Learning to breathe

2011-03-30T03:59:00.000-07:00

I'm sick of ppl pretending being nice & sweet while they don't even know the meaning of friendship. I may not know how to say sweet things like others do. I may not upload hundreds of pic to tell people that u are my bestfriend. I may not see u often. I may not write on ur wall or even comment on ur status. I don't know how to exaggerate. But insyaAllah, I'm a friend u can depends on :) Only true friends know this.

Quote by Rina Salleh. Nice one Rina! Inshallah, only true friends know this. :)

Where is our ethics and common sense?

2011-03-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

From Saifulislam.com

Tsunami Akal dan Budi di Tanah Air Sendiri

Lori beras terbalik.

Orang ramai berpesta mengaut beras ‘percuma’ di Lebuhraya.

Pemandu lori yang parah mengerang dengan luka yang dihurung lalat meminta bantuan.

Kelindan lori terbiar hingga mati di tepi jalan.

Saya cuba untuk menghadam laporan kejadian lori beras terbalik di KM394 Lebuhraya Utara Selatan berhampiran Tanjung Malim bulan lalu. Apakah yang difikirkan oleh pengaut beras itu? Adakah mereka lebih miskin daripada penghuni pondok yang makan siput babi beberapa tahun lalu di siaran Bersamamu TV3? Jika tidak lama dulu orang ramai berkejaran mengutip duit syiling yang bertaburan akibat kemalangan di Lebuhraya yang sama, kali ini beras dikaut untuk habuan makan, membiarkan mangsa di tepi tanpa tindakan peri kemanusiaan.

Kebingungan.

Seperti ada satu ‘petanda besar, bagai ada sesuatu yang sangat tidak kena dengan perilaku masyarakat kita kebelakangan ini.

11 Mac 2011, seluruh penduduk dunia terkejut.

Sesuatu yang tidak pernah dicatat oleh sejarah, Pantai Timur Laut Jepun dilanda gempa bumi paling dahsyat berukuran 8.9 pada skala Richter. Gegaran yang begitu dahsyat mengundang bencana yang paling menakutkan iaitu gelombang Tsunami. Tanpa berlengah, ombak setinggi 10 meter menghempas pantai dan menyapu segala yang berdiri di muka bumi, ‘tanpa belas kasihan’.

Tidak pasti apa yang mahu diungkap, selain berdoa agar kejadian itu tidak mengulangi penderitaan kesan Tsunami di Sumatera pada Disember 2004 yang lalu apabila lebih 200 ribu nyawa terbunuh di sekeliling pantai Lautan Hindi. Gelombang Tsunami kali ini menggoncang perairan Lautan Pasifik hingga melimpahkan kesannya ke perairan Pantai Timur Semenanjung Malaysia, serta Sabah dan Sarawak.

Subhanallah!

Hanya pernah sekali menjejakkan kaki ke bumi Jepun, kenangan di bumi Ibaraki, menambah ‘rasa terkait’ dengan apa yang berlaku apabila gempa bumi dan Tsunami turut memusnahkan kawasan yang indah dan permai itu.

Namun kesedihan dan debar menyaksikan satu demi satu laporan berita di media, terpukul oleh beberapa siri laporan berita media tempatan yang membingungkan.

TAHAP KEPRIHATINAN KITA

Belum pun reda gegaran dan deruan ombak ganas Tsunami di Jepun, Buletin Utama di TV3 sudah berbincang tentang implikasi bencana besar di Jepun itu kepada pasaran saham di Tokyo serta akibatnya kepada kedudukan pasaran saham global termasuk Kuala Lumpur. Tanpa sensitiviti yang paling minima atas dasar kemanusiaan, Dato Mukhriz Tun Mahathir menyatakan harapannya agar Jepun segera memulihkan keadaan ekonomi serta pasaran sahamnya dan mudah-mudahan ia tidak berjangkit ke pasaran saham di negara kita.

Tatkala kenyataan rasmi Perdana Menteri tidak kedengaran, laporan ala kadar terhadap bencana luar biasa ini terus dihalakan pada soal ekonomi. Bukan ekonomi Jepun, tetapi kepentingan negara kita, rakan niaga tradisi negara matahari terbit itu!

Mulia sungguh hati rakan ini.

Apa sudah terjadi?

KOSMO! AHAD

Menyelak akhbar di pagi Ahad, sekali lagi kita kebingungan.

Kosmo Ahad 13 Mac 2011 di halaman 3, menyiarkan berita Ratu Pornografi Jepun, Maria Ozawa terselamat daripada malapetaka gempa bumi dan Tsunami itu.

Dalam ramai-ramai tokoh daripada kalangan rakyat Jepun, Miyabi pula yang jadi pilihan.

Bimbang benar dengan kehilangan ikon penting ini.

BERITA HARIAN

Diselak pula akhbar Berita Minggu 13 Mac 2011 di halaman 24, kartunis Zoy melukis kartun Ultraman yang lari bertempiaran dikejar ombak Tsunami gergasi 11 Mac lalu. Entah apa yang cuba diterjemahkan melalui lakaran itu, ia pantas melahirkan betapa rendahnya moral kita hingga kejadian bencana sedahsyat itu, dilakar sebagai bahan senda gurau tanpa sedikit pun mempertimbangkan perasaan sekalian manusia, Jepun atau tidak Jepunnya mereka, berkenaan jurnalisma terencat jiwa ini.

Apakah semua ini?

Neo-journalism versi apakah ini?

Paling mengaibkan, lakaran kartun yang sangat tidak sensitif ini telah disiarkan di CNN iReport iaitu cabang citizen journalism milik CNN.

Berita yang disiarkan itu menyebut:

iReport —

Local Malaysian newspaper Berita Harian published a caricature in their editor’s column today that depicts the popular Japanese cartoon character Ultraman as trying to outrun an incoming tsunami.

The publication has received tremendous criticisms by readers, who accuse the editors as being “inconsiderate and distasteful”. Several political leaders have even stepped out and demand a public apology, to which the editors promptly made on their publication’s Facebook fan page. – posted by Dancingtiger

Mungkin media perdana sama ada di arena siar atau cetak, tidak mampu menyesuaikan diri dengan era jaringan sosial semasa yang semakin menidakkan kuasa veto mereka membentuk pendapat umum.

Dalam tempoh yang begitu singkat, sesuatu yang menggambarkan kejengkelen kartunis, serta kecuaian editorial, telah menjatuhkan maruah negara. Bagaimana kalau berita ini mengusik sentimen pelabur Jepun dan antarabangsa? Inginkah hukuman setimpal itu atas sikap rakan niaga yang tidak berhati perut?

Foto kredit malaysiana.pnm.my

SI LUNCAI TERJUN DENGAN LABU-LABUNYA!

Bencana itu sudah tiba di Jepun!
Tak apa. Kita kan di Malaysia…

Bencana itu sudah tiba di Johor!
Tak apa. Kita kan di Selangor…

Bencana itu sudah tiba di Gombak!
Tak apa. Kita kan di Petaling Jaya…

Bencana itu sudah tiba di Seksyen 5!
Tak apa. Kita kan di Seksyen 2…

Bencana itu sudah tiba di Jalan 2/4!
Tak apa. Kita kan di Jalan 2/8…

Bencana itu sudah tiba di rumah nombor 47!
Tak apa. Kita kan di rumah nombor 74…

Bahagian depan rumah kita sudah runtuh!
Syukur. Dapur kita masih selamat…

Memperkenalkan… mazhab Aku Tidak Pedulisma!

WASIAT NUH ALAYHI AL-SALAAM

Sebagai penutup, renungilah wasiat Nabi Nuh Alayhi as-Salaam kepada anak-anaknya yang beriman sebelum Baginda wafat pulang kepada Allah.

Imam Ahmad dan al-Bayhaqi telah meriwayatkan daripada Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin al-’Aas Radhiyallahu ‘anhuma, beliau berkata:

Suatu ketika kami sedang bersama-sama dengan Rasulullah SAW. Kemudian datang seorang lelaki dari pedalaman yang memakai jubah besar berwarna hijau (Seehan) dan dihiasi dengan sutera. Lalu Rasulullah SAW berkata:

“Sesungguhnya sahabat kamu ini telah meninggalkan setiap pahlawan berkuda anak pahlawan berkuda serta mengangkat setiap pengembala anak pengembala! (Pakaian yang melambangkan keangkuhan pemakainya)” Lalu Baginda SAW memegang jubah lelaki tersebut dan berkata kepadanya “Aku melihat engkau memakai pakaian orang yang tidak berakal!” Kemudian Rasulullah SAW berkata lagi “Sesungguhnya Nabi Allah Nuh Alayhi as-Salaam ketika nazak menghadapi kematian, beliau berkata kepada anaknya:

“Sesungguhnya aku mahu meninggalkan wasiat kepada kamu. Aku perintahkan kepada kamu dua perkara dan aku tegah kamu daripada dua perkara. Aku perintahkan kamu dengan Laa Ilaaha IllaLlaah. Sesungguhnya jika tujuh petala langit dan bumi diletakkan di suatu timbangan dan Laa Ilaaha IllaLlaah diletakkan di suatu timbangan yang lain, nescaya Laa Ilaaha IllaLlaah itu lebih berat. Seandainya tujuh petala langit dan bumi itu suatu rangkaian yang samar dan rapuh, ia terjalin kukuh dan kemas dengan Laa Ilaaha IllaLlaah.

Aku juga memerintahkan kamu dengan Tasbih dan Takbir. Sesungguhnya dengan demikian terhasil kesejahteraan setiap sesuatu dan dengannya jua makhluk dikurniakan rezeki.

Aku tegah kamu dari Syirik dan Kibr (takabbur)”

Sahabat bertanya, Ya Rasulallah, sesungguhnya Syirik itu telah kami arif mengenainya. Namun, apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan Kibr? Adakah menjadi Kibr jika seseorang itu memakai sepasang kasut yang baik dengan talinya yang baik?

Rasulullah SAW menjawab, “Tidak”

Kata Sahabat berkenaan, atau apakah dengan seseorang itu mempunyai perhiasan dan beliau memakainya (lalu dianggap Kibr)?

Rasulullah SAW menjawab, “Tidak”

Kata Sahabat berkenaan lagi, atau apakah seseorang itu mempunyai haiwan tunggangan dan beliau menunggangnya (lalu dianggap Kibr)?

Rasulullah SAW menjawab, “Tidak”

Kata Sahabat tersebut, atau adakah jika sesiapa di kalangan kami mempunyai ramai teman dan beliau duduk bersama mereka (lalu dianggap Kibr)?

Rasulullah SAW menjawab, “Tidak”

Lalu Sahabat tersebut bertanya, kalaulah begitu ya Rasulallah, maka apakah sebenarnya Kibr itu?

Nabi SAW menjawab, “Al-Kibr itu ialah meremeh-temehkan kebenaran (safah al-haq) dan menindas manusia (ghamth an-Naas)!“

[Dikeluarkan oleh Ahmad di dalam al-Musnad 2: 169, 170, 225. Dan oleh al-Bayhaqi di dalam al-Asmaa' wa as-Sifaat: 79]

“Al-Kibr itu ialah meremeh-temehkan kebenaran (safah al-haq) dan menindas manusia (ghamth an-Naas)!”

Inilah pesanan Nabi Allah Nuh Alayhi as-Salaam kepada anaknya sebelum wafat. Dan kita ini semua adalah cucu cicitnya Baginda. Terimalah nasihat ini sebagai peringatan.

Sesungguhnya Tauhid dan Kalimah Tauhid adalah sebesar-besar perkara di dalam hidup ini. Menjadikan ia sebagai fokus diri, dan seterusnya disempurnakan pula dengan Takbir membesarkan Allah dan Tasbih mensucikanNya pada lisan dan perbuatan. Syirik yang muncul dengan pelbagai versi di dalam kehidupan kita hari ini bersama perbuatan angkuh, bongkak, takabbur atau Kibr itu pula hendaklah dijauhi. Sesungguhnya Syirik dan takabbur itu telah menjadi syiar dan cara hidup ramai manusia pada hari ini.

SALAH SIAPA

Habis, salah siapa semua itu?

Mahu dikata salah kerajaan, ia kerajaan pilihan rakyat.

Mahu dikata salah rakyat, siapakah pendidik-pendidik rakyat itu?

Nampaknya ia salah saya.

Salah pendakwah yang belum cukup kuat berusaha.

Justeru saya telah, sedang dan akan terus berusaha.

Saya sudah mendapat satu lagi tugasan.

Anda cukup dengan menonton sahaja?

“Sesungguhnya Allah tidak mengubah apa yang ada pada satu kaum itu sehingga mereka bertindak mengubah apa yang ada pada diri mereka sendiri” [Al-Ra'd 13: 11]

Salam takziah dari saya untuk akal dan budi tamadun manusia.

” Apakah penduduk negeri itu merasakan aman dari bala Allah pada waktu malam ketika mereka sedang tidur. Apakah penduduk negeri itu merasa aman dari bala Allah pada waktu pagi sedang mereka bermain atau bekerja. Apakah mereka merasa aman dari azab Allah(jadi mereka boleh hidup berseronok hingga melanggar hukum Allah). Tidaklah yang merasa aman dari azab Allah melainkan orang yang rugi.” (Al-A’raaf 98-99)

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Everybody's free (to wear sunscreen)

2011-02-12T05:33:00.000-08:00

Everybody's free (to wear sunscreen) by Baz Luhrmann

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '99.
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience...
I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked...
You're not as fat as you Imagine.

Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind.
The kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy;
Sometimes you're ahead,
Sometimes You're behind.
The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults;
If you Succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your
Life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don't Congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body, Use it every way you can... Don't be afraid of it, or what other people Think of it,
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own...

Dance... even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings;
They are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will Philander, you too will get old, and when you do you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, Maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's been years since I've heard this song@poem by Baz Luhrmann. I realised that I began to appreciate and understand the lyrics way better when I heard this song today, in my mid 20s, compared to my teenage years. How fast time flies. How many things have changed and many others haven't. Are we still as naive as we used to be? Have we become more mature and wise? These are things that only we ourselves would be able to answer. Or perhaps we'd rather not think about. Accepting the hard facts of life, and in order to change things around us, we need to change our views and attitude to be more positive, be more thankful and be more closer to Him. Inshallah, I hope that this song will inspire you all as much as it inspires me. :)

Another day ll Dawud Wharnsby Ali

2011-02-07T23:38:00.000-08:00

A simply profound song; only surpassed by the captivating splendor of its message.

