Post Kelantan updates

I departed Singapore on 8th Aug '08.

I left home without my camera because my husband said that he wanted to bring the camera that his father bought for him.

I regretted not bringing. The camera was just a 'calefare'.

So please pardon me if the pictures ain't that good because they were taken by my mobile phone camera.

The trip was enjoyable and it was only made possible by these wonderful bros and sisters.

This is the place/kampung we stayed:

This place is really a good place to 'rediscover your soul'. That's what one of the bro said.

There are only 5 huts, and it comprises of standard and superior chalets.

This is the playground. On most evenings, the kampung kids will all run here to play.

This place would have REALLY been the best place to hang out if the kampung is just next to the beach. Haha. I know i ask too much. But alhamdulillah. This is sufficient. But, but... weather a bit hot and humid...

Breakfast was bought from a nearby kampung shop by a sweet sweet bro named nik. You should book him when you visit kota bahru for a holiday. He buys us breakfast EVERY morning. It's every MORNING. Without fail, you know. Masya allah.

And he also brought us to a restaurant in the city, where lunch was damn cheap too. But the idea of eating raw vegetables... scares me away. Later on, when we were seated, and when food was brought right in front of me, things were much different. I just followed what he did and recommended. Oh man, it's nice!

It's something unique to the Kelantanese. Some vegetables are raw(and tasted bitter) and some were just boiled through. So, there's a sauce called, 'budu' where you eat it with. Thank God, for this sauce. If not, i will not be able to survive this lunch.

We also visited a place where they did their own Batik fabric printing. We heard from the staff there that the workers didn't graduate from a professional art school. They came up with their own creativity.



The lady in the 3rd picture; she was 'imported' from Indonesia because they couldn't find a worker as skilled as her to do these handicrafts. I don't think you can find such a skilled worker in Singapore now.


We also went to Siti Khadijah Market. Women ruled the market there. In it, you will find mostly women, selling their fish, chicken, vegetables, drinks, food etc etc. They dominate the entire market! Womennnn Powerrrr!!!




We were brought to the 'Fishermen Village', where we get to witness a profession. This again, you won't be able to find it in Singapore.


One by one, the boats returned from the sea with their catch. Here, you can see this fisherman sorting out the small and the big fishes separately. They will be weighed according to the rate the middle men tells them.



These are truly indeed 'hard earned money'. This is how they earn their living. Allah swt puts their provision in the Big Ocean/Sea so that they may earn their sustenance. God is Great!









Look at the squids! I have never seen such big squids before!




That's all bros and sis! But before i finish this post, here's a surprise for everyone! :)
I got this close to nature. :)

Knowledge

Information, then knowledge, then wisdom. These are the 3 stages through which the human rational faculty may progress.

When organized, information becomes knowledge. Further, organization turns knowledge into a science.

Religious knowledge, on the other hand, is no longer regarded as a science, since the modern world lives nearly exclusively in the material dimension and rejects the idea of an afterlife.

Imam al-Haddad defines 'useful knowledge' as that which increases your knowledge of God, His attributes, acts and favours; makes you aware of His commands and prohibitions, leads you to renounce the things of this world and wish only for the Hereafter; and brings your faults, the defects in your acts, and the plots of your enemy to your notice.

Knowledge, then used appropriately becomes wisdom. Wisdom is the force of penetration and discernment of the mind, the ability to place everything in its precisely appropriate location, in the precisely appropriate manner, at the precisely appropriate time. It is also the ability to put first things first, never to allow the ephemeral to obscure the path to the eternal, nor the contingent to take priority over the essential.

Gnostics and scholars focus mainly
-making their faith and certitude sound and strong.
-purifying their belief in God's oneness (tawhid) from the blemishes of hidden idolatry.
-perfecting virtues such as detachment, sincerity and a clean breast toward Muslims
-counteracting blameworthy attributes, such as ostentation and vanity.
-soundness of their good outward actions and to guarding themselves against falling into evil works.
-good management of their daily lives and the preservation of their soundness by being scrupulous, accepting good counsel, maintaining frugality, remaining content with little.

- Book by Imam Al-Haddad

I can't accomplish all of the above but insya allah, I hope to be remind myself of all that.
Who doesn't want to be a true Mu'min (believer)?

"O Allah, please guide me towards useful knowledge, understanding and interpretation of things, and on the Straight Path."

Patriotic or not?

So National Day is around the corner.

And I won’t be around this time to celebrate the Nation’s 43rd Birthday. Don’t blame me for being unpatriotic or disloyal to her. I didn’t plan for this getaway during National Day. We were to join another group of friends for Malaysia. (now, it really sounds I’ve betrayed my country as I join other Singaporeans leaving her, for our neighbouring country.)

It’s not exactly just a weekend getaway. I took leave from Friday onwards, up to Wednesday. Because the following Monday was announced by the Uni that it’s going to be a substituted public holiday in lieu of National Day, I saved a day of leave.

