Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Today is the day to remember the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). Such a blessed day because on the day of his birth way back in 570, the Earth is blessed by all the goodness. This compiles how beautiful this day is as well as how noble his characteristic is.
May ALLAH give all the Muslims the ability to follow the perfect examples of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and gain success in this Dunya and the Akhirah. Amin.
Wassalam.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
Sunshine
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Today's weather looks more promising, sunshine and warm. Actually can see everyone on the street smiling! *Am thinking of putting a smiley here, but don't think this blog got one*
Today is a promising day because it's Friday! Hooray! Friday is the beginning of the week for Muslims and it is also the blessed day of the week. Today, we will have Friday Sermon & Friday Prayer. Unfortunately the mosque is still under renovation, so the women section is closed until further notice :( Anyway, am going to the Friday Prayer in Howard Mallet Centre which I doubt many people know about it. It's the Sermon that I'm interested in, especially there is no more circle this holiday. Need a boost for the spiritual side.
Today also I will play squash with Samira. Should be fun especially not playing for nearly 3 weeks now due to my back pain, which I don't know why.
The rest of the day is to transcribe my data as usual and I proudly announce that I have done half of it and less than half to go as I've done a little bit of some of them. It's bored to just to listen to one student, you see, so when I'm bored, I switch to other student, just to refresh myself.
Wassalam.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
New born
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Welcome to this Dunya, Ya Mohd Jamal Ahmad...
Jamal is the grandson of Aunty Zohra, born on 24th March 2007 and is going to cut his hair this Saturday, which is the Mawlid an-Nabawi! Such a lucky boy to be able to link his birth with the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). Jealous...
I pray that this boy will grow up to be an obedient servant of ALLAH, the righteous Muslim and most importantly contribute to his family & society, build the ummah into a stronger nation that the Prophet (s.a.w.) will be proud of. Amin.
Wassalam.
p/s: Done 5, 11 to go, I mean the transcripts...
Welcome to this Dunya, Ya Mohd Jamal Ahmad...
Jamal is the grandson of Aunty Zohra, born on 24th March 2007 and is going to cut his hair this Saturday, which is the Mawlid an-Nabawi! Such a lucky boy to be able to link his birth with the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). Jealous...
I pray that this boy will grow up to be an obedient servant of ALLAH, the righteous Muslim and most importantly contribute to his family & society, build the ummah into a stronger nation that the Prophet (s.a.w.) will be proud of. Amin.
Wassalam.
p/s: Done 5, 11 to go, I mean the transcripts...
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Analysing Data
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Right, there are 16 recordings of the students that I've interviewed. And now I have to transcribe each recording from video & audio into WORDS! Each recording is about 30 minutes, averagely, it takes me 2 hours to transcribe 1 recording, including checking, just the audio, not yet the actions. As I'm quite lay back last week, I only managed to do only 3 students and about 4 other half way through. Ok, 3 down, 13 to go. Please make du'a so that I can finish this as soon as possible. Once it's done, I have to redesign another method to go further into my research question. Design some more PROBLEMS and go back to school to collect more data and spend another more time to do analysis. Phew, don't know when it will finish. I really pray that by the end of the school year, everything will come to the end and I can go home for 1 month of holiday. I miss home...
Wassalam.
Right, there are 16 recordings of the students that I've interviewed. And now I have to transcribe each recording from video & audio into WORDS! Each recording is about 30 minutes, averagely, it takes me 2 hours to transcribe 1 recording, including checking, just the audio, not yet the actions. As I'm quite lay back last week, I only managed to do only 3 students and about 4 other half way through. Ok, 3 down, 13 to go. Please make du'a so that I can finish this as soon as possible. Once it's done, I have to redesign another method to go further into my research question. Design some more PROBLEMS and go back to school to collect more data and spend another more time to do analysis. Phew, don't know when it will finish. I really pray that by the end of the school year, everything will come to the end and I can go home for 1 month of holiday. I miss home...
Wassalam.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Still very cold here
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Very cold this morning. Feel like I'm still in winter. Quite foggy and misty. I don't know what is the tempreture this morning, but enough to hurt my face which is the only part of my skin exposed. Took these pictures in New Hall while the sun was rising. I actually can look directly at the sun without hurting my eyes because the atmosphere was quite foggy. Subhanallah, how great ALLAH's creation is. If people think that the sun is mighty, then how great must be the designer or the creator of the sun. How can we not submit to that only ONE?