Death is a fact of life and the most truthfully inevitable of realities; yet seldom do we ever contemplate its arrival. This track truly captures the innate purpose of life that is embedded deep down our very consciences as human beings; all part of the 'test' that the system of life poses to us.

The ones that recognize that purpose and live life according to God's terms; are the true winners.

aliash79

Seasons Greetings ^_^

2010-12-23T19:24:00.000-08:00

I find that this article below written by Ustaz Hazrizal will perhaps be an enlightening view for Muslims (esp. in Malaysia??) that kept arguing about the hukum on celebration of Christmas.
Hope you guys will find it refreshing, as I did. :)

Kad Krismas Saya Untuk ‘Anda’

“Amir, awak rindukan Krismas?” saya bertanya.

Di satu sudut masjid, Amir duduk bersimpuh tersenyum mendengar soalan saya.

Tengah hari itu cuaca di Belfast sungguh sejuk. Hanya tinggal beberapa hari lagi, Krismas tiba. Di sana sini lagu-lagu Krismas berkumandang. Teringat saya kepada suasana Aidilfitri di Malaysia, manusia bagai dipaksa-paksa untuk beremosi dengan lagu raya. Sama ada untuk melakukan barangan, menyuruh anak perantau pulang ke desa, atau dipasang sekadar menandakan musim raya sudah bermula.

Lisburn Road yang selalunya comot lagi suram dengan sentuhan cuaca Ireland Utara, indah berhias dengan pelbagai dekorasi, tidak mengalah dengan kemeriahan di sekitar pusat membeli belah Castle Court di tengah bandar.

“Tidak. Tiada rasa rindu. Tetapi rasa lebih berhubung” jawab Amir dengan tenang.

Amir adalah anak tempatan. Sudah lama memeluk Islam dan tiada gelaran ‘saudara baru’ untuknya lagi.

“Bagaimana pula lebih berhubung?” saya kurang jelas dengan maksudnya.

“Dulu-dulu, saya sekeluarga menyambut Krismas tanpa sebab yang jelas. Malah tanpa sedar, seperti ada kekeliruan antara Jesus dan Santa Claus” jelas pemuda itu.

Amir menggambarkan kepada saya betapa Krismas disambut lebih kepada sebuah adat yang sekular. Tiada intipati agama yang jelas. Hadir ke perhimpunan di gereja pun tidak dirasakan sebagai ritual agama.

“Di Belfast ini, hidup sebagai minoriti menjadikan Muslim lebih menghargai Aidilfitri. Tetapi di negara saya, Ramadan semakin disudahkan dengan perayaan yang semakin sekular. Hilang roh agamanya” saya berkongsi.

“Itulah perbezaan agama minoriti dan majoriti barangkali” Amir menyambung mesej saya tadi.

“Selepas memeluk Islam, awak masih menyambut Krismas?” saya ingin tahu.

“Ya dan tidak” jawabnya ringkas.

“Bagaimana begitu?” saya tidak pasti.

“Ya, saya masih menyambut Krismas dengan pulang menziarahi keluarga saya dan menyertai perhimpunan keluarga kami. Ada hidangan yang saya makan, ada yang tidak. Tetapi saya tidak lagi menyambut Krismas dengan jiwa yang sama seperti mereka kerana saya rasa saya lebih Kristian selepas memeluk Islam!” jelas Amir.

“Oh! Lebih Kristian selepas memeluk Islam? Unik tu!” saya terpinga-pinga.

“Tentu sahaja. Jika dahulu, status Jesus sukar untuk saya hadam ke dalam jiwa dan keyakinan. Tetapi kini segalanya jelas. Maryam dan Isa lebih indah dan suci di dalam Aqidah Islam” ujar pemuda Irish itu.

Amir membacakan kepada saya firman Allah di dalam al-Quran, surah Aal ‘Imraan:

“(Ingatlah) ketika malaikat berkata: “Wahai Maryam! Bahawasanya Allah memberikan khabar yang menggembirakanmu, dengan (mengurniakan seorang anak yang engkau akan kandungkan semata-mata dengan) kalimah daripada Allah, nama anak itu: Al-Masih, Isa Ibni Maryam, seorang yang terkemuka di Dunia dan di Akhirat, dan ia juga dari orang-orang yang didampingkan (diberi kemuliaan di sisi Allah). Dan ia akan berkata-kata kepada orang ramai semasa ia masih kecil dalam buaian, dan semasa ia dewasa, dan ia adalah daripada orang-orang yang soleh.” [Aal 'Imraan 3: 45-46]

“Versi Islam untuk Annunciation?” saya menyoal.

Amir tersenyum.

Dia memang tidak banyak berbicara.

“Eh, saya perlu beredar sekarang. Maafkan saya, Imam. Kita jumpa lagi Insya Allah” Amir tiba-tiba bangun. Teringatkan sesuatu barangkali.

“Baiklah. Merry Christmas?” saya memberi ucapan dalam nada menyoal.

“Islamic Christmas?” beliau juga menjawabnya dengan nada menyoal.

Kami ketawa.

KRISMAS DAN PELUANG DAKWAH

Saya teringat kepada pesanan Said Hawwa di dalam risalah Maulid beliau yang terhimpun di dalam kitab Kay Laa Namdhee Ba’eedan ‘an Ihtiyaajaat al-’Asr. Al-Marhum berpesan, biar pun Maulid tidak disambut di zaman Nabi sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam atas sebab yang makruf, ia tidak seharusnya menjadi alasan untuk tarikh yang difahami sebagai Maulid al-Rasul itu dibiarkan begitu sahaja. Ramai manusia yang secara otomatik tertanya-tanya apakah tiada sambutan, tiada ceramah, tiada kenduri. Kesediaan masyarakat untuk ‘diprogramkan’ itu mesti dimanfaatkan oleh pendakwah. Tolaklah ke tepi anasir-anasir yang bersalahan dengan Sunnah. Namun mengapa tidak diadakan majlis ilmu mengingati Rasul sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Mengapa tidak baginda dipuji dan dikenang bersama selawat dengan bahasa syair yang indah, selagi syair itu tidak mengungkapkan syirik dan bid’ah?

Demikian juga perihal Krismas.

Ketika sahabat handai malah mungkin ada yang sanak saudara dan ahli keluarga yang menyambut Krismas kerana agama mereka, mengapa tidak sentimen dan emosi yang wujud dimanfaatkan sebagai peluang dakwah?

Umat Islam harus sudah mampu keluar daripada berulang kali memperdebatkan persoalan hukum mengucap tahniah kepada non-Muslim.

Jadikan sahaja ia peluang dakwah, ungkapkan sesuatu yang lebih Islamik.

Hantarkan kad Krismas yang disertakan dengan petikan-petikan ayat al-Quran yang berbicara tentang Isa dan Maryam.

Beritahu rakan Kristian anda bahawa kita kaum Muslimin juga memuliakan Jesus dan Mary. Namun Risalah Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam datang memurnikan kepercayaan kami mengenainya. Hadiahkan buku-buku yang baik pada menjelaskan tentang Islam serta hubungkaitnya dengan Risalah Jesus. Buku yang sedap dibaca, buku yang tidak mencederakan kasih sayang mereka kepada Jesus dan Mary, tetapi menggunakan kasih sayang itu untuk mengajak mereka kepada Aqidah yang lebih memurnikan cinta seorang mukmin kepada sekalian Rasul, di samping Isa juga bondanya Maryam.

Seperti kata Amir, “saya terasa lebih Kristian selepas memeluk Islam. Lebih dekat dengan Jesus Christ”

Mungkin sudah agak terlambat, tetapi malam itu saya mengerjakan Photoshop untuk membuat kad Krismas berserta petikan al-Quran tentang Jesus dan Mary. Kad itu dikongsikan bersama Jamal, Presiden Belfast Islamic Centre untuk dihantar kepada beberapa klien yang biasa berurusan dengan kami daripada kalangan agensi tempatan.

“Dan peringatkanlah mereka dengan hari-hari Allah. “Sesungguhnya yang demikian itu, mengandungi tanda-tanda yang menunjukkan kekuasaan Allah bagi tiap-tiap seorang yang kuat bersabar, lagi kuat bersyukur” [Ibrahim 14: 5]

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I cannot agree more with the character Amir, for when a non Muslim reverts, he/she seemed to be more aware of the truth and more careful about the things that they do in their life.
Since they have the opportunity to be a non Muslim before, they can differentiate between religion and culture.

Like Amir, I find that Muslim reverts have the tendency to appreciate the practices in Islam because they understand that these do not fall into culture. They will try their best to steer away from the 'cultural' practices, because they know that the practices in Islam is always based on the truth; upon Quraan and Sunnah, and other practices are unnecessary, and they want to follow Islam to the best that they can, no matter how awkward it may seemed to be to 'some' taklid buta Muslims.

For example, there has been numerous misunderstanding on Islam, where 'culturally' in our country we insist for a revert to change their name, adding an Arab name, or even change their father's name. This does not potray the true teaching of Islam at all! Our Prophet never taught us to change the names as long as it has a good meaning. Changing names actually deviates far from the truth! Some Muslim may argue saying that it is harmless, but for some race it is a very sensitive issue when it comes to changing names. See how easily 'culture' can lead create confusion and misunderstanding on Islam?

Also, culturally, the term mualaf is often misused in our country; we always like to call a revert Mualaf (kononnya membawa maksud saudara baru) for his/her whole life time! Truth is, the Quran uses the term Al-Mu'allafati Quloobuhum to refer to people who have either recently accepted Islam or are in the process. The singular would be Mu'aalafun Qalbuh (man) or Mu'allafun Qalbuha (woman). The first part, Mu'allaf, by itself does not mean a revert, it means a compiled work.

So in the article above, Amir was never intimadated by other Muslims in Belfast since they do not blindly follow the culture of calling a revert 'mualaf' or saudara baru.

While there are certain culture that is permissible, one must always be aware of the practices that they do, because Islam is simple. It always have been. Obey Allah and obey His Messenger. Allah has commanded us to follow Islam the way that our Prophet Muhammad had taught us. Yes, there are numerous mischevious backstabbing Muslims (or Munafiqs) and non Muslims who will always try to create confusion among the Muslim ummah; but if we stick rightly to the path of Allah by following the Quraan and Sunnah one should be able to the feel peace and just of Islam in their hearts and in their mind.

It is without doubt that Christmas is not a religious celebration it is more cultural (that is already known), but if we Muslims show the beauty of Islam where we meet and greet and perhaps give some dakwah to our Christian brothers/sisters, by telling them that as a Muslim, we too, love Jesus and Mary, show them the surahs in Quraan, have a friendly discussion with them, clear the confusion between Jesus in the Quraan and in the Bible, then inshallah, one will never know if Allah open their hearts to accept Islam.

One beautiful example of a revert who I really look up upon is Brother Yusuf Estes (he's one of my favourite daiee!) ^_^ Here is a video (it's very entertaining, I promise!)
on Why did Bro. Yusuf Estes embrace Islam. I hope this will be an eye opener to all of us, inshallah. May Allah lead us to the true path of Islam. :)

Heaven, where true love goes

2010-12-15T01:46:00.000-08:00

When things are down
And you are out of your mind
Just Remember Allah is The Merciful .

When your life is in darkness
And nothing is right
Just Remember
Through the darkness, Allah is The Light.

When nothing makes sense
And your heading for demise
Just Remember
It doesn't make sense, but Allah is The Wise.

When times are troubled
And no one seems to care
Just Remember, that Allah will care .

When your heart is breaking
And your pain makes you fall
Just Remember, Allah relieves it all.

When you are weak
And the road seems long
Just Remember, Seek strength from The Strong.

When life is a burden
And everything is unstable
Just Remember, Allah is The Able.

When the way is cloudy
And there is no one by your side
Just Remember, Allah is The Only Guide.

When no one wants to listen
Or is willing to lend an ear
Just Remember, Allah is always ready to hear.

When you are poor and penniless
And you are stuck in a niche
Just Remember, Allah is The Rich.

When you are down in your misery
And there is nowhere to run
Just Remember,
You can always run to The One.

When you are all alone
And your pain has no end
Just Remember, Allah is the only one you can depend.

And when your scars are hurting
And your heart is in fear
Just Remember, Allah is really here.

The irony of burn the Quran day (an overdue post)

2010-11-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

Lets think logically...

It doesn’t matter how many Quraans they are going to burn, being outraged to these laughable dim-witted people are not a cool solution. It doesn’t matter if these thick headed people wants to burn Quraan, what Muslims should do is to laugh at them (yes laugh!) and enquire them instead who would REALLY be in trouble if, we Muslims would burn all the Bible? Isn’t this a BIGGER problem for the Christians due to a really obvious reason? (Gotcha!)

Muslims doesn’t have to worry at all because hundreds and thousands of Muslims (we’re talking about a REALLY HUGE groups of Muslims around the globe here, people remember?) have already memorised the whole Quraan! Mashallah remember the huffaz, and hafiz? Don’t forget the mufassirs, muhaddiths too!

That's the beauty of Islam! The fact that we can validate and maintain the authenticity of all of our sources from the time of our Prophet til today makes us the only religion that does not have blind faith people! Lets be a cool and calm Muslim and laugh at those evident bunch of idiots. Think about it. Peace! :D

Sunshine, Dust and the Messenger ^_^

2010-10-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

A beautiful nasheed from DawudWharnsby Ali, I love 'em lyrics. :)

Sunshine, Dust and the Messenger

Morning light through the bedroom window.

Slow motion dust specks swirling in the sun.

I close my eyes,

and I’m floating along.

Sun - did you warm the face of the Prophet

the way you warm mine and make this room glow?

Dust - were you brushed from the beard of the Prophet,

Returning from Jihad, so long ago?

اللهم صل علي محمد

يا رب علمىن

اللهم صل علي محمد

صلى الله عليه وسلم

Rain pouring down upon my garden,

rhythm for the wind that sings his song.

I close my eyes

and I’m drumming along.

Rhythm of rain - were you once a river,

that purified the Prophet before his prayers?

Wind - were you a breath form the lips of the Prophet

carrying wisdom to thirsty ears?

اللهم صل علي محمد

يا رب علمىن

اللهم صل علي محمد

صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sharp, clear crescent, light in the blue night.

Slipping in silence through a star scattered sky.

I close my eyes

and I know that I belong.

Were you the same moon that lit the way of the Prophet,

slipping through the desert on his Hijrah?

Stars did you map the way to Madinah,

for the blessed Messenger of Allah?

اللهم صل علي محمد

يا رب علمىن

اللهم صل علي محمد

صلى الله عليه وسلم

I close my eyes,

and I’m floating along.

I close my eyes

and I’m drumming a song.

Fesyen PELACUR Islam??

