Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Don't get me wrong, it is not the preparation for winter. It is to hibernate myself from all the social events that I have been enjoying for the past two years in Cambridge. I have been always living in an active life style ever since my secondary school. I am a person who doesn't know how to sit still. I'm constantly thinking, working, planning, doing, evaluating, judging, trying, etc. In my secondary school, when I was in my Form 4, I was involved in more that 6 societies in the school and organised other major events for the school like camps, formal ceremonies, etc. It was a tiring year but very fulfilling. I eventually slowed down after my mum showed her anger of me not staying at home as much as I should as a 17-year-old girl!
When I went to the university, leaving my family to stay in the hostel for the first time, my life became more active than ever. Beside studies, of course, the rest of my time is activities, activities & activities. I knew in and out of everything that happened in my college, faculty and even university. Not through gossips but really what I saw and heard first-hand from the people involved. It was a valuable experience as it shaped me into who I am now. I began to think more maturely, all-rounded and more humbly because seeing other people trying to be proud of themselves for what they have done, they actually have no idea how many things are happening out there. I myself too, who might know more than them in some aspects, still have lots more stuff that I don't know. My life changed at the last year of my university after my mum passed away and later when I embraced Islam as my way of life.
As I moved on to the world of employment, I still carried on my active personality. My colleagues commented me as a person that can be seen everywhere in the school and then faculty where I worked. It's only when I was disappointed about some matters that I will be seen sitting still on my desk. I don't mind to be bullied with work loads of others so long as they don't burden me. In fact, it's a good opportunity for me to learn. Working from the lowest level, I learned how the bureaucratic system works. I know what should I do when I have to deal with them in the future. Seeing from their perspective will help me and them to work out things more efficiently.
Now, I am on study leave to do my PhD abroad. Bearing in mind of my responsibility and contract with my employer who is also my sponsor, I keep on busying myself with the extra-curriculum activities in the university. Working through these two years on my study as well as Islamic Society (ISOC), I have never regretted of the time that I have spent. It is a truly paradigm-shifting experience for me. I made more friends who are not just friends but inspirations, assistants, spiritual-companions, advisors, and most of all sisters. They are always there for you when you need them. If these friendships (or rather sisterhood) were bought through all the activities that I have involved in ISOC, I would say, I have not paid enough to buy them. What I have done in ISOC over these two years were mainly emailing, attending circles, participating in ISOC major events and sisters gathering, and then later organised some of them myself or with the help of others after I have figured out how things here work.
The main motivation for me to get active in the school was to get into university as it is one of the main criteria in Malaysia for a non-native student after academic achievement. Later, the reason changed to represent non-native students in the college. And then, when I was working, it is all about gaining extra knowledge and experience for the use of future. But now, it is to make more friends (life friends) and make them happy for the sake of ALLAH. I will smile to see sisters smiling. This is the biggest motivation for me to keep on moving.
Unfortunately, to keep this going, it's time consuming. I have one more year left in Cambridge to complete my PhD and then go home. Like it or not, I have to focus all my time just to do my PhD now. After a PhD seminar yesterday, I have realised that, the time is way ahead of me now. I will have to keep all my desire to do a lot of things for ISOC and the sisters. So, today, I am announcing that I will be hibernating from things that do not concern with my PhD study. I will still keep on with the teaching in the mosque until they find proper teachers to take my place. Whatever events in Cambridge that are spiritually developing, I will still spend some time to attend them. Other than these, my life is all about PhD.
I know it's going to be difficult for me for restraining myself to not to think of the sisters and participate in many of the coming events in ISOC. It will be hard to not to cycle around Cambridge and visit the sisters randomly; it will be hard to not to see the sisters as frequent as I like at ISOC events; it will be hard to not to hit 'reply' whenever I read funny emails from the sisters; it will be hard to not to forward interesting emails and articles to the sisters; it will be hard to not to even check hermes & facebook as frequent as I like (glad that there is not internet connection at home at the moment, so no need to keep on refreshing!). Hey, how can there be success without sacrifice? I hope I'm not sacrificing to much here. I pray that whatever I miss for the purpose of my PhD for the sake of ALLAH, will be compensated for the success of my PhD and my life later.
So, I won't be blogging as much as I was. I'm sorry to say so, but please make du'a for me so that ALLAH make it all easy for us and grant us success.
Wassalam.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Oxbridge Muslim Alumni
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Oxbridge Muslim Alumni is a networking association for Muslims who have studied or are studying in University of Cambridge and University of Oxford, UK. It is a great opportunity for Muslims, who are the minority from the top two universities in UK to meet. At the age of around 3 years old, OMA has done 3 major meetings, producing newsletters and organising some charity events targeting at getting more Muslims to enroll in these two universities for further studies.
Last Saturday was the OMA Reunion/Eid Dinner 2007 at The Guildhall, Cambridge. More than 250 members and their family turned up for the dinner with two guest speakers. What I really enjoyed is not the food, not the speeches but the opportunity to meet sisters, both old and new, Cambridge and Oxford. I didn't eat much nor pay a lot of attention during the speeches. I enjoyed walking around, taking pictures of the smiley faces of the sisters. This is one of the reasons why I like photography.
OMA Reunion/Eid Dinner 2007
Many of the sisters coming all the way from London stayed over at mine after the dinner. A few more other sisters came too to enjoy their companies while they are still in Cambridge, even for a night. This is the sisterhood that I like, the sisterhood that is hard to bond to this extend. May ALLAH bless them all and grant them success in thus Wolrd and the Hereafter. If I eventually have to go back to Malaysia after my study, I pray that there will be plenty of opportunities for me to meet them again and again. If not, may we rejoice in the Hereafter under the shade of HIS Mercy.
Wassalam.
Oxbridge Muslim Alumni is a networking association for Muslims who have studied or are studying in University of Cambridge and University of Oxford, UK. It is a great opportunity for Muslims, who are the minority from the top two universities in UK to meet. At the age of around 3 years old, OMA has done 3 major meetings, producing newsletters and organising some charity events targeting at getting more Muslims to enroll in these two universities for further studies.
Last Saturday was the OMA Reunion/Eid Dinner 2007 at The Guildhall, Cambridge. More than 250 members and their family turned up for the dinner with two guest speakers. What I really enjoyed is not the food, not the speeches but the opportunity to meet sisters, both old and new, Cambridge and Oxford. I didn't eat much nor pay a lot of attention during the speeches. I enjoyed walking around, taking pictures of the smiley faces of the sisters. This is one of the reasons why I like photography.
OMA Reunion/Eid Dinner 2007Many of the sisters coming all the way from London stayed over at mine after the dinner. A few more other sisters came too to enjoy their companies while they are still in Cambridge, even for a night. This is the sisterhood that I like, the sisterhood that is hard to bond to this extend. May ALLAH bless them all and grant them success in thus Wolrd and the Hereafter. If I eventually have to go back to Malaysia after my study, I pray that there will be plenty of opportunities for me to meet them again and again. If not, may we rejoice in the Hereafter under the shade of HIS Mercy.
Wassalam.
Friday, October 26, 2007
The Last Sermon of the Prophet Muhammad (saw)
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I will never get bored reading this sermon, everytime I read this, new thoughts will come out about my own life, the pass, the present, the future and also about people around me, the society and Islam as a whole. Different emotion while reading it - sad because it's the final sermon by the beloved, happy because I still can read the sermon from the beloved, ashamed because I'm not doing enough as what the beloved said, scare because what has been said is happening and will be happening, enlightened because the sermon gives practical solutions to many problems around us, etc. I would sincerely urge you to read and reflect, contemplate, think deep about each word that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said. As much as he loved his nation (ummah), cried out our name, 'ummati, ummati, ummati' before his last breath, this piece of sermon is like a will that he wanted us to consider seriously in our daily life, now and forever.