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Very cold this morning. Feel like I'm still in winter. Quite foggy and misty. I don't know what is the tempreture this morning, but enough to hurt my face which is the only part of my skin exposed. Took these pictures in New Hall while the sun was rising. I actually can look directly at the sun without hurting my eyes because the atmosphere was quite foggy. Subhanallah, how great ALLAH's creation is. If people think that the sun is mighty, then how great must be the designer or the creator of the sun. How can we not submit to that only ONE?
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Experience Islam Week 2007 ~ the recordings
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Finally, the long awaited recordings of EIW are out now:
http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~ms663/
Finally, the long awaited recordings of EIW are out now:
http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~ms663/
Enjoy!
Wassalam.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Snowing in spring time?
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I thought spring has finally came as last week was quite warm and daffodils are all out embracing the sunny warm atmosphere in Cambridge. But, it was snowing since last Sunday, though not continuously but enough to hurt my face while I was cycling in the snow.
See for yourself. These pictures were taken at home.
Can you see the 'ice' on the roof?
It's like a heavy rain, but no, that's not rain drop but ice & snow!
I wish that proper spring will be here soon...
Wassalam.
I thought spring has finally came as last week was quite warm and daffodils are all out embracing the sunny warm atmosphere in Cambridge. But, it was snowing since last Sunday, though not continuously but enough to hurt my face while I was cycling in the snow.
See for yourself. These pictures were taken at home.
Can you see the 'ice' on the roof?
It's like a heavy rain, but no, that's not rain drop but ice & snow!
I wish that proper spring will be here soon...
Wassalam.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Spring is in the air?
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
It's nearly the end of March, I thought spring is in the air now, flowers are all out and the weather is getting warmer...
Daffodils!
This is beautiful
But, it was snowing yesterday... I really miss the warm weather now, I want to go home!!!
Wassalam.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Feel like the old days again...
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I'm so happy that Sarah decided to spend sometime after her exams in Cambridge! It's a 3-day-2-night visit. As Fatimah is leaving Cambridge for good, we have a sisters get-together in her house last Thursday. Sarah came all the way from London to attend this gathering and met a lot of sisters alhamdulillah. I felt like she came back to become the Head Sister again, yay!
This is as if she needs to take care of the sisters and be present in sisters' events as well as ISOC's event again... Look, it was a week after the AGM, so people are still talking about AGM and Sarah has to listen to this and give her views. Her views really matter and carry a lot of weight, still among the sisters. That is how good she is when she's the Head Sister 2 years ago. With her experience and wisdom, some problems were solved, alhamdulillah.
Next, she has to come to sisters' gathering. There were two - one of Fatimah's and one in Munazzah's room to watch Bollywood. I'm not a fan of Bollywood, so went to sleep as they were laughing. I hope Sarah enjoyed it, but that was a lovely evening as everyone was having fun, not just watching the movie.
Then, we have this Access Open Day. She has to help the event from the beginning till the end. That is how dedicated she is even she is no more a Cam ISOCer. MashaALLAH. Once you are in ISOC, your heart will always attached with it.
Finally, girlie things. Sisters always have secret among themselves and Sarah is always the best person to talk to. At the end, 2 sisters who want to talk to her privately end up talking all 3 together. I was sleeping when they were talking and Sarah ended up not sleeping at all for the first night in my house (she slept later in the morning) and same for the next night in Munazzah's room. Poor Sarah. I'm ill, and I think she caught it, plus not enough sleep, she too got ill. I felt guilty for that because I'm not a good hostess for making my honourable guest ill...
I pray that ALLAH will protect her and give her good health. May she be successed in whatever undertaking, in this World and the Akhirah. May ALLAH reward her for what she has done for the people around her. Amin.
Do come again, please. I think Cambridge need you.
Wassalam.
I'm so happy that Sarah decided to spend sometime after her exams in Cambridge! It's a 3-day-2-night visit. As Fatimah is leaving Cambridge for good, we have a sisters get-together in her house last Thursday. Sarah came all the way from London to attend this gathering and met a lot of sisters alhamdulillah. I felt like she came back to become the Head Sister again, yay!
This is as if she needs to take care of the sisters and be present in sisters' events as well as ISOC's event again... Look, it was a week after the AGM, so people are still talking about AGM and Sarah has to listen to this and give her views. Her views really matter and carry a lot of weight, still among the sisters. That is how good she is when she's the Head Sister 2 years ago. With her experience and wisdom, some problems were solved, alhamdulillah.
