warning: lengthy serabut post on friendship

In the name of Allah the most gracious, the merciful.

To tell you the truth, it has never reached to me the real meaning of ukhuwwah until a few months back. Since, I too, was reborn as a Muslim just quite recent ( baru ke kalau dalam 2 tahun lepas?), most of the people I knew as friends now, were friends from back then and only a few that I have gotten to know through mukhayyams and joint halaqahs.

Not until recent that I truly understand the real meaning of ukhuwwah. Cause I have always assumed that ukhuwwah i friendship. When we talk about friendship, we include friends and friends are the people that we know and be comfortable around with. I have to admit that I used to choose my friends. In my teenage years, the people that I was close with were those who had the same interest as I am in music as well as behaviour. I guess everyone agrees that we most likely be comfortable with people who are 'sekepala' with us. Be it crazy or just plain Jane. Same with me and my 5 other friends. And praise Allah, I am still good friends with these five girls.

When I started to really learn about Islam, I started quite awkwardly. Not having a good start and all, I was very uncomfomtable meeting new people. At that point of time, I kept asking myself whether it was necessary to go to these programmes and meet new people, when I could just stay at home, on my cozy bed. Please bear in mind that I was still new in this league and did not understand the need to meet people. But Alhamdulillah, Allah grant me the power to persevere and He definitely made my path easy. From the many meetups and programmes, I have become more comfortable meeting and making new friends.

Ok balik ke cerita ukhuwwah.

See, what makes ukhuwwah a little bit different from just friendship is that, ukhuwwah comprises a number of things. Friendship, intention (niat) and actions that we take in blossoming the bond. Of course, it has to be because of Allah, or at the very east, being directed towards something good and beneficial to oneself or towards other people.

In the very few days of my involvement in D & T, I have, alhamdulillah had many opportunities to meet people in the anme of ukhuwwah. And believe it, it's one great experience. It felt as though, my life has mroe purpose, that the people that I have met  these days came into my life with a purpose, and I understand better what those purposes are. Before this, I ahve always thought that my good friends are the people I can get along with, lepak with, laugh with and of course cry with. However, with these new view in life, I see the people in my life as being more valuable, like their levels have been upgraded in some way, which is really2 good.

When I talk about these new people in my life, I am not saying that my friends whom I've been through thick and thin with are not worthy of that new levels. Believe me, that did not cross my mind. I think that I have a better view of how the world really works and that I should share this special thing with my good friends. So I went here and there, up and down the hills to get them to be with me. Not easy, but it is definitely worth the effort. Cause in the end, our destination is the same; the akhirah.

So what I am basically trying to say here is that, you guys, no matter which path you choose in life, you shouldn't leave behind these lovely people who have had numerous laughs and cries with you. I love you guys, so let's get into this together, forever.

Us back in 2006.