Nurul Iman

Today 14th Muharam 1434H, i wear my favorite jubah to work because i have date with my favorite intelectual, Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al Bakri :) I decided to increase my iman because last friday i met up with my good friend at masjid Muadz Bin Jabal. We were there to listen to Habib Ali Zainal Abidin. Thanks to my friend Saiful Amir who introduced me to this masjid. I was so happy to see my friend's transformation to be a better person :) I accidentally saw him doing his prayer and it almost drawn me to tears. Actually he introduced me to a lot of unique and weird thinking. In silence we understand each others well. I guess that's an art-way of communication, silence haha. Moreover with this new media social coming in, we laugh in our brain, we talk in our heart haha you see no words coming out from your mouths. Creepy cyber world. Anyway, Alhamdulillah i am thankful to God for blessing me with all these beautiful talented people.

Oh, to continue with my supposed entry hehe.. Habib Ali is my another favorite ulama. I knew both role model of mine from IKIM.fm radio. I love Dr Zulkifli because he practise what he preached. You can see them from their appearances, akhlaks (attitude) and the way they carry themselves. Both always exceed my expectation when they answered any questions and very humble too. SubhanAllah. Habib in arabic means someone who is knowledgeable or literally means lover. He is in love with knowledge. Both are! I would love to be like them too =)

That's all for now. Am actually a little sleepy just now so while doing my work, i divert myself and write new entry haha.. NOw I am awake after some Dhuha sprinkling wuduk. I'll update later after Isyak probably at the masjid. Later!

Continue... talking to nature

Watch "Edcoustic - Sendiri Menyepi (with lyrics)" on YouTube

Talking to nature

I ignore nature for quite a while now. Today somehow i feel like interacting with them again. I was so busy with human and world lately. Shame on me. Last time when i connected to nature i was closer to God more than i know. I was back on track, and free from worldly hassle. Then i am lost again. I understand God is testing due to there's a price to pay to enter His Jannah.

The weather is a little gloomy this evening as i walk to a shop to buy spaghetti sauce. I decided to continue walking and hear the wind and do zikr with the trees. Along the way i passed by shops, restaurants, houses and i saw boys playing soccer, mom playing with her kids in their house, guys eating in restaurants while teasing the government, children hate their foods, pakistanis walking happily with their friends after work, an aunty walking slowly down the stairs due to some illness, etc... suddenly a little squirrel crossed my path and it reminds me of Gaza, Syria and Rohingya. We are here living what we think an ordinary lives and they thought we were living a far more than beautiful lives. Like one of the poem i'd heard on ikim.fm, we cried because of we broke our love relationship, our children failed in exams, etc... we hate our government, nothing is going our ways, nothing is good for us. Everybody is doing the wrong thing. And yet we still live peacefully. We can walk along the street without being bombarded, we can eat and have quality times with our family and friends discussing our future, mom can always scold her children due to they did not doing things her way, dad still want what he wants even though it might jeopardize his health, a group of guys can always yell at the tv because they hated the government, friends fight because they were jealous of each others, etc... i stopped at a bus stop and drink my bottle of green tea with lemon and taled to the trees, i am so grateful i can still stroll around my resident and feel the cold breeze, and breath the free fresh air. I watch the cars pass me by, i feel so bless but am still lost. Why? I have plenty of time to get closer to my Creator, but i always think and said i have no time. I have time to chat with my friend over the phone and yet i have no time to do zikr and read the Quran. I have time to do solah, but still i rush in doing it and lack of focus. I don't know where i'm rushing to. While our darlings in Gaza benefit every minutes that they have in hands. Focus, istiqamah, determine. All because of Allah and Muhammad Rasulullah. We really are far from them. We donate because we cannot stand watching the vids and photos of kids being shot, blood pools everywhere, corps lying on the streets, etc... how many of us do it because of Allah? We take care of our parents because it's our responsibilities, mom gave birth to us, dad took care of us since day one. So we ought to repay by taking care of them when we grew up. Not because of Allah. We need to revisit our objective when we promised in front of Allah before we were born and in the world of ruh. I am saying all these more to myself than to you ;-)

Hopefully we can change to be a better person that we are today. Remember change starts with me. Giving is happiness.

Kapal Haji Dalam Kenangan (Hajj Ship in Memories)

Assalamualaikum and hello everybody,

Today I want to share with you a book that I've finished up last a couple of month. I was recommended by a friend. This book is also a good one, of course i only read good books! Hahaha... 

OK, this book is in Malay language specifically written in Northern Malaysia dialect. And the phrases used were very simple. And the author is Mr Yahaya Awang. He told us his experiences going Hajj to Mecca by boarding a ship.  It was really a experimental and sentimental experience i would say. We can learn a lot by reading this book. I can see Mr Yahaya is a positive person. 

The way he wrote his experiences on board with many pilgrimage participant is like we were with him throughout the journey. There were happy and lively moments while some were sad. Well, that's life. Plus a muslim is not categorize as a mukmin or true believer until he or she being test by Allah. He is the All Knowing and Almighty. I had came across to a statement before that when Acheh being ruined by tsunami, it meant that God had punished the Muslim there. The statement might be right and could be wrong too. It could be God want to test His believers there and Muslim all over the world. Why i say that, it is because to enter Paradis, there sure is price to pay. So Muslim will be tested because Allah loves us. Talk no more, so here is the book in case you are looking for it :)

p/s: I'll elaborate more if there is request hehe :)

A relationship...

