In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

 

Humans are created by Allah in pairs: men and women. They are also created by Allah in different races and groups. The fact that Allah created Hawwā’ for Ādam is enough proof that humans cannot live without another.

 

In life, humans will face certain challenges that they are unable to go through without the help of others, be it their families, friends, acquaintances or even strangers. Part of the challenges one may face is being away from their families while studying overseas.

 

Here in Jordan, students will face the challenge of interacting and living with others while being away from their loved ones. They will have to learn how to live amongst Arab locals, other international students and most importantly, Singaporean students.

 

Being overseas, far from home, away from family, is challenging physically, mentally, emotionally and financially.

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Below is a poem written by Imru’ Al-Qays, a poet during the time of Sa’ālik after he escaped from Beni Assad who executed his father Hujr, the King of Kindah.

 

قفا نبك من ذكرى حبيب ومنزل # بسقط اللوى بين الدخول فحومل

فتوضح فالمقراة لم يعف رسمها # لما نسجتها من جنوب وشمأل

 

Stop crying (dear eyes) upon seeing my lover’s dwelling remnants,

Which the trail remains between Dakhūl and Hawmal (places in Makkah)

While witnessing and hoping my lover’s footsteps last,

However they are blown by the wind from South and North.

 

The words of Imru’ Al Qays are relatable to an overseas student as he mentioned about feeling fatigued physically and mentally due to travel, and also exerted emotionally from overthinking and the feeling of missing his loved ones. But he had to do it anyway for the betterment of his situation, which for a student, is seeking knowledge to give back to the community.

 

Below is an Arabic phrase on wisdom,

 

"إن وجع البعد ليس هينا وإن فراق الأحبة لا يطاق.."

 

Verily the pain of being far (from the beloved) is not a small pain,

And the pain of separation is something none can hold back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whereas financially, some students may face financial challenges due to certain reasons, be it because of shortage, mismanagement of budget or lack of financial support from their families. However, having friends overseas who are now known as family, they need to support each other when in need. We need to understand that support has to come from friends that are students too, because where else will the support come from then?
 

سمي الذهب ذهبا فكأنه يذهب بعد الممات

سميت الفضة فضة فكأنها تصير فاضية بعد الوفاة

سمي المال مالا فكأنه يميل إلى الخراب بعد التباب

 

وأما الزكاة سميت زكاة فكأنها تزكي الأنفس من حب الفناء

 

" لدوا للموت وابنوا للخراب # فكلكم يصير إلى تباب

لمن نبني ونحن إلى تراب # نصير كما خلقنا من تراب "

 

Gold is named as Zahab as though it is going to go away (yazhabu) after death,

Silver is named as Fiddhah as though it is going to be empty (fādhiy) after the passing of the owner,

Wealth is named as Māl as though it is going to incline (yamīl) to destruction after death,

 

Whereas for Zakāt, it is thereby named so because it cleanses (yuzakkī) the souls from the love of perishables.

 

“Give birth (and prepare) for death, and build (and prepare) for destruction,

For everyone of you shall perish,

For whom we create and we shall go back to clay,

Just like we are created from clay.”

 

The first four lines of the free poem above are written by Muhammad Farhan, where he mentions about the importance of helping a person in need financially because indirectly it helps the one who helps in attaining love of God and for his hereafter affairs. Followed by the two lines of a poem written by Abul ‘Atāhiyah where he speaks about the depletion and destruction of wealth after death, while the rewards last if wealth is used to help those in need.

 

It is understood that living far from home is a really tough thing to do, but despite knowing that, students feel at ease knowing they have each other to go through their lives here as one big family.