Mengaji Time

Unfortunately, I have not khatam Quran yet. I'm ashamed of myself that at 40 years old (turning 41 in september) I have yet to khatam.

I started reading the Quran very young. I remember going to mengaji classes, agama classes but never consistent. I would be in one class and then would move school or move house and then won't continue. Or would be in agama school and then stopped (for whatever reason).

I was always very bad at it too. For some reason, reading Quran is very difficult for me to master. I would always do very badly in mengaji classes. It was just something I was never good at.

Sometime in form 5, my arwah tokmi found an ustaz to come over to the house to teach all the cucus mengaji. All 6 of us (including my brothers and cousins) would mengaji together. They somehow managed to khatam but somehow I didn't. I got to juz 20 something and then I flew to UK to continue my studies. Again, I didn't finish my quran.

Fast forward over 20 years later, without anyone forcing me to do it, during Ramadhan this year, I picked up a Quran (that was I think my hantaran gift) and started reading. Obviously I had forgotten how to read it and I haven't done it for years, I had great difficulty reading it. I didn't know if I read it right or wrong. I remember the basics but I don't know if my tajuweed is right. At the same time, I was wondering if it is berdosa to read it when I know I could be 100% wrong in my pronunciation and all that. Miraculously, I found a video on Youtube of this ceramah saying that you will get more rewards for trying to read. It is ok to get it wrong as long as your intentions are right. Wallahualam.

I was reading it after every solat. Slowly but surely, I think my reading is getting better. I don't get to read much because I am a very slow reader. But by the end of Ramadan, I managed to read a few juzuks. The Quran I read had jawi on the bottom too so that helped me to double check my reading.

My friend posted about this digital Quran by AlQalam. She said it helped her read so much. I decided to get one for myself. Alhamdulillah, I am progressing really well and this digital Quran has helped me with the tajweed and pronunciation better.

InsyaAllah I will khatam by this year. Fingers crossed.

On another note, my kids are progressing well with their Quran reading too. Both of them have started Quran early this year and hopefully will Khatam this year too. My prayers are for all of us to khatam together this year. Pray for us!

We can do it!

Artsy week

I've always been interested in Art but I never took it up. I guess I never had the time to actually pursue it. I would like to think I am a creative person too but I don't think there's much talent there, unfortunately. I do enjoy art.

Whenever I see abstract paintings, I always say to myself "wow, I could do that!" or "I can do better than that!" but of course, what do I know. I've never really painted anything in my life. I've admired paintings before but I have no idea the process, the techniques that is needed. I basically have no clue but sometimes, I think I can do a better job.

Since we were still in our last phase of the Restriction Movement Order, now is the best time to start painting. Right? I have all the time in the world. With Youtube tutorials, there isn't much excuse to learn anything when you have time. I went and got some art supplies. No idea what I needed, I just went ahead and ordered whatever I felt I needed. Shopee and Lazada was my best friend.

I started with Painting by Numbers. Anyone can do that, right? First few days, it didn't look like anything. I was pretty hard work but therapeutic at the same time. After a week, it is almost done. But the hardest is also completing the last bit. (To be honest, it has been weeks, I am still not 100% done with it. I've somehow lost interest in it!)

I then started exploring the IG of some artists and I found some that is more suited to my style. Boy, I wish I can paint like them. One of my favourite is Elle Byers. I love her paintings!!! I found a youtube tutorial that she did and tried to copy it.

Tadaaaaa... I was pretty impressed. Although it is nothing like the real thing, I was happy with the outcome. I love the colours.

The next day, I wanted to do something on my own. I love the colours and although it didn't turn out like what I had in mind, I was still happy with it. This is so awesome! Who knew painting would give me so much joy?! I am so good! (Even if I have to say so myself!)

My kids saw me painting and wanted to join the fun. I am quite OCD with my paintings and didn't want them to mess it up. I figured, doing abstract is better with kids because you can never go wrong with abstract. I was quite happy with the outcome of our first abstract together. The top piece was what we did together. Everyone had their input in that painting and I think it looked really good.

The piece on the bottom was something I painting in memory of my grandma. I was really therapeutic because as I was painting, tears was flowing down my cheeks. It didn't turn out as I pictured it, the colours didn't turn out like what I had in mind but somehow, I feel like it just works. It is all my grandma's favourite colours and somehow I can picture her in a kurung that colour.

This is another piece I did. Not bad right? I have no experience playing with colours and most of the time, I fail to achieve the colours I wanted but in the end it turned out pretty OK. I did this piece with my daughter. I love it.

My daughter is also keen in art. She wanted us to draw something together and we picked on this tutorial on youtube. It is very easy to do and I think age appropriate for her. My son did this on his own one day but my daughter is more of a perfectionist, it is harder for her.

So there you go, our (My) various art pieces for the week. It has been really amazing and fun. I love sitting in my corner painting while my kids are on their zoom class. I wish I had my own studio. I picture myself with my messy hair, in my pyjamas, with my apron on painting in a studio full of colours but for now, it is just me with my messy hair, in my pyjamas and no apron, on the floor. I wish to continue painting and keep a journal of my pieces. Who knows, someday I may become famous and I can start selling them. ha ha ha..... A girl can only dream....

I was doodling one day