Remembering Hijrah...A new perspective

From the ProductiveMuslim.com , a new perspective of remembering Hijrah, a refreshing one indeed!

With the beginning of each Islamic year, our scholars & Imam remind us of the momentous journey, our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him) and his companion Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) undertook 1431 Years ago.

As with every Islamic occasion and especially those linked to our Prophet’s beautiful biography, I’ll try my best to extract lessons of productivity for us to share and discuss here.


Perhaps the first lesson that strikes me, and is often not talked about, is the migration itself. In today’s age of ease of transportation, and a globalised tourist industry where everywhere you go, you expect certain basic services and most things are “standardized”, we tend to forget the difficulty of taking a journey to a completely new territory, where you’re not accustomed to the terrain, culture, or people. Although one might argue, that Makkah and Medina are only 3-days-by-camel apart and hence shouldn’t be a world of difference between them, but there was, and the Prophet (Peace be upon him) & his companions didn’t find it easy to live in Medina in the first few months. Moreover, regardless of the proximity, how many of us, are truly ready to leave our homes, our families, our businesses and just go to a new town and start from scratch?

By all scales, the migration itself as an act, wasn’t that easy. So, the question is why? The standard answer is that the migration occurred to escape persecution from Makkah and establish the first Islamic state in Medina. More importantly, Allah (SWT) gave permission for the Prophet for this migration to take place. But there’s another reason, and forgive me, if it seems a bit far-fetched or I’m trying too hard to link everything to Productivity, but think about it, the Prophet’s Dawah wasn’t productive in Makkah & he had to move to Medina for his dawah and his message to be productive!

As mentioned many times before, our Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was THE most productive man on earth. He achieved in 23 years what no one can achieve in 100 years! So for him, staying in Makkah with the persecution from the Makkan people was unproductive. He had a message to deliver, a purpose to fulfil and people are stopping him. He had to find a way out, he had to find a venue for his productivity to unleash.

This brings another powerful lesson of productivity: have a purpose, and not just any purpose, but a purpose greater than yourself! Something that’ll keep you going regardless of what comes against you! SubhanaAllah, for us Muslims, we are TOLD what this purpose should be: worship Allah! The GREATEST purpose ever! But the question is: how many us truly LIVE this purpose? I guarantee you, the moment we embed the worship of Allah in all we do, our life will have a greater meaning than our selfish needs and we’ll be truly productive people.
There are other lessons of productivity in the hijrah as well, from the way the Prophet (Peace be upon him) prepared for his journey to the trust he had in Allah which granted him the well-known miracles. Perhaps I’ll save explaining these lessons to my upcoming book “Life of the Most Productive” or future posts, inshaAllah.

Black and White , Who is Colored?

When I born, I black

When I grow up, I black

When I go in Sun, I black

When I scared, I black

When I sick, I black

And when I die, I still black

And you white fellow

When you born, you pink

When you grow up, you white

When you go in sun, you red

When you cold, you blue

When you scared, you yellow

When you sick, you green

And when! You die , you gray

And you calling me colored?

Received a forwarded email for the above poem from a friend with a quote, "the  poem  was nominated by UN as the best poem of 2009 and written by an african kid". I've done some research but the statement can not be confirmed because there are few other versions about the origin of this poem such as :

1. It was nominated as the best poem of 2006 not 2009
2. It was a pop song in 1990s
3. It was written by Malcom X
4. It has been around since 1970s
5. Some say this is a prank or a hoax thai is circulating on the internet for some years.
6.  Some even say this poem is just a racist view about human life and has no merit or truth to support it by facts, stating that all babies, irrespective of their race and ethnicity are born in the same color. The newborn baby is reddish purple in color as the skin is very thin and transparent and we actually see the color of the blood which is the same in all humans. It takes several weeks of maturation before the baby develops permanent skin tone and color. Black kids get sun burn, they turn blue, they turn yellow when they are sick and they turn gray as the aging process continues.
   
   

Very interesting poem indeed....but just bear in mind that whether we are black or white or colored or whatever color of our skin is....Allah says in the Al Quran, Surah Al Hujuraat Verse 13 which means;

"O mankind! we created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and Tribes, that ye may know Each other (Not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the Most honoured of you In the sight of Allah is (He who is) the Most righteous of you. and Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)."...

Who are we to say otherwise?.....

Understanding Engineers (2)

What is the difference between mechanical engineers and civil engineers? They say...

Mechanical engineers build weapons and...

civil engineers build targets.

But for the mechanical bridges across the Chicago River below, they were built together by Mechanical and Civil Engineers..

I say...don't look for the difference..find ways to work together for the benefits of human being..

Understanding Engineers (1)

To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. 

To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

My 2 cents notes : Engineers are taught to be very particular when designing things i.e optimize the design, a glass designed to hold 100ml should be filled up at least up to 90ml, otherwise  give them a smaller glass ....if not the glass will be considered 'over designed' or 'under utilized'.

Investing Time

In the holy Quran there is a short chapter which is very unique in its content. Often, when any two of the Prophet Muhammad's companions used to part ways, they made sure to remind each other of this chapter.


The chapter refers to the importance of using one’s limited time on earth wisely. It highlights the importance of living a full and fruitful life that respects the creator’s intentions. There is only one route that leads to eternal paradise and all other paths lead to loss and misery. The Quran urges us to use our time wisely, following the route to eternal happiness.


“By the declining day (time), (1) Lo! ;[To be]Human is a state of loss, (2) save for those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. (3)”
(Al-ASR (Time))


Every human life is, basically, a given period of time. Life consists of a limited number of days and every day that passes results in a loss of our time on earth until the day when our time here is finished. According to one of Prophet Muhammad’s Hadiths, at every break of dawn the day calls saying: “Oh Human, I am a newly born creature and a witness to your deeds, so make the most out of me for I never come back till the end of days.”

