To Whom It May Concern

04:27 Nala Mazia 0 Comments


Life is indeed like a rollercoaster, you will face your own vicissitude. You cannot expect a constant comfort, but you can always find comfort. You cannot expect a constant happiness, but you can always find your happiness. See what I mean?

My dear friend, what I mean is that God’s tests are inevitable. They can be in any form, even what you find as happiness might be one of them. Being sad, apprehensive, and any other emotions are also unavoidable as human beings for we are meant to feel. Don’t worry, you are normal to feel unhappy. We cannot be happy all the time, anyway. However, there is always a way to find happiness even in your worst. You just need to know where to look.

Pal, if you are out there, feeling unhappy, lonely, and do not know what to do, please don’t despair! No matter how nasty your life is right now, you can still grasp your happiness. Look around!  Trust me, I know. I have been there too. Let me tell you my story.

Years ago, I was in my darkest time. My happy life was suddenly shaken. I felt my world was crumbling, my heart was aching, and my mind did not stop whirling. It was difficult to accept such an ordeal. How would you feel when your source happiness was taken away for good so suddenly? Exactly. At that time, I did not know how my life would go on. I stretched out my hands and failed to grasp something to hold on. As if, I were falling down, alone in a vacant space. However, fortunately, I still had my senses with me before I completely lost. I realised that I still had Allah, my true source of happiness. I thought, “Why don’t I hold on to Allah? Allah is my Creator, the King of all universe, the Master of life and death. He is the Author to my destiny. Why not asking Him my happy life?”

Then, my friend, I prayed, I talked to Him, spilled everything to Him. Believe me, little by little I felt relieved and I could let go of my ordeal. I faced the reality. The reality remained unchanged, an unhappy occurrence for me, but I then saw it differently. Allah has been guiding me, all the time, if only I remember Him. I always do this to face everything, and it works. Now, it was difficult to mention what my problem is or when I feel sad, because I don’t see things as giant pains anymore, I can find my happiness out of anything.

My beloved friend, wherever you are, the key to your happiness is Allah. Communicate to Him, be close and stay close to Him. Never walk away from Him. Certainly, Allah will grant you happiness. You, of all people, should know this better. I remember Dumbledore’s quote, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.” In this case, the quote is applicable, pal. To turn on the light, in our case, of course means to find Allah.

I hope what I said could get through your heart, and open up your eyes to act right away. It is neither a psychologist nor a psychic who can make you feel happy. It is you! All along, the key is in your hands! You would have been happy if you used the key to find Allah sooner. Well, I truly hope you could make it. Let me know when you do. Live happily!

Cordially yours,

-Servent de Déu-

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Farewell, Miette!

04:58 Nala Mazia 0 Comments


Kitten Miette two years ago


It was typical Thursday night. A serene night, with probably pitch black studded sky. I had just turned my light off when I heard thudding noise. Immediately, I set my eyes wide open, and ears ready as radar. It was heard again, clear and near, like the sound of falling books and rustling papers. As if someone was hastily looking for something in the shelf. I frowned. At this hour? Who could it be? My father was sleeping, and so was my sister. As for my brother, he was out somewhere. No one else was in the house. I started to fret.

I buried myself under my fluffy warm blanket anxiously. I was hoping my father would be woken up by the noise, and he’d check it out. I waited, and waited, only to nothing. For the next hundred secondhand’s ticking, the sound wouldn’t stop, keeping me from repose. Couldn’t bear it any longer, I leapt up from my bed, ready to check it myself. I walked on my tiptoes to the sound. As I did, my heart was racing. 

The sound guided me to the light-off living room. I stepped on some sticky fluid, thrilled by what it might be. I rushed to get the switch, and found out the fluid I stepped on was colourless but thick. Other than that, I didn’t see anything strange. There was no one, and no mess had been done. My curiosity got more profound. I approached the sound, then my sweet ivory furry Miette I found. She was lying, furiously shaking on the ground.

I gasped, flabbergasted, and panicked to find her knocking on heaven’s door. Colourless fluid and excrement were scattered around her. While she was trembling, foamy liquid came out from her mouth. She must’ve been poisoned! I broke the news to my father, only to hear him reluctantly responded, “Let her be. It dies, we’ll burry.”

I called my brother, he’d go home and bring milk as the antidote. While waiting for him, I could only watch the poor kitty rolling here and there, hitting chair, table, and bookshelf. I felt so helpless. My heart was aching to behold her dying. More painfully, she groaned and moaned, while her eyes were glaring in pain. For half an hour, she had been panting and I could sense her pain. I cried and cried, though I knew it wouldn’t change a thing.

When my brother came, he fed her with the milk and soon after, she ceased quivering. We hoped it was the antidote. She breathed fast, eyes still glaring, but stiff as statue. We waited for a slight of hope that Miette would be alive. Alas, it seemed like we were late giving her the milk. She finally kicked the bucket. I spilled out my tears until I felt soothed, then I could let her go.