Last 2 years our family received a girl from Belgium for our second assigment of student exchange. We accepted her with an open arm. We do have this thought that European people normally is very arrogant especially towards Asian. Our thought that was because they have higher currency than us. Obviously Daphné Dewitte, who i proudly declared my sister even though we are from different races, cultures and background had changed it all. Her mom, Hilde Tertooy also did involve in this picture to change our shallow minded thought. Daphne's coming to Malaysia also had opened up her family's horizon and thought too. Her dad Mr Piet is also an open minded person. We did chat a couple of time on Facebook. They are all very generous. They sent us chocolate from Belgium since Daphné's return to Belgium. We are honored to be part of your extended familied. I would say Hilde did raise Daphne to be a beautiful daughter in and out. I reserved my comments later, to you i presented my beloved Belgique sister, Daphné *clap! clap!*  

A Souvenir with Prof Tariq Ramadan in Malaysia

On 14th and 16th of July 2012 I was blessed and given a chance to meet Prof. Tariq Ramadan during his visit to Malaysia. I was a little bit busy lately and didn't check his website much, so I am not aware of his coming to Malaysia. But luckily my friend told me that she'd bought me a ticket to Prof's talk in IIUM on the 16th. She knew I am quite a fan of Prof Tariq's work and lecture.

Tribute of Muhammad Asad

First time I met him was last 2 years ago in 2009. At that time, I knew the info that he was coming from the Prof himself through FB. Never thought that I'll get a chance to chat with him but I did. JazakAllahu khairan. He was here back then to present his work on Tribute Muhammad Asad at Securities Commision, Mont Kiara. It was organized by ISlamic Renaissance Front. I didn't know who he was till I listened to the lecture presented by Prof Kamal Hassan, Prof Tariq and our ex-PM, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed. Tun M wanted to be in the audience but organizer wanted him to be on stage too. I remembered that incident because Tun M suppossedly sat in front of me hehe... You can find the lecture here: http://libertv.my/video/102/a-tribute-to-muhammad-asad-110 . It was a good lecture, you should watch it.

I am about to paste the link for Post-Islamist Revolution too but I couldn't find the video in YouTube. I have recorded his speech but to write them would be time-consuming. I'll post them up in my next entry. 

Next is Prof Tariq lecture of In the Footstep of the Prophet: How Should Muslim COntribute to The World at CAC hall IIUM. It was a memorable one because i got to meet Prof face to face! He signed on the book he'd given me during Ramadan last 2 years, Mon Intime Conviction. JazakAllahu khairan. I attach you the photos I've taken during the event. Prof Tariq also had a book he wrote with almost the same title: 

In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad. You can get it at Amazon.com or bookstores near you. He also had new book launched at Kinokuniya KLCC on 15th July 2012 title The Arab Awakening which already available in Amazon.com since April 2012. While coming soon is ISlam and The Arab Awakening in October 2012. Check it out!

Oh! You can watch him here at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1roj2Oi4s3Y

at CAC IIUM

At ISTAC, Jalan Duta

Ma Cuisine

Tonight, i am craving l'oeuf de ratatouille. So i decided to try this new recipe. Am not gonna tell you how but i would say it is very tasty! Yummy! Burppp... oppsa daisy! Haha...

Uwais Al-Qarni

Today on 4th of June 2012, i'm doing some email cleaning due to i got warning that my mailbox is almost full... hehe but then i found an email about a man named Uwais Al-Qarni. A very interesting story about this man that i want to share it with you.  I received this email a long time ago but never get bored reading it. Everytime i read his story, i can't help my teardrops flowing down my chubby cheeks. I wonder if i can be like him. What a great man he is. By the way, the article was in malay language. But don't worry, i'll translate them for you. Before you read it, i apologize in advance if my literal translation from the original article is not as good as it is. I try not to jeopardize the original meaning of the article. So, here goes,

" In the Prophet's time, there was a young man with blue eyes, red hair, broad shoulders, quite handsome appearance with reddish skin. Sticking his chin on his chest as he always looking at the place of sujud/sujood (The act of bowing down to Allah in worship. It is a necessary act during salat (worship). The hands, knees, feet and the forehead touch the ground.). His right hand, riding on his left hand. An expert in reading the Quran and always crying, he wore only two pieces of clothes which had worned out, one to cover his body and the other used as a shawl. No one has paid attention to him, he was not known among humans, but very famous among the people of the sky.

When the Day of Judgment comes, and when all worshippers are called to enter Paradise, he thus called to stop for a moment and asked to give his blessing. It is clear that Allah gave him permission to intercede for a certain number of qabilah Robi'ah and qabilah Mudhor, all admitted to the Garden and no one left behind by His permission.

He is 'Uwais al-Qarni' who is nobody in the human eyes ...

Not many know of him, let alone to know his life. Many voices deride, making fun of and mock him.Some also accuse him of being a blarney, a thief and many more. A lot of calumny and censures by the people towards him.

Once, a fuqoha' state of Kuffah, came and wanted to sit with him. He gave Uwais two pieces of clothes as a gift. However, the prize Uwais did not want to receive the clothes and returned them to him. Uwais said: "I fear, soon people will accuse me, from where did I get the clothes? If not by enticing sure of stealing."

Uwais has long been an orphan. He does not have any relatives, except his mother who is old and paralyzed with her remaining blurred vision.To survive his day-to-day life, Uwais worked as a shepherd. Wages he received only enough to meet the daily needs with his mother. When he earned a little bit more than usual, Uwais will use it to help neighbors who live in poverty and deprivation. Even though he was busy as a shepherd and treating her paralyzed and blind mother, that did not influence his persistency to worship Allah. During the day he was fasting and did his supplications at night.

Uwais al-Qarni had converted to Islam when the Prophet Muhammad's call came into the land of Yemen. Rasulullah had knocked their hearts to worship Allah, God Almighty, Who has no associate to Him.

Islam teaches every adherents noble character. The Islamic guidelines captured Uwais's heart. When the call of Islam came to Yemen, he immediately embraced it, because all this while, Uwais always miss the truth. Many of his neighbors who had converted to Islam, went to Medina to listen to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad directly. Upon their return toYemen, they renewed their life with Islamic way of life. How sad Uwais was to see each neighbors return from Medina. They had been visiting and meeting with beloved Prophet Muhammad, and he had no chance.

