Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I'm back in gloomy Cambridge again. Why gloomy? Cause Athens was sooooooooo sunny that there's no where to hide from the sun and there's no reason too to hide from it after living in the rainy UK for a long while. Anyway alhamdulillah got back safely after a horrible journey back.
We were scheduled to take off from Athens at 9.30pm (Greece time, or 7.30pm UK time) but the flight was delayed to 9.45pm. So we waited at the boarding terminal until 9.45pm but still we were not called to board. It was not until 10.15pm that we got on the plane and took off around 10.30pm. By then, most of us became friends already. It's always in this kind of difficult situation that people on the same boat unite.
After 3 hours and 20 minutes (as the captain announced), we landed at Gatwick airport. By the time we got to the luggage claiming area, it was 12.10am (UK time)! I was worried that I will have to take a taxi to go to my friend's house in London to stay the night as there is no train or coach from Gatwick to Cambridge at that hour!
We waited for another half an hour before the conveyance belt started to move. Everyone was mourning about the delay of the flight and then the luggage. By the time I got to Gatwick train station, it was almost 1am. There was no more tube service after 1am. My only option is the night bus or taxi. I got on the last Gatwick Express train at 1.35am. So, I arrived at the Victoria station at 2.10am. I was thinking how much do I need to pay to get a taxi, I mean the registered black cab which is the only safe option for me alone in London at that hour. I talked to a train conductor about my worry if I didn't the night bus and have to take a taxi, he assured me that there must be a night bus still.
Alhamdulillah, when I got out of the station, while the officers were chasing everyone out and preparing to close the gate, I saw the N52 was just right in front of me. I got on with my Oyster Card (actually, it's my friend's who allowed me to stay at hers) and was half-slept throughout the whole journey while keeping alert to the announcement on the bus. It's amazing that now the buses in London have this announcement system like the tube. So I don't have to look out to decide when to push the bell.
While on the bus, there was a group of black teenage boys. I don't know if they are muslims or not but they seriously were damaging the image of muslims. They covered themselves with hats and hoodies, only their eyes were visible. They were shouting in the bus in some kind of Arabic dialect mixed with English. And cried that they will bomb the bus while playing beeping sound as if a bomb is going to explode. Laughing and shouting that they want to kill the passengers, like drunk people. Such a disgrace to the muslims. As I was the only hijabi on the bus, I pretended to be sleeping (I was half-slept anyway) and push the bell when I heard my destination was near, quickly get off the bus.
To my shock, these boys stopped the same place as me. I dare not look back but just keep on walking with my heavy bags. After a distance from the bus stop, I turned back and saw that they actually walked in different direction of me from the bus stop. Alhamdulillah, I got to my friend's house at 3am. She has been waiting for me since before midnight. Poor girl, may ALLAH reward her a lot. I prayed fajr and went straight to sleep until 11.00am.
After meeting a friend in the afternoon, I went back to Cambridge in the evening. Alhamdulillah, I'm home now but since I've slept this morning, I can't sleep now, even I've tried. So, I decided to write a post of the journey back home though I have not said anything about my journey to and at Athens. I hope I have the time to do so, if not, please remind me as I have taken more than 250 photos of the historical sites of Athens.
There are a lot of lessons to learn from my trip this time. Just the journey back, patience is the main lesson to draw from it. Such calamity is also a chance to know people more and honestly I nearly cried during this journey back, not because of the difficulty but because of some little things that people did that really touched me.
The fact that even if my friend had forgotten about my arrival and would stay a night at hers, she still tried her best to ensure that I have the access to her room by the help of her housemates. The fact that, in such a situation, there is still someone out there praying and worrying for me, even until 3am. I felt really bad for keeping her waiting for me. The fact that there is a sister who is ready to come down to Victoria station to pick me up in case I missed the bus. One lady from among the passengers who also travelled by train bid farewell with me and asked me to take care of myself really touched me. She sounded really worried about me and we don't even know each other's names. Before the bus moved, the train conductor came near the bus window where I sat and gave me a smile and thumb-up, relieved that I got on the bus that I wanted.
There are so many people that I want to thank but I couldn't. May ALLAH reward them abundantly. There are so much that I want to say about this trip but for I have to go back to work now. Have to write another paper for another conference in Paris in July, inshaALLAH.
Wassalam.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Travelling
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I like travelling, seeing new places and meeting people, learning knowledge that I will never ever have the chance to learn except by experiencing it myself. Probably that is the only reason that I like about travelling, other than that I don't really like travelling.
First, I always get travel sick, especially on a stuffy bus. Worse, if it is a bus that stops ever so often or travelling on journey that requires constant braking, like lots of traffic lights, curvy path, etc. That's why I always prefer train though it's a bit more expensive but at least I can rest properly on the journey or have the pleasure to enjoy the scenery.
Second, to arrange the transportation and accommodation. It is easy and fun if I have the budget to do it. But when it is a low-cost trip, everything has to be done only after extensive research to find the cheapest and the best, and worst of all to book or buy in advance so that a low price is secured. This is the one thing that takes away my excitement to travel. If I am not sure if I want to go at that time, if I need that accommodation, if I have better choice to stay at a friend's rather than B & B, if... it is very difficult to decide the booking & purchasing. I hate the refund policy. It is like a kind of punishment to potential customers, especially the poor customer like me.
