Rule #111: The right attitude can change a hardship into a blessing.

“Learn to see each moment as its own birth–entirely separate from the moment that proceeded it, and from the moment that will follow. Each moment is a new existence, a new world in which we will be born and will die. Our problem is that we become enslaved to the moments that have passed, enslaved to old worlds that have already passed away. But in reality, more than a thousand times a day, we are born. Yet many of us choose to just let ourselves die again and again, as each new moment fades. We forget that each birth is a new opportunity to start over, to turn around, or to keep going. To rise higher, to heal, to grow. To be different. Better. Each new moment calls for transformation, renewal, return. Tawbah. But we’re too busy dying.” – Yasmin Mogahed

After weeks of trying to convince myself that twitter was wasting too much of my time, I’ve finally managed to click the ‘deactivate my account’ button last Saturday morning. (I'll be back on August!) It never cease to amaze me how addicted I can get to social networking sites. I don’t even know what I would do without internet access! So, I’ve been reading a lot and watching good documentary films nestled in the warmth of my blankets with beer jugs of chocolate milk. It’s nice being at home most of the time. It has made me happier in many ways and sad in some. I think of how uneventful my life is, and to be honest I am glad. It’s reassuring to know it’s not always bustling with drama and people.

Besides, I feel like I am becoming stronger. I am so much more certain about myself as a person and also what I need in life. I don’t know if any of this makes sense or has any significance; Maybe I am just emanating random thoughts.


Thank you guys for a great Friday night!

♡ ♡ ♡
Nadiah Latiff
P.S: Previous post deleted. No questions asked.

Rule #95: Jealousy is when you count someone else’s blessings insteadof your own.

Someone recently misunderstood me after finding out that I've been avoiding myself from people because of how particular I am in choosing friends to hang out with. He assumed I picked friends based on popularity and fashion sense; apparently there was sarcasm in his tone. I smirked in disgust and could not be bothered at all to convince him otherwise. It's clear that he didn't take enough time to get to know me well. Furthermore, I am so used to having people who would say things like that about me all the time, even my good friends I had trusted. But hey, human beings are judgmental, right;)

I was at the back seat of my family car on a Saturday night, scrolling down my tumblr dashboard and found something meaningful I thought I could post it up here.

This is a reminder to myself first and foremost:

Do we think about the company we keep, the friends we are around? Do we think about what we expose ourselves to? Remember, all our limbs will account for, or against us on the Day of Judgement. The tongue you speak with, the eyes you see with, the ears you hear with, every single limb.

Do you think about the heart, this incredible morsel of flesh that beats constantly? As soon as a person becomes ill in some way, they rush to treat their illness. Before any of us go outside, we make sure to look in the mirror, to make ourselves look good, to clean our bodies, our face etc. But what about our hearts? One may expose it to so much bad yet we don’t look for a remedy-thus there are repercussions. The bad in the heart is portrayed through every other limb. For example, if the heart exposes it self to bad words, the person may then find himself/herself cursing without even realising. So two important things here, your company, and your heart. Your heart can influence who and what you keep yourself around and you company can influence your heart and thus your actions.

On the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (رضي الله عنه ), the Prophet (صلي الله عليه و سلم ) said:

“A good friend and a bad friend are like a perfume-seller and a blacksmith: The perfume-seller might give you some perfume as a gift, or you might buy some from him, or at least you might smell its fragrance. As for the blacksmith, he might singe your clothes, and at the very least you will breathe in the fumes of the furnace.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, vol 3, #314 and Muslim)

The significance of this hadith is huge. Imagine you are wearing a white garment, so you enter a blacksmiths and you do not even talk or touch anything, but the fumes and the dirty walls and atmosphere leave your clothes black and your throat clammy and rough. In the same way, being around bad company and bad things leaves you dirty in some way-you don’t even have to take part in the bad. For example, your friends go out to drink alcohol and mix with men, but you don’t participate, you just watch-this bad company is guaranteed to rub off on you and affect your heart negatively (thus your actions).

