i miss blogging so much!!! But next time lar ye. Got loads of pics to upload for sharing ;)

Anyway, announcement for all Fityan members, the young and old, the new and the veterans, ALL who consider yourself Fityan, you're invited!!!!

Event: Breakfast with Fityan Members "closure for 2008"
Host: Fityan Ghufran
Start Time: Sunday, November 30 at 8:30am
End Time: Sunday, November 30 at 1:00pm
Where: Masjid Darul Ghufran, Khawarazmi Room 1

Hope to see you there!

Oh and tmr there's a Heart to Heart youth talk at Al-Falah 10am-12nn, anyone interested to accompany?

It just crossed my mind today. Haha. Know why? Cos I kept 'talking to myself' in my head practically 24/7! But I'm not talkative. I'm just... thinkative haha. In other words: INTROVERT. And proud to be one!

I met a fair share of talkative people the past few days. Talk and talk and talk non-stop. Sometimes I find it too noisy and irritating.

I just love talking to myself. And because of that, I love to blog! There's so many things I wanna share since the last post but I dunno where to start! Hmm, let's do a list of FAQs haha!

FAQ 1: How are you?
ans 1: Alhamdulillah, praise to allah I'm still alive. And yes, I can walk normally again already. And my bruises are lightening. It's rather scary to see a big patch of blue flesh, then yellow flesh haha. Muscle strains... On and off. The wound which had been hurting the most, was actually just healing till this morning! On Friday after the nurse cleaned the wound and bandaged it nicely, I felt really comfortable and almost like no pain at all! But after I changed myself (or asked my mum to assist in changing it), okok uh, uncomfortable. I think I put too tight or something. This morning, someone go and bang into my arm, like OWW oww OWW. Till now can like feel the sting. And the pain reaches the bones. Feels like I just knocked my elbow on a rock. The pain actually goes all the way up to my left shoulderblade la sey. I think cos too tensed with trying to control the pain. Oh well.

And I just noticed, how come there's so many white cars huh?? I can't really say it's trauma or the after-shock and whatnots, cos I don't really know what is it. But I can't help taking notice of every single white car in my way!

Yesterday I left TLL late and I had to wait for the shuttle bus for about 15-20mins. Meaning I had to watch so many cars pass by (some sprint by) in front of me at the scene of accident. Erm... Ok. And I almost cry. Though I think it's more because of impatience than of fear haha. And I keep hearing a car approaching. Though I think it's because I was listening hard for the bus screeches!

For 2 days, I had my lunch at TLL. Lazy to go out, rain, don't want to wait for bus, short incubation time are just some of the reasons why. I can't really decide if the accident is another reason. But I did tell myself I'm like NEVER gonna have lunch at Science sch anymore for the remaining SIP days = 10 weeks. It takes too much time to go so far, and I don't wanna rush rush anymore, which could result in another stupid decision like crossing across the road infront of a gigantic bus at a narrow bend. Real stupid thing to do. REALLY STUPID you know.

FAQ 2: How's SIP?
ans 2: Ok. Coping. Out of 5, maybe like only 2 days I go home at 6. Heck. Hectic. So many things to do. Especially yesterday. I had to continue almost everything I was doing last Wednesday and cos my mentor continued a bit for me, I had to figure out where she stopped so I can continue from there. Quite confusing. Aiyo. And I've got so many vials of flies collected already! And because it's Monday, I have to transfer EVERYTHING to new vials with new yeast paste etc. Not as easy as it sounds ok. And also because it's Monday, most of the puppae has developed into flies! Meaning I have to filter through like hundreds of flies to collect the crosses I want.

Anyway, I'm putting quite a lot of things I've learned together to get the bigger picture, especially with restriction digestion, about the enzymes (what buffer to use, what temperature to set reaction at, how compatible etc), about how to know whether it's cutting or not, about digest set-up the reactions (as in how much of each reagent to use, what temperature, how long, whether to add SAP or not, whether to make blunt end or not etc) yea... And pcr, and sequencing too. I love practicals! I love lab work! EXCEPT the part where I need to write report. I don't mind doing these minor minor SIP stuff, which sometimes are the cause of me going home late, and recording them down. I love it! It's the MP that rather sucks.

FAQ 3: How about MP?
ans 3: Well, partly not so well. This week is my fourth try at the same experiment I've been doing! No results or insuffient results the past 3 weeks! So sian know! I've still yet to start my MP workbook, *gulps* What more my MP report! *cries* Anyway, is anyone willing to help me copy back all my experiments, under confidential agreement (I'm serious, I'll make you sign a letter of agreement), into my MP workbook X2 (one copy for school, another for my mentor) for $10? Really, really I'm serious. Criteria: Handwriting like mine, can write fast and free on Saturdays haha. No I don't think this is an offense, right? I'm really tired of writing. And all ideas for the workbook, aim, materials, method, results, discussion ALL will be by me. I just need someone to help me write!!! And it's not bribing la, it's a little token of appreciation for the help.

Oh anyway, my mentor has really high expectations of me. She's trusted me with TWO of HER projects know. and I've disappointed her time and time again. Haiz... But trust me, I give all my best for everything. But I dunno, despite knowing I'd given my best, I still feel disappointed with myself and guilty sometimes.

FAQ 4: How's social life?
ans 4: Sad :( I hadn't met my NI, Fityan and Titisan peeps *sniff sniff* And almost all have no idea how I am either, cos I can't be bothered to contact them, to ask how's things, to update on myself, to listen etc. Socialising can be tiring, especially for an introvert like me. I've got many different worlds to visit you know.. Haha just kidding, I'm not crazy la deyy.

But I gotta say I'm so glad for the friends I have at TLL! Especially Hui Yi, JJ and Aaron. They make SIP/MP all the more fun/bearable (respectively). Sometimes I just go up to them and make funny faces to destress haha. Funny faces like silently screaming under all the instructions my mentor asks me to do. It helps y'know.

Oh, that's all people frequently ask these days.

Now on to random stuff!

Hmm... Like what eh? Forgot.

