play together so much.

It was really cute how Faiz and Faizah met the first time.

"Namaku,, Faizah..Nama kamu apa?"
"Faiz.."

Faiz wanted to know how it feels like to have a mom and a dad. While Faizah wanted to have friends to play with and she also felt lonely as her parents never really spend much time with her as they were very busy with work.

So what did they do? They decided to switch places, and pretend to be the other! And to be honest they pulled the act quite well. They in fact looked about the same but since Faizah has really curly hair, Faiz has got to wear sort of a curly wig over his head which is OMG so cute!! And he managed to fool Faizah's maid into thinking that he was Faizah, while Faizah's parents were still at work.

And the real Faizah, who wanted to be Faiz for a day, had to wear a cap to put all her hair in together, and tada- she did look very boyish with her cap and T-shirt.

And there were hilarious scenes as they switch places. You've got to see them for yourself!

There were also scenes that I found very touching. Before going to bed, Faizah saw that all the other orphanage kids, prayed hard that one day, some kind foster parents will come take them away and give them love, and care for them like their own children.

"Ya Allah, kurniakanlah hambamu, mama dan papa yang akan menjagaku, mengasihiku, Ya Allah.."

And these kids were only around 5-9 years old!! Wooowoo..so touching I wanted to cry..

I guess not every one is as fortunate as myself. Some kids have never ever seen their parents' faces, never had parents who would cuddle them as they drifted off to sleep, never have true love from parents. They live every day imagining how it feels like to be loved by parents.

And people like us who do have parents.. sometimes we take their presence for granted. We forget to thank Allah for giving us this greatest gift: Parents. We forget to show our love and appreciation towards our parents and we disobey them sometimes.

We therefore have to always remember everything they have done for us, since we were born in this world up until today. As Allah mentions in the Quran:

We have instructed man concerning his parents. Bearing him caused his mother great debility and the period of his weaning was two years: "Give thanks to Me and to your parents. I am your final destination." (Surah Luqman: 14)

And Allah asks us to be kind and good to our parents..And we can't even say something that can cause them to be hurt, even a word like 'Ah' is impermissible.

We have instructed man to be good to his parents … (Surat al-Ahqaf: 15)

Your Lord has decreed that you should worship none but Him, and that you should show kindness to your parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say "Ugh!" to them out of irritation and do not be harsh with them but speak to them with gentleness and generosity. (Surat al-Isra': 23)

May Allah help us to become better children to our parents, and may He bless our parents always.

Salam..

Not a bed of roses

My friends would know that I don't cry publicly, but there are usually two things that can make me cry:
1. Very hot spicy food that sends tears flowing like river to my eyes, and
2. A story/novel/show with a sad story-line , with possibly a tragic ending

So, there I was a few days ago, reading the famous novel by Jodi Picoult, "My Sister's Keeper" and I was sobbing and sniffling like mad, crying my eyes out. It was touching, a story of how a family fights as one of the kid has got acute promyelocytic leukemia.

But the sad part is, it ends with the death of one of the kid. Not going to comment more, just in case there is anyone out there who has not read the novel yet.

And yesterday, I was holding back tears as I watched yesterday's episode of Bersamamu on TV3. The show was portraying the life of this 15 year old boy with a mass the size of a coconut on his tummy and he was diagnosed as having 'kanser urat saraf'.. (So that would be a neurofibroma wouldn't it? )

The boy was thin, frail and obviously in much pain. His mother and family stayed close by his side until..until he breathed his last. Yeah, the boy died in the end. (And this is a real life story!!). And the TV3 crew were actually there to capture the moments of his death.

It just struck me again of how fragile life is, really. Of how this life is a series of tests for Allah to see which of His servant is the strong one and deserves to be rewarded with Jannah. Says a verse in the Quran:

We will test you until We know the true fighters among you and those who are steadfast and test what is reported of you. (Qur'an, 47:31)

Please let us be the true fighters ya Allah!

Tests can come up in many different ways, some of which can be totally unexpected and may creep up to you in a surprise. Some people are tested with difficulty in family, some in illness, some in work, others in studies, money, and the list goes on. In the Quran, Allah also says:

Do people imagine that they will be left to say, 'We believe,' and will not be tested? We tested those before them so that Allah would know the truthful and would know the liars. (Qur'an, 29:2-3)

I once heard a wise man said that each time you are tested, and when you are able to get through the test, Allah will rise your place to a higher level. He will keep you closer to Him, and strengthen your back. All we have to do is to have faith in Him, and know that He will bring us through any bad times, through any difficulties. As He is the Most Powerful, and He knows all the hikmah/wisdom of it all.