There are many narrations of the whole sermon and I hope this link is giving us the most complete piece:
Wassalam.
I will never get bored reading this sermon, everytime I read this, new thoughts will come out about my own life, the pass, the present, the future and also about people around me, the society and Islam as a whole. Different emotion while reading it - sad because it's the final sermon by the beloved, happy because I still can read the sermon from the beloved, ashamed because I'm not doing enough as what the beloved said, scare because what has been said is happening and will be happening, enlightened because the sermon gives practical solutions to many problems around us, etc. I would sincerely urge you to read and reflect, contemplate, think deep about each word that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said. As much as he loved his nation (ummah), cried out our name, 'ummati, ummati, ummati' before his last breath, this piece of sermon is like a will that he wanted us to consider seriously in our daily life, now and forever.
There are many narrations of the whole sermon and I hope this link is giving us the most complete piece:
In the name of ALLAH most Gracious most Merciful.
"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether, after this year, I shall be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt 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 obligation shall henceforth be waived.
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. 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 commit adultery.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in Zakat perform Hajj if you can afford to. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.
Remember, one day you will appear before ALLAH and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O People, no Prophet or Apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an 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 directly. Be my witness O ALLAH, that I have conveyed your message to your people."
~ This Sermon was delivered on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, 10 A.H. in the 'Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat by the Prophet Muhammad (saw)
I hope I have done the job of conveying his (saw) message."This day the disbelievers despair of prevailing against your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me (ALLAH)! This day have I perfected for you your religion and fulfilled My favor unto you, and it hath been My good pleasure to choose Islam for you as your religion."The sermon was repeated sentence by sentence by Safwan's brother Rabiah (ra), who had a powerful voice, at the request of the Prophet and he faithfully proclaimed to over ten thousand gathered on the occasion. Toward the end of his sermon, the Prophet asked “O people, have I faithfully delivered unto you my message?" A powerful murmur of assent “O ALLAH, yes!", arose from thousands of pilgrims and the vibrant words “Allahumma na’m” rolled like thunder throughout the valley. The Prophet raised his forefinger and said: “Be my witness O ALLAH, that I have conveyed your message to your people."
Wassalam.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Cover or not? (Hijab or not?)
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
This is a very controversial topic, not just among the Muslims but also the non-Muslims. I never intend to make this into an issue to anyone or for myself, but something that happened yesterday triggers me to think about it and I decided to share it. Your comments are most welcome. I was in the prayer room and a fresher sister came to prayer Asr. She is not a hijabi but she never missed her prayer. When we were talking about different Asr timing for Hanafi and non-Hanafi, I asked her, "Your family must have a prayer timetable at home, right? Just follow it if you are not sure". She then said that none of her family actually prays. So, she only gets the prayer timetable from her friends. It's actually her friends who encourage her to become more practising. Before I came to UK, I thought that many of the non-hijabis are not really practising Muslims, although not all together but majority. My view changes a little when I'm in UK after a debate with friends and self-argument, but still I believe that it is always best to put hijab on, for many reasons which I'll explain later. Yesterday I was thinking, OMG it is awfully bad to judge a non-hijabi sister like that. She is like a baby, who only starts to learn how to crawl and already someone thinks that she should be running now! She just learns the 5 pillars and tries to practise them as much as she can (while there's no family support), there is no way that we can do more than that at this stage. Astaghfirullah. Of course, I didn't say anything further after realised that her family are not practising.
In Islam, as far as the evidence from the Qur'an, there are 2 verses that many Muslim scholars from the past until now, quote and judge that the wearing of hijab is compulsory for a Muslim woman who reaches puberty and if she is in front of her non-mahram (male, none close relatives, of course not your father, brother, uncle, grandfather, son, husband etc.).
Below are the interpretations of the first verse presented above by two major Muslim scholars in the Interpretation of the Qur'an (Tafsir):
In the Prophetic tradition, it is clear that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) did the below action:
Anyway, go back to the main point of this post. Yes, covering nakedness for a Muslim woman over the age of puberty in front of non-mahram men is an obligation. There might be certain cases that you can opt not to, especially if it will (or potentially) endanger your life, from other people or from health problem. This is understood and many Muslim scholars accepted that as a valid reason. But, nowadays, how many of the non-hijabis are really in this kind of situation? This is an endless debate which I do not wish to get involved in my blog. I respect whatever your reason is as long as you are truthful to ALLAH. The difference in opinions is a form of mercy from ALLAH. So, you do whatever you think is correct after praying hard to HIM to show you the right way. If not, please do not impose your opinion to others, you won't know if you are spreading the right thing or the wrong thing as whatever the consequence is, you will get the share even after your death. This sentence apply to myself too, and especially to myself as you are now reading my opinion, which of course by no means that I want to 'force' you to accept it, just think about it.
Having said so that wearing hijab is an obligation, in length, now go back to my fresher sister, for her, it is already hard to observe the daily prayers, to put on one more duty, probably will scare her off and put her off the religion if she is not strong enough. We should not judge her as a 'bad' Muslim, simply because she is a non-hijabi, because we don't know her intention and the story behind. Judge ourselves first before we look at others! I pray that, the more she goes near to ALLAH by observing the 5 pillars, she will finally come to other obligations too. Please make du'a for her and other sisters too.
Now, think about this. If Islam can be seen like a GCSE or A-Level or SPM or STPM examination, then think of each obligation is like a paper, you have English, Maths, Science, etc. and you may get A, B, C, D, E and so on for different paper. So I can't judge your performance based on 1 paper. It has to be taken as a whole. Same to Islam, simply because a person fail the Awrah paper, it doesn't mean that she mush have failed in Islam. She might get A* in Salah paper, Wudhu paper, Ihsan paper, etc. Talking about Ihsan, when we wear hijab or cover our nakedness properly, are we doing it for the sake of ALLAH?
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
p/s: Later this evening, I met another fresher sister and she used to be a non-hijabi, but then, after she be friended with a sister who doesn't judge her like other do, she became closer to Islam and now she is a hijabi, with good manner, smiley and doing her PhD in Oriental Studies (good in Arabic too, she is not an Arab). Alhamdulillah. So, we should stop being judgemental on others so to bring others closer to the religion.
This is a very controversial topic, not just among the Muslims but also the non-Muslims. I never intend to make this into an issue to anyone or for myself, but something that happened yesterday triggers me to think about it and I decided to share it. Your comments are most welcome. I was in the prayer room and a fresher sister came to prayer Asr. She is not a hijabi but she never missed her prayer. When we were talking about different Asr timing for Hanafi and non-Hanafi, I asked her, "Your family must have a prayer timetable at home, right? Just follow it if you are not sure". She then said that none of her family actually prays. So, she only gets the prayer timetable from her friends. It's actually her friends who encourage her to become more practising. Before I came to UK, I thought that many of the non-hijabis are not really practising Muslims, although not all together but majority. My view changes a little when I'm in UK after a debate with friends and self-argument, but still I believe that it is always best to put hijab on, for many reasons which I'll explain later. Yesterday I was thinking, OMG it is awfully bad to judge a non-hijabi sister like that. She is like a baby, who only starts to learn how to crawl and already someone thinks that she should be running now! She just learns the 5 pillars and tries to practise them as much as she can (while there's no family support), there is no way that we can do more than that at this stage. Astaghfirullah. Of course, I didn't say anything further after realised that her family are not practising.