OH! I think I'm gonna do something on the last day of SIP. I'm gonna go crazy on my mentor HAHA. I mean all these while I just nod nod and say "ok", "yes understood", "alright", "can" to her know. I think on the last day I'll go wild! Whee! I hope she'd be surprised. Hehehee. Gosh, I'm thinking of these stuffs know...

I might be meeting Fityan peeps this Thursday and Sunday and Titisan peeps perhaps tmr and Friday. Oh no, NI usrah on Friday! Erm, alamak, I forgot! Geez... NI dearies sisters, can we meet up on Saturday pwease?
I'm free the WHOLE of Saturday.

Apart from those above, I have a few other things to look forward to. Like... Akikah at Ghufran, Korban at Malaysia, brothers' birthdays (and hopefully no stupid stunts by them to make my family tensed and hopefully get eat seafood!!!) New Year, end of SIP, end of SIP celebration aka Seoul Garden outing!, end of the whole SIP/MP ordeal, birthday, graduation!!! And for now, for my wound to heal completely hehe. It's mostly pink flesh oredi. Parts of it look like raw meat still though, eww. But no more sluffy!! Dunno why the nurse call that. Sluffy = pus discharge aka infection.

I shall put aside thinking about what to do after SIP ends after SIP ends, haha. I dunno what to think now. There's so many things I wanna do, so many I wanna achieve! Really, it keeps coming to me the part about me wanting to be a doctor, a gynae specifically. I want to be involved in bringing lives into this world and seeing the tears of joy in many many people's yes! But doctor means medical school, which means competing with the best of the best with such an average results that I have. Med sch take in like distinction students, top students, super excellent students! How? Should I pursue? Do I have the guts? Is this what I'm meant to do, what I really really really wanna do?

To my multiply contacts: this is referring to my blog, so yeah...

Finally, I've changed my blogskin! I love the song as I set my ears to it last week. And ever since it's posted on the blog, I'd left my comp on throughout the night to listen to it and bring me to a relaxing mode. I need it badly. My muscles are so tensed... The first day I listened to the song, I wake up in the morning in a reflective mode and cried... Cried my heart out I should say, till I felt better.

Anyway, the slideshow with the header 'loves' are really the things I love. Not all the things I love though, as I don't have pictures of everything right.. But yes, I love my family, and I love my friends, I love Islam, I love beautiful sceneries, I love bright moons, I love sunrises, I love beaches and seas, I love camps, I love cats, I love butterflies, I love flowers especially ginvera, I love clouds, I love taking pictures of the things I love, I love Science, I love practical work (when I can understand what I'm doing, and it doesn't take too long) and more! And I miss some of these things I love... *smiles*

I need a massage badly. I'm getting frequent muscle cramps these days. Dunno if the accident plays a part...

Right now, my back and shoulders really hurt. Gotta go sleep! Toodles noodles!

Oh oh, I really wanna post this up!! Scroll of responsibility I'd call it ;)


If you wanna know more about NI, wanna collaborate for an event or something, you may contact me. :) PM me, tag me or something kays.

I do love art too y'know. The different forms and types of art. I'm not good at it, but I appreciate it. I can't draw the difference between a human head and a cow head I think haha. Try googling about forms and types of art! Anyway, anyone interested to go to the Biennale exhibition with me? I'm still free this Sat ;)

Oh, and I'm really itching to be involved in organizing something. Gosh but I can't!! I really can't commit :(

The book that I was reading during lunch and on the way back, that fell when I got hit, that I continued at hospital, that I continued on the car ride back and that I finished last night instead of resting haha. (Couldn't rest initially 'cause was scared I wouldn't wake up, and because of the sting. But it's so nice to sleep hehe. Glad I didn't dream of the accident, I think. And I slept on my arm, and when I woke up there was like no pain. want sleep somemore later hehe)

Anyway, this is the book talking about filial piety, about true love, about how hatred and greed destroys the heart, soul and body and many more amongst the fantasy twists of the tale. As much as it is ridiculous, about witches, about friendly bears, about cats turning to man, about man being able to swim through earth like a faery tale, it is as true as the lives some of us go through.

Who says Muslims can't read what some people term 'non-Islamic' books, especially fantasy ones? I'm not giving hukum here of course, who am I seh... Belajar agama pon part time je. But in my opinion, it is not wrong AS LONG AS you know what's right and what's wrong, and you hold strongly to your faith and your principles and don't let it sway with what you read, and you take the positive values you can learn from it!

And the book shouldn't distract you from your routines as a Muslim, requires self-discipline and which I rather lack. Once I put my face into a book, I can read it back to back till it's finished and sacrifice sleep and food. Books bring me to a different world and I get so absorbed in it, I dunno what happens around me. I ever read till I missed Buona Vista station and not just once I pulled myself away from the book in time at Commonwealth ish ish.

Back to the book.. It's interesting how the author fits faery tales, as they call it, inside. Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Jack & the Beanstalk, Goldilock's and the Three Bears, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven dwarves and Rumpelstiltskin. But they're mostly twisted. It's a different tale from what we heard off. For one, it all shows that humans are bad creatures, which is sometimes true in reality!

Two 'messages' I gathered, which I didn't expect, is what the book says about greed, the failure to feel satisfied with what one has and about protecting your name. The greed one is more obvious, but the hidden part is how the author fits it nicely into the story on how when you've seen love, you want more love, when you've seen wealth, you want more wealth and when you've seen true beauty, you'll go to all means to see something like it again. And about the concept of protecting your name is totally different from how a Muslim view it la. But what do lit people call it? Can't really remember the terms... Metaphor is it? Haha I dunno.

I'm loving lit again! Taking my own time and embracing the concepts in my own style. Hehe, makes me feel like opening my lit books again, but maybe later... Haha. I've got my SIP logbook and MP workbook to fill in! Which would take more than a day I'm sure! Okaes, I've fulfilled my promises here, now I shall do what I'm supposed to do!

Last note: Iqra'! Iqra' bismirabbikallazikhalaq! Read! Read in the name of your Lord who has created!

