Assalamu’alaikum dear Sis Mariah,
May Allah grant you with good health and be blessed always. Well, what can I say about traveling with you to Shangri-La and Qurban at Yunnan?
I have been traveling to different part of the world either for business or family holidays, but last December’s trip with you was really a new experience for my whole family and has deeply impacted my life. Not only it helped us understand how the poor Muslims in China were living, it made us realized how fortunate we are and to be thankful to Allah by being more Takwah.
The visit to Shangri-La was indeed the most memorable and eye opener for all of us. The mosque, madrasah, kindergarden, houses, their clothes and the food they eat made us appreciate how blessed we are living in this small multi racial country.
My husband and me were touched to tears to see the preschool kids reciting Selawat and verses from Quran fluently in their so call ‘class rooms’ which made us realized how strong their faith are. Not forgetting Hassan’s and his family’s hospitalities that made us feel warm during the bitter winter. At this mountain, seeing their simple life, I can felt peaceful, calm and indeed a lovely picture of tranquility.
The celebration of Eidul Adha and Qurban at TaoYuan and Ding Bai Mu village is another new and unforgettable experience for us. I have never feel welcomed to such degree that made me cry. I could still hear their voices of salam and selawat from our right and left as we walked through the rows of villagers, students, teachers, principals and imams of the mosque. One lady teacher at Ding Bai Mu madrasah spoke to my daughter on how grateful they are to receive our qurban meat as they could not afford even a sheep. Our annual qurban from Singapore organized by you is their only mean to have meat in their menu.
I am dumb-founded with words to sufficiently thank all and everyone for their hospitality. The whole experience truly made me appreciate (syukur to Allah) how fortunate and blessed we are in comparison to our Muslim brothers and sisters living in poverty on the same land that Allah created. If Allah permits, we would love to return and meet them all again.
Last but not least, we wish to thank you for making this trip happen and pray that Allah bless you with His Rahmah, to give you health and strength for you to continue your good deeds and charity work for Muslims in China.
Love,
Hasnah Abdullah
Abdul Ghani Md Yusoff
Amylia Abdul Ghani and
Amelina Abdul Ghani
From Singapore Group – 15th to 25th December 2007
HAhmad@flowserve.com
Assalamualaikum Sister Mariah,
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
Satu trip yang berkat, mesti selalu lakukan trip yang sebagai ini.
Trip ini ada 2+1 —trip sambil berdakwah. Also good guidance, good service and etc.
We will make co-operation between you and Islamic Outreach—ABIM.
From,
Muhammad Azlan Nayan
Islamic Outreach –ABIM
3402 Jalan Ampang Hilir 2,
55000 Kual Lumpur
6 September 2007
Email: azlan_outreach@yahoo.com
Tel: 016-4563214, 03-4256 9822
Assalamu’alaikum Sister Mariah,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and our tour guide Helen for making our visit there a pleasant one. My husband and I felt happy and enjoyed the visit to the historical place in Beijing especially the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, not forget the Great Wall Of China ,the Niujie Mosque and meeting with Haji Abdul Hakim and family. We hope to go there again.
As our visit was the short one it unable us to follow you and the rest to Xian. I hope one day I’ll be going there insyaallah. I also love to visit the Linxia orphanage and the Terracotta warriors and Stone Forest etc.
Murni/ Abdullah
Singapore
Alikumsalamwarahmatullah-
bismillahhirahmanirraheem
What can I say about your tours? Our group was full of mature singles including your good self, so lots of laughter and fun not to mention required exercising a lot of perseverance and patience too!!!! The visit to Xian and Yunnan was well worth it. Kunming, Lijiang and Shangri-La was indeed stunning not forgetting Haji's farm and his family's hospitalities. The Muslim kindergarden/schools/masjid truly made me appreciate how blessed we are in the west to have so much and how
It was a real eye opener.There were times I felt very sad seeing such degree of poverty/desperation. I'm working on donation for selected project now which we will be discussing in the future soon inshallah and spreading the words amongst people I know here in London. Food in Beijing was diabolical but the Great wall and the masjid was truly beautiful and inspiring. Alhumdollilah food in the south was good including chilli la!
As for Sister Mariah-you are indeed an amazing person, your patience, drive in supporting the Muslim cause and love for old n young alike is both amazing and empowering. Needless to say occasionally you drove me mad too with your enthusiasm. Your theory being I'm too urbanised!
Lots of hugs and hugs xxxxxx
Fatima Ismailjee
LONDON-UK
Dear Mariah,
I and my husband would like to thank you very much. Without you, we would not have been able to see the Muslim villages of north west china . we visited the orphanage, the madrassahs,and masjids and also some places of interest. You did your best to ensure that we traveled comfortably and organized all our flights and destinations in such a way that all went according to plan, except when you lost your passport in Xian we got worried that how are we going to travel without you. But it was not a problem at all as you arrange for your contacts to pick us up, to house us and interpret for us, and showed us around. Whatever problems we encountered you dealt with it and say it is Allah’s will and solved it. Indeed it was! You always reminded us to say Tawakal allah.
It was not a holiday as such but an eye opener, an experience that we will always cherish due to your kindness and strength. Even when I suggested to you if we could stay one night in Xian, you made it possible. Jazakallah for that. Nothing was impossible to you. What a wonderful person you are. May Allah swa bless you, give you strength and reward you for all your effort. Subhanallah.
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all your contacts and friends we met on our trip ,their hospitality all their assistance they gave us to facilitate our trips. As my husband said in his speeches 'You have a cold climate here, we too have a cold climate in the UK, however your hearts are warmer'. Pray to Allah s.w.a that we continue to help the needy Muslims of China, especially the orphanages through Mariah's charity insha Allah.
Jazakallah
Swaleha Esoof
Watford, Herts
27th April 2007
swalehaesoof@hotmail.com
This is just a small note to say I had a wonderful time on the (www.Islamicity .com) trip to China and our tour organiser Sister Mariah Mah was one of the best I have ever encountered so far. She was efficient, professional, courteous and always there to help us in any way. She went above and beyond that call of duty in her all that she did for the group, Islamicity made a very good choice by having her as our guide.
All in all, we learnt a lot about Islamic heritage in China and also grew in our appreciation of the culture, the food and hospitality of the people. Thank you again for all your efforts in organizing this tour, I hope other people will take advantage of this tour in the future.
Best wishes,
Nusrath
Pittsburgh. USA
asmah17@hotmail.com
Read Sister Nusrath's full write-up of her 2007 Silaturrahim Experience here.