This issue comes into my post today though I am in a midst of stress completing my thesis and not sleeping the whole night because I am sorting out a few trips. I want to let you know that I am off to Athens this Sunday until Thursday for a conference. Fortunately this one is partially sponsored, so it's not a big stress to make the arrangement.
I am also organising the accommodation for a trip to the Lake District in June. It was such a hassle and I have been speaking to quite a few number of caravan parks to check the availability and to get the cheapest rate. Alhamdulillah, it was sorted after 1 month but now we are going to think about actually preparing food there, activities and transportation. I'm glad that I am not the person in-charged of these, only helping.
Next, in July, I am going to another conference in Paris. This time, I have not secured any funding from anyone cause I have exceeded the limit of funding that my faculty has ruled out for each PhD student. Also, I am not sure if my college will be happy to give me any more funding cause I have just been granted one last term to Athens, but I applied anyway, who knows, if ALLAH willed. So, this trip is a bit more head-ached than the Athens. Eurostar is so expensive inthe weekend and cheap ticket in the weekdays is only available in crazy hours like before 7am or after 7pm from London, not Cambridge, mind you. I have no funding to go to this conference in Paris, so to book a B & B is too much for me. There's no way that I can save on transportation but there is way to save on accommodation. Though I am tempted to stay at a friend's friend's friend's house to save money but since I have never met the sister and already I am going to stay at hers for FREE, I take this as very rude though I know that the sister won't mind the trouble but still I am very reluctant to be the reason for people to feel uncomfortable or unhappy, if I misbehaved while in their hospitality.
After speaking to my supervisor, he is happy that I should submit my thesis in August. So I am not going to do anymore travelling like this until September where there will be another conferece in Edinburgh. This time, the organiser is going to give grant for a few selected students. I pray that I will get it. If so, I will not have to worry much about money factor. Moreover, the accommodation of this conference is arranged by the organiser, so I don't suffer the head-ache in arranging this trip.
See, I like travelling if I can be sure that I will have a pleasant journey to and back, as well as MONEY to make my bookings. Many ask me if I am excited going to Athens this Sunday. My answer is no because I am loaded with the pressure to complete chapter 4 of my thesis and all these troubles to arrange the logistic of my trips in low budget that I completely lost the 'appetite' of travelling. Anyway, I pray that everything will go well, that I won't get lost in Athens when I can't even understand a word of Greek! Also, my presentation will go well and paper will be accepted for publication. And finally, I will at least enjoy the trip.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
I like travelling, seeing new places and meeting people, learning knowledge that I will never ever have the chance to learn except by experiencing it myself. Probably that is the only reason that I like about travelling, other than that I don't really like travelling.
First, I always get travel sick, especially on a stuffy bus. Worse, if it is a bus that stops ever so often or travelling on journey that requires constant braking, like lots of traffic lights, curvy path, etc. That's why I always prefer train though it's a bit more expensive but at least I can rest properly on the journey or have the pleasure to enjoy the scenery.
Second, to arrange the transportation and accommodation. It is easy and fun if I have the budget to do it. But when it is a low-cost trip, everything has to be done only after extensive research to find the cheapest and the best, and worst of all to book or buy in advance so that a low price is secured. This is the one thing that takes away my excitement to travel. If I am not sure if I want to go at that time, if I need that accommodation, if I have better choice to stay at a friend's rather than B & B, if... it is very difficult to decide the booking & purchasing. I hate the refund policy. It is like a kind of punishment to potential customers, especially the poor customer like me.
This issue comes into my post today though I am in a midst of stress completing my thesis and not sleeping the whole night because I am sorting out a few trips. I want to let you know that I am off to Athens this Sunday until Thursday for a conference. Fortunately this one is partially sponsored, so it's not a big stress to make the arrangement.
I am also organising the accommodation for a trip to the Lake District in June. It was such a hassle and I have been speaking to quite a few number of caravan parks to check the availability and to get the cheapest rate. Alhamdulillah, it was sorted after 1 month but now we are going to think about actually preparing food there, activities and transportation. I'm glad that I am not the person in-charged of these, only helping.
Next, in July, I am going to another conference in Paris. This time, I have not secured any funding from anyone cause I have exceeded the limit of funding that my faculty has ruled out for each PhD student. Also, I am not sure if my college will be happy to give me any more funding cause I have just been granted one last term to Athens, but I applied anyway, who knows, if ALLAH willed. So, this trip is a bit more head-ached than the Athens. Eurostar is so expensive inthe weekend and cheap ticket in the weekdays is only available in crazy hours like before 7am or after 7pm from London, not Cambridge, mind you. I have no funding to go to this conference in Paris, so to book a B & B is too much for me. There's no way that I can save on transportation but there is way to save on accommodation. Though I am tempted to stay at a friend's friend's friend's house to save money but since I have never met the sister and already I am going to stay at hers for FREE, I take this as very rude though I know that the sister won't mind the trouble but still I am very reluctant to be the reason for people to feel uncomfortable or unhappy, if I misbehaved while in their hospitality.
