Allergic to ‘E’ Challenge

I was nominated for the Allergic to ‘E’ Challenge by my lovely sister, an awesome blogger The Indian Reverted Muslimah. It is a beautiful blog and I love her blog. Thank you so much.

I’m so poor in English, so it’s really hard challenge for me, that in reality (in my writing) I really need this letter.

It’d be FUN challenge, I think.

First, here are the rules for this challenge:

1) Write a whole paragraph ( a paragraph sounds easy right?) without any word containing the letter “e” (still easy for ya?)
2) By reading this you are already signed up.
3) Challenge at least five bloggers to do the challenge. They must do it within 24 hours or it is considered as failure.
4) If you fail or pass, suffer in the Page of Lame.
5) If you win, wallow in the Page of Fame.
6) You can check your standings on my menu Your Standings

---

Here is my short paragraph:

the dark cloud

I was so crazy to think about it. It was so hard to do. So, what must I do? Just sitting and thinking about my writing. I didn’t know how to finish it. I saw around and sat on ground hunting my words.

Sky was so dark
Sun was lazy to show
His ray
Wind was blowing
So fast
Oh why so?
Will my rain say hi….
Or might
Wants to say
Good luck sis
In your writing!
Ha…ha…ha
Thank you for your support
my rain.

[Alhamdulillah!!! I’m free to use the letter “E” again]  😀

Here are my nominees, sisters:

1. naturelover
2. HumaAq
3. ranu802
4. Laura Clark
5. Lone

 

I hope you can take a part in this FUN challenge my dear friends! 🙂

May 15 Limits: First Person

The Prompt
Write A Story In the First Person

---

“O, Allah! Yassirlana umuurona! Yasirlana umuurona!”

I don’t know what I have to do now. I don’t know the way to find much money to help my family. My wife just asked me money to buy some food and to treat our daughter. She is getting problem with her bronchial tube. I’m only a shop keeper, and my salary isn’t enough to recover all our needs.

“Abi, we have to take Zainab to hospital. She isn’t getting well. I’m worried about her!” Salma told me about Zainab. It was heartbreaking. I said to please her heart and trying to give her hope, “Insha’Allah, I’ll find other job to get much money. Please pray for me! I’ll go now, Umi! Take care!” After kissing my wife and my daughter, I left the house to find other job. I have to do it for my family.

Finding job for men in this country is really difficult. Most of factories need women worker than men. It isn’t fair for men. I was graduated from Indonesian University, Information Management Program. But, I wasn’t lucky, my certificate was burnt when the fire burnt our house five years ago. My parents were died, and so my younger sister Aisha. I lost all my family in that accident. I was very sad, I couldn’t save my family and all the property.
I knew it was test from Allah and I accepted my life today.
It was sad to remember my past, I have to face my life today. My family needs much money now.

“O, Allah, help me to face this life! Guide me, O Allah!”
Untill dzuhur prayer, I didn’t find a job yet. I decided to take pray in Masjid. When I put my shoes on the rack, I heard someone called my name.
“Samir, you’re here? Hey do you remember me? I’m Musa, your close friend in University.”
I hunted about for the voice, and I saw a tall man with white skin was standing in front of me, “masha’Allah Musa, is it really you? Allah blesses you my brother!”
“Alhamdulillah, it’s very nice to see you here!”
Finally, we talked a lot after praying. He told me everything, about his business and his success life. He asked me a lot. I told him a little of my life, I didn’t want to share my sadness and my hardship to others even to my closest friend.
“I can see your hardship from your eyes, Samir. Please do tell it to me. Perhaps I can help you!” Musa asked me again. And I told him.
“Actually, I want to help you, Samir. I need a smart worker to manage my factory in Surabaya. Can you join with me?” Musa gave his idea to help me.
“O, I lost my certificate, Musa. I can’t leave my family for this time. I still have other job as a shopkeeper.”
“I don’t need your certificate, I only need your skill Samir! Please think about it!”
“I can leave my job next month, friend. I have to treat my daughter first.” I explained about my affairs.
“I have doubt about it if you wait till next month. O, wait…! I have other idea.” Musa lower his voice.
“I have friend whom need many workers this time. This job is very easy. You only have to deliver something to consumers.”
“What’s job, Musa?” I was interested with his idea.
“Be a courier. You can contact him if you’re interested.” Musa gave me a name card. I said many thanks to him.

