I walk out my door today a different person. It took me my whole life (and that’s almost 38 years) to prepare for this day, the day of my hijrah. I walk the earth today a different woman I hope, a huge milestone towards a better me insyaAllah. I pray to Allah to keep guiding me to be a better Muslim. "Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, kuatkanlah imanku dan terangkanlah hatiku untuk terus menuju ke jalan-Mu ya Allah."
My journey towards my hijrah started on the first day of Ramadhan. The passing of my brother was a big revelation too. I kept saying that his death has left a huge impact on me in many of my previous posts. Even my husband couldn’t understand how the event has affected me as a person. Seeing a very close family member being buried was a real eye-opener for me. Life is short indeed. We don’t come and go into this world according to chronological order. Setiap yang hidup pasti akan mati (nak jadi ustazah jap boleh?), it’s only a matter of WHEN.
The magnitude of sacrifices a woman has to make in order to wear hijab might not be so easily comprehended by those who have covered their head their entire life (and for men too). It’s not just merely covering your head with a piece of cloth, it’s a total change of lifestyle altogether. I’m sure many could relate to me on this one. I waited for this day to come my whole life, and it finally came calling today...Alhamdulillah. And I hope it’s here to stay for the rest of my life.
My husband jokingly said "next trip kita balik kampung Mak boleh buat kenduri" ...hahaha funny.
I say we shouldn't wait for something to fall out of the sky to show us the way, for it may never come. If you are lucky you may stumble on something that would finally hit you but most of the time you’d need to find ‘it’ yourselves, wallahuwa’lam.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Quest for flawless complexion (part 7 - chemical peel)
My quest for flawless complexion continues after almost half a year break. Yesterday I underwent a small procedure to improve my skin – chemical peel. A much cheaper alternative than a combination of laser treatment and chemical peeling that was recommended by the other doctor I saw 2 weeks ago.
Today, my face, especially at the melasma areas, has turned very dark (black is more like it actually!). I was advised that it would take between 3 to 10 days for the skin to drop and for a new layer of skin to grow. Therefore I am now confined in the comfort of my own home – I look too ugly to go out and meet people *sigh*. What a bad timing coz I have a few social obligations to fulfill this weekend – a kenduri Tahlil and Nana’s Annual Concert *double sigh*. I should have planned more carefully next time. But what to do, itik dah jadi sudu...ngeeee
Today, my face, especially at the melasma areas, has turned very dark (black is more like it actually!). I was advised that it would take between 3 to 10 days for the skin to drop and for a new layer of skin to grow. Therefore I am now confined in the comfort of my own home – I look too ugly to go out and meet people *sigh*. What a bad timing coz I have a few social obligations to fulfill this weekend – a kenduri Tahlil and Nana’s Annual Concert *double sigh*. I should have planned more carefully next time. But what to do, itik dah jadi sudu...ngeeee
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Mutiara hati - sampaikan walau se-ayat
Of late I've totally lost my interest to write. The writer in me is missing in action, leaving me behind high and dry...*sob sob*.
Anyway, a friend shared this on her FB wall recently. Every now and then we need to be reminded of the things or amalan that we often take for granted.
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Assalamualaikum,just wanna share with everyone kisah benar yang saya lalui. Baru- baru ni ketika saya nak ke Surau berdekatan dgn rumah saya untuk sembahyang Isyak, seorang pak cik berjanggut putih dan berjubah putih dari jauh melemparkan senyum kepada saya. Kerana masih ada banyak waktu, saya tunggu pak cik berjanggut putih tu dan bertongkat yang tidak saya kenali itu. Timbul di hati saya untuk jalan seiringan ke surau. Bila beliau hampir pada saya, kami saling memberi salam.Orangnya sudah berumur.
Tiba-tiba, pak cik itu memulakan perbualan. Beliau cakap dalam bahasa Melayu dan Inggeris yang agak baik. Beliau cakap semua ayat Quran baik dan penting, tapi ada tiga surah yang beliau ‘pegang’ betul-betul, dan beliau nasihatkan saya supaya pegang betul-betul juga. Beliau juga nasihatkan saya supaya pesan pada anak-anak supaya pegangnya betul-betul.
Pertama, kata beliau, surah Al-Fatihah. Selain penting untuk sah sembahyang, ia juga ada doa minta bantuan Tuhan dan mintak tunjukkan jalan yang betul.Mudah-mudahan dengan ‘menjaga’ bersungguh-sungguh surah Al-Fatihah,akan terbuka pintu bantuan dan jalan yang betul untuk kita, kata pakcik.
Kedua, Surah Al-Ikhlas. Surah ini, katanya, surah tauhid. Kita mesti ingat Tuhan itu Esa dan semua amalan mesti untuk-Nya. Tak guna buat baik tapi tak ikhlas.