After speaking to my supervisor, he is happy that I should submit my thesis in August. So I am not going to do anymore travelling like this until September where there will be another conferece in Edinburgh. This time, the organiser is going to give grant for a few selected students. I pray that I will get it. If so, I will not have to worry much about money factor. Moreover, the accommodation of this conference is arranged by the organiser, so I don't suffer the head-ache in arranging this trip.
See, I like travelling if I can be sure that I will have a pleasant journey to and back, as well as MONEY to make my bookings. Many ask me if I am excited going to Athens this Sunday. My answer is no because I am loaded with the pressure to complete chapter 4 of my thesis and all these troubles to arrange the logistic of my trips in low budget that I completely lost the 'appetite' of travelling. Anyway, I pray that everything will go well, that I won't get lost in Athens when I can't even understand a word of Greek! Also, my presentation will go well and paper will be accepted for publication. And finally, I will at least enjoy the trip.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Disgusting
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Yesterday, from my room's window, I saw a couple kissing outside a shop right opposite my room. I thought it is just a normal lovely couple at the first glance. Then I gave a second glance cause I felt that they don't look like a boy and a girl, instead 2 girls. My feeling was right when I took a second look at them. I don't usually do this, believe it or not, first glance is excusable. They are two teenage girls, probably in their Year 9/10 secondary school. Both have pony tail, that's what made me gave a second look.
This happened on Mill Road at afternoon time. There were a lot of people walking up and down the street. I think most of them feel disgusted like me when they saw this couple kissing publicly. There was a group of teenage boys walked pass. They were like staring at the couple for a long while. I don't know if the couple took the opportunity to do more or just ignored those boys, but it made them stayed longer in that position. I feel even disgusted now to write this but I think it is a great lesson for us to learn.
I am not a homophobic. I don't go and kill homosexuals but I do condemn homosexuality. It is certainly against my religion and I can say it is against humanity no matter how people want to argue that it is basic human right.
First, against religions. There has been lesson that ALLAH gave to the People of Lut for their transgression in homosexuality. The God has created humans in two different sexes for reasons. If man-man and woman-woman can procreate, why bother create man-woman for procreation? If marriage is just to share love, it is enough to share love with your family, but if marriage is for procreation, then find a partner that can physically do so!
Second, against humanity. If everyone chooses same sex partner, there will be no next generation. Let's say human extincts! I suppose people can just go to labs to have kids but how many percent of success? How to teach your children that this is your father and that is your father too. It's against the nature because even animals which do not have a high cognitive level do know that they need opposite sex partners, what about us humans who can think and act rationally when we want to act rationally.
People will say that it is the sign of the Last Day. I suppose they are right about it but we don't give in to it instead we should keep on educate people to the right path. No, I am teaching them to be homophobia but I want them to understand that it is not the purpose of ALLAH to make man-man or woman-woman in this kind of relationship, not for marriage, definitely.
Anyway, this is just my thought. You have your right to think what is good and please do not forget that I have my right too to think what is good and morale. If you don't understand what I am saying, read Surah al-Kafirun and apply it to daily life, human right and paradigm, not just to religions.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Yesterday, from my room's window, I saw a couple kissing outside a shop right opposite my room. I thought it is just a normal lovely couple at the first glance. Then I gave a second glance cause I felt that they don't look like a boy and a girl, instead 2 girls. My feeling was right when I took a second look at them. I don't usually do this, believe it or not, first glance is excusable. They are two teenage girls, probably in their Year 9/10 secondary school. Both have pony tail, that's what made me gave a second look.
This happened on Mill Road at afternoon time. There were a lot of people walking up and down the street. I think most of them feel disgusted like me when they saw this couple kissing publicly. There was a group of teenage boys walked pass. They were like staring at the couple for a long while. I don't know if the couple took the opportunity to do more or just ignored those boys, but it made them stayed longer in that position. I feel even disgusted now to write this but I think it is a great lesson for us to learn.
I am not a homophobic. I don't go and kill homosexuals but I do condemn homosexuality. It is certainly against my religion and I can say it is against humanity no matter how people want to argue that it is basic human right.
First, against religions. There has been lesson that ALLAH gave to the People of Lut for their transgression in homosexuality. The God has created humans in two different sexes for reasons. If man-man and woman-woman can procreate, why bother create man-woman for procreation? If marriage is just to share love, it is enough to share love with your family, but if marriage is for procreation, then find a partner that can physically do so!
Second, against humanity. If everyone chooses same sex partner, there will be no next generation. Let's say human extincts! I suppose people can just go to labs to have kids but how many percent of success? How to teach your children that this is your father and that is your father too. It's against the nature because even animals which do not have a high cognitive level do know that they need opposite sex partners, what about us humans who can think and act rationally when we want to act rationally.
People will say that it is the sign of the Last Day. I suppose they are right about it but we don't give in to it instead we should keep on educate people to the right path. No, I am teaching them to be homophobia but I want them to understand that it is not the purpose of ALLAH to make man-man or woman-woman in this kind of relationship, not for marriage, definitely.