2010-10-22T02:54:00.000-07:00

Dari Hadis Riwayat Abu Dawud,"Akan tiba masanya umat-umat lain akan mengajak satu sama lain untuk membinasakan kamu (umat Islam) sebagaimana orang mempelawa satu sama lain kepada dulang makanan (menjamah hidangan makanan) . Seorang sahabat bertanya “apakah disebabkan bilangan kami sedikit pada masa itu ya Rasulullah?” Baginda menjawab “bahkan bilangan kamu diwaktu itu adalah ramai tetapi kamu adalah ghutha` (sampah sarap dan buih) di atas air ketika banjir. Allah akan cabut ketakutan dari dada musuh kamu dan dia akan campakkan dalam hati kamu penyakit al-wahn.” Seorang sahabat bertanya pulak ” Ya Rasulullah apakah dia al-wahn itu?” Jawab Rasulullah “cinta dunia dan takut mati".

9 Ogos 2010: Islamic Fashion Festival telah dianjurkan di Malaysia.

Sebagai seorang Muslimah saya amat terperanjat mendapati 'fesyen Islamik' yang dipaparkan adalah satu penipuan dan fitnah dalam Islam semata mata! Astaghfirullah! Lihatlah sendiri betapa 'Islamiknya' fesyen yang dipaparkan!

Sumber gambar diambil dari Toronto Sun

Jelas ia adalah seperti pakaian PELACUR MURAHAN bukannya pakaian yang dianjurkan dalam Islam. Rasa seperti dipersendakan. Rasa sangat marah, benci dan sedih melihat kejahilan umat Islam yang semakin melampau dan menjadi-jadi. Tidak takutkah mereka akan balasan Allah? Sanggupkah mereka menggadaikan agama demi kerana fesyen duniawi yang hanya sementara? Nauzubillah min zalik. Benarlah seperti kata Dr. Lo' Lo' "Kita berarak bantah kartun Nabi yang dibuat di Denmark, di sini di Malaysia, seluruh maruah Islam ditelanjangkn oleh IFF tersebut".

Demi Allah, betapa Islam menyanjung tinggi status dan keperibadian seorang wanita. Namun malangnya ada diantara kita yang sanggup menggadai diri demi kacantikan dan fesyen yang tidak langsung dipandang kira oleh Allah di akhirat kelak. Wahai wanita Muslimah, jagalah auratmu. Janganlah mudah terpedaya dengan fesyen yang melampaui batas batas agama. Be proud to be a Muslimah who adhere to the beautiful deen-ul-Islam. Islam does not oppress women, Islam liberates women. Islam uphold and respect women. Jangan kerana kejahilan kita semata-mata (serta salah anggap kerana pengaruh masyarakat/ideologi) menyebabkan kita tertewas dengan golongan golongan yang senantiasa bertepuk gembira melihat kita jauh dan semakin jauh dari Islam.

A radical and illogical study in China on meat consumption.

2010-10-05T01:27:00.000-07:00

The comprehensive article below is written by a favourite DO of mine, Dr. Joseph Mercola; who's not like your ordinary doctor. First, lets just read what he says on his website at Mercola.com :-

You are wise to question who you can trust when it comes to maintaining, enhancing or rebuilding your health.

With all websites, newspapers, magazines and other publications offering health advice, with every new multi-million dollar TV ad for another proclaimed miracle drug, with any recommendation offered by traditional and natural physicians, it is essential to answer this question above all others: what is their real motivation?

Only if the answer provides you with a sense of security, move on to the next important question: what are their qualifications? The primary trick of the existing medical establishment is to get you to forget that first question - their real motivation - by dazzling you with what appears to be magnificently trustworthy qualifications.

But clinical trials conducted by heavily biased "researchers," advertisements and news stories carefully scripted to scare you into belief, highly polished corporate offices and corporate websites, and an extreme focus on whatever has the most profit potential - not lifesaving or life-enhancing potential - are not qualifications. They are scams.

Don't fall for them.

My motivation, whether you are a member of the Mercola.com community, or have just heard about me for the first time, is to make you as healthy as you can possibly be. This involves:

1) Providing the most up to date natural health information and resources that will most benefit you and,

2) Exposing corporate, government and mass media hype that diverts you away from what is truly best for your health and often to a path that leads straight into an early grave.

Mercola.com is not, in other words, a tool to get me a bigger house and car, or to run for Senate. I fund this site, and therefore, am not handcuffed to any advertisers, silent partners or corporate parents.

When I offer or recommend products, I do so because I have actively researched them and find they are the best in that category for your health. I ignore substandard products, and products not directly pertinent to your health, regardless of any potential financial upside.
And so, my qualifications: first and foremost, I am an osteopathic physician, also known as a DO. DOs are licensed physicians who, similar to MDs, can prescribe medication and perform surgery in all 50 states. DOs and MDs have similar training requiring four years of study in the basic and clinical sciences, and the successful completion of licensing exams. But DOs bring something extra to the practice of medicine. Osteopathic physicians practice a "whole person" approach, treating the entire person rather than just symptoms. Focusing on preventive health care, DOs help patients develop attitudes and lifestyles that don't just fight illness, but help prevent it, too.

I am also board-certified in family medicine and served as the chairman of the family medicine department at St. Alexius Medical Center for five years. I am trained in both traditional and natural medicine.

In November 2009, I was named the top Ultimate Wellness Game Changer by the Huffington Post, an honor that celebrates “100 innovators, visionaries, and leaders in 10 categories who are harnessing the power of new media to reshape their fields and change the world.” HuffPost readers voted me to the top to receive this special award.
Practice Profile:
I am dedicated to finding long-term solutions for my patients who suffer from chronic illnesses. A number of prescription medications are beneficial tools that can help provide relief from some acute illnesses, and as a fully licensed physician, I occasionally prescribe them for these purposes. However, I believe that most medications provide only temporary relief at best, and as an osteopathic physician, I seek to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms.

Ok, here's Dr. Mercola's article about the radical yet illogical study supporting vegetarianism in China.

The Dark Side of the China Study Story Supporting Vegetarianism.

I have sought to apply science to improve my health, and that of others, for over forty years. The topic so intrigued me that I went to medical school to increase my understanding of the way the body works.

I have learned many things along this health journey. Clearly one of the major lessons is that there is enormous controversy when it comes to understanding what the human body was designed to thrive on.

Fortunately, as a practicing physician I have had the distinct advantage of having the opportunity to treat over 25,000 patients who were willing to implement suggestions I made to improve their health. Over the years, I certainly have made my share of mistakes, and some people did not improve after implementing what I thought was very solid advice.

Interestingly, most of my initial failures were related to encouraging many thousands of patients to eat too many vegetables in relation to fats and animal protein.

This may sound shocking to some, and staunch vegetarians, or vegans, might wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that you could possibly eat too many vegetables. In fact, many have absorbed Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s writing’s on this topic, particularly his book The China Study, which makes a radical case against the wisdom of eating animal protein at all, by linking protein to all manner of ill health, including cancer.

Is Eating Meat Harmful, Like Popular Pro-Vegan Book Proclaims?

Many who hold strict vegetarian views) still hold up The China Study as the authoritative "proof" that eating meat was harmful.

This work flies in the face of many nutritionally oriented physicians, like myself, who have collectively treated tens of thousands of patients and found that forcing an animal-free protein diet on everyone will invariably cause harm and suffering in many whose biochemically and genetically determined nutritional type requires large amounts of fat and protein.

Since this book is widely trusted and used to defend a no animal protein position I thought it was important to provide my views on why I believe this work has some fundamental flaws.

Another nutritional physician who has taken a hard look at Dr. Campbell’s book, and the studies that form the basis of his conclusions, is Dr. Michael R. Eades, M.D.

Dr. Eades has been in full-time practice of nutritional and metabolic medicine since 1986, and like myself, has treated tens of thousands of patients. Interestingly, Campbell, on the other hand, is not a practicing physician and has no real-world experience to support the veracity of his nutritional recommendations for the population at large.

Major Reason Why the China Study is Fatally Flawed

The very title of the book is inaccurate. It is NOT a study but a comprehensive set of observations. While this approach can be valuable, it can never prove his assertion that animal protein should be avoided, as he never TESTED that theory on real live patients... The data from Dr. Campbell’s China study was first published in the tome Diet, Life-Style and Mortality in China. It contains several thousands of statistical correlations, which Campbell insists show that animal protein intake is convincingly associated with prevalence of cancer.

However, it’s important to realize two things:

The China study was an observational study. Correlations deduced from an observational study do not – in fact, cannot -- prove causation. As Dr. Eade points out, all you can really do with data from an observational study is to form a hypothesis, which must then be tested in randomized, controlled trials, to ferret out the truth about whether or not x actually causes y.
In many cases, the data (presented in arduous detail in the book Diet, Life-Style and Mortality in China) do not show statistically significant correlations between animal protein consumption and disease such as cancer at all. On the contrary. It would seem that sugar and carbohydrates are correlated with cancer – not animal protein. In addition, the data indicate that fat is negatively correlated with cancer mortality, which again contradicts the claim that meat is harmful.

For more information, I highly recommend reading through Dr. Eade’s critique of The China Study.

You can also review another critique of the China Study by Science Based medicine. It is particularly interesting because the reviewer was initially a strong supporter of the ":study": until faced with the facts.
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=6092

Two Physicians’ Experiences with Using Vegetarian Diets for Everyone

After finishing my family practice residency in 1985 I read the book Fit for Life. The book made some very compelling arguments encouraging the consumption of raw fruits and vegetables. So I started its recommendations and had fruit for breakfast. After a few weeks I tested my blood work and was shocked to find my fasting triglycerides were nearly 3,000. That is not a typo. Nearly three thousand...This was surprising because they had never been over 100 in the past.

Clearly this diet was killing me and I am convinced I would have died long ago had I remained on it. I now realize that this approach probably helps some, but was a disaster for me personally.

Dr. Eades is another nutritional physician. He and I have never met and do not personally know each other.

However, we both started our medical practices about the same time and were both passionate about helping people with nutritional interventions and helping them with alternatives to drugs and surgery.

We had no predisposition to the outcome and were impartial observers to the results of our nutritional interventions. We were both busy clinicians and never had the luxury to take months out of our lives to publish our observations in the medical literature. Nevertheless the lack of publications does not make the observations any less valid.

Interestingly we both observed the same results, namely that large numbers of sick people failed to improve when they implemented vegetarian or vegan diets.

This shocked us as we were compelled by many of the arguments that Campbell makes and believed that all our patients should have improved on this regimen. Initially I questioned their compliance and believed many of them were “cheating.” But after this started happening to more and more people, it became clear my approach was flawed.

Many of these patients significantly worsened and nearly died. Many even left our practices because they lost faith in our ability to use diet as a tool to help them regain their health. What we both realized after these well-intentioned efforts is that . . .

There is No Perfect Diet that Works for Everyone

Most of the confusion in this debate results from this reality. Vegetarian diets described by Campbell do work for large numbers of people. From my observations, perhaps about one third of the population would benefit from it. These people thrive on these foods and have spectacular health. The problem is that there is an equally large, or even larger, population whose health is devastated by restricting animal protein and fats.

About ten years ago I was exposed to concepts that helped me understand this shocking observation. I realized that there is an enormous level of biochemical and genetic individuality that essentially guarantees that there is no perfect food plan that will work for everyone.

What I gradually came to appreciate is that we are all uniquely designed and require customized plans.

I eventually adopted a program called Nutritional Typing, which is a central part of my health plan and is available for free on my site.

This plan categorizes people into three different groups:

Protein: High amounts of healthy fats and protein and lower amounts of vegetables
Carb: High amounts of vegetables and lower amounts of protein and fat
Mixed: Somewhere between the above options

The population is divided equally between the groups, with about one third of the population of the US in each group.

If you go to certain countries however, you will find high percentages in one group, but the US is a wide mixture and has a widespread heterogeneity.

Nutritional Typing Produced Dramatic Improvement

Once I began implementing Nutritional Typing in my practice I noticed a remarkable decrease in those that did not respond favorably to dietary changes. Nearly everyone seemed to notice improvement, and for many it was quite dramatic.

One of the underlying principles of the program is to "Listen to Your Body" and adjust your foods based on how you feel mentally and physically after consuming them. Many who claim to have tried nutritional typing and report feeling worse, have clearly missed this most essential point.

If, after a meal, you feel sluggish, tired, nauseous, or depressed, your meal was not ideal. If you are indeed following the nutritional typing program, this will be a giant clue that you need to modify your diet.

You make a great mistake if you simply take the test once and strictly follow the food choices recommended for that type – you must continuously check in with yourself and keep modifying your food choices until you find the right balance of fats, healthy carbs and protein for you.

Nutritional typing is a way to determine what YOUR customized diet is, and it is not even a one-size-fits-all within each nutritional grouping. If you take nutritional typing seriously, its guidelines will help you modify your food intake until you find the right balance.

That said, some of the most dramatic improvements I saw were from individuals who were protein types but were eating mostly carbs, in the way of vegetables. It was very common for these people to have strong ethical positions about refusing to eat animal products.

I would never ask someone to eat animal foods if they had spiritual convictions against doing so. However, many in this category were just confused about this issue – thinking this is what was healthiest for their body. They couldn't understand why they felt so sick and had so many health problems. Once we were able to clear up that confusion, and experiment with the program, the result was typically quite impressive.

Don’t Listen to Me or ANYONE Else About What You Should Eat

It is sad to see that many staunch vegans and vegetarians fail to even acknowledge that anyone is designed to have animal protein. Unfortunately they are able to convince many with seemingly compelling information like Campbell’s China Study and as a result, many people continue to suffer from not including vital nutrients in their diet -- nutrients they were designed to eat.

Ultimately, if you are sincerely honest and seek to understand what diet is best for you, it is my recommendation to abandon any previously held convictions you might have about diet and listen to your body.

Let your body tell you what foods you were designed to eat. Don’t listen to me or Dr. Eades or a researcher like Campbell who has never treated patients. Just listen to your own body.

You can experiment for yourself and observe your reactions, but if you would like a systemized way to approach this and record your results so you can reach your own independent conclusions about what you were designed to eat, then I would encourage you to take the FREE Nutritional Typing Test.

Should Meat Be Avoided Because of the Cholesterol Issue?

Many, if not most, conventional physicians still maintain the position that cholesterol is harmful and should be avoided. However, this misconception has been carefully debunked in more recent years. Alas, the conventional system is not known for its speed to embrace corrective action even when a fallacy has been clearly revealed.

I won't repeat all the arguments here but if you are interested in getting a more in-depth review, please read my most recent cholesterol report.

