nava

Being surrounded by the kind-hearted and loving people is what makes these writings exist. www.goodreads.com/navariza

[navariza]

a love letter to Surah Ad-Dhuha

My love for Surah Ad-Dhuha began long before I understood its meaning. It grew from watching my parents make the time of dhuha feel sacred and special every single day since I was a child. It always felt like one of the most peaceful moments of the day and it became my favorite.

Years later, I found myself reading the translation of the verses. The way Allah speaks in Surah Ad-Dhuha is so poetic. In the first two verses, Allah says:

"By the morning brightness"

"And [by] the night when it covers with darkness"

I fell in love with how beautifully Allah's words are conveyed in every verse, especially in the seventh verse where Allah says:

“And He found you lost and guided you.”

Through that verse, I felt how Allah gently reassures and comforts His servant. How kind Allah is to His servants.

Pic: The words "God Bless You" were written on the front of a Saudia plane.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, July 17th, 2026

[navariza]

when rizq arrives softly

“And He will provide for him from where he does not expect."–Surah At-Talaq (65:3)

I was on the train from Jakarta to Cepu. When the train stopped at Poncol Station, a woman came in, greeted me warmly, and took the seat next to me. We smiled at each other. Not long after, she bought herself a cup of hot tea and then bought one for me too. She also offered me roma biscuits and said that i should have something warm for breakfast. I was deeply moved by her kindness. It felt like Allah had given me rizq in an unexpected form, meeting her.

She told me she would get off in Surabaya, then continue to Juanda Airport. She was flying to Singapore for work, it was her first time leaving the country. She had prayed for so long, asking Allah to bring her rizq closer. But Allah had chosen another way.

"I prayed for rizq to come closer, but Allah wanted me to be the one who moved toward it."

Pic: The hot tea and roma biscuits from a beautiful soul.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, January 5th, 2026

[navariza]

let's take five minutes a day

Three years ago, I watched My Liberation Notes, and one of Yeom Mi‑jeong’s lines has stayed with me until today.

"Five minutes a day. If you have five minutes of peace, it's bearable. When I hold the door open for a kid at a convenience store and the kid says thank you, that makes me happy for seven seconds. When I open my eyes in the morning and remember it's Saturday, that makes me happy for ten seconds. Fill up five minutes a day like that. That's how I survive."

There are days when joy finds us easily, but some days, sadness sits beside us longer. On those days, life turns bleak and all we see is the dark. But we can take our five minutes a day.

Let's take five minutes a day to notice the beauty in the mundane around us. And perhaps, that is how we learn to survive. I hope we all survive, one day at a time.

Pic: Forever one of my all-time favorite k-dramas, My Liberation Notes.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, January 4th, 2026

[navariza]

Berulang Tahun

Setiap kali orang-orang terdekat berulang tahun, ada syukur dan doa yang lebih panjang terucap dari hari-hari biasanya. Sebab betapa baiknya Tuhan telah menghadirkan mereka pada hidup dengan segala naik dan turunnya.

Hari ini adalah salah satunya—salah satu manusia favorit saya bertambah usia. Semoga segala kebaikan terus menerus sampai padanya.

Pic: Putri and Nava in a hotel elevator in Bahçelievler, Istanbul.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, January 3rd, 2026

[navariza]

Pulang

Setiap orang punya definisi "pulang" di kepala. Ia bisa berbentuk tempat, bernama manusia, seringkali berwujud rupa-rupa. Dari waktu ke waktu, pulang berwujud masakan ibu yang terenak sedunia. Suatu waktu, pulang berwujud tangan sibuk bapak yang menjemur sepatu basah kita. Seringnya, pulang berwujud cerita-cerita panjang dan canda tawa di ruang keluarga.

Kata "pulang" terasa melegakan, sebab ia serupa jeda panjang yang menanggalkan beban, bukan?

Pic: The little me with my parents, captured in the late 90s.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, January 2nd, 2026

[navariza]

Hi, 2026.

Selamat merayakan tahun yang bertambah dengan diri yang telah bertumbuh. Banyak cara memaknai arti bertumbuh—tumbuh, sembuh, teguh, tangguh, penuh di antara jatuh, rapuh, riuh, dan peluh. Tidak selalu berjalan sempurna, tapi setidaknya telah membuat kita mengenal dan mencintai diri sendiri lebih jauh.

Selamat merayakan tahun baru, selamat berteman dengan dua ribu dua puluh enam.