Anyway, this is just my thought. You have your right to think what is good and please do not forget that I have my right too to think what is good and morale. If you don't understand what I am saying, read Surah al-Kafirun and apply it to daily life, human right and paradigm, not just to religions.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Materialism vs. Spirituality
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I went to the last ISOC circle for this term before May Week. ISOC invited a UK well known islamic scholar who is also one of the teachers in Sunnipath that answers fiqh questions - Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari. The talk as the title of this post was specially picked by himself as a reminder for us. Between the extreme of materialism and spirituality, he advised us to take the middle-path as many sound scholars will tell us to do so.
One point that I really like about his talk is that when we said about different madhhab and groups of muslims, can we really say that others are wrong and we are right, others are munafiq and kafir? He said, ultimately, all the muslims, in any group, strive to please ALLAH and believe that their way is the best way to reach the destination. No matter how a person stands and pray (salah), it is not important, the important thing is that the person prays 5 times a day. Rather than criticising those who pray differently from us (different ways of putting the hands, saying 'bismillah' or not in Fatihah, etc.), it is better for us to concentrate our effort on those who don't pray.
Come back to the theme of the talk. He gave 3 really good examples of how we see the dunya and the akhirah. He used water, a car and a toilet to describe the dunya.
1. Water
To reach our destination (to ALLAH), where a boat is the only means, we must travel by water. The boat is the heart while the water is the dunya and our destination is ALLAH and akhirah. To get there safely, we must go through the water and make sure that the water that enter the boat doesn't exceed the limit hence sunk the boat. We can possess worldly stuff but do not let the heart loves them, even if we love some of them, do not let them take over our hearts. Like it or not, we must get across the dunya to reach akhirah, so row safely by not letting the water fills the boat until it sinks.
2. A car
Nowadays car is a common means of transport. To reach a destination, we drive. When we are driving, our focus is on the road that will bring us to the destination. While driving, we may also do other stuff like thinking, talking, eating, listening, etc. In this world, we are constantly driving, non-stop to reach the akhirah. We focus on akhirah but at the same time we are allowed to do other worldly stuff if we wished but make sure that we don't loose the focus. If we loose our focus, we will perish in a car accident.
3. A toilet
He said this is an extreme example. A toilet is a must in a house, like it or not. If we see the toilet as the dunya, we know that it is necessary to go into it at least once a day - only when we need it. We don't obsess with the toilet, we don't think about it all day long, our hearts are not attached to it. Yes, that's should be our attitude towards the dunya. It is necessary to reach akhirah but we don't feel attach to it cause that is not our final aim.
Having said all about these, of course there is no way that a muslim should seclude him/herself into the jungle, wearing the same 2 pieces of cloth and meditating all day long. It is also not right to be materialistic that only wealth is the most important thing in life thus making wealth/money an idol that a muslim worships. Always, always come back to the middle way because clearly ALLAH said in the Qur'an that the muslims are the middle-way nation.
Hope you benefit from his talk too. May ALLAH help us to reach our destination to HIM safely.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
I went to the last ISOC circle for this term before May Week. ISOC invited a UK well known islamic scholar who is also one of the teachers in Sunnipath that answers fiqh questions - Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari. The talk as the title of this post was specially picked by himself as a reminder for us. Between the extreme of materialism and spirituality, he advised us to take the middle-path as many sound scholars will tell us to do so.
One point that I really like about his talk is that when we said about different madhhab and groups of muslims, can we really say that others are wrong and we are right, others are munafiq and kafir? He said, ultimately, all the muslims, in any group, strive to please ALLAH and believe that their way is the best way to reach the destination. No matter how a person stands and pray (salah), it is not important, the important thing is that the person prays 5 times a day. Rather than criticising those who pray differently from us (different ways of putting the hands, saying 'bismillah' or not in Fatihah, etc.), it is better for us to concentrate our effort on those who don't pray.
Come back to the theme of the talk. He gave 3 really good examples of how we see the dunya and the akhirah. He used water, a car and a toilet to describe the dunya.
1. Water
To reach our destination (to ALLAH), where a boat is the only means, we must travel by water. The boat is the heart while the water is the dunya and our destination is ALLAH and akhirah. To get there safely, we must go through the water and make sure that the water that enter the boat doesn't exceed the limit hence sunk the boat. We can possess worldly stuff but do not let the heart loves them, even if we love some of them, do not let them take over our hearts. Like it or not, we must get across the dunya to reach akhirah, so row safely by not letting the water fills the boat until it sinks.
2. A car
Nowadays car is a common means of transport. To reach a destination, we drive. When we are driving, our focus is on the road that will bring us to the destination. While driving, we may also do other stuff like thinking, talking, eating, listening, etc. In this world, we are constantly driving, non-stop to reach the akhirah. We focus on akhirah but at the same time we are allowed to do other worldly stuff if we wished but make sure that we don't loose the focus. If we loose our focus, we will perish in a car accident.
3. A toilet
He said this is an extreme example. A toilet is a must in a house, like it or not. If we see the toilet as the dunya, we know that it is necessary to go into it at least once a day - only when we need it. We don't obsess with the toilet, we don't think about it all day long, our hearts are not attached to it. Yes, that's should be our attitude towards the dunya. It is necessary to reach akhirah but we don't feel attach to it cause that is not our final aim.