Uni has planned for a fun-filled celebration on the 8th of August 2008. After looking through the programme outline, I realised that I am going to miss out a whole lot of fun, food and games galore. Simply put, it’s a no work and all fun day on 8th of August! (if exigencies of service permit)

I was tasked to get the lyrics of the songs of National Day. And in the end, I got the music, rhythm and lyrics all stuck in my head. I was even singing these songs on the bike and at home. My husband could not take it anymore and called me ‘Crazy’. I ignored his pleads and continued to sing and he continued saying that those songs that I sung were ‘brain-washing’ songs.

I rebutted his statement and told him that it’s actually quite Islamic. This is the one that I always like:

We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness and prosperity
And progress for our Nation.

We are Singapore, we are Singapore…….

I shall not continue, otherwise I might not be able to stop singing again.

Allah swt created us and all of us came from Adam a.s. So by right, we should be united because we came from one original source.

As a vicegerent on planet earth, we should all live in harmony regardless of race, language or religion. And Prophet s.a.w treated everyone the same; there was no discrimination treatment.
Although we are created differently, we are still equal in the eyes of God.

God is the Master on the Day of Judgement. He will be Just and He will reward anyone who does an ant-like deed, will be rewarded. But if you set partners alongside with Him, this is one sin which He will not forgive.

“They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.” (Surah al-Maida 5:72)

Well, of course, prosperity doesn’t just come from justice and equality. It comes from Allah alone. Perhaps we can enjoy peace if everyone practices patience and tolerance.
And as for ‘Progress for our Nation’, it still goes back to Allah swt for sustaining, preserving and maintaining this universe and all those things that are in it.

Anyway, up to this moment that I’m posting up my post, I’ve stopped singing already.

Happy 43rd birthday, Singapore.

Alhamdulillah.

The Dark Knight

Anyone of you has seen 'The Dark Knight'?

Go watch it if you haven't caught this movie that grossed more than 41million in the box office in the States!

I was absolutely mesmerized by everything that Batman owns in the movie; from the suit, to the gigantic car, and later transformed to a bike that had gigantic tyres; not forgetting the Lamborghini that he drove. Of course, he was simply a gorgeous actor in that movie!

Here's a link to watch the trailer. Perhaps it will whet your appetite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRI47J6is9Q


I'm gonna wait for the DVD release :P

Isra & Mi'raj (Part 2)

Here's the part on The Miraj:
In the twelfth year of his mission, the Prophet made his night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, and thence to heaven. His journey, known in history as Miraj (Ascension), was a real bodily one and not only a vision. It was at this time that Allah ordered the Muslims to pray the five daily prayers.

Almighty Allah has said: Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) above all that (evil) they associate with Him, Who took His slave Muhammad for a journey by night from AlMasjid-al-Haram (at Makka) to the farthest mosque (in Jerusalem), the neighborhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad) of 0ur Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." Surah 17: 1

Abbas Ibn Malik reported that Malik Ibn Sasaa said that Allah's Messenger described to them his Night Journey saying: "While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open from here to here." I asked Al-Jarud, who was by my side, "What does he mean?" He said: "It means from his throat to his pubic area," or said, "From the top of the chest." The Prophet further said, "He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me." (On this Al-Jarud asked: "Was it the Buraq, 0 Abu Hamza?" I (i.e. Anas) replied in the affirmative. The Prophet said: 'The animal's step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal's sight. I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven.

"When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has Muhammad been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said (to me): 'This is your father, Adam; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said:'You are welcomed, 0 pious son and pious Prophet.'

Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached the second heaven. Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel answered in the affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened. "When I went over the second heaven, there I saw John (Yahya) and Jesus (Isa), who were cousins of each other. Gabriel said (to me): 'These are John and Jesus; pay them your greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, 0 pious brother and pious Prophet.'

Then Gabriel ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw Joseph (Yusuf). Gabriel said (to me): 'This is Joseph; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious brother and pious Prophet.'

Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel' It was asked: 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied: 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' "The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Enoch (Idris). Gabriel said (to me): This is Enoch; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious brother and pious Prophet.'

Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied: 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said: "He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is! So when I went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Aaron (Harun), Gabriel said (to me): 'This is Aaron; pay him your greetings.' I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious brother and pious Prophet.'

Then Gabriel ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied: 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. It was said: 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' "When I went (over the sixth heaven), there I saw Moses (Musa). Gabriel said (to me): 'This is Moses; pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious brother and pious Prophet.' When I left him (i.e. Moses) he wept. Someone asked him: 'What makes you weep?' Moses said: 'I weep because after me there has been sent (as Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers.'

Then Gabriel ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied: 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' "So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham (Ibrahim). Gabriel said (to me): This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious son and pious Prophet.'

Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary). Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel said: 'This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary.' Behold! There ran four rivers; two were hidden and two were visible, I asked: 'What are these two kinds of rivers, 0 Gabriel?' He replied: 'As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.'

'Then Al-Bait-ul-Mamur (i.e. the Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk. Gabriel remarked: 'This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.'
Then the prayers were enjoined on me: they were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moses, who asked (me): 'What have you been ordered to do?' I replied: 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moses said: 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers' burden.'

So I went back, and Allah reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to Allah, and He reduced ten more prayers. When I came back to Moses he said the same. I went back to Allah, and He ordered me to observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he repeated the same advice, so I went back to Allah and was ordered to observe five prayers a day.

"When I came back to Moses, he said: 'What have you been ordered?' I replied: 'I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.' He said: 'Your followers cannot bear five prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers' burden.' I said: 'I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah's Order.' When I left, I heard a voice saying: 'I have passed My order and have lessened the burden of My worshippers."

Isra & Mi'raj (Part 1)

Tomorrow will be the Miracle Journey by our Beloved Prophet s.a.w. It carries alot of significance for the ummah of our Prophet s.a.w. I bought a book on that shortly after i converted. I simply love the book!

For the benefit of those Muslims and non-Muslims, I've re-produced parts of the story from the website; islamawareness.net Hope everyone enjoy a good read.

Here's the story about Isra:
After the Prophet performed the Evening Prayer (^Isha'), Jibril came to him with a white animal, slightly larger than a donkey yet smaller than a mule. This animal was the buraq,--one of the animals of Paradise. Jibril held the buraq by his ear and told the Prophet to mount it. When the buraq was mounted, the Prophet set forth.
The buraq is a very fast animal; the length of the buraq's stride is the farthest distance it's eye can see. The Prophet and Jibril arrived to a land with palm trees. Jibril told the Prophet to dismount and pray, so the Prophet dismounted the buraq and prayed two rak^as. Jibril asked him, "Do you know where you prayed?" and the Prophet answered, "Allah knows best." Jibril told him, "This is Yathrib; this is Taybah. "." (These are two names for the city of al-Madinah.) Before the Prophet emigrated to al-Madinah, it was called Taybah and Yathrib. It earned the name al-Madinah after the Prophet emigrated to it.
The buraq continued with the Prophet and Jibril until they reached another place. Again Jibril told the Prophet to get down and pray. The Prophet dismounted there and prayed two rak^as. Jibril informed the Prophet of the name of that place; it was Tur Sina'.
Once again the buraq took off with the Prophet and Jibril. Once again it stopped, and the Prophet dismounted and prayed two rak^as. This was in Bayt Lahm, where Prophet ^Isa (Jesus) was born. Then the buraq continued with the Messenger of Allah until they entered the city of Jerusalem. There the Prophet went to Masjid al-Aqsa. Outside was a ring used by the Messengers of Allah to tie their animals. The Prophet tied his buraq to this ring. Then the Prophet entered the masjid where Allah assembled for him all the Prophets--from Adam to ^Isa. Prophet Muhammad moved forward and led them all in prayer. This is an indication the Prophet is higher in status than all the rest of the prophets and messengers.

1- On Prophet Muhammad's journey from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa, Allah enabled him to see some of His wondrous creations. Allah enabled the Prophet to see the world (dunya) like an old woman. However, this old woman was wearing a great deal of jewelry, and in this there is an indication signifying the reality of the world.

2- Allah enabled the Prophet to see Iblis. The Prophet saw something on the side of the road which did not dare to stand in his way or speak to him. What the Prophet saw was Iblis. Originally, Iblis was a believer and lived with the angels in Paradise. When Allah ordered the angels to prostrate (sujud) to Prophet Adam, Iblis was ordered to prostrate to him as well. The angels prostrated to Adam in obedience to Allah, because angels do not disobey Allah. However, Iblis did not obey, and he objected to the order of Allah. He said, "You created me out of fire, and You created him out of clay. How do You order me to prostrate to him?" So this objection by Iblis to the order of Allah was the first blasphemy he committed.

3- On his journey, the Prophet smelled a very nice odor. He asked Jibril about this pleasant scent and Jibril informed him this good smell was coming from the grave of the woman whose duty used to be to comb Pharaoh's daughter's hair. This woman was a good, pious believer. One day, as she was combing Pharaoh's daughter's hair, the comb fell from her hand. At this she said, ""Bismillah. "Pharaoh's daughter asked her, "Do you have a god other than my father?" The woman said, "Yes. My Lord and the Lord of your father is Allah." Pharaoh's daughter told her father what had happened. Pharaoh demanded this woman blaspheme and leave Islam, but she refused. At that, Pharaoh threatened to kill her children. He brought a great pot of water and built a great fire under it. When the water boiled, Pharaoh brought her children and started to drop them into that pot one after the other. Throughout all this, the woman remained steadfast to Islam, even when Pharaoh reached her youngest child--a little boy still breast feeding--but she felt pity for him. At that, Allah enabled this child to speak. He said to his mother, "O Mother, be patient. The torture of the Hereafter is far more severe than the torture of this life, and do not be reluctant, because you are right." At this the woman requested Pharaoh collect her bones and the bones of her children and bury them in the same grave. Pharaoh promised her that--then dropped her into that boiling water. She died as a martyr. The good odor the Prophet smelled coming from her grave is an indication of her high status.