Pic: A couple enjoyed their time at Shichirigahama Beach in Kamakura in autumn 2025.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, January 1st, 2026.

[navariza]

The Most Merciful

Today, I randomly opened my YouTube app and noticed a live stream of Masjid al-Haram on my homepage. I decided to watch the live stream and heard my favorite Quran verses, Surah Ar-Rahman was being recited.

"So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?" (55:13)

On another day, I come across a book recommendation in my timeline on X. The book is Rememberance of The Most Merciful by Imām Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. I've just started reading the book and discovered these beautiful words.

"The recognition of Allah's grace brings about love (mahabah), praise (hamd) and thankfulness (shukr) towards the One that grants these favours (ni'ma) and shows kindness (ahsān), and awareness of the defects of his soul brings about humility (dull), dependence (inkisār) and repentance (tawbah) at every moment."

Oh imagine being so loved by Allah that He creates coincidences to remind us of His presence.

Pic: The real-time streaming of the people performing Tawaf around the Kaabah.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, June 22nd, 2025.

[navariza]

Rain

I and my little brother got wet by the heavy rain on our way to the train station, he kept checking up on me because he saw my wet clothes. We stopped at alfamart and he asked me to sit down in front of the mart then bought me my favorite strawberry yogurt. Feeling so happy because he has grown up with full of compassion and empathy.

Pic: We went to the self photo studio in Yogyakarta last year.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Cepu, February 11th, 2024.

[navariza]

Need—Nida

Perpindahan adalah hal yang menantang. Mbak Nida adalah orang yang menyukai tantangan. Maka, mungkin sebab itulah Mbak Nida berpindah. Mbak Nida juga suka melakukan banyak hal. Perpindahan adalah kesempatan untuk bertumbuh dan bertambah melampaui lebih banyak hal. Maka, mungkin sebab itulah perpindahan—Mbak Nida hadapi dengan hati yang besar.

Rasanya semua orang butuh satu Mbak Nida dalam lingkar pertemanan mereka. Mbak Nida sangat ceria dan suka tertawa—juga pendengar yang baik dan bijaksana. Matanya berbinar ketika bercerita hal-hal yang disuka. Mbak Nida selalu punya satu ruang khusus di hati orang-orang, sebab Mbak Nida selalu membagi kebaikan dan keceriaan.

Hari-hari di depan nanti, barangkali akan Mbak Nida habiskan dengan menikmati pantai-pantai indah, mencoba makanan-makanan khas, dan bertemu orang-orang baru yang Mbak Nida sebut rumah. Hidup selalu tentang perpindahan, tapi orang-orangnya akan menetap di hati dan kenangan. Semoga kebaikan dan kemudahan selalu menyertai Mbak Nida. Selamat mengikuti Bali Marathon 2023, Mbak.

Pic: We took picture without make up after watching the sunrise at Ranca Upas. (taken by Japes Dintro S.)

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Kalibata, December 8th, 2022.

[navariza]

hap·pi·ness

It was a hot sunny sunday morning when two little girls came very near to us. They played the soap bubbles while giving their cute smiles—trying to tell "hey, happines revolves around us like these soap bubbles!"

What is happines? Is it the soap bubbles? The green grasses. The bright skies. Putting smile on someone's face. Making people laugh. Getting compliments from others. Reading books we can't put down once we begin. Eating our favorite foods. Talking with people and have deep conversations. Trying new things. Visiting a place for the first time. Taking some nice pictures. Or falling deeper and deeper in love with someone over time?

But most of the time, happines can't be defined—simply just can be felt with the whole heart. Happiness. The state of being happy.

Pic: Two cute little sisters played the soap bubbles at Scientia Square Park.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, October 26th, 2022.

[navariza]

Rupa-Rupa

Jika kebaikan memiliki rupa, barangkali ia serupa senyuman-senyuman ramah seakan kau tengah pulang ke rumah. Barangkali ia juga serupa percakapan penuh tawa meski baru kali pertama kau datang ke sana. Atau barangkali ia serupa suara-suara yang ikut bernyanyi bersama meski tahu kau buta nada.

Namun jika kebaikan benar-benar memiliki rupa, pastilah ia rupa-rupa yang berwujud mereka.

Pic: We were playing games on a rainy afternoon in December—in one of the villas in Bogor. (taken by Pradapta K. P. with his adorable analog camera)

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Mampang, February 9th, 2022.

