Salam 1433 Hijrah!

The world is like a race
It does not totally depends on how you started it.

It matters the most on how you FINISHED it.

“It is never too late to change and we never know when will this ‘race’ ends”

Salam Ma’al Hijrah!

Let’s hijrah together to become a better servant to ALLAH!

The Blind Man's Eyes

I walked down that street,

A thousand times,

I swam the seas,

Ran the forests down.

I jumped over the moon,

Look at the other side.

I ran the globe, to,

Find the corners,

I drew my dreams on papers.

Eccentric.

I looked inside death,

And in my mother’s womb.

Counted the rays on the ball of fire.

I searched the underneath of my brain,

I even cleaned the cupboard.

I clipped hair,

Go down the memory lane.

Mesmerized.

I flew,I crawled.

I shot, I smiled.

I heard, I spoke.

Life.

For all I did,

I did not.

And all the times,

I bled, I cried.

I smoked, I cracked,

I did none,

For all that I said,

I knead, I plant.

I reaped to sow.

I loved, I lost.

I prayed, I lied.

And all these times later.

I find.

Me.

- Rohan

I Don't Care

 

I sat in the room, alone, observing my new dress that I wore, and carefully examining my accessories. I was dressed in the most stylish of clothes with perfect matching accessories, and along with my new haircut, I thought I looked the most beautiful of all.

“But would others approve?” As I asked myself this question, I started to perceive many flaws in my appearance. Suddenly my best friend entered the room, looking very graceful and elegant; I smiled at her and remarked, “You look beautiful –as usual.”

“Thanks,” she replied.

“But the makeup is too heavy,” I continued in a frank tone. “I mean people are going to be like: why is she so dressed up? She looks like a bride.”

“I don’t care what people think,” she retorted back.

I looked at my friend in wonderment; how can you stop caring about what people think? This had always been an unresolved mystery in my mind. I could never understand the reality of the “I-don’t-care” phenomenon, and a very big reason for this was that my heart was a captive to the love of this world. I had spent a large part of my life pleasing people, but I would never admit this to myself.

“Let’s go” my friend shouted, and my train of thoughts stopped with the “let’s have fun” signal.

We both went to a family dinner, and as usual, these dinners are more of a family type fashion show: where everyone from the toddlers to the grandmothers is dressed in the most stylish way. The aunties are like the fashion analysts who are just too busy eyeing every girl for their sons, and merely judging the girls on their dressing sense. While the young ladies are like social butterflies, mingling with everyone, be they from amongst the men or the women.

In such a gathering, I was talking to my friends, enjoying the compliments I received, constantly refreshing my makeup, and eating as less as I could so as not to ruin my dress.

As I was eating I said to my friend, “Why are those aunties staring at us?”

My friend turned to look, and then replied to me, “Why do you care? Stop caring so much about what people think.”Again a series of questions sparked off in my mind.

I silently continued with my dinner, but suddenly my attention was drawn towards someone sitting a far, covered from head to toe in black. She was wearing a niqab and eating her dinner in a way that seemed to be very difficult to me.I stared at that lady, who appeared very obviously to be isolated by everyone as no one dared go near her. Everyone just walked and talked around her as if she didn’t exist.

But I was too much in awe of her character, her attire, and how she was just sitting there in a black burqah –giving up all her desires that every girl has to dress up; how she preferred her Lord over the world, how easily she seemed satisfied with her decision, how true she seemed in front of her Lord. As I observed her, I took a deep sigh, and prayed: Oh Allah! Allow me to reach such a state where I also stop caring about the world and give up everything for You.

My friend turned to me and said, “Hey look at that ninja! I wonder how she can dress like that.”

I replied, “She doesn’t care what people think about her.”

**********************************************************************************

A year later, I returned back from my best vacation ever which was spent in Egypt. I used to believe that that trip gave me a new sense of liberty, but I little realized that it actually made my soul restless.

When I returned back home, I felt empty. My friends tried counselling me but I would always reply with a silent nod to their kind words. My family could not understand my deep silence and I myself could not recognize what my heart searched for, even though everything seemed to be in the right place.