4- During his trip, the Prophet saw people who were planting and reaping in two days. Jibril told the Prophet, "These were the people who fight for the sake of Allah (mujahidun).

5- The Prophet also saw people whose lips and tongues were clipped with scissors made of fire. Jibril told the Prophet, "These are the speakers of sedition (fitna) who call people to misguidance."

6- He also saw a bull which exited a very small outlet, then was trying in vain to return through that small outlet. Jibril told the Prophet, "This is the example of the bad word--once spoken, it cannot be returned."

7- The Prophet saw people grazing like animals, with very little clothing on their private parts. Jibril told the Prophet, "These are the ones who refused to pay zakat. "

8- The Prophet saw angels smashing some people's heads with rocks. These heads would return to the shape they had been, and then the angels would smash their heads again--and so on. Jibril told the Prophet, "These are the ones whose heads felt too heavy to perform prayer--the ones who used to sleep without praying."

9- On his journey the Prophet saw people who were competing to eat some rotten meat--ignoring meat that was sliced and unspoiled. Jibril told the Prophet, "These are people from your nation who leave out that which is permissible (halal), and consume that which is forbidden ((haram). "This reference was to the fornicators, that is, the ones who left out the permissible (marriage) and committed sins (fornication).

10- Also, the Prophet saw people who were drinking from the fluid coming from the bodies of the fornicators, (water mixed with blood). Jibril indicated to the Prophet these were the ones who were drinking the alcohol which is prohibited in this world.

11- The Prophet saw people scratching their faces and chests with brass finger nails. Jibril said, "These are the examples of those who commit gossip (ghibah). "

to be continued...

Allah Loves His Creation

God is everywhere around us.

He is closer to us than our jugular veins.

‘Remember Me and I will remember you. Be grateful unto Me and deny Me not’ (2:152)

Hadith qudsi:
'I treat My servant as he hopes that I would treat him. I am with him whenever he remembers Me: if he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My heart; if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering far better than that gathering; if he draws near to Me a hand's span, I draw near to him an arm's length; if he draws near to Me an arm's length; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' (Bukhari, Muslim)

The other day, I was in the changing room of the club, preparing to change into my swimming attire; there was this mother sitting down on the bench, changing clothes for the daughter. I didn’t eavesdrop on their conversation but I accidentally caught the mother saying this to her daughter: ‘I love you so much, and yet you don’t trust me.’

I don’t know how you guys perceive what I just heard.

But for me, immediately it brought me to the concept of God’s love towards His creations. The creations that He created, which is us; mankind, and mankind was created higher than the angels.

It is We who have placed you with authority on earth, and provided you therein with means for the fulfilment of your life: small are the thanks that ye give! (10) It is We who created you and gave you shape; then We bade the angels prostrate to Adam, and they prostrated, not so Iblis; he refused to be of those who bow down. (11) (Allah) said: "what prevented thee from bowing down when I commanded thee?" He said: "I am better than he: thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay." (12) (Allah) said: "Get thee down from this: it is not for thee to be arrogant here: get out, for thou art of the meanest (of creatures)." Surah al-araf 7:9~12

God loves His creations, and that’s why He showered us with countenance and gifts that none could give you in your lifetime. God blessed us with knowledge; we could have a zillion books to read in this universe and get wiser.

His Gifts and blessings are simply numerous and you will not be to keep track of all the gifts the He bestowed upon us!

But God says that He will also test us with trials and tribulations;

Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! verily the help of Allah is (always) near! Surah al-Baqarah 2:214

But when we are tested with trials, we questioned Him. We asked Him; “Why Me? What on earth did I do to deserve this? I didn’t ask for this, why did you give me this instead?”

We failed to remember that God, being all-Mighty, all-Powerful, all Hearing and all Knowing, He KNOWS BEST. Isn’t that right? So we should trust Him that He knows what is best for us. So if He sends something else that you didn’t ask for, not because He didn’t hear your prayers, but He knows that if He gives you what you want, you will not be able to bear that (in whatever way you ask). Or if you keep asking and you think that He didn’t respond to you because nothing happened, the best thing that you might want to know that God has kept the best things for you in Paradise. You are not forgotten!

Anyway, these serves as a reminder to myself and it’s not meant to lecture anyone. I am just a servant of Allah and I hope to intend my deeds solely for Him alone. For only He alone is the best Judge.