Having said all about these, of course there is no way that a muslim should seclude him/herself into the jungle, wearing the same 2 pieces of cloth and meditating all day long. It is also not right to be materialistic that only wealth is the most important thing in life thus making wealth/money an idol that a muslim worships. Always, always come back to the middle way because clearly ALLAH said in the Qur'an that the muslims are the middle-way nation.
Hope you benefit from his talk too. May ALLAH help us to reach our destination to HIM safely.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Floppy A diskette
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Today I was looking all over the faculty to get a floppy A diskette - a type of computer information storage that is nearly extinct. I needed it to make a boot disc to install Windows operating system in my new Mac so that I can have 2 platforms in 1 laptop. Alhamdulillah, the operation was a success after so many trials since I bought this new laptop about a month ago.
It is so amazing how technology moves so fast that things become out-of-date, either quickly or gradually. I remember that diskette is the easiest means for us to store information from computer when I was at university (nearly 10 years ago). We used to use WinZip all the times to store a file that is more than 1.44MB - seriously 1.44MB! How did we survive at that time? And before diskette, we have that type thin black plastic floppy which measures 8 inches and stores 1.2MB, joke!
Later, when I discovered CD-R which can store 700MB (depends on the CD-R), I bought a CD-writer and assembled it to my PC, that was way before many used CD-R. I was thrill at that discovery and that breakthrough really helped my study a lot when we have to do multimedia programmes as assignments. When CD-R and CD-RW was no more something uncommon, I bought a laptop which can burn DVDs - that gives me at least 4.0GB of storage (again, depends of the DVD-R)! Another breakthrough. Now, we have blu-ray and God knows what's next. Today, none of my laptops have even a floppy drive to read a floppy disc. The new Mac Air Book doesn't even have a CD/DVD-ROM yet can read CD/DVD remotely from another computer/laptop!
Of course, we have stuff like external USB-based storage, i.e., memory stick/pen drive, Zipdrive and also memory cards (many types of them) and now SDHC that can store up to 12GB in one small memory card. Conventional hard disc drive (HD-RAM) spins, that's why we need to defrag it once in a while. Now there is this new Solid State Drive where there is no more spinning hard drive but a file is located in the hard drive directly!
Looking back into today's incident to find a diskette to make a boot disc, it really reminds me of how fast time flies and how easily we can get behind if we don't catch up. I'm not just talking about technology but knowledge. If we don't learn today, there will be more stuff to learn tomorrow and we will never be able to catch up unless we have that ability to pick up things fast and have good teacher that can give us a crash course from scratch.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Today I was looking all over the faculty to get a floppy A diskette - a type of computer information storage that is nearly extinct. I needed it to make a boot disc to install Windows operating system in my new Mac so that I can have 2 platforms in 1 laptop. Alhamdulillah, the operation was a success after so many trials since I bought this new laptop about a month ago.
It is so amazing how technology moves so fast that things become out-of-date, either quickly or gradually. I remember that diskette is the easiest means for us to store information from computer when I was at university (nearly 10 years ago). We used to use WinZip all the times to store a file that is more than 1.44MB - seriously 1.44MB! How did we survive at that time? And before diskette, we have that type thin black plastic floppy which measures 8 inches and stores 1.2MB, joke!
Later, when I discovered CD-R which can store 700MB (depends on the CD-R), I bought a CD-writer and assembled it to my PC, that was way before many used CD-R. I was thrill at that discovery and that breakthrough really helped my study a lot when we have to do multimedia programmes as assignments. When CD-R and CD-RW was no more something uncommon, I bought a laptop which can burn DVDs - that gives me at least 4.0GB of storage (again, depends of the DVD-R)! Another breakthrough. Now, we have blu-ray and God knows what's next. Today, none of my laptops have even a floppy drive to read a floppy disc. The new Mac Air Book doesn't even have a CD/DVD-ROM yet can read CD/DVD remotely from another computer/laptop!
Of course, we have stuff like external USB-based storage, i.e., memory stick/pen drive, Zipdrive and also memory cards (many types of them) and now SDHC that can store up to 12GB in one small memory card. Conventional hard disc drive (HD-RAM) spins, that's why we need to defrag it once in a while. Now there is this new Solid State Drive where there is no more spinning hard drive but a file is located in the hard drive directly!
Looking back into today's incident to find a diskette to make a boot disc, it really reminds me of how fast time flies and how easily we can get behind if we don't catch up. I'm not just talking about technology but knowledge. If we don't learn today, there will be more stuff to learn tomorrow and we will never be able to catch up unless we have that ability to pick up things fast and have good teacher that can give us a crash course from scratch.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Generosity needs courage
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
This is a really refreshing talk to listen and reflect on:
If you have the 21 minutes, do try to listen to it.
Wassalam.
This is a really refreshing talk to listen and reflect on:
If you have the 21 minutes, do try to listen to it.
Wassalam.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Miscarriage
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
No, not me, it's my friend, another long-lost friend which I have the chance to be reunited by ALLAH from an internet social network that has many negative publicities - facebook. Ok, that's not the point, the point is I feel sad for what has happened to my friend. Frankly, we have not met for more than 10 years. She was my secondary school classmates and recently we got in-touch with each other again, in a very miraculous way but obviously it's pre-planned by ALLAH, the All Mighty.