Ketiga, surah Al-Kafirun, kata pak cik. Bahagian ini, menarik sikit. Pak cik tu cakap surah Al-Kafirun ada kena mengena dengan zaman sekarang, zaman globalisasi. Dalam zaman globalisasi, katanya, anak-anak saya mesti diajar supaya pegang betul-betul surah itu. Sebab, dalam zaman globalisasi, anak saya mungkin kena kerja atau belajar sampai ke Amerika atau kemana-mana. Kalau dia pegang pada surah Al-Kafirun, insya-Allah, dia akan selamat, kata pak cik. Dia akan bergaul dengan orang beragama lain, tapi dia sedar "untukmu agamamu, untukku agamaku" Betul juga, fikir saya.
Kemudian, pak cik cakap ada satu lagi perkara yang saya mesti pegang. Orang Islam, katanya, mesti ada tiga kekuatan. Pertama, kekuatan minda. Minda, kata pak cik, ialah ilmu. Orang Islam mesti ada ilmu, termasuk ilmu moden, ilmu teknologi, ilmu teknologi maklumat (IT) dan sebagainya kerana ilmu-ilmu itu perlu untuk hidup.
Kedua, kekuatan hati. Hati ialah iman, kata pak cik. Hati orang Islam mesti kuat supaya betapa banyak sekali pun ilmunya, dia sedar siapa yang lebih berkuasa. Bila ilmu ada iman, barulah ilmu dan hidup jadi betul. Kalau minda kuat tapi hati tak kuat, maknanya kekuatan tak seimbang dan ilmu boleh rosakkan iman, kata pak cik.
Ketiga, kuat fizikal. Pertama-pertama, kalau tubuh badan lemah, susah ilmu nak masuk dalam minda, kata pak cik. Kalau pun ada ilmu dan ada iman, jika tubuh badan tak kuat, susah nak beramal. Maknanya, kekuatan masih tak seimbang, katanya. Habis saja pak cik cakap pasal tiga surah dan tiga kekuatan, beliau minta diri dan hilang dari pandangan saya setiba nya di surau tersebut
Terima kasih kepada pak cik berjanggut tu. Sebelum itu beliau berpesan agar saya sebarkan kepada yang lain. Pesanannya memang baik untuk saya sampaikan.
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Anyway, a friend shared this on her FB wall recently. Every now and then we need to be reminded of the things or amalan that we often take for granted.
#########################
Assalamualaikum,just wanna share with everyone kisah benar yang saya lalui. Baru- baru ni ketika saya nak ke Surau berdekatan dgn rumah saya untuk sembahyang Isyak, seorang pak cik berjanggut putih dan berjubah putih dari jauh melemparkan senyum kepada saya. Kerana masih ada banyak waktu, saya tunggu pak cik berjanggut putih tu dan bertongkat yang tidak saya kenali itu. Timbul di hati saya untuk jalan seiringan ke surau. Bila beliau hampir pada saya, kami saling memberi salam.Orangnya sudah berumur.
Tiba-tiba, pak cik itu memulakan perbualan. Beliau cakap dalam bahasa Melayu dan Inggeris yang agak baik. Beliau cakap semua ayat Quran baik dan penting, tapi ada tiga surah yang beliau ‘pegang’ betul-betul, dan beliau nasihatkan saya supaya pegang betul-betul juga. Beliau juga nasihatkan saya supaya pesan pada anak-anak supaya pegangnya betul-betul.
Pertama, kata beliau, surah Al-Fatihah. Selain penting untuk sah sembahyang, ia juga ada doa minta bantuan Tuhan dan mintak tunjukkan jalan yang betul.Mudah-mudahan dengan ‘menjaga’ bersungguh-sungguh surah Al-Fatihah,akan terbuka pintu bantuan dan jalan yang betul untuk kita, kata pakcik.
Kedua, Surah Al-Ikhlas. Surah ini, katanya, surah tauhid. Kita mesti ingat Tuhan itu Esa dan semua amalan mesti untuk-Nya. Tak guna buat baik tapi tak ikhlas.
Ketiga, surah Al-Kafirun, kata pak cik. Bahagian ini, menarik sikit. Pak cik tu cakap surah Al-Kafirun ada kena mengena dengan zaman sekarang, zaman globalisasi. Dalam zaman globalisasi, katanya, anak-anak saya mesti diajar supaya pegang betul-betul surah itu. Sebab, dalam zaman globalisasi, anak saya mungkin kena kerja atau belajar sampai ke Amerika atau kemana-mana. Kalau dia pegang pada surah Al-Kafirun, insya-Allah, dia akan selamat, kata pak cik. Dia akan bergaul dengan orang beragama lain, tapi dia sedar "untukmu agamamu, untukku agamaku" Betul juga, fikir saya.
Kemudian, pak cik cakap ada satu lagi perkara yang saya mesti pegang. Orang Islam, katanya, mesti ada tiga kekuatan. Pertama, kekuatan minda. Minda, kata pak cik, ialah ilmu. Orang Islam mesti ada ilmu, termasuk ilmu moden, ilmu teknologi, ilmu teknologi maklumat (IT) dan sebagainya kerana ilmu-ilmu itu perlu untuk hidup.