My sister found out Miette dead as doornail in the morning, so she cried hard. Everyone was in woe, since we had raised the lively smart moggy for almost two years. She had been such a noble cat since we adopted her. As much as we didn’t want to lose her, we buried her under a longan tree.

My witnessing Miette die was a life-changing experience. It reminds me that death can come anytime to me. As if Allah was sending a message, or precisely warning, to me through Miette’s dying. Watching how painful she was dying, I got the conception of how I would be at the end of my life. While begging for forgiveness to Allah, I told myself, “I have to stop any foolish acts and prepare for my afterlife FROM NOW ON.” Who knows when Allah would call me home? My job is only to be ready whenever the death angel takes me. 

Hope you can learn something from Miette’s death, just as I did.

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Blessing in Disguise

05:05 Nala Mazia 0 Comments



That idiom is one of my favourites. Although I have experienced many blessing in disguise things, I’m always astonished to realize the blessings. That if I found out the disguised blessing, which I always try to. Speaking about blessing in disguise, I have a phenomenon in thought. Are you wondering what it is?

Mocking and making fun of friends are common things around me. Of course, those are done for fun, we don’t really mean to insult. Self-praising is also usual, but once again, it’s just for jokes. Doing those things somehow make us closer as friends.

However, sometimes people can feel insulted by the jokes addressed to them. Who knows they smile outside, but hurt inside? This can be either they are too sensitive, or their friends have gone too far. Both are not virtuous. For those who likes making fun of friends (just for kidding), I beg please mind your words. Think first whether it’ll be okay for the people you are addressing. For you who are too touchy about your friends’ jokes, I have a special advice.

To begin with, my friends often criticize me of being crazy about pink. They show their disapproval in hilarious way that shows they don’t hate me. I’m always “bullied” in class, because of my predilection to pink, and girly stuff. Please note that quotation in bullied. By bully I mean is not serious bullying cases, it’s just how I express my friends’ way of joking. Sorry, I cannot find another proper word to describe it. We are used to calling that kind of kidding bullying (we use this term as parody, don’t take it serious. Of course, I’m not suffering from bullying). Sometimes I’m annoyed too with my friends’ jokes, because I have my right to like or have or wear whatever I want to. But, hey, I know that they are just having fun with me! The point is, with everyone mocks you, you get your conceit pressed down. 

Now, let’s contemplate. My friends and I like claiming ourselves to be great people. For instance, I like declaring that I am a princess; I am Princess Aurora, and so on. If my friends just admitted it, I would be surer and surer that I am beautiful, graceful, and honourable just like a princess. Eventually, it would grow my vanity. I would be bigheaded, and vain. How fortunate I am that my friends never agree with my claiming!

See? I am fully aware that my friends have helped me to keep my vanity in check. That is the blessing in disguise I meant. My friends might not realize that they’ve saved me from arrogance. I secretly thank them very much for doing so. You know, just a little arrogance can destroy all the virtues you’ve done. Can you imagine how dangerous arrogance is?

Therefore, for you who are often hurt by your friends’ jokes to you, please bear my words in mind. Their insults are actually blessings in disguise! Try to see the blessings before you jump into conclusions. You may be astonished and grateful by then.

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A Week Is a Long Time in Politics

04:59 Nala Mazia 0 Comments



Hey, Pals!

This time I want to share my thought that was actually my inner conflict. This has something to do with politics. To be honest, I hated politics, and I didn’t want to involve in it. That is why I didn’t take International Relation as my major although part of me wanted to. All this time, from my point of view politics is about corruption, clean hands, and dirty tricks. I used to think that politics is not important. Well, that is a childish thought of me.

Now, as I looked around, and be more critical to surrounding issues, I’ve changed my mind. I am aware that no aspect of my life can be spared from politics. Although politics still can’t be spared from dirty tricks, I now agree that politics is important. I don’t mind being the part of it. In fact, I want to be the part of it by joining Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hope Allah grants my wishes. Amiin. Mucha suerte para mi :))

It is funny how things change in a few months. Well, in politics it’s natural. An idiom says a week is a long time in politics, which means that in politics, many changes can happen in a short space of time. Now, I try not to be indifferent about politics. Let alone I am a university student now, which means I need to be more sensitive with such issues. I realize that my mind doesn’t magically think critically about it in a blink of eyes. That is why I’ve been reading many political articles lately. In addition, I join a student press activity, which demands my critical thinking. You can see I’m working on my mind right now.

This is just something that popped up in my head months ago, but I just got time to write now. Unfortunately, just as I reconsider politics, big (yet again, full of tricks) occurrences in politics field are happening. No, no, I’m not holding back my words. The other way around, it’s kind of intriguing to follow.  I hope this will be the milestone for more-mature me.
Please wish me luck ;)

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Punctuality is So Me!

04:54 Nala Mazia 0 Comments

Photo by Nala

Have you ever waited for someone for so long, because you come on time but they don’t? Or is it you who is barely on time?