In Islam, as far as the evidence from the Qur'an, there are 2 verses that many Muslim scholars from the past until now, quote and judge that the wearing of hijab is compulsory for a Muslim woman who reaches puberty and if she is in front of her non-mahram (male, none close relatives, of course not your father, brother, uncle, grandfather, son, husband etc.).
"And say to the faithful women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their beauty except what is apparent of it, and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs), and not to display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments. And turn in repentance to Allah together, O you the faithful, in order that you are successful"Many people tend to try and interpret the verses above according to their own shallow understanding thus making the obligation to wear hijab as commanded by ALLAH into something being taken easily. The thing is, if you have not studied the Qur'an, not memorising the Qur'an, not memorising the hadith, not learning Tafsir Qur'an, 'Ulum al-Quran (The Science of the Qur'an), Asbab un-Nuzul (The Reasons behind the revelation of each verse of the Qur'an), the Sirah (The Islamic History) in depth, not practising, not pious (God fearing) and close to ALLAH to understand HIS will, who are you to tell what do these 2 verses really mean? Or are you just want to be like the Bani Israil explained in the Qur'an, who only guessed the meanings of the Scriptures sent to them, and then made their own laws wrongly thus earned ALLAH's anger? Made the lawful into unlawful and made the unlawful into lawful.~ The Holy Qur'an, Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24, The Light) verse 31O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the faithful to draw their outergarments (jilbabs) close around themselves; that is better that they will be recognized and not annoyed. And ALLAH is ever Forgiving, Gentle.~ Holy Qur'an, Surah Al-Ahzab (Chapter 33, The Confederates) verse 59
Below are the interpretations of the first verse presented above by two major Muslim scholars in the Interpretation of the Qur'an (Tafsir):
Those are the interpretation by well-learned, well-known and knowledgeable Muslim scholars in the field of Qur'an Translation and Interpretation. They studied the Qur'an in their whole life, so are we better than them in this field to make our own interpretation (simply to fulfill our own desire)? It's as though a secondary school student who has just learnt about the First Newton Law and wanted to challenge a Professor in Physics! Hilarious! You don't play about with Science but you make fun of religious knowledge!"Women in those days used to cover their heads with the khimar, throwing its ends upon their backs. This left the neck and the upper part of the chest bare, along with the ears, in the manner of the Christians. Then ALLAH commanded them to cover those parts with the khimar."
~ Interpreted by Imam Abu Abdullah Qurtubi (Maliki School of Thought)
"'Extend their khimars to cover their bosoms' means that they should wear the khimar in such a way that they cover their chests so that they will be different from the women of the jahiliyyah who did not do that but would pass in front of men with their chests uncovered and with their necks, forelocks, and earrings uncovered."
~ Interpreted by Imam Abu'l-Fida ibn Kathir (Shafi'i School of Thought)
In the Prophetic tradition, it is clear that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) did the below action:
"Aishah (ra) reported that Asma’, the daughter of Abu Bakr (ra) came to the Messenger of ALLAH (saw) while wearing thin clothing. He (saw) approached her and said: 'O Asma’! When a girl reaches the menstrual age, it is not proper that anything should remain exposed except this and this. He (saw) pointed to the face and hands."So, do we want to say NO to the commands by ALLAH & HIS Messenger (saw)? Even all the Imams of all the 4 Sunni Schools of Thought say that it is obligatory to observe this religious duty. Now, I don't like to use the word 'hijab' as it only indicates the need to cover your head. I would like to use the word 'covering nakedness', this would be more appropriate than the word hijab. You can wear hijab but still exposing your arms or other part of the nakedness (awrah). And also, the word hijab has been abused by the media into a negative picture. Hey, by the way, virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, also wore a hijab. Don't believe me? Click this. What about the nuns? Also, in Jainism (a type of religion in India), look at how their women dress. What about orthodox Jewish women? Don't they cover their head too after marriage? And so many more examples of women from the past (I mean before Islam) until now observe this duty. Well, obviously cause Islam is not a new religion! Books and Scriptures have been sent down to mankind from the One and Only GOD.~ Narrated by Imam Abu Dawud>
Anyway, go back to the main point of this post. Yes, covering nakedness for a Muslim woman over the age of puberty in front of non-mahram men is an obligation. There might be certain cases that you can opt not to, especially if it will (or potentially) endanger your life, from other people or from health problem. This is understood and many Muslim scholars accepted that as a valid reason. But, nowadays, how many of the non-hijabis are really in this kind of situation? This is an endless debate which I do not wish to get involved in my blog. I respect whatever your reason is as long as you are truthful to ALLAH. The difference in opinions is a form of mercy from ALLAH. So, you do whatever you think is correct after praying hard to HIM to show you the right way. If not, please do not impose your opinion to others, you won't know if you are spreading the right thing or the wrong thing as whatever the consequence is, you will get the share even after your death. This sentence apply to myself too, and especially to myself as you are now reading my opinion, which of course by no means that I want to 'force' you to accept it, just think about it.
Having said so that wearing hijab is an obligation, in length, now go back to my fresher sister, for her, it is already hard to observe the daily prayers, to put on one more duty, probably will scare her off and put her off the religion if she is not strong enough. We should not judge her as a 'bad' Muslim, simply because she is a non-hijabi, because we don't know her intention and the story behind. Judge ourselves first before we look at others! I pray that, the more she goes near to ALLAH by observing the 5 pillars, she will finally come to other obligations too. Please make du'a for her and other sisters too.
Now, think about this. If Islam can be seen like a GCSE or A-Level or SPM or STPM examination, then think of each obligation is like a paper, you have English, Maths, Science, etc. and you may get A, B, C, D, E and so on for different paper. So I can't judge your performance based on 1 paper. It has to be taken as a whole. Same to Islam, simply because a person fail the Awrah paper, it doesn't mean that she mush have failed in Islam. She might get A* in Salah paper, Wudhu paper, Ihsan paper, etc. Talking about Ihsan, when we wear hijab or cover our nakedness properly, are we doing it for the sake of ALLAH?
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
p/s: Later this evening, I met another fresher sister and she used to be a non-hijabi, but then, after she be friended with a sister who doesn't judge her like other do, she became closer to Islam and now she is a hijabi, with good manner, smiley and doing her PhD in Oriental Studies (good in Arabic too, she is not an Arab). Alhamdulillah. So, we should stop being judgemental on others so to bring others closer to the religion.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
6 days = 365 days
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I don't know if you understand the equation above, I'm just trying to say that the fasting of 6 days after Ramadhan is equal to the fasting of a whole year.
Wa lillahilhamd.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
I don't know if you understand the equation above, I'm just trying to say that the fasting of 6 days after Ramadhan is equal to the fasting of a whole year.
Ayyub (ra) relates that the Messenger of ALLAH(saw) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadhan and follows it with six days from Shawwal it is as if they fasted the entire year.”
~ Narrated by Imam Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah
Wa lillahilhamd.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Pledge of 'Aqabah
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
During the Rihla, we visited the Mosque of 'Aqabah where the Pledge of 'Aqabah took place.
