QuranFaith.com brought this to me this morning. “He is the One Who showers His blessings upon you—and His Angels pray for you—so that He may bring you out of darkness into light. For He is ever Merciful to believers. (Quran 33.43)
This has particular meaning as blessings are being showered upon me – it feels almost like a monsoon, but, of course, I am not complaining.
This verse was woven into a conversation between Fazil (Fazilitos) and myself. Cleverly woven into the conversation, even if I have to say so myself.
He sent an Instagram Story showing the massive destruction of Gaza tents by Israeli forces. I responded.
Me: What madness.
Then this morning went on to say.
Me: I know Allah is the Great Planner. I must keep the faith and try to make my life and those around me filled with hope. Gotta say I am doing my best and am rewarded, highly rewarded recently.. Just read Quran 33:43 Alhamdullah
He: Alhamdullah
Me: Love this communication. It even rises to Subhanallah and Mashallah Hahaha I know this is is in the Quran. It makes Allah (SWT) so happy when you add joy to a Muslim’s life. You probably know where it is. Ot will find it and pretend you knew it all along. Hahahaha
Me: I am laughing at my own joke. And I am a Muslim. I might get double credit for that. Hahaha
He: 😄
Fazil and I were texting yesterday – perhaps our conversation will serve as an introduction to a true story that I cannot wait to tell.
Me: I am saying good night early as I am not feeling well. Too much excitement for an old lady I guess. Conquering the clams after a beach walk filled with new people.
Then sent a voice message explaining a totally chance encounter. Then sent a photo of Alina and myself with this message.
Me: The two of us. She said the sweetest thing about the picture. Shall find it and send it to you an email tomorrow. (Photo to be attached at end of blog)
He: 😀👌🏻Good night
Then this morning, sent another photo (to be included at end of blog). Good morning. There isa rainbow. Visible to the naked eye but barely discernible on the photo. Sent it to Alina who had the perfect response. Subhanallah. I am going to tell the story of meeting heron the blog – with her permission. You can read it there. Gotta write it first. Hahaha
He: Top of the morning to you. That is indeed stunning. You are living the life.
Me: I am!! Just sent you an Instagram message that confirms it complete with a verse from the Quran Not bad for a four year old (4 years since I became a Muslim. Hahaha Well four and a half to be technical. Hahaha
(Followed by an exchange of his emojis and my Avatars)
But onto the story. I sent a photo to Fazil yesterday morning. (To be included)
Me: Sunrise from the beach walk.
He: Stunning
Me: Thanks And I was walking on the beach for the second day in a row. Made a new friend. A Muslim woman who lives in KL. So someone else to visit when I come there. Her name is Alina. Then buffet breakfast but I am exhausted. Went back to bed.
He: 👌🏻👌🏻
Me: Glad you approve. Hahaha Getting my energy back. Shamir coming over at 1. So funny what we are going to do. Not another lizard. Hahahaha
He: Say hi.
Me: To the lizard or Shamir? Hahaha
Shamir was coming over for a clam bake – my first ever but that story will have to wait.
Onward to the story between Alina and Alexis (aka Alaa)
Yesterday I stridently set off for a walk on the beach – a new goal – for exercise and then some day to be able to walk to the Floating Mosque. This will have to be done at low tide. I purchased great new walking sandals, which adds comfort and protection. A sign warns against jelly fish. It was a beautiful day, crowded with other morning walkers and families playing in the water. There was a group of people, singing accompanied by a guitar. The reel will follow. I said Good morning to everyone but when I saw a covered Muslim woman gave the Arabic greeting:
Me: alsalam ealaykum
She: Wa alayku assalum
Me: I am a Muslim, reverted only four years ago.
(I had my Lexis Suites baseball hat on, I was not covered)
We then began a spirited conversation. I learned she was born in Penang, lived in KL but was here for a wedding. She learned I lived in an apartment visible from the beach. I did say in my voice message to Fazil that we immediately bonded. I told her I would be returning to visit KL for about a week in the beginning of May. We exchanged telephone numbers. Shamir helpfully put her in my WhatsApp. Our conversation began.