The truth is, many of the health problems attributed to fat and cholesterol are in fact caused by SUGAR, not fat! If you do not understand this vital concept, you will likely continue to sabotage your health – avoiding health promoting foods, and substituting them with some of the most health-harming…

Is Vegetarianism Right for You?

I have long advocated consuming plenty of fresh, organic, locally grown raw vegetables, but it's important to understand that different ratios are appropriate for depending on your nutritional type.

This means that some people will thrive on very large amounts of vegetables and very little animal protein. For others, this ratio would spell disaster for their health. Again, it's highly individual. The people who fare the worst on a vegetarian diet are those who are naturally protein types, as they're depriving their bodies of essential fuel, determined by their genetic and biochemical makeup.

Some of my views on eating animal protein were directly influenced by the work of Dr. Weston Price but although his contribution was great, since then countless peer-reviewed studies have been published that support these views.

It's also worth mentioning that I have no competing commercial interests that might sway me from providing the most accurate, health-promoting information I possibly can share on this or any other health related subject. As you may know already, my business model does not allow outside advertisers.

The only commercial items sold on my site are ones that I firmly believe in and most of which I personally use – and that includes grass-fed, organically-and humanely (non-factory farmed) raised meats and wild fish providers whose food products I have tested for purity by an independent lab prior to endorsing them.

But to recap: a largely vegetarian diet may be appropriate for some, but to promote it as the only, or even the best, way to improve health is foolhardy at best, because some two-thirds of people simply cannot and will not thrive on a meatless diet.

What About the Other Animal Protein: Milk… Is it Good or Bad?

Another important distinction that must be taken into account when discussing animal protein sources is the difference between raw and pasteurized dairy. When you heat a protein to the temperature required to achieve pasteurization you denature the tertiary and quaternary structure of the protein making it essentially a new molecule.

Additionally, any time you see studies where casein is given to animals and adverse health effects ensue, there's really little cause for surprise.

Why?

Because any time you process foods you damage them, and you can therefore experience a variety of adverse health effects when you consume them. This should not be misconstrued as being a reflection of the same food in its raw and/or unadulterated state!

My recommendation to everyone is to try cheeses made from raw milk and compare them to cheeses made from pasteurized milk. I'm willing to bet that most of you would agree the taste of raw cheese is far superior. This is so well known, no self-respecting cheesemaker would ever choose pasteurized milk over raw when making cheese, because the properties are entirely different – it's basically damaged goods.

For those who claim there's no significant health benefits of raw over pasteurized, the inherent differences in flavor and consistency between raw and processed cheeses alone will clue you in on the fact that there ARE significant differences between the two types of milk – otherwise the cheeses would also be identical, wouldn't they?

Another common misconception many people have is that you should avoid milk because no other animal in nature consumes it after they're weaned. While this may be logistically true, observation will show you that most animals will eagerly and readily consume raw milk when given the opportunity.

Few would argue with the fact that human breast milk is probably the ideal and most perfect food designed for human infants -- a truly custom-made whole food for a baby -- yet virtually no adult is able to consume this as a source of nutrition for logistical unavailability.

However, throughout history, ancient people across the world have continued drinking similar raw milk from cows, sheep and goats, well past being weaned from their mother's breast.

Final Recommendation

This is obviously a very sensitive issue for many. It has been my experience that many make choices to eat certain foods based on philosophical or intellectual reasons. While I believe that should always be an important part of the process, I believe it is equally important to listen to the important feedback that your body provides you when you consume a certain diet.

If your current diet allows you to function at the highest level of energy and fitness and you rarely feel hungry or crave sweets that is a fairly good sign that you are eating food appropriate for your nutritional type.

However if you are struggling with health challenges and have rigidly adhered to a diet that severely limits or avoids animal protein, because you believe you should or you are choosing it for ethical reasons then I would encourage you to consider changing your diet to include some animal proteins.

Just be honest with yourself and objectively evaluate your body's response. Your body is the most awesome instrument to make this assessment. Ultimately it is the best resource and far superior to anything you read on the Internet or in any published study.

Please feel free to use our free Nutritional Typing Test as tool to help you explore what foods you were designed to eat.

So my final words are to trust the body God gave you to tell you the truth.

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" O ye who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him ye worship" Surah Al-Baqarah ayah 172.

As a Muslim, we're blessed by Allah for He has given the bountiful blessings of halal food and drink in this world. We're encouraged to balance our food intake of meat and vegetables in accordance to the Sunnah of the Prophet. There's no extremism when it comes to eating food as long as it is lawful and halal.

The recent study done in China (the article above) extensively supports strict vegetarian diet which I personally do not agree. I believe that there is no perfect diet for everyone. My idea of eating healthy is by a more logical and healthy method called 'Nutritional typing'.

Bear in mind that Nutritional Typing is not another diet. It is only a means to an end which is: Knowing how to truly nourish yourself in the way that you truly need to be nourished. Nourishing your cells according to their unique needs. You might know of, or have personally experienced eating plans that work for some people.

Perhaps you have a friend who did great eating a particular diet, whereas when you tried it, you gained weight, or worse - your health declined. I have friends who can survive only by eating light grilled chicken with lots of veges, but I feel terribly hungry, dizzy and sluggish after following this diet. It is true that there is no perfect food plan that will work for everyone.

My nutritional typing is a Protein type (I love eating meat mashallah!) and I do not require high intake of veges; yet as long as I don't skip my meal I'll be fine alhamdulillah. You can try to check out your nutritional type by answering some QnAs here. Let's enjoy a healthy and balanced food intake because eating the right food it will inshallah significantly affect your physical and mental health.

Oh, and contrary to MOST Malaysians think about goat meat (daging kambing), this meat is in fact one the most healthiest meat with low in cholestrol even lower than chicken! The 'real culprit' is actually mutton (daging kambing biri-biri). :)

Eid Mubarak

2010-09-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Taqabbalallahu minnaa wa minkum :)

Happy Eid to all Muslim around the globe (especially to my Ototo-san, Kimisawa).
Enjoy the takbeer by Native Deen! ^_^

A nasheed by Native Deen called 'Eid Morning' from the album 'Not Afraid to Stand Alone

These are the lyrics
Chorus
Allahu-Akbar-U'llahu-Akbar-U'llaahu-Akbar

Laa-Ilaha Ill'allah
Allahu-Akbar-U'llahu-Akbar-U Wa-Lillah'il-Hamd
Allahu-Akbar-U'llahu-Akbar-U'llaahu-Akbar, Laa-Ilaha Ill'allah
Allahu-Akbar-U'llahu-Akbar-U Wa-Lillah'il-Hamd

Allahu Akbar-U-Kabira ... Wal-Hamdu-Lillahi Kathira
Wa-Subhan'allahi Wa-Be-Hamdi-Hi Bukra-Tan Wa-Ascila

Laa-Ilaha-Ill'alla-Hu Wahdah ... Sadaqa Wa-Adah ... Wa-Nasara Abdah
Wa-A-Azza Junda-Hu Wa-Hazam'al-Ahzaab Wahdah

Laa-Ilaha Ill'allah ... Wa-La Na-A-Budu Illaa Iyyah
Mukh-Le-Scina Lah'uddina Walaw Karih'al-Kaafiroon

Allah-Umma-Salli-Ala Sayyedinaa Muhammad,
Wa-Ala Aali Sayyedinaa Muhammad
Wa-Ala As'habi Sayyedinaa Muhammad,
Wa-Ala An'sari Sayyedinaa Muhammad
Wa-Ala Azwaji Sayyedinaa Muhammad,
Wa-Ala-Zurriyati-Sayyedina Muhammad-In
Wa-Sallim Tasliman Kathira

Translation Of Takbeer-Ul-Eid

Allah is great, Allah is great, Allah is great, There is no god but Allah
Allah is great, Allah is great, and praise is due to Him.
Allah is great, Allah is great, Allah is great, There is no god but Allah

Allah is great, Allah is great, and praise is due to Him.
Allah is the Greatest, and an abundance of praise is due to Him,
And glory and praise be to him morning and evening.

There is no god but Allah, alone, He was true to His promise,
And He granted victory to His worshipper, and He supported His group,
And He conquered the parties (of evil) all by Himself.

There is no deity but Allah, and we worship no one but Him,
And we will sincerely follow the religion for Him,
Even against the wishes of the unbelievers.

May Allah pray upon our Muhammad, and upon his family,
And upon his companions, and upon his supporters,
And upon his wives, And upon his descendants,
And grant an abundance of peace on him.

An Evening Talk on 'Freemason' by Dr. Omar Zaid

2010-08-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

"the Jews will not be pleased with you, nor the Christians until you follow their religion. Say: Surely Allah's guidance, that is the (true) guidance. And if you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you shall have no guardian from Allah, nor any helper." Al-Baqarah :120

"You will follow the ways of the nations before you inch by inch and foot by foot to such degree that if they entered a lizard's hole, you would go in after them". When Prophet PBUH was asked by former nations he meant the Christians and the Jews, he replied, "Who else could it be?".[1]

Here are some of the video presentation on Freemasonry by Dr. Omar Zaid ( I went to his talk at IIS, Setiawangsa today and I seriously think he's a Muslim version of Dr. House, M.D. -for his cynical yet honest approach).

"Dr. Omar's the most un-politically correct scholar I know personally. His relentless pursuit of truth is unsparing. That's why we need him and more like him"
- Prof. Hassan Nagar, PhD. Arabic and English Lit., ISTAC, UIA, KL, Malaysia

A brief biography of Dr. Omar Zaid.
Dr. Omar Zaid is a retired Emergency Room Physician now Research Fellow at ISTAC (IIUM) since July 2007. Prior to his conversion to Islam in 2004, Dr. Zaid was an Evangelical Christian Missionary in Sarawak East Malaysia. In his search for truth Dr. Zaid explored occult metaphysics became intimate with Dr. Rudolph Steiners Anthroposophy, became a Freemason then a Born Again Christian before finally reverting to Islam in 2004 .

He currently does research on Church History, Gnosticism, Mystery Religions, Fertility Cults, the history of Hermetic Societies and Human Development and Sexuality. In addition to several essays and monographs, he has authored Trinity: The Metamorphosis of Myth; The Hands of Iblis: Summary Observations on the Hidden Hand of the New World Order. His next book, Cain’s Creed: The Cult of Rome, a Deconstruction and Revision of Church history, is scheduled for release this year.

"I am a former Catholic, Occultist, Freemason, Christian Evangelical Minister and Casualty Physician now become Muslim, author, critic and relatively qualified coroner for a deeply
wounded ummah. The singular perspective I offer on this traumatized body is a kind of kalb ina kalb (heart to heart) reportage and examination that may help buffer some of the palavers I‘ve witnessed since becoming an Academic Fellow a few years ago. With this in mind, I beg leniency for any error presented and remain amenable to admonition and correction. All praise belongs to Allah." - The Rights of God: Islamization & Islamic Science in light of the New World Order: A Singular Perspective.

More interesting publications by Dr. Omar Zaid can be download HERE.

May Allah S.W.T. open up our hearts and minds to guide us to the true path and may Allah S.W.T. reward Dr. Omar for his effort in conveying the truth.

Reference:
[1] - Ibn Al- Jawzee's The Devil's Deception: edited translation by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

FREE software program to help memorize Quraan

2010-08-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

Assalamualaikum,

I would like to share a fantastic software I accidentally found while browsing the net named Juz30. This app. will inshaAllah help us to memorize Quraan at your own time and your own pace. I think it's great for reverts and for short-term memory Muslima like me :)

Here are just some of the features:-

User Profiles - anyone in your household can have their own profile for memorization
Drag and Drop ayas into you "heart" - a graphical way to view your memorization progress
Drag and Drop whole suras you know already to get started.
High Quality Uthmani Arabic Script
English translation by Muhsin Khan (can be turned off)
Transliteration to help pronounce
High quality aya-by-aya recitation by Abdullah Basfar (who recites slowly with proper tajweed)
Ability to choose different recitors (when recitor packs are released)
(German, French, Malay, Indonesian, Spanish) translations (when using language packs)
Loop Ayas - loop as many times as you want for memorization
Loop Suras - loop whole sura
Stack Mode - memorize ayas in the following manner: 1 | 1,2 | 1,2,3 | 1,2,3,4 | ...
Single Aya Mode - if an Aya is too long, then select points in the audio to repeatedly loop
Select a Aya range in the Sura
Displays your Juz30 memorization progress
Displays sura playback progress
Pause Mode - add your own pauses (in seconds) in between ayas so you can repeat the aya yourself after hearing it
and much more ...

Just click HERE to download the software, and please make sure you've downloaded the surahs (and translations) before opening the file. There's plenty of reciters to choose, I personally prefer recitation by Abdullah Basfar. :D

Please share this with your friends, and families too! ^_^

I hope we will all have a blessed Ramadan mubarak this year. Wassalam.

*P/s- Some files might be corrupt; just replace it with other reciters.

Curse of the consumer society by A.R. Green

2010-07-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

It's a global disease!

These videos are pretty short and wouldn't take much time to load each one, so do sit back & enjoy. Let us take a good look at ourselves & our surroundings..lets appreciate the littlest things in life ;)

Hypocrisy that I can't stand!

2010-07-14T03:33:00.000-07:00

Although there are some minor spelling mistake (note: Anti-Semitism not anti-semetism), I believe the important message within this poster should be spread around ;)

Credit to the blogowner for creating this amazing poster.

The atheist Professor. I like it everytime I read it :)

2010-07-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

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

First before you start reading this make sure you will read it all to the end!

This article somewhat reminds me of witty debates by Dr. Zakir Naik & late Sheikh Ahmad Deedat, may Allah reward them for their tremendous effort, amin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The atheist professor said "LET ME EXPLAIN THE problem science has with God."
The atheist professor of Philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

- "You're a Muslim, aren't you, son?"

- "Yes, sir."

-"So you believe in God?"

- "Absolutely."

-"Is God good?"

-"Sure! God's good."

-"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

-"Yes."

The professor grins knowingly and considers for a moment.
-"Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

-"Yes sir, I would."

-"So you're good...!"

-"I always do my best to be a good human , Sir."

-" You would help a sick and maimed person if you could ...in fact most of us would if we could... God doesn't."

[No answer.]

"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Muslim who died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. How is this God good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

[No answer]

-The elderly man is sympathetic. "No, you can't, can you?"

He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student
time to relax. In philosophy, you have to go easy with the new ones.

-"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

-"Er... Yes."

-"Is Satan good?"

-"No."

-"Where does Satan come from?"

-The student falters. "From... God..."

-"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?"

-The elderly man runs his bony fingers through his thinning hair and turns to the smirking, student audience.