His loves grew stronger to meet our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH. But what can he do, he did not have enough money to go to Medina. More importance was his mother is sick and needs to be treated. Who will treat his mother during his absence later?

It was told that during battle of Uhud, the Prophet had his teeth broken due stones flung by the enemies. This news came to Uwais. He immediately hit his teeth with a rock till broken. That was done to proof his love towards Prophet Muhammad even though he had never seen him.

Days and seasons passed, he cannot suppresed his desire to meet Prophet anymore. Uwais reflected himself and started to ask, "When will I be able to visit Prophet PBUH and meet him up close and personal?" Did not he has mother who are in need of attention from him and he's not willing to leave her either. His heart is restless day and night longing to meet the Prophet of Allah. Finally, one day Uwais told his mother and poured his heart out. He sought permission from her to go visit the Prophet in Medina. His mother, despite being ill, was moved when she heard his request. She understood well her son's conscience, Uwais and said, "Go, O my son! Meet the Prophet at his house. After the meeting, you must return home immediately." Happily he packed up his stuff and departed. He did not forget to prepare his mother's necessities  and advice the neighbors to accompany her during his leaving. After completion of all preparations, Uwais kissed his mother goodbye. 

Uwais then headed to Medina which was about four hundred kilometers (nowadays 1,393 km with 16 hours and 54 minutes driving) from Yemen. He passed through a very hot journey. He did not care about  the bandits, the steep hill, a vast desert which can be misleading and too hot during the day, and so cold at night. He did all that to meet up closely with Prophet that he always miss. Uwais al-Qarni arrived in Medina. Immediately he proceeded to Prophet PBUH house, while knocking on the door, Sayyidatina 'Aisha was out to greet Uwais RA. He immediately asked her if Rasulullah was at home, just to find out that he was at battlefield. He was so dissappointed, he came to Prophet PBUH from a far but the one he miss so much was not at home. In his heart, he would want to wait for the Prophet from the battlefield. When will he return? While his mom message is still buzzing in his ears to quickly returned to Yemen."You must hurry back." On obedience to his mother, her message defeated his conscience and will to wait and see the Prophet SAW. He eventually informed Sayyidatina 'Aisha RA that he had to return home. He sent his greeting to Prophet SAW and walked home with a sad heart. Upon his return from the battlefield, Prophet inquired about the man who came looking for him. Prophet Muhammad explained that Uwais al-Qarni was a loyal son to his mother. He is the occupier and very famous in the sky. Hearing those words from Prophet SAW, Sayyidatina 'Aisha RA and his friends were amazed. According to Sayyidatina 'Aisha RA Yes, the Prophet was right, there was a guy looking for Prophet SAW and immediately return back to Yemen because his mother is old and sick that he could not leave her too long.

The Prophet said: "If you want to see him (Uwais al-Qarni), observe, he has a white mark in the middle of his hands."

After the Prophet looked at Sayyidina Ali and Sayyidina Umar RA and said: "At one point, when you meet him, ask for his prayer and istighfar, he is the occupants of the skies not the earth."

Years passed, and not long after the Prophet SAW died, right up until the time of the caliph Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Shiddiq RA has been replaced by the Caliph Umar RA.

Once, Caliph Umar RA remembered the sayings of Prophet SAW about Uwais al-Qarni, the occupier of the skies. He immediately reminded Sayyidina Ali KW together to find him.

Since then, everytime there were caravans from Yemen, they would asked about Uwais al-Qarni, whether he was with them. Among the caravans, some wondered what exactly happened till Uwais was searched by the two.

Caravans from Yemen to Sham come and go, carrying their trades. Once, Uwais al-Qarni had joined a group of caravan to the town of Medina. Seeing a group of caravan from Yemen, Caliph Umar RA and Sayyidina Ali KW mmediately went to them and asked if Uwais also with them. The delegation said that he is and taking care of their camels at the city border. Hearing the answer, they hurried to meet Uwais al-Qarni.

Arriving at the tent where Uwais is, Caliph Umar RA and Sayyidina Ali KW greeted salam to him. But apparently Uwais is praying. When he ended his prayer, Uwais replied the greetings of both great guests and shaked hands with them.While shaking hands, Caliph Umar RA quickly reversed Uwais hands, to prove the truth of a white mark on his palm, as told by Rasulullah. It was true! He is the occupant of sky. He was then asked by both Sayyidina Umar RA and Ali KW, "What is your name?". "Abdullah.", answered Uwais.  The two friends then laughed and said, "We are also Abdullah, the servant of God. But what is really your name?" Uwais then said, "My name is Uwais al-Qarni." In their conversation, it was known that Uwais' mother had died. That was why he participated in the caravan trade delegation that time. Finally, Caliph Umar RA and Sayyidina Ali K.W. requested Uwais to pray for them. Uwais refused and he said to the Caliph, "It is me who should request prayers from you." Hearing the word of Uwais, Caliph said, "We came here to ask you to pray and asking forgiveness for us." Due to insistence from both sahabah, Uwais al-Qarni finally lifted his hands, prayed and asked forgiveness for them.

Then the Caliph Umar promised to donate money from the state treasury (Baitulmal) to Uwais, for his life betterment. Immediately and discreetly he rejected by saying,"I beg you that I be known only for today. Let me the  unknown poor to others after this. "After that incident, the name of Uwais submerged and not heard anymore.