God said that to be human is to be in a general state of loss. With the passing of time our life on earth is gradually consumed. Consequently, time is one of mankind’s most precious assets since it can never be replaced or renewed once it has passed. When we squander our time it is much like someone investing his capital unwisely and not using it to generate profit. However, when we invest
our time wisely, we can avoid this inevitable loss. When we invest our time in that which is right and just, using it to uphold right beliefs, perform good deeds, offer honest advice and speak the truth we are making a wise investment.

Highway To Hell - Afghanistan

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The groundwork for Khorst-Gardez road or so called "Highway to Hell" started in May last year. Since then it was reported 13 workers dead and 3 are still missing. The road is part of a grand design to break five strategic centres from economic and social dependency on neighbouring Pakistan. By linking them together and to the national ring-road, they might be hooked back into Kabul's orbit.It is 100km long and it was funded by US.

Despite being a controversial choice, the Indian company was selected because it was one of only two companies prepared to do the job.

The Taliban have declared war on this USD114 millions highway.  A special report (SBS Dateline) by Paul McGeough and cameraman David Brill who travelled to Afghanistan's south-east, details the story. See report in You Tube here .

Luckily, our New East Coast Highway 2nd Phase which is under construction does not invite any declaration of war from anybody . For comparison purpose, our highway is 169km long and costing RM3.7 billions ( about USD 1 billion). 

Tale or Maybe a True Story of Bakun Dam?

Very interesting article about the history of Bakun Hydroelectric Plant which the idea to build it was initially brought forward in 60's and was given a go ahead instruction in 1986 by no other than our TDM. ( Latest entry in TDM's blog was about HUKUM ALLAH..read here). I just wonder whether TDM thought about HUKUM ALLAH when he approved the Bakun project or when he sacked his TPM, Dato'Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Enough said about that....to read the article that I mentioned on the Bakun Dam..read here.

Kemeriahan Eidul Fitri - Hari Kemenangan

Tahun ni merupakan sambutan eidul fitri yg pertama saya sambut di rumah sendiri di kampung..tiada lagi istilah balik kampung utk berhariraya bagi kami sekeluarga pada tahun ni ..

'Villa' saya

Pagar di cat baru

Alhamdulillah...saya dapat rasakan kemeriahan Eidul Fitri tahun ini tidak berkurangan malah bertambah lagi memandangkan kami pada kali ini bukan sahaja menjadi tetamu tetapi juga menerima tetamu...terutamanya surprised visit dari sahabat2 lama..

Alhamdulilllah juga, pada sambutan eidul fitri kali ini, saya dapat menziarah kesemua adik beradik arwah ayahanda dan arwah bonda yg masih hidup..Su Merah, Cik de dan Su Lebar..memang nama2 mereka agak pelik tapi itulah panggilan manja yg kami diperkenalkan dari kecik. Dalam pada itu dapat juga menziarah adik-beradik Bapak Mertua di Rantau Abang dan Besut.

Sempat juga buat 2 kali rumah "separuh terbuka" untuk meraikan adik beradik sebelah isteri dan adik beradik sebelah saya..

Suasana Pagi di Sembilan Ramadhan Terakhir

Dan dari Ibnu Abbas Radhiyallahu ‘anhuma, ia berkata : Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bersabda.

“Artinya : (Malam) Lailatul Qadar adalah malam yang indah, cerah, tidak panas dan tidak juga dingin, (dan) keesokan harinya cahaya sinar mataharinya melemah kemerah-merahan” [Tahayalisi 349, Ibnu Khuzaimah 3/231, Bazzar 1/486, sanadnya Hasan]

Gambar-gambar dibawah saya ambil antara pukul 7.00 pagi hingga 7.30 pagi dari tempat yg sama (dari beranda rumah saya ) sepanjang sembilan hari akhir ramadhan. Dan satu antara pagi berikut kemungkinan Malam sebelumnya adalah Malam Al Qadar. Bila? Wallahua'lam...

21 ramadhan 1430

22 ramadhan 1430

23 ramadhan 1430

24 ramadhan 1430

25 ramadhan 1430

26 ramadhan 1430

27 ramadhan 1430

28 ramadhan 1430

29 ramadhan 1430

Selamat Kembali Kepada Fitrah

Semoga kita telah mencapai Key Performance Indicator (KPI) sepertimana yg yg dikehendaki oleh ALLAH SWT dalam mengharungi bulan ramadhan dan keluar darinya dengan kembali kepada Fitrah...InsyaALLAH.

Allahu Akbar… Allahu Akbar… Allahu Akbar…

Laa Ilaaha Illallaah wallaahu Akbar…

Allahu Akbar wa Lillaahilhamd…

Nikmat Masa

Kuliah subuh hari ini cukup menarik minat saya. Ianya masih lagi berkisar tentang keberkatan Ramadhan dan kelebihan Lailatul Qadar tapi satu perkara yg dikatakan oleh Ustaz tersebut berkenaan kelebihan nikmat masa yg dikurniakan Allah SWT menjawab beberapa soalan yg berlegar dikepala saya beberapa hari ini.

Persoalan yg berlegar dikepala saya ialah kenapa kadang2 kita merasakan kita telah membuat sesuatu perkara/ banyak perkara dalam satu masa yg panjang namun bila kita kita tengok jam..rupa-rupanya baru 30 minit masa berlalu. Dan dalam waktu yg lain..masa kita rasakan berjalan terlalu pantas sampaikan kerja2 masih banyak lagi tidak terbuat.