-"I think we're going to have a lot of fun this semester, ladies and gentlemen."

-He turns back to the Muslim. "Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

-"Yes, sir."

-"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? Did God make everything?"

-"Yes."

-"Who created evil?"

[No answer]

-"Is there sickness in this world? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All the terrible things - do they exist in this world?"

-The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

-"Who created them?"

[No answer]

-The professor suddenly shouts at his student.

-"WHO CREATED THEM? TELL ME, PLEASE!"

The professor closes in for the kill and climbs into the Muslim's face.

In a still small voice: "God created all evil, didn't He, son?"

[No answer]

The student tries to hold the steady, experienced gaze and fails. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom like an aging panther. The class is mesmerised.

"Tell me," he continues, "How is it that this God is good if He created all evil throughout all time?"

The professor swishes his arms around to encompass the wickedness of the world.

"All the hatred, the brutality, all the pain, all the torture, all the death and ugliness and all the suffering created by this good God is all over the world, isn't it, young man?"

[No answer]

-"Don't you see it all over the place? Huh?" [Pause].

-"Don't you?" The professor leans into the student's face again and whispers,

-"Is God good?"

[No answer]

-"Do you believe in God, son?"

-The student's voice betrays him and cracks.

-"Yes, professor. I do."

The old man shakes his head sadly. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. You have never seen God, Have you? "

-"No, sir. I've never seen Him."

-"Then tell us if you've ever heard you God?"

-"No, sir. I have not."

-"Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God or smelt your God...in fact, do you have any sensory perception of your God whatsoever?"

[No answer]

-"Answer me, please."

-"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

-"You're AFRAID... you haven't?"

-"No, sir."

-"Yet you still believe in him?"

-"...yes..."

-"That takes FAITH!" The professor smiles sagely at the underling.

-"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son? Where is your God now?"

[The student doesn't answer]

-"Sit down, please."

The Muslim sits...Defeated.

-Another Muslim raises his hand. "Professor, may I address the class?"

The professor turns and smiles. "Ah, another Muslim in the vanguard!

Come, come, young man. Speak some proper wisdom to the gathering."

The Muslim looks around the room. "Some interesting points you are making, sir. Now I've got a question for you. Is there such thing as heat?"

-"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

-"Is there such a thing as cold?"

-"Yes, son, there's cold too."

-"No, sir, there isn't."

The professor's grin freezes. The room suddenly goes very cold.

The second Muslim continues.

-"You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold, otherwise we would be able to go colder than 458 - - You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence. A pin drops somewhere in the classroom.

-"Is there such a thing as darkness, professor?"

-"That's a dumb question, son. What is night if it isn't darkness? What are you getting at...?"

-"So you say there is such a thing as darkness?"

-"Yes..."

-"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something, it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker and give me a jar of it. Can you...give me a jar of darker darkness, professor?"

Despite himself, the professor smiles at the young effrontery before him. This will indeed be a good semester...

-"Would you mind telling us what your point is, young man?"

-"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with and so your conclusion must be in error...."

-The professor goes toxic. "Flawed...? How dare you...!""

-"Sir, may I explain what I mean?"

The class is all ears.

-"Explain... oh, explain..." The professor makes an admirable effort to regain control. Suddenly he is affability itself. He waves his hand to silence the class, for the student to continue.

-"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains.

-"That for example there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science cannot even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism but has never seen, much less fully understand them. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, merely the absence of it."

The young man holds up a newspaper he takes from the desk of a neighbour who has been reading it.

-"Here is one of the most disgusting tabloids this country hosts, professor. Is there such a thing as immorality?"

-"Of course there is, now look..."

-"Wrong again, sir. You see, immorality is merely the absence of morality. Is there such thing as injustice? No. Injustice is the absence of justice. Is there such a thing as evil?"

The Muslim student pauses.

-"Isn't evil the absence of good?"

The professor's face has turned an alarming color. He is so angry he is temporarily speechless.

The student continues. "If there is evil in the world, professor, and we all agree there is, then God, if he exists, must be accomplishing a work through the agency of evil. What is that work God is accomplishing? Islam which means Submission to the will of God , tells us it is to see if each one of us will, choose good over evil."

The professor bridles. "As a philosophical scientist, I don't view this matter as having anything to do with any choice; as a realist, I absolutely do not recognize the concept of God or any other theological factor as being part of the world equation because God is not observable."

"I would have thought that the absence of God's moral code in this world is probably one of the most observable phenomena going," the student replies.

-"Newspapers make billions of dollars reporting it every week! Tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

-"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

-"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor makes a sucking sound with his teeth and gives his student a silent, stony stare.

-"Professor. Since no-one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a priest?"

-"I will overlook your impudence in the light of our philosophical debate."

-"So you don't accept God's moral code to do ... what is righteous?"

-"I believe in what is - that's science!"

-"Ahh! SCIENCE!" the student's face splits into a grin.

-"Sir, you rightly state that science is the study of observed phenomena. Science too is a premise which is flawed..."

-"SCIENCE IS FLAWED..?" the professor splutters. The class is in uproar.

The student remains standing until the commotion has subsided.

-"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, may I give you an example of what I mean?"

The professor wisely keeps silent. The student looks around the room.

-"Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen air, Oxygen, molecules, atoms, the professor's brain?"

The class breaks out in laughter. The Muslim points towards his elderly, crumbling tutor.

-"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain... felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain?"

No one appears to have done so. The Muslim student shakes his head sadly.

-"It appears no-one here has had any sensory perception of the professor's brain whatsoever. Well, according to the rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science, I DECLARE that the professor has no brain."

peace :)

Women's Issue

2010-07-01T01:40:00.000-07:00

(This article is a combination of Brother Omar Baloch’s talk on Women’s Issue and some addition of my own opinion and suggestion and a few infos from Famous Women in Islam: Women in Battlefield, with regard to this issue. I am not a Muslim scholar as I myself am a learning Muslimah. Anything that is good is from Allah and bad is from my own fault by Allah’s decree.)

Women’s Issue
by Sheikh Omar Baloch

Sheikh Omar Baloch is Resident Scholar at Furqaan Institute of Quranic Foundation (FIQE), Chicago. His expertise on the Message of the Qur’an makes him a well-respected speaker at lectures and events across the country. His knowledge of world religions allows him to engage in dialogue across many faiths and is often a speaker at many dawah events. His aggressive Khutba schedule takes him around the US, where he not only focuses on reviving the spirit of Dawah through the Qur’an, but also raises funds for the purpose of delivering a copy of the translation of the Qur’an to everyone in America. His fluency in Arabic, English and Urdu makes his khutbas, lectures and speeches unique and well attended.

Born and raised in Chicago, Sheikh Omar has a Shahada from Jamia thul Azhar (Al-Azhar University) in Egypt. He got his Shahada in 1994 with an emphasis on the Arabic Language and Minhaj ad Dawah. He also obtain his Master in Psychology at George Washington University.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Yesterday a talk was held at IIS Setiawangsa; about an issue that's very interesting, so much so as were jokingly mentioned by Sheikh Omar Baloch, almost 50% of the FAQs often asked by non-Muslims were about Muslim women do’s and don’ts. And the other half was about terrorist issue. :p

Initially Sheikh talked about the rise of feminism in the west. What triggers feminism, how many waves of feminism and the fact that there are numerous groups within feminism that were fighting for different causes.

Feminism started due to the inferiority that a certain group of women felt towards men, as these women strongly believed that women are equal and similar to men, and they hated men for looking at women as an object/ as a lesser being (quotes and key issues from most of the famous outspoken feminists clearly show how they detest men). These so-called feminists are only fighting for their personal interests; so, many of them are from the upper class and only some are from the middle class family. At this point, I realised how ironic and unfortunate these women were! Probably because there are no specific laws in their religion/beliefs (as Syaria' law is, in Islam), the fact that these women are fighting for their rights seemed to be recurring because in reality, feminism is not clearly defined.

Feminism starts around 1960’s during the time where women can be ‘sold’ by their husband (in the west). They decided to put an end to their misery and fight for their rights. However, today, the modern feminism began to realise that women are equal to men, but not the same. For Muslim women, we are aware of this, alhamdulillah. Women and men have different anatomical structures, different way of interact with each other and different way of showing our strength and sympathy.

This is where the beauty of our Islamic Deen (way of life in accordance to Islam) comes in. The beauty that Allah knows women and men have different perspective in looking at a certain issue, but both are equally intelligent. Unfortunately for these western feminists who clearly unaware of this, sees Muslim women as being oppressed just because of hijab and other petty misunderstood issues that we Muslim women have no/minute problem with. May Allah make them realise that a women cannot be judged by what she wears on her head but what is IN her head. And hijab is an obligation by Allah our Creator, the Guardian of Faith, the Giver of Honour, not forced by Muslim men!

Also, Sheikh talked about a very interesting issue where he relates the rise of feminism and their strong influence in the media (movies, tv series, etc.). It is very logical since feminism can be seen (for those who are aware of it) in almost all American movies and tv series (Spiderman, Batman, The Simpsons, Bill Cosby, etc.) where the leading men are shown to be silly and oblivious; often comes from a dysfunctional family background or an orphan and the leading women are more intelligent, organized and more capable. These media indirectly desensitize men.

It seems very clear now how these media affect our globalised modern day world. In reality, men are often seen as clowns, reckless, and they often view women as an object. We even see some of our Muslimah sisters, who unfortunately are the victims of corrupted Muslim family, accepted these feminist movements due to improper understanding of the Shariah law and the Deen. In reality, many times where Muslim women are in marital crisis, they do not have a proper channel to go.

In Surah An-Nisaa’
34. Men (ar-rijaal) are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband's property, etc.). As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful), but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great.

Ar-rijaal does not mean men in general. It cannot be translated and clearly defined in English, as the word in Arabic is very specific. As I quote from Sheikh Omar, Ar-rijaal can be closely defined as men who are righteous (who uphold his iman and amal) and are trustworthy.

When there is a dispute between a Muslim man and his wife, in order to settle the issue, he must reproach and discuss the matter with his spouse first. If this doesn’t alleviate then he should separate their beds, and lastly is to ‘hit’ her lightly. Hitting is permissible only by using the miswak (wooden toothbrush) or something lighter, but we see that NOWADAYS Muslim men tend to favour the last step, and hit his spouse recklessly (using heavier and more dangerous objects) until she is brutally bruised!

Also, sadly the role of the masjid seems to restrict interaction between the Imam and Muslimah, and this is so serious that it seemed to be typical in our modern day Islam. The small back door of the masjid is the main entrance for women; we are separated from the Imam and it is difficult to interact with the Imam. How do we then seek advice from the Imam when we can’t even make contact with them?

It might seem awkward today if women were to pray Fajr in the mosque (for we will be neglected as it seemed highly unusual), but during the time of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. this is nothing out of the ordinary. Women left their houses day and night, and they went to the mosque even in the depth of darkness.

Women do not have any trouble in discussing with our beloved Prophet; any problem that they are facing they can directly seek His Messenger’s aid. They do not shy away and they felt comfortable to ask any question on any subject. Women at the time of Prophet were respected and protected. Mashallah, how the Prophet treated gender issue was soft, NOT patriarchal!
There is a balance between following the Islam guidelines and creativity in handling women.

Sheikh mentioned that he even met once a Muslim sister who seriously thought men are like clowns (because of the way men act; goofing around- in her school/ in tv / movies) until she went to masjid and met with the Imam and the brothers in the masjid. At least for me, I can understand a little how she felt. It wasn’t until I met with my habib that I’ve encounter a few decent men (I’m not generalizing or trying to degrade men or anything), but it is the reality.

We see even in the university/college, majority of the students in most field studies are female. The level of maturity and determination seems to be lacking among men. Why do these things happen? There are many aspects to look at, but the most important part is probabably the role of the masjid, and the Imam plays a vital role in improvising/ purifying the minds of our brothers especially during the Friday (Jumu’ah) prayers.

In Surah Jumu’ah (Friday)
1. Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah, the King (of everything), the Holy, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
2. He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad ) from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses, purifying them (from the filth of disbelief and polytheism), and teaching them the Book (this Qur'an, Islamic laws and Islamic jurisprudence) and Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship, etc. of Prophet Muhammad ). And verily, they had been before in mainfest error;
3. And He has sent him (Prophet Muhammad ) also to others among them (Muslims) who have not yet joined them (but they will come). And He (Allah) is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
4. That is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Mighty Grace.
5. The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Taurat (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). How bad is the example (or the likeness) of people who deny the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah. And Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers, etc.).

In shaping and purifying the hearts and the minds of our Muslim brothers, it is quite obvious the Friday sermon (khutbah) should be on the topic of lessons from the Quraan and it’s relation to today’s life. Imagine if all the Imam in the masjid gave powerful and insightful khutbah, a great number of men will appreciate and grasp the knowledge every time they went to the masjid! Isn’t this what Friday prayer is all about?

However, nowadays when Friday prayers are concerned; most brothers tend to fall asleep during the khutbah. Evidently, the khutbah is uninteresting, bland and does not relate to the issues concerning the Ummah.

At the end of the day, they won’t even remember about the khutbah given, and will continue with their daily activities, neglecting their responsibility to improvise their iman and their amal. “The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Taurat (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them).” ( Surah An-Nisaa’ : 5)

At the end of the day, without development of the Deen in our lives, we will lose out on both social and economical growth. We see Islam as just a religion, something spiritual when in fact Islam encompasses everything; spiritual, mental and physical belief and act in accordance to Quraan and Sunnah.

That's why in the Quraan, Allah always describes the believers as "those who believe and do righteous deeds." Belief alone is not enough. It must be accompanied by Islamic action and behaviour.

Also, Sheikh emphasised on the importance of Muslim women in today’s world. Islam today are seen as a fossiled and rigid religion; compared to the time of the Prophet. Muslim women and men must strive their best to enrich their knowledge and share the right information among sisters and brothers to clear the misunderstanding between cultural and teaching of Islam. In today's world, we need scholars who understand social and psychological needs, who are able to relate and discuss the issue of today's problem with the Sharia' law. We need Imam who can be good advisors, tolerant, with dynamic personality; who are willing to consult and give usrah to Muslim women. Muslim women's right must be honoured and respected like the time of the Prophet. For Muslim women can change and influence great minds of tomorrow. As they say the hands that rocks the cradle is the hands that rule the world. Are we up for the challenge? :)

I just have to share this!

2010-05-21T09:10:00.001-07:00

Bloggers Universe Malaysia 2010 ~ Discussing the 'Allah' issue..

I cannot help but to agree with brother Zainol Abideen..