Next, she has to come to sisters' gathering. There were two - one of Fatimah's and one in Munazzah's room to watch Bollywood. I'm not a fan of Bollywood, so went to sleep as they were laughing. I hope Sarah enjoyed it, but that was a lovely evening as everyone was having fun, not just watching the movie.
Then, we have this Access Open Day. She has to help the event from the beginning till the end. That is how dedicated she is even she is no more a Cam ISOCer. MashaALLAH. Once you are in ISOC, your heart will always attached with it.
Finally, girlie things. Sisters always have secret among themselves and Sarah is always the best person to talk to. At the end, 2 sisters who want to talk to her privately end up talking all 3 together. I was sleeping when they were talking and Sarah ended up not sleeping at all for the first night in my house (she slept later in the morning) and same for the next night in Munazzah's room. Poor Sarah. I'm ill, and I think she caught it, plus not enough sleep, she too got ill. I felt guilty for that because I'm not a good hostess for making my honourable guest ill...
I pray that ALLAH will protect her and give her good health. May she be successed in whatever undertaking, in this World and the Akhirah. May ALLAH reward her for what she has done for the people around her. Amin.
Do come again, please. I think Cambridge need you.
Wassalam.
Friday, March 16, 2007
I'm ill, but still have to go to school...
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Yes, I'm ill, very ill, it has been a week now, but still very ill. I need to get me research done as soon as possible. No choice, have to do it now even if I'm not feeling well. Why? Because I only got funding until next year. If I didn't get to finish my PhD on time, I will have no money to stay here to continue my PhD. Plus, it's very hard to get access to a school.
This time I went to a lovely school in a village not very far from my house. I quite like this school because the pupils here are very, very polite and the bus is 1 every half an hour, better than the previous one.
This is the school
Very big, there is still a big field on the left which is not included in this photo.
Waiting for the bus to go home
Yay! The bus is here
Wassalam.
Yes, I'm ill, very ill, it has been a week now, but still very ill. I need to get me research done as soon as possible. No choice, have to do it now even if I'm not feeling well. Why? Because I only got funding until next year. If I didn't get to finish my PhD on time, I will have no money to stay here to continue my PhD. Plus, it's very hard to get access to a school.
This time I went to a lovely school in a village not very far from my house. I quite like this school because the pupils here are very, very polite and the bus is 1 every half an hour, better than the previous one.
This is the school
Very big, there is still a big field on the left which is not included in this photo.
Waiting for the bus to go home
Yay! The bus is hereWassalam.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
ISOC AGM
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
This year's AGM shocked me as I could see how people in ISOC are thinking. Some people don't want a more liberal ISOC that welcomes non-Muslims by sacrifying some important views. That is ridiculous! I can't accept that, at all. If homosexuality is haram in Islam, how can you tell people it is ok??? If drinking is haram in Islam, how can you tell people sometime Muslims do drink and it's ok for the sake of socialising???
People have to learn the importance of dawa, yes, I agree but not to the extend of LYING, also not to the extend of hiding the truth. If the truth is the truth, it will prevail. If you try to hide it from a non-Muslim, one day, he or she will discover the truth anyway, and that makes thing worse as he or she might think why you didn't tell him or her in the first place. Also, lying is not going to help a non-Muslim to learn about Islam or get nearer to Islam, why? It's simple. If one day, alhamdulillah he or she becomes a Muslim and realises that it's haram to do so and so that you have told him or her it's ok, what would he or she think? Think about it before you want to tell a so-called 'white lie'. Lying is haram anyway.
Don't misunderstand me as a person who likes to label everything as just halal and haram. There are 5 categories. Every Muslim knows it. My point is intention doesn't justify the mean. Dawa is a good intention but it doesn't mean that whatever you do to reach that goal will become halal automatically. Carrying out a less halal (or makruh) mean can mean the loosing of barakah (blessing) in what we intend to do. Of course, carrying out a haram mean can mean adding sins for yourself.
I completely shattered by what was said in the AGM and pray that this is not the opinion of most of the ISOCers. If this is so, I think ISOC is trying to exclude people who want to learn more about Islam and become more practising. Being in Cambridge which is full of wine and mixing around, ISOC becomes a sanctuary for me. It is a place where I can socialise in an Islamic manner. If that isn't going to be the ISOC which I think it should be, there will be no point of building the ISOC, unfortunately to say so. I sincerely pray that ISOC will not go into the opposite direction because with stronger faith & reliance on ALLAH, with more practice and worships that ALLAH will help us in all aspects of our lives including making dawa or welcoming more people into ISOC. If people don't believe in this, I really wonder in which position they put ALLAH in their hearts and their lives...