I started living my life by the “I-don’t-care” rule: wearing more immodest clothes, listening to music, doing what the entire “I-don’t-care” crowd does. But inside my heart, I knew what I was doing wasn’t right. I could feel the guilt of breaking my promise to my Lord –though I knew that no matter how much anyone claimed to understand me, only my Creator could understand me. In the middle of sleepless nights, I would cry and try to make sense of my life. I had everything but I wanted something else. I knew this world was temporary so why was I allowing myself to be fooled by it?

I would think to myself that my grave would be dark just like this room; in fact it would be so much draker and smaller. I could still call out to my parents for help if needed in this room, but in my grave who would I be able to call out to?

Then I would confess to my Lord, indeed I have wasted my life, and a tear would roll down my cheek. And then I would assure myself, I still have time, I can change, but Shaytan would make all this thinking useless by making me feel hopeless again.

But one night, as I was crying, I told myself I can change; and just as Shaytan started messing with my mind, I firmly told myself:

“ I am a slave of Allah. My job is to take a step and it is Allah’s will if He wants me to get to the end of this road, He will help me through it. I promised myself that this time I will change, and even if I failed, I had firm faith in Allah’s mercy, and that no matter what the end result would be, at least on the Day of Judgement I would be able to tell Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala that at least I tried, at least I took a step.”

A month later, I joined an Islamic course, and with the mercy of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, and in the company of my pious and beautiful teacher, I changed. I became a completely new person. But this process of change didn’t come easy. You have to really struggle a lot to overcome your own desires. It is easy to achieve triumph over things in this world but it is extremely difficult to defeat your own self.

One of the biggest battles I had to fight was starting the hijab. Everyday I would ask myself, when will I start wearing hijab? I would then answer, “Tomorrow.”

After which the arguments would begin in my head: “what will people say? What if I stop wearing it suddenly? What if it doesn’t suit me?

And a series of “what-if’s” would change my mind every time. But I continued to make immense du’a to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and finally, by His Mercy, I started hijab and the niqab.

The first time I went to a dinner party with my hijab and niqab I was extremely nervous. As I entered I kept looking at my feet, trying to avoid the negative vibes that came from the fashion-conscious aunties. I felt that I didn’t have the courage to face them. My mind kept telling me, don’t look up, don’t look at them, just ignore them. I secretly made du’a to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to create ease for me in this step, and my heart then told me: it’s time to face them.

Something in my mind instantly replied, “No. What must they all be thinking about you?”

I humbly looked up, smiling to myself, and answered that daunting question with a simple reply: “ I don’t care what people think.”

And that was the day when I actually understood the reality of these words. That was the day when these words came from my heart and I understood that when you do something for your Lord, then it is His Mercy that surrounds your heart and thus you give in to true submission to Him; and that is when He makes the trials of this world very easy.

When the hearts are fully submerged in the ocean of submission to Him — that is when the high tides of this world cause no harm to the one who is already overcome –overcome by the storm of Hubbu lillah (love for Allah).

~ Copied from ProductiveMuslim.com

In Every Tear He Is There

Some might say this world today shows
God’s left us to our mistakes oh
He has never been
So far away
Some might say
How could any father stand
See his children across many lands
Suffer so and give no helping hand
No helping hand

Somewhere tonight
Far away and out of sight
There’s a child that’s too weak to cry
Hmmm
Deep in those eyes
Can’t you see him in disguise
Reaching out to the heart that’s in you
And I

In every tear
That is where
He is there

He’s the hand that wipes that brow
He’s the tear that trickles down
Upon the face that cries without a sound
We need you now
What a simple choice to make
Between what you give and what you take
When what you give
Such precious life could save, life could save

Somewhere inside
There’s a part of you that asks why
Would he leave so many so far behind
And deep in those eyes
Can’t you see Him in disguise
Reaching out to the heart that’s in you
And I…

FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, MY HEART!