If you remember the history when the Muslims were persecuted and boycotted, they lived at the out skirt of Makkah without any means of living. They were not allowed to trade in Makkah and outside Makkah, no marriage with the Makkans, and no contact with anyone outside Makkah. The suffering ended 3 years later when the contract signed by the non-Muslim Makkans was eated by ants. So, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) was free to preach Islam to the pilgrims who came every year to the Ka'abah during the pilgrimage season, most of them were idol-worshippers at that time. Six people from Madinah (it was Yathrib back then) accepted his teaching and brought the teaching back to their people. The next year, 12 people from Madinah accepted Islam and they decided to meet the Prophet Muhammad (saw) secretly in Makkah.
The Pledge of 'Aqabah is when the Prophet Muhammad (saw) meet this group of people from Madinah (it was Yathrib back then) in Makkah, where they gave their pledge to the Prophet Muhammad (saw). They accepted him (saw) as the Prophet explained in the Torah and obeyed his teachings, among are:
The Second Pledge of 'Aqabah happened the next year when 70 Madineses came and invited the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the Muslims to emigrate to Madinah. This marked the start of the Islamic Calendar. It was a very moving moment when the secret meeting between the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the 70 Madineses who came to Makkah to conveyed their acceptance. Imagine after 13 years of preaching to the Makkans, many of them were still in the state of ignorance and worse, persecuted the Muslims, there were more than 70 people from Madinah, outside Makkah where the Prophet Muhammad (saw) has never been before to preach Islam, accepted Islam. It was moving for the Madineses during the meeting because they have been hearing a lot about the Prophet Muhammad (saw), his noble acts, his wisdom and teachings, but never had the chance to see him. How joyous the moment is for the both parties. The love of the Muslims to the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the most touching moment for many devout Muslims.
During the Rihla, when Shaykh Hamza Yusuf told us the pledge, almost everyone (including he himself) cried because we were so touched by the story, standing where the Prophet Muhammad (saw) once stood with the 70 Madineses who risked their lives to hold this secret meeting just to see the face their beloved. Now, who do we think we are in front of ALLAH, in front of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) if there isn't a seed of love and obedience to ALLAH and HIS Messenger (saw)?
ALLAHU'alam.
The Mosque of 'Aqabah is just next to Mina
There's no roof (the authority refused to maintain it)
No carpet, just sand
I'm not sure which one is the first and the second pledge cemented on the wall
From the Holy Qur'an
Wassalam.
During the Rihla, we visited the Mosque of 'Aqabah where the Pledge of 'Aqabah took place.
If you remember the history when the Muslims were persecuted and boycotted, they lived at the out skirt of Makkah without any means of living. They were not allowed to trade in Makkah and outside Makkah, no marriage with the Makkans, and no contact with anyone outside Makkah. The suffering ended 3 years later when the contract signed by the non-Muslim Makkans was eated by ants. So, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) was free to preach Islam to the pilgrims who came every year to the Ka'abah during the pilgrimage season, most of them were idol-worshippers at that time. Six people from Madinah (it was Yathrib back then) accepted his teaching and brought the teaching back to their people. The next year, 12 people from Madinah accepted Islam and they decided to meet the Prophet Muhammad (saw) secretly in Makkah.
The Pledge of 'Aqabah is when the Prophet Muhammad (saw) meet this group of people from Madinah (it was Yathrib back then) in Makkah, where they gave their pledge to the Prophet Muhammad (saw). They accepted him (saw) as the Prophet explained in the Torah and obeyed his teachings, among are:
We shall not associate anyone with ALLAH (The One God): whether in worship, His Attributes, His Power or His Authority.This is the First Pledge of 'Aqabah and it happened in the twelveth year after the first revelation of the Holy Qur'an (621 AD). There were only 12 Madineses at that time but it was the most important event in the Islamic history. By this pledge, it means that Islam has been spread outside Makkah and accepted by people outside Makkah. By this pledge, there is a possibility to get more followers of Islam. By this pledge, there will be a sanctuary for the Muslims in the future, especially during the Hijrah (Immigration from Makkah to Madinah escaping the torturous persecution). By this pledge, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) became stronger in carrying out his mission. It is a mark of victory for the Muslims and the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).
We shall not indulge in adultery, fornication, and practice or propagate any other indecency.
We shall not steal or rob anyone’s property in any manner or under any pretense.
We shall not practice the custom of killing children.
We shall not falsely accuse or backbite anyone.
We shall not disobey you in good deeds and just cause.
We shall always follow you, be it hard or easy, to our liking or not, and we shall act according to your commands. We shall follow and obey your decisions even if it be against ourselves and in favor of others.
We shall not participate in opposing the deserving persons of authority or positions.
We shall support the truth and justice and stand firm under all circumstances. In matters of ALLAH’s religion, we shall not be afraid for our name, disrepute, disgrace, or blame.
The Second Pledge of 'Aqabah happened the next year when 70 Madineses came and invited the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the Muslims to emigrate to Madinah. This marked the start of the Islamic Calendar. It was a very moving moment when the secret meeting between the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the 70 Madineses who came to Makkah to conveyed their acceptance. Imagine after 13 years of preaching to the Makkans, many of them were still in the state of ignorance and worse, persecuted the Muslims, there were more than 70 people from Madinah, outside Makkah where the Prophet Muhammad (saw) has never been before to preach Islam, accepted Islam. It was moving for the Madineses during the meeting because they have been hearing a lot about the Prophet Muhammad (saw), his noble acts, his wisdom and teachings, but never had the chance to see him. How joyous the moment is for the both parties. The love of the Muslims to the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the most touching moment for many devout Muslims.
"When a man asked the prophet (saw) "O Messenger of ALLAH, when will the Day of Judgement be?", the Prophet (saw) replied, "What have you prepared for it?" he said, "I have not prepared for it a great deal of prayer, fasting nor charity, but I love ALLAH and His Messenger intensely," the Prophet (saw) said, "You will be with those whom you love."Love the Prophet Muhammad (saw) as much as we can because by loving him we will be with him in the Hereafter. Why so? It's a simple explanation if we reflect on the reasons to love him (saw). To love a person, we need to know the person (Malay saying - tak kenal maka tak cinta - you won't love until you know). We will learn how the person lives, speaks, eats, sleeps, acts, etc. The aim of loving him and learning about him (saw) is to enable us to follow him, to follow the perfect example sent by ALLAH as a mercy to mankind. What harm can there be to be able to act as close as to the perfect example of a human? It will mean PEACE to the whole world if everyone can just act at least a portion of his (saw) manner.~ narrated by Imam Bukhari
"Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If you love ALLAH, follow me; ALLAH will love you and forgive you your sins. ALLAH is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful."SubhanALLAH, such a great wisdom behind everything that ALLAH has planned and revealed. May ALLAH bring us nearer to HIM and him (saw).~ The Holy Qur'an, Surah Ali 'Imran (Chapter 3, The Family of Imran) verse 31
During the Rihla, when Shaykh Hamza Yusuf told us the pledge, almost everyone (including he himself) cried because we were so touched by the story, standing where the Prophet Muhammad (saw) once stood with the 70 Madineses who risked their lives to hold this secret meeting just to see the face their beloved. Now, who do we think we are in front of ALLAH, in front of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) if there isn't a seed of love and obedience to ALLAH and HIS Messenger (saw)?
ALLAHU'alam.
The Mosque of 'Aqabah is just next to Mina
There's no roof (the authority refused to maintain it)
No carpet, just sand
I'm not sure which one is the first and the second pledge cemented on the wall
From the Holy Qur'anWassalam.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
My research
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
After rambling about other stuff which is not the main reason for me to be in UK, I better start telling you what my research is all about. Well, I am investigating the patterns of Physics problem-solving among secondary school students here. Why Secondary School Physics? Long answer.