She is a Christian who follows local church and she has just married recently, which again I missed, argh! I am very happy for her because from how she described, he seems like a Mr. Nice Guy, pious Christian, professional medical doctor, vegetarian, mature and stable. When I got reunited with her a few weeks ago, I phoned her and we had a long chat (using phone card to call Malaysia isn't that expensive, less than 2p per min). She is of course shocked at my choice of faith and thought that I did so for a random muslim boyfriend, which I never had one. The attempt to get back the 10-year that we have missed obviously is not going to be done in a long chat. However, from the conversation I can feel how much I have missed her and she is very interested about my life.
Today, I received an email from her telling me the bad news. I don't know why me. We have not met for 10 years, we were not the best friends at school, we have different faith, I never have the experience of pregnancy or miscarriage, I am in UK and she is back in Malaysia, what can I do from here? Of course dua and words of support. I can only tell her to take care of herself and have faith in The God's plan.
In my heart, I really want to invite everyone to my faith but if this is not likely to happen, I wish that everyone can at least believe in God, believe in the Day of Judgement and do good deeds. As ALLAH said in the Qur'an that:
Of course I don't know the real interpretation of this verse but if this is the minimum requirement from ALLAH to all the humans, even others choose not to be muslims, at least they should have faith and do good deeds because this makes a human humane. Many times Shaykh Hamza Yusuf talked about before become a muslim, be a human first. A muslim is humane.
Having faith in ALLAH's words, I have been trying to talk about God with many other Christian friends. This is not the first case but I sure hope that she also has the same understanding of The God's will and Master Plan. This miscarriage happens for good reasons that we will never be able to understand until later, if we reflect on it. That's why again, ALLAH said that HE will guide those who reflect or basically use the brain to think!
I remember once talking to a Christian (who only goes to church once a year type of Catholic). She is my coursemate from Kenya. After the recent election, there was a sort of civil war among the tribes people in Kenya. She was very worried and sad about this whole thing especially when her families are all in Kenya and are the tribe same as the elected President. She couldn't go home because she needs to finish her PhD and she cannot do anything even if she went home and obviously not here too. I just keep on telling her to have faith, do good deeds and pray for their safety. She seems like suddenly woke up from a long sleep and forgot that all this while she has this very powerful weapon - prayer. Now, she is calmer and happier, alhamdulillah.
Of course, I wish that my friends can see and accept the beauty of Islam. I pray that ALLAH will guide them all and make me a good preacher which follows the footstep of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) in his way of preaching Islam to others.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
No, not me, it's my friend, another long-lost friend which I have the chance to be reunited by ALLAH from an internet social network that has many negative publicities - facebook. Ok, that's not the point, the point is I feel sad for what has happened to my friend. Frankly, we have not met for more than 10 years. She was my secondary school classmates and recently we got in-touch with each other again, in a very miraculous way but obviously it's pre-planned by ALLAH, the All Mighty.
She is a Christian who follows local church and she has just married recently, which again I missed, argh! I am very happy for her because from how she described, he seems like a Mr. Nice Guy, pious Christian, professional medical doctor, vegetarian, mature and stable. When I got reunited with her a few weeks ago, I phoned her and we had a long chat (using phone card to call Malaysia isn't that expensive, less than 2p per min). She is of course shocked at my choice of faith and thought that I did so for a random muslim boyfriend, which I never had one. The attempt to get back the 10-year that we have missed obviously is not going to be done in a long chat. However, from the conversation I can feel how much I have missed her and she is very interested about my life.
Today, I received an email from her telling me the bad news. I don't know why me. We have not met for 10 years, we were not the best friends at school, we have different faith, I never have the experience of pregnancy or miscarriage, I am in UK and she is back in Malaysia, what can I do from here? Of course dua and words of support. I can only tell her to take care of herself and have faith in The God's plan.
In my heart, I really want to invite everyone to my faith but if this is not likely to happen, I wish that everyone can at least believe in God, believe in the Day of Judgement and do good deeds. As ALLAH said in the Qur'an that:
Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in ALLAH and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.~ The Holy Qur'an, Surah al-Baqarah (Chapter 2, The Cow) verse 62
Having faith in ALLAH's words, I have been trying to talk about God with many other Christian friends. This is not the first case but I sure hope that she also has the same understanding of The God's will and Master Plan. This miscarriage happens for good reasons that we will never be able to understand until later, if we reflect on it. That's why again, ALLAH said that HE will guide those who reflect or basically use the brain to think!
I remember once talking to a Christian (who only goes to church once a year type of Catholic). She is my coursemate from Kenya. After the recent election, there was a sort of civil war among the tribes people in Kenya. She was very worried and sad about this whole thing especially when her families are all in Kenya and are the tribe same as the elected President. She couldn't go home because she needs to finish her PhD and she cannot do anything even if she went home and obviously not here too. I just keep on telling her to have faith, do good deeds and pray for their safety. She seems like suddenly woke up from a long sleep and forgot that all this while she has this very powerful weapon - prayer. Now, she is calmer and happier, alhamdulillah.