Al-Alaq (The Clot)

1. Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),

2. Has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).

3. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous,

4. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen [the first person to write was Prophet Idrees (Enoch)],

5. Has taught man that which he knew not.

6. Nay! Verily, man does transgress all bounds (in disbelief and evil deed, etc.).

7. Because he considers himself self-sufficient.

8. Surely! Unto your Lord is the return.

9. Have you (O Muhammad ()) seen him (i.e. Ab� Jahl) who prevents,

10. A slave (Muhammad ()) when he prays?

11. Tell me, if he (Muhammad ()) is on the guidance (of All�h)?

12. Or enjoins piety?

13. Tell me if he (the disbeliever, Ab� Jahl) denies (the truth, i.e. this Qur'�n), and turns away?

14. Knows he not that All�h does see (what he does)?

15. Nay! If he (Ab� Jahl) ceases not, We will catch him by the forelock,

16. A lying, sinful forelock!

17. Then, let him call upon his council (of helpers),

18. We will call the guards of Hell (to deal with him)!

19. Nay! (O Muhammad ())! Do not obey him (Ab� Jahl). Fall prostrate and draw near to All�h!

From the holy Qur'an as translated in http://www.dar-us-salam.com/TheNobleQuran/surah96.html.

Oh, just another note to add o to that last sentence:

Ayats (verses) Requiring Sajda-e-Tilawat

1. Surah Al A'Raf (7) Ayat 206
2. Surah Al Ra'd (13) Ayat 15
3. Surah Al Nahl (16) Ayat 50
4. Surah Bani Israil (17) Ayat 109
5. Surah Maryum (19) Ayat 58
6. Surah Al Haj (22) Ayat 18
7. Surah Al Haj (22) Ayat 77 (Shafi)
8. Surah Al Farqan (25) Ayat 60
9. Surah Al Naml (27) Ayat 26
10. Surah As Sajdah (32) Ayat 15
11. Surah Sa'd (38) Ayat 24 (Hanafi)
12. Surah Hamim Sajdah (41) Ayat 38
13. Surah Al Najam (53) Ayat 62
14. Surah Inshiqaq (84) Ayat 21
15. Surah Al Alaq (96) Ayat 19


HOW TO PERFORM SAJDA-E-TILAWAT

Sajda Tilaawat will be performed like a normal Sajda. Wudhu is a condition.

There is no Sajdah Tilaawat when the Aayat of Sajdah is heard on tape.

Face the Qiblah and without raising the hands, recite Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar), going down in the Sajda position. In Sajda, recite Subhaana rabbiyal a'alaa at least 3 times. Thereafter, reciting the Takbeer if you wish to. If you wish, you may arise from the Sajda position into the Tashahhud position. The Sajdah Tilaawat is now complete. There is no need for Salaam.

From http://www.tariqjamil.org/Forum/quran/ayats-(verses)-requiring-sajda-e-tilawat/0/

Good day all! May peace be upon us all :D

Random: The songs that really capture me today (and yesterday night) are Syukur and Bismillah by Raihan on NI blog hehe.

Ok, I shall start with the uestions Ustaz posted while introducing Maqasid Syariah. (Adibah, it's Syar'iyyah actually ehk?)

1) Dalam kehidupan ini, bagaimana anda mengenalpasti samada suatu perkara itu penting untuk diri anda atau kurang penting?
English: In life, how do you determine whether something is importance to you or less important?

2) Jika perlu buat pilihan antara dua perkara bagaimana anda buat penilaian untuk menentukan pilihan anda?
English; If you have to decide between two matters, how do you analyse to determine your choice?

3) Bagaimana anda menyusun/mengatur urusan keutamaan dalam tugas/tanggungjawab?
English: How do you priotise your tasks/responsibilities?

Side question: Importance of islamic studies and what will happen if it is cast aside?

Take a time to reflect upon the questions... Everyone have their own answers.

I realise that answers flashing through my mind are textbook answers, what I SHOULD do, instead of practical answers, what I WOULD have done or HAS ALWAYS done.

Anyway, happy birthday Amalina! Wherever you are... I miss you y'know...

Received this article from Kak Sarah. It's unbelievable, but then again why should it be unbelievable? It is true what they mentioned. "how important religious homogeneity was considered in the Muslim World; if you share religion, you are treated not as a foreigner, but as a local, and Muslims do not attack Muslim women even in war." Read on... Sorry for the misalignment, I'm too lazy to correct it.

Ahead of Iraq Deployment, 37 Korean Troops Convert to Islam

"I became a Muslim because I felt Islam was more humanistic and peaceful than other
religions. And if you can religiously connect with the locals, I think it could be a big help
in carrying out our peace reconstruction mission." So said on Friday those Korean
soldiers who converted to Islam ahead of their late July deployment to the Kurdish city of
Irbil in northern Iraq.
At noon Friday, 37 members of the Iraq-bound "Zaitun Unit," including Lieutenant Son
Hyeon-ju of the Special Forces 11th Brigade, made their way to a mosque in Hannamdong,
Seoul and held a conversion ceremony.
Captain Son Jin-gu from Zaitoon Unit recites an oath at ceremony to mark his conversion to Islam at a
mosque in Hannam-dong, Seoul on Friday. /Yonhap
The soldiers, who cleansed their entire bodies in accordance with Islamic tradition,
made their conversion during the Friday group prayers at the mosque, with the
assistance of the "imam," or prayer leader.
With the exception of the imam, all the Muslims and the Korean soldiers stood in a
straight line to symbolize how all are equal before God and took a profession on faith.
They had memorized the Arabic confession, " Ashadu an La ilaha il Allah, Muhammadur-
Rasool-Allah," which means, "I testify that there is no god but God (Arabic: Allah),
and Muhammad is the Messenger of God."
Soldiers from Zaitoon Unit pray after conversion ceremony at a mosque in Hannam-dong, Seoul on
Friday./Yonhap
Moreover, as the faithful face the "Kaaba," the Islamic holy place in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia, all Muslims confirm that they are brothers.
For those Korean soldiers who entered the Islamic faith, recent chances provided by the
Zaitun Unit to come into contact with Islam proved decisive.
Taking into consideration the fact that most of the inhabitants of Irbil are Muslims, the
unit sent its unreligious members to the Hannam-dong mosque so that they could come
to understand Islam. Some of those who participated in the program were entranced by
Islam and decided to convert.
A unit official said the soldiers were inspired by how important religious homogeneity
was considered in the Muslim World; if you share religion, you are treated not as a
foreigner, but as a local, and Muslims do not attack Muslim women even in war.
Zaitun Unit Corporal Paek Seong-uk (22) of the Army's 11th Division said, "I majored in
Arabic in college and upon coming across the Quran, I had much interest in Islam, and I
made up my mind to become a Muslim during this religious experience period [provided
by the Zaitun Unit]."
He expressed his aspirations. "If we are sent to Iraq, I want to participate in religious
ceremonies with the locals so that they can feel brotherly love and convince them that
the Korean troops are not an army of occupation