Imam Al-Ghazzali

Many of us would not say that we do not know who is he or where does he comes from; and some of us would be familiar with Imam Ghazzali's books like the much talked about, 'Revival of the Religious Sciences', Alchemy of Happiness, The Beginning of Guidance etc...

I attended a class about the above kitab; The Beginning of Guidance and i enjoyed the class very much. But it was way before that class i started to fall in love with this scholar's works. I think it must have been the enormous chunk of knowledge that you can derive from all that he wrote. Masya allah.

In case, you have no idea about his background:

Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazzali was born in the city of Tus, northwestern Iran, in AD 1058. He studied in Tus until he was 27 when he moved to Baghdad. He was appointed as a professor at the Nizamiyyah college there when he was 33. After 4 years of a strenuous schedule, he underwent a spiritual experience which convinced him that all of the knowledge he had gained was useless in comparison to gnosis or experiential knowledge of the Divine Presence. He realized unless he left his position and was free to search for this knowledge deeper within himself without worldly distractions, he would never attain it. He therefore provided for his family and left for Damascus and other well known cities at that time.

When he was 48 he returned to his birthplace where he lived for the next 5 years until his early death at the age of 53. He left behind over 400 works among them being his famous Revival of the Religious Sciences (ihya ulum al-din) which he wrote in Arabic. Over 2300 pages, it is a compendium of Islamic practices. A few years after he finished the Revival, he felt the need to write the same sort of compendium on being a Muslim in Persian. This is the entire work here translated into English for the first time which al-Ghazzali called the Alchemy of Happiness. It is a masterful textbook on traditional psychology.
(now a little bit more...)
While modern Western psychology focuses on describing emotions, behavior or cognition, that is, what we feel, do and think without recourse to the basic principles or causes, traditional psychology is based on the same three centers, but like all traditional sciences, includes much more. As a result of including metaphysics, theology, cosmology and the natural sciences as the basis or underlying principles for what we feel, do or think, it becomes a wholistic psychology.

The goal of traditional psychology is to assume the noble character traits, to overcome our ego which competes for our attention with our God-given instinct to attend to the One God. In tis view, there cannot be two wills and therefore our free will has to be disciplined to submit to God's will (islam).

The word psychology comes from the Greek words 'psyche' or 'soul' and 'logos'. Psyche also means breath, spirit and refers to the animating principle of the universe. Logos means 'word' and in the traditional view it refers to 'the word of God'. The science of psychology, then, when it is true to its name, is the study of the Word of God within the human soul or spirit.

Al-Ghazzali's psychology is essentially that of monotheism and unity, the world view that 'there is no god, but God' or 'there is no deity, but God.' It is to see the universe and all that is in it as aspects of the One God. The world view of monotheism (tawhid) forms the underlying basis for traditional psychology.

By the word 'tradition' we mean al-din which has been defined as: 'truths or principles of a Divine Origin revealed of unveiled to mankind through a messenger along with the ramifications and applications of these principles in different realms including law, social structure, art, symbols, the sciences and embracing Supreme Knowledge along with the means for its attainment.'

Traditional (al-din) is a point which is at one and the same time the Center and Origin of our being. Traditional psychology is oriented towards helping the individual as well as the human community find that Center as prepare for the return to our Origin.

A monotheist (hanif) like al-Ghazzali regards the whole universe as a unity, as a single form, a single living and conscious thing, possessing will, intelligence, feeling, and purpose, revolving in a just and orderly system in which there is no discrimination no matter what one's gender, color, race, class, or faith be. All comes from God and returns to God, while a multitheist views the universe as a discordant assemblage full of disunity, contradiction, and heterogeneity containing many independent and conflicting poles, unconnected desires, customs, purposes, wills, sexes, sects, colours, races, classes, and faiths.

The monotheistic world view sees the universal unity in existence, a unity of three separate relationships:
1) our relationship with others, nature and the universe; 2) our relationship with God; 3) our relationship with our 'self'.
These relationships are not alien to one another; there are no boundaries between them. They move in the same direction. Al-Ghazzali expresses this when he writes:
Then know that there is a station in gnosis (marifat) where, when a person reaches it, he really sees that all that exists is interconnectedness, one with another, and all are like one animate being. The relationship of the parts of the world such as the heavens, the earth, the stars to each other is like the relationship of the parts of one animate being to each other. The relationship of all the world to its Director - from one aspect, not from all aspects - is like the relationship of the kingdom of the body of an animal to the spirit and intellect which are its Director. Until a person recognizes this, that Verily, God created Adam in His image, it cannot be comprehended by his understanding.