Why can't they have any respect for Muslims, serving beer as a part of the event? And with this being said, why won't they discuss the issue with religious scholars in Islam? If they are taking this issue seriously, that is. Obviously they don't.

This is an absolute rubbish. Enough said.

A small token of appreciation : Just my scribble :p

2010-05-21T01:29:00.000-07:00

Oh Allah,
I am thankful indeed for Your gifts
that You have showered upon me
the wonderful life
of being a daughter
a sister
a friend
a wife
and a future mother? (InshaAllah.. ;)

Oh Allah,
Please do not let me be astrayed
like those who let themselves be astrayed
forgetting the Deen
forgetting the Quraan and the Sunnah
losing their haya' (shyness) and losing their iman
without a strong foundation
and constant urge to seek the
beautiful knowledge of Islam

How easily one man can be fooled
in this life full of fitnah and confusion
where Muslims are seen as strangers
growing beard seems foolish,
following the Sunnah seems too religious
outdated, backward and ridiculous

It doesn't matter how these ignorant people judge
for the best to Judge is You, ya Allah
You see our action and intention
You know what is in our heart
You know how we live our life
following the beautiful Deen of Islam
full of constant trials and tribulations
for this is the journey to Jannah
or following the footsteps of a disbeliever
full of materialism, so-called liberal modernisation and false happiness
forgetting that every life shall taste death
and the akhirah (hereafter) is eternal
they can reject the truth
and enjoy this worldly life
but they cannot alter
the date, time, location of death's occurence

to prepare ourselves to meet Him
as Muslims we should follow this Deen
for this Deen has been created by Him

in our hearts, full of humility
and in our soul, full of hope
the path of Islam we should follow
without any doubt
without any sorrow
for we believe and we obey Him
and His beloved Messengers
the best example among men

Oh Allah,
make me among the righteous people
among the blessed ones
among the best of your creation
for Jannah is what I hope to achieve
and this worldly life is but a test
from You

Oh Allah,
Only to You I seek help
Only to You I prayed to
For only You who know what is in my heart
And that is enough for me.

~nuttynut~

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"If a person holds onto my Sunnah when corruption is rampant among my Ummah, he will receive the rewards of a martyr". [Tabarani]

"Verily, there will be days waiting for you that those who persevere in holding onto Islam will feel like they are holding glowing fire in their hands." It will be hard to live in total compliance with Islam. "Whoever practices Islam during such a time will be given the rewards of fifty people who do the same deeds."

Since it will be difficult to practice Islam, one person will receive fifty times their rewards. According to Abu Dawud, one of the Companions of the Prophet asked, "O Prophet of Allah, are the rewards of the fifty people from among ourselves or from among them?" That is, "Will these rewards be the same as the rewards given to the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad or to the people of their own time?"
The Hadith literature clearly state that the Companions are the best Muslims of all time.

[4] No-one else can reach their level because the Companions were fortunate enough to see our beloved Prophet with their own eyes and listen to him in person. They received enlightenment and inspiration straight from the Prophet Muhammad.

The Companions were aware of their status, so they asked if the rewards of fifty persons mentioned above would be equivalent to the rewards of fifty Companions or to the rewards of fifty ordinary people. Upon this inquiry, the holy Prophet Muhammad responded: "The rewards of fifty among you."

[4] The Companions of the Prophet were very special for the Prophet Muhammad said: The best of the time periods is my time, and best of the people are my Companions, then those who come after them, then those who come after them."

Reference:
When Corruption Prevails by Rabia Mills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surah An-Nisa'

59. O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad ), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (), if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.

60. Have you seen those (hyprocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taghut (false judges, etc.) while they have been ordered to reject them. But Shaitan (Satan) wishes to lead them far astray.

61. And when it is said to them: "Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger (Muhammad )," you (Muhammad ) see the hypocrites turn away from you (Muhammad ) with aversion.

62. How then, when a catastrophe befalls them because of what their hands have sent forth, they come to you swearing by Allah, "We meant no more than goodwill and conciliation!"

63. They (hypocrites) are those of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts; so turn aside from them (do not punish them) but admonish them, and speak to them an effective word (i.e. to believe in Allah, worship Him, obey Him, and be afraid of Him) to reach their innerselves.

64. We sent no Messenger, but to be obeyed by Allah's Leave. If they (hypocrites), when they had been unjust to themselves, had come to you (Muhammad ) and begged Allah's Forgiveness, and the Messenger had begged forgiveness for them: indeed, they would have found Allah All-Forgiving (One Who accepts repentance), Most Merciful.

65. But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad ) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.

66. And if We had ordered them (saying), "Kill yourselves (i.e. the innnocent ones kill the guilty ones) or leave your homes," very few of them would have done it; but if they had done what they were told, it would have been better for them, and would have strengthened their (Faith);

67. And indeed We should then have bestowed upon them a great reward from Ourselves.

68. And indeed We should have guided them to a Straight Way.

69. And whoso obeys Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad ), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddiqin (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As-Siddiq ), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!

70. Such is the Bounty from Allah, and Allah is Sufficient as All-Knower.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Do's and Don'ts - It's hilariously funny, you've been warned! :D

2010-05-06T05:49:00.000-07:00

An insightful poem by a 17 year old mashaAllah!

2010-04-29T23:03:00.000-07:00

Taken from Muslim Matters

What is happening to Muslims today?
Why are we imitating the western way?
Are we forgetting a crucial part of Islam,
Following the Prophet (alayhi salaatu wassalaam)?

Although entertainment may bring about pleasure,
The Quran and Sunnah is what we should treasure.
What we commit to memory instead of ayaat and ahadith,
Are lyrics of songs that only weaken our belief.

When asked about Sahabah who struggled for this deen,
The response will be a shrug from many of the teens.
Biographies of singers and athletes fill their minds,
While daily adhkaar are sadly left behind.

Instead of preparing for our inevitable end,
We find ourselves spending endless hours with our friends.
Gossiping about celebrities and fellow kids at school,
Only so that we can be among the ‘cool’.

We find ourselves submitting to fashion and fame,
Instead of praising Allah with His glorious names.
Is it just me, or is the hijaab getting smaller?
Diets to get slimmer and high heels to look taller?

This ummah is in danger, and something must be done,
But first we must remember that as an ummah, we are one.
Like a single body undergoing trials and tests,
When one part feels the pain, it is felt throughout the rest.

Let’s go back in time to the seventh century,
And take examples from a people full of faith and purity.
The first Muslim generation knew divided they would fall,
So they stood together, may Allah be pleased with them all.

Abu Bakr al-Siddiq was the Prophet’s closest friend,
Supportive of his mission till the very end.

Umar bin Khattab was a companion strong and fierce,
But due to taqwa of Allah, he could not hold back his tears.

And Uthmaan bin Affaan would always give more than take,
So he was known to spend in masses, solely for Allah’s sake.

And there’s another who submitted when he was just a lad,
Unshakable faith was what Ali bin Abi Taalib had.

And let’s not forget Musab bin Umayr, Abu Dharr al Ghifari,
Abdullah bin Masood, Bilal and Abu Ayyub al Ansari.

Enemies of islam did what they could to stop the call,
But the Sahabah stood together like a firmly fixed brick wall.
The same can be said for Islam in modern days,
Being attacked from many angles, and in many different ways.

The media tries its best to make this way of life distorted,
Pointing fingers at those who try hard to support it.
So let us all unite and show the whole world that we’re bold,
And spread Islam and its teachings to people young and old.

Let's refresh ourselves and lets repent to Allah :)

2010-04-23T01:12:00.000-07:00

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

We can't be perfect, but we can strive to be among the best of Allah's worshippers. Imagine the honour of standing in the Day of Judgement as one of His best slaves. Subhan'Allah! Death will come unannounced; we have to try our best to follow the Qur'aan and Sunnah.

"Who among us does not sin? And who among us does all that is required of Him in the religion? It is an undeniable fact that we all have shortcomings; what distinguishes some of us from the others, what raises some of us above the others, is that the successful ones among us are those who repent their sins and ask Allah to forgive them." [ Book: Stories of Repentance ]

Ibn Abi Dunya narrated that ‘Ali said: “The best of you is every tempted one who repents ” It was said, “What if he sins again?” He said, “He should ask Allah for forgiveness and repent.” It was said, “What if he sins again?” He said, “He should ask Allah for forgiveness and repent.” It was said, “For how long?” He said, “Until the Shaytaan is defeated.

References:
The Ideal Muslimah

Giving Islam a bad name

2010-04-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

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

Performing shahadah is a must for all Muslim. However, one does have to make sure that they fully understand what are the conditions of being a Muslim. Why do we perform our shahadah? Why do we need to say that we believe our beloved Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. as our messenger? We need to reflect on ourselves and see what are our main differences between the non-Muslims.

First and foremost, we believe without doubt that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone. Then, we look at the second part where we say we believe that Prophet Muhammad S.A.W as His Messenger. It is clearly because the fact that NO other religion except Islam that believes Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. to be the last messenger, the seal of the prophets.

We acknowledge his right to be respected, obeyed and revered. We follow in his footsteps, knowing that what had been revealed to him during his lifetime was through the wisdom of Allah. Amazing isn’t it? Even the very simple proclamation of shahadah plays the fundamental role on distinguishing the difference between ourselves and the disbelievers, Subhanallah! It is not just a few words spoken but is coupled with sincerity of intention and determination to struggle, strive and sacrifice along the straight path.

Additionally, you can watch these informative videos by Sheikh Yassir Qadhi (here and here) where he clearly explains the concept of reciting two shahadah.

As our dear brothers and sisters know, Muslims nowadays are facing with numerous trials and tribulations. Our brothers and sisters in Palestine are being oppressed, apart from other countries and maybe in our own, are faced with numerous fitnahs done by so-called-modern-Muslim trying to ‘modernize’ Islam. They explicitly insulted our beloved Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. and claimed that Islam is a backward religion and that the teaching of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. is irrelevant, astaghfirullah. Don’t they know that Islam is the religion that withstands time? In fact, they are the one who is backward and jaheel.

Haven’t they read the seerah of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W? Do they not know that the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. does not differ one bit from the teaching of other previous prophets, and that he is the ‘seal of the prophets’? Do they not know that the way of life of our Prophet Muhammad is the way of a Muslim? Why do we Muslims follow the Qur’aan and Sunnah? Isn’t it obvious because the teaching of previous prophets have been distorted by their followers (added, deleted, etc.) and that is why we must firmly grasp to the Qur’aan and Sunnah. Why? Because everything that the Prophet say and do does not come from his ‘nafsu’ but through the wisdom of Allah (refer to Surah An-Najm).

The ayat which indicate the Prophethood of the Prophets also indicate that they are infallible with regard to the conveying of the Message from Allah; so what they say and do can only be true. This is the meaning of Prophethood, which implies that Allah tells the Prophet something of the Unseen and he tells it to the people. And the Messenger is commanded to call the people to Allah and to convey and teach the message of his Lord.

Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. drew up the world's first constitution in which the rights of religious minorities were protected, and entered into treaties and alliances with neighbouring tribes. He sent letters to the rulers of the Persians, Egyptians, Abyssinians and Byzantines, announcing his message of pure monotheism and inviting them to accept Islam.

For the first time in history, women, children, orphans, foreigners and slaves were granted extensive rights and protection. Many of the Prophet's concerns seem surprisingly 'modern': he condemned racism and nationalism, saying 'there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or a white man over a black man, except in righteousness.' He established laws protecting animals, trees and the environment. He encouraged free trade and ethical investments, but secured workers' rights and forbade usury. He worked for peace, but defined the parameters of the judicious use of force, when force was needed. He convinced people to give up alcohol, drugs, prostitution and crime, and promoted healthy living.

He condemned domestic violence, encouraged his wives to speak their own mind, and granted Muslim women many rights not dreamed of in Europe until centuries later, including the right to own property, reject arranged marriages, and seek divorce because of incompatibility. And the Prophet encouraged his followers to seek beneficial knowledge wherever it could be found, with the result that Muslims never experienced a conflict between science and religion, and led the world in many fields of learning for centuries afterwards (Rich History of Science and Knowledge in Islam).

Although his enduring legacy can be observed in everything from art to politics, Prophet Muhammad's greatest achievement by far was to re-establish pure monotheism. As simple and straightforward to understand as the nucleus at the centre of an atom, the concept of One God lies at the heart of Islamic culture. Muslims turn to their Creator for guidance, without the need for intermediaries, or the loss of dignity that idolatry and superstition bring.

Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. accomplished all this through the strength of his character and personal example; he inspired in his followers a love, devotion and sense of awe that was unparalleled (Children around the Prophet and Women Inspired by the Beloved). While other men would have been corrupted by the absolute power that he wielded in his later years, Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. remained humble, ever aware of the Source of his blessings.

Although he spent his days in serving people and his nights in prayer, he preached religious moderation and balance; he forbade his followers to adopt a monastic lifestyle and preferred that they establish strong families and engage themselves in bettering the world around them, while remaining deeply conscious of God.

In the brief space of one generation and during his own lifetime, the Prophet Muhammad successfully transformed the faith, mentality and culture of the people of Arabia; within 100 years his message had touched the hearts and lives of millions in Africa, Asia and parts of Europe. The Prophet foretold that each succeeding generation would be worse than the one before it, and true to his prediction, Muslims have not always understood or honoured his example. But Prophet Muhammad's teachings, speeches and customs were carefully noted down by his Companions, and compiled into books of authentic sayings which are available in translation.

Islam is a complete way of life. A means to upgrade the individual into a righteous, confident, knowledgable and courageous person, who knows their Creator and their role in life. Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. was described by his wife Aisha (peace be upon her) , as ‘the walking Qu’ran’, hence the importance of following his pure example, as seeking the Pleasure of our Creator by following in the footsteps of His final Prophet and Messenger.

Both Qur’aan and Sunnah does not contradicts from one another because both comes from Allah (Fortification of the Muslim through remembrance from the Quraan and Sunnah), (The Golden Chain - The Sciences of Hadith). If some Muslim says so, that means the person is a hypocrite, a jaheel, has an evil intention to distort Islam by confusing the ummah and the person is falling into the grievous fitnah.

What would these misguided people say in response to the Qur'aan: “Nor does he speak of his own desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired” [al-Najm 53:3]?

We ask Allah to protect us from confusion and misguidance, And Allah knows best.

Let's see what famous people have said about Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) throughout the centuries...