Kedua, kekuatan hati. Hati ialah iman, kata pak cik. Hati orang Islam mesti kuat supaya betapa banyak sekali pun ilmunya, dia sedar siapa yang lebih berkuasa. Bila ilmu ada iman, barulah ilmu dan hidup jadi betul. Kalau minda kuat tapi hati tak kuat, maknanya kekuatan tak seimbang dan ilmu boleh rosakkan iman, kata pak cik.
Ketiga, kuat fizikal. Pertama-pertama, kalau tubuh badan lemah, susah ilmu nak masuk dalam minda, kata pak cik. Kalau pun ada ilmu dan ada iman, jika tubuh badan tak kuat, susah nak beramal. Maknanya, kekuatan masih tak seimbang, katanya. Habis saja pak cik cakap pasal tiga surah dan tiga kekuatan, beliau minta diri dan hilang dari pandangan saya setiba nya di surau tersebut
Terima kasih kepada pak cik berjanggut tu. Sebelum itu beliau berpesan agar saya sebarkan kepada yang lain. Pesanannya memang baik untuk saya sampaikan.
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Thursday, October 14, 2010
Mutiara hati - sampaikan walau se-ayat
I just thought I should take a quick break to share a little information about fitnah, untuk renungan bersama di malam yang hening ini. I'm putting on my Ustazah hat tonight boleh...ngeeee.
Mungkin ramai menyangka perbuatan menyebarkan berita fitnah sekadar satu kesalahan kecil. Sebab itu, perbuatan seumpama ini dilakukan seperti tiada apa yang merugikan.
Hakikatnya, dosa membuat fitnah menjauhkan diri dari syurga. Sabda Rasulullah SAW bermaksud: "Tidak masuk syurga orang yang suka menyebarkan fitnah" (Hadis riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim)
"Dan fitnah itu lebih besar bahayanya daripada pembunuhannya" (Surah al-Baqarah, ayat 191)
"Wahai orang yang beriman, jika datang kepada kamu seorang fasik membawa sesuatu berita, maka selidik (untuk menentukan) kebenarannya, supaya kamu tidak menimpakan sesuatu kaum dengan perkara tidak diingini, dengan sebab kejahilan kamu (mengenainya) sehingga menyebabkan kamu menyesali perkara yang kamu lakukan." (Surah al-Hujurat, ayat 6)
Dosa membuat fitnah digolongkan sebagai dosa sesama manusia. Justeru, dosa itu tidak akan diampunkan Allah, melainkan orang yang difitnah itu memberi keampunan terhadap perbuatan itu - No amount of doa and prayers could make the sin go away! Ya Allah, betapa besarnya dosa fitnah.
Oleh itu, bersangka baiklah sesama manusia. InsyaAllah, lama kelamaan penyakit fitnah akan berkurangan.
Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, jauhkan lah aku, keluargaku, saudara-saudaraku dan sahabat-sahabatku dari sifat fitnah, hasat dengki dan buruk sangka...amin.
Sekian dari Ustazah Glokalmama untuk hari ini.
Disclaimer: Tiada kaitan sama ada yang masih hidup atau sudah mati. Penulis hanya ingin berkongsi ilmu. Peace.
Mungkin ramai menyangka perbuatan menyebarkan berita fitnah sekadar satu kesalahan kecil. Sebab itu, perbuatan seumpama ini dilakukan seperti tiada apa yang merugikan.
Hakikatnya, dosa membuat fitnah menjauhkan diri dari syurga. Sabda Rasulullah SAW bermaksud: "Tidak masuk syurga orang yang suka menyebarkan fitnah" (Hadis riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim)
"Dan fitnah itu lebih besar bahayanya daripada pembunuhannya" (Surah al-Baqarah, ayat 191)
"Wahai orang yang beriman, jika datang kepada kamu seorang fasik membawa sesuatu berita, maka selidik (untuk menentukan) kebenarannya, supaya kamu tidak menimpakan sesuatu kaum dengan perkara tidak diingini, dengan sebab kejahilan kamu (mengenainya) sehingga menyebabkan kamu menyesali perkara yang kamu lakukan." (Surah al-Hujurat, ayat 6)
Dosa membuat fitnah digolongkan sebagai dosa sesama manusia. Justeru, dosa itu tidak akan diampunkan Allah, melainkan orang yang difitnah itu memberi keampunan terhadap perbuatan itu - No amount of doa and prayers could make the sin go away! Ya Allah, betapa besarnya dosa fitnah.
Oleh itu, bersangka baiklah sesama manusia. InsyaAllah, lama kelamaan penyakit fitnah akan berkurangan.
Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, jauhkan lah aku, keluargaku, saudara-saudaraku dan sahabat-sahabatku dari sifat fitnah, hasat dengki dan buruk sangka...amin.
Sekian dari Ustazah Glokalmama untuk hari ini.
Disclaimer: Tiada kaitan sama ada yang masih hidup atau sudah mati. Penulis hanya ingin berkongsi ilmu. Peace.
A day off to smell the roses
I’m all rev up to work today. Can’t wait to finish the last 2 chapters by today and next week shall be dedicated to fine tuning the copies and editing...woohoo!!