Yet, good company is truly something beautiful. Company that reminds you of Allah (swt), these people can commit good deeds, say good things in front of you, and you do not even have to participate, but it will rub off on you and you will take some of that good. Your heart will be affected positively in some way, even if you did not attempt to make it better. Subhan’Allah. This applies to Muslims and non-Muslims, in many ways it’s evident in day to day life-when we’re exposed to bad, some of it is passed on to us.

Lastly, there are three types of heart. Think about what category you fit into, for once you acknoledge the problem, it can be addressed.

The first: The correct and sound heart; the heart that is sound, serves and worships only Allah (swt) wholeheartedly. It does not disobey Allah (swt), It’s desire, love, trust and reliance, repentance, humbleness, dread and reverential hope is only for Allah (swt) and its actions are purely for His sake. Hence if it loves, it loves for the sake of Allah (swt); if it hates, it hates for the sake of Allah (swt); if it gives, it gives for the sake of Allah (swt); and if it withholds (e.g. giving into desires), it withholds for the sake of Allah (swt). Allah says in (26:88-89): “The day (i.e. judgement day) on which neither wealth nor sons will be of any use, except for whoever brings to Allah a sound heart.”

The second: The Diseased Heart; the heart is torn. It does not fully obey Allah (swt) and his messenger and it gives in to desires of the dunya. It wavers between safety in ruin, and although it contains love of Allah (swt), it gives preference to it’s desires and it contains jealousy, arrogance, self-amazement, and love of ranking and sowing corruption in the land through attaining leadership from those matters that necessarily lead to its destruction and devastation.

The third: The dead heart: (Bear in mind this does not necessarily be one who classes themselves as non-Muslims, but also so called ‘Muslims’ who do not believe, know or practice the deen that they were born into.) This heart is lifeless, it is in the dark and has no guidance. It does not know it’s Lord If it loves, it loves for the sake of its base desires; if it hates, it hates for the sake of its base desires; if it gives, it gives for the sake of its base desires; if it withholds, it withholds for the sake of its base desires. It gives preference to its base desires and these are more beloved to it than the Pleasure of its Master. Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an (2:17-19):

“Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see. They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path). Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers (i.e. Allah will gather them all together)”So to summarise:

“The healthy, secure heart which contains no impediment preventing it from accepting the truth, loving it and giving it preference other than its coming to know of it. Therefore its recognition of the truth is correct and it is complete with respect to its submission and acceptance of it.The diseased heart, when its disease predominates than it joins the ranks of the dead and harsh heart but if its soundness predominates it joins the ranks of the truthful and secure heart.The dead, harsh and dry heart that does not accept the truth nor submit to it.”

Which one of these is your heart, and who amongst these people are your company? Think carefully about what you expose yourself too, and whether it is worth corrupting your heart and risking your being in a good position on the Last Day, and know that you are worth more than to be exposing yourself to these things-your heart is worth more than that.

Hope this was of benefit insha’Allah, and Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh everyone.

(via poeticislam)

♡ ♡ ♡
Nadiah Latiff

Rule #92: Don’t depend too much on anyone in this world because even your own shadow leaves you when you are in darkness.

There are certain people who come into your life and right away your gut feelings tell you they’re meant to be there to serve some sort of purpose. They’re like a godsend to assist you through difficulty and teach a lesson in life- whether it’s good or bad- to help us grow. When you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way or change your life completely. Some are meant to be with us for only a short while. Others stay for a lifetime. They leave a mark and their place in your heart is tender. Their presence brings such a powerful sense of bliss that you just want to staplegun them by your side so they would stand by you for a while longer.

Today, a male friend of mine whom I treasure the most contemplated to walk away from my life. I guess it’s true; love always have this strong power to destroy friendships.

♡ ♡ ♡
Nadiah Latiff

Rule #80: It’s always the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.

"You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by. It's actions, not words, that matter."

Something clicked into place for me recently, and I’ve spent the days asking myself what it all means, and what exactly I’m supposed to do about it. How do you know that the things you feel are good to feel? Right now I can’t trust my emotions- can’t trust that I’m feeling the right things the right way at the right time. I’ve never been able to judge the right times to feel anything, or the right proportion. I trust my brain more, but I can’t think myself out of feeling how I feel.