I want to tell a brief story that just happened today. This day is a special day for I had a kind of reunion with my friends, after months being apart. We decided to meet at 9 am somewhere. I had estimated the time I need to get ready and get there. I would’ve been on time if I didn’t drop by the gas station. As a result, I got there 4 minutes late. Can you guess what happened? Yep, no one was there. Later I knew that some of them had got there, but they went somewhere first. Oh, so I was the latest, I thought. Apparently not, my other friends hadn’t even left home yet! They finally came an hour later.

That story is only one of so-and-so much other cases. It happens a lot, in any kind of situation. On account of how common it is, no one seems to mind their late coming (in informal dates). They knew that there would be someone coming late, so in case it happens, they deliberately set the time earlier. For instance, they will have an activity at 11. They tell others to come at 9 or 10, so even if someone is late, they will still be able to hold the event punctually. Everyone knows that old yet common trick. Unfortunately, as everyone knows this, they will have the same thought. They will say, “I bet people will come late. It’s better to be off an hour after the settled time.” In the end, no one comes at 9 or 10.
Yes, punctuality. It is rarely performed by people around me. In my area in Indonesia, it is no secret that punctuality is a scarce thing. Not always, though, but usually. Even the phrase “jam karet” (literally means rubbery hour) is so common. That is what I know. I know it since I’ve got many experiences regarding punctuality. So far, most people around me still set aside punctuality. I’m worried if it becomes a trait.

Luckily, punctuality has always been my priority. I always manage my time by having a sort of timetable in my head. Thanks God, latecomer has never been my label. The sad thing to be punctual, while your friends are not, is that you always come first, and are lonely for a couple of minutes. Yeah, that is my experience, which often happened. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t take it as a disadvantage. I keep telling myself that being on time will not give me any loss.

Nevertheless, guys, let’s remind ourselves to be punctual in any occasion. Don’t just follow your friends whose habit is coming late! Assure yourself that punctuality is so you! It is better if you can make them on time just like you. Finally, good luck with your self-improvement! :))

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Mother's Merits are Beyond Compare

05:10 Nala Mazia 0 Comments


¡¡¡Hola!!!

Pardon my long hiatus. I was a bit busy, and barely had a chance to compose an article. Now, I’m on a semester break, so I have plenty of time to write. This time, I’m writing about mother. I know, it’s not Mother’s Day, but there’s no mistake in writing about a mother, is there? Besides, Mother’s Day is supposed to be every day since her merits are beyond compare. Mothers need to be respected and appreciated every single day.

I’m sure we all know how great mothers are. In Islam, mother should be honoured three times more than that a father. It’s due to the difficult tasks a mother does for her children, even since they are still in the womb. Here is the hadith.
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, who among the people is most deserving of my good company?’ He said, ‘Your mother.’ He asked, ‘Then who?’ He said, ‘Your mother.’ He asked, ‘Then who?’ He said, ‘Your mother.’ He asked, ‘Then who?’ He said, ‘Then your father.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 5626; Muslim, 2548)
Al- Hafiz ibn Hajar said: “Ibn Battaal said: what this means is that the mother should be honoured three times more than the father. He said, that is because of the difficulties of pregnancy, then giving birth, then breastfeeding."

Moreover, when mother gave birth to us, she is in between the death and life. No wonder Allah makes a mother died due to delivering baby a syuhada, the same level with those who died in a war defending Allah’s religion. Subhanallah.

Guys, don’t hurt her even just a slight. The chastisement for hurting mother will be very hard. In one hand, doing good deeds to mother will be given marvellous rewards. So, as long as your mother is still by your side, please her. I’m not as lucky as you whose mother is still there for you, but I still can show my obedience by sending her prayers every day. You know what? I listened to a song by Maher Zain titled The Number One for Me, and it slapped me so hard that I cried. Have a look at the piece of the lyric.

I was a foolish little child, crazy things I used to do, and all the pain I put you through, Mama now I’m here for you. For all the times I made you cry, the days I told you lies, now it’s  time for you to rise, for all the things you sacrificed. Oh, if I could turn back time rewind, if I could make it undone, I swear that I would, I would make it up to you. Mum I’m all grown up now, it’s a brand new day, I’d like to put a smile on your face everyday

My heart was aching when I was listening to this song. I know I didn’t do much for my mom back then, but I wish I had. I didn’t think that my mom would go that soon. I had been given over 16 years to be with my mother, and it should’ve been enough to please her and be obedient to her. However, I didn’t use my time efficiently. Now that I’ve lost her, I wish I didn’t do those foolish things that put her though pain. All I can do now is be a salihah (agreeable, pious) daughter and pray for her.

Pals, I’ve shared how I regret my inadequate obedience to my mother when she was still around. I hope after you read this, you will treat your mom well if she is still here. Read another writing about mother here to get motivated. If your mom has been by God’s side, then be a good kid for her, and send her prayers every day. Don’t worry, we still have the chance to make up our mistakes in many ways, insyaallah! ;)

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