I took a day off yesterday – no work was done at all. During the first half of the day, I went out with my galfriend to get consultation from Dermatologist for my skin condition (I’ll come back to this later) and went looking for a piece of furniture and all around town (fruitlessly I may add, but it was really FUN though); and later in the evening took the kids out for some shopping and dinner. I woke up today feeling so refreshed & recharged with a renewed motivation all over again to finish my work...woot! woot!
So, the secret is to spend some money to get motivated all over again huh? Mr. Hubby, let’s pray that Mr. Motivation would not go astray too frequently, okay.
Now back to my skin. Yesterday, for the first time I visited a Dermatologist (finally!) to get consultation for my melasma. As I had expected, I was advised that for condition as severe as mine there is NO other treatment but laser and chemical peeling that could help lighten it. The cost proposed is not as expensive as that proposed by New York Skin (which was a whopping RM15,800!) but nonetheless it’s still expensive for moi *sob sob*. Each laser treatment would cost RM800 (and I was recommended to undergo 5 of this *gulp*), and chemical peel @RM600 each *double gulp *. The Doctor also recommended some cream to apply day & night as well as sun screen. The only good news is the cream proposed by the doctor is a lot cheaper than SKII...phewww!
I have decided to visit a few more clinics to see whether I can get the treatments at a cheaper cost (must do my homework first ok!) coz I know for sure that Mr. hubby is not willing to part with that much moolah just to make his wife look beautiful again...ngeeee! I'm pretty sure that when I presented the case to him (he's coming back from Guilin tonight), he'd most probably say "just use a good foundation, it'd cover up the dark spot." As he says, I always look pretty in his eyes (ayat cover line gittew). Don't know whether I'm lucky or unlucky...
On a different subject, Sophie had a jolly good time during our outing last night. Over the last few months, she has developed into a friendly and very talkative young toddler. Tak takut orang punya ini budak. Last night, she even had some adoring ‘fans’ who went to the extent to take her picture...LOL! By the way, she was wearing her sunnies in a shopping mall at night...hurmmmm. She definitely didn’t get that from me.
I say, don’t be too hard on yourself. Go out and smell the roses. You’ll be surprise at how a small act of appreciating yourself would enrich your Chi. I love myself.
[Note to hubby: remember, a happy wife makes a happy home.]
I took a day off yesterday – no work was done at all. During the first half of the day, I went out with my galfriend to get consultation from Dermatologist for my skin condition (I’ll come back to this later) and went looking for a piece of furniture and all around town (fruitlessly I may add, but it was really FUN though); and later in the evening took the kids out for some shopping and dinner. I woke up today feeling so refreshed & recharged with a renewed motivation all over again to finish my work...woot! woot!
So, the secret is to spend some money to get motivated all over again huh? Mr. Hubby, let’s pray that Mr. Motivation would not go astray too frequently, okay.
Now back to my skin. Yesterday, for the first time I visited a Dermatologist (finally!) to get consultation for my melasma. As I had expected, I was advised that for condition as severe as mine there is NO other treatment but laser and chemical peeling that could help lighten it. The cost proposed is not as expensive as that proposed by New York Skin (which was a whopping RM15,800!) but nonetheless it’s still expensive for moi *sob sob*. Each laser treatment would cost RM800 (and I was recommended to undergo 5 of this *gulp*), and chemical peel @RM600 each *double gulp *. The Doctor also recommended some cream to apply day & night as well as sun screen. The only good news is the cream proposed by the doctor is a lot cheaper than SKII...phewww!
I have decided to visit a few more clinics to see whether I can get the treatments at a cheaper cost (must do my homework first ok!) coz I know for sure that Mr. hubby is not willing to part with that much moolah just to make his wife look beautiful again...ngeeee! I'm pretty sure that when I presented the case to him (he's coming back from Guilin tonight), he'd most probably say "just use a good foundation, it'd cover up the dark spot." As he says, I always look pretty in his eyes (ayat cover line gittew). Don't know whether I'm lucky or unlucky...
On a different subject, Sophie had a jolly good time during our outing last night. Over the last few months, she has developed into a friendly and very talkative young toddler. Tak takut orang punya ini budak. Last night, she even had some adoring ‘fans’ who went to the extent to take her picture...LOL! By the way, she was wearing her sunnies in a shopping mall at night...hurmmmm. She definitely didn’t get that from me.
I say, don’t be too hard on yourself. Go out and smell the roses. You’ll be surprise at how a small act of appreciating yourself would enrich your Chi. I love myself.
[Note to hubby: remember, a happy wife makes a happy home.]
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Keeping up with myself
It seems that this low self esteem episodes would come and visit me every now and then. Of late, I have no motivation to write, no mood to go out and to do just about anything - zilch, none whatsoever! All I wanna do is sleep all day long. The circumstances surrounding my petty life are not helping either. Negative vibes please go away...shooooh shooooh.
Right now, I just wish that I have a reboot button. Wishful thinking eh? There is only one way to boost my spirit (since I’m too lazy to leave the comfort of my home) - WRITE! Thank God for blogging...phewww!