However, there was a man who had met and being assisted by Uwais. We were on the ship heading to the Arab with all the traders. Unexpectedly a strong typhoon blew turbulently. As a result, the strong waves hit our ship till the water got into the ship and caused the ship to be heavier. At that time, we see a man who impose fur blankets at the corner of the ships that we boarded in, then we call him. The man got out of the ship and kept prayering on the water. We are so surprise to see the incident."O Waliyullah, help us!" However, the man paid no heed. Then we cried again,"By Him Who has to give you strength of worship, help us! "The man turned to us and said,"What happened?" "Do you not see that the ship was blewn and hit by the waves?" Ask us."Bring yourself to God all of you!" He said."We have to do it." "Come out from the ship and read Bismillahirrahmaanirrahiim!" We came out of the ship one by one and assembled. At that time we were in total of five hundred and more. It was miracle, we did not sink, while our boat and its contents sank into the sea.Then he said to us,"It doesn't matter you lost your properties, as long as all of you are safe." "For Allah sake, we would like to know what is your name?" Asked us. "Uwais al-Qorni." He answered quickly.Then we said to him,"Indeed, the properties is that ship are owned by poor people in Medina sent by the Egyptians." "If Allah bring you back the wealths, will you distribute them to poor people in Medina?" He asked. "Yes!" we answered. He then performed 2 rakaah prayer on the water, and prayed. Uwais al-Qarni after giving his salam, the ship suddenly came to the surface, then we board on it and moved on. On arrival at Medina, we divide the whole properties to the poor in Medina, no one was left.

Some time later, there was news spread that Uwais al-Qarni had passed away. Oddly, when he was about to be bathed suddenly there were a lot of people fought to do it. Then when he was on bed to be shrouded, there were people waiting to do it. Similarly goes to when people go to dig his grave. There was already people who had dig his grave through to completion. When the bier carried towards the cemetery, remarkably many people fought to carry him. Sheikh Abdullah bin Salamah explained,"When I go to manage his body until I came back from sending his remains, then I return to the grave to mark the grave, the grave was gone, not even a mark can be seen" (Sheikh Abdullah bin Salamah is one the martyr who go to war with Uwais al-Qarni in the reign of Sayyidina Umar RA)

Uwais al-Qarni's pass away shocked the the whole Yemeni city community. A lot of unusual things happened. So many people who they do not know came to manage the funeral and burial, whereas he is only a poor Uwais who did not own anything. From  the bathing of his body till to lowering body into the grave, there are always people who ready to do them first. Yemen townspeople were stumped. All of them were wondering, "Who is actually Uwais al-Qarni? Uwais that we know, only a poor man who do not have anything? He's only a shepherd?" "However, on your last day on earth, you have shocked the people of Yemen of the presence of foreign people who are anonymous to us. They come in such a huge amount. "Perhaps they are the angels who descended to earth, only to manage his body and his funeral.

At that time, then the people of Yemen knew who is Uwais al-Qarni. "He is Uwais al-Qarni, not known on earth, but very famous in the sky."

Life, work ethics, attitude...

I was in the mid of translating a good great story but i have to stop for a while and nag about this story of my life first. Last 2 to 3 weeks my dad was hospitalized because of 2nd stroke attack.  Due to panic, mom sent him to Hospital Serdang. But that hospital located nearby our house, so it make sense too. But dad was treated at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) during his first stroke attack. Even though most of the nurses there were not as friendly as they supposed to be but they have lots of experience handling patients from various diseases background. Dad was there for only 3 days before he can walk and recovered fully! Alhamdulillah...

I don't know if i can still find smiling doctors and nurses anymore in hospital

But this time around at Hospital Serdang, it was not like HKL. The nurses and doctors who ran the hospital were a lot younger than HKL. What i am so dissappointed is about their attitude and work ethics. I would say individual attitude contributes more towards work ethics. When we work for salary or title alone, there come many obstacles and difficulties. Your work is not my job, my job is not your business. At last, patient has to mind their own business! Doctor and nursing job are suppose to be a very noble job in the world besides teaching. But when ethics and good attitude vanish in this reality world then both job will down to the ugliest one. Seriously, my childhood dream is to be a doctor. Because helping people is human nature, we'll feel love giving and sharing, isn't it beautiful?

Dad was admitted on 21st May 2012 to emergency ward after we registered him in. They left him in the passage way due to they had to attend other most critical cases for quite a while. I guess stroke is not a critical disease. Then after several hours waited they bedded him in that very same ward. A couple of doctors came by to check on him. If I'm not mistaken 4 doctors kept repeating the same questions on how my dad got his attack! We had to repeat the same story again and again. I thought they jotted them down and when new shift doctor came in they just read the report! For God sake, we swallowed that experience down our throats, and kept silence. We tried to understand and respect their jobs. Due to full house that day, my dad couldn't get any bed in normal ward. So we had to wait till almost midnight, approximately 11.30 pm when they called us to transfer my dad to ward 7C. By the time we reached the ward, nurses just getting started to clean up the bed, change the bed sheet bla bla bla... so we waited for another what 30 minutes watching them leisurely doing their jobs.

Oh by the way did i tell you that they did not let my dad eats or drinks anything for about 2 days (2 days?!) because he needs to fast due to his condition. They only give about a bag of water for a day. But they kept coming to take his blood  like vampire. Bruises are all over my dad's left and right arms due to their (young doctors) inexperience during blood-taking or blood collection. They never told us what they did with the blood.
I don't know what happen on the 3rd day, i got phone call from my mom that dad had seizure! I was at home at that time packing stuff to sleep at the hospital replacing my mom. Me and my sisters rushed to the hospital. Upon our arrival, dad already unconcious, I saw 3 or 4 doctors chatting while attending my dad through an open curtain. They closed the curtain during their treatment to my dad told my mom, so we cannot see what they did. After a while, a young female doctor came to us and told us dad had seizure, I asked why suddenly he had seizure? Plus, he had another stroke attack during the seizure. She replied that it was common to a stroke patient to have seizure. I told her, but during his first stroke he did not had any seizure, why now? She kept repeating her first answer.  I quickly browse the internet about it, and it is known to me that there must be something that trigger seizure. It don't suddenly happen. Normally seizure or epilepsy happen repeatedly to a person. I read it here in case you want to know too: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001714/ The point is, we are living in a  modern world where information at our fingertips. So doctors and nurses, please don't take us for granted.

