were would you like to wake up tomorrow?

Were would you like to wake up tomorrow... and why can't you?
Shouldn't you try to wake up there were you wish to be?
And are you really sure that it won't be possible to wake up were you wish to?

I would love to wake up next to my father,
I would love to wake up in my own happy, little family,
and i wish and I pray that one day I will wake up in paradise...



Fifty People, One Question: Brooklyn from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.



Fifty People, One Question: London from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.



Fifty People, One Question: New York from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.



Fifty People, One Question: New Orleans from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.

Face your Manga

Thats me... just in case you didn't recognized me :)
As they dont have a nice hijab I decided that I wont have any hair today.. nice change!

go and try it, it's defenitely so much fun!!!
http://www.faceyourmanga.com/faceyourmanga.php?lang=eng

Ahmad Al-Hermi and Fatima Al-Zayani

without words...

this reminds me just so much of the summer i spend in Lyon in 2007...

Architecture

Düsseldorf - Germany

Anas

Anas, I met him last sunday and he is just so damn cute!!!
Actually he is my neighbours fathers friends son, sounds a little comlicated right?!


May Allah bless me and my family with a son that is just as educated, sweet and wonderful like this boy is, Ameen!
mashallah, he is really gorgeous and oh so cute!!!


Anas: May you always be happy in your life and have the possibility to be close to your loved ones and to find them and yourself always in good health and deen. Ameen

such a dreamy picture...

My year in Brazil

What are things that change you?

That build your personality,

that let you grow to the person you are?

And does that process of ever-changing ever stops?

Or is it not that every second of your life,

maybe from the moment you are created,

changes you and makes you to the person you become?

Wouldn’t that mean that we mostly consist of situations and feelings?

Maybe there are some situations that change us more than others, maybe there are things we just realise years after they happened and maybe its not just moments and situations that changes us but also people?

And what about love?

Doesn’t love always changes a person and let her grow?

If our personality is like a puzzle that becomes bigger and bigger the older we get and the more moments we live, wouldn’t it be good to know which parts of that puzzle are the biggest?

Where were the crossroads in our history?

And why we decided to chose a certain direction and not an other one?

One thing in my life that has definitely changed my whole way to see the world and in long terms has changed my whole life so completely was a country; and its people.

This country shook me to the core and even today, as this country lies so far behind me it still makes me cry from time to time.

When I was 15 my current puzzle-piece was called puberty, and all I wanted at that time was to go away, far away from everything that was surrounding me at that time, so I decided it would be just a great idea to go abroad, somewhere far away were the sun was shining and I didn’t understood a single word. Actually I didn’t care about the country but more about the fact to go away.

So in July 2002 I landed in a country called brazil and like most 16year old teenager I was pretty naïve and completely unconcerned about anything.

I landed first in Sao Paolo, together with 75 other German teenagers, all as naïve and unconcerned as I. there were many many other teenager from many many other countries all waiting for the same: the final flight to their final destination, their new home.

I had to wait twelve hours with Fabienne from Swiss and Elvira from Belgium to get our flight to a city called Recife. The only thing I knew about Recife at that point was that it is situated in the north-east of Brazil at the coast;

the word coast was all I wanted to hear so that’s why my further research stopped right there.

Late in the evening we finally landed in Recife and there were quite many people to pick up Elvira and Fabienne, but unfortunately nobody to pick up Laura!

I was standing there for a while with all the others because no one wanted to leave me there alone as I suddenly heard a teeny tiny voice behind me, coming from a teeny tiny woman, my mother!

So we were all pretty happy and after some minutes of chit-chatting I found out that my sister was at a festival and that Fabiennes sister wanted to that same festival too, so we decided to go there, Fabienne, her new sister and me.

We arrived at two in the morning in a house without water or toilet flush were we had to sleep on the floor because the beds are all occupied.

The next days we met my sister and went to that festival but Fabienne and me didn’t really noticed any of what was happening because we were experiencing our first Brazilian food poisoning.

After this first quite adventurous weekend my new family came to pick me up from Fabiennes place, fortunately one of our neighbours owned a taxi and was so kind to help my family pick me up. My little cousin who was 12 years old at that time talked to me the whole way home but as I couldn’t understand a single word I just kept staring out of the window to see what my new world looked like. It was very interesting and very new to me and just as we drove by a neighbourhood that made me think: how can people live under this conditions? The taxi suddenly stopped and there we were, at my new home were I would be able to answer my just asked question by myself.

