Dr. Waleed Hakeem 

I am really shocked! I know there are more important deaths to talk about, but there are a few reflections I would like to share that have valuable life lessons for me.

I personally was extremely inspired by Anthony Bourdain's travels, success story, and I learned so much from his travels about what to eat in each country, and learned to be brave in trying new things. In fact, I own his entire collection of episodes and use them as a reference when travelling. He was a chef who was stuck inside a kitchen working long hours, wrote a best selling book in his spare time, and from there, his dunya success was nonstop. His work in supporting Palestinians through his show and humanzing them is just monumental!

Then again, we could clearly see the pattern. Someone who has achieved everything they could achieve in life: fame, money, awards, travels, you wonder, how could someone like this commit suicide? Let's be honest. There are many of us who could only DREAM to have even one-tenth of his life!

When a person achieves everything, they get to a point where they start feeling there is no more bigger purpose in life. There is nothing else to achieve, so they may lose the meaning of life, feel depressed, and take away their life (If you want to protect yourself from this, always find a higher purpose in life. A mission that drives you!)

Believing in an afterlife and a Creator protects a person from many forms of depression, as they live for a higher purporse (although religious people may have depression too for chemical imbalances or from other life traumas, so don't mix both please!). 

We also learn that looks may be deceiving. You may think someone is the happiest person alive because you see them travel, eat best food, have enough money to never work, etc, but deep inside they may feel something else. I personally went through this, where people on my page think that I am super happy because they saw me travel to 100+ countries, but they have no idea how much pain, problems, or suffering I have in my life from other issues that Allah tested me with (and I'm always thankful to Allah for everything, AlhamduliLlah!)

Make time for people. Talk to them, listen to their pains. You never know how many lives you could save when you save someone from depression. When you empathize with their pains! Robin Williams, Michael Jackson, Anthony Bourdain, and many others, remind us that even if you appear to have it all, you may still suffer depression, which is intensified by not having a purpose and not having a connection with our Creator or afterlife. Return to your lord, and seek his help. Especially in these blessed days!

Thank you Anthony for inspiring me to travel, try food that I never imagined to try, and teaching me about other cultures. I learned from you that even if a person is small and unknown, they could work hard to make their message global, not just food, but for a bigger and better legacy. It is sad that even though you have visited many Muslim countries, you didn't find your path to guidance. You are now with your Creator!

P.S I know he used foul language a lot in his shows, and that's really bad, but always observe and see what positive things you can learn from each person you meet, regardless of their background.

By Dr. Waleed Hakeem, Traveling Imam

A letter from Mom and Dad

...My Child,

When I get old,
I hope you understand and have patience with me.

In case I break a plate,
or spill soup on the table because I am losing my eyesight,
I hope you don't yell at me.
Older people are sensitive.
Always having self-pity when you yell.

When my hearing gets worse and I can't hear what you are saying,
I hope you don't call me, "Deaf!"
Please repeat what you say
Or write it down

I am sorry, my child.
... I am getting older

When my knees get weaker,
I hope you have the patience to help me get up.
Like how I used to help you when you were little,
learning how to walk.

Please bear with me
When I keep repeating myself like a broken record,
I hope you just keep listening to me
Please don't make fun of me,
or
get sick of listening to me

Do you remember when you were little and you wanted a Balloon?
You repeated yourself over and over until you got what you wanted

...Please also pardon my smell.
I smell like an old person
Please don't force me to shower.
My body is weak.
Old people gets sick easily when they are cold.
I hope I don't gross you out.

Do you remember when you were little?
I used to chase you around because you didn't want to shower.

I hope you can be patient with me
When I am always cranky
It's all part of getting old.
You'll understand when you're older

And if you have spare time,
I hope we can talk
Even for a few minutes
I am always by myself all the time.
And have no one to talk to
I know you are busy with work.
Even if you are not interested in my stories,
please have time for me.

Do you remember when you were little?
I used to listen to your stories about your teddy bear.

When the time comes
and I get ill and bedridden,
I hope you have the patience to take care of me.

I'm Sorry
If I accidentally wet the bed or make a mess.
I hope you have the patience to take care of me during the last few moments of my life
I am not going to last much longer, anyway.

When the time of my death comes,
I hope you hold my hand
and give me the strength to face death.

And don't worry...
When I finally meet our creator..
I will whisper in his ear
to BLESS you
Because you loved your Mom and Dad.
Thank you so much for your care.
We love you.

With much love,
- Mom and Dad-

{We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: "You shall not worship except GOD. You shall honor your parents and regard the relatives, the orphans, and the poor. You shall treat the people amicably. You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat)." But you turned away, except a few of you, and you became averse.} [The Quran 2:83]

See the video....

let me tell their story
that no one else can hear
how can someones laughter
brings me close to tears
and you will never know
cause you are never there
after what we have seen
can we close our eyes again

let me tell their story
you would not think it true
i have not forgotten
so i m sharing it with you
for all the things we know
what have we really learned
though i close my eyes
the images remain
and their story
begins again...

This is a true story
Films Chicken a la Carte by Ferdinand Dimadura

around the world, 25,000 people die of hunger
EVERYDAY....

Think and do positive in your own capacity....It might will be questioned....

A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the gem of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for office so he asked his wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. His wife, preoccupied in the kitchen totally forgot the matter. The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle fascinated by its color and drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband. When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just five words.

QUESTIONS:

1. What were the five words?
2. What is the implication of this story?

ANSWER:
The husband just said "I am with you Darling"

The husband's totally unexpected reaction is a proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken time to keep the bottle away, this would not have happened. No one is to be blamed. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.

If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears. And you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think.

 MORAL OF THE STORY:

This story is really worth reading... Sometimes we spend time in asking who is responsible or whom to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. By this way we miss out something called L.I.F.E

Nice lyrics and Song... listening this continously since hours...

Jogi Mahi, Heer Raanjhana,
Sab Nu Ja Ke Main Yeh Bolna,
Baat Bol Ke,
Raaz Kholna,

Suno Ik Thi Kaanch Ki Gudiya,
Suno Ik Thi Pyaar Ki Pudiya
Sadke,
Uss Pyaar Ke.

Pyaar Maanga Tha Maine Rabb Se,
Woh Rehta Tha Yahin Pe
Maangun Mein Yehi Duayein,
Laut Aaye Woh Kahin Se

Jogi Mahi, Heer Raanjhana,
Sab Nu Ja Ke Main Yeh Bolna,
Baat Bol Ke,
Raaz Kholna,

In a poor zoo of Pakistan , a lion was frustrated as he was offered not more than 1 kg of meat a day. The lion thought its prayers were answered when one day a Dubai Zoo Manager visited the zoo and requested the zoo management to shift the lion to Dubai Zoo. The lion  was so happy and started thinking of a central A/c environment, a goat or two every day.

On its first day after arrival, the lion was offered a big bag, sealed very nicely for breakfast. The lion opened it quickly but was shocked to see that it contained few bananas. The lion thought that may be they cared too much for him as they were worried about his stomach as he had recently shifted from Pakistan

The next day the same thing happened. On the third day again the same food bag of bananas was delivered.

The lion was so furious; it stopped the delivery boy and blasted at him,' don't you know I am the lion...king of the Jungle..., what's wrong with your management  What nonsense is this  Why are you delivering bananas to me

The delivery boy politely said, 'Sir, I know you are the king of the jungle ... but... you have been brought here on a monkey's visa!!! '

Moral of the Story ... Better to be a Lion in your own country than a Monkey elsewhere