Well, as usual I lunched alone. This time I went to MegaBite at Science School though. Everything was fine. Enjoyed my meal (even if the rice was too soft and the sauce too sour but I shall not complain as I filled my tummy to the fullest) while enjoying a book. Shall tell you my dear blog about the book another time perhaps. Which reminds me, I've yet to post the continuation of the previous post...

So anyway, after finishing my food I realised that I had wasted so much time going so far and taking my own sweet time eating while reading when I have, as usual, 1001 things to do at TLL. And so I rushed.

Nothing out of the ordinary. I always rushed with my tasks, unless I'm super duper tired or fed-up or my tendonitis acted up...

Until, I alighted the A2 bus, after taking the so-called short cut, opposite TLL to the face of a very smiley lab colleague from Aaron's group, (he seems to smile 24/7 fyi) and seeing the bus taking its time, I turn right infront of the bus and, I dunno what stupid idea struck me, I dashed across the road and erm... got hit by a while car. Can't remember how exactly I got hit and how was I right after the hit and as I've always mentioned, I never ever fall unconscious and today was no exception. I just remember seeing the white paint of the car and immediately standing up, gathering my things and moving off to the pavement as if nothing happened. Mind you one of my shoes was amongst the things I carried in my hands to the pavement while the other flung a few metres away. I couldn't think of anything except how stupid I'd been, not to mention extremely careless, which I avoid since all those careless mistakes I do in primary school Maths papers, and how much trouble I would cause.

And it is quite a lot of trouble I caused to myself, to the driver and his friend, to the bus driver, to my mentor, to my friends (Hui Yi especially) and to my family indefinitely.

Such a hassle too to wait for so many routines in the hospital.

But I'd just like to thank Allah for still allowing me to live, to repent for all my past sins, alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah the car wasn't going at a fast speed. Alhandulillah the driver was a kindly young man who insisted on sending me to the hospital and paying for my bills, plus a bit of compensation, and wait with me throughout the whole boring waiting and waiting and more waiting, and to send me back to office. He was insisting on sending me home, but I couldn't let him, really.

Alhamdulillah for like everything! I'm normal, perfectly fine with a good appetite still (or at least I can eat without vomiting) except a badly scraped left elbow which has stung on off since I scraped it against the road, a mini scratch on my right ankle which seems to habve some minor soft tissue injury to the very kindly female Dr Lee who examined me and a bit of bruise and ache here and there, which could actually be due to the long waiting time... Oh and a 2-days MC for today and tomorrow ;)

And I gotta go see a General Practitioner on Friday, hopefully getting me another MC. I NEED the rest badly.

I just can't help thinking, the car COULD have been speeding, I COULD have flund a few metres from where I dashed, the driver COULD have just left me there, I COULD have broken a bone or two or all or worse, my neck, I COULD have been hospitalized, I COULD have been DEAD BY NOW and on this very bed I'm sitting covered in kain batik waiting for me to be bathed, clothed, prayed and buried early tomorrow morning. Really, I could have been...

And so, I shall not complain of my pain. It's just a sting. (Ok maybe MUCH MORE but I shall pretend so) It could be just a fall from a bicycle you know... Well, but I would remember giving a quick ahriek not too loud, and seeing the white front part of the car, and seeing one of my shoe a few metres away. Just bits of the whole thing. I can't even remember how I landed, how I hurt my arm etc.

Oh, actually it was erm... rather fun. Ok sorry. I dunno. I mean, I don't wish that to repeat, of course! Especially since I dunno the outcome of what COULD happen the next time... But then again, I can't help wanting to laugh every once in awhile at what happened.

Pray for my speedy recovery! Not much to recover from. Just less sting.

What an unexpected turn of events... All those stuff I left hanging halfway at TLL. I hope my mentor won't scold me when I come back, which I intend to do nothing of the sort this week *big grin*.

Oh, happy belated birthday to Chan Jun Jie and my dear auntie (11/11)! And happy birthday to Peng Ya Zhi (12/11)! Wish all 3 of you all the best in whatever you do ;)

Time to rest, which I ought have done since I reached home 3hrs ago, haha, nvm...

Saff Perdaus is humbled to be given the opportunity in organizing a Qurban campaign where canned "qurban" meat from Australia will be distributed to the refugees from Darfur and Palestine. Since, there are lack of electricity thus proper refrigeration, canned meat are the best form of contribution from us to them.

As such, I implore you to join us in this cause. A goat is enough for 24 can of meat which can help families to sustain for weeks if not months - something we take for granted here in Singapore.

For more information or to order - email to Sis Afifah (Executive Officer, Saff Perdaus): afifah@perdaus.org.sg or call us at 65132305 today.

You can say it's a continuation of this morning's post... But no, it's not really so... These were what we talked about in Maqasid syariah (Reason behind a Law of Islam) module, apart from a few other things. The first lesson of this module today inspired me to do 2 things. One is to blog about it hehe.

Finally, something non-sejarah (history)! I mean, the Ustaz still brings us back to sirah (prophets' histories) and sejarah at parts, but that's perfectly fine with me. I can see the relevance. To study sejarah the whole lesson is just plain boring. Especially when the lecturer fails to state its relevance. It just makes me feel like pulling out my hair. K, that's an exaggeration. Especially so since I have a hijab covering my hair lol.