***

Today was the third day I did my new job. It was really very simple job. I was like a postman. The different were I was paid everyday and I got some tips from my consumers.
I have delivered almost the packets. I still have three packets in baggage. I really loved this job. Tom, Musa’s friend was very kind. He gave me a motorcycle as my facility and had paid 50% of my salary in the first day. Alhamdulillah, I could take my daughter to hospital to get good treatment. Her mother and her uncle are accompanying her in hospital. Alhamdulillah for everything.

The traffic today was very crowded. Oh, I saw many policemen on cross road. I thought there was a raid. I drove my motor cycle slowly.
“Stop your motor, please park it here!” One of the policemen asked me to park my motor beside the road.
“Show me your identity, please!”
I show all my identity cards and driver’s license. “Complete! Now, please open the baggage!”
I did his order, “Only packets, Sir! I’m a courier!”
“Okay, I’ll open the packets!” He said again.
“Wait, Sir! There aren’t mine. Please don’t open them! It’s my responsibility to deliver them to the consumers.” I did mind with his order.
“Do you know what are they?”
I shook my head. I didn’t understand with his asking.
“You’ll be known in a few minutes, I’ll open them.” He asked to open the packet compulsively. I gave up with that situation.
“They’re narcotics! You can see them, Man!”
“Masha’Allah! I can’t believe it! They aren’t mine Sir! I swear by name of Allah, these packets aren’t mine!”
“You can explain about it in court, next! Now follow us to the Police office!”
“Sir, listen to me, please! I have family, my daughter is in hospital with my wife. I have to help them. If you catch me, so who will keep my family? Who will help them to pay the treatment? Who will…….” I protested with their decision.
“Pay your lawyer to help you!”

***

I can’t believe it. Musa, my closest friend has thrown me into jail. He sent me Tom to give me job. And I was so stupid accepted their offering. If I didn’t meet Musa, I’d be there accompany my lovely daughter in hospital. Allah, give me patience to pass this test. I’m Harun in jail now, in the cold place. I’ve failed to be a good father and a good husband! Forgive me O, Allah! Forgive me Salma! Forgive me my love Zainab! Forgive me, forgive me please!!! I was crying there mourned for my bad life.

Writing 101, Day Fourteen: To Whom It May Concern

Today’s Prompt: Pick up the nearest book and flip to page 29. What’s the first word that jumps off the page? Use this word as your springboard for inspiration. If you need a boost, Google the word and see what images appear, and then go from there.

Today’s twist: write the post in the form of a letter.

 

Today’s prompt was very funny. There were 4 books on my computer desk, grammar book, a book of Qur’an classification, Islamic book and my notebook. I chose Islamic book, and I got the word “Satan.”  😀

It was the first time I wrote a letter to Satan. LOL! The first and the last!

 

---

 

To: Satan (The Clear Enemy For The Mankind)

I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed one.

I will not say Salam (greeting) to you. I only wanted to say, YOU ARE MY ENEMY, in this life.

Allah has explained about you in Qur’an clearly;

And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy – devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in delusion. But, if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it, so leave them and that which they invent. [Al-An’am:112]

And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, “Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But, I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allah] before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment. [Ibrahim:22]

Did I not enjoin upon you, O children of Adam, that you not worship Satan- [for] indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. [Ya-Sin: 60]

My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils,

And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me! (Al-Mu’minun:97-98)

 

Sorry, Satan! I don’t have much time to write this letter to you!

 

Servant of Allah.

Day Thirteen: Serially Found

On day four, you wrote a post about losing something. Today’s Prompt: write about finding something.

Today’s twist: if you wrote day four’s post as the first in a series, use this one as the second installment — loosely defined.

---

When I read the prompt in my mailbox, I was so confused. Why? I have to combine my first story about serially lost and now part 2 about serially found. I made a little mistake in part 1, I didn’t complete my lost story. I thought all of parts were about serially lost. And my guess was wrong. It was really a challenge!  🙂

Here is the part 1: Serially Lost.

Part 2:

In the morning we took him to hospital for getting treatment. He got it for a week. But, his health wasn’t better, it was worse and worst. We took him to the hospital for the second time. He lied in a coma for 16 hours. On August 9, 2014, he returned to his creator, Allah Subhanahu Wa ta’ala. It was the first time we lost a member of family. We were very sad. We knew it was a test for us, and it was the best for him. Allah loved him. Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.

