Love is Cinto

THE NEED OF GUIDANCE Human needs guidance. A set of rules governing the everyday life which influences ANY decision we make. In Islam, it (supposed to be) clear that Al-Qur’an and Sunnah is our PRIMARY manual. However, that’s not the case when religion only applied to private affairs. Back then, I was using a set of list of “lessons-learned” from my past experience and common sense to navigate my life. I truly believed that everything happened in our life was meant to teach us something, thus I gathered my own life principles through trial-and-error kind of way. I always have this kind of question since my early adolescence: what combination of characters will be best for me as a human-being? I was kind of want to try numerous roles and things to get this outcome. How folly ambitious I was? HAHA. But then, I realize two things: TIME CONSTRAINT. We don’t live forever, do we? How would you try all (or most of) roles and learn all the paths just to find the perfect...

Bismillaahirrahmaanirrahiim “Indeed there is in the body a piece of flesh which if it is sound then the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt then the whole body is corrupt. Indeed, it is the heart.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim) THE IMPORTANCE OF AQIDAH Growing up as a Muslim doesn’t guarantee that you’ll grow up as a true believer. At least, that’s what I felt for most part of my life. Religion has been rooted in our society for so long that it is then (sadly) easily treated merely as one of building element in our culture. A guidance that supposed to govern all spheres in our lives, now has turned into ritualistic routines with barely heart attachment to it. We do shalat, zakah (mostly fitrah only?), and fasting solely to discharge obligation in order to avoid Hellfire or to conform with the norm (?). We neglect the basic question of whether we truly believe that Hellfire exists? Or to the deeper question of whether God exist? If it does, who is God? What is His...

Pas mau tidur, tetiba kepikiran nama buat calon sekolah atau gerakan pendidikan atau apapun lah nanti yang mau ku bikin (Insyaa Allah) yaitu: EduCare Educate yourself, caring for others Filosofinya sih, berilmu sebelum beramal. Berilmu sebelum menebar manfaat. Di jaman now ini, banyak banget orang yang gak menguasai suatu bidang tapi asal berceloteh dan beropini aja gitu, tanpa ilmu. Ini bahaya! Bukannya ini jaman demokrasi ya? Dimana semua orang bebas berpendapat? Yes, it's true. Tapi kita seringkali lupa bahwa setiap hal yang kita lakukan (be it pendapat atau tindakan) akan membawa konsekuensi, mulai dari sesederhana mengeruhkan suasana, menyakiti hati, menggiring opini, atau bahkan bisa membawa akibat yang jauh lebih serius dan mempengaruhi hajat hidup orang banyak. For that reason, I believe it is important to educate yourself to, at least, discharge the harm we may carry, whether it is intentionally or unintentionally, through our words, behaviours, or any p...

If somebody asked me, what had I learned in graduate school, I'd say I had learned about perspective . A pair of new glasses to see the world in different light, that is from Islamic viewpoint derived from the Qur'an & Sunnah. This might sound simple and old stuff for most of you, but for me, it turned me upside down. The religion that I had been born with did not look the same anymore. Some of you might be wondering why would I study Islamic Finance (IF) in the first place when I had no background whatsoever in Islamic thingy. It was actually a pure logical curiosity that drawn me to IF. My first encounter to IF was back in 2011-ish when I took Islamic Accounting in my undergraduate - I wanted to learn how it differed from the conventional one. Then, my interest was extended when I decided to write a bachelor thesis on Islamic banking performance in Indonesia. That was it. I had never come across to IF issues ever since. Long story short, in 2014, I started to ...

Thank you for reminding me that I shouldn't be afraid of who I am. I am a Muslim A Muslim woman who wear headscarf in daily basis. If now, my religion is targeted by misconception, I should not step back. Well, we had this struggle on the early age of its revelation. Other religions and minorities also had been through the similar type of situation. The shadow will soon shed away, Inshaa Allah. So I shall not fear. Because I have Allah, as the Protector. I study in the UK now. Soon as the Paris attack occurred, hate crime against Muslim was awaken. I am not afraid here in Durham, since it is a small lovely city. But I had this thought in mind when approaching 2016 New Year eve. There was a news about some random guy pushed a hijabi woman to railway in London's subway, and it got me caught a glimpse of fear to be in public [if I were in London] and I was like, "thank God, I live in this city" Then I think to myself, How lucky ...

“I don’t like this” Think again! Why don’t you like it? Is it because of your ego? Is it because of what Allah has said? Well, it has never been about you, me, or us. Ask again! “Does Allah like it?” That’s the question that we should pose to ourselves, because we are here, in this dunya,  to please Allah. Our task then is to vigorously learn and reflect on Allah’s Kalaam (words).  Certainly, we won’t be following the wrong thing and think of it as from Allah, right? That’s why it is important to root for reliable sources with critical thinking. Besides, Allah always challenges us to think, doesn’t He?

Satu hal yang aku pelajari dari teman dan sahabat yang saat ini sudah berumahtangga.  I know their story long before they decided to get marry. I may say, I knew a few of their problems that almost break them apart. But they made it anyway. That’s not because their couple are perfect and never make mistakes. It’s actually the other way around. They made mistakes and were forgiven. Forgive and move on. That’s the key. My friends decided that these imperfect men were perfect for them. I pray for their happiness, merciful, and blessed marriage. I don’t know if it’s only me, but I usually will use a check lists. Once they satistified the first item, they pass onto the next one. Up until all the lists are checked. Guess what? That’s never happen. No one has ever made it to the last list. They must had been fallen out in the process. Hmmm.. Now, I feel like that kind of approach is a total joke. Because the journey is never been about finding the one who can fulfill them al...