Ustaz tersebut menceritakan tentang pengalaman peribadinya mengalami nikmat masa semasa bertalaqqi dengan seorang sheikh semasa menuntut di Mesir. Diceritakannya pada satu hari sheikh tersebut memberitahu bahawa sesi talaqqi hari itu akan ambil masa panajng sikit kerana banyak tajuk/kitab yg akan disyarahkan. Mengikut ustaz, kebiasaannya sesi talaqqi akan ambil masa 2-3 jam sahaja.

Pada hari itu, memang dirasakan agak panjang sesi talaqqi tersebut dengan sheikh mengajar dari satu tajuk kesatu tajuk sehingga kaki dan belakang ustaz dan rakannya terasa kebas/lenguh. Melihat keadaan ustaz dan rakannya, tuan sheikh menyuruh ustaz dan rakannya supaya bersandar dan melunjurkan kaki. Kata ustaz, memang kebiasaan orang arab belajar sambil bersandar dan berlunjur tapi pelajar melayu biasanya duduk dengan tertib bila belajar. Ustaz dan rakan terus bertalaqqi tanpa melihat jam sehinggalah selesai.

Apabila telah keluar dari rumah sheikh tersebut, rakan ustaz melihat jamnya dari berkata pada ustaz,"sheikh, anta tahu berapa lama kita bertalaqqi tadi?, satu jam saja". SubhanALLAH...Allahuakbar...inilah kekuasaan Allah yg boleh memendekkan masa dan memanjangkan masa atas kehendakNya.

Kekuasaan Allah inilah juga yg menidurkan Ashabul Kahfi didalam satu gua selama 309 tahun yang hanya dirasa oleh mereka seperti satu atau sebahagian dari sehari. Kekuasaan Allah jualah yg menjaga tubuh badan dan pakaian mereka dari menjadi hancur dek lamanya masa berlalu sedangkan diluar gua, manusia2 sezamannya telah hancur dimakan tanah.

Ustaz juga menerangkan tentang sebenarnya kita tidak perlu hairan jika ada cerita2 ulamak/orang soleh yg dapat mengerjakan solat 100 rakaat satu malam atau menghabiskan Al Quran 10 kali sehari kerana ALLAH mampu menjadikan masa itu panjang dan pendek bagi seseorang dengan KekuasaanNYA sebagai pencipta masa itu sendiri.

Perkara inilah yg tidak dapat difahami oleh Einstein walaupun dia mampu mengeluarkan Teori Relatifnya.




Semoga Allah SWT mengurniakan nikmat masa kepada kita supaya kita dapat beribadat sebanyak mungkin dalam kita mencari Lailtul Qadar pada saat-saat pecutan akhir dibulan Ramadhan Al Mubarak ini..

Something’s Going On! The Muslims Are Coming

Shahadah Time!


The change that you can believe in! Something is happening in America and in the world. The Muslims are coming, again. The election of Barack Husein Obama is an affect of something bigger, if that isn’t big enough. President Obama made a great Ramadan message. It was so strong in its support of Muslims. It expressed the Obama administrations depth of understanding regarding Islam. Obama had to be clear in his speech that he is a Christian, even after saying that critics are still left wondering.

During the month of Ramadan I have been traveling to masajid (pl. masjid/mosque) around the country. Since the beginning of month this year people seem to be racing to take shahadah, testimony of faith in Islam. They are coming in every color, every age and every social status. In the first ten days Allah informed the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, ”You will not guide to Islam who you love, it is Allah who guides whomever Allah chooses.”

My good friend, Tariq Nelson, reminded me that in the 80’s and 90’s many new shahadahs were told to drop out of school to study only the Qur’an and Arabic language. Others were told to abandon their families as “Kafir”s. Many who accepted Islam in prison established their own understanding of Islam on the “inside”. Rahim Jenkins, The Dean of Re-Entry, explains that their understanding created a social-spiritual safety net during their incarceration yet for too many was not adequate for the realities of everyday life on the “outside”. Today as many of these men and women come home they are proclaiming the virtues of Islam from that context and the message is resonating in the heart of many in the ‘hood. We have had teenagers come to us to accept Islam. Take my advice. Go home with them, met their family. Explain to their parents what is going on and get them involved. If they take shahadah ask the parents to sign a document for activities with the masjid: parent consent form. You may be surprised what the reaction will be.

The wealthy and successful from that era have failed to bring the understanding of Islam into their middle-class social circle. Although, there are exceptions to the rule, many have chosen the Sufi-circle where they can maintain their “white privilege” by day while expressing their Muslim identity by night. Today we need those Muslims and their relatives to come out of the closet with their faith and show that Muslims look just like everybody else in America.

What’s going on! It is clearly not because of something Muslims are doing. Many Muslims are trying to live their faith but are not going door-to-door, or engaging in massive conversion rallies to witness about their faith. For the most part Muslims are just reaching out and sharing the faith in action. That’s not what’s doing it.

Many Muslims have expressed fear that the community is not prepared for the influx of new of believers. In the last major wave of conversions/reversions (90’s-Malcolm X: The Movie) many new members of the faith experienced rejection from their families and their communities. The masajid and their new Muslim community failed to give them the full embrace of Muslim Ummahood (Brotherhood and Sisterhood in Islam), as described by Ismail Faruqi, may Allah have mercy upon him.

We have a second chance to make real the promise of Islam in our community. It is too late to get ready the rain has begun to fall, the sun is rising on a new day for Islam and Muslims in America. Our support of these brothers and sisters is more critical than ever. Should we succeed in educating them to reach for the highest levels of service and personal development, they will become a beacon of hope to Muslims around the world. Should we fail they will become a disgrace to the way of life that has given world civilization a model of excellence and inclusion unrivaled in history.