[navariza]

Berselang Saling

Perlu beberapa waktu untuk akhirnya sadar bahwa sehat dan teman yang melekat adalah berkat yang berlipat. Kedua berkat yang barangkali pernah terlewat untuk dirayakan karena hari-hari yang padat. Tapi tak pernah sekalipun berkurang maknanya. Sebab seluruhnya saling berusaha menjaga lingkar kecil ini bersama.

Sekian waktu berselang, kami beruntung sebab masih tetap saling.

Pic: We walked on ice rink—an enclosed area of ice for skating after falling down for many times (taken by Firdha A. R.)

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, January 23th, 2022.

[navariza]

Kasih

Bapak dan ibu selalu mengucapkan terima kasih pada hal-hal kecil sekalipun meski anak-anaknya adalah pihak yang menerima lebih banyak kasih. Barangkali bagi bapak dan ibu, mengucap terima kasih sama dengan menyampaikan kasih. Sedang bagi kami anak-anaknya, pada setiap kata terima kasih yang diterima adalah perhatian dan rasa sayang.

Semakin kami bertumbuh, semakin kami bertambah. Bertambah kasih setiap waktu karena bapak dan ibu. Terima kasih telah mengasihi kami dengan sebanyak-banyak kasih.

Pic: My favorite couple at Batu Pandang Ratapan Angin, Dieng.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, July 9th, 2021.

[navariza]

Sahur Ketujuh Belas

Hari ini adalah sahur ketujuh belas bersama Fina dan Devi. Sahur pertama hingga ketujuh belas ini telah membuat diri sendiri mengenal mereka lebih dalam lagi. Menemukan pertemanan yang tak selalu sempurna tapi penuh perhatian, penuh empati. Mempelajari bahwa sayang bisa dibagi lewat cara-cara sederhana sehari-hari. Merayakan setiap hal kecil dengan hati yang besar. Merawat kebaikan yang tak lelah disebar.

Beberapa orang terdekat pasti tahu bahwa mereka adalah dua yang selalu saling. Saling menghargai. Saling sabar. Saling menguatkan. Saling membersamai. Adalah Fina dan Devi yang telah membuat setiap hari warna-warni hingga sahur ketujuh belas kami. Semoga sekali lagi hingga sahur ketiga puluh nanti.

Pic: Fina and Devi, the happy girls at four a.m.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, 17th Day of Ramadan–April 29th, 2021.

[navariza]

Lapang

Orang-orang yang beruntung adalah mereka yang berhati lapang. Entah bagaimana bisa hatinya selalu tersedia cukup ruang untuk sabar yang lebih panjang. Hidup untuk mereka adalah sepaket susah senang yang bergantian. Maka baginya, merugilah hati yang sempit dan jauh dari rasa tenang.

Rasa syukur bertumbuh subur di hati orang-orang yang lapang. Sebab keikhlasan terus bertambah pada setiap hal yang datang pun hilang. Hatinya telah meluas sedikit demi sedikit dan terus melapang. Semoga terus dan terus melapang dalam kebaikan.

Pic: Taman Lapangan Banteng, a historic park in Central Jakarta.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, September 1st, 2020.

[navariza]

Menjalani

Bagi sebagian orang, hal tersulit adalah memulai. Sedangkan bagi sebagian yang lain, yang tersulit adalah menyelesaikan. Keduanya bisa jadi sama-sama tidak mudah dan butuh keberanian.

Banyak yang enggan memulai karena tidak siap dengan resiko yang ada di depan. Banyak pula yang merasa tidak sanggup menyelesaikan karena begitu berat hambatan di separuh jalan. Namun tidak ada cara lain selain dijalani, bukan?

Baik memulai ataupun menyelesaikan, semoga kita cukup tangguh untuk menjalani setiap pilihan.

Pic: The Rainbow Stairway of Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur.

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Jakarta, May 5th, 2020.

[navariza]

Staysiun

Di stasiun, pasti pernah kau jumpai senyum tawa ramah yang akhirnya berpulang ke rumah. Pun tentu di stasiun pula, pasti pernah kau lihat lambaian tangan diiringi tangis menyaksikan kereta pergi bersama masinis. Stasiun adalah miniatur kehidupan. Ia lebih dari sekedar tempat, ia adalah saksi perjumpaan dan perpisahan.

Pic: Cepu Station, Blora, Central Java

Nava Naimatul Fariza| Blora, December, 25th, 2019.