On the 4th day, my sister who is a nurse in one of the hospital in Riyadh arrived. She immediately checked on my dad's condition. To my surprise, she asked us who install the feeding tube? I told her one of the nurse. I don't know which one because i was at home packing stuff. She told us that the tube did not reach his stomach, so when we pour in water or medicine, it will go into lungs and develop pneumonia. How she knew it? Because she said there is calculation on how much length should be left out. And it seems that the outside length is longer. Oh my God! Luckily that day my dad had CT scan, so my sister asked the doctor to scan and take a look at the tube too. And my sister was right! We complained to the doctor who did her routine the next morning. Guess what, she did not admit it and called her nurses. There came 2 of the nurses and replied, it was not me! No apologize at all. The doctor instructed the nurse to just prescribe antibiotic to cure the pneumonia. Just as simple as that! In addition, at the same time the doctor answered her phone call and arguing with her other colleague on who should round the other ward, bla bla bla.... in front of us! How unethical!

After that, we take turn taking care of dad at the hospital. And the nurses? They never assist us at all to change diapers, change the bed sheet or do feeding. It was different at HKL where nurses fed my dad and slowly taught us. Here, nurses only came to check dad's blood pressure and handed us the medicine. We even helped an auntie to move her husband who suffered stroke too to toilet, because nurses were 'busy' And not to forget, mom had to wait the whole day for nurse to change dad's feeding tube (after 3 weeks when it should be replaced after 2 weeks according to one of the staff there!). My mom even chased the nurse and doctor in the ward. The doctor was chatting with nurses and other colleagues. She made a hand sign to my mom to wait! My mom waited not for 15 mins but the whole day! And dad did not eat anything because of that. He can't swallow thing down his throat because his right side is very weak.

Lastly, we decided to take dad home, even though the doctor tried to convince us to let dad stay for another 1 month! WHY SHOULD WE?! We take care of our dad and they just hand us the prescriptions! The hospital charge is still in our account to pay! Crazy people! Plus the ward had high mortality rate, during my mom and me stay at the hospital for a week, 10 patients had died. All that they said, they had done their very best, maybe it's already the time!

My dad can speak and walk when he admitted into hospital, but now he can't speak at all. It is understood if he can't walk or speak properly due to his stroke. But can't speak at all, that's really....

Seriously, when you work for money and title, you only care about yourself. Look at our veteran doctors and nurses. They have different attitude and objective as being a doctor and nurse. I don't have to look further, my aunties and cousins are part of these professions. They too complained about it when they came to visit my dad. Sincerity is important. If you work for people then you'll feel tired but if you work for the sake of Allah, you'll never get exhausted. Because His reward is far more better than human rewards, the Paradise. When you attend others need, Allah will attend to your needs. trust the Prophet, trust Allah.

Past and present

How fast time flies these days... there are various of hadith and verses in the Quran that giving hints about what will happen when we are approaching the dooms day. One of it if I'm not mistaken is time pass us by fast. I felt i just woke up this morning, and now i gotta go to bed again! And it's kinda hot now, very hot. Even it's just 8.40 am but the the weather is hot like we are approaching 11.00 am! I don't remember much but maybe you can read about it to find out more. I've found some info on the net, try this one http://www.endoftimes.net/01_endtimes.html

Ok, I'm off topic haha, actually i wanna update you guys on todays' activity. Beside doing my laundry and some spring cleaning, I went out with my 2 ex-schoolmates! I had an amazing time with them today at KLCC. I can't imagine how these 2 being a mother to a 3 and 4 children! We had a good laugh learning our past and can't imagine how we turned out to be like this now hahahahaha! We never so much closer before at school than we are now. But having a meeting like this one today surely improve our bondings. I learnt a lot of things from them and hopefully they do to from me which i doubt it :) Don't wanna talk much since it's 24 minutes past 1 am already, here are some photos for you guys:

Oh! by the way, I found my long-search book at Kinokuniya just now. Didn't buy it but hopefully it will be in my incoming list soon hehe...

Taken from Wikipedia some of Muhammad Asad profile:

"Muhammad Asad (2 July 1900 - 23 February 1992, Urdu: محمد اسد), born Leopold Weiss, was a Austrian Jew who converted to Islam, and a 20th century journalist, traveler, writer, social critic, linguist, thinker, reformer, diplomat, political theorist, translator and scholar. Asad was one of the 20th century's most influential European Muslims.^[1]

In 1947, Asad was given Pakistani citizenship by the newly established Muslim state of Pakistan and appointed the Director of the Department of Islamic Reconstruction by the Government of Pakistan, where he made recommendations on the drafting of Pakistan's first Constitution. In 1949, Asad joined Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as head of the Middle East Division and, in 1952, was appointed Pakistan's Minister Plenipotentiary to the United Nations in New York.^[2]

Muhammad Asad is famously known for his two publications - The Road to Mecca, a biographical account of his life up to the age of 32, his conversion to Islam from Judaism and his journey to Mecca, and his magnum opus, The Message of the Qur'an, a translation and commentary of the sacred book of Islam, the Qur'an.

In 2008 the entrance square to the UN Office in Vienna was named Muhammad Asad Platz in his honour. That is the first square in Austria to be named after a Muslim.

Leopold Weiss born on 2 July 1900 to a Jewish family in Lemberg, Galicia then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (which is currently the city of Lviv, Ukraine). Weiss was a descendant of a long line of Jewish rabbis; however, his father, Akiva Weiss, broke from tradition and became a lawyer. Leopold received a religious education and was proficient inHebrew from an early age, as well as familiar with Aramaic. He studied the Jewish Bible or Tanakh, the text and commentaries of the Talmud, the Mishna and Gemara, also delving into the intricacies of Biblical exegesis and the Targum.

After abandoning university in Vienna, Weiss drifted aimlessly around 1920s Germany, working briefly for the expressionist film director, Fritz Lang (F.W. Murnau, according to The Road to Mecca). By his own account, after selling a jointly written film script, he splurged the windfall on a wild party at an expensive Berlin restaurant, in the spirit of the times. While working as a telephone operator for an American news agency in Berlin, Weiss obtained a coveted interview with Russian author Maxim Gorky's wife, his first published piece of journalism, after simply ringing up her hotel room..."