For heaven's sake, my heart, keep secret your love,

and hide the secret from those you see

and you will have better fortune.

He who reveals secrets is considered fool;

silence and secrecy are much better for him

who falls in love.

For heaven's sake, my heart, if someone asks,

"What has happened?" do not answer.

If you are asked, 'Who is she?"

Say she is in love with another.

And pretend that it is of no consequence.

For heaven's sake, my love, conceal your passion;

your sickness is also your medicine because love

to the soul is as wine in a glass- what you

see is liquid, what is hidden is its spirit.

For heaven's sake, my heart, conceal your troubles;

then, should the seas roar and the skies fall,

you will be safe.

~ Khalil Gibran

Ramadan Is Here! Ramadan Kareem...

Ramadan is Here!

Yo they sighted the moon, its Ramadan! Now I gotta plan, before it's come and gone
Getting close to Allah, spend a lot of time. Check the condition of my heart, like a sonogram

Uh… Everybody knows that we gotta fast. But does everybody know how the time is passed?
Is it sleeping all day and the night's a blast? And forgetting the reward of the month is vast?

I know you gonna wake-up, right. Drinking water maybe bean-pie, praying at sunrise....
Fast in the day, keeping that deen tight. Breaking fast with some dates, taraweeh at night

Alright... it’s a blessed month. It doesn’t mean at iftar, that you can’t have fun,
But strive in your heart, for your Lord the one… And be blessed by Allah, when the month is done.

Four minutes left, Mom busts in the door, like… Get yourself up, you about to miss Suhur
Turkey bacon on the plate but I’m beefing. I'm up here sleeping, when they’re down here eating.

Scenes like this, it makes me reminisce what it meant growing up with Ramadan as a kid.
My homie's buying up the corner store. Now or later, quarter waters,
We break at eight but its quarter to four.

They got jokes, like oh yeah he’s fasting. Something about blessings, heaven everlasting
Asking like the Feds up on me, “But dude, let me ask you for real, is you hungry?”

A hunger for the day when the sins on my slate be as empty as the food on my plate.
And if you got jokes, man here is a taste. Take a little fasters breath to the face.

Ramadan vibrations, more donations. Dinner invitations, many supplications
Good behavior means better reputations. Don’t start nothing, no provocations

No fighting no argumentation. From the fitna and the drama, take a vacation
Mosque is packed with a huge congregation. Some just come as an annual visitation

Some just come for the hum of the recitation. Memorization of revelation,
Less temptation, with more contemplation. Getting ready for the Eid celebration

Shake a lot of hands giving salutations, Salaam Alaykums, peace upon the nation

The world is one, forget the segregation. Another Ramadan congratulations!!

Make Me Strong

I know I’m waiting
Waiting for something
Something to happen to me
But this waiting comes with
Trials and challenges
Nothing in life is free
I wish that somehow
You’d tell me out aloud
That on that day I’ll be ok
But we’ll never know cause
That’s not the way it works
Help me find my way

My Lord show me right from wrong
Give me light make me strong
I know the road is long
Make me strong
Sometimes it just gets too much
I feel that I’ve lost touch
I know the road is long
Make me strong

I know I’m waiting
Yearning for something
Something known only to me
This waiting comes with
Trials and challenges
Life is one mystery
I wish that somehow

You’d tell me out aloud
That on that day you’ll forgive me
But we’ll never know cause
That’s not the way it works
I beg for your mercy

My Lord show me right from wrong
Give me light make me strong
I know the road is long
Make me strong
Sometimes it just gets too much
I feel that I’ve lost touch
I know the road is long
Make me strong

Truth

Sometimes, it's hurt to be truth. 

Now, before, maybe in the other times. None will simply say that it's easy to tell the truth.

Well, we need to tell the truth, either we like it or not.

 Especially when its come from our feeling, heart, soul. 

Frankly, we can't deny it.

Shh.. Take a time to listen to the truth.

 We'll know how sweet the truth.

Give time to ourselves and others. 

 Let's time lead.

Abstract

Salam to all!

