How's It Going?

Salam guys! Hope you guys are in the best of health and iman, and reading this with a smile. 

Firstly, Eid Mubarak and Selamat Hari Raya Aidul Adha to you and your family! How amazing of a day was it yesterday huh? Spent my Eid day unexpectedly out of town with my mum. Most probably one of the most memorable ones as I was surrounded by the beautiful landscape, spent some time with some of the warmest people I've met and most importantly, managed to witness the cows being sacrificed (last time I did this was when I was about ten years old). I didn't realize just how overwhelming it would be. 

In the pouring rain, under my crooked umbrella, I saw the cows lay down, fulfilling their purpose in life. At that very moment I quickly realized He had planned my Eid morning as such so I could reflect on my purpose in life and where it is headed. I needed this knock on my door. Have I sacrificed anything lately for His sake, small or big, as how our beloved Prophet Ibrahim (may Allah be pleased with him) did. As Yasmin Mogahed shared, 'Many years ago, our father Ibrahim (AS) made a choice. He loved his son. But he loved God more. The commandment came to sacrific his son. But it wasn't his son that was slaughtered. It was his attachement to anything that could compete with his love for God. So let us ask ourselves in these beautiful days of sacrifice, which attachements do we need to slaughter?'

Alhamdulillah, yesterday was the perfect ending to my past two weeks of being away from home and work. I was in Melbourne for my close friends wedding and also to spend some time with another good friend of mine. Like all my travels, I always hope to take home more than just pictures, but to be inspired by the things, places and people I cross paths with, and so this trip very well did feed me with all that and more. This is why I love travelling so much.

Driving through the beautiful countryside of the state of Victoria, I saw so many of these trees (pictured above) of only delicate pink flowers. They made my heart skip a beat. I saw one sitting outside the porch of someone's home and knew I had to stop the car, and lay under that tree. Mmmmmm, this was one of my favourite moments during this trip.

Alright, back to reality and the long list of work mails to catch up on now, but I can't wait to share more in my next few posts inshaAllah. :)