First of all, cause I'm doing a PhD in Educational Research. So, it must be related to educational issue.
Second, I was a Physics teacher and my first & second degrees are all about Physics Education (generally, secondary school).
Third, I was a Tutor and now a lecturer in the Physics Panel under the Science & Mathematics Education Department of Faculty of Education, UTM Skudai. So, it is my job to specialise in Physics Education.
Fourth, I don't like Chemistry and Biology (too much memorisation), so Physics is my choice among all the sciences in school.
Fifth, not many people are doing Physics. We need more people in Physics or else there will be non-experts teaching Physics. I mean teachers who don't understand Physics are teaching Physics now in schools. I've even met a Living Skills teacher teaching Physics in a secondary school, my Lord! There is a short of 30% Physics teachers in Malaysia at the moment. Among the 50% STPM and matriculation students who take Science, no more than half are taking Physics. Who will be the next Physics teachers, engineers & scientists?
Now, why problem-solving? Yet another long answers.
Many people can learn and understand Physics concepts, some can only understand the surface and some can go as deep as the core principals. But, many of them who can understand the concepts, fail to solve Physics problems. This is very evidenced when I was teaching in schools. Ask them about speed, equations, energy, etc., they can explain them in details. Yet, when you give them a question, they are stuck like they have never learnt about it. Astonishing? Try to remember your Physics lessons and exams in your school. Somehow you thought that you have understood completely a Physics concept, but when you tried the questions or exercises at the end of the chapter, it's like OMG, you couldn't even understand a question!
Also, problem-solving is a core skill in Science. We want to produce engineers, scientists and even normal students/citizens to be good problem solvers. Not just solving science related problems, but also daily life problems. We want everyone who take Physics think more creatively and critically when it comes to problem-solving. Many scholars have agreed that, problem-solving ability is a core skill in Science Education generally. What is the point of producing scientists who can only solve the same textbook problems again and again? That is a complete failure of education. There are also many educationists and philosophers emphasised the importance of problem-solving as a skill that need to be inculcated among the children today. It has become one of the aims of education.
We don't want to drill students with exercise and training so that they will pass the public exams. This according to John Dewey (a profound educational philosopher), it's like the training of the mind and has no different from the training of an animal. You train a dog to sit whenever you point your finger to the floor and say 'sit', but when you say 'sit' but do other signs, the dog will just look at you with the tongue sticking out for dog-biscuit. Do you want your students to be like that? At least I don't want them to be like that.
I know that the questions in the public exams are not geared toward the ideal problem-solving as I said, but it certainly will in the future. So, this thesis is meant for the future development of Malaysian Education. Now the drilling and training of memorising popular questions and solutions for public exams seem to be the best way to get around the passing percentage, but I am confident that in the future, this will not be the benchmark to measure the achievement of a student as we can see that the Ministry of Education is giving more and more authority to the school to assess their own students. Hence, a standardise national result will not be the main concern of the schools in the future. And the schools will start to concentrate on the building of generic skills among the students. One of the generic skills is problem-solving, which is the most essential one, because problem-solving requires the application of knowledge studied. After all, what is the use of gaining knowledge but not applying it?
So, what is the use of knowing how students solve a Physics problem? It's a HUGE significance.
First of all, you have to understand what does Constructivism mean. The central of the philosophy of Constructivism in education is that knowledge is constructed and built on. It is assimilated and accommodated to previous knowledge. Slowly, the new knowledge is built based on the old knowledge. If the new knowledge is more meaningful, it will substitute the old knowledge or it can merge with the old knowledge and make them more meaningful. The ancient concept of students come into classrooms with empty brain waiting for teachers to pour them some knowledge is no more applicable in this century. It is understood that everyone has their own pre-conceptions. Before you come into the school, you will already know that the fire is hot and the water is cold. If a teacher said that there are a few different points of temperature for fire (from blue to yellow to orange to white...), then you realise that there is coldness in the fire. Likewise with the water. So, you build the new knowledge upon the old knowledge. However, sometimes the pre-conception can be incorrect or contradict with the Physics concepts. For example, when I say weight in daily life, you measure it using the unit of 'kg'. But in Physics, weight is measured by 'Newton'. If you don't know the pre-conception of the students, how can you correct them? You can just keep on saying weight is measured by 'Newton' and when they go home, they stand on a scale and weigh themselves in 'kg' still. How confusing it is if you don't tell them, look, I know at home you say weight in 'kg', but in Physics, it's a different story, why? cause 'kg' is meant for the total of the substance...blah, blah... By knowing the pre-conception, then you can correct them and bring them to a better understanding of Physics.
Every student has their own ways to solve certain Physics problems. Many educationists tried to design a way to teach the students to solve Physics problems effectively. Now, if you understand the concept of Constructivism that I'm talking above, you will realise that it is impossible to impose one way of instruction to make sure that the students will solve Physics problems effectively. We should first examine how the students solve the problems and then, from then that we can start thinking, what's wrong with the way or ways that they use. Later, a few sets of better methods can be introduced to improve the defects in the students' ways.
Therefore, my job at the moment is to find out how do the students solve Physics problems. I want to tell the teachers that these are how they did it. Now, it's your job as teachers to understand your students by referring to the patterns that I will provide you. You will find some matches and I will surely provide you with in-depth explanations. With that, it is the job of the teachers and researchers to further develop better ways to 'repair' the students. It can also be a part of my future career to just to design a few sets of problem-solving instruction to help the students.
So, this is why I am doing this topic. I have my own problems to solve before I can solve this big problems. A research is a problem-solving. If you don't have the skills to solve a problem, how can you go on and talk about R & D, innovation, improvement and development?
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
After rambling about other stuff which is not the main reason for me to be in UK, I better start telling you what my research is all about. Well, I am investigating the patterns of Physics problem-solving among secondary school students here. Why Secondary School Physics? Long answer.
First of all, cause I'm doing a PhD in Educational Research. So, it must be related to educational issue.
Second, I was a Physics teacher and my first & second degrees are all about Physics Education (generally, secondary school).
Third, I was a Tutor and now a lecturer in the Physics Panel under the Science & Mathematics Education Department of Faculty of Education, UTM Skudai. So, it is my job to specialise in Physics Education.
Fourth, I don't like Chemistry and Biology (too much memorisation), so Physics is my choice among all the sciences in school.
Fifth, not many people are doing Physics. We need more people in Physics or else there will be non-experts teaching Physics. I mean teachers who don't understand Physics are teaching Physics now in schools. I've even met a Living Skills teacher teaching Physics in a secondary school, my Lord! There is a short of 30% Physics teachers in Malaysia at the moment. Among the 50% STPM and matriculation students who take Science, no more than half are taking Physics. Who will be the next Physics teachers, engineers & scientists?
Now, why problem-solving? Yet another long answers.
Many people can learn and understand Physics concepts, some can only understand the surface and some can go as deep as the core principals. But, many of them who can understand the concepts, fail to solve Physics problems. This is very evidenced when I was teaching in schools. Ask them about speed, equations, energy, etc., they can explain them in details. Yet, when you give them a question, they are stuck like they have never learnt about it. Astonishing? Try to remember your Physics lessons and exams in your school. Somehow you thought that you have understood completely a Physics concept, but when you tried the questions or exercises at the end of the chapter, it's like OMG, you couldn't even understand a question!
