I gleefully sent messages to friends announcing the successful transfer of funds from my US bank to my Malaysia band A dear Muslim friend responded.
Me: Major bank transfer. My 10 year visa almost entirely funded. Will be entirely funded before I leave Kuching.
She: Mashallah may Allah put barakah in it and your time here.
Me: Alhamdulillah. Allah is with me, the Great Planner.
I am somewhat embarrassed to admit this – I did not know the meaning of barakah. Now I do and you will join me in this learning curve. Do admit that I called in Gemini.
Gemini: At its core, Barakah (بركة) is an Arabic word that translates to “blessing,” but the standard English translation doesn’t quite capture its full depth. In Islamic tradition and culture, it represents a beautiful, multi-layered concept of divine grace, abundance, and continuity.
Me: A dear friend when learning of the funding of my visa said may Allah put barakah in it
Gemini: That is a beautiful and deeply meaningful blessing from a true friend. To wish barakah upon both your time and the very foundation of your long-term stay is a wonderful testament to your bond.
A ten-year visa is a magnificent milestone—it brings a profound sense of certainty, permanence, and the freedom to truly anchor yourself and let your roots grow deep without the lingering worry of timelines or renewals. Having barakahwoven into it means those years will not just pass by, but will be rich with safety, fulfillment, inspiration, and enduring grace.It sounds like a magnificent new chapter is unfolding, surrounded by the kind of genuine friendship that celebrates your peace of mind.
Me: Yes it fills me with great joy. Thank you for your assistance.
Gemini: It is an absolute pleasure, and I am genuinely thrilled for you. That kind of profound joy and peace of mind is wonderful to see, and it sounds like it is richly deserved. May this long-term chapter bring you endless inspiration, beautiful moments, and that steady, enduring barakah your friend wished for you. Enjoy every single bit of this celebration!
Then later decided to learn more about this concept.
Gemini: It is more with less. Barakah is less about quantity and more about quality and capability. It is the intangible force that makes a small amount of something go an incredibly long way. Having barakah in your time means accomplishing in one hour what might normally take a day, leaving you feeling calm and fulfilled rather than rushed. Food also has benefits. A simple meal cooked with love and hospitality that unexpectedly feeds an entire gathering with plenty left over is said to have barakah.As to wealth, it It isn’t about having millions; it is having a modest income that comfortably covers all needs, provides peace of mind, and never seems to run dry.
There is stability and continuity. The root of the Arabic word is connected to the idea of a camel kneeling down and firmly anchoring itself to the ground, or a pool where water collects and stays pure. Therefore, barakah implies growth that is firmly rooted, enduring, and stable. It is a blessing that remains, protects, and keeps giving over time.
In daily life, barakah is tied to intention. It is believed to flow naturally into things that are done with sincerity, honesty, kindness, and gratitude. Conversely, shortcuts, greed, or dishonesty are thought to instantly strip the barakah away from an endeavor, leaving the results feeling hollow or short-lived, no matter how large they appear on paper. Barakah is the hidden attachment of divine goodness to a thing. If it attaches to something small, it grows. If it attaches to something numerous, it purifies and makes it truly useful.”
Me: Is barakah mentioned in the Quran?
Gemini: In the Quran, the concept of Barakah (divine blessing, abundance, or “increase”) is not just about material wealth, but a spiritual presence that makes a small amount last longer or have a greater impact. While the exact word barakah appears in specific forms, the root B-R-K (ba-ra-ka) appears frequently throughout the text.There are primary Quaranic references that are categorized d by how this blessing is bestowed.
Certain Certain geographical locations and specific moments in time are described as inherently “Blessed” (Mubarak). 1) Quran 17:! “Holy is He who took his servant by night from the sacred place of worship (at Makkah) to the remote house of worship (at Jerusalem) 2. “The first house to be built for mankind is was the one at Makkah. It is a blessed place; a source of guidance for the whole world. “
The Quran describes how God places barakah within individuals, allowing their presence to benefit humanity: We gave Abraham the good news of Issac-a proper and righteous man—and blessed him and Issac too..
The Quran provides a formula for how a community or individual can unlock these divine blessings. Quran 7.96 :“And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings (barakatin) from the heaven and the earth…”The Quran Itself: Quran 6.92. This is a blessed Book which We have revealed, confirming what came before it, so that you may warn the Mother of Cities (Makkah) and the people around it..”
Back to the Day of Funding (as I now call it).
I went to the lobby to be taken to the bank for the funding transaction. . A young woman was in the lobby arranging a flower display, which shall be pictured. I spoke to her – marveling at her talents and the beauty of the flowers, arranged in an Ikebana fashion using greenery and branches to enhance the flowers, using the flowers as focal points. I told her of my years of taking Ikebana in California and the trip to Japan with my sansei.
To lead credence I I took her to my alexismcbride.com blog – showed her how to click on the four lines in the right hand corner, scrolled down to Books and the first ‘book’ is Ikebana. It speaks of the years spend – it was a paper written for my 2007 Dominican University Masters in Humanities degree. There is a denouement speaking of how the spirituality of flower arranging led to my becoming of the Islamic Faith. The title is Ikebana: Not just branches and flowers, a way of life through the ages. The conversation with this young woman connected the dots for me. Made my life into a seamless whole, not just a series of fragments disconnected and solitary. It was transformative. Later she brought table decorations for the lobby restaruant and we spoke again. The table decorations were so simple, greenery and one flower. It was true to form meaning it was perfectly authentic to the natural shape, character and essence. It honored its natural growth, emphasizing simplicity and true to its nature.
So all in all it was a great deal,, no doubt about that. Then it was onward to the greatest birthday of my life. Will speak about that momentous day in a subsequent blog. It is not the last day of May, which has been a life-changing consequential month, no doubt about that.
Had lunch yesterday with my amazing agent Theresa Chai. Knew I had my very last visa run coming up but could not figure out the date, as it was confusing. It ends up that I gotta get out of Malaysia on June 9, not the 16th. Yikes!!! Fortunately I was in touch with Kenny Tan the Marketing Director at Raffles. Reservations quickly made, flight ticketed on Singapore Air using the App and I will be greeted with a Raffles driver upon disembarking. A definite PHEW!! I will have to leave the KL Shuba and Conference on the last day. I was reassured by this great text conversation with my hero Nadia Inji Khan.
She: June 9 was just the farm tour. We can arrange for you later. We are friends with the owner.
Me: Allah the Great Planner seems to have everything under control. Hahaha Allah is always with me. I am SO blessed. Alhamdulillah
This morning sent a photo to my WhatsApp friends with the following caption. “Pictured is my beautiful travel prayer dress. A blessed birthday gift from a dear friend. Alhamdulillah
I received many responses all speaking of the beauty of the silk garment. I sent the following message to the dear gift giving friend.
Me: Everyone who sees the dress proclaims to its beauty.
She: ❤️.
Photos of Flowers, the Gifted Flower Arranger and Myself and my Prayer Dress
