A road filled with the light of belief….

 “O you who believe! Fear, Allâh, and believe in His Messenger, and He will bestow on you a double portion of His Mercy. He will provide for you a Light by which you shall walk (straight in your path), and He will forgive you (your past); for Allâh is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Q57:28)

The smiling white roses waving through the summer breeze invited me again to the land  where the Ottoman empire once reigned. The door of Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture is always opened and I entered to continue my discovery on my research journey through fragments of research work and Alhamdulillah I have finally reached the final route of my research journey. Thanks to brother Hakan Gulerce for once again making my trip very fruitful and rewarding with meetings, focus group discussion and conference presentation but the most memorable moments are the time spend with Frinci Abi and Sukran Abla. Frinci Abi initiated the program with our American guests. In his sharing moments, he spoke from his heart of his living experience with Bediuzzaman Said Nursi. Words can’t express his enthusiasm which inspires anyone who listens to him. Then Sukran Abla proceeds with her talk on Nursi’s thoughts. Watching them weaving the moments with knowledge and food for thought energizes us. Age is not a barrier to seek, to share, to meet and to show passion. Moments become more cherish able when after their two hours talk, we had personal interview on my research work. These beautiful souls have inspired me on my research journey which is not a bed of roses but its road filled with the light of belief…. May Allah grant us the light.....
Traveling in search of knowledge makes me miss and always remember all my darling children especially my little darling princess…suddenly I got a message from her which made me smile in her warm hugs though our heart contact…Here’s what she wrote to me:

In Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

"Saw her there, faraway from us, divided by the lands and oceans, striving on things that could really make her happy. While the worst eyesight in the world is seeing her tears, the most tranquilising eyesight in this life is seeing her smile.
Take care, ummi. We miss you.
May Allah count your jihad.
Hi there Türkiye, Ramazan Mubarëk olsun.
with love from Malaysia."

May Allah grant us true success...
Thank you Allah for Your Endless Blessings.

A beautiful analogy

In Istanbul, Turkey

 While walking along a path, my eyes caught this ancient library building and I remembered a beautiful analogy by beloved Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). “This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever” (Sahih Muslim).
And a beautiful mystical quote by Rabi'ah al-Adawiyya, 'Your hope in my heart is the rarest treasure, Your Name on my tongue is the sweetest word, My choicest hours, Are the hours I spend with You -- O Allah, I can't live in this world, Without remembering You--How can I endure the next world, Without seeing Your face? I am a stranger in Your country And lonely among Your worshipers: This is the substance of my complaint'…My Greatest Need is You..O Allah