I played slide of my life. I recalled the memories when I lived with my dad. I did remember all parts of this slide, especially in Ramadhan 1435 H. It was his last Ramadhan. I found some peculiarities of him. One day, he complained about his fasting. He felt weak. And he broke his fasting in that day. During that Ramadhan he broke fast for 8 days. Alhamdulillah, we had paid his fast.

The other things, I found that he avoided his books and his writing activity. When he was alive, he usually becomes Imam (a leader of prayer) in our Masjid (mosque) and imam for Friday’s prayer. I saw the sign from his eyes. There wasn’t hope anymore like a candle that has lost its fire.  When I asked him, he answered shortly. I often see him is crying. It was really strange. I had never seen him like that before. I knew he was a brave and a strong man. But, in the end of his life, I found the weakness of his physic.

We love you Dad!

 

In the day of his death, the people came to his burial, prayed for him. Masha’Allah! They accompanied and consoled us. They helped us with their wealth, powers and prayers!

Our imam (a leader of Islam community) advised us. Indeed, the people and I got a great message from him. He said, “Today, our good brother returned to Allah. Do we get a lesson from it? He has not chance to worship to Allah, his life has ended. He is starting his new life. He needs a lot of prayers from us, from his family and his friends. All of us will be like him, return to Allah, but we don’t know the times of our death. What should we do now? Right now, we must help our brother with our prayers, and then we have to continue to worship Allah alone, and do many good deeds to face our eternal lives. Our prophet has said that death is the best lesson for us. Let’s pray together!”

I found golden precept, loves, cares, helps in that sad moment. I didn’t find money or gold on the path, but I found many valuable things.

To be continued….

I don’t know the topic for part 3.  😀

Day Twelve: Dark Clouds on the (Virtual) Horizon

Today’s Prompt: Write a post inspired by a real-world conversation.

Take time to listen-to what you hear around you, or what your memories stir up.

Today’s twist: include an element of foreshadowing in the beginning of your post.

---

(Actually, I don’t understand yet about foreshadowing. I’d love to hear your correction!)

16 years ago, in Language Court, Islamic Boarding School.

It was a dark night. The doors of the boarding school had been closed by care takers. There weren’t activities. The time was for rest. But, I was not in my room in that time.

I sat outside Language Court. There were a few students from other classes who were called to come to court. I was nervous and panicked. I didn’t know what will happen to me. What punishment that I’d get from the Language Court.

It was such a nightmare. The room of court was dark. They only used a candle to add horror of the room.

Ah, I was so stupid, I did break the language rule this morning.

I took deep breath, trying to control myself. I was really afraid to imagine the punishment. Friends told me, the punishment from language court was the hardest than other section.

After 30 minutes, they called me. I entered the room alone. They were three judges inside.

“Eva, class 3 Intensive B, from West Java, right?”

They mentioned my identity. I only nodded.

“Sister, do you know your mistake?” One of them asked my mistake.

“No.”  I didn’t answer correctly, because I wanted to know about my mistake from them.

“How could you don’t know your mistake? It’s a language court, so your mistake was about language.”

“I didn’t speak Indonesian language, Sister.”

“Yes, you didn’t, but you were absent in Morning conversation, correct?”

I admitted my mistake. I waited the punishment. I felt the night was very cold. It was really a nightmare. I had never broken the school rules before.

“Sister! We have known about you. We will tell you something. The senior teachers and senior students have nominated you as one of candidate chief for the future, two years later. So, why you did this stupid act?”

Whaaat? They have chosen me as a candidate chief. Am I dreaming?

“Truthfully, I was getting stomach ache, that was why I was absent. I forgot to tell it to my supervisor. I will never repeat this mistake.” I tried to give the reason.

“We got you! You’re well known as a discipline student, we didn’t believe that you have broken the rule till we see you here, in this court.”

“Okay, sister! Your punishment is, you must ask the signatures of your class teacher, your room supervisor, the chief of language court and complete it with our signatures. You must collect it to us before 08.00 pm tomorrow. Can you do it?” I listened to their explanation. It was not difficult.

“I can, insha’Allah.”

“Good! Please keep in your mind, we don’t want to see your face here for the second time. So, obey all the rules. We trust you, you’ll get success in your study here!”

I left the court. I walked in to my room. I was thinking about my conversation with the judges of language. It was interesting experience for me. In my opinion, the language court was not chilling. It was a nice place for discussion, I thought.

Day Ten: My Favorite Childhood Meal!

Today’s Prompt: Tell us something about your favorite childhood meal — the one that was always a treat, that meant “celebration,” or that comforted you and has deep roots in your memory.