K. S. Ramakrishna Rao, an Indian (Hindu) professor of Philosophy, in his booklet "Muhammad the Prophet of Islam" calls him the "perfect model for human life." Professor Ramakrishna Rao explains his point by saying:

"The personality of Muhammad, it is most difficult to get into the whole truth of it. Only a glimpse of it I can catch. What a dramatic succession of picturesque scenes. There is Muhammad the Prophet. There is Muhammad the Warrior; Muhammad the Businessman; Muhammad the Statesman; Muhammad the Orator; Muhammad the Reformer; Muhammad the Refuge of Orphans; Muhammad the Protector of Slaves; Muhammad the Emancipator of Women; Muhammad the Judge; Muhammad the Saint. All in all these magnificent roles, in all these departments of human activities, he is alike a hero."

What should we think about our prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, when someone with the worldly status such as Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, says in 'Young India':

"I wanted to know the best of one who holds today undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind... I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life."

English author Thomas Carlyle in his 'Heroes and Hero Worship', was simply amazed:

"How one man single handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades."

And Diwan Chand Sharma wrote in "The Prophets of the East":

"Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him"

[D.C. Sharma, The Prophets of the East, Calcutta, 1935, pp. 12]

Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was nothing more or less than a human being, but he was a man with a noble mission, which was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE and ONLY ONE GOD and to teach them the way to honest and upright living based on the commands of God. He always described himself as, 'A Servant and Messenger of God' and so indeed every action of his proclaimed to be.

Now, let’s take a look and contemplate Prophet Muhammad’s last sermon.

This sermon was delivered on the ninth day of Dhul Hijja in the valley of Mount Arafat, Makkah.

After praising and thanking Allah (the One God) he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Oh People lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY."

Oh People, just as you regard this month, this day as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Harm no one so that no one may harm you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer inequality. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn Abd'al Mutallib shall henceforth be waived.

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion, He lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

Oh people, it is true that you have certain rights with regards to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

Oh people listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, perform your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give of your wealth to the poor due (Zakat), Perform Hajj (Pilgrimage) if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab: also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over a white, except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds, so beware, and do not sway from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

Oh People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well therefore Oh People, and understand the words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example (the Sunnah ) and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me direcly. Be my witness oh Allah that I have conveyed your message to your people."

------------------------

I honestly believe that is why, no matter how many Muslims nowadays are giving a bad name to Islam, amazingly more and more reverts are accepting Islam. Alhamdulillah, many of them are aware and knowledgeable on the true teachings of Prophet Muhammad. Subhanallah, it’s really amazing how they strive their very best to follow the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, how they appreciate the beauty of Islam and how they uphold the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. without doubt (link 1, link 2, link 3).

"O Allah, I seek your forgiveness and Your protection in this world and the next. O Allah, I seek your forgiveness and Your protection in my religion, in my worldly affairs, in my family and in my wealth. O Allah, conceal my secrets and reserve me from anguish. O Allah, guard me from what is in front of me and behind me, from my left, and from my right, and from above me. I seek refuge in Your Greatness from being struck down from beneath me"

References:-

Mission Islam

Children around the Prophet and Women Inspired by the Prophet

The islamic Garden

Muhammad - Prophet of Islam

Famous Muslim Scientists

Who are the people of Taqwa?

2010-04-05T22:46:00.000-07:00

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

Taken from MBMuslim magazine that I recently read, "Taqwa is really hard to describe in English, as it encompasses so many beautiful dimensions. Taqwa can be loosely defined as “God Conciousness” or “God Fearing”. Commonly, Taqwa will be described to a child as “worshipping Allah (SWT) as if He sees you”.

I would like to invite my brothers and sisters to reflect on everything that lead us to our life now. Let us really think about our relationship with Allah SWT and see where we can inshaAllah improve.

Therefore, I sincerely invite you to watch an insightful khutbah called “Who are the people of Taqwa?” by Brother Nouman Ali Khan (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4). May Allah reward him for his inspiring khutbah, mashaAllah.

Also, I would like to invite you to watch the lectures by Sister Aminah Assilmi who recently passed away. Sister Aminah was truly one of the amazing example of today's amazing women, a good example of taqwa. May Allah SWT be pleased with her and may Allah reward her Jannah.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

“And verily the Hereafter will be better for you than the present.” Surah al-Dhuha: 4

“O you of sound health but weak heart! Wake up and run to your Creator with repentance on your tongue, tears in your eyes, and sincerity in your heart. Cry before Him, before others cry for you. Make haste, O heedless one!”Kamil Mufti

Trying to please everyone.

2010-03-25T01:46:00.000-07:00

Praise be to Allah.

I am thankful to Him for all the good and the bad in life, for these are tests from Allah. Troubles may come and go but isn't this the beauty of life, the beauty of living and breathing in this world made by our Creator, the All-Wise and All-Knowing?

I've come across people who are kind, sincere, honest, and some who may seem all nice to you, joke with you, laugh with you, but their heart is full of hatred and jealousy. They seemed to 'enjoy' putting people down, mocking them, laughing at them, insulting them, degrading them.

And sometimes you wonder, what made them so bitter and so hateful towards you? Is it because of the things that you do or didn't do? Aren't we Muslims suppose to have good feelings about our Muslims instead of slandering and spreading lies about our own brothers and sisters?

I sadly have met with these kind of people, and believe me it's not a good journey. At first I did not realise the consenquences but alhamdulillah when I realised it, I cannot help but to avoid myself from having fall into this unhealthy friendship. A good friend mirror one's behaviour
and attitudes, and vice versa.

Surprisingly up until now, 'some' of these friends are still pretending not to know me, having bad thoughts about me, nauzubillah. I tried to reconcile with them, to smile at them, give salaam to them, and honestly I pity them for giving ways to shaitaan to weaken their heart and still have bitter feelings towards me after this one incident. I may have done hurtful things, but as humans we all make mistakes, sometimes big and small, sometimes silly and unintentional.

The most important thing is to act wisely and not have ill-feelings towards each other, especially when we are Muslims. We must try to reconcile and stand united as one Ummah.

These minor clashes might weaken our ties or make our friendship stronger and it might be difficult for we may sometimes fall into suspicion and ill-thoughts towards others but as long as we strive to please Allah, we will strive to avoid all the bad things and change our attitude towards others.

It's a test of friendship; and it's a test from Allah and when we pass this test then inshaAllah He will reward us all.

It is essential how much we need to support each other. We have to make the right action as the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. said ' The best of the servants of Allah are those who, when they are seen, Allah is remembered (i.e. they are very pious). The worst of the servants of Allah are those who spread malicious gossip, cause division between friends, and seek to cause trouble for innocent people'.

This is a reminder to all of us, so that we should always strive to please Allah in the ways that He permits and avoid things that Allah does not love.

We must try to follow the many examples of the Prophet who never uttered any words that could hurt a person's feelings, damage his reputation or insult his honour.

Isn't it time to stop these unhealthy acts and start to become a better Muslim??

I hope that may Allah guide us all to the true path, and give us the best of friends to help each other on our journey in life. Ameen.

Ahsan-al-qasas: The most beautiful of stories in Quraan!

2010-03-07T04:30:00.000-08:00

How do we Muslims cope with our daily trials and tribulation? Here, I would like to share a very interesting article about Surah Yusuf taken from Muslim Matters. As Allah S.W.T. calls this surah ["Ahsan Al-Qasas"]: the most beautiful of stories! A beautiful reminder for us Muslims. May Allah S.W.T. give us the patience and perseverance we need to cope with our life, inshaAllah. :)

http://muslimmatters.org/2010/01/04/lessons-from-surah-yusuf-%E2%80%93-part-1-sibling-rivalry/

http://muslimmatters.org/2010/02/01/lessons-from-surah-yusuf-%E2%80%93-part-2-trials-and-temptation/

http://muslimmatters.org/2010/02/17/lessons-from-surah-yusuf-part-3-dawah-behind-bars/

Worshipping Allah

2010-03-04T01:27:00.000-08:00

"And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me…" (Quran, 51:56)

"O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but a (quick passing) enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever." (Quran, 40:39)

Allah has said that he has created us to test us, to see which of us is best in deeds. He is not testing us to know, in the sense that he doesn’t already know, but this world is a test for us in order again that we can grow spiritually.

We cannot develop this spiritual characteristic of generosity unless some of us have more then others and then we are required to give of the wealth we have. When we give, we grow. Similarly, if we were not in a position where others had more then us then we wouldn’t have the ability to develop the higher spiritual quality of contentment, patience, satisfaction in what Allah has given us.

So it is all there in order to bring out the higher spiritual qualities, which enable us to attain the state, which makes us suitable and eligible to return to paradise. The paradise from which we were created, we were created in paradise and for paradise. Through our choices we have left, in this life, a field of testing, where we can grow to a state where we deserve paradise.

The purpose of this life is the worship of Allah, this life is a test. A test for us, will we worship Allah, or will we forget Him. This is where our focus has to begin. (from Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, Part of a lecture delivered on the priorities of a Muslim today )

Supplication - Sami Yusuf

O My Lord,
My sins are like
The highest mountain;
My good deeds
Are very few
They’re like a small pebble.
I turn to You
My heart full of shame,
My eyes full of tears.
Bestow Your
Forgiveness and Mercy
Upon me.
Ya Allah,
Send your peace and blessings
On the final Prophet,
And his family,
And companions,
And those who follow him.

Polyvore, I am addicted to it! (OK, Not so much now ;p)

2010-02-13T01:54:00.001-08:00

Hi Salam to all,

Currently I am 'indulging' myself to 'Polyvore's application. It's a 'dressed-up' game, consisting of not just fashion but some other application like interior design etc...very childish-I know, but this simple and yet addictive application is simply irresistable, for a 'some-what-vain-person-like me'.. hahaa! Well here are some of my 'Muslimah' polyvores, 'dressed in a chic and trendy apparel, enjoy!! :D

Brown will never go out of style..

Brown 2 by natashiwa featuring Miss Sixty pants

Items in this set:
Yves saint laurent dresses, 1,280 GBP
Sandwich Long Sleeve Slub Cardigan, Stone Brown, S, 55 GBP
Casual trouser Women - Trousers Women on Miss Sixty Online Store, 65 EUR
Croc Embossed Leather Booties, $570
Bottega Veneta brown patchwork leather large tote at Bluefly, $2,560

Yellow for a girls outing, relaxed and simple!

Yellow 2 by natashiwa featuring All Saints tops

Items in this set:
Women - long cardigans - Forever cardigan - J.Crew, $88
Pirate Cardigan, 65 GBP
Naomi Super Skinny Flare Jeans by dVb Denim by Victoria Beck, 52 GBP
Giuseppe Zanotti Crystal Cluster Thong Sandal at Barneys New York, $995
MARC BY MARC JACOBS - LEOLA FLASH SHOULDER BAG, 495 EUR

My personal favourite, Abaya re-modified

Black 2 by natashiwa featuring Givenchy shoes

Items in this set:
Faraha Abaya Butterfly Style Satin Trims
ゴートレザージャケット, 87,150 JPY
GIVENCHY - MOROCCAN STUDDED PLATFORM WEDGES, 795 EUR
Botkier - Aiden Satchel (Black) - Bags and Luggage, $600
18k White Gold 16 1/10ct TDW Diamond Bangle (G-H, VS2) | Overstock.com, $9,720

I always loved BLACK. Forever and ever ever..and ever ever! :D

Black 1 by natashiwa featuring Fendi watches

Items in this set:
Maurie & Eve White Silk Double Layer Mini Dress/ Tunic with Sequin..., $165
STELLA MCCARTNEY 234437 BLACK COTTON/SILK/VISCOSE E3007, 1,995 GBP
Double Button Fit & Flare Trouser, $48
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN - COUSSIN BOOTIE BOOTS, 1.075 EUR
GIVENCHY - STUDDED SOHA TOP HANDLE, 1.285 EUR

And if you want to check out more of my polyvores, click to this link.

Bedding collections

2009-10-25T23:58:00.000-07:00

Nothing beats a bad/ rough day than having a good rest in a warm and cozy bed with a nice set of bedding, wouldn't you agree?

I especially loved the vintage bedding collections, nothing that's too shimmery, simple, elegant and yet, modest. Picture above shows the lovely set of bedding that I especially would love to have! I'm quite amazed with Kylie Minogue's home bedding collection, I mean, we all knew her as a singer, right? :D

More pics can be obtained from here.

Off to planning dreaming right now. cheerio! :P

^_^

breathe in..breathe out..

2009-10-20T02:47:00.000-07:00

it's less than a month now.

chill.

u'll be fine, insha Allah :)

To a non-muslim women

2009-06-22T00:59:00.000-07:00

Today I finally have the opportunity to surf online
after
one week of field trip in Perak (ohh, that was
definitely
one of my unforgettable experience)..and as I was
surfing
I found this poem titled 'To a non-muslim women'...
I admit that I have a 'thing' on reading poem,
poetry never
seems to bore me. Be it about life, love..though
I have to admit
I am not good with writing
(as you can see from my previous posts, I never
write any 'long-winded
bunga2 type'
of writing, mine's always straight to the point.
I guess I am so used
to write experimental methods, facts, figures etc.
over the years
majoring in science field..
regardless, I do hope that you will enjoy reading
this Islamic poem
that I think will somewhat put thought in the minds
of non-muslim
women; as the saying
goes do not judge a book by its cover. I am proud
to be a Muslim.
Alhamdulillah :)


To A Non-Muslim Woman

When you look at me
All that you can see
is the scarf that covers my hair
My words you can't hear
because you're too full of fear,
mouth gaping, all you do is stare

You think it's not my choice
in your own "liberation" rejoice.
You think I'm uneducated,
trapped, oppressed and subjugated,
You're so thankful that you're free.

But non-Muslim woman you've got it wrong
You're the weak and I'm the strong.
For I've rejected the trap of man.
Fancy clothes - low neck, short skirt
those are devices for pain and hurt.
I'm not falling for that little plan.

I'm a person with ideas and thought.
I'm not for sale, I can't be bought.
I'm me - not a fancy toy,
I won't decorate anyone's arm,
nor be promoted for my charm.
There is more to be than playing coy.

Living life as a balancing game - mother,
daughter, wife, nurse, cleaner, cook, lover
and still bring home a wage.
Who thought up this modern "freedom"?
Where man can love'em and man can leave'em.
This is not free, but life in a cage.
Always jumping to a male agenda
competing on his terms.
No job share, no creche facilities,
no feeding and nappy changing amenities
No time off for menstrual pain,
"hormones" they laugh "what a shame"
No equal pay equal skill
your job they can always fill.
No promotion unless you're sterilised.
No promotion unless you're sexually terrorised.
And this is liberation?

Non-Muslim woman you can have your life.
Mine - it has less strife.
I cover and I get respected,
surely that's to be expected,
for I won't demean the feminine,
I won't live to male criterion,
I dance to my own tune
and I hope you see this very soon.
For your own sake - wake up and use your sight.
Are you so sure that you are right?