My new home itself looked pretty cosy and nice from the inside; just the ants in the kitchen, the lizards in the living room, the cockroaches everywhere and the cold water were a bit new and not so convincing. Another thing was the air-condition that beamed our room right into ice age at night and made me sleep with about 10 extra sheets.

But all in all the family was very nice with me, almost all our neighbours were somehow relatives and my first not existing Portuguese developed pretty quickly.

In august 2002 my dear friend Fabienne was assaulted and almost raped! This came as a huge shock for all of us since she lived in a rich district know for its safety.

Fabienne returned immediately to Switzerland and my sister decided it was time to inform me about the dangers of my new city.

My district was surrounded by three slums which were involved in an ever-continuing war, mostly because of drugs and power. Recife was at that time the forth most dangerous city in Brazil with about 70 assassinated people per weekend, again, mostly because of drugs.

The city had also huge problems with slave trade, organ trade, sex tourism, and of course poverty and criminality in general.

There were many other things like that but I won’t mention them, simply because I can’t!

I don’t know if anybody can relate to the feelings and to the fear I felt at that time, I didn’t leave the house for two weeks because I was sure that as soon as I went out something horrible would happen to me.

At that time I talked a lot to my friend Elvira and we made plans on how to protect us.

Specially during these day all I wanted was to go home but I knew that I couldn’t, I never told my mother about my situation at that time to don’t let her feel the fear I felt.

After some time all these things became normal to me, I knew what I could do, how I could go out and how not. I stayed at home a lot, spend the day with the girls in my street and had just a nice time.

In January 2003 Elvira and I participated at a huge trip organized by AFS. We were about 130 exchange students from all over the world travelling four weeks around the whole country and it was just so amazing!!!!

After that my year changed, I changed family, found new friends and new happiness.

Ill continue maybe later in detail because it is just such a long story with so many people, situations and emotions that deserve to be mentioned.

But in some words:

I lived in wealth, I lived in poverty, I lived in happiness, I lived in fear and I lived in danger.

I found love, I found hate, I found violence, I found peace and I found faith.

And I learned. Learned to grow, learned to be strong, learned to be fragile and learned to love.

Friday evening

Every Friday evening there is a little lecture in the mosque nearby and I try to attend as often as possible because it feels good for my faith, it makes me happy to be with these people and simply because it enlightens my heart.
I realised that I cant keep everything the Imam mentiones in mind and that it is much better for me to take some notes, which I want to share with you here.


Today we will continue to talk about the Surat Yusuf which tells us about the prophet Joseph, but why do we talk about him?
Its not just about his story as such, its more about how he reacted and what he did and how he practices Islam in his live.
Because he lived a life and we all are living a life!
Life is not just about to know what is haram and halal (allowed and forbidden), it is much more important to understand the sense, meaning and intention of Islam.
We have to develop the right feeling for Islam as a whole, we have to look at the whole picture to understand the whole and not just at tiny peaces of it.
Our Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, said:
"I have just been send to complete the beautyful character traits!"
So to elaborate our beautyful traits should be one of our main goals!
Surat Yusuf - Ayat 46: "Oh Yusuf, you veritable!"
What is the character trait that others would realte to you? Are you veritable to?
Or will they say: Laura, thats the girl who is always angry?
So are we veritable? Or what are the things we do good?
What are our beautyful character traits?

So the two prisoners who used to be with Yusuf in prison had forgotten about Yusuf and his request to ask to let him free. But when one of these prisoners had a problem again - which was analysing the Kings dream - he remembered Yusuf. He went to the prison were Yusuf still was whitout any apology and asked Yusuf to answer his question.
What would we do in that situation?
Wouldnt we say: "why should i answer you, you havent helped me!" ?
Or would we say: "Okay, ill help you but just if you let me free!" ?
And what did Yusuf? He helped emidiately, whitout question, whitout condition.
Simply because he could help he helped!
And thats the other thing about beautyful character traits,
they have to be constantly and unconditional.
I cant say I am a good person but just to people I like, just to people of my own family or religion.
I cant say today I am in a bad mood so I forget about all those beautyful treats, no,
they have be unconditional and constant to remain beautyful.
Yusufs traits were constant and unconditional, he were veritable with everybody, no matter if good or bad.
He helped when he could and didnt questioned wheter the person was muslim or not.
The egyptience at that time were not believers, but Yusuf didnt care!
He helped simply because he could help!