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
This year's AGM shocked me as I could see how people in ISOC are thinking. Some people don't want a more liberal ISOC that welcomes non-Muslims by sacrifying some important views. That is ridiculous! I can't accept that, at all. If homosexuality is haram in Islam, how can you tell people it is ok??? If drinking is haram in Islam, how can you tell people sometime Muslims do drink and it's ok for the sake of socialising???
People have to learn the importance of dawa, yes, I agree but not to the extend of LYING, also not to the extend of hiding the truth. If the truth is the truth, it will prevail. If you try to hide it from a non-Muslim, one day, he or she will discover the truth anyway, and that makes thing worse as he or she might think why you didn't tell him or her in the first place. Also, lying is not going to help a non-Muslim to learn about Islam or get nearer to Islam, why? It's simple. If one day, alhamdulillah he or she becomes a Muslim and realises that it's haram to do so and so that you have told him or her it's ok, what would he or she think? Think about it before you want to tell a so-called 'white lie'. Lying is haram anyway.
Don't misunderstand me as a person who likes to label everything as just halal and haram. There are 5 categories. Every Muslim knows it. My point is intention doesn't justify the mean. Dawa is a good intention but it doesn't mean that whatever you do to reach that goal will become halal automatically. Carrying out a less halal (or makruh) mean can mean the loosing of barakah (blessing) in what we intend to do. Of course, carrying out a haram mean can mean adding sins for yourself.
I completely shattered by what was said in the AGM and pray that this is not the opinion of most of the ISOCers. If this is so, I think ISOC is trying to exclude people who want to learn more about Islam and become more practising. Being in Cambridge which is full of wine and mixing around, ISOC becomes a sanctuary for me. It is a place where I can socialise in an Islamic manner. If that isn't going to be the ISOC which I think it should be, there will be no point of building the ISOC, unfortunately to say so. I sincerely pray that ISOC will not go into the opposite direction because with stronger faith & reliance on ALLAH, with more practice and worships that ALLAH will help us in all aspects of our lives including making dawa or welcoming more people into ISOC. If people don't believe in this, I really wonder in which position they put ALLAH in their hearts and their lives...
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Friday, March 09, 2007
They are back!
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
When you are not anticipating the arrival of someone, you are not preparing for it. When they pop up in a sudden, the happiness is such a gift from ALLAH. Alhamdulillah.
Today I was in New Hall just to go to the Computer Room and do my work there. Then I met Mehrun, a New Hall Alumni who I've never met in Cambridge but in Oxford for only once. Then we went to see Arwa and next we saw Tabs, Taz & Yasmin. They were all here for the New Hall Medics Dinner. The bonds of the medics in New Hall are so strong that even they have graduated and are studying in Oxford or London, they will come back to see everyone. It's a tradition. I don't know what ties them so strong but it is such an amazing thing to witness.
Wassalam.
When you are not anticipating the arrival of someone, you are not preparing for it. When they pop up in a sudden, the happiness is such a gift from ALLAH. Alhamdulillah.
Today I was in New Hall just to go to the Computer Room and do my work there. Then I met Mehrun, a New Hall Alumni who I've never met in Cambridge but in Oxford for only once. Then we went to see Arwa and next we saw Tabs, Taz & Yasmin. They were all here for the New Hall Medics Dinner. The bonds of the medics in New Hall are so strong that even they have graduated and are studying in Oxford or London, they will come back to see everyone. It's a tradition. I don't know what ties them so strong but it is such an amazing thing to witness.
Wassalam.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Research
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
The weather today is nice and very sunny, subhanALLAH. Winter has gone and Spring is jumping in the air. Daffodils are smiling, so do the people around.
I went to school today for my data collection. Alhamdulillah, everything went well.
While waiting for the bus, this bus is 1 every 1 hour at the bus stop...
... came a horse rider, really slowly...
I've never touched a horse before, thought I can stop them for a second but it's very dangerous cause there are vehicles coming in and out all the time. So, didn't get to do that...
While waiting for the bus, saw this nice village cottage at the back. It looks very unique for me and I wonder what is the material used to make the roof...
Got the bus at 11.00am, very punctual, and went to Bar Hill TESCO, one of the biggest TESCO in UK. It is just too massive that I get bored after wondering in there with an empty stomach. Bought 2 packs of Frosties (750g) for £3.00 only! Too hungry that I ate the flakes on the bus as if I'm munching pop-corns.