Last week I posted my open letter to my children on Facebook. It was more of a reminder for my kids especially my eldest who was sitting for his PMR, and to my darling hubby too. Once a while they need to be reminded of how we feel towards them, don’t you agree? I never thought that the letter would touch so many hearts. I guess when you write from the bottom of your hearts, it unwittingly moves and strikes a few emotional cords.
It took me a whole day to write the letter in July, just a day before my anniversary. And I was writing it while fighting back tears so badly. I cried a bucket writing it; in fact I still do each time I read the letter. The letter is my legacy to my children. I’ve put everything I want them to hear from me in writing with a hope that after I breathe my last, they will have something to remember me by for the rest of their lives, insyaAllah.
A friend suggested that I compile all my letters to my children and husband and publish them in a book, I loike! Although the idea sounds sooooo intriguing at this point of time, my only problem is I only have this one letter...teheehee . But the idea of compiling some of my entries in this blog and get it published is making me excited already lah. That will be my next project I hope. For now I still have to finish the 2 freakin' chapters that I've dreaded for so long. It seems like I’m writing this book forever (at such a small token I might add). No more books for me thank you, unless it’s of my own interest to write or if the subject matter is close to my heart. The time and effort I’ve put into this project does not justify the amount of reward I shall pocket. Not to mention my sleeping pattern has totally changed because of this too *sigh*. Nonetheless, this is rezeki from Allah, alhamdulillah. I should not complaint.
I say syukur & redha with pemberian-Nya is the key to a blessed life. Reminding myself to be contented with how things are and never ever complaint ke atas segala ujian dari yang Maha Esa. Alhamdulillah.
p/s: The title of this article might seem irrelevant with the content. But I like the sound of it...ahaks!
Right now, I just wish that I have a reboot button. Wishful thinking eh? There is only one way to boost my spirit (since I’m too lazy to leave the comfort of my home) - WRITE! Thank God for blogging...phewww!
Last week I posted my open letter to my children on Facebook. It was more of a reminder for my kids especially my eldest who was sitting for his PMR, and to my darling hubby too. Once a while they need to be reminded of how we feel towards them, don’t you agree? I never thought that the letter would touch so many hearts. I guess when you write from the bottom of your hearts, it unwittingly moves and strikes a few emotional cords.
It took me a whole day to write the letter in July, just a day before my anniversary. And I was writing it while fighting back tears so badly. I cried a bucket writing it; in fact I still do each time I read the letter. The letter is my legacy to my children. I’ve put everything I want them to hear from me in writing with a hope that after I breathe my last, they will have something to remember me by for the rest of their lives, insyaAllah.
A friend suggested that I compile all my letters to my children and husband and publish them in a book, I loike! Although the idea sounds sooooo intriguing at this point of time, my only problem is I only have this one letter...teheehee . But the idea of compiling some of my entries in this blog and get it published is making me excited already lah. That will be my next project I hope. For now I still have to finish the 2 freakin' chapters that I've dreaded for so long. It seems like I’m writing this book forever (at such a small token I might add). No more books for me thank you, unless it’s of my own interest to write or if the subject matter is close to my heart. The time and effort I’ve put into this project does not justify the amount of reward I shall pocket. Not to mention my sleeping pattern has totally changed because of this too *sigh*. Nonetheless, this is rezeki from Allah, alhamdulillah. I should not complaint.
I say syukur & redha with pemberian-Nya is the key to a blessed life. Reminding myself to be contented with how things are and never ever complaint ke atas segala ujian dari yang Maha Esa. Alhamdulillah.
p/s: The title of this article might seem irrelevant with the content. But I like the sound of it...ahaks!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Early warning signs of Cancer
A friend of mine who's currently living in the US has recently won her battle against breast cancer and has since became an advocate of cancer awareness. Lucky for her the cancer was detected at an early stage (stage 1). She had a mastectomy to remove both her breasts (one was cancerous and another as prevention measure), went through 3 cycles of chemotherapy and was recently given a clean bill of health. I am happy for her. Not many cancer patients are as lucky as my friend to win the battle against this deadly disease. The key here is early detection.
The following article was taken from her blog which I feel is good to be shared with my readers too. Let's help spread the awareness of early detection for the benefits of all.
EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANCER by Flora McCraith.
Experts estimate that nearly 40 per cent of all cancers are preventable and that the survival rate for many common cancers has increased by more than 30 per cent. However, if cancer can be detected early through screening, the survival rate increases to over 80 per cent which means they have a chance of cure. Cancer can affect anyone, including children so knowing the symptoms is important.
Symptoms vary according to the type of cancer, and two of the most common symptoms are lumps and weight loss. Below are some of the most prevalent cancers and their early warning signs.
A. Colon cancer
Rectal bleeding, blood in your stool or changes in bowel habits such as persistent diarrhea and or constipation are warning signs which should be investigated promptly.
B. Bladder or kidney cancer
Needing the bathroom constantly and then not being able to go, a burning pain when urinating, blood in urine could be symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer. But, there may be other causes for these problems, so see your doctor for evaluation.
C. Mouth and throat cancer
A sore that does not heal may be related to cancer. Smokers and people who use chewing tobacco may develop oral leukoplakia. Oral leukoplakias are rough white patches which form in the mouth. These patches may develop into cancer.
