Maher Zain Live in Concert 2011

Alhamdulillah, I've been waiting for this for quite some time and last night it become true. The first and the best concert I've ever attend, yet!

The rainy night of February 25th, 2011 witnessed Melawati Stadium filled with more than 7000 people for Maher Zain Live in Concert. My seat was actually very far left which will let me see nothing but the stage. Thanks to Adib's friend, Azfar who offered to take my ticket and giving his guest tickets to us. The seats happens to be at the centre of the third floor. Even though it's quite far, we can see everything! :D

Adib, my date :)

The MCs, Farahdiba and 'the guy' I'm not sure what's his name (sorry!) opened the night reminding all the audience that we are doing this for Allah's redha. The concert was started by energetic performance by Inteam which also the people responsible on bringing Maher Zain and friends for this event. Then Irfan Makki who originates from Pakistan but now lives in Canada performs three songs: Mother, Waiting for The Call and a wedding song (I forgot the title). Despite the great performances, everybody can't hide their eagerness for the man of the show. Not long after he appears singing Allahuakbar. It was a nice choice for an opener.

Inteam

Songs from were then sung for the next 1 hour, and everybody seems to be enjoying their selves. I realized everytime he is about to sing a song, he'll say bismillah. And a lot of mashaAllah and alhamdulillah along the concert. What a good example.

Fadly, the vocalis of Padi band (Indonesia) made an appearance featuring in InshaAllah song (Malaysia/Indonesia? version). Then the stage was joined by Mesut Kurtis and five children to sing Never Forget. They were very cute :)

Maher Zain rest for a while to give a chance for Mesut Kurtis to perform three songs. I realized this Turkish singer was bless with a very manly voice, and many of his songs are traditional zikir and solawat which I think suits him really well. One worth a mention is Burdah.

Maher Zain - The closest shot of him from my seat

Maher Zain came back to stage singing Allahi Allah Kiya Karo with Irfan Makki. He then surprises us with his new song which he just wrote exactly a week and a half ago. Freedom, inspired by the struggle of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen and neighboring countries which started in the past few months succeed in bringing the message to the audiences.

Announcing his last song InshaAllah in the Malay Version, everybody cheered but at the same time feeling very sad to know it's ending.
After the song ends, he said "Unfortunately that was really my last song." Everybody seems dissappointed.
Then he said indifferently, "Okay, everybody is tired, lets go home." That made us laugh.
"One more song?"
We said, "Yesssssss...!" More than anything!
"InsyaAllah... next year!" he laughs.

He looked at us and with a big smile on his face he said, "Okay two more songs! What do you want me to sing?"
We were so happy, some screamed out their favorite songs. For The Rest of My Life was the most screamed by the crowd.
"What about I sing Freedom first, and then The Rest of My Life, okay?", he offered.
We were euphoric. He then asked us to open our cellphone's light and wave it in the air. Everyone did it and the scene was like the night sky filled with dancing stars. It lits up the atmosphere.
As Maher Zain sings The Rest of My Life, the stadium echoed with the voices of the fans singing along.

Seeing the great respond from the crowd, he offers to sing InshaAllah once again, this time the English version. We sang along, feeling very satisfied and amused by this amazing night. MashaAllah.

Before excusing himself, Maher Zain thanks everybody who had contributed to realize the concert, giving credits to the percussions group and back-up singers, and to all the audiences for great support.

It ends at 12am and I went home with a big smile. Alhamdulillah :D


-IMAN NAILAH 2011-

My First Ice Skating Experience!

When you fall, get up.

Don't be afraid to take another step further. Don't think about falling again, but the progress you are making.


That's what I learnt from my first ice skating experience.

Without any expectation, I put on the skate shoes and feeling all excited. I think I can do it.

The first time I step on the ice, a feeling showered all over me. Without thinking I just do what other people there are doing, but they are all experts, or at least novice. I am a beginner.

Without no thoretical knowledge at all. Yes, I never got interested on anything that's using balance or even played with rollerblade. I suck at this.

I recall the first and only time I put on a rollerblade. I end up holding on fences along the time. I was about 13.

Looking back at my "practices", I guess this one is gonna take time. Mostly courage.

At about the third step on the ice range, I taste the coldness of the ice. Ooh, this is why they made us wear gloves. It's not protecting us when we are skating, it's protecting us when we fall. The ice can really hurt your palm, especially when you fall like me.


Not long after that I taste all positions of falling while skating. Well, I'm not even skating. I'm like a child learning how to walk.

Because of too many times falling, some nice people came to me and offered help. A very sincere looking guy suddenly appear out of no where and ask, "Do you need help?" and with mixed feelings of embarrassment and overwhelm, I refused so immediately that not long after I'm afraid I was being rude. But I guess some ego was playing part in it.

Then a girl said hi and offered to skate together. She was aware that besides her I was the only adult girl there. She asked if I came here alone, seeing me skating alone most of the time. And obviously this is my first. In my thought she must been doing this for a long time but impressively this was only her second! We skated and talked for a while and then I realize I can't focus on balance while chatting (after I almost fall a few times and made her my holding pole) so I said she better go first so I won't held her back. She said it's her pleasure and left me to my brother Adib.


After a dozen times of "The Great Fall", I eventually learnt how to prevent myself from falling. I can stand by my own! Alhamdulillah! Hurray!! Then it progress with steps, then I saw myself gliding a little bit. So happy :)


My legs hurt so much that I know it's enough for now. Getting out of the range, I wave goodbye to the girl name Nurul. She waved back and smile. It was brief but sweet.

Dozens of falls, couple of bruises, three rounds, and a new friend. Perfect :)

I'm definitely gonna get down to that skating range again wearing the skating shoes and gloves. Soon!


-IMAN NAILAH 2011-