Also, problem-solving is a core skill in Science. We want to produce engineers, scientists and even normal students/citizens to be good problem solvers. Not just solving science related problems, but also daily life problems. We want everyone who take Physics think more creatively and critically when it comes to problem-solving. Many scholars have agreed that, problem-solving ability is a core skill in Science Education generally. What is the point of producing scientists who can only solve the same textbook problems again and again? That is a complete failure of education. There are also many educationists and philosophers emphasised the importance of problem-solving as a skill that need to be inculcated among the children today. It has become one of the aims of education.
We don't want to drill students with exercise and training so that they will pass the public exams. This according to John Dewey (a profound educational philosopher), it's like the training of the mind and has no different from the training of an animal. You train a dog to sit whenever you point your finger to the floor and say 'sit', but when you say 'sit' but do other signs, the dog will just look at you with the tongue sticking out for dog-biscuit. Do you want your students to be like that? At least I don't want them to be like that.
I know that the questions in the public exams are not geared toward the ideal problem-solving as I said, but it certainly will in the future. So, this thesis is meant for the future development of Malaysian Education. Now the drilling and training of memorising popular questions and solutions for public exams seem to be the best way to get around the passing percentage, but I am confident that in the future, this will not be the benchmark to measure the achievement of a student as we can see that the Ministry of Education is giving more and more authority to the school to assess their own students. Hence, a standardise national result will not be the main concern of the schools in the future. And the schools will start to concentrate on the building of generic skills among the students. One of the generic skills is problem-solving, which is the most essential one, because problem-solving requires the application of knowledge studied. After all, what is the use of gaining knowledge but not applying it?
So, what is the use of knowing how students solve a Physics problem? It's a HUGE significance.
First of all, you have to understand what does Constructivism mean. The central of the philosophy of Constructivism in education is that knowledge is constructed and built on. It is assimilated and accommodated to previous knowledge. Slowly, the new knowledge is built based on the old knowledge. If the new knowledge is more meaningful, it will substitute the old knowledge or it can merge with the old knowledge and make them more meaningful. The ancient concept of students come into classrooms with empty brain waiting for teachers to pour them some knowledge is no more applicable in this century. It is understood that everyone has their own pre-conceptions. Before you come into the school, you will already know that the fire is hot and the water is cold. If a teacher said that there are a few different points of temperature for fire (from blue to yellow to orange to white...), then you realise that there is coldness in the fire. Likewise with the water. So, you build the new knowledge upon the old knowledge. However, sometimes the pre-conception can be incorrect or contradict with the Physics concepts. For example, when I say weight in daily life, you measure it using the unit of 'kg'. But in Physics, weight is measured by 'Newton'. If you don't know the pre-conception of the students, how can you correct them? You can just keep on saying weight is measured by 'Newton' and when they go home, they stand on a scale and weigh themselves in 'kg' still. How confusing it is if you don't tell them, look, I know at home you say weight in 'kg', but in Physics, it's a different story, why? cause 'kg' is meant for the total of the substance...blah, blah... By knowing the pre-conception, then you can correct them and bring them to a better understanding of Physics.
Every student has their own ways to solve certain Physics problems. Many educationists tried to design a way to teach the students to solve Physics problems effectively. Now, if you understand the concept of Constructivism that I'm talking above, you will realise that it is impossible to impose one way of instruction to make sure that the students will solve Physics problems effectively. We should first examine how the students solve the problems and then, from then that we can start thinking, what's wrong with the way or ways that they use. Later, a few sets of better methods can be introduced to improve the defects in the students' ways.
Therefore, my job at the moment is to find out how do the students solve Physics problems. I want to tell the teachers that these are how they did it. Now, it's your job as teachers to understand your students by referring to the patterns that I will provide you. You will find some matches and I will surely provide you with in-depth explanations. With that, it is the job of the teachers and researchers to further develop better ways to 'repair' the students. It can also be a part of my future career to just to design a few sets of problem-solving instruction to help the students.
So, this is why I am doing this topic. I have my own problems to solve before I can solve this big problems. A research is a problem-solving. If you don't have the skills to solve a problem, how can you go on and talk about R & D, innovation, improvement and development?
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Brainwashing
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Prior to the previous posts, it triggered me to think, are we brainwashed? How do we know we have been brainwashed? What are we like before brainwashing? What is the standard brain? Is there anyway to reverse the whole process? When there is a severely different opinion between 2 parties and both accusing each other that 'you have been brainwashed!', how do we know who exactly is the party that has been brainwashed? Or brainwashing actually can never happen, it's just a term to scare people? Does the brain even belong to us or can other people claim the ownership of it?
Searching the Wikipedia (which is not even the most objective website anyway), it says:
Again, it's the game of terminology. It's something relative. If you are clever to manipulate and play around with terms and redefine them, you can easily change the way how people think. Try find some terms that people use differently from time to time.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Prior to the previous posts, it triggered me to think, are we brainwashed? How do we know we have been brainwashed? What are we like before brainwashing? What is the standard brain? Is there anyway to reverse the whole process? When there is a severely different opinion between 2 parties and both accusing each other that 'you have been brainwashed!', how do we know who exactly is the party that has been brainwashed? Or brainwashing actually can never happen, it's just a term to scare people? Does the brain even belong to us or can other people claim the ownership of it?
Searching the Wikipedia (which is not even the most objective website anyway), it says:
Brainwashing (also known as thought reform or as re-education) consists of any effort aimed at instilling certain attitudes and beliefs in a person — sometimes unwelcome beliefs in conflict with the person's prior beliefs and knowledge.'Unwelcome beliefs in conflict with the person's prior beliefs and knowledge' - so, does that mean the any contradicting value that has been instilled in a person's mind is consider as a form of brainwashing? How can a person suddenly accept a totally contradicting belief? If a person was thinking that covering the nakedness is a good thing to do, but after brainwashing, the person thinks that there's nothing good about it, hence starts exposing him/herself without shame cause the definition of nakedness is being changed. In another case, if a person was thinking that exposing oneself is appreciating the beauty given by the Creator, and later, after brainwashing, the person thinks that it's not good to expose the nakedness, hence starts to cover him/her nakedness in front of the public. So, can we say that both are brainwashing? Is brainwashing a good thing or a bad thing?
Again, it's the game of terminology. It's something relative. If you are clever to manipulate and play around with terms and redefine them, you can easily change the way how people think. Try find some terms that people use differently from time to time.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Black or White
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
If your kids are being asked to choose between white doll and a black doll, tell me how high is the probability that they will choose a black one? Ok, let's say a white and a brown doll, or a white and a yellow doll? This documentary is a real phenomenon of today's world, like it or not. If you are white, congratulation, everyone likes you but if you are not white, I'm sorry, you will have less popularity, less chance to win internationally established prizes, less loveable by the public unless you behave like the white, if not trying to look like the white. Don't get me wrong, I'm not racist and have no problem with white people, in fact, I have lots of white friends. I'm just pity with those who are not white and think that white is superior while they themselves are inferior. What a sad world.
How many times in the Hollywood films show that white is bad and black is good? How many non-white actors ever won Oscar? How many non-white control the media & news broadcasting? While the population of the non-white is the majority, big majority. Just by watching the above documentary makes you feel sad. A little black girl was asked which doll is bad, she picked the black one and smiled. Which doll is good, she picked the white one and smiled wider. Immediately, she was asked, which one looks like you, she slowly gazed at the black doll, lost her smile and reluctantly picked up the black doll and looked down. She might be no more than 5 years old, already, that is her mind set. Set by who? Certainly it is not her parents. Why do you want to teach people to hate themselves? This is call racial tweaking. Have you ever realised that some religions portray their gods as white, blond with blue eyes? Have you ever seen these images of their gods before? The angels surrounding them and also the prophets and saints? Why?