So anyway, the Ustaz for Maqasid Syariah is... ok. I like how he started with a tazkirah about death. Ok, that sounds crude. But if you were there listening to the tazkirah you'd understand why I like it. And this Ustaz is up to date with current issues, local and global. But... I dunno why he likes to repeat all over again what our fellow classmate just said. We're not deaf lah Ustaz. We're not dumb either. Repetitions are only for emphasizing on something important. And I dunno why he sounds rather nervous as he keeps forgeting words and takes a long time. I hate to waste my time.

I hate wasting time so much so that when he asked questions I actually put p my hand to answer quite a number of times, which I don't normally do. Volunteering to talk in class in just makes my face feel so hot as I feel all eyes and attention on me. Normally after I answer a question or something, I'd look down on the floor and slowly slump down my seat as if trying to disappear. As much as I wanna be like Hermione, I just can't. But for his class I just had to answer. Other than bro Amir and Sis Jun, no one else seems to have a voice and it really unnerves me to see the teacher just standing infront repeating the question again followed by silence and he just continue standing waiting for an answer. Gosh. But he learned after sometime that he is SUPPOSED TO pick one of us to answer instead of asking for volunteers. The latter only means you'd hear bro Amir or sis Jun's voice. And maybe once in awhile Sis Faseha or Cik Salleh or Sis Rohana or 1 or 2 others speaking up.

Guess what time we ended? 5.20. Instead of 5. And he hardly covered half the notes!

So anyway, what of importance, choices and priority? wait for my next post. I've got a cramped neck right now. Hehe. so watch out for part II of this post!

I foresee that this post will be long hehe. And I've checked that my internet and the autosave system is working fine :) I hope it will be till this post is safely posted. Ok, here goes!

Thoughts. Reflects the state of the mind and the body. Reflects the overall mental, spiritual, physical wellbeing of a person. Thoughts can be power because thoughts are the drive the pulls or pushes.

Why in the world am I talking about thoughts?

Firstly, it's because I recently completed the book titled "Book of a Thousand Days" by Shannon Hale. Ok I have to admit that the wolf part and the sing-to-heal part is rather ridiculous. But it is afterall a fantasy book. But apart from those two fantasy parts, the book tells of a story that sounds really real and possible. The book tells of obedience, of loyalty, of friendship, of love, of sacrifices and of hikmah. (What's hikmah in English eh? I've always thought wisdom can't really describe it all) And the book is in diary-form, meaning that it goes to the thoughts of the protagonist. (Somehow I feel like I'm writing a literature homework lol. I never was really good at it.) And it is just... personal and enables readers to connect and feel the emotions as if firsthand. Trust me, the emotions that the book evoked in me lasted at least 2 days. The feelings of misery, of hope, of fear, of happiness, of content, of disappointment, of fulfilment etc etc. "Book of a Thousand Days" is just the kind of book I enjoy. Fantasy yet filled with real life values and at the same time evokes all kinds of feelings in me. Great book, a must read.

What's even greater is that it inspires me to write a book. Not just any book, but a diary-like book of experiences. Not of any kind of experiences, but that of a Muslim youth in Singapore :D In English.

What, isn't a blog enough? Well, let's just say that I don't include all in my blog. It feels too personal to simply post it on the world wide web to let the whole world read.

But what difference does a book make? Wouldn't the whole world still read it? My answer is: maybe not. Come on, who would wanna publish a book written by a nobody like me? Who would read my book? (But then again though, all writers started as no one and there's people like Anne Frank who got her book/diary published for all to know what it was like being a young Jewish girl in Frankfurt during the German Occupation.) The book can be a gift to someone special passed on to generations of special people, in my hope to leave a tiny legacy, an ilmu that can be a benefit to others even till long after my death. Yes I will die one day. Everyone does. But not everyone leaves a legacy. Some leaves a name, but what point is it to leave behind your name. Leaving a legacy would benefit both the writer and the reader, insyaAllah.

It has always been my dream to write a book. But all the ideas that sparked either didn't start at all or simply just stopped in mid-writing. I believe there's no originality in all my stories. All cliche. So I stopped. But if it's a story of real life, then there's bound to be surprises and unexpected turns here and there. That's just how life is. And I believe my English is substantial enough. Maybe not equipped with a vast vocabulary, but at least my grammar is not bad and my style of writing is more or less easy to comprehend, though maybe a bit long-winded at times. Oh well *shrugs*

(I've got 2 title ready. As in I can't decide which. "A Book of Thoughts" or "Journey of Purpose" just like my blog.

Speaking of dreams, I have other dreams. Some really BIG dreams. Some small. Some general. Some personal. Some special. But mostly my dreams are long-term and would take alot of effort and a looooooong time to well... become reality.

Just to share one of the dreams I have which I wish to realise. I dream to be able to speak fluent Arabic and Mandarin, and read and write as well. These 2 languages have appealed to me as early as around primary 3. And I think my vocab just keeps expanding. Slooooowwwly though, I must add. I think I've got a new strategy. See how. I'll probably take 10 years to study the 'textbooks' I'd chosen hehe.

I got thinking about dreams, and choices, after I watched High School Musical 3 with my brother last night. Not the most suitable company to be watching HSM3 with haha, considering how looooooong ago he stopped formal studies. Wanted to watch with Jamie and Ad, but well, I guess I couldn't wait. With Jamie and Ad, we'll perhaps catch another movie aite? Like the dog cartoon movie, bolt I think. Or or there's another movie, erm also about dogs, it's a dog named Chloe hehe, maybe can ask Chloe, my friend - not the dog, along.

So anyway, HSM3 talks about dreams, aspirations, passion, friendship, graduation, separation, achievement etc. I'll be graduating soon, insyaAllah, and these similar thoughts frequently cross my mind. I'm still not so sure of the BIG dreams I have, of my aspirations and ambitions. I have a few in mind but I have no idea which I'd feel most at ease with doing. I wanna do something fun, yet challenging enough, and interactive but certainly beneficial to myself and/or the community. We'll see. I'll keep thinking till February comes. As for friendship and separation, I dunno... I've seen, sometimes separation does adverse negative things to a person. Though I doubt I'll go in that direction. I mean, so far I take 'moving on' in step rather easily. Afterall, I had to separate with friends many times in my life. Some of whom I totally lose contact with, which is rather sad actually. And I doubt I'll be going overseas, even if I do think about it sometimes, so separation is not really a matter lah. Achievement. This word probably means different things to different people. Myself, I categorise my achievements, if you can say so. I dunno. I don't think I achieved much in poly. Maybe the first year was fine, perfectly how I want it to be. But I slacked too much followig that, changed my lifestyle and even my principles. Haiz... It is something to sigh about really... Choices. I feel like I'm reaching a crossroad soon. There's so many possibilities to choose from! I'll choose when I have to haha.