Anyway, the other day I dreamt of someone who became my other half for more than a year and a half. Just for that few minutes after I woke up, I actually felt that I truly missed him- 4 months after the break up that is- till I had that strong urge to give him a call. Then my stomach was grumbling and I felt so hungry. The moment I had food in my hands right in front of my eyes, I forgot about him all over again!

I thanked God for making it easy for me. I don't want to waste my time missing the wrong guy.

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I realized that there are quite a number of people I know whose birthdays fall on March 15. My baby girl, Yuslina, is one of them and our clique decided to celebrate @ Timbre! It’s really nice although I wish I could stay there longer- Duh have I mentioned my dad’s really strict with the curfew now? Anyway, I would totally ditch partying in a club on my 18th for a relaxing chill out in a pub with a live acoustic band! That’s what I always wanted to do for my birthday this year. Great choice, yuslina! 5 years of friendship and still counting...




















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Rule #79: Life will put many red lights in front of you. But sometimes, we must push on the gas and trust God.

Title taken from Ihsan's blog! Miss you,x

My mind is plagued with memories of things that I no longer wish to remember. Things I thought I had suppressed or forgotten about. I go back to the beginning where it was all about daisies and butterflies, when everything appeared to be perfect. I recall that moment when I can do whatever I want to do and go wherever I want to go without anything to hide or worry about.

Then my happiness was obliterated by the intimidating and pretentious actions of my surroundings. I lay a plaster over the cut to impede the bleeding, but when I remove it, the wound remains. The grief continues, both profound and excruciating- nobody really knows.

Sometimes I feel like nothing’s really changed. I keep stumbling over the same stuff again and again, and doing absolutely nothing about it- except whine! Well I did try, but failed. When can I get off the hamster wheel? What do I have to do to break it, or at least get it off the track so I can see something new? When can I stamp all this as “Done” and move on? How can I let myself off the guilt hook and move forward with a clean slate?


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Rule #78: Sometimes, the answers are all around us. We are just not ready to confront the reality.

Sometimes, I wish I could grow a thicker skin because I know some things aren’t worth my pity. Some things I can’t fix. Some things I just should not bother anymore. I wish I weren’t a coward. If I were braver, I’d end it now and stop all my whining. If I weren’t so concerned about everybody else, I’d end it and have done. Just do the things that make me happy instead and worry about nothing. I wish I could accept me and genuinely love myself. However, when I look in the mirror, it only takes five seconds of looking into my eyes before I have to turn away from it. It’s not because I think I’m ugly.It's like the mirror is a demon, showing me all the not-so-good things I’ve done and so it’s hard to stand and see all that. The thing is when I look at myself, I don’t see much there worth loving. There are people who say they will always love me for who I am, but I always doubt that. Because when the time comes they’ll realize just how flawed I am and better people come along, feelings will eventually change, wouldn’t they?

I really wish sometimes, I was more devoid of feelings and emotions. Right now I am battling with them. It’s like something was pulled out of me, and now it’s out and walking around, and I can’t put it back in the place it was. I feel like some barrier inside me has been broken open, and now there’s no going back. I wish I could go back, because the intensity of these feelings is scary. I’m trying to deal with a lot of guilt and shame, for feeling what I do, and thinking what the feelings are having me think. Is that even right?

I feel like a failure, or some kind of masochist.

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This was how I spent my Saturday:
Vivo City for DanceWorks Category III > St. James for Dance Fiesta Semi-Finals > Helipad to accompany Dinie for a showcase > After party.

Whoa, it’s been almost two years since I last went into a club. You have no idea how fast my blood was rushing when I stepped into those places, and immediately I had a million flash backs about my past. I thank God I held myself back from enjoying too much, which was a good thing for me! Funny thing was, after Dinie took a sip of his Amsterdam beer he turned to me, “Nadiah...Sorry for drinking infront of you,” like as if it’s the first time he’s doing it!!! Lol. I didn’t get to see the Helipad’s rooftop bar though because there was a birthday party- I could only enter the dancefloor- and I’m still wondering if it’s a real landing place for helicopters. Is it really?

