And now, dear little children, who may this story read,

To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed;

Unto an evil counselor close heart, and ear, and eye,

And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.

an abandoned house in Benom Hill, Raub

Without love, it ain't nothin but a house
A house where nobody lives...
Once it held laughter, once it held dreams
Did they throw it away
Did they know what it means
Did someone's heart break
Or did someone do someone wrong?

So if you find someone, someone to have, someone to hold
Don't trade it for silver, don't trade it for gold
I have all of life's treasures and they are fine and they are good
They remind me that houses are just made of wood
What makes a house grand ain't the roof or the doors
If there's love in a house, it's a palace for sure

Without love...
It ain't nothin but a house
A house where nobody lives

Poem by Tom Waits

Dusk, is just an illusion because the sun is either above the horizon or below it.

And that means that day and night are linked in a way that few things are;

there cannot be one without the other, yet they cannot exist at the same time.

How would it feel? I remember wondering to be always together yet, forever apart..

Orchids are the symbol of mature charm. The white means innocence and sweetness.

"Your Lord has not forsaken you nor is HE displeased." Quran 93:3

timeline

it has lost the hind leg and one side of the wings.. 

no idea the name of this species, but it was flowering so beautifully in the garden for about a month.

another set that bloomed..

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innocence, beauty and elegance

it rained!! evening today, alhamdulillah

timeline

I would laugh with you even if I was sad,
I will give you a smile even if I'm mad.

I would hold your hand every minute of every day,

But I won't because I know you need to find your own way.

I would sell my soul if it would keep you happy forever,

I would give my right arm to keep us forever together.

The most precious jewel you'll ever have around your neck, are the arms of your child.

This innocence is brilliant, I hope that it will stay

This moment is perfect, please don't go away

(song Innocence by Avril Lavigne)

(model age eleven months)

EXPLORE
another session with my eleven months old model 

EMOTIONS!
my little model at 11 months old

growing in the garden.

In the center of the Grand Prayer Hall is the Mihrab (Prayer Nitche) which shows the direction of the Qiblah (Ka’abah) and identifies the position where the Imam who leads prayer stands. The arch is 16m by 14m and is a symmetrical composition that has a beauty of its own.

The design is similar to the arches outside.

 

In the middle is the opening of the mihrab that has been shaped from the wall. The wall of this opening too is made of carved stones and marble panels that have been fastened in a geometric shape and supported by a frame that is 7m tall. A honeycomb vault is the result of the inspiration for this structure and has been built to match a six-tiered muqarnaz based on a classical Islamic design on the top-a structure that was shaped with the use of the latest computer technology. 

This honeycomb design was put together to balance the presence of the muqarnaz that was designed on the basis of a 7-point star pattern contained in a six rows and shaped from the internal cavity. The outer part of this arch has a thick rope design that symbolizes unity and the binding force of the mosque. It is a decree in Islam to hold fast to the rope of Allah so as not to go astray. In the last three decades, no mosque in the world has produced a mihrab that exudes the kind of beauty as that found in the Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan, and it can easily be counted among the most delicate handiwork ever produced anywhere.

*write-up extracted from Masjid Wilayah book.

~ Masjid Wilayah offers a mosque tour program which is free any day of the week between 10am till 6pm except for Eid ul Fitri and Eid ul Adha. For more information on tours, write to bob.borhanuddin@gmail.com or rose.ahmad23@gmail.com

timeline

The floral motif in the center of the Grand Prayer Hall is the Mihrab (Prayer Nitche) which shows the direction of the Qiblah (Ka’abah) and identifies the position where the Imam who leads prayer stands. The delicate design is spellbinding. The creation is the result of a combination of carved white marble that has been embedded with colorful stones in intricate designs.
The stones used include lapis lazuli, malachite, and golden onyx that reflect blue, green and yellow. This is combined with iridescent shells and mother-of-pearl that was obtained from the waters of Malaysia. The designs of this structure reflect the calligraphic art, geometric handiwork, and motif of the “Wandering Cloud” -- a recurring theme for the mosque. The “Wandering Cloud” motif that represents the “intertwined” arabesque symbolizes the nature of the Creator of the universe who has neither beginning nor end.

*write-up extracted from Masjid Wilayah book.

~ Masjid Wilayah offers a mosque tour program which is free any day of the week between 10am till 6pm except for Eid ul Fitri and Eid ul Adha. For more information on tours, write to bob.borhanuddin@gmail.com or rose.ahmad23@gmail.com

In Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan, the two 96m minarets (28 levels up) decorated with muqamaz are visible from a distance. Each minaret is divided into five segments or divisions that is reflective of Turkish architecture. At the bottom it has a four-sided design that serves as the foundation and at the top it has eight-sided figure. Each segment is decorated with muqamaz which plays the role of introducing the change in shape of the different segments so that they do not  appear sudden or incongruous or excessive. This shows the emphasis placed in Islam itself on the importance of subtlety which is reflected through  this art form. The changes made on the surface structure were done carefully and in a controlled fashion to accentuate its unique and attractive beauty.

In the construction of the minarets the “climbing formwork system” was used. This was not only a highly accurate means to construct the minarets, but also effective and fast.

*write-up extracted from Masjid Wilayah book.

~ Masjid Wilayah offers a mosque tour program which is free any day of the week between 10am till 6pm except for Eid ul Fitri and Eid ul Adha. For more information on tours, write to bob.borhanuddin@gmail.com or rose.ahmad23@gmail.com

MINARETS

Definition: A slim tower rising from a mosque, from which the adhan may be called. Early mosques did not have minarets; the adhan was simply called from any high point near the mosque. In modern times, microphones and speakers are often used to project the adhan, but minarets remain a common element in Islamic mosque architecture throughout the world.

Minarets are always attached to a mosque, and vary in height and style. Minarets may be square, round, or octagonal and are usually covered with a pointed roof. A mosque may have one or more minarets.


~ Masjid Wilayah offers a mosque tour program which is free any day of the week between 10am till 6pm except for Eid ul Fitri and Eid ul Adha. For more information on tours, write to bob.borhanuddin@gmail.com or rose.ahmad23@gmail.com

take a break - have a cuppa...

"It is He Who has made you successors, generation after generation, in the earth" (35:39) 

"And He made you generations coming after generations, succeeding each other in the earth" (6:165)

blooming in the garden

seasonal mandarin oranges