How many people like to look like white? Undergo plastic surgery to get him or herself looks nearer to the Caucasian. Why do you need to hate your own self. The self that ALLAH has created for you, in the perfect form that we deserve? Again, this is not racism. Why? Because I'm a Muslim. How can a Muslim be racism? Islam offers the solution for racism, offers the universal teaching that even Malcolm X finally came to embrace and most importantly Islam breaks the racial boundary between people. How? The fundamental teaching of Islam is the Oneness of God. Oneness means that there is no God but THE GOD. If there is only ONE God, there can only be One Creator, Creator of human being or if you would like to call it human race. So, basically we are all One race, One human race, created by One GOD. Created from Adam (as) and Eve. So, we only have One male ancestor and one female ancestor, same ancestors. Thus, we are all the same.
We are only different by our deeds, the righteous deeds. Why does THE GOD create us into many tribes? It is clear that in this verse, we are supposed to learn to know each other, respect each other. It is by HIS Grace and Mercy that there are so many different tribes and races in this world. Isn't it going to be very bored if there is only one race in the whole world? It will be very dull to study anthropology, sociology, psychology and other human sciences if the result will only be the same due to one type of people in the whole world. We should learn and respect, not learn and cleanse (massacre, genocide).
See for yourself if you don't believe me. During Hajj, the Muslim Pilgrimage. Everyone wears the same 2 pieces of white cloth (no branded designer's outfits), showing equality. In the letter from Mecca by Malcolm X, which is very moving if you read the whole 1 page of it, Malcolm X finally came to the true Islam. This is his experience during Hajj and below is just a short quote:
No doubt that I am carrying the Islam flag, and I sincerely invite you to come to this faith which is not just the Truth but also a way to cure the cancer, the disease of the heart.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
If your kids are being asked to choose between white doll and a black doll, tell me how high is the probability that they will choose a black one? Ok, let's say a white and a brown doll, or a white and a yellow doll? This documentary is a real phenomenon of today's world, like it or not. If you are white, congratulation, everyone likes you but if you are not white, I'm sorry, you will have less popularity, less chance to win internationally established prizes, less loveable by the public unless you behave like the white, if not trying to look like the white. Don't get me wrong, I'm not racist and have no problem with white people, in fact, I have lots of white friends. I'm just pity with those who are not white and think that white is superior while they themselves are inferior. What a sad world.
How many times in the Hollywood films show that white is bad and black is good? How many non-white actors ever won Oscar? How many non-white control the media & news broadcasting? While the population of the non-white is the majority, big majority. Just by watching the above documentary makes you feel sad. A little black girl was asked which doll is bad, she picked the black one and smiled. Which doll is good, she picked the white one and smiled wider. Immediately, she was asked, which one looks like you, she slowly gazed at the black doll, lost her smile and reluctantly picked up the black doll and looked down. She might be no more than 5 years old, already, that is her mind set. Set by who? Certainly it is not her parents. Why do you want to teach people to hate themselves? This is call racial tweaking. Have you ever realised that some religions portray their gods as white, blond with blue eyes? Have you ever seen these images of their gods before? The angels surrounding them and also the prophets and saints? Why?
How many people like to look like white? Undergo plastic surgery to get him or herself looks nearer to the Caucasian. Why do you need to hate your own self. The self that ALLAH has created for you, in the perfect form that we deserve? Again, this is not racism. Why? Because I'm a Muslim. How can a Muslim be racism? Islam offers the solution for racism, offers the universal teaching that even Malcolm X finally came to embrace and most importantly Islam breaks the racial boundary between people. How? The fundamental teaching of Islam is the Oneness of God. Oneness means that there is no God but THE GOD. If there is only ONE God, there can only be One Creator, Creator of human being or if you would like to call it human race. So, basically we are all One race, One human race, created by One GOD. Created from Adam (as) and Eve. So, we only have One male ancestor and one female ancestor, same ancestors. Thus, we are all the same.
"O Mankind, we created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you in to tribes and nations so that you may know each other (not that you despise each other). Verily, the most honoured of you in the sight of ALLAH is he who is most righteous of you."~ The Holy Qur'an, Surah al-Hujurat (Chapter 49: The Private Apartment) Verse 13
Now, that is what Islam teaches, that is what our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) taught us. Through this teaching, many tribes in the Peninsular of Arab who were fighting and killing each other, finally embraced the unity of human kind. Islam offers a balance social order by overlooking the racial differences but at the same time does not wipe away the racial identity. Now, this is the true American Dream, eh? Which emphasised the equal opportunity to prosper in all fields despite the race, social status, native or not.O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefor listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt 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 obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. ALLAH has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all interest due to Abbas Ibn ‘Abd al Muttalib (the Prophet's uncle) shall henceforth be waived. Beware of Satan for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, it is true that you have certain rights in regard 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. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat you women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in Zakat, perform Hajj if you can afford to.
All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a 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 therefor, do injustice to yourselves.
Remember one day you will indeed appear before ALLAH and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone. People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well therefore, O people, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and the Sunnah (Hadith), 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 listened to me directly. Be my witness, O ALLAH, that I have conveyed your message to your people."~ Farewell Sermon delivered by Prophet Muhammad (saw) on 9th Dhulhijjah 10 A.H.
See for yourself if you don't believe me. During Hajj, the Muslim Pilgrimage. Everyone wears the same 2 pieces of white cloth (no branded designer's outfits), showing equality. In the letter from Mecca by Malcolm X, which is very moving if you read the whole 1 page of it, Malcolm X finally came to the true Islam. This is his experience during Hajj and below is just a short quote:
"During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass, and slept on the same rug - while praying to the same God - with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white. And in the words and in the deeds of the white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana. We were truly all the same (brothers) - because their belief in one God had removed the white from their minds, the white from their behavior, and the white from their attitude."He said that, racism in American is an incurable cancer. How true is that! It has been more than 50 years and thing isn't getting any better. Like cancer, killing the person slowly. So people, wake up and realise the indifference between us, it is not the way we should identify ourselves.
No doubt that I am carrying the Islam flag, and I sincerely invite you to come to this faith which is not just the Truth but also a way to cure the cancer, the disease of the heart.
Messenger of ALLAH (saw) said, "The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever".SubhanALLAH, how beautiful the teaching of Islam is. If not for the beauty and benefits of Islam, I won't come this far. Let's make this World a better place to live before we move on to a better one in the Hereafter, which has no doubt in the approaching, soon.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Eid card from my family
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Though they are not Muslims, they are my family, my loves, my life. Even the Prophet (saw) said, if you are you give charity, make your family members the first priority. I love them as how they accept me as I am. Thanks for the card! It's priceless!
Who said once you become a Muslim, you will never have your family again? This is such a big misconception among the community, not just in Malaysia, I think all over the world, especially the non-muslim countries. The misconception in Malaysia is that, once you choose to become a Muslim, you are basically choose to become a Malay, meaning that you are no more your ethnic origin. How rubbish is that! You can't change your ethnic origin, ever. If you are a born Chinese, you are a Chinese forever, likewise if you are a Malay, you are always a Malay. If you can change your ethnic origin, why don't just say, well, I think I'm English or Jew or Arab??? Changing a faith is just changing what you believe in, not changing your identity. I still celebrate Chinese New Year and other Chinese traditional festivals which are not contradict with the teaching of Islam.