Went straight for a meeting in my faculty. This is a short meeting for a postgraduate conference called Kaleidoscope. Not sure why they called it with this name, maybe one of the organisers last year must have been a mathematics teacher that he/she loves the idea of Kaleidoscope. Anyway, it's a busy day cause after this, I will have to go to Guild Hall to help Aunty Zohra in her stall in conjunction with International Women's Day.
And the rest of the day is to analyse my data...
Wassalam.
The weather today is nice and very sunny, subhanALLAH. Winter has gone and Spring is jumping in the air. Daffodils are smiling, so do the people around.
I went to school today for my data collection. Alhamdulillah, everything went well.
While waiting for the bus, this bus is 1 every 1 hour at the bus stop...
... came a horse rider, really slowly...
I've never touched a horse before, thought I can stop them for a second but it's very dangerous cause there are vehicles coming in and out all the time. So, didn't get to do that...
While waiting for the bus, saw this nice village cottage at the back. It looks very unique for me and I wonder what is the material used to make the roof...
Got the bus at 11.00am, very punctual, and went to Bar Hill TESCO, one of the biggest TESCO in UK. It is just too massive that I get bored after wondering in there with an empty stomach. Bought 2 packs of Frosties (750g) for £3.00 only! Too hungry that I ate the flakes on the bus as if I'm munching pop-corns.
Went straight for a meeting in my faculty. This is a short meeting for a postgraduate conference called Kaleidoscope. Not sure why they called it with this name, maybe one of the organisers last year must have been a mathematics teacher that he/she loves the idea of Kaleidoscope. Anyway, it's a busy day cause after this, I will have to go to Guild Hall to help Aunty Zohra in her stall in conjunction with International Women's Day.
And the rest of the day is to analyse my data...
Wassalam.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
My newly refurbished home
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
My dad has just refurbished our house, a traditional chinese shophouse in Kuching. This is where I grew up and it is no more the same AT ALL as it was. I miss my home but it's not time to go home yet. But this home doesn't seem like my home anymore because it has changed a lot. I've not been home yet after the refurbishment. Hope it's better than before.
The kitchen - newly fitted cabinets
Kitchen - the old fridge
A window in the kitchen! It used to be an open-aired kitchen
Tiled walls
To the laundry
I think this is a new washing machine
New toilet - clean...
Way out
My sisters' room
Need to be tidied up
It's air-conditioned!
New wardrobe
Nice sitting area
Wassalam.
My dad has just refurbished our house, a traditional chinese shophouse in Kuching. This is where I grew up and it is no more the same AT ALL as it was. I miss my home but it's not time to go home yet. But this home doesn't seem like my home anymore because it has changed a lot. I've not been home yet after the refurbishment. Hope it's better than before.
The kitchen - newly fitted cabinets
Kitchen - the old fridge
A window in the kitchen! It used to be an open-aired kitchen
Tiled walls
To the laundry
I think this is a new washing machine
New toilet - clean...
Way out
My sisters' room
Need to be tidied up
It's air-conditioned!
New wardrobe
Nice sitting areaWassalam.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Experience Islam Week 2007 ~ Alwaan
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
So the big day has come and alhamdulillah everything went well as planned. The best thing about this event is the attendance of the non-Muslims, a lot, alhamdulillah. Everyone helped and contributed to this event. Really have to thank everyone for their efforts in making sure that this event is a success. At the end, we have to extend the hall for another half an hour because everyone really enjoyed it and didn't want to go home.
Awlaan performance - chaired by George and Melahat
Imam Sejad recited the Quran - many people were there
English Poem by Burhan Javaid
Nasheed by Asif Choudhury - Slave of ALLAH - Noor Media
Arabic Poem by Ahmed, Arwa & Fatimah
Turkish Poem by Melahat
Nasheed by Mohsin
Urdu Poem by Aminah
Then people all went back to Gibson Hall
Faculty of Education - Recruiting Ethnic Minorities into Teacher Training
Noor Media Ltd.
Islamic books and clothes sale
Free Henna
Calligraphy Demonstration by Zianab
Cambridge Community Cafe Project
Cambridge University Pakistan Society
ISOC sale & dawa stall. Next to is the FREE tea & biscuits stall
This is the favourite stall - International Food FairThis day is a blessed day, alhamdulillah. With the success of Alwaan, ALLAH also gave us the opportunity to watch the moon eclipse and pray the eclipse prayer in congregation, alhamdulillah. I have nothing to say but a deep gratefulness to ALLAH and all the people that made this event such a successful one though it was planned only for less than 3-week time. Alhamdulillah.
Wassalam.
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