It is our choice and the time is now to invest in the NEW SHAHADAHs, their parents, their children and their communities.

From blog Imam Johari Abdul Malik

- If this phenomena can happened in USA where muslim is a minority...it should be a greater phenomena in Malaysia where muslim is a majority.....but why it did't happened?..For us to ponder..

Derita Hati Seorang Bonda

Tiba-tiba je teringat Bonda yg sudah tiada lagi...

"In the Name of Allah": Any Significance?

"I am a non-Muslim and I am reading about your religion. I read that the formula that Muslims use before they start anything includes two important names of the Muslims' God. I am asking about the significance of this formula and why these names are mentioned."

Thank you for your interesting question.

The formula you mentioned is probably what Muslims refer to in Arabic as the "basmalah", the statement with which Muslims begin when we embark on various endeavors. This statement is: "Bismillahir rahmanir raheem", which translates as, "in the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent".

When a Muslim says the basmalah upon embarking on any work, he or she means: I start by and with the name of God, in quest of His help, blessings, and guidance.

Also Muslims believe that, beginning with this statement, if done with sincerity and conscientious awareness, will not only serve to invoke the blessings and help of God, but will also act as a reminder for the one saying it that this act he or she is commencing must conform to the Divine will and His cause of justice and mercy.

As you may have noticed, this statement has three names, which all refer to God; the first of which is "Allah". This is His proper name, and it is the name of God used by the Arabs — including the Christians — before Islam; and it is the name still used in Arabic versions of the Bible.

Muslims believe it has been always His name, which was revealed to the previous prophets, including Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all). Historical, archaeological, as well as theological evidence supports that belief.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, "The name's [Allah] origin can be traced back to the earliest Semitic ‎writings in which the word for "god" was Il or El, the latter ‎being an Old Testament synonym for Yahweh. Allah is the ‎standard Arabic word for "God" and is also used by Arab ‎Christians as well as by Muslims.‎" (Allāh, last accessed on July 19,2009)

The word Allah is close to the Arabic word "Al-Ilah" (The God). And, whether or not it is derived from it, it does imply the meanings of al-Ilah. These meanings are: the only One to be worshipped; the One to whom belongs all devotion, worship, and gratitude. It also means the One, ultimately loved with obedience and surrendered to with adoration.

There is no plural of this word; and there are no masculine or feminine forms of it because Allah is one; and He is transcendent above genders.

The second attribute is "Al-Rahman" (the Most Merciful). This, Muslims believe, is the most exclusive name of God after His name Allah. It is a superlative from the adjective "Al-Rahim", which means merciful. It comes right after the proper name in the basmalah to assert this quality of His. Allah Almighty said:

*{My Mercy encompasses all things.}* (Al-A`raf 7:156}

The third attribute is the Most Beneficent, "Al-Rahim". It is in the adjective form; and it is here not only to emphasize the quality of mercy, but also to assert the incapacity of any language in truly describing the essence of Allah, while affirming all of His sublime names and attributes and inviting man to ponder over them.

Moreover, the adjective "Al-Rahim", when mentioned next to "Al-Rahman", adds different shades to the quality of mercy, all of which will enable humans to grasp as much as they can of this beautiful attribute.

For example, "Al-Rahman" implies mercy in both lives, while "Al-Rahim" implies mercy in the Hereafter. Also, "Al-Rahman" is a description of Allah's intrinsic quality of mercy, while "Al-Rahim" is about the extension of mercy to His creatures.

A Muslim is required to pray five Prayers daily, which are made of a total of seventeen units called "rakahs". In each of those units, he must recite the opening chapter of the Quran. Those two descriptions of mercy are repeated twice in each unit of Prayer, first in the "basmalah", which directly precedes the opening chapter, and again in the chapter itself, which means Muslims have to actively remind themselves of Allah's mercy at least 68 times per day.

Those names mentioned here are some of Allah's most beautiful names. Among the other names of Allah are the Living One and the Subsisting, in Arabic "Al-Ḥayy Al-Qayyum", the Definitive Truth, or "Al-Ḥaqq", the Compassionate, in Arabic "Al-Wadud", and many others, with a total of 99 names.

In a broader sense, Muslims start their endeavors by mentioning the names of God, since we believe that He is the source of all things; and to Him will return everything. He is the First and the Last; and He is the origin of life and the creator of all things.

He is not only the Creator of all things, but He is the Sovereign over the entire existence, and the Disposer of its affairs. Help is to be sought from Him alone; and trust is to be placed in Him alone.

The belief in the oneness of Allah and in the absoluteness of His perfection brings peace to the minds of the believers and influences their view of life and its various dichotomies.

The various endeavors we pursue in this life need to be all connected together with one thread. That is the thread of devotion to the one and only God, who created life and death, poverty and wealth, day and night, war and peace, and health and disease.

A fractured approach to this life will fail to bring to humanity much needed contentment and serenity. They must be sought from the source of them all.

I hope this answers your question. Please keep in touch.

From IslamOnline.net

My First Ramadhan

I really can't remember vividly what it was like during my first ramadhan and I "think" I started fasting when I was 7 years old. Maybe because I was born Muslim, the thrill of ramadhan was not sort of things that stuck to my mind.

Thus, when I read the story of new reverts to Islam telling their first ramadhan experience, I really envy them because they were fasting based on their effort to please their new founding Creator whereas I was fasting just for the sake of following what my family did that time.