          Phew, I'm quite busy lately. A hectic schedule for a month. Alhamdulillah, that situation not burden me too much. During my hectic time, I thought about ...........

Oh ya, soul. Soulmate. Soul? What else? ( Why soul? heh..)

          The fact is every human being have a soul. Even that person is so cruel, deep inside him/her, there is a soul. Soul, feeling, is an abstract thing. We can't describe it physically. Sometimes we also don't understand about soul and feeling. So called as... dilemma.

Yeah, dilemma is another problem that we always face it. Through out time, how many times do we in this situation? How we handle it? Check out these conversation.

Some person said, "Oh no, dilemma. What should I do? Where should I complain?"

Some will, "Life is no longer for me. Problems always come around. I'm alone. Nobody understand me."

There also people who said, "Why me? I was in trouble for 3 months. And now, again?"

          Yeah, as human being, we will keep complaining in every incidents that happen in our life.  Doesn't matter whether that incidents are good or bad. We are keep complaining and never feel enough and satisfied.

Ops, before that, let us refer to something. Something that we seldom refer to.

So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief: [5] Verily with every difficulty there is relief. [6] Therefore, when thou art free (from thine immediate task), still labour hard [7] And to thy Lord turn (all) thy attention. [8]

                                                            [Surah ash- Sharh: 5-8]

          Look. Allah reminds us. There are many obstacles that we need to face in our life, after one to another. Each incidents either good or bad, have it magnificient.Then, Allah also let us know that only to Him we must put our attention, our hopes.

          How bout now? What do we feel? Dilemma? Guilty? Or embrassed because Allah keeps remind us? Don't worry. I would like to share something that guide us in every single thing that we do in this world. For the sake of Hereafter.

By (the Token of) time (through the Ages), [1] Verily Man is in loss, [2] Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy. [3]

                                                                    [Surah 'Asr: 1-3]

          By time. 'Asr = time. Something that is so precious. He swear by time. By His swearing, followed by tazkeer. To show us that our life is short but forever in Hereafter. We need supply to go there. Then again Allah guide us on how to prepare ourselves for Hereafter. He arrange the flow on how to get a better life in this world also in the Hereafter.

The choice is on us. So decide wisely.

Till then. Be blessed.

A Dearth of Ideas

I found this article from Pak Darma's wall on FB. I think this article is good. In the other hand, we as PISMP students, can learn something from this article. Yeah, it is all about education. So, let's read it!

*************************************************************************************

A Dearth of Ideas  

         An idea can change the world. A great deal has been written about the stark simplicity and honesty of the early believers and how the rustic, desert tribes conquered the world within two decades of the dawn of Islam. What fascinates me to no end though, is their seminal contribution to modern science and all streams of pursuit of knowledge. From astronomy to anatomy to medical science, from mathematics to chemistry to physics to navigation and philosophy to poetry, Muslims have not only left an imprint on modern science, they have shaped our world.

        Did you, for instance, know that it was an Arab woman, Fatima al Fihri, from Morocco who founded the world’s first university? Or that the blue print of the modern camera was created by an Iraqi scientist, Ibn Al Haitham, more than a thousand years ago? He wrote the Book of Optics that led to the invention of the camera.

        How many of us, accustomed to the comfort and speed of air travel, realise that the idea had been first tried by a curious pioneer called Abbas Ibn Firnas? With his body covered in feathers and ‘wings’ strapped to his arms, the Berber polymath took to the sky in the 9th-century in Cordoba, managing to “fly” several meters before crash landing. It was clearly a work in progress! But let’s not forget it happened a thousand years before the Wright brothers attempted their flight.

        New York these days is hosting an unusual exhibition profiling hundreds of such pioneers, from Ibn Firnas to Ibn Sena, in a long due tribute to the contribution of the Islamic civilisation. 1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World opened in the Big Apple last month, after immensely successful shows in London and Istanbul attracting 800,000 visitors, is an attempt to recreate the glory of the magical millennium, from 700 to 1700 AD, that changed the world.