From a Muslim Woman


taken from http://www.jannah.org/articles/poems.html#5

oh,and why the word 'women' (as if they were meant to
'woo' men). think
about it.

well of course

2009-04-17T05:57:00.000-07:00

Last thursday I went to FRIM with my supervisor, alhamdulillah I managed to meet up with Prof E.Soepadmo, an ex-lecturer from my uni. He is 74 yrs old..we had a good time chatting, all three of us along with a frim officer went for lunch at the malay tea house. We talked and prof made some jokes, reminiscing those days in uni.. It was a good place to chill, the ambience is just nice...well, for me at least until I went up to the counter...it was horrifying, I saw a number of ants (big ones) crawling inside the container of local delicacies/'kuih muih'...I couldn't understand why can't they maintain the cleanliness of the place.

It was as simple as keeping it closed all the time. But well of course, 'some' Malaysians are ignorant about hygiene. It is ironic..it is such a nice place to relax, and everything even the presentation of the place is without doubt, deserve a 5 star rating, but the most simple little things (cleanliness) is taken for granted. With the price that they're charging, I really hope they would be aware of this. Sayang kerana nampak ramai foreigner and even our local people come here for their lunch. I am not condemning, but I am fussy when it comes to food and hygiene. Shouldn't we all be?

It is sad that sometimes our local restaurants does not maintain the cleanliness of their shops; admitting they're muslims, but the very simple act of cleanliness constantly reminded by our beloved Prophet is being neglected. I would be more than happy if the owner was there, then I would have politely inform her. Well of course it was a nice place to destress, just don't order the kuih muih. ;p

an interesting conversation...

2009-04-02T21:59:00.000-07:00

A convesation for Muslim sisters:

"I'm so tired."

"Tired of what?"

"Of all these people judging me."
"Who judged you?"

"Like that woman, every time I sit with her, she tells me to wear hijab."

"Oh, hijab and music! The mother of all topics!"

"Yeah! I listen to music without hijab…haha!"

"Maybe she was just giving you advice."

"I don't need her advice. I know my religion. Can`t she mind her own business?"

"Maybe you misunderstood. She was just being nice."

"Keeping out of my business, that would be nice..."

"But it's her duty to encourage you do to good."

"Trust me. That was no encouragement. And what do you mean `good` ?"

"Well, wearing hijab, that would be a good thing to do."

"Says who?"

"It's in the Qur'an, isn't it?"

"Yes. She did quote me something."

"She said Surah Nur, and other places of the Qur'an."

"Yes, but it's not a big sin anyway. Helping people and praying is more important."

"True. But big things start with small things."

"That's a good point, but what you wear is not important. What's important is to have a good healthy heart."

"What you wear is not important?"

"That's what I said."

"Then why do you spend an hour every morning fixing up?"

"What do you mean?"

"You spend money on cosmetics, not to mention all the time you spend on fixing your hair and low-carb dieting."

"So?"

"So, your appearance IS important."

"No. I said wearing hijab is not an important thing in religion."

"If it's not an important thing in religion, why is it mentioned in the Holy Qur'an?"

"You know I can't follow all that's in Qur'an."

"You mean God tells you something to do, you disobey and then it's OK?"

"Yes. God is forgiving."

"God is forgiving to those who repent and do not repeat their mistakes."

"Says who?"

"Says the same book that tells you to cover."

"But I don't like hijab, it limits my freedom."

"But the lotions, lipsticks, mascara and other cosmetics set you free?!

What`s your definition of freedom anyway?"

"Freedom is in doing whatever you like to do."

"No. Freedom is in doing the right thing, not in doing whatever we wish to do."

"Look! I've seen so many people who don't wear hijab and are nice people, and so many who wearhijab and are bad people."

"So what? There are people who are nice to you but are alcoholic. Should we all be alcoholics? You made a stupid point."

"I don't want to be an extremist or a fanatic. I'm OK the way I am without hijab."

"Then you are a secular fanatic. An extremist in disobeying God."

"You don't get it, if I wear hijab, who would marry me?!"

"So all these people with hijab never get married?!"

"Okay! What if I get married and my husband doesn't like it? And wants me to remove it?"

"What if your husband wants you to go out with him on a bank robbery?!"

"That's irrelevant, bank robbery is a crime."

"Disobeying your Creator is not a crime?"

"But then who would hire me?"

"A company that respects people for who they are."

"Not after 9-11"

"Yes. After 9-11. Don't you know about Hanan who just got into med school?

And the other one, what was her name, the girl who always wore
a white hijab…ummm…"

"Yasmeen?"

"Yes. Yasmeen. She just finished her MBA and is now interning for GE."

"Why do you reduce religion to a piece of cloth anyway?"

"Why do you reduce womanhood to high heals and lipstick colors?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"In fact, I did. Hijab is not just a piece of cloth. It is obeying God in a difficult environment. It is courage, faith in action, and true womanhood.

But your short sleeves, tight pants…"

"That's called `fashion`, you live in a cave orsomething? First of all, hijab was founded by men who wanted to control
women."

"Really? I did not know men could control women by hijab."

"Yes. That's what it is."

"What about the women who fight their husbands to wear hijab? And women in France who are forced to remove their hijab by men? What do you say about that?"

"Well, that's different."

"What difference? The woman who asked you to wear hijab…she was a woman, right?"

"Right, but…"

"But fashions that are designed and promoted by male-dominated corporations, set
you free? Men have no control on exposing women and using them as a commodity?! Give me a break!"

"Wait, let me finish, I was saying…"

"Saying what? You think that men control women by hijab?"

"Yes."

"Specifically how?"

"By telling women how and what to wear, dummy!"

"Doesn't TV, magazines and movies tell you what to wear, and how to be `attractive'?"

"Of course, it's fashion."

"Isn't that control? Pressuring you to wear what they want you to wear?"

[Silence]

"Not just controlling you, but also controlling the market."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you are told to look skinny and anorexic like that woman on the cover
of the magazine, by men who design those magazines and sell those products."

"I don't get it. What does hijab have to do with products."

"It has everything to do with that. Don't you see? Hijab is a threat to consumerism,
women who spend billions of dollars to look skinny and live by standards of fashion designed by men…and then here is Islam, saying trash all that nonsense and focus on your soul, not on
your looks, and do not worry what men think of your looks."

"Like I don't have to buy hijab? Isn't hijab a product?"

"Yes, it is. It is a product that sets you free from male-dominated consumerism."

"Stop lecturing me! I WILL NOT WEAR HIJAB!

It is awkward, outdated, and totally not suitable for this society ... Moreover, I am only 20 and too young to wear hijab!"

"Fine. Say that to your Lord, when you face Him on Judgment Day."

"Fine."

"Fine."

[Silence]

"Shut up and I don't want to
hear more about hijab niqab schmijab Punjab!"

[Silence]

She stared at the mirror,
tired of arguing with herself all this time.

Successful enough, she managed to shut the voices in her head, with her own opinions triumphant
in victory on the matter, and a final modern decision accepted by the society - but rejected by the Faith:

"Yes!" - to curls on the hair - "No!" - to hijab!

"And he(/she) is indeed a failure who corrupts it [the soul]!"

[Holy Quran 91:10]

Subhana'Allah!!!

"Nay! You
prefer the life of this world; While the hereafter is better and
more lasting."

Holy Quran:
87:16-17]

"You are the best community (Ummah) raised up for (the benefit of) humanity; enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah."

(taken from http://www.al-ahkam.net/home/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=146930)

(this article is taken from Yusuf Estes www.islamtomorrow.com)

Being a Muslim

2009-03-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

"This day have I perfected your religion for you,
completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for
you Islam as your religion." (5:3)

Alhamdulillah, there's not a day in my life have I not feel thankful
to be a born Muslim. However, I must say that my knowledge
in Islam is little. I took for granted most of the time,and there are
questions in my mind which I
long for an explanation, questions which
I am afraid of asking, for it might be answered with a stern warning.
Fortunately, I have been blessed to be able
to open up my mind and my heart to learn more about Islam, the beauty of Islam,
the logical reasoning of Islam, and the many teachings of Islam when I became a
friend to my fiance; we were in our Convocation week; he was still a
non Muslim back then, asking qustions about Islam, which, like many other Muslims,
I tend to conclusively not give the answer. Somehow rather, he made me reflect about those questions,
which I myself had never thought of and some which I myself long for an explanation.
Now, alhamdulillah I must say that I truly am thankful to
him, because he made me realise about many wonderful and amazing things in Islam
which I have often taken for granted. Everyday I learn more, going to usrah as many usrah
as possible (alhamdulillah, I do actually enjoy going to the classes). I am truly blessed
and syukur to be able to deepen my appreciation towards Islam. Although at some point in my life I
feel that life is ordinary, but learning more about Islam made me feel proud of being
a Muslim.
Islam is indeed, the perfect religion.

Lessons learnt. Never ignore questions that lingers in your head, you are free to ask,
free to accept and free to follow as long as it is not against the teachings of Quraan
and Sunnah :)

May Allah guide us all, Insya Allah.

Why do we fall? So we can LEARN to pick ourselves up..

2009-03-21T11:46:00.000-07:00

In life we sometimes lament, we complain, we feel that life is unfair, we feel angry and unsatisfied about the issues in our life thats just too much for us to cope. It is unlikely that we soon realise how blessed we are, how syukur we would be to Allah the all Forgiving, all Knowing for every challenges in our life comes with a hikmah, insha Allah.

It doesn't matter how deep we fall, how hollow our heart is, how hurt our feelings are as long as we strive to be better, we kept being thankful to Allah, doa and believe in Him, insya Allah we will always be on the journey to the righteous path.

Perseverance is truly one of the greatest action that a Muslim/Muslimah can do. With it, insya Allah we will be able to cope with our daily 'challenges' and 'risks'. Striving hard to persevere means that we put our outmost effort to please Allah by doing the best that we could, everyday.

"Those who patiently persevere, will truly receive a reward without measure!" (39:10)

Alhamdullilah, it is clear how Allah state the reward for those who constantly striving to persevere, may He guide us all to the straight path, insya Allah.

To me, the poem below sums up just the right amount on how we should be thankful to Him always..

Forgive Me - Ahmed Bukhatir

Today, upon a bus,
I saw a girl with golden hair.
And wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch.
But as she passed, she smiled.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I `d go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have blessed indeed, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it `d do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
"I thank you, you've been so kind.
You see," he said, "I `m blind"
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I `d go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have blessed indeed, the world is mine.

I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
He did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
And then I knew. He couldn't hear.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two ears the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I `d go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have blessed indeed, the world is mine

Promoting IIS Friendly Comparative Religion (FCR) class

2009-03-08T05:37:00.000-07:00

Assalamualaikum! I’d like to invite you to join this very unique and interesting FCR class by Islam Information and Services (IIS) in Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur. I went to the class last year, it was held during the weekends (so basically ANYONE be it a revert or student or a Muslim who wants to learn about Islam; in a distinctive way, can join!). Speakers’ bro. Shah Kirit Kokulai Govindji, bro. Lim Jooi Soon and bro. Fauzi talks about the vast religion in Malaysia (there’s even a slot for Bible study; it’s an eye opener), and it’s pretty cool how they present the beauty of Islam (Insya Allah you will feel more thankful and syukur to be a Muslim/ Muslimah). It’s tremendously splendid, here’s a chance for you to go to meet Dr. Zakir Naik's ‘student’, a very heart warming bro. Shah. Also, there are usrah classes (which will be held on Thursday, once every two weeks) and an usrah on Sunday continuously. However, you have to attend the FCR classes before you are to go to these usrah classes. So go on, my brothers and sisters, join this interesting class, it’s worth every cent, you won’t regret it, insya Allah.

Details can be obtained through IIS website: http://www.iis.org.my/

assalamualaikum :)

2009-03-07T05:56:00.000-08:00

Hello and salam! This is my first post, I dont really know what to write, hehee.. Insya Allah I will write more, sorry to spend few minutes of your time just to load this page...I'll post something interesting sooon! Insya Allah! :D

Learning to breathe

Where is our ethics and common sense?

From Saifulislam.com

Tsunami Akal dan Budi di Tanah Air Sendiri

Everybody's free (to wear sunscreen)

Another day ll Dawud Wharnsby Ali

Seasons Greetings ^_^

Heaven, where true love goes

The irony of burn the Quran day (an overdue post)

Sunshine, Dust and the Messenger ^_^

Fesyen PELACUR Islam??

A radical and illogical study in China on meat consumption.

Is Eating Meat Harmful, Like Popular Pro-Vegan Book Proclaims?

Major Reason Why the China Study is Fatally Flawed

Two Physicians’ Experiences with Using Vegetarian Diets for Everyone

There is No Perfect Diet that Works for Everyone

Nutritional Typing Produced Dramatic Improvement

Don’t Listen to Me or ANYONE Else About What You Should Eat

Should Meat Be Avoided Because of the Cholesterol Issue?

Is Vegetarianism Right for You?

What About the Other Animal Protein: Milk… Is it Good or Bad?

Final Recommendation

Eid Mubarak

An Evening Talk on 'Freemason' by Dr. Omar Zaid

FREE software program to help memorize Quraan

Curse of the consumer society by A.R. Green

Hypocrisy that I can't stand!

The atheist Professor. I like it everytime I read it :)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. First before you start reading this make sure you will read it all to the end!

Women's Issue

I just have to share this!

Bloggers Universe Malaysia 2010 ~ Discussing the 'Allah' issue..

I cannot help but to agree with brother Zainol Abideen..

Why can't they have any respect for Muslims, serving beer as a part of the event? And with this being said, why won't they discuss the issue with religious scholars in Islam? If they are taking this issue seriously, that is. Obviously they don't.

This is an absolute rubbish. Enough said.

A small token of appreciation : Just my scribble :p

The Do's and Don'ts - It's hilariously funny, you've been warned! :D

An insightful poem by a 17 year old mashaAllah!

Let's refresh ourselves and lets repent to Allah :)

Giving Islam a bad name

Who are the people of Taqwa?

Trying to please everyone.

Ahsan-al-qasas: The most beautiful of stories in Quraan!

Worshipping Allah

Polyvore, I am addicted to it! (OK, Not so much now ;p)

Bedding collections

breathe in..breathe out..

To a non-muslim women

well of course

an interesting conversation...

Being a Muslim

Why do we fall? So we can LEARN to pick ourselves up..

Promoting IIS Friendly Comparative Religion (FCR) class

assalamualaikum :)

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

First before you start reading this make sure you will read it all to the end!