A looong entry indeed. Just sharing my thoughts out loud. I wish I can talk as fluently as I type lol. Really, I stutter a lot actually while talking. I dunno, my brain and my mouth just can't work in unison. But my fingers are definitely in perfect tune and harmony with my mind hehe.

P.S. HSm3 really makes me wanna be involved in theatre again! Lucky Bolton, gets to get all he wants: Gabriella, basketball AND theatre. In real life though, more often than not, you'll be asked to question your priorities, make choices and face the consequences of certain sacrifices you just gotta make.

K dahh, toodles~

This post is taken from Ust Hazrizal's blog about Turkish erm... practices?

Pada Yang Kecil Itu Ada Barakah
November 5th, 2008 | by Abu Saif |


“Hasrizal, malam ini kamu gorengkan ayam boleh tak?”, Fatih bertanya.

“Goreng cara Turki, atau cara Malaysia?”, saya bertanya dengan nada gurau.

“Kalau cara Turki, baik saya sendiri sahaja yang melakukannya. Saya ini tidaklah sejahil yang kamu semua sangkakan.”, Fatih cuba mempertahankan kelemahan dirinya yang tidak mahir di dapur. Faruk dan Hasan turut ketawa.

Setiap kali saya berkunjung ke Istanbul, Fatih mesti akan meminta saya menggorengkan ayam ala Malaysia. Sebenarnya, ayam goreng ala Malaysia yang dia maksudkan itu hanyalah ayam yang digoreng dengan serbuk kunyit serta secubit garam. Kalau orang Turki, ayamnya tidak digoreng begitu. Mereka lazim menggoreng ikan dan ayam dengan tepung gandum bercampur tepung beras dan sedikit serbuk lada putih.

Syukur Alhamdulillah, persahabatan saya dengan Fatih dan rakan-rakan yang lain memberikan peluang kepada kami untuk belajar banyak perkara baru. Seperkara tentang orang Turki yang menarik perhatian saya adalah sikap mereka yang cermat terhadap perkara-perkara yang kecil dan halus. Kadang-kadang pada kita, hal seperti ini tidak mempunyai sebarang signifikasi, tetapi bagi orang Turki, mereka cukup mengambil berat mengenainya.

TERTIB ORANG ISTANBUL

Saya masih ingat, semasa yang bertandang ke rumah Mahmud Bilici, rakan baik saya semenjak di Jordan. Beliau merupakan pelajar Turki yang disegani oleh rakan-rakan Turki yang lain di Amman. Mungkin sifat rendah diri, keluasan ilmu dan kefasihan Bahasa Arab yang dituturkannya, menjadikan beliau begitu karismatik seawal hari pertama saya bertemu dengan Mahmud.

Saya bertandang ke rumah Mahmud yang terletak di Draman. Ia tidak jauh dari Masjid Ismail Aga Camii yang menjadi markaz Tarikat Naqsyabandiyyah di Istanbul. Malam itu sebelum kami melelapkan mata, saya meminta segelas air masak untuk membasahkan tekak. Mahmud mengambil cawan yang tersimpan di rak pinggan, membasuhnya terlebih dahulu sebelum diisi dengan air yang diminta.



Di rumah Mahmud

Saya kagum dengan ketelitian Mahmud. Kalau saya, mungkin cawan yang sudah sedia bersih itu akan terus diisi dengan air masak. Tetapi Mahmud membilasnya dengan air terlebih dahulu sebelum diisi dengan air masak. Orang Turki memang pembersih.

Saya juga selalu melihat tong sampah di lokasi pembuangan sampah di Istanbul diberus dan dibersihkan oleh pekerja Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi (Dewan Kota Metropolitan Istanbul) dengan berus dan air. Wah, tong sampah pun mesti bersih dan kemas!

Kebersihan rumah kawan-kawan Turki juga sentiasa mengagumkan saya. Walaupun ada di kalangan mereka yang merokok, rumah bujang perokok mereka juga masih bersih. Buku-buku tersusun rapi, pakaian elok terletak, malah bilik mandi dan tandas juga tidak pernah bercampur. Kebanyakan rumah di Istanbul, mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya dua bilik air. Maka satu digunakan untuk mandi manda dan satu lagi dikhususkan untuk buang air. Bilik mandi pula lazimnya berkarpet dan saya belajar untuk mandi dan berwudhu’ tanpa membasahkan karpet itu. Hmm, agaknya kalau ada orang Turki yang bergaduh laki bini, tidur dalam bilik air pun masih okay lagi.

Saya kira, kebersihan yang terbit dari iman, memang benar-benar dapat dirasakan di Turki.

Kalau di masjid, berhati-hati. Anda mungkin akan diminta keluar oleh ‘orang masjid’ sekiranya anda masuk ke masjid dengan stokin yang ‘tidak molek’. Apabila anda keluar dari pintu masjid, junjung kedua-dua pasang kasut anda ke atas kerana orang Turki tidak mahu kasut yang dijinjing menyentuh pakaian orang lain.

Tidak lupa, di sesetengah masjid, seperti yang pernah saya lihat di Bursa, akan dikhususkan masa sekitar jam 10 pagi untuk kaum ibu sahaja. Mereka datang ke masjid untuk mengelap dinding, anjung tingkap, tiang dan perabot masjid, agar sentiasa bersih dan kemas. Saya belajar bagaimana tuntutan iman menjadi corak hidup, semasa saya di Turki.

Malah soal teliti mereka dengan perkara-perkara yang sering dipandang ringan oleh sesetengah kita, mempunyai akar umbi yang panjang di era Islam Othmaniyyah.