Of course, I wish that my friends can see and accept the beauty of Islam. I pray that ALLAH will guide them all and make me a good preacher which follows the footstep of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) in his way of preaching Islam to others.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Monday, May 05, 2008
A Pakistani wedding
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
This is the first time I attended a Pakistani wedding and have the opportunity to witness almost everything because I was with the bride all the time on that day. I don't know how this happened. Basically, I should be at home doing my work but this Rihla sister who I only met during Rihla and become so close yet hardly see each other after the Rihla begged me to attend her wedding. There are a few reasons. Firstly, she has been talking to me regarding the marriage proposal process since a few months ago and probably she found support from me (I don't really give any advice, maybe cause I got some spare free minutes to give her an ear to listen to her dilemma). Secondly, she needs a photographer (of course I'm not a good one, just cause I have a nice second-hand D-SLR, it takes better pictures than conventional digital cameras) and she doesn't want any of her friends and relatives to take and keep any of her pictures. Not that she doesn't trust any one of them, but if she let one take pictures, the rest will want to. So she banned camera at her wedding. Also, it's because her husband's family made the same request. You see, her husband family is 'hard-core' muslims which another Rihla sister said, it's the next level!
Ok, enough of reasons why I went all the way to Birmingham last saturday at 5.51am to attend the wedding and came back at the evening, the same day. I even took a day off the mosque which I usually won't do. This sister is very precious to me, I don't know how to explain it but I know that she is mashaALLAH a very pious sister who puts ALLAH and Prophet Muhammad (saw) above anything, even herself. Probably the love to ALLAH and HIS Messenger (saw) is the only reason that brings us together.
I don't know anyone there and I went there alone. She made me feel very comfortable with all the strangers around by making sure that I am always next to her. When I arrived at her house, a beautician was doing make-up for her (she is a very simple sister and this is the first time she has this much make-up on her) and she let no one into her room except me, and her sisters who came in once in a while to take stuff cause that's their room. She has lots of cousins, I mean a lot, countless because many of her family members marry among cousins. I remember while sitting at the long table eating, I was surrounded by her cousins. And whenever I introduced myself and then asked them who they are, they said they are her cousins, cousins, and cousins, and occasionally aunties who happen to be the cousins of her parents! This is part of Pakistani culture, not that they like to marry to close relatives but you can only give your daughters out to a family that you trust and know well. For my friend to marry someone out of her own tribe, it took a long process and that's why she always talked to me whenever thing went wrong before both their parents agreed upon this marriage.
I took some pictures of her and when the groom arrived, we peeked from the window and she asked me to take some pictures of the men waiting out there. Just to let you know that her family and her husband's family are very islamic, but this does not apply to all their relatives. She lives on a street where most of her relatives live. So her next door is her uncle's house. What they did is that they made her house into a sisters house and next door a brothers house. All the ladies including guests and kids who stick to their mums sat in her house while the men next door. So, when the groom arrived, the men greeted him and brought all the male guests to next door while the ladies into her house. This is the same at the reception hall. Proper segregation.
Next, her father, uncle and other 2 witnesses came up to her room to ask for her consent to get married. Later, all the men went to a mosque to make the akad nikah while she phoned her brother at the mosque to get a live telecast of the declaration and khutbah. And she is officially married! Then, we covered her in jilbab and duppata to get into her father's car and headed to the reception hall. She sat in the ladies section with all her beautiful lengga and jewelry while friends and relatives came to greet her. I have no idea what happened in the men section but in the ladies section, we have more than 600 guests. How do I know? Well, there were 5 long tables that can sit in 24 people each. When guests come, whoever got the seat will be served with starters, then main courses, then dessert. When the dessert came, those who sat around the hall will stand near the tables and waited for empty chairs while the tables were being cleaned. This process happened 5 times.
When it's time to close the hall (the reception was 12 noon to 4pm), we covered the bride again and got on the car and headed home. Then it's what the Pakistani call the Rukhsati. This is when the bride bids farewell to the family and sends off with the husband's family. She has already packed all her stuff and she wore her hijab properly, covered with her big jilbab and another white cloth over her face so that the men won't be able to see her beautiful face with all the make-ups and jewelry. We loaded her husband's car with her 3 suitcases while she went down to meet all her families and friends. This is the saddest moment and everyone cried. At this moment, I stopped following her because there were too many people surrounding her. I only have the chance to bid farewell to her when she was already in the car.
This is Pakistani culture cause if you can imagine in the old days in Pakistan, when it is difficult to travel and lodge, the husband family can only come for the wedding and bring the bride home. There's no place for big families to stay and the journey is difficult to make. So, the easiest way is to bring the bride home with all her belongings as soon as the wedding is over. This is the first time I witnessed such a wedding and honestly, I didn't get the chance to even meet the husband because of the segregation and how strict they are to keep everything as halal as possible. The next day will be the walimah for the husband's side but I won't go cause this is enough for me and I have class at the mosque the next day.
Now that she is married and gone to live with her in-laws, I hope she will be able to adjust herself with the new environment. I can't imagine this happens to me because you basically hardly know your in-laws yet on the day after your wedding, you pack all your stuff and move to this 'strangers' house and start your new life there! I pray that everything will be good for her and may ALLAH bestow her and her family with happiness and blessing, and may ALLAH keep this relationship until they go to the Paradise together with lots of their offspring. Amin.