And He is ALWAYS there for us, to listen to all our cries and whinings. Oh how kind our God is, when as human-beings, we have in many times, wronged ourselves, forget Him, did sins and sometimes did not obey all his commands. But He is still there for us, every minute, every second..always. Isn't it in the Quran that says He is closer to us than our own vein?

And indeed We have created man, and We know whatever thoughts his inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular vein [50: 16]

And this is another verse, on how near is Allah's help to those who are tested.

Or did you suppose that you would enter the Garden without facing the same as those who came before you? Poverty and illness afflicted them and they were shaken to the point that the Messenger and those who believed with him said, 'When is Allah's help coming?' Be assured that Allah's help is very near. (Qur'an, 2:214)

So to everyone out there who is striving and facing this life's test: Stay strong, don't give up. Always have Allah in your heart, and always seek Him for help and guidance. Remember that life in this world is only temporary and that the hereafter is the one that matters.

The life of this world is nothing but a game and a diversion. The abode of the hereafter-that is truly Life if they only knew. (Qur'an, 29:64)

May Allah keep us strong always, and be steadfast in this path, inshaAllah.

Trust Me I'm (almost) a doctor!

It still seems a bit surreal, really.
But it's true! It's true! I have passed the Medical Finals exams Alhamdulillah.

I was expecting for the worst, I had even practiced how I should feel when I get the results, I had prepared myself mentally for the news, uhh.. just in case.
And I was hiding under my duvet at 3pm on results day, trying to sleep it all off, not wanting to know the news that the result would come out in a matter of minutes.

But that was until Nida came barging through the door. She obviously had checked her results, and seemed to know mine too. "Mai,, I think you passed!!" And then we were jumping up and down, hugging each other, squealing and screaming at the top of our lungs.

Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah, this is all Allah's works. It is a miracle really, because I thought the exams were quite difficult and challenging that I thought there was no way I would make it through this time.(Out of 219 ppl, 40 failed this year so that's a fifth of the class ) . But Allah is so very Merciful, He is so very Kind, and He listens to all my prayers, and the prayers of my beloved, and He made my friends and I passed.

If there is one thing I learnt from this whole experience, it is that Usaha+Doa+Tawakal really is the key. Maybe other people will never understand the whole Medic Finals Exam experience (especially in Leicester, where you are meant to prepare for every single module/subject you've learned: Medicine, Surgery and Specialties). But the whole journey was an experience like no other. Quoting a friend, it was a physical, emotional and spiritual journey, and I am just so blessed to go through it with my beloved friends and sisters.

If you want something so badly, of course you would work hard for it, wouldn't you? But I understand now that however much you work, you have to leave it all to Allah, as there is nothing that can happen without His Will. But still you really have to work hard for it, as the effort too is counted by Allah.

And of course, I still can remember the difficult times; when the brain felt overloaded, as if there is no more space to fill any information with. Or the times when I just felt like puking it all out-as it was just getting too much.

But the thing is, you do really have to push yourself. Because by trying hard enough, at least you'll be able to tell yourself that: "At least I've tried. " It is also so very important to exchange words of motivation with your friends to keep each other's spirit high. To remind each other that we are doing all this not really for anything else.. but to please Our Lord who has always been so kind to us.

Have faith in Allah. Know that He holds the knowledge of the sky and the earth, and to Him belongs everything. Believe in Him that He is always there when you call out to Him, and that He loves you so much that He will answer your prayers.

And those are the motivations that one needs to keep on striving: to know that every time you open the book to read a chapter on Haematology for instance, the angels will come down and write those as good deeds. And if the heart is sincere, it will be reported to Allah and perhaps will be counted as deeds to enter Jannah..insyaAllah amin..

So that's Finals done and over with. The graduation day will be in July insyaAllah.

And now with some free time after the exams, I hope to engage myself fully in Islamic works, something that I have come to love and feel responsible for. Because that is one of the reason we all worked so hard for, to one day be excellent doctor-daies, as gifts for the ummah insyaAllah. To bring the ummah back to where it really belongs, to shine again...insyaAllah.

Surah Muhammad 7. O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.

