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.

Teachers in UK on strike

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

Today, about 8000 schools in UK have no teachers to teach due to a strike over their salary, except those who still continue to give education to the innocent students who do not decide how much the teachers will be paid. Some students may well be happy when classes are cancelled. However, for those who truly want an education, they will be the group that will suffer the worst in this strike. Teachers' salary isn't that bad for a degree holder. Of course, with the salary one cannot enjoy a luxurious life style, yet it is enough to sustain in the UK.

As oil price and food price are rising drastically recently, will the teachers in Malaysia also go for a strike?

Wassalam.

Packing & Tajwid

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

I have done all the packing except stuff in the fridge, shower and bedding (well, actually it's a sleeping bag). I have cleaned my room except one more final hoovering when all the boxes are taken away on 1st April inshaALLAH. I will only be able to move in afternoon because the previous tenant have a coach to catch on 1st April afternoon. A bit not happy about it because according to the landlord, I can move in 1 or 2 days before 1st April. But anyway, inshaALLAH khair. Hopefully with the new environment, I can be more focused on my work. Amin.

I am sooooooooooo happy to know that my beloved tajwid teacher has come back to Cambridge to teach us tajwid. Missing him so much. I have learnt a lot from him during his time in Cambridge last Ramadhan. Now that he is back, I want to put a target on this, probably to finish Juz 'Amma with him in this 3-week time before he goes back to Syria again. But we'll see. It's going to be everyday except Friday after dhuhur prayer at the mosque. At the mosque! I'll be moving to Mill Road next Tuesday, so inshaALLAH I'll be able to go to the mosque easily. Just walk! Woohoo! Alhamdulillah, this move came in the right time.

While thinking of this Shaykh, I suddenly am missing all the other Shuyukh who have taught me during Rihla 2007. I have learnt a lot from them and wish to meet them and study with them again. InshaALLAH Shaykh Hamza Yusuf is coming to Birmingham next Friday, Arwa has invited me over to stay at hers in Birmingham cause she will be going to this Grand Mawlid too. We'll see how things go. It is only that I have to look after the classes at the mosque that I can't stay the weekend in Birmingham. I probably have to catch the latest train from Birmingham to Cambridge in time to have a bit of rest before I have to open the mosque on Saturday morning. Because of the classes at the mosque, I have missed the chance to meet Ustadh Yahya Rodhus in Birmingham last weekend. I feel a bit restricted by the responsibility at the mosque but alhamdulillah, I hope that I am carrying out my amanah given by AuntyZohra as well as possible. There should be no complain about this. Imagine that she has been doing this every weekend for the past 15 years, I am just doing it for 2 months. May ALLAH preserve and reward her for her patient.

I phoned her this morning in Pakistan. She is doing well and I have asked if I can go to Oxford for a Mini Cooper factory visit organised by CAMMUS (Cambridge Malaysian Muslims Society) on 19th April (Saturday). She said no as usual cause there is not enough teachers already and she can't count on any other teachers to come and open the mosque earlier than 9am, and set up the tables and all. So, that's fine. I can take it. Initially I decided to join the trip cause AuntyZohra said that she will be back on 12th April but due to Easter season, she can't get a seat so she can only come back on 29th April. So, no trip for me in weekend until she is back. Probably it is good so that first I don't waste money and time, and second I will do some work!

Alhamdulillah.

Wassalam.

And the snow is in the Spring

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

Finally, the snow of the year came too late. After the hail and sleet yesterday, proper snow came pouring from the sky early this morning, forming about 2 inches of snow. I don't know if this is a good news or a bad news but we have to cancel the classes at the mosque today. After putting up the notice at the door and phoning all the teachers, Arfa and I was sitting in her car waiting if any student would turn up. We waited until 10am and there were 5 students came but alhamdulillah did not feel bad of the class cancellation. Poor them, came to the class in snow and slippery road but have to go home. Arfa drove very slowly the whole way and for a couple of times she could feel it was not easy to control the driving on such a condition.

Excited with the Easter snow, I made a little snowman and got my housemate to play at the secluded garden at the back. She is from India and she used webcam to show the snow to her family back home. I feel like a kid playing in the snow, hopefully won't get flu tomorrow. Wish I can go to the town and take pictures of Cambridge in the snow, but feel a bit lazy and don't want to risk cycling in this kind of condition. Plus, I have lots of work to do!

Front of the house

Garden at the back

A brave cyclist on such a slippery road

My snowman

Wassalam.

Rain, hail, sleet, snow...

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

After living in UK, a seasoned country, for more than 2 years, I still do not have much idea about the weather here. I knew that there are 4 seasons and that leaves drop in the autumn, snow comes in the winter, flowers blossom in the spring and sun comes out a lot cheerful in the summer, theoretically. Since the global warming comes in spotlight, I have been told that anything can happen in any season. It has been raining the whole morning and a bit of snow shower early in the morning. Today, while I was teaching in the mosque in the conservatory, heavy sleet hit the half-transparent roof and distracted my students. Later, while I was cycling home, snow flake came pouring from every direction, melted immediately as it reached my jacket and gloves. While I was disappointed for not being able to see snow, I wrote this post and found the definitions of all these terms regarding how snow is formed and the names of all these different types of phenomenon. And while I was writing this post, heavy snow was pouring down, so I stopped and took some pictures.

Hail on my jacket

Snow flake on the carpet

Snowed suddenly

Became very heavy

Snow hit on the fence

Thought it's going to be proper snow but it's just for a while

I thought that it will last for a long time and form proper snow but no, it stopped after about 10 minutes. So, no snow man to play this time. Last year, the snow was in February, which is still reasonable cause it's still considered as the end of winter. Today is March, end of March, considers it's spring but it was snowing today. Friends said that it's what they call the English weather. And now, looking out into the window, it is such a bright sunny day as the wind becomes slower.

O well, it's global warming... they said. So, nothing really exciting.

Wassalam.