D. Skin cancer
Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 1 million new cases will be diagnosed in 2010. Symptoms include ulcerations that never heal, moles that change colour, size, or appearance, and flat sores that look like moles.
E. Breast cancer
Change such as development of a lump or swelling, skin irritation, redness or dimpling, nipple pain or retraction, or a discharge other than breast milk, should be seen by your health care provider for evaluation.
F. Stomach cancer
Unexplained tiredness and or weight loss of ten per cent or more with in a period of three to six month and vomiting blood or experiencing frequent indigestion and pain after eating may indicate stomach cancer... see your physician!
G. Lung cancer
Symptoms that do not improve within two weeks should be evaluated by a doctor as they may indicate laryngeal, hypopharyngeal or lung cancer. Other symptoms to report include sore throat, trouble swallowing, pain with swallowing, trouble breathing, ear pain that doesn't go away, lump or mass in the neck, coughing up blood, and chest pain.
H. Cervical, uterine and endometrial cancer
Sadly when it comes to ovarian cancer there are often no symptoms until it's in the later stages of development. However, for the three mentioned above, bleeding between menstrual cycles, any unusual discharge, painful menstruation, and heavy periods require consultation with your physician. If you have gone through menopause, it is especially important to report unusual bleeding or spotting to your
I. Leukaemia
Paleness, fatigue, weight loss, repeated infections, nosebleeds, bone or joint pain, and easy bruising are possible warning signs of Leukaemia which should be investigated.
15 signs of possible cancer women ignored
No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss
Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out.
"Unexplained weight loss is cancer unless proven not," she says. It could, of course, turn out to be another condition, such as an overactive thyroid.
Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to "rule out the possibilities, one by one.
No. 2: Bloating
Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom.
If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.
No. 3: Breast Changes
Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined. If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated.
Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding), see your doctor. If it's outgoing normally and turns in, that's not a good sign. If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal. It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom.
If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.
No. 4: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding
Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out, she says. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer.
Think about what's normal for you, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "If a woman never spots [between periods] and she spots, it's abnormal for her. For someone else, it might not be."
"Endometrial cancer is a common gynecologic cancer," Saslow says. "At least three-quarters who get it have some abnormal bleeding as an early sign."
Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.
No. 5: Skin Changes
Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation.
If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too, she says. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.
No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing
If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes.
But that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus, says Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.
No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place
If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid. It could be colon cancer."
Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer.
Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating, Mishori says. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer.
Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.
No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression
Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.
No. 9: Indigestion
Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag.
It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.
No. 10: Mouth Changes
Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, according to the American Cancer Society. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer.
Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.
No. 11: Pain
As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer.
Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.
No. 12: Changes in the Lymph Nodes
If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome, Linden says.
"If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor," she says. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement.
If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.
No. 13: Fever
If you have a fever that isn't explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society.
Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool.
Expect your doctor to conduct a careful physical exam and take a medical history, and then order tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other tests, depending on the findings.
No. 14: Fatigue
Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.
No. 15: Persistent Cough
Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored.
You would expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine your throat, check out your lung functioning and perhaps order X-rays, especially if you are a smoker.
The following article was taken from her blog which I feel is good to be shared with my readers too. Let's help spread the awareness of early detection for the benefits of all.
EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANCER by Flora McCraith.
Experts estimate that nearly 40 per cent of all cancers are preventable and that the survival rate for many common cancers has increased by more than 30 per cent. However, if cancer can be detected early through screening, the survival rate increases to over 80 per cent which means they have a chance of cure. Cancer can affect anyone, including children so knowing the symptoms is important.
Symptoms vary according to the type of cancer, and two of the most common symptoms are lumps and weight loss. Below are some of the most prevalent cancers and their early warning signs.
A. Colon cancer
Rectal bleeding, blood in your stool or changes in bowel habits such as persistent diarrhea and or constipation are warning signs which should be investigated promptly.
B. Bladder or kidney cancer
Needing the bathroom constantly and then not being able to go, a burning pain when urinating, blood in urine could be symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer. But, there may be other causes for these problems, so see your doctor for evaluation.
C. Mouth and throat cancer
A sore that does not heal may be related to cancer. Smokers and people who use chewing tobacco may develop oral leukoplakia. Oral leukoplakias are rough white patches which form in the mouth. These patches may develop into cancer.
D. Skin cancer
Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 1 million new cases will be diagnosed in 2010. Symptoms include ulcerations that never heal, moles that change colour, size, or appearance, and flat sores that look like moles.
E. Breast cancer
Change such as development of a lump or swelling, skin irritation, redness or dimpling, nipple pain or retraction, or a discharge other than breast milk, should be seen by your health care provider for evaluation.
F. Stomach cancer
Unexplained tiredness and or weight loss of ten per cent or more with in a period of three to six month and vomiting blood or experiencing frequent indigestion and pain after eating may indicate stomach cancer... see your physician!