Other non-monotheistic religious world views see the Divinity - or even the plural of this - as existing in a special, metaphysical world of the gods, a higher world as contrasted with the lower world of nature and matter. They teach that God is separate from the world, created it and then left it alone. In the monotheistic world view, God has never left and is the destination of the Return. In this view, our 'self' fears only one Power and is answerable to only One Judge; turns to one direction (qibliah), orientng all hopes and desires to only one Source. A belief in monotheism gives us a sense of independence and liberation from everything other than God and a connectedness to the universe and all that it contains. Submission to God's will alone liberates us from worshipping anything other than God and rebelling against anything else that purports to be God.
Introduction by Al-Ghazzali on Trust and the Unity of God

May Allah swt protects all Muslims from falling into error. amin.

My beloved Creator

Al-Ghazzali defines what belief in submission to God's Will (islam) means:

Know that you have been created and that you have a Creator who is the Creator of all the universe and all that it contains.

He is One. He has no partner nor associate.

He is Unique, for He has no peer.

He always was; His existence has no beginning. He always shall be; there is no end to His existence. His existence in eternity and infinity is a necessary, for annihilation cannot touch Him. His existence is by His own essence.

He needs nothing but nothing is unneedful of Him.

Rather, He is established by His Own essence, and everything else is established through Him.

Everything Comes from HIM(alone)

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate Most Merciful

(19) And We have provided therein means of subsistence― for you and for those for whose sustenance ye are not responsible. (20) And there is not a thing but its (sources and) treasures (inexhaustible) are with Us; but We only send down thereof in due and ascertainable measures. (21) And We send the fecundating winds, then cause the rain to descend from the sky, therewith providing you with water (in abundance), though ye are not the guardians of its stores. (22) And verily, it is We Who give life, and who give death: it is We Who remain Inheritors (after all else passes away). (23) To Us are known those of you who hasten forward, and those who lag behind. (24) Assuredly it is thy Lord who will gather them together: for He is Perfect in Wisdom and Knowledge. (25) We created man from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape; (26) And the Jinn race, We had created before, from the fire of a scorching wind. (27) Behold! Thy Lord said to the angels: "I am about to create man, from sounding clay from mud moulded into shape; (28) "When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him."

Surah Al-Hijr 15:19~28

Allah swt possess wisdom and knowledge that we, as human beings do not have. Truly, all knowledge and wisdom comes from Him, and that includes everything else that we have. We came into this world with nothing in our hands, so shall we leave with nothing in our hands.

I remembered meeting one of a makcik at the mosque. We started off as strangers when we first met but when we parted, we ended up hugging each other in tears.

Our encounter started off when I entered the mosque to start my sunnah Tahiyyatul and she had just finished hers. She spoke to me in Malay and somehow; from my frequent experiences and encounters with Malay makciks, I could make out what she was trying to tell/ask me (more or less). And so I replied in English.

Subhanallah! She is a clever woman. Immediately, she asked me if I am a convert and I replied positively. She then asked for my name and she went to sit at another corner, just behind me.

After I finished my sunnah prayers, I picked up the Quran from the shelves and starting reading it from the back. (‘cause I was more familiar with those surahs)
Suddenly, I heard someone calling out my name. It was coming from behind (nope, I didn’t see any saints or angels around J ). Ahh.. it was the makcik earlier. She signaled me to go over to where she sat.

So the usual questions popped up; when did I convert, how did I get to know about Islam etc etc. And then she suddenly told me that she also had a daughter as big as me but she was no longer with her now. She has left home. Well, initially she was reluctant to say it because she felt embarrassed about what has happened. So I told her not to reveal it since she feels that way. But she told me everything afterall. And after she finished her story, I had tears welled up in my eyes. And when she saw what happened to me, her eyes started to get teary too.

She is a very strong woman. And masya allah, through these tests that Allah has put her through, she has developed a strong sense of taqwa (God-consciousness). She said that she had come to realized that nothing belongs to us in this world. Every life, limb and faculty that we possess is bestowed and loaned to us. Any day when He wishes to take it back, He has the Power to take it away from us. So this is the example she relates to her daughter. Allah swt has the Power to take her daughter away from her. Although this isn’t easy for her initially, but Alhamdulillah, she had managed to ‘survive’ through this trial and get on with life without doing any foolish things that she said she will do.

Alhamdulillah, this encounter came at the right time when my spirits are low. Her words (I took it as advice and reminders) lingered on even after my supererogatory prayers. My tears didn’t stop rolling down my cheeks as I was into my last cycle of my prayers.

From You we came and to You we shall return.

Praise to the Lord of all the Worlds.

O Allah, for You are the Only ONE who guides, so please guide me on this Straight Path. Amin.

Wisdom of the believer

Ata b. Yasar said to Abd Allah b. Amr b. al-As, "Tell me of the description of the Prophet of God that is in the Torah."
Abd Allah said, "Certainly! For by God, he is described in the Torah, with some of the description that is in the Qur’an."
And he recited: O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, and a bearer of good news, and a warner, and a refuge for the unlettered. You are My servant, and My messenger; I name you the One Who Trusts in God, who is not uncivil, and not inconsiderate, not a noisemaker in the markets. He does not rebut evil by evil, but pardons and forgives. And God will not have him die until he sets the crooked community straight, so that they say there is no divinity but God, by which will be opened blind eyes, deaf ears, and closed minds.