I first came to know him last 2 years when i attend a talk or seminar about him. He is an interesting figure to know and read about. Go on find a copy! 

Till then, adios amigos! 

Thankful for not having or belonging

It is amazing if God blessed us with wealth. They are 2 type of wealth,  firstly, property wealth and second wealth of the soul. We all know what is property wealth, but little knows what is soul wealth.That's why many people only strive for property wealth but not seriously searching for soul wealth. Successful always being measured on how much money they've earned, assets in possession, cars and houses that you've owned. Beside time and energy, we even willing to sacrifice life for this purpose. 

Bless with food, one of the wealth

Wealth

 What is soul wealth and how to hunt for it? Soul wealth is a peace of heart that can withstand any challenge in life. As Prophet PBUH said, which meant: "It is a miracle the circumstances of a believer. Indeed all business/affairs that they are in, in good condition. And no one will ever gain this condition except for the faithful one. If he/she awarded something, he/she is thankful, then the award will be good for him/her. But if he/she had misfortune, he/she is patience, so the misfortune will be good for him/her" (Riwayat Muslim)


People who have soul wealth cannot be disturbed by things happen outside himself/herself. He/she is strong like a reef in the ocean. Untouched even caught in a storm. What happen outside him/herself can be controlled by what is in his/her heart. The peace in heart is gain by remembering Allah. Remembering Allah produces good values or sifat -sifat mahmudah (in malay & arabic) which is the precious core of soul wealth. 


Thankful is one of sifat mahmudah/good value that is very important. With gratefulness, our hearts will be fertile. Everytime they been given bliss, enjoyment or pleasure, they are thankful and remember the Giver (Allah). They always feel that they only the borrower, not the owner of those bliss, enjoyment or pleasure. The more they get from Allah, the more they borrow from Him. Grateful people feel that they don't own anything realizing that all are His. 

A peace of heart

If they get a little from Allah, they feel that it is enough due to sifat Qana'ah (means to live simply by what Allah s.w.t. had given us, no sulking). If there are many or lots of it, they will give some to others or the needy due to generosity. Their souls are free because they don't want to be slave of wealth, man and situation. Thankful people always ashamed of belonging to others than Allah. When man feels like not having or belonging, that's the peak of tranquility and happiness in life.


In fact, this is the essence of the du'a that being taught by Rasulullah s.a.w to us: "Ya Allah, i seek your protection from trouble/poverty and sorrow. Please protect me from weakness and laziness. Please protect me from being a coward and stingy. I seek your protection from debt and assault." (Riwayat Abu Daud)


Little bliss, but not dishearten. Lots of bliss but not detrimental. Thankful people can give during their lowest and highest point of life. Their hearts get rich everyday and they are able to make others happy and together share the enjoyment and peacefulness. We can only be happy when we make others happy :) 

Magazine Solusi issuance no. 43

- i translated this article literally from Solusi issue no. 43; Subur dengan Syukur. You are welcome to correct my translation especially the hadith. I love this article so i thought i should share it in here. Hope you enjoy it. 

The 76th UiTM Convocation on 13th May 2012

Been like what 10 years since my convocation. Last week i went to my sister's convo at UiTM Shah Alam. I am so honored to be in the new hall, Dewan Agong Tuanku Canselor UiTM. I was told that this is the first time a convocation being held there. Watching the students receiving their scrolls one by one reminded me of my time haha! I don't remember much about how am i on the stage. I miss those days with my friends. It's amazing feeling to stand up there and receive your award, but life is more than an award for me. Being an adult i think i have a different perspective of life now. It's not about competing anymore. It's about giving and forgiving and contributing :) Mom! I've grown up now hehe... But If i am given another chance to study and be on that stage again, why not?  :) But that time, I am the one to give away the awards.... one day my dear, one day... just to add another dream of mine. I should do the 100-things-to-do-before-I-Die list haha! What do you think? Let see how much good deeds i get to accomplish before God hits my STOP button. Anyway, here are the pictures taken during the event:

With my graduated sister

The 3 Musketeers! 

It's not everyday we had this girlie photograph hehe!

Isn't making faces is a creative way to pose? :p

Nice one!

I just that veggie being in the centre of a bouquet hehe

Yellow is so sanguine and vibrant

Before the students and VVIP entering the hall

A Presentation of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad 

The New Hall: Dewan Agong Tuanku Canselor

Search for knowledge, and spread them, the reward from Allah is far more bigger than this :)

Tea book's festival

I've been reading a lot lately, but i have not shared anything with you guys. I felt so guilty. This time around i'll try my best to post my conclusion on books that i've read :) Most of books that I've read were in Malay :) But i know my friends who are reading my blog are from all around the globe. I'll try my best to translate the synopsis in English. Simple English of course. Am Malaysian so am not an expertise in English, pardon me if my translation is inaccurate. Feel free to comment on it, the floor is open. 


First of all, i would like to thank my dad for being an inspiration to this reading hobby. We've seen you read since we were small. I don't like books that much before but growing up slowly i am becoming my dad. I started with comics, i love colors, pictures, music and drawing and arts. From there i turned to intelectual stuff. But not too much. Am not that brainy!  I don't have any specific genre of book. Anything that capture my brain and eyes haha! Am an easy-going person i guess. I have resolution this year to ready a quantity of book every month, which i don't know if i can fulfill it or not :) i'll try... 

Ok, here goes... I've just finish this one good book. The title is Pemikiran Dr. Mahathir Tentang Islam (Dr. Mahathir's Thinking On Islam) by Dr Ismail Hj Ibrahim. Dr. Mahathir was Malaysian 4th Prime Minister. He stepped down in 2003 peacefully on his will. He had contributed a lot to Malaysia. I always adore him. A doctor who can leads a family and a nation. Dr. Ismail did not promote him for any other reasons but because he worked with him previously. You'll understand what i meant when you read it. 