         It was during this period between the fall of Rome and the rise of the European Renaissance, that the Muslim civilisation led the world in science and technology and virtually everything else. From the humble coffee beans to the crafty game of chess to windmills to clocks to fountain pen to soap to surgical instruments and from quilting or sewing to gunpowder, the list of Muslim inventions is endless. Five-hundred years before Galileo discovered the earth was round and was duly punished for it by the Church, the Muslim scientists had established the spherical nature of the planet.

        In the empire of the faith that stretched from Spain through the Middle East to China, new ideas were constantly generated, encouraged and embraced. It’s this ferocious hunger for knowledge that took the Arabs and Muslims to great heights of power, prosperity and intellectual supremacy. They fought the battle of ideas from a position of strength, challenging reigning ideas and ideologies of the time.

        They looked for and embraced the best from around the world. Which was how the science of arithmetic from India and Greek philosophy were passed on to Europe and the rest of the world. Indeed, the Arab contribution played a critical role in the progress the West has made over the past five centuries.

        A culture of excellence coupled with their willingness to learn enabled the Muslims to conquer new lands. Muslim countries were home to scores of universities and libraries long before Oxford and Cambridge came to be founded in Europe.

        When the Mongol armies ran over the Middle East sacking eminent centres of power and learning like Baghdad, Damascus and Alexandria and killing hundreds of thousands of people, historians say that there was more ink than blood in rivers. The invaders had burnt and dumped in the river hundreds of thousands of invaluable books and rare manuscripts authored and collected over the centuries.

       How would you then explain the current intellectual stagnation? Why aren’t Muslims part of the knowledge revolution any more, let alone leading it? Have they run out of steam as a people and as a civilisation?

       It’s no coincidence that power began to slip from Muslim hands just when they stopped exploring and expanding new horizons of knowledge. Muslims haven’t produced one intellectual or scientist of the stature of Ibn Rushd and Ibn Sena, or Averroes and Avicenna, in the past many centuries. A small European nation or a backward Indian state could boast more universities today than the entire Arab world put together.

       All we do these days is spend all our time and energy on pointless delusions of grandeur and fruitless debates. Instead of doing something constructive and positive to lift ourselves out of the dangerous intellectual morass and stagnation we are stuck in, we are busy issuing fatwas condemning each other.

       There was a time when most Arab countries did not have much by way of financial and material resources. Thankfully, that’s not the case today. Yet they are not making the most of the boom driven by the oil wealth discovered during the last century. Instead of endlessly building malls, hotels and palaces and other delusions of grandeur, shouldn’t the Arabs be investing their resources in building infrastructures of knowledge like universities, research centres, think tanks and the media? Ours is the age of knowledge.

       A war of ideas is on. And only those well prepared and equipped for it will survive this battle of hearts and minds. If for nothing else, Arab countries should make greater investments in knowledge for their restive, young generations. After all, a majority of the Middle East’s population today is young and very restive. They are growing up with a sense of purpose and direction and a keen consciousness of their place in the world. The Arab nations will ignore them at their own cost.

       There’s no dearth of talent or resources, human or material, in the Muslim world today. What it needs is original ideas and men who could translate them into reality. More important, what is needed is an opening of minds.

By Aijaz Zaka Syed  

Thursday, February 24, 2011

 

-The Writer is based in Gulf and has extensively written on the Muslim world affairs. Email: aijaz.syed@hotmail.com


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Warmest Welcome

Assalamualaikum and a very happy day to all!

Now, I am here. Yup, not as a newbie but sort of newbie in this dimension. ^_^

As what you can see, almost all of my blogs are using Bahasa Melayu, fully.

Sometimes I posted in english, based on the topic. Just a little post in english. You can count it. huhu...

Anyways, I feel happy and glad to start blogging in English. Very happy because this is one of my wishes for this year. Do support me ya!

Psst...Psst...:

Do advice and correct me if there are any mistakes that you can see. As I am a learner, a student, that always do mistakes. I feel free to be taught. 

Till then... Take care ya! Be blessed.