G. Lung cancer
Symptoms that do not improve within two weeks should be evaluated by a doctor as they may indicate laryngeal, hypopharyngeal or lung cancer. Other symptoms to report include sore throat, trouble swallowing, pain with swallowing, trouble breathing, ear pain that doesn't go away, lump or mass in the neck, coughing up blood, and chest pain.
H. Cervical, uterine and endometrial cancer
Sadly when it comes to ovarian cancer there are often no symptoms until it's in the later stages of development. However, for the three mentioned above, bleeding between menstrual cycles, any unusual discharge, painful menstruation, and heavy periods require consultation with your physician. If you have gone through menopause, it is especially important to report unusual bleeding or spotting to your
I. Leukaemia
Paleness, fatigue, weight loss, repeated infections, nosebleeds, bone or joint pain, and easy bruising are possible warning signs of Leukaemia which should be investigated.
15 signs of possible cancer women ignored
No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss
Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out.
"Unexplained weight loss is cancer unless proven not," she says. It could, of course, turn out to be another condition, such as an overactive thyroid.
Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to "rule out the possibilities, one by one.
No. 2: Bloating
Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom.
If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.
No. 3: Breast Changes
Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined. If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated.
Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding), see your doctor. If it's outgoing normally and turns in, that's not a good sign. If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal. It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom.
If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.
No. 4: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding
Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out, she says. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer.
Think about what's normal for you, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "If a woman never spots [between periods] and she spots, it's abnormal for her. For someone else, it might not be."
"Endometrial cancer is a common gynecologic cancer," Saslow says. "At least three-quarters who get it have some abnormal bleeding as an early sign."
Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.
No. 5: Skin Changes
Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation.
If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too, she says. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.
No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing
If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes.
But that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus, says Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.
No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place
If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid. It could be colon cancer."
Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer.
Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating, Mishori says. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer.
Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.
No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression
Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.
No. 9: Indigestion
Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag.
It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.
No. 10: Mouth Changes
Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, according to the American Cancer Society. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer.
Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.
No. 11: Pain
As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer.
Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.
No. 12: Changes in the Lymph Nodes
If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome, Linden says.
"If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor," she says. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement.
If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.
No. 13: Fever
If you have a fever that isn't explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society.
Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool.
Expect your doctor to conduct a careful physical exam and take a medical history, and then order tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other tests, depending on the findings.
No. 14: Fatigue
Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.
No. 15: Persistent Cough
Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored.
You would expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine your throat, check out your lung functioning and perhaps order X-rays, especially if you are a smoker.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Online purchase anyone?
Given the speed of trade globalization, the convenience of internet excess and the wonders of Facebook, many entrepreneurs wannabe have reaped the benefits of modern technology and started doing online business. Almost everything under the sun, from apparels, handbags, potteries, lingerie, accessories, cakes to furniture and lots more are available online. There are literally thousands of internet entrepreneurs making full use of Facebook and blogspot. And like thousands other Facebook users, I too have fallen into this online purchase trap (more precisely, terjebak!).
To date, I’ve purchased a pair of baju kurung, a “Laura Ashley” dress for my girl and a blouse for myself. And guess what, the saying “what you see is not always what you get” best explains my experience with online purchase. I vow to never buy anything online ever again, seriously! I don’t mind paying more for peace of mind than pay less and get crap.
Baju kurung – the quality wasn’t as good, though the price is darn cheap for a pair of baju kurung like that. The quality of sewing particularly, is really bad. Nonetheless, to buy a pair of heavily beaded baju kurung at RM150 is unbeatable in term of price. It’s so so cheap. I just wish the manufacturer would pay a little bit more attention on the quality of sewing. But then again, you can’t expect much from a RM150 baju. Hence, this one is forgivable lah. The next time I want to purchase baju from her again, I’d rather take a little extra effort to go to her house and hand pick the baju instead, like I did the first time.
“Laura Ashley” dress – the online seller claimed that it was a Laura Ashley dress for girl. I bought it at RM61 including postage fee and it was couriered down all the way from Kuantan. One look at it I know for sure it’s not from Laura Ashley. You can dupe a makcik kampong but not me okay!
Korean blouse – my latest purchase. This one really pissed me off. It looks so pretty in the picture (on a very pretty model) but when I got it through Pos Laju, the quality is worse than those you can get from pasar malam. I’m not joking or exaggerating, it is really bad to the power of 1000! Although I paid only RM39 for it, I felt really cheated. A blouse like that could easily be bought at pasar malam at a much cheaper price. I don’t think that I’d ever wear the blouse in this lifetime...grrrrr. I think if I were to pass down the blouse to my maid, she too wouldn’t want to wear it. Yes, it's that bad...percayalah!
In short, I’ve learned my lesson, not once but thrice. No more online shopping for moi thank you.
I say, seeing is believing. Nothing beats the sense of sight, touch and smell. Allah jadikan mata untuk melihat, telinga untuk mendengar, hidung untuk menghidu, tangan untuk memegang dan kaki untuk berjalan...
To date, I’ve purchased a pair of baju kurung, a “Laura Ashley” dress for my girl and a blouse for myself. And guess what, the saying “what you see is not always what you get” best explains my experience with online purchase. I vow to never buy anything online ever again, seriously! I don’t mind paying more for peace of mind than pay less and get crap.