Lastly, my appreciation and thank you to all beloved people who helped me to get through the journey, my batchmates, housemates, my naqibah, sisters all over uk eire, other friends, kakak2, doctor2 etc etc.

Salam~

Eid Mubarak~!

Slm

Hm. I've just realised that I've actually missed blogging. Was browsing back to old blog entries to find suitable reflective entries to be put into my PDP folder for house job applications. And then realized how lovely it had felt to just pour out my feelings in words and writing whatever comes to the head.

*Sigh.* Let's try to make this consistent again, shall we? But looking at the busy timetable ahead, I don't really know if I'll be able to keep to this promise! OK then I'll have to put in my mutabaa amal to-do-list,so that I'll remember to write an entry a week. Or hm, an entry in 2 weeks, maybe? Hee.

And as I said, I am expecting these coming weeks to be quite hectic. What with quite a heavy block coming my way (Paeds starting next week), and outblocks in 3 weeks time, also with the upcoming application for the job thingy. Oh, and also a very special project on Palestine *hint hint* (this one I'm really looking forward to!), and also the arrival of my brother and his family to UK!! *Can't wait for this one!*

InshaAllah, let's hope I'll be able to handle and multitask and be itqan in everything that I do. Because in the end, these are good deeds that will hopefully bring me closer to Allah inshaAllah..Because all I want is His Redha and for Him to accept them as deeds and points for Jannah.. :)

Anyway, ramadhan is leaving us soon. :( I hope this has been a great ramadhan for everyone (especially myself), and has made us even better 'Abd to Allah the Almighty. May we graduate from this holy month of Ramadhan with flying colours, and be consistent with our amal ibadat even after Ramadhan and through out the whole year inshaAllah...

Salam eid mubarak~!



Take care..salam wbt

Story of Prophet Yahya (Part 1)

I love this story on the life of Prophet Yahya (John). It reflects his strong love towards his Lord, and he would do anything to please Him. May it be an example for us, especially in this Holy month of Ramadhan, may our love to Allah exceeds any other love that ever exist in this world. Because He loves us too much too :)

Source: Stories of The Prophet (Ibn Kathir)

Prophet Yahya (John)

John's Childhood

John (pbuh) was born a stranger to the world of children who used to amuse themselves, as he was serious all the time. Most children took delight in torturing animals whereas, he was merciful to them. He fed the animals from his food until there was nothing left for him, and he just ate fruit or leaves of trees. John loved reading since childhood. When he grew up, Allah the Exalted called upon him:

"O John! Hold fast to the Scripture (The Torah)." And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.
(Ch 19:12 Quran).

John's Qualities

Allah guided him to read the Book of Jurisprudence closely; thus, he became the wisest and most knowledgeable man of that time. Therefore, Allah the Almighty endowed him with the faculties of passing judgments on people's affairs, interpreting the secrets of religion, guiding people to the right path, and warning them against the wrong one.

John reached maturity. His compassion for his parents, as well as for all people and all creatures, increased greatly. He called people to repent their sins.

There are quite a number of traditions told about John. Ibn Asaker related that one time his parents were looking for him and found him at the Jordan River. When they met him, they wept sorely, seeing his great devotion to Allah, Great and Majestic.

Ibn Wahb said that, according to Malik, grass was the food of John Ibn Zakariyah, and he wept sorely in fear of Allah. A chain of narrators reported that Idris Al Khawlawi said: "Shall I not tell
you he who had the best food? It is John Ibn Zakariyah, who joined the beasts at dinner, fearing to mix with men."

Why John Always Wept

Ibn Mubarak stated that Wahb Ibn Al-Ward narrated that Zakariayah did not see his son for three days. He found him weeping inside a grave which he had dug and in which he resided. "My son, I have been searching for you, and you are dwelling in this grave weeping!" "O father, did you not tell me that between Paradise and Hell is only a span, and it will not be crossed except by tears of weepers?" He said to him: "Weep then, my son." Then they wept together.

Other narrations say that John (pbuh) said: "The dwellers of Paradise are sleepless out of the sweetness of Allah's bounty; that is why the faithful must be sleepless because of Allah's love in their hearts. How far between the two luxuries, how far between them?"

They say John wept so much that tears marked his cheeks.

Part 2: coming soon

Neuro- i love it!

So now, it's finally the last few days of Neuro and Elderly Care medicine.