The Prophet Muhammad said, “Any word of wisdom is the stray of the believer, who has the better right to it wherever it may be found.”

Another da'wah activity

I was supposed to meet a colleague from another department to understudy how to process feedback forms. It was a totally new thing for our department because for so many years, the management didn’t feel that there was a need to do this.

So she started off by showing me the ropes. Along the way, I asked her about how long has she worked in this company and she told me that it was over 20years. Omigosh! I exclaimed. She had no complaints and she didn’t have high expectations in life. She was simply grateful to God for giving her so much. I could tell that she was really sincere and true to what she preaches. She always reminds herself of all the things that God has provided her. She also asked questions about my conversion. And I shared my story with her.

And I told her too; that Muslims are also taught to be grateful to God. (I used the word God, so that it would be more familiar with her). And I thought we agreed on many things about understanding the concept of God, until she talks about Jesus a.s. She said that because human beings are sinners ( because we are not perfect); Jesus a.s had to die for us in order to wash away our sins. And when he dies, his soul will become a bridge to be able to communicate with God. And she continues; Christians believed that Jesus is God and God is Jesus.

After she finished, I told her that; to Muslims, Jesus a.s did not die on the cross. He was replaced by someone whom God had made it looked like Jesus and Jesus a.s himself has been raised up to heaven. He will return back to earth in a ‘later part of a time’(God knows best). And importantly, I corrected her on her notion of 'God being Jesus and Jesus being God'. I explained to her that if she believed that God is all Mighty and Powerful, it is not possible to be Jesus a.s because he is a human being, not a God. She wasn’t ready to accept what I just said to her so she said that she will check it out herself. I even offered to show her a copy of the Quran if she’s interested. But she told me that she had read it quite often from the internet. I told her not to trust all sources because there has been so much of falsehood and hearsay about Islam; everyone would claim that they know so much about Islam.

Nevertheless, we ended the conversation with a friendly note. We were glad to have met and had this interesting conversation where we’ve shared so much. I may not be in a position to judge anyone, but she’s definitely one of the nicest Christian that did not display an over zealous attitude about her religion.

As for me, I will have to do more homework and learn more techniques to spread the good word about Islam more fervently. Insya allah. May Allah swt forgive my mistakes and guide me. Amin.

from darkness into light

Today is the day.

Today is the day. But ** years ago... I exited from my mother's womb.

Today is the day. But ** years ago... I exited from darkness and enter into light.

Today is the day Allah swt send me to earth. as a vicegerent. I had probably forgotten about the covenant between me and my Lord.

The light was so bright that it was glaring to my tiny little eyes.

The light from the bulb in the delivery ward. The light from the sun. The light coming forth from the cameras.


I was a Muslim then. Until my parents made me into a Buddhist.

Alhamdulillah !!(All praises and glorification belongs to Allah swt.)

Allahu akbar! (God is the Greatest)

With Allah's hidayah(guidance), I became a Muslim again after ** years. Initially, i felt that it was kinda late for me to be a Muslim. But after much pondering, I don't think so anymore.

It's better late than never right? Alhamdulillah!

Yesterday, I just learnt that the great Companion, the Guardian of Islam, Umar bin Khattab r.a(may Allah be pleased with him) has entered into Islam at the age of 26 years old. So I am alright..

My 'dunya' wishes: 'to grow taller, to have a home free from creepy crawlies and to have a loving husband'.
(I remembered a friend used to sing a birthday song for me on his mobile phone and sent it to me)
My 'akhirah' wishes: that Allah swt may accept my ibadah and reward me insya allah, that Allah may raise me up on Judgement Day not as a bankrupt and may Allah swt give me the keys to Jannah. insya allah. amin.

I also hope that Allah swt will grant ALL MUSLIMS His rahmat, taufiq and hidayah. AMIN.

Discuss or debate??

On an early and wet Sunday morning, instead of spending a cosy day snugging below our blankets, me and my husband went all the way to Orchard to catch an early morning show with our friends at The Cathay. (usually when it's raining, he doesn't ride his bike so we had to take a train down)

We didn't get any seats because we didn't start our journey at BL. We stood here the door so that we can get a bird's eye view of the scenery outside. Halfway through the journey, a Chinese man, in his mid 50s probably came up to my husband and asked;' Is your wife a Chinese?' He was surprised and I was surprised too.

He answered:'Yes'.

Man in his 50s replied: 'Yeah, no wonder she didn't look like a Malay. He looked at me and asked:'So you convert to Islam?'

Me:'Yup. Both me and my husband, but he converted earlier, even before we got married.'