Free free to focus on any aspect of the meal, from the food you ate to the people who were there to the event it marked.

Today’s twist: Tell the story in your own distinct voice.

You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.

– Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

The biggest thing that separates you from every other blogger in the world is your voice. Finding (and being confident in) our voices is one of the biggest challenges in writing, and it’s easy to lose our voices when we’re worried about being liked by everyone, or when we compare ourselves to others.

Write today’s post as if you’re relaying the story to your best friend over a cup of coffee (or glass of wine — your call). Don’t worry if it feels like you ramble a bit, or a four-letter-word sneaks in, or it feels different from what you usually publish. Maybe you normally speak more formally — that’s fine, too. Take a deep breath, tell the story in your own words, and send it out the virtual door.

---

I really love this prompt!  ❤

My friends, if you ask me about my favorite childhood meal, so here it is!

Tumpeng

I loved to eat tumpeng! Do you know tumpeng? Tumpeng is a name of food, it is made from rice. Its process has some steps to make delicious tumpeng.

Why I choose tumpeng as my favorite childhood meal, because my parents often cook it to celebrate the important moments in our lives. When I was child, I still remember, to celebrate and to encourage me in reading Qur’an, my parents cooked tumpeng and share it to our neighbors.

Oh yes, when I studied at Elementary school in the fourth grade, our teacher held competition to cook tumpeng. Of course we didn’t cook it by ourselves, my parents helped us to make it, and………..finally we won the competition.  LOL!!  We got many books as its prize. Yes! Tumpeng yes!!   LOL

I had many interesting moments about tumpeng.

When we finished reading Iqra’ and Qur’an, we made tumpeng,

When we completed the house, we made tumpeng,

Tumpeng, tumpeng………….and tumpeng!

Now, I know why they did it to me and to my siblings. They wanted to appreciate our efforts in learning Qur’an. I was happy with that. Yeah, who doesn’t want to eat special food in our special moments?

But, now I rare to eat it, I don’t know the reason, perhaps we aren’t children again, he….he.

I missed to eat Tumpeng!

Let’s eat tumpeng together! Hem….yum..yum…yummy!

Do you want to try to eat it?

Day Eight: Death to Adverbs

Today’s Prompt: Go to a local café, park, or public place and write a piece inspired by something you see. Get detailed: leave no nuance behind.

Thoughtful writers create meaning by choosing precise words to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. As you strive to create strong imagery, show your readers what’s going on; avoid telling them.

 

Today’s twist: write an adverb-free post. If you’d rather not write a new post, revisit and edit a previous one: excise your adverbs and replace them with strong, precise verbs.

The sin of telling often begins with adverbs*. Author Stephen King says that, for writers, the road to hell is paved with adverbs:

---

It was hard challenge! And it made me stress!    😀

I wrote then deleted, wrote again…..deleted again, wrote……….deleted!

I was thinking a lot about it. I’d love to hear your opinion.

 

This market was not big, but had modern style. All its walls were made from glass. I looked around. Its parking was wide and clean. The owner of that market used the high security to save his market. I saw two CCTV were put outside.

Then I entered and looked inside. It was selling many products and was offering various services. The products were placed on the racks. I admired the design of this market.

The customers were buying some products. Suddenly, I saw a boy entered the market and hurried a long.

He sees to the tellers and consumers. I can hide from him. Now, I feel something bad. I don’t know. I observe that boy. He takes a basket and tries to choose the products. I take a deep breath and say, Alhamdulillah. My guess was wrong. I continue to choose products base on my shopping list.

When I will pay to the teller, I can’t find my wallet. Oh, where is it? I remember him, a boy whom I observed just now, he left the market and I see with my eyes that he takes my wallet. 

Many thanks to Naturelover who had given her feedback.

Writing 101, Day Five : Be Brief

image credit: http://www.thinksocial.com.au

We just moved to other town and bought an old house. We were cleaning it, suddenly my son was running to me.
“Mom! Mom! Look at! I find it in old cupboard at our kitchen!”
“What’s that?”
My son gave me an old envelope. I opened it and read a letter inside it.

I’m not a killer. I do know about that murder. I’ve buried all the evidences at yard, behind this house. I’m ready to be a witness!

“Oh My God!”