TERTIB DI ERA OTHMANIYYAH




Sultan Suleyman al-Qanuni yang memerintah Khilafah Othmaniyyah dari tahun 1520 – 1566 telah memberikan contoh yang sama. Semasa beliau mengeluarkan belanja sendiri membina Masjid Suleymaniye di Istanbul, Sultan Suleyman telah mewajibkan semua pekerjanya bekerja membina masjid itu dalam keadaan berwudhu’. Tentunya ia tidak ada dalam ‘rukun membina masjid’. Tetapi ada sesuatu yang ingin dicapai oleh baginda. Sultan Suleyman akan memecat sesiapa yang diketahuinya tidak mematuhi syarat tersebut.

Apakah yang terhasil daripada ketelitian Sultan Suleyman terhadap perkara-perkara kecil begitu? Jawapannya adalah BARAKAH.

Masjid Suleymaniye pernah ditutup di zaman Atatürk dan dijadikan kandang kuda. Ia pernah dicemar hingga ke tahap itu. Tetapi hari ini, apabila saya bersolat di Suleymaniye Camii, saya mendapat suatu ‘rasa’ yang sukar diungkapkan dengan kata. Tenang, tenteram, rasa mahu dan mahu menambah ibadah, pelbagai perasaan yang positif itu mungkin datang dari sebuah masjid yang ada barakah. Masjid yang dibina dengan mengambil kira soal remeh-temeh yang hari ini tidak kita pedulikan.

MEHMET VS MUHAMMAD

Soal orang Turki yang teliti dengan perkara-perkara yang halus ini, mengingatkan juga saya kepada perbualan bersama Pakcik Mehmet, ayah Fatih, semasa kami bercuti di Bolvadin.

“Pakcik, saya ingin bertanya sesuatu tentang nama pakcik. Bolehkah?”, saya bertanya kepada Pakcik Mehmet, ayah Fatih.

“Tentu sahaja, nak. Tanyalah. Kenapa pula dengan nama pakcik?”, ayah Fatih sedikit terkejut dengan permintaan saya.

“Saya terfikir, orang Turki ramai yang bernama Mehmet seperti pakcik. Saya kira Mehmet itu bermaksud Muhammad, kan?”, saya bertanya.

“Betul. Mehmet bermaksud Muhammad. Kenapa, Hasrizal?”, tanya Pakcik Mehmet kepada saya.

“Jika nabi kita, nama baginda disebut Muhammed. Hazreti Peygamber Muhammed. Mengapa nama Rasulullah disebut Muhammad sedangkan nama pakcik disebut Mehmet?”, saya cuba mencari penjelasan dari pakcik.

“Oh, itu rupanya soalan kamu. Setahu pakciklah, nama Muhammad itu kami khususkan hanya pada baginda Rasulullah SAW. Bukan apa. Kalau kami namakan anak-anak kami sebagai Muhammad, nanti kalau mereka buat hal, tercemar pula nama Rasulullah”, kata Pakcik Mehmet.

“Tercemar macam mana tu?”, saya kurang faham apa yang Pakcik Mehmet maksudkan.

“Bayangkan, kalau si Fatih ni pakcik namakan Muhammad. Tiba-tiba dia mencuri buah epal jiran sebelah. Nanti apa kata orang kampung? Isy, jahat sungguh Muhammad tu. Curi epal jiran! Hah, kan tak elok, perbuatan mencuri dinisbahkan kepada nama semulia Muhammad!”, Pakcik Mehmet begitu bersemangat bercerita kepada saya.

Terlopong saya dibuatnya!

Begitu sekali mereka mengambil kira soal ‘sekecil ini’. Maka amat tidak benarlah apa yang pernah ditulis oleh seorang penulis di dalam akhbar di tanah air. Sekembalinya beliau dari lawatan di Turki, beliau menulis dan menyentuh secara khusus isu nama Mehmet ini. Katanya, orang Turki sudah terlalu sekular sehingga hendak menyebut nama Rasulullah pun sudah tidak mampu. Sudah pelat, katanya.

Walhal pemikiran penulis itu yang pelat! Menafsirkan budaya orang lain dengan pandangan sendiri. Mujur artikelnya di dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Kalau dibaca oleh orang Turki, tentu tersinggung hati mereka dengan persepsi kita seperti itu.

PELAJARAN DARI SERBUK KULIT ROTI


Ayam sudah siap terhidang.

Lama pula saya mengelamun. Pelbagai perkara yang mengimbau ingatan saya sambil memasak di dapur. Kebetulan Fatih, dan rakan-rakan yang lain sedang sibuk menelaah pelajaran untuk peperiksaan akhir semester. Saya sudah selesai menjalani peperiksaan yang sama di Jordan dua minggu lalu. Kehadiran saya ke Turki sekurang-kurangnya dapat membantu kawan-kawan saya ini belajar dengan lebih baik. Biar soal makan minum, saya bantu seadanya.

“Fatih, Islam, Hasan, Faruk, Osman, marilah makan!”, saya menjerit memanggil mereka yang khusyuk di meja membaca masing-masing.

Setiap kali makan, kami akan membentangkan dua keping surat khabar lama. Tujuan utamanya adalah untuk memastikan sisa makanan tidak jatuh ke karpet. Akan tetapi, malam itu perhatian saya terpaut kepada tindak-tanduk rakan saya ketika makan, terutamanya Islam. Setiap kali beliau mematahkan roti, beliau akan melakukannya di atas mangkuk nasi. Seandainya masih ada serbuk-serbuk dari kulit roti itu bertaburan di atas lapik, Islam akan mengumpulkannya untuk dimakan. Tidak ada langsung sisa makan yang terbuang.

“Islam, saya suka tengok cara awak makan. Tidak ada yang tersisa langsung. Berkat, berkat…!”, saya memuji Islam.

“Betul Hasrizal. Ia soal keberkatan. Walaupun macam-macam yang kita makan,kita tidak tahu pada bahagian mana makanan kita yang Allah pilih sebagai asbab untuk-Nya menurunkan barakah”, kata Islam.