My only hope is from now onward , I will go through the month of ramadhan with full knowledge of its blessing and by the end of ramadhan , I will come out of it as a fully "recharged" muslim..InsyaAllah..

My First Ramadan By Khalid Paschalis

It was around the last days of Sha`ban (the eighth month of the Hijri calendar), and I was speaking with my Muslim friends about Ramadan and fasting. I had already read of the importance and benefits of fasting, and I really wanted to live this experience. I was very anxious, though. I kept thinking that it might be difficult for me to abstain from food and water during the daytime for a whole month! My best friend gave me advice on how to fast and be able to make it for the whole day. Then Ramadan arrived! I remember myself waking up very early to eat my sahur (the meal before fasting). I remembered my friend's advice to drink much water. I ate and then I performed the Fajr Prayer. It felt different from the other times. It was something I can't explain, I was actually really living the prayer, it just felt great! Later that day I went to the university. I was anxious that if I saw the other students eating or drinking water, it would make me thirsty and hungry. Anyway, I felt confident and went on. During that day I didn't really feel very hungry or thirsty, al-hamdu lillah. It wasn't as hard as I first thought it would be. I actually felt better and I felt my stomach clean. During the next days along with my medical studies, I studied a lot about Islam. I was reading the Qur'an and Hadith, I was talking with my friends. It was a great opportunity to widen my knowledge of Islam. My mother was not very pleased with my fasting and she kept telling me that I would not make it and that it would harm me. Al-hamdu lillah, she was wrong! I had a problem with my stomach before Ramadan and it was cured just because of my fasting! Another good opportunity the holy month gave me was that I met more Muslims in my community. I met many students I hadn't known of before, and they were really pleased to welcome me as a new Muslim in their company. We had iftar (meal to break the fast) together some days and we spoke on a variety of things. How great it was! When Ramadan was slowly coming to its end, I actually got used to fasting and it was something I knew I would miss later. The last night before `Eid, I was feeling a different person — a better person. I woke up very early next day and went to the mosque for the `Eid Prayer. It was more crowded than I had ever seen it before, and I realized that Muslims in my community aren't as few as I first thought. The prayer finished and I went with my friends to eat breakfast in the university cafeteria. How strange it seemed to me to eat at that time! I missed that period until now that Ramadan has begun once again. This is my second Ramadan and it is so the same and yet so different from my previous one! The first Ramadan is really an experience never forgotten! Remembrances of a First Ramadan By Aisha Robertson Women praying in a mosque. This upcoming Ramadan will be my fourteenth, al-hamdu lillah, and I am looking forward to it, in sha' Allah. I was 27 years old when I converted to Islam and consequently spent 27 years celebrating Christian holidays and birthdays. I did go through a transition period of adjustment to my new faith and way of life and al-hamdu lillah, I feel a deep sense of ownership and pride in the Islamic holidays I now celebrate as a Muslimah. After converting to Islam, I was quick to learn salah (prayer) and wear hijab. I was incredibly grateful to Allah Almighty (subhanahu wa ta`ala) for the hidaya (guidance to the true path) I was given and I wanted to be identified in public as a Muslim. I could hardly wait for my first Ramadan because this would be the pillar of Islam that I would do with the whole Muslim community. It is true that fasting is an individual act. However, breaking the fast and sharing iftars (meals to break the fast) along with performing the Tarawih Prayer are things that are usually done collectively. Before converting to Islam I had fasted the 40 days of Lent; however, it was not the same as the fast of Ramadan because I did drink water during the day. Even though I had this experience of fasting previously, I was still quite anxious about going without food and water during the day. I was not sure if I could do it, especially being in America where most people are not Muslim and daily life is not adjusted for Ramadan. But I knew that if Allah commanded me to do it then it was possible. I recall being very lonely during my first Ramadan. I was a new convert and I was single. Basically, I woke up for sahur (meal before fasting) and ate it alone, broke my fast alone and prayed Tarawih Prayer alone. I was a university graduate student and I lived alone. The Muslim Students Association at my university was dominated by brothers and consequently the iftars they held were for brothers only. So I really could not attend them. I did not know many sisters at that time and the local masjid was very far from where I lived. I did not have a car to drive to the masjid for community iftars and Tarawih Prayer. Al-hamdu lillah, I did feel however, that Allah was always with me. In a way, I began to feel very close to Allah. One of the best things that happened during my first Ramadan was that I got married, al-hamdu lillah. I was actually engaged but because of my circumstances and lack of family support we decided it would be best to marry even though it was Ramadan. Al-hamdu lillah, I was then able to eat sahur with my husband, pray, and break the fast with him. It brought me a great sense of peace and contentment, al-hamdu lillah. I also was able to go to the masjid for the Tarawih Prayer one time, and I loved the entire experience of praying with so many sisters. I began to feel that I was part of the larger community of Muslims. One of my friends, Aminah, is also a convert. I asked her about her experiences during her first Ramadan and I found we shared a similar experience of being anxious. Sister Aminah also had a wonderful experience when meeting other Muslims. Aminah told me she felt "a strangeness because I wasn't used to being treated like family from people I barely knew. Especially since I was used to the kind of people who only treated you right when they wanted something." Sister Aisha is another convert friend who lives in Kenya. Aisha explained to me that she found her first Ramadan to be spiritually fulfilling even though it was also a bit lonely for her. Aisha told me, "I really needed to replenish my spiritual needs and I loved the sacrifice. I visited the masjid several times and from then my masjid phobia disappeared for good. I had this phobia to go to the masjid because I wasn't sure I would be able to say the prayers correctly, as I had learned to pray on my own through books and used to do it in the house." When Aisha told me about her masjid phobia I smiled because I went through the same experience. Aisha also told me that her `Eid was rather uneventful because she, along with her husband and small daughter, had no other Muslim family. However, they were thankful to Allah the Almighty for everything. Aisha explained, "You see both of us being reverts, we have no close Muslim ties, this is a time Muslims want to be with their close ones and so no one seems to want guests. That is when I came up with a dream to set up a house for reverts where they can feel at home especially during times like Ramadan!" I think Aisha's idea is a great one and I pray it comes to fruition. I was able to spend my first `Eid Al-Fitr with my husband and his family but I still felt a bit lonely. Perhaps it is because my own family was not able to celebrate with me. Allah promises to test us and I just view all of my lonely experiences as a test from Allah the Most High. These experiences are also a reaffirmation of my reason for converting to Islam, which was for the sake of Allah alone and not for pleasing people or for other worldly benefits.