And like always, my clinical partner and I have been sent away again (for what, the fourth time? Not fair! ) and this time to Northampton General Hospital. Nothing much to complain really in here, I actually do like this hospital and the accomodation, what with the duvet provided and the ensuite accomodation, this one is the best accomodation so far!

Neurology was definitely fun, I was actually thinking a few weeks ago that I've found my true call in Medicine. OK, maybe that was NOT the first time I've said that, I think I've been thinking like that every time I've finished a rotation. Like for example, when we were doing Cardio, I could just imagine myself being that top consultant Cardiologist, ordering this and that tests for my Cardio patients. Oh, and doing cool procedures too like TAVI (keyhole valve replacement, for those who doesn't have a clue). And when I was doing the Gastro Rotation, I was thinking, that would be my place one day too.

Haha.

But this one is more for real I guess. I love reading Neuro, as I found it just truly amazing. I really, really do. This is where we learn more about the brain and its function. The higher mental functioning of the brain, the capacity of human to think and rationalise, and the network of nerves connecting the upper part of the human body to the rest of our system are just amazing. Imagine that you are able to read this, without being aware of the millions of tiny little cells called neurons working hard to make sure you can read word by word. And how your hands are able to move when the brain says move, even when you yourself do not even realise that it's the brain that was giving the order.

I could go on and on about all these, but maybe there would not be enough space in here to write. All of these abilities, to see different colours, to hear sounds from different amplitudes and tones, to talk (or sing!) in different pitches- they all need the neurons from the brain to be working fine. All of that and more.

So, isn't it time yet for us to think and reflect?

Of how Great the Creator is for creating us to the finest details. And who have perfection us making us who we are today. To give us so much nikmat that there is no way in the world that we are able to count them... as there are just too many of them!

Yet, we take these blessings for granted, and for some of us, it had never once came across the mind that it is the Mercy of Allah that has allowed us to have all these.

Yet, there are people out there who denies Him as the One true God and instead, take others as Ilah.

How very ungrateful these people are. And how very sorry they will be one day when the Day of Resurrection comes.

Just some reflections for the soul today....Hmm, just love how medicine never failed to remind me of the Greatness of Allah. There are indeed many reminders or tazkirah in this job, popping up here and there, if we are actually aware of it. Hopefully for the following more years to come, it will help me become closer to God, and be His excellent ' Abd insyaAllah.

Just pray to Allah to give me the strength to carry on, as you know.. how very interesting and amazing medicine is, it definitely is very challenging. One more year to go, just one more. Pray that I'll perservere!

Open our eyes

Sometimes, for reasons I don't know myself, I would put my fingers around the neck to feel the carotid pulse, and check if I'm still alive. And at other times, I would try to feel the apex beat (in layterm it is the area where your heart beats strongest on the left side of the chest) to see if my heart is still thumping (and of course it does). Err..Ok probably this is the influence of too much CardioRespi block these past few weeks ;p

Well, try it. When I usually do it, I would then feel a sense of gratefulness to be alive. Because sometimes we take our living in this world for granted, and we forgot to thank Allah for giving us this great nikmat. To still be able to inhale and exhale, to still be able to look around and see the different colours of the world, to still be able to listen to our friends' chattering away and so much more.

But some people are not so fortunate. Not as lucky as us. They wake up to the sound of explosives, of bombs flying away, they may even wake up realizing that their mom/dad is not there anymore by their side. And we're talking small children here, babies even.

That's what happened, and is happening, and will still continue to happen in Palestine at the moment. The civilians are wounded, physically and emotionally and are faced with cruelty and atrocities and other unbelievable inhumane acts.

I went to a talk by Ismail Patel recently (he's the founder of Friends of Al Aqsa, and based in Leicester) and according to him 85% of Palestinians are living in poverty. Hundreds of them are unable to get the proper health service and help and is in danger of dying, and supply of important medications are not enough for these people.

And imagine, when the war hit Palestine, the phosphorus bomb was used, and the doctors didn't know how to treat the wounded ones at first, as never had they encountered those kind of wounds before. And when the Power Plant was destroyed too, schools were not able to function, hospitals with its operating theatres, incubators for babies (just to name a few) can't function too.

This is just a message to everyone- do not ever forget the Palestinians and their immense sufferings- in our prayers, and in everything that we do. They are there fighting in this war against the taghut, it's their jihad, and it is actually ours too. For we are brothers and sisters; their sufferings are ours too.

Let us make people aware of the situation in Palestine/Gaza. Open our eyes and hearts and spread the words~