take a second look

I wonder why is it that we are commonly identified as Malay Muslims rather than Muslim Malays? Perhaps because being a Malay plays a more significant role in this context than the latter? Well, that could be one but I think relative significance doesn't justify importance. Being identified as a Muslim is more important to me than the former. Religion plays a more significant role in an individual's life than race does. However, the problem here is that being a Malay is synonymous to being a Muslim and the other way around. It is hard to dissect the two because it can get quite intricate and complicated. Ironically, it can also be easy to separate a mere Malay Muslim from a true one. Just some food for thought. The focus group I went to yesterday really had me thinking about these issues. It specifically targeted at being a young Malay Muslim female in Singapore, but that is a whole other issue to be expanded upon. Most importantly, what do you want to identify yourself with?

A few days ago I received news about a dear old friend who was hospitalized for a third cardiac arrest in a brief one month's span. Doctors suspected him for brugada syndrome, also more commonly known as sudden unexpected death. At such young age and a promising future, you never think something like that could happen to you. Fate has its ways. May we count our blessings to Allah for the gift of life and health, insyaAllah.

To Hudzaifah,
I pray for your speedy recovery and good health.

I am suddenly reminded of a dearest friend, Isz Sazli, who has passed away more than a year ago. I miss you. I'm sure we all do.



Sometimes it amazes me
How strong the power of love can be
Sometimes you just take my breath away

You watch my love grow like a child
Sometimes gentle and sometimes wild
Sometimes you just take my breath away

And it's too good to slip by
Too good to lose
Too good to be there
Just to use
I'm gonna stand on a mountain top
And tell the news
That you take my breath away

Your beauty is there in all I see
And when I feel your eyes on me
Oh don't you know you just
Take my breath away