: this is a place that has stolen my heart, truly. being in a foreign land and amongst thousands of strangers yet, i felt at home. It was like returning to my loved one(s), like meeting someone very dear to me for the first time after so many years being away. Like i've actually been here before; the serenity of a quiet morning with people coming in, the intimate connection with beautiful souls as we exchange salam or engage in conversations despite the language barrier, the warmth of a place where fellow believers congregate in prayer, the instant recognition of perhaps love that i know little of but been receiving my entire life.. And on top of all that, i was in the company of my mother - someone more than familiar to me. So how does my heart find home? Perhaps through familiarity. Because i've realised that i could be in my supposed home ground and yet, feeling lost in connection. #IAStories #IAS2017 #NUSMS #salamjumaah (at المدينه المنوره مسجد النبوي الشريف)