A religion doesn't belong to a group of people of the same ethnicity. If it does, it's not a religion, it's a tradition. Judaism for the Jews, Sikhism for the Sikhs, even the name of the religions have already claimed the ethnic groups they belong to, now can we say that it's a religion? Think again. Islam is for those who submit to One God (Muslims, tut tut, not Arabs); Christianity is for those who believe in the Jesus Christ (Christians), Buddhism is for those who believe in the teaching of Gautama Buddha (Buddhists); so, is Judaism for those who think the Jews is the most superior people among the rest of the human kind (well, you call the followers of Judaism as Jews, right?)? Anyway, I have no authority to say anything about it because the manipulation of all these terms can change things easily. If I said, you are an extremist, then tell me, what is extreme and what is not? Where to draw the line? It is a very relative thing. For one person, doing A is extreme while for another person, doing A might be not extreme at all, depends on your world view. Likewise the word anti-semitic, um, excuse me, Arabic is also a semitic language like Hebrew, so can an Arab be anti-semitic??? Can Muslims who learn Arabic, read Arabic and master Arabic be anti-semitic??? Think again. How sad the world is to just listen to one side.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Though they are not Muslims, they are my family, my loves, my life. Even the Prophet (saw) said, if you are you give charity, make your family members the first priority. I love them as how they accept me as I am. Thanks for the card! It's priceless!
Who said once you become a Muslim, you will never have your family again? This is such a big misconception among the community, not just in Malaysia, I think all over the world, especially the non-muslim countries. The misconception in Malaysia is that, once you choose to become a Muslim, you are basically choose to become a Malay, meaning that you are no more your ethnic origin. How rubbish is that! You can't change your ethnic origin, ever. If you are a born Chinese, you are a Chinese forever, likewise if you are a Malay, you are always a Malay. If you can change your ethnic origin, why don't just say, well, I think I'm English or Jew or Arab??? Changing a faith is just changing what you believe in, not changing your identity. I still celebrate Chinese New Year and other Chinese traditional festivals which are not contradict with the teaching of Islam.
A religion doesn't belong to a group of people of the same ethnicity. If it does, it's not a religion, it's a tradition. Judaism for the Jews, Sikhism for the Sikhs, even the name of the religions have already claimed the ethnic groups they belong to, now can we say that it's a religion? Think again. Islam is for those who submit to One God (Muslims, tut tut, not Arabs); Christianity is for those who believe in the Jesus Christ (Christians), Buddhism is for those who believe in the teaching of Gautama Buddha (Buddhists); so, is Judaism for those who think the Jews is the most superior people among the rest of the human kind (well, you call the followers of Judaism as Jews, right?)? Anyway, I have no authority to say anything about it because the manipulation of all these terms can change things easily. If I said, you are an extremist, then tell me, what is extreme and what is not? Where to draw the line? It is a very relative thing. For one person, doing A is extreme while for another person, doing A might be not extreme at all, depends on your world view. Likewise the word anti-semitic, um, excuse me, Arabic is also a semitic language like Hebrew, so can an Arab be anti-semitic??? Can Muslims who learn Arabic, read Arabic and master Arabic be anti-semitic??? Think again. How sad the world is to just listen to one side.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Eid Mubarak!
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Has been a while since my last post cause was too busy with other stuff. Eid Mubarak, taqabbalALLAH.
As the blessed month has gone, the shaytans are released, the real test has arrived. How much have we prepared ourselves for the rest of the 11 months of this year before the arrival of the next Ramadhan, if we lived long to meet Ramadhan again? Are we going to go back into our usual habits like the rest of the months? Can the training of this month help us to become a better person? Don't say to become a better Muslim, but a better human? Insan is the foundation.
All these questions are first for myself to answer, as the fingers that are typing are nearer to the eyes that are reading. Another important thing to contemplate is that, do we have the knowledge that ALLAH has accepted all our deeds and acts of worship throughout this whole month? Don't be arrogance and naive, thinking that, yes I have fasted, prayed & donated, surely ALLAH has seen me and will reward me. Think again! Even the greatest Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) were in great anxiety not knowing if ALLAH has accepted their deeds and forgiven their sins, what about us? That's why they usually greeted each other during the Eid Days with 'taqabbalALLAH' and replied 'minna wa min kum'. The first one means may ALLAH accept from you and the second means from us and from you all. The acceptance of our deeds is far more important than the joy of celebration of the end of the fast. Many of the great scholars of the early Islam prayed to ALLAH to accept their deeds for six months after Eid and prayed for the meeting with Ramadhan six months prior to the next Ramadhan. SubhanALLAH, who are we to not even think about the acceptance? If you ever been to Tarawih Prayer in the mosque, the imam will always read a du'a where everyone is like saying 'amin' loudly. The du'a says 'Oh ALLAH, accept from us (taqabbal), our fast (siyammana), our night prayer (qiyammana), our ruku' (ruku'ana), our sujud (sujuddana), ya Rabbal'alamin.'
Another point to remember is that, the point of Eid Day obviously is for celebration and happiness. However, don't forget also to thank ALLAH for giving us the chance to experience another Ramadhan and gain more rewards and forgiveness, giving us also the strength and endurance to fast and pray. What more can we do to thank ALLAH other than praising HIM through takbir like how the Prophet (saw) taught us to do.
Now, think again, what do we really want to achieve after Ramadhan has gone and before it comes back again?
I leave that with you now and please make du'a for me.
Eid Mubarak.
Wassalam.
Has been a while since my last post cause was too busy with other stuff. Eid Mubarak, taqabbalALLAH.
As the blessed month has gone, the shaytans are released, the real test has arrived. How much have we prepared ourselves for the rest of the 11 months of this year before the arrival of the next Ramadhan, if we lived long to meet Ramadhan again? Are we going to go back into our usual habits like the rest of the months? Can the training of this month help us to become a better person? Don't say to become a better Muslim, but a better human? Insan is the foundation.
All these questions are first for myself to answer, as the fingers that are typing are nearer to the eyes that are reading. Another important thing to contemplate is that, do we have the knowledge that ALLAH has accepted all our deeds and acts of worship throughout this whole month? Don't be arrogance and naive, thinking that, yes I have fasted, prayed & donated, surely ALLAH has seen me and will reward me. Think again! Even the greatest Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) were in great anxiety not knowing if ALLAH has accepted their deeds and forgiven their sins, what about us? That's why they usually greeted each other during the Eid Days with 'taqabbalALLAH' and replied 'minna wa min kum'. The first one means may ALLAH accept from you and the second means from us and from you all. The acceptance of our deeds is far more important than the joy of celebration of the end of the fast. Many of the great scholars of the early Islam prayed to ALLAH to accept their deeds for six months after Eid and prayed for the meeting with Ramadhan six months prior to the next Ramadhan. SubhanALLAH, who are we to not even think about the acceptance? If you ever been to Tarawih Prayer in the mosque, the imam will always read a du'a where everyone is like saying 'amin' loudly. The du'a says 'Oh ALLAH, accept from us (taqabbal), our fast (siyammana), our night prayer (qiyammana), our ruku' (ruku'ana), our sujud (sujuddana), ya Rabbal'alamin.'
Another point to remember is that, the point of Eid Day obviously is for celebration and happiness. However, don't forget also to thank ALLAH for giving us the chance to experience another Ramadhan and gain more rewards and forgiveness, giving us also the strength and endurance to fast and pray. What more can we do to thank ALLAH other than praising HIM through takbir like how the Prophet (saw) taught us to do.
Now, think again, what do we really want to achieve after Ramadhan has gone and before it comes back again?
I leave that with you now and please make du'a for me.
Eid Mubarak.
Wassalam.
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