Ya, apa yang Islam katakan itu memang benar. Ia mengingatkan saya kepada sepotong hadith Nabi SAW:

Dari Jabir, beliau mendengar Nabi s.a.w. bersabda: “Apabila sesiapa dari kalangan kamu makan, dan jatuh sejemput dari tangan, maka bersihkanlah habuk yang terlekat pada makanan itu dan hendaklah dia memakannya. Jangan tinggalkan bahagian itu untuk syaitan. Dan janganlah dibersihkan tanganmu dengan kain pengelap sehingga dia telah menjilat (jari-jari)nya. Sesungguhnya seseorang itu tidak tahu pada bahagian manakah makanannya yang diberkati Allah”

Islam telah mengingatkan saya kepada pelajaran yang amat berharga. Pakcik Mehmet juga telah mengingatkan saya tentang ilmu yang berguna. Jangan pandang kecil, selagi ia berupa satu kebajikan dan kebaikan. Penilainya adalah Tuhan, Allah yang menilai amal pada harga sebuah iman. Jangan tangguhkan kebaikan yang kecil semata-mata mahu menunggu peluang amal yang besar.

Itu di Turki.

TERTIB MAK ANJANG DI LONDON


Hal ini juga mengingatkan saya kepada peristiwa semasa saya berjamu makan di rumah Pak Anjang saya di Baker Street, London. Pagi itu, kebetulan Pak Ngah sekeluarga datang dari Malaysia. Maka kami semua berkumpul di rumah Pak Anjang. Rumah di Baker Street ini Pak Anjang belikan untuk anaknya, Ziad yang belajar di Westminster University, di seberang jalan.

Saya amat kagum semasa melihat Mak Anjang memasak di dapur. Lebihan nasi malam tadi dikumpulkannya. Kemudian kerak nasi itu pula direndam di dalam air panas dan kemudian ditos. Semua bahagian nasi yang berlebihan malam tadi, Mak Anjang gunakan untuk memasak nasi gorengnya. Tidak ada bahagian makanan mana yang tersisa. Mungkin ini sebahagian daripada sikap Mak Anjang sekeluarga yang menjadi tangga mereka membina kehidupan yang berjaya. Walaupun sudah bertaraf jutawan, Mak Anjang dan Pak Anjang sekeluarga masih mengambil kira soal-soal kecil seperti kerak nasi di dapur.

Saya amat menghargai pelajaran itu.

Marilah kita bersama-sama menghitung dan mengambil kira benda-benda kecil yang kita abaikan selama ini. Mungkin pada yang kecil halus itulah Allah menyentuh kehidupan kita dengan barakah.

Sebagaimana kebaikan yang kecil mungkin menjadi punca keberkatan Allah, maka berhati-hati jugalah dengan dosa-dosa yang kita anggap kecil. Ia menjadi punca murka Allah. Dalam setahun, mungkin seorang dua sahaja warga negara kita yang mati dibaham harimau. Namun, jumlah yang mati kerana gigitan seekor nyamuk, jauh berganda. Yang kecil jangan dipandang remeh, yang besar yang disangka segala-galanya.

Mari luruskan saf, mari kemaskan saf, mari habiskan makanan, mari pelihara adab dalam iman. Murahkan senyuman, banyakkanlah membuat kebaikan yang mudah dan kecil tapi berpanjangan.Mengubah ranting dari jalan agar jangan ada yang kesakitan, memandang wajah saudara dengan air muka manis penuh senyuman. Banyak-banyakkan berbuat kebaikan, tidak diketahui yang mana bakal dipilih Tuhan, jadi pemboleh ke syurga yang berkekalan.

Jangan pandang kecil pada RM1 yang mahu didermakan kepada mustadh’afeen di Palestin! Sikit-sikit, lama-lama jadi bukit


Makes me wanna know more about different cultures and practices around the globe more! Especially on how the Muslims there practice their religion! I wanna start a mini personal project on this insyaAllah. Fun fun fun!

Was blog-hopping around and came across this from Bro Faruq's blog:

Precious metals like gold and silver are found in the depths of the earth. So too are precious stones like diamonds and rubies. Pearls are found in the deep sea. The most beautiful and valuable things on this earth are covered. They don't parade themselves. Women were created beautiful by God, so He wants them to cover up, just like the gems and pearls He created - in fact, even more so, because women are more beloved to Him than gems and pearls.

Makes me smile, and makes me pray that one day I'll hear Him say to me, "Peace be upon you, I am pleased with you" as one of the Zain Bikha songs go.

I feel so far away from His pleasure... :'(

Received this article in an e-mail and I was compelled to share. I'm neither an ahli-sirah nor a great astronomer or geologists, but I've heard of this and I believe in what the Qur'an says.

Moon Split
Did you ever know that the Moon was split?



This picture shows the location of the “Rocky Belt” which shows the moon was once split

Some NASA scientists were trying to study the internal structure of the moon to see what similarities it has with the Earth, and they said that they were surprised to find a ‘Belt of Rocks’ that goes from the surface of the moon right to the inner depths.
Being quite surprised, they gave this information to their geologists, who were also surprised, as they concluded that this couldn’t be unless the moon was once split and resealed. The rocks on the belt are a result of the impact during the time that the two halves of the moon recombined.

Allah revealed Surat al Qamar: “The hour has come near and the moon has split, and when they see a sign, they turn and say ‘this is a continuous magic’ and they disbelieved and followed their desires…”
This verse of the Quran was written in the days of the prophet Muhammad in Makkah more than 1400 years back

Sources:
Please log in to the Best WebSite from one of the Well known Scientist in the World Dr. Zaghloul El Naggar

English: http://www.elnaggarzr.com/Test_fre/English/index_E.asp



For more miracles, visit http://www.greatmiracles.com/page1002.html

Finished Meg Cabot's Valentine Princess in slightly over an hour. Not much of princessy stuff.

And found this on youtube:

Missing the stage. Guess the curtains had long closed in front of me. For good.

Good luck with Pentas.

Lurlene MacDaniel never fails to make my eyes swell red with tears. This time the book not only tells of death as most of her other books does, but it also tells of life. Wonderful story. Makes me feel like wanting to learn the flute