Baju kurung – the quality wasn’t as good, though the price is darn cheap for a pair of baju kurung like that. The quality of sewing particularly, is really bad. Nonetheless, to buy a pair of heavily beaded baju kurung at RM150 is unbeatable in term of price. It’s so so cheap. I just wish the manufacturer would pay a little bit more attention on the quality of sewing. But then again, you can’t expect much from a RM150 baju. Hence, this one is forgivable lah. The next time I want to purchase baju from her again, I’d rather take a little extra effort to go to her house and hand pick the baju instead, like I did the first time.
“Laura Ashley” dress – the online seller claimed that it was a Laura Ashley dress for girl. I bought it at RM61 including postage fee and it was couriered down all the way from Kuantan. One look at it I know for sure it’s not from Laura Ashley. You can dupe a makcik kampong but not me okay!
Korean blouse – my latest purchase. This one really pissed me off. It looks so pretty in the picture (on a very pretty model) but when I got it through Pos Laju, the quality is worse than those you can get from pasar malam. I’m not joking or exaggerating, it is really bad to the power of 1000! Although I paid only RM39 for it, I felt really cheated. A blouse like that could easily be bought at pasar malam at a much cheaper price. I don’t think that I’d ever wear the blouse in this lifetime...grrrrr. I think if I were to pass down the blouse to my maid, she too wouldn’t want to wear it. Yes, it's that bad...percayalah!
In short, I’ve learned my lesson, not once but thrice. No more online shopping for moi thank you.
I say, seeing is believing. Nothing beats the sense of sight, touch and smell. Allah jadikan mata untuk melihat, telinga untuk mendengar, hidung untuk menghidu, tangan untuk memegang dan kaki untuk berjalan...
Monday, October 4, 2010
Burning the midnight oil
It’s 4am and I’m still up, burning the midnight oil. Never in my wildest imagination I thought that I would say this one day - I’m having writer’s block! Yes, I’m saying this again loud and clear, I am having writer’s block. I can’t write, I just can’t for no apparent reasons. My mind wanders elsewhere each time I switch on my notebook. Last month I could blame it on puasa and lack of caffeine but this month...who and what can I blame it to? Can I blame it on the husband? Ehehehehe...
I am behind schedule in my book. I still have a few chapters to write, the few last CRITICAL chapters. Chapters that carry the most important information of all and would guarantee the sale of the book (not that it would affect me though coz I don’t get royalty). Perhaps the emphasize on the importance of the chapters scared the hell out of me and keep me from writing it *puzzled*. At this point of time, I really need divine intervention lah coz I promised the client that I’d deliver 2 chapters by this weekend *gulp* (sendiri korek lubang kubur gittew). And I haven’t even finish a chapter...how lah? Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, permudahkanlah urusan hamba-Mu ini...amin.
Ok need to get back to work now. Can’t afford to waste anymore time, the clock is ticking Azura!
I say time may not always be on our side. Make the best of it at all cost, including sacrificing your precious sleep like moi...teeheehee.
I am behind schedule in my book. I still have a few chapters to write, the few last CRITICAL chapters. Chapters that carry the most important information of all and would guarantee the sale of the book (not that it would affect me though coz I don’t get royalty). Perhaps the emphasize on the importance of the chapters scared the hell out of me and keep me from writing it *puzzled*. At this point of time, I really need divine intervention lah coz I promised the client that I’d deliver 2 chapters by this weekend *gulp* (sendiri korek lubang kubur gittew). And I haven’t even finish a chapter...how lah? Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, permudahkanlah urusan hamba-Mu ini...amin.
Ok need to get back to work now. Can’t afford to waste anymore time, the clock is ticking Azura!
I say time may not always be on our side. Make the best of it at all cost, including sacrificing your precious sleep like moi...teeheehee.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sampaikan walaupun se-ayat
Please view the video with an open mind. A very interesting video to watch, especially part 1, part 2 may come as a little hard to believe for me though. A great revelation indeed to those who believe, but then again DO NOT take everything and anything you see on the internet as the truth and nothing but the truth. Remember, keep an open mind...
This video was posted by a friend on FB (it's 20 mins long!), that was taken from http://salafus-sholih.blogspot.com/ But this guy wasn't the original author.
Part 1
Part 2
Do check out the blog. Lots of useful info there if you fancy reading about Islam & akhir zaman. I particularly like the author's point of view about Islam - he's neither extreme nor moderate. Me & him are on the same page, I loike!
I say Allahuakhbar, Allahuakhbar, Allahuakbar!!!
This video was posted by a friend on FB (it's 20 mins long!), that was taken from http://salafus-sholih.blogspot.com/ But this guy wasn't the original author.
Part 1
Part 2
Do check out the blog. Lots of useful info there if you fancy reading about Islam & akhir zaman. I particularly like the author's point of view about Islam - he's neither extreme nor moderate. Me & him are on the same page, I loike!
I say Allahuakhbar, Allahuakhbar, Allahuakbar!!!
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