Anyway, I’m so proud of all the RP dancers:’) I know how much effort they’ve put in for this competitions! Ya’ll gotta check their videos on facebook!
1. So Spastic Crew (I missed their performance! I woke up late.)
2. Female Hustlerz (5th place! So close getting into the finals!!!!)
3. 100% Be.Phat (I’ll see ya again on finals!)
























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Rule #76: A mistake is actually not a mistake, it’s a stepping stone.

“With the limited approximately 4 hours we had, I swear we had a lot to talk about. And one reason why I like to hang out with N is because we have quite a lot of similarities and I can connect with her in almost every way possible, mentally and emotionally. We were looking through the clothes and we always end up liking the same clothes. There are of course a little bit differences but I think I just found a new shopping girlfr. You know how people have different opinions and when you go shopping with them, you end up being stuck because their opinions are based on their likings instead of yours? Yeah, that's why I'd rather shop alone but I doubt it'd be a hassle with N.” – Lydia Asyiqin's blog

It was a last minute date and coincidentally it was the 29th. We were wondering what's the big deal about leap year besides the fact that it happens every four years. But can you just imagine if your birthday falls on this date? Bummer! It was nice hanging out with her really, just the two of us. I never thought she could be my listening ear. I guess age really doesn’t matter, right? I’m so looking forward to our upcoming plans! xo

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“You know what, things will get better,” said a male friend of mine, “when you start schooling again.”

Definitely absolutely yes! Life without school is freaking mundane. I am always the type of person who enjoys being busy rather than doing nothing at home to the extent that I wouldn’t even mind ditching my social life to study/work. The life that I am living now is so not me. I’m starting school again this coming April, if you guys are wondering. Recently my school increased its fees by 8k per year. I mean, seriously what were they thinking? Studying private in Singapore is already so expensive as hell and they decided to increase the cost even more? Have you ever wondered why education is so ridiculously costly? I always do! I know Singapore has its standards and all that jazz, but we are paid peanuts here and alot of the jobs available are given to the foreigners! How absurd can this country be. Thank God my registration has been completed, which also means, my fees remain the same even though I haven’t paid anything yet. Alhamdullilah!

A vivid reader of mine asked me the other day why I don’t usually write the sequence of events that happen in my life whenever I go out. I did that before in my previous blogs but not anymore. The thing is, I don’t really feel comfortable about stating exactly where I went, who I was with, etc. because the cyber world is indeed bigger than you could ever imagine. I even do have insecurities posting photos of people I hang out with. I am extremely particular about what I blog, hoping that I don’t reveal too much information to people I don’t even know. You’ll never know who reads your blog.... ;)

Besides, my life is so uneventful right now that sleeping is the most exciting thing I do. It allows me to dream. But I’m pretty much insomniac this few days so, eating is the next best thing! #FATKIDSUNITE! Yeah sure like as if that hash tag actually works...

Rule #74: Forgiveness is liberating.

Once in a blue moon we meet someone- doesn’t necessarily mean someone special of the opposite sex, it could just be a friend - who hears the song in our heart. One who truly listens and understand whatever you’re feeling because he/she is going through the same phase or has gone through all of that. One who doesn’t judge you, but actually sees you for who you really are inside. One who knows when you’re down or in need of help; he/she makes the effort to reach out to you. To make sure you don’t fall. To remind you of your worth. To just be there for you. It is really that emotional connection and the sincerity that you can’t pretty much explain exactly in words- it can only be felt inside.

This someone whom you want to hold dear in your heart is the reason you keep on believing that true friends still exist in this world full of hypocrites, deceivers and whatnots.

But then again, no matter where you end up and who it is you meet, you’ll eventually realize that despite our backgrounds and the common things we share, people remain...people.

Sometimes it still seems the strangest fact of all.