I've jotted down some points that can benefit me. And i hope they do too for you.


1)  It is obvious that Dr. Mahathir is learning a lot from Prophet Muhammad PBUH way of managing a country or nation. No one can deny Prophet Muhammad PBUH as a good leader. He was recognized among Muslim and non-Muslim. The things that being followed by Dr. Mahathir were:
a) Democracy system 

b) Promote seeking of knowledge

c) Value women and their contributions not only to family but also to the 

nation, country.  Women is more than a daughter, wife and mother.

d) Discipline and consistensy (istiqamah) in everything we do

e) Always open up our heart to others' views or opinions 

f) Always appreciate others given to you even with a small thank you letter 

(you never know if it means world to others! Prophet Muhammad PBUH taught us to be grateful. Even he had been guaranteed Paradise by Allah but he always kneeled down to pray every night granting for forgiveness from Allah. How down to earth is that?)

g) Think big pictures and turn words into action. That's what Dr. Mahathir is. Most people talk big but never get into action. 

h) Never stop others to be creative in what they do. We have to be encouraging instead. 

i) Promote harmonious living among Muslim and non-Muslim. There's nothing to battle about. All we have to do is respect and love each others. 

I remember a scholar once said, Al- Quran and Sunnah are the 2 best guidances in life. While Rasulullah or Propher Muhammad PBUH is the best practitioner in the world! Our job is easy to understand Al-Quran & Sunnah then copy Rasulullah PBUH :) Let's spread the words and live a better world. 


That's all for now. I say it's worth it to get this book. I bought it for only RM2.00 at MPH Alamanda. Or you can always request at any book store nearby!




  

Mon quotidienne histoire

i've been dissappearing a lot lately and suddenly appears from nowhere without warning. I guess it's been like a habit now. Am off to my reality world and then on to my virtual life again. I was lost in the space for a while last time till my mom start yelling at me. I lost my appetite in real world and started to daydream :) For me living in real world hurt me always, too many teardrops, too much heartache. Being a grown up, there are many things that I can't say, not being a truthful one, have to hide almost everything to take care of many hearts. It is just not like our childhood time. Being free, bubbly all the time and just being sincere. We are just who we are. It's just hard to find beautiful sincereful soul nowadays, most of us including me are full of secret and lies. I don't blame anyone or anybody. It must be because of life. Situation force you to be who you are not. But everything happens for a reason, like i always said to myself, I am not a rock, a rock after thousand years, it will still be a rock. I am a human being, i can change whenever or wherever i want. I can be anything or everything after a thousands years. If i let myself drifted to life than i will be directed by life. I want to direct life not vice versa. But still sometimes, I have the low and high, ups and downs... It's hard to stay all the way positive but i try to... It's better than not trying isn't it?

i lost in life so many times but God saves me. Sometimes i remember Him but all the time i forgot Him. Shame on me millions times. He fulfilled my dreams and still fulfilling them now, but how can i not see them? *sigh*

oh my wisdom tooth...

Day 4 after my wisdom tooth operation, i learnt a lot for a couple of days ago... :) i don't know what God have in store me but I am going to thank Him for giving me such an opportunity to have this experience. I remember one of Celine Dion's lyrics, Your mind will keep you far the rest is just your heart. Luckily i have my deary Darly mommy to heal me heart when it's hurt or wounded. I love ya dearly. it's the moment when i think i can't then i i discover I can! i always think that i am alone walking the challenge in reverse direction. I always think that I am wishing on someone else's star. Everywhere I look, everyone is lucky, everyone.... but me. They always keep getting what I'm wishing for. But i never realize that I have all beautiful family and friends around me :) and the biggest one, GOD. How ungrateful I am... Forgive me families, forgive me friends, forgive me GOD. Forgive me for my forgetfulness. My bad. Wisdom tooth taught me this. Thank you to you too!

Positive is way to go, as Olivier Bassil my friend always said in his infectious web :) 8 years gone, and I am so glad to be part of his family and friends. And i adore my friends, Mari Kato and Serafima Bogomolova for they always determine and constant in what they do till they reach the stars. I am also amuse by Javier Liendo and Erin Johnson creativities and imaginations. I never forget mon ami, Loic Faux, who taught me french through Bearshare and YM a couple of years ago. Even though i lost contact with him. He is a good teacher. And all my french profs at AFLKL, starting from Caroline Baril, Marc Abed, Sylvie Hamon, Nadege Martra, Bruno Plasse, many more. God is so great to let me know these talented people. I wish i'll meet them one day. i will not know what will happen when that day comes, will i faint or i'll lost my words hahaha i never know. What i know is forward always forward, onward always up.

Solat istikharah

SOLAT ISTIKHARAH

Apabila seseorang itu berada di dalam keadaan dilema terhadap sesuatu perkara yang ingin dilakukkan atau dihajati sama ada ianya membawa kebaikan mahupun keburukan terhadap dirinya, bersesuaian atau bertentangan dengan dirinya, maka hendaklah dia memohon petunjuk daripada Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala melalui solat Istikharah sebanyak dua rakaat..

v DALIL DISYARI’ATKAN SOLAT ISTIKHARAH

Solat Istikharah ini telah diperjelaskan melalui hadis daripada Jabir bin ‘Abdillah radhiallahu’ anh, dia berkata: Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam pernah mengajarkan Istikharah kepada kami dalam segala urusan, sebagaimana baginda mengajar kami surah dari al-Qur’an.. Baginda bersabda:

إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ لِيَقُلْ:

Maksudnya:

Jika salah seorang di antara kalian berkeinginan keras melakukan sesuatu, hendaklah dia mengerjakan solat dua rakaat yang bukan solat fardu kemudian membaca doa:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ

فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ

اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي

أَوْ قَالَ: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ

فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ

وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي

أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ

فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي.