From Islamonline.net

5 ways to make this Ramadhan Extraordinary!

By Sheikh Tawfique Chowdhury,
Director General, Al-Kauthar Institute

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

My dear friends and students,

Welcome to our long-lost friend: Ramadan. How we have missed the days of self-restraint and the nights of mercy and delight! After eleven months of sinning, we now have the opportunity to avail ourselves of a month of mercy and forgiveness. For those whose duas have not been answered, the month of answered duas has arrived. For those who have drifted away from the soothing night prayer, or who have never achieved it, the month of the blessed taraweeh has arrived. Welcome to our Lord’s mercy: the month of Ramadan. No doubt each and every one of us approaches Ramadan with a special excitement. Alas for many of us, however: the excitement is met with fear and dread instead.
Will this Ramadan be like the previous ones where I failed to truly take full advantage and mend my ways?
Will this Ramadan only demonstrate to me how far away from Allah I truly am?
Will it be yet another month that passes by without my taking full advantage of it?

If you are feeling this way, know that you are not alone. Many of us feel this way and do not know how to tackle it. As a result, the fear and dread are enough for us to avoid setting new goals and higher aspirations for this month. As a result, we find ourselves at the end of the month in the situation of having failed to benefit from this opportunity and languishing in sorrow at the thought that we will never improve.
I too used to get these whispers and thoughts in my mind. However, I overcame these thoughts with the help of Allah. Here are five things that I have done to tackle these "Ramadan blues". Let me share them with you; perhaps the suggestions may benefit you, and help you to overlook the past and focus on the future.

1. Good thoughts about Allah:

 I remind myself that my Lord is most Generous and Kind. He loves me sincerely. The proof is that even when I disobey Him He still provides for me. That is why He is giving me yet another Ramadan: yet another opportunity to get closer to Him again. He loves to forgive, and His best friends are those who seek His forgiveness the most. He has brought me to another Ramadan so that I can have yet another chance at Laylatul Qadr, and yet another chance to make my duas accepted at the time of iftar, and yet another chance to do Hajj with Rasul-Allah (sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) by doing umrah in this month. He has brought me to Ramadan to sooth the sorrows in my heart with His remembrance, and for me to be reminded of the nights in my grave by the solitude of i’tikaaf: by seeing how it feels to be alone with Him in the mosque. He wants me to lighten the load on my mind, so that is why He has given me the month of the Qur’an: so that I can relive the amazing Word of my Rabb (Lord and Master). The salaf (pious predecessors) would beg Allah for another opportunity for Ramadan, so how fortunate I am that He has given me this chance once again. How fortunate I am that He has given me the chance to know when this month is, so that I can take advantage of it. How fortunate I am that He has given me the yearning in my heart to meet my Lord in this month - and I know that the one who loves to meet His Lord, Allah subhaanahu wa ta’ala also loves to meet him

2. Forget the past and focus on the future:

 I remind myself that past deeds are just that: a matter of the past. I live for the future, not the past. The past will be forgiven insha’Allah if I can mend the future. My concern should be the next deed that I do, because Allah loves to forgive; so I can have every confidence that He will forgive the past because I have nothing but regret for my past sins. The most important consideration for me is what sort of amends I make now. I remind myself of what Imam Ibnul-Qayyim (rahimahu-Allah) said in his Nooniyyah:
By Allah I am not afraid of my past sins,
For indeed they are upon the path of repentance and forgiveness;
Rather my real concern is that [in the next deed] this heart
Might cease to act upon revelation and upon the noble Qur’an.

3. Evaluate previous attempts in order to plan a strategy to make it work this time:

I remember that it is illogical to think that my future chances of success are a reflection of my failures in the past. My past inabilities only show me what to do better this time so that I can increase my chances this time around. So if I tried to pray taraweeh every night but failed, I should look back at what happened in order to learn lessons from those failures. Was it that the Imam’s recitation was not good? If so, then let me try to find a mosque to go to whose Imam recites better. If I failed to complete reciting the whole Qur’an last year, let me look at why that was the case and how I can change it. Can I put up reminders to read the Qur’an, or shall I buy a few more copies of the Qur’an and put them in more convenient places, such as one in my car, another in my briefcase and another on my table, so that I have a mushaf always on hand? If I missed getting up for fajr last Ramadan, why did it happen and how can I change it? Perhaps I should buy more alarm clocks, so let me go to the store right now. Perhaps I should SMS my friends to start a fajr prayer-calling group so that each day one of us is responsible for waking the others up. Perhaps I should make my suhur my heaviest meal so that my body feels hungry at suhur-time and so I get up more easily.