Me: Hi! Great meeting you this morning.
She: Assalamualaikum Hi Alaa (sending a selfie of the two of us)
Me: Peace be upon you!! The Arab spelling is too difficult for me, a new revert Hahaha My photo of us. The two beauties. Hahaha. My trip to KL becoming a sheer necessity as I need documentation from the consulate in order to make application for my visa.
She: We were glowing with the morning sun getting into our eyes.
Me: Exactly! And glowing with our love of the Creator. Alhamdulillah
She: Alhamdulillah
She: Do advise me of your potential dates to meet, and I’ll try to work around your schedule Inshallah
Me: I think the first week in May but I will let you know. I could also plan around you to some extent.
She forwarded an Instagram connection to Masjid Wilayatours
Me: Oh my Allah!!! I toured on my last visit and MUST come back again.
She: MashaAllah That is wonderful to know Alamduillah
Me: I was SO impressed. I did not have enough time there for various reasons. I hunger for more I have told all of my friends who knew of my prior visit to ‘your mosque’. Everyone is amazed. I did write about the visit on my blog. I then included a photo of my refrigerator magnet.
She: Alhamdulillah. Thank you. I will look it up. In ShaaAllah. When was the visit?
Me: I will send a photo and retrieve the date from it.
I included three or four pictures. A close up, a ‘further away’ and a photo of Me and Elina who was my guide that day. An amazing woman.
She: Lovely pics.
Me: An incredible experience in every way. Met many staff members and Chinese visiting Muslim tourists.
She: Glad to see this Alaa. Shall inform El I met you. We are on the same team for the mosque tour. Small world.
Me: Amazingly small. We were all destined to meet, I believe.
She: Allah – the Best Planner
Me: The perfect thing to say. The planning divine in that I have made beginning plans to work with a woman from the Floating Mosque to help them with their outreach. Learning from your program was my intention even before I met you.
This morning she texted – telling me of her future plans and wishing me good morning.
Me: I was planning to write of our meeting on the blog . I do not use people’s names without their permission as it is an invasion of their privacy as my blog is read by so many.
She: Enjoy your writing Alaa. Just in case you are in doubt. It was my pleasure meeting you Sister. Writing of our by chance meeting planned by Allah and photos to share with my kids and my mosque tour team mates including Elina would be great
Me: Your coming into my life a blessing. Look to this sunrise. There is a rainbow above the building. More discernible to the naked eye, I miracle it seemed. It happened this very morning during out texting.
She: Subhanallah
Me: Again the perfect response from your lips (and hands). I do know its meaning.
(SubhanAllah—glorious is God! This phrase negates any associations with Allah, speaks to the wonder of His creation, alleviates stress and removes sins.) If you would like to learn more here is the cite. https://yaqeeninstitute.org.my/watch/series/the-benefits-of-subhanallah-episode-1-deeper-into-dhikr#
I do admit to feeling guilty. It has been my habit, my wont, my way of being to write every day. But there have been several recent, shall we say, gaps. No blogs written between April 14, 2025 until April 19, 2025. No blogs written between April 3, 2025 and April 9, 2025.
The busy times in KL explain the April 3-9 gap. The most recent excuse is the adventures I am enjoying with those around me, meeting new people who live and work in Penang and/or KL. Trying new things. Taking walks on the beach. The next blog will tell of my reintroduction to the world of cooking. It was both an adventure and a misadventure.
A misadventure is an unfortunate incident; a mishap. In some ways, some aspects became a difficulty, mishap, setback, reverse of fortune, stroke of bad luck, disaster, woe, a car crash. However, Shamir and I rose above it turning it into a piece of good luck.
By the way, wont is one’s customary behavior in a particular situation.