Today we see many people doing good but with conditions.
When we donate we just donate to muslim countries.
Is that a beautyful character trait that is constat? I dont think so!

"You are very poor and in need of food, so Ill help you when you become muslim!"
But do we want to convince people with their stomach?
shouldnt it be by free will and wile using brain and heart when a person decides for Islam?
"We are very nice because we build a hospital for your community, for your children a school, for your parents a factory and the only thing youll have to do for us is joing our faith!" ?
Is that a beautyful character trait that is unconditional? I dont think so!


Before Mohammad, peace be upoun him, was send, Allah had prepared everything for his arrival. There was a woman like Khadija that was strong enough to hold him,
to follow him as the first muslim.
The was already an Ummah (community) to follow and support him.
And which Ummah has Islam today? People that reduce Islam to how to wear hijab properly and wheater or not it is allowed to eat gelatine?
Its not that these are not important points, but again it it important to first undertand the sense of Islam as a whole before you can take a look at the details.

There are also people that use religion to refuge from their problems and responsibilities.
statement: "I am just interested in the hereafter, this world is meaningless for me!"
answer: "There is no priesthood in Islam! A muslim simply cant withdraw from this life!
Every person and every life has thousands of facetts and from Mohammad, peace be upon him, we can learn how to act in all those facetts."

Every prophet has his mission.
Before Jesus, peace be upon him, was send, people had reduced religion to rules, to halal/haram. Religion was not anymore a thing of emotion but of rules and brain.
So it was Jesus, peace be upon him, mission to bring faith back to the hearts,
and he did that just perfectly.
When Mohammad, peace be upon him, was send he brought the final balance between head and heart. Because the sense of rules in faith is to make life easier, more beautyful and to protect people from harm.

One of Mohammads, peace be upon him, companions used to work for a woman and got dates in exchange. after he got the dates he went to sit with the Prophet, peace be upon him, and to eat them together with him. They sat side by side and eat. Everytime the companion finished one date he layed the stone of the date in front of the Prophet, peace be upon him. As they finished all the dates the companion said: "Oh Prophet, peace be upon you, you have eaten so much, look at the amount of stones you have infront of you!"
The prophet, peace be upon him replied: " well, but I just eat the pulp of the date whereas you took the whole date and it the stones as well!"

Question:"did the Prophet, peace be upon him laughed?"
Answer: "He laughed and made other people laugh as well!"

Vera Wang

Everybody knows that Vera Wang is very famous for her bridal fashion.
But there are more things shes doing that fabulous, perfume for example.
My favorite fragrance so far is her signature fragrance!
lets have a look what sephora.com has to say to it:

The Fragrance
Vera Wang has captured desire in a modern, floral bouquet. The first encounter is a flirtation that begins with Bulgarian rose, calla lily, and mandarin flower. The flirtation is followed by a passionate kiss of gardenia, lotus, iris, and white stephanotis. The fragrance is wrapped in a final embrace of sheer musks, white woods, and precious floral nectar.

Notes:
Bulgarian Rose, Calla Lily, Mandarin Flower, Gardenia, Lotus, Iris, White Stephanotis.

Style:
Elegant, feminine, and sensual

Well for me its just such a romantic and soft scent that simply smells like beeing in love!

i just love that picture!

just some random thoughts

O Allah,
wenn ich Dich aus Furcht vor der Hölle anbete,
so verbrenne mich in ihr.
Und wenn ich Dich in der Hoffnung auf das Paradies anbete,
so entziehe es mir.
Doch wenn ich Dich um Deiner selbst Willen anbete,
so enthalte mir deine ewige Schönheit nicht vor.


"I am someone who is looking for love, real love.
Ridiculous, inconvinient, consuming, "can't live without eachother" love!"

Carrie Bradshaw

"Later that day I got to think about relationships.
There are those that open you up to something new and exotic,
those that are old and familiar,
those that bring up lots of questions,
those that bring you somewere unexpected,
those that bring you far from where you've started
and those that bring you back.
But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all, is the one you have with your self.
And if you find someone to love the you you love,
well thats just fabulous!"

Carrie Bradshaw

Denn was in euch grenzenlos ist,
wohnt im Palast des Himmels,
dessen Tür der Morgendunst ist und dessen Fenster die Lieder und die Stille der Nacht.