 

Day Three: Commit to a Writing Practice

Today’s Prompt: Write about the three most important songs in your life — what do they mean to you?
Nailing Brahms’ Hungarian Dance Number 5 on your alto sax. Making perfect pulled pork tacos. Drawing what you see. Or, writing a novel. Each requires that you make practice a habit.
Today, try free writing. To begin, empty your mind onto the page. Don’t censor yourself; don’t think. Just let go. Let the emotions or memories connected to your three songs carry you.

Today’s twist: You’ll commit to a writing practice. The frequency and the amount of time you choose to spend today — and moving forward — are up to you, but we recommend a minimum of fifteen uninterrupted minutes per day.
The basic unit of writing practice is the timed exercise.
– Natalie Goldberg

---

I really love with “Today’s Prompt and it’s Twist.” I love to write about songs. Well, my favorite music is Islamic Nasheed. “Nasheed” is Arabic word, it means “Song.” I’m a Nasheed lover. I usually listen it while working with my PC. I’m writing this challenge and listening my favorite nasheed now.
Okay, now I’ll write the tree most important songs in my life:

1. Allahu (Heart Touching, The Merciful Servant)

I love this nasheed. It’s really beautiful! Indeed! This song was written in 8 languages, simply amazing. I, myself only know English and Arabic, just a little.
It tells about Our Creator, Allah who has created this universe beautifully. He has given us mercies and blessing. We are asked to worship Him alone. This song (nasheed) has beautiful message for Muslims. We should pray to Allah, to get His guidance. It’s heart touching! Please watched it, I added it here!

2. Rasulullah (Love our Prophet Muhammad PBUH)

This is the other beautiful song! It tells about Allah, His messenger and Islam. It has a similar message with the first song. It also mentions how to pray Allah, to love Rasulullah and to live base on Islam precept. Islam has beautiful view about human. There is no Racism in Islam. There is no difference between black, white and other colors. All of them are same. Allah doesn’t see our color skin, our status, our wealth, but Allah only sees our Taqwa (our good deeds). Only that!
Do you want to know this song? Please watch it here!

3. Your Happiness is My Happiness  (Arabic Nasheed)

It tells about the definition of “Happiness.” By listening and watching this song, for me I got many advantages. I can learn Arabic and English, and remember about Islam precept. Many people feel sad and face the hardship in their lives, but they don’t know how to face it. Islam has told about the solution. Just pray to Allah a lot. Ask His guidance. Happiness and sadness are the tests for us. There are many verses in Qur’an those explain about happiness. What is the true happiness? What is the true sadness?

I’d love to say, “your happiness is my happiness.”

Enjoy the nasheed!

Writing 101, Day Two: A Room with a View

To be honest, I have many beautiful experiences to tell you about cities in Indonesia especially Java. I spent 4 years to study in Islamic Boarding School in East Java. I had built many beautiful stories about that.

I often imagine those places and imagine my friendship in my college. But, a place that I most like to visit is Kaaba in Mekkah Al-Mukarromah. I have never visited it. I wish I could go there with my family soon. Why I choose it? I’m sure every Muslim missed to visit Kaaba. As we know, Kaaba is one of Amazing place in the world. If we read many sources, Kaaba is the central of the earth.
Every time, when I saw a prayer mat, or pics of Kaaba, I prayed to Allah, to make me easy to visit it.

Kaaba (baitullah) in Mekkah, Saudi.

One of the Five Pillars of Islam requires every Muslim who is able to do so to perform the hajj pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
Visiting Kaaba for performing the Hajj (pilgrimage) is my great dream. It’s still my dream! One day, yes one day my family and I’ll visit it. InshaAllah! (if Allah will)

I only heard, read and watched the history of kaaba from many references. The Kaaba or Kaaba is a cuboid building at the center of Islam’s most sacred Al-Masjidil Haram , in Mekkah, Saudi Arabia. Wherever they are in the world, Muslims are expected to face the Kaaba, when outside Mekkah, to face toward Mekkah – when performing salat (prayer). From any point in the world, the direction facing the Kaaba is called the qibla.
Al-Masjid al-Haram was built around the Kaaba.
I’ll enter Al- masjid al-haram and pray within. Reading Qur’an and will pray a lot. I really missed to complete the Five Pillars of Islam, I missed to answer Allah’s calling, “Labbaik Allahuma labbaik”

After performing hajj, my family and I will visit the history places, such as a grave of our Prophet Muhammad SAW, maqam Prophet Ibrahim AS and other places. Oh yes, I’ll visit my friends in Saudi. They are my Arabic online teachers.  🙂   Insha’Allah!