4. Reward, challenge and penalise myself:

I can plan and prepare to reward myself if I finish this Ramadan satisfactorily. So I tell myself that if I can make myself pray all my prayers at the earliest time this Ramadan and recite the Qur’an five times this month, then I will buy myself a new laptop; if I can recite it ten times then I will go away with my family for a holiday, or some other significant reward that I know I would definitely like to treat myself with. I warn myself that if I fail to at least recite the Qur’an five times in this month, then I will donate a thousand dollars to charity. I remind myself that even Allah’s Messenger sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used to give worldly rewards to those who excelled in battle: e.g. half the war-booty from the raids to the Muslim knights who had taken part in the raid; he (saw) would consider it a great sin upon the one who fails to join the obligatory battle. In the same spirit of reward, challenge and penalty, I would do this for my children and my wife as well by helping them with a reward if they do something extraordinary this month, and a penalty if they did not even do the minimum extra level. In this way I can give them an added incentive to do good in this limited time of Ramadan. I remind myself that ultimately we must do it for Allah and never for a physical prize, but associating an emotional desire with an action and fear of a punishment at the non-performance of it will cause that action to be foremost in the subconscious part of my mind. I remind myself that the worst thing about not making this Ramadan special is going to be something worse than the penalty I have stipulated. It will be the disappointment of a Ramadan wasted, and the risk of Allah’s wrath.

5. Create peer-pressure and responsibility:

I remind myself that if I make my friends and family aware of some of my goals, then they might help me. So I share some of my goals with them, ensuring that I am doing it to engage their help in performing it, not in a spirit of boasting. I hope that this will give me added support and encouragement to ensure that they help me in achieving the good things I have set out to do. If they do not help, at the very least they should not mind when I excuse myself from their service or company in order to spend some time on working towards my goal.
I hope that some or all of these things will help you to look upon this Ramadan with a fresh outlook. Make lots of dua to Allah that this Ramadan will be special for you, for your family, and for the Ummah of our beloved sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. I am interested in hearing from you if you have other things that you do to focus positively at the advent of another Ramadan.
Jazaakumullahulkhair and my duas for you and your family for a fantastic and blessed Ramadan, insha’Allah;
wassalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

Tawfique Chowdhury
Director General
AlKauthar Institute and Mercy Mission World

Taken from one of my favourite Blogs ..ProductiveMuslim.com

Marhaban Ya Ramadhan

"Abah, tengok Jia lukis apa?",
"eh..eh.. cantiknya...lukisan tentang apa ni?"
"Tentang Ramadhan...Bulan Puasa..."

Alhamdulillah, anak sekecil Jia telah memahami dan diberi pendedahan tentang ramadhan oleh guru tadikanya dan nampak bersemangat untuk sama-sama meraikan bulan yg mulia ini...

Ramadhan merupakan "Month of Mercy and Forgiveness", untuk itu marilah kita sama-sama merebut peluang yang dikurniakan Allah SWT dalam bulan ramadhan tahun ini sepenuhnya.

RAMADHAN AL MUBARAK UNTUK SEMUA

Perginya Tak Kembali... Ustaz Asri Rabbani

Amat mengejutkan....dalam usia semuda 42 tahun, Ustaz Asri Ibrahim telah dipanggil pulang ke sisi Rabbnya kira-kira pukul 11 pagi tadi. Semoga Allah memberikan kerahmatan dan keampunan ke atas Roh Al marhum dan memberi kesabaran dan ketabahan kepada keluarga beliau.

"Dari Allah kita datang, kepada Allah kita kembali"..

Ramadhan Tanpa Bonda

Ramadhan yang bakal menjelang tidak lama lagi mengingatkan kembali akan kepulangan Bonda ke rahmatullah pada bulan syawal tahun lepas. Ramadhan 1429 Hijrah merupakan ramadhan terakhir dapat ku hayati bersama Bonda. Bonda pulang menemui Penciptanya setelah menahan kesakitan selama 4 bulan. Ramadhan 1429 hijrah juga merupakan ramadhan yang pertama (selepas aku menjadi dewasa), aku menyambut sepenuhnya di negeri asalku, Terengganu.

Hampir 18 tahun aku merantau keluar dari kampung halaman mencari rezeki dari KL ke Johor, Johor ke Sabah, balik ke Semenanjung dan menetap sekejap di Negeri Sembilan, akhirnya bekerja di Kuala Lumpur dan membeli rumah serta menetap di Rawang, Selangor.

Pada bulan November 2007, aku meletakkan jawatan sebagai Senior Manager disebuah syarikat dan mengambil keputusan untuk balik ke Terengganu. Ku tinggalkan segala kehebatan Kuala Lumpur, ku tinggalkan kawan-kawan, ku tinggalkan jiran-jiran yang telah ku kenali lebih dari 10 tahun, ku tinggalkan rumah yang telah ku ubahsuai dan ku tinggalkan pangkat dan kerja yang selesa untuk kembali ke Terengganu...demi seorang Bonda. Ku tinggalkan segala-galanya itu supaya dapat ku berjumpa ibuku sekurang-kurangnya sekali seminggu.

Alhamdulillah, Allah SWT telah berikan aku kesempatan selama 6 bulan untuk aku meluangkan masa bersama-sama bonda...duduk dikerusi di halaman rumahnya dan melihat pandangan orang lalu lalang sambil melayan bicara dengan Bonda. Banyak yang dibicarakannya dan selalunya berkisah mengenai anak-anaknya termasuklah aku.