Khalil Gibran

Unser Gott, der du bist unser Engel selbst,
es ist dein Wille in uns der Will.
Es ist deine Sehnsucht in uns, die sich sehnt.
Es ist dein Verlangen in uns, das unsere Nächte, die dein sind,
in Tage zu verwandeln verlangt die ebenfalls dein sind.
Um nichts könen wir dich bitten,
denn du kennst unsere Bedürfnisse noch ehe sie in uns geboren sind.
Du bist unser Bedürfnis;
und indem du uns mehr von dir gibst, gibst du uns alles.

Khalil Gibran

Du Frau, die mir einmal das Liebste war:
Warum packst du die Zeit ein und reist ab?
Warum nimmst du mit dir die Namen der Wochentage, Monate und Jahre
und die Karte des Globus?
Ich kann dein Ausscheiden aus meinem Blutkreislauf nicht überstehen,
genau wie der Fisch nicht ohne Wasser sein kann.
Ich kann mein Blut nicht einfach gegen ein anderes eintauschen,
denn meine Blutgruppe ist selten.
Du bist die einzige Frau die mir ihr Blut spenden kann.
Aber du kamst zu mir als Reisende und hast mich als Reisende verlassen.
Hör auf, in mir zu wachsen,
du Frau, die sich unter meiner Haut vermehrt wie ein Wald.

Hilf mir,
mit unseren kleinen Gewohnheiten zu brechen
und deinen Duft
in den Vorhängen, den Büchern und den Porzellanvasen
zu vernichten.
Hilf mir,
dass ich mich des Namens erinnere,
mit dem sie mich in der Schule riefen.
Hilf mir, dass ich mich an die Form meiner Vase erinnere,
bevor sie die Gestallt deines Körpers annahm.
Gib mir meine Sprache zurück,
deren Details ich für dich so angepasst habe,
dass sie für keine andere Frau mehr taugten.

Zeig mir nur ein Buch, in dem du nicht stehst,
nur einen Vogel der nicht gelernt hat deinen Namen zu buchstabieren,
nur einen Baum, der dich nicht zu seinen Blättern zählt,
nur einen Quell, der dir nicht die Süße von den Zehen leckt.
Was ist aus dir geworden,
du Königin, die einst die Winde beherrschte.
Was ist aus dir geworden du Frau?
Du gabst deine Stimme der Erde, da wurde sie zum Baum.
Und sein Schatten fiel auf mich, da wurde ich zum Quell.
Warum hast du meine brust verlassen und wurdest heimatlos?
Warum hast du die Grenzenlosigkeit der Dichtung verschmäht
und die Einseitigkeit gewählt?
Warum hast du das Fass mit der grünen TInte zerbrochen mit der ich dich malte
und wurdest eine Frau in schwarz-weis?

Nizar Qabbani

Könnte ich doch tiefer in deine Haut eindringen,
in dein Haar,
in deine Stimme!

Oh du Frau, die es nur einmal gibt!
Habe ich vor dir jemals eine Frau geliebt?
Ich kann mich nicht erinnern.
Werde ich nach dir wieder eine lieben?
Ich kann es niemals glauben.

Vor die war das Leben ohne Sinn,
nach dir wird das Leben wieder sinnlos sein.
Deine Augen sind mir von Gott beschieden:
so lass mich unter ihnen schlafen
und verschließe hinter mir die Türe.

Nizar Qabbani

Portugal 2008

Audioslave - like a stone

When i was for the first time in Brazil that song was very popular at that time in 2002.
My friend Elvira and I loved that song so much and even more that handsome frontman ;)
It just reminds me of the wonderful and emotional moments i had in my life, and I am just so thankful that i had the opportunity to feel and see all those wonderful things even if they were sad or negativ but hey just let me become the me I am right now.
Wonderful song, enjoy it!!!

Chanel

Have you ever thought that a couturier like Chanel would ever do Islamic haute couture?

No? Well than you haven’t seen the autumn collection for 2009 I just saw at vogue.com!!!

If that dress above doesn’t look like an abaya! Ok, maybe it is a little tight but soooo my style! I just love it so much and ill try to make an abaya similar to that one

I am not so much in to the cut here but I love the modesty and the ruffles, they just add a girly, dreamy and romantic touch to that straight and classy black.

A close-up of the ruffles:

I love that coat, its so Carrie Bradshaw like!!! I dream to have one like that next winter.. would look so classy with nice black boots. But than I could not wear an abaya under it because no one would see my boots then and the length of the coat wouldn’t show of like in the picture.