Maksudnya:

Ya Allah, sesungguhnya aku memohon petunjuk kepada-Mu dengan ilmu-Mu, memohon ketetapan dengan kekuasaan-Mu, dan aku memohon kurniaan-Mu yang sangat agung kerana sesungguhnya Engkau berkuasa sedang aku tidak berkuasa sama sekali, Engkau mengetahui sedangkan aku tidak, dan Engkau yang mengetahui hal yang ghaib. Ya Allah, jika Engkau mengetahui bahawa urusan ini (lalu menyebutkan secara langsung urusan yang dimaksudkan) lebih baik bagi diriku dalam agama, kehidupan dan akhir urusanku - atau mengucapkan: baik dalam waktu yang dekat mahupun yang akan datang - maka tetapkanlah ia bagiku dan mudahkanlah ia untukku. Kemudian, berikan berkah kepadaku dalam menjalankannya. Jika Engkau mengetahui bahawa urusan ini buruk bagiku dalam agama, kehidupan dan akhir urusanku - atau mengucapkan: baik dalam waktu yang dekat mahupun yang akan datang - maka jauhkanlah urusan itu dariku dan jauhkanlah aku darinya, serta tetapkanlah yang baik itu bagiku di mana pun kebaikan itu berada. Kemudian, jadikanlah aku orang yang redha dengan ketetapan tersebut.

قَالَ: وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ.

Maksudnya:

Baginda bersabda: Hendaklah dia menyebutkan apa yang dihajatkannya. – Hadis riwayat Imam al-Bukhari dalam Shahihnya, Kitab al-Jumu’ah, no: 1162.

v BEBERAPA PERKARA BERKAITAN SOLAT ISTIKHARAH

q Solat Istikharah dilaksnakan sebagaimana solat dua rakaat yang biasa. Tidak ada ketetapan tertentu daripada Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam tentang surah apa yang perlu dibacakan ketika solat Istikharah, Oleh itu dibenarkan membaca apa jua surah dari al-Qur’an yang mudah bagi seseorang itu setelah selesai membaca surah al-Fatihah.

q Solat Istikharah boleh dilaksanakan apabila berhadapan dengan segala urusan yang mubah (harus) baik ianya isu yang besar mahupun kecil, perkara yang penting ataupun tidak. Seharusnya kita fahami bahawa permasalahan yang menjadi dilema itu bukanlah termasuk dalam perkara yang telah ditetapkan hukum-hukumnya dalam Islam. Bagi urusan yang wajib atau sunat yang telah jelas arahan untuk melakukannya ataupun urusan yang haram atau makruh yang telah jelas larangannya, ianya tidak lagi boleh dilakukan istikharah ke atasnya. Hanya perkara-perkara yang mubah sahaja dibenarkan untuk dilakukan istikharah.

q Hendaklah bagi seseorang yang mengerjakan solat Istikharah itu melapangkan dadanya dari apa jua kehendak peribadi yang berlandaskan hawa nafsu. Seharusnya dia menyerahkan perkara tersebut bulat-bulat kepada ilmu Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. Harus juga kita sedari bahawa adakala apa yang dipilih oleh Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala untuk kita itu tidak selari dengan keinginan hawa nafsu atau pada tanggapan kita ianya adalah sesuatu yang tidak bersesuaian bagi diri kita. Namun demikian sewajarnya bagi kita untuk pasrah menerima keputusan Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala tersebut. Firman-Nya:

وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ

وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Maksudnya:

…dan boleh jadi kamu benci kepada sesuatu padahal ia baik bagi kamu, dan boleh jadi kamu suka kepada sesuatu padahal ia buruk bagi kamu. Dan (ingatlah), Allah jualah Yang mengetahui (semuanya itu), sedang kamu tidak mengetahuinya. – al-Baqarah (2) : 216

q Solat Istikharah ini boleh juga dikerjakan secara khusus atau semasa mengerjakan solat-solat sunat seperti solatRawatib, Tahiyyatul Masjid dan lain-lain. Sebagai contohnya setelah mengerjakan solat Tahiyyatul Masjid langsung kita membaca doa Istikharah tersebut. Hal ini adalah dibenarkan. Menurut al-‘Iraqi rahimahullah:

Jika keinginan melakukan sesuatu muncul sebelum mengerjakan solat sunat Rawatib atau yang semisalnya, lalu dia mengerjakan solat tanpa niat Istikharah, namun setelah solat timbul keinginan untuk memanjatkan doa Istikharah, maka secara zahir hal tersebut sudah mencukupi. – Rujuk al-Adzkaar, jilid 3, ms. 354. Penulis nukil dari kitab Bughyat al-Mutatowwi Fi Solah al-Tatowwu' karya Syeikh Muhammad bin ‘Umar Salim Bazmul, ms. 137.

q Doa istikharah itu dibaca setelah memberi salam berdasarkan zahir lafaz hadis tersebut. Doa tersebut boleh diulang-ulang.

q Bukan termasuk dalam syarat Istikharah bahawa seseorang itu mesti bermimpi tentang pilihan atau tindakan yang perlu diambil setelah mengerjakan solat tersebut. Namun seseorang itu akan merasa tenang atau dipermudahkan untuknya ketika memutuskan sesuatu keputusan sesuai dengan apa yang Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala telah pilih untuknya.

v RINGKASAN TATACARA MENGERJAKAN SOLAT ISTIKHARAH

Rakaat Pertama

1) Berniat di dalam hati untuk mengerjakan solat sunat Istikharah

2) Takbiratul Ihram

3) Doa Iftitah

4) Membaca surah al-Fatihah

5) Membaca Surah al-Qur’an

6) Rukuk

7) Iktidal

8) Sujud

9) Duduk antara dua sujud

10) Sujud kali kedua

11) Bangun untuk rakaat kedua

Rakaat Kedua

1) Ulang seperti rakaat pada pertama dari nombor (4) hingga (10)

2) Duduk untuk tahiyyat akhir

3) Memberi salam ke kanan dan ke kiri

4) Membaca doa Istikharah