Wassalam.
This is the first time I attended a Pakistani wedding and have the opportunity to witness almost everything because I was with the bride all the time on that day. I don't know how this happened. Basically, I should be at home doing my work but this Rihla sister who I only met during Rihla and become so close yet hardly see each other after the Rihla begged me to attend her wedding. There are a few reasons. Firstly, she has been talking to me regarding the marriage proposal process since a few months ago and probably she found support from me (I don't really give any advice, maybe cause I got some spare free minutes to give her an ear to listen to her dilemma). Secondly, she needs a photographer (of course I'm not a good one, just cause I have a nice second-hand D-SLR, it takes better pictures than conventional digital cameras) and she doesn't want any of her friends and relatives to take and keep any of her pictures. Not that she doesn't trust any one of them, but if she let one take pictures, the rest will want to. So she banned camera at her wedding. Also, it's because her husband's family made the same request. You see, her husband family is 'hard-core' muslims which another Rihla sister said, it's the next level!
Ok, enough of reasons why I went all the way to Birmingham last saturday at 5.51am to attend the wedding and came back at the evening, the same day. I even took a day off the mosque which I usually won't do. This sister is very precious to me, I don't know how to explain it but I know that she is mashaALLAH a very pious sister who puts ALLAH and Prophet Muhammad (saw) above anything, even herself. Probably the love to ALLAH and HIS Messenger (saw) is the only reason that brings us together.
I don't know anyone there and I went there alone. She made me feel very comfortable with all the strangers around by making sure that I am always next to her. When I arrived at her house, a beautician was doing make-up for her (she is a very simple sister and this is the first time she has this much make-up on her) and she let no one into her room except me, and her sisters who came in once in a while to take stuff cause that's their room. She has lots of cousins, I mean a lot, countless because many of her family members marry among cousins. I remember while sitting at the long table eating, I was surrounded by her cousins. And whenever I introduced myself and then asked them who they are, they said they are her cousins, cousins, and cousins, and occasionally aunties who happen to be the cousins of her parents! This is part of Pakistani culture, not that they like to marry to close relatives but you can only give your daughters out to a family that you trust and know well. For my friend to marry someone out of her own tribe, it took a long process and that's why she always talked to me whenever thing went wrong before both their parents agreed upon this marriage.
I took some pictures of her and when the groom arrived, we peeked from the window and she asked me to take some pictures of the men waiting out there. Just to let you know that her family and her husband's family are very islamic, but this does not apply to all their relatives. She lives on a street where most of her relatives live. So her next door is her uncle's house. What they did is that they made her house into a sisters house and next door a brothers house. All the ladies including guests and kids who stick to their mums sat in her house while the men next door. So, when the groom arrived, the men greeted him and brought all the male guests to next door while the ladies into her house. This is the same at the reception hall. Proper segregation.
Next, her father, uncle and other 2 witnesses came up to her room to ask for her consent to get married. Later, all the men went to a mosque to make the akad nikah while she phoned her brother at the mosque to get a live telecast of the declaration and khutbah. And she is officially married! Then, we covered her in jilbab and duppata to get into her father's car and headed to the reception hall. She sat in the ladies section with all her beautiful lengga and jewelry while friends and relatives came to greet her. I have no idea what happened in the men section but in the ladies section, we have more than 600 guests. How do I know? Well, there were 5 long tables that can sit in 24 people each. When guests come, whoever got the seat will be served with starters, then main courses, then dessert. When the dessert came, those who sat around the hall will stand near the tables and waited for empty chairs while the tables were being cleaned. This process happened 5 times.
When it's time to close the hall (the reception was 12 noon to 4pm), we covered the bride again and got on the car and headed home. Then it's what the Pakistani call the Rukhsati. This is when the bride bids farewell to the family and sends off with the husband's family. She has already packed all her stuff and she wore her hijab properly, covered with her big jilbab and another white cloth over her face so that the men won't be able to see her beautiful face with all the make-ups and jewelry. We loaded her husband's car with her 3 suitcases while she went down to meet all her families and friends. This is the saddest moment and everyone cried. At this moment, I stopped following her because there were too many people surrounding her. I only have the chance to bid farewell to her when she was already in the car.
This is Pakistani culture cause if you can imagine in the old days in Pakistan, when it is difficult to travel and lodge, the husband family can only come for the wedding and bring the bride home. There's no place for big families to stay and the journey is difficult to make. So, the easiest way is to bring the bride home with all her belongings as soon as the wedding is over. This is the first time I witnessed such a wedding and honestly, I didn't get the chance to even meet the husband because of the segregation and how strict they are to keep everything as halal as possible. The next day will be the walimah for the husband's side but I won't go cause this is enough for me and I have class at the mosque the next day.
Now that she is married and gone to live with her in-laws, I hope she will be able to adjust herself with the new environment. I can't imagine this happens to me because you basically hardly know your in-laws yet on the day after your wedding, you pack all your stuff and move to this 'strangers' house and start your new life there! I pray that everything will be good for her and may ALLAH bestow her and her family with happiness and blessing, and may ALLAH keep this relationship until they go to the Paradise together with lots of their offspring. Amin.
Wassalam.
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