Man:'So both of you believed in Islam, God and Muhammad s.a.w?

Me:' Yes.'

Man:'I have 2 questions. Why did Muhammad saw told his followers to marry 4 wives and not to eat pork?'

Me:'He didn't tell us to marry 4 wives.' It is restricted up to 4 wives. And during his time, he didn't marry them out of desire but because they were all widows caused by the war.' (and I didn't had the opportunity to explain the clause;'to treat all 4 equally and justly', he cut me off)

Man:'But one of his wife, the youngest one, was only 9years old' (he was referring to Ai'sha r.a and he didn't give me the opportunity to explain).

Me:'Let me explain. Muhammad s.a.w is our Prophet and Messenger send by God. Whatever that inspires him comes to him by revelation, not his own doing.' (he cut me off ago, obviously not wanting to understand more facts)

Man:'So my conclusion, after this conversation, i can tell that you have faith in God. '

And that was it. He went out of the train.

Throughout this conversation, my husband didn't participate in the conversation. His negative body language, as he later told me, was to hint to the man that he doesn't want him to talk to us much. But I wanted to; not harbouring any suspecting thoughts about him 'attacking' the religion, this could be my chance to do da'wah. I thought that he wanted to find out more initially, but then it turned out to be just our Prophet, the polygamy issue and the 'swine'.

My husband said that I was too fast in replying and I should take more time to answer his questions carefully, for his agenda was not because he was inclined towards knowing more about Islam but to throw accusations at our Prophet s.a.w. I admitted that I wasn't really good at giving him answers to make him think harder, but I was telling him whatever that I know and whatever that comes to my mind. I know this is not a very good method. Of course, if given an opportunity to sit down and discuss more, surely I need to do more research. But it's just a short encounter on the train :)

I know my weakness. May Allah swt forgive my shortcomings. amin.

MALAYSIA: Catholic paper can't use 'Allah' after all

AsiaMedia :: MALAYSIA: Catholic paper can't use 'Allah' after all

I finally found the article that was related to Ustaz's post I finally found the article that was related to Ustaz's post http://an-naseehah.blogspot.com/2008/05/using-name-allaah.html

Ustaz had laid down part by part for us to understand. YOu may refer to his blog for more updates.

Beautiful Sky

Captured this while waiting at the bus stop. Isn't the sky view beautiful?

Allahu Akbar!!! (God is the Greatest)

My Liverpool... Will it fade away?

I got this blouse in Liverpool. And I liked it very very much. I used to wear it very often during Liverpool's glory days.

Gone were the glory. Gone were those days...

They made history with Ian Rush, Kevin Keegan, Michael Owen and many others... That's good history etched in every Liverpool fan's memories.

Now, it's another kind of history. Some kind of a history that every Liverpool fan will cry when you ask them about their previous seasons that just passed us.

We call it the 'goal-less drought' season.

Wearing this blouse made me think of the history that was linked to it...

Does it look good to eat?

My very own version of a Western meal

Yesterday I whipped up this meal to give my husband a surprise. I wanted to give some kind of a variety to our meals instead of eating rice all the time.

After work, I went to the supermarket to get my ingredients. I made used of what I had in my fridge. Since I had some left over beef given by a neighbour who lived a few blocks away, I decided to do it the Western way. Since I didn't have a griller, I pan fried it with butter instead.

More ideas sprung up as I was preparing the beef slices. I marinated with black pepper, salt and a bit of soya sauce. I left it aside and prepared a fruit and vegetables salad. The idea of a garlic bread came up last minute because I didn't have any potatoes. (carbohydrates) . To make it really Western, I prepared mushroom soup too.

So abracadabra, here's the outcome. I would not say that the beef steaks are really fantastic because they had been kept in the freezer for quite some time and the beef slices were sliced by myself. Some of it were still quite 'chewy'.

My husband said that it's delicious but there's room for improvement.

Hint hint...

Be free...

On that Day from distress and remorse... (This khabar was transmitted through the sage Wahb ibn Munabbih)

Allah Most High proclaims:

'O Children of Adam, if you could see the minute span of precious time that remains until your death, you would renounce all selfish projects and vain expectations. You would restrain your desire to possess, in all its subtle forms. And you would wholeheartedly seek to intensify your good actions. Otherwise, regret will seize you as you are falling into death, when your family and servants leave you, when friends distance themselves from you and even intimates abandon you. From the moment of death, you will no longer be able to return to your people or increase your good actions. Therefore, live now with a clear vision of the Day of Resurrection and be free on that Day from distress and remorse.'

Enjoy a good laugh!!!

I had a really good laugh when i received this video. Are you familiar with Mariah Carey's songs?If you are, you would laugh to your hearts' content.

If you hadn't watched it before, enjoy it. If you had seen this, treat yourself to another good laugh.

Pay attention to the lyrics yeah.