Setiap kali berbicara dengan Bonda, aku cuba sedaya upaya untuk tidak menyakiti hatinya, cuba melayan bicara hatinya sebaik mungkin. Aku cuba praktikkan firman ALLAH SWT dalam Surah
Al-Israa' Ayat 23-24 yang bermaksud,

"Dan Tuhanmu telah perintahkan, supaya engkau tidak menyembah melainkan kepadaNya semata-mata, dan hendaklah engkau berbuat baik kepada ibu bapa. Jika salah seorang dari keduanya, atau kedua-duanya sekali sampai kepada umur tua dalam jagaan dan peliharaanmu, maka janganlah engkau berkata kepada mereka ( sebarang perkataan kasar) sekalipun perkataan "ah", dan janganlah engkau menengking menyergah mereka, tetapi katakan kepada mereka perkataan mulia (yang bersopan santun). Dan hendaklah engkau merendah diri kepada keduanya kerana belas kasihan dan kasih sayangmu, dan doakanlah (untuk mereka, dengan berkata), " Wahai Tuhanku! Cucurkanlah rahmat kepada mereka berdua sebagaimana mereka telah mencurahkan kasih sayangnya memelihara dan mendidikku semasa kecil."

Setiap masa kelapangan, aku akan menjenguk bonda dan kadang-kadang aku datang semasa bekerja bersama rakan sekerja. Masih ku ingat kata-kata rakanku itu selepas berjumpa Bonda, " Mak demo mace muko demo...nampok sihat lagi dio". Rupa-rupanya dalam kelihatan sihat itu Bonda mengidap penyakit kencing manis kronik yang hanya dikesan sebulan selepas itu. 2 jari kaki kanannya terpaksa dipotong dan seterusnya penyakit tersebut menjadi 'asbab' kepulangannya ke Rahmatullah dalam bulan Syawal yang lalu.

Semasa menyambut Ramadhan sebelum pemergiannya, Bonda dalam keadaan yang amat lemah menyebabkan dia tidak dapat berpuasa. Sepanjang ramadhan tersebut, aku sentiasa menziarahinya hampir setiap hari untuk melihat keadaannya dan menatap wajahnya. Aku lakukan ini kerana pernah teringat kata-kata seorang ustaz ,

"Ada lima perkara apabila kita menatapnya akan mendapat pahala iaitu melihat Kaabah, mushaf al-Quran, melihat wajah ibu bapa, orang alim dan memandang wajah suami isteri dengan penuh kasih sayang,"

Setiap kali apabila hendak berpisah, aku akan mohon keampunannya dan Bonda juga tidak pernah lupa ucapkan, "Mok pun mintak maaf gok, Di". Bagaimanakah aku seorang anak ingin maafkan seorang ibu yang tidak pernah membuat kesalahan pada diriku..yang jika adapun sedikit rasa ketidakpuasan hatiku terhadapnya, telah kubuang jauh-jauh...aku telah redha Bonda menjadi Ibuku didunia dan diakhirat.

Ramadhan datang lagi tahun ini dan seperti biasa ianya akan disambut dengan kegembiraan bagi orang-orang yang mencari rahmat dan redha Allah. Bulan dimana diturunkan Alquran sebagai petunjuk dan menjadi pembeza antara yang hak dan yang batil sepertimana firman Allah yang bermaksud,

" ..Bulan Ramadhan, bulan yang di dalamnya diturunkan al-Quran sebagai petunjuk bagi manusia dan penjelasan-penjelasan mengenai petunjuk itu dan menjadi pembeza ( di antara yang hak dengan yang bathil),"
Sural Al-Baqarah Ayat 185.

Ya, Ramadhan datang lagi dan kali ini akan ku sambut tanpa Bonda disisi. Tiada lagi wajah Bonda untuk kutatapi, tiada lagi bicara Bonda yang dapat ku dengari.... hanya doa yang dapat kukirim.. semoga bonda tenang disisi Ilahi.

Ramadhan Datang Lagi

Ramadhan Datang Lagi
Setelah Sebelas Bulan Menghilang Diri
Membawa Bersama Rahmat Ilahi
Lailatul Qadar Yang Perlu Di Cari..

Ramadhan Datang Lagi
Untuk Mengumpul Semula Insani
Mengisi Masjid dan Surau Di Sana Sini
Mungkin Untuk Seminggu Yang Awali..

Ramadhan Datang Lagi
Untuk Mengingatkan Manusia Sekali Lagi
Bahawa Kita Punya Saudara Di Sana Sini
Yang Perutnya Jarang2 Berisi..

Ramadhan Datang Lagi
Memimpin Manusia Menginsafi Diri
Memberi Latihan Jati Diri
Untuk Sebelas Bulan Selepas Ini..

Ramadhan Datang Lagi
Genap Sebulan Diakan Pergi
Yang Mungkin Penghabisan Kali
Bagi Kita Yang DiJemput Ilahi..

Ramadhan Datang Lagi
Apa Lagi Yang Kita Tunggui
Ayuh Istiqamahkan Diri
Semoga Ramadhan Kali Ini
Our Best Ramadhan Di sisi ILahi..

When Allah Gives Hidayah......The Story of Babri Masjid Demolisher

Ayodhya - Dec. 6, 1992, Among the fears of lakhs [hundreds of thousands] of Kar Sevak who had gathered to demolish the Babri Masjid , few furiously climbed on the majestic minaret of the mosque. The most important among the few were Shive Sainik. A resident of Faisabad, where Ayodhya is situated, Shive Prasad was the captain of Bajrang Dal. He was given the responsibility to guide four thousand Kar Sevak in the demolition of mosque.

It was he who gave training to four thousands of people under him, on how to carry the demolition. On seeing the majestic minarets of the mosque come down Captain Prasad was overjoyed and shouted the "Ram! Ram!" This happened seven years ago.

On Dec. 6 ,1999 the same Shive Prasad was seeking forgiveness from Allah for his cruel act seven years back. This 6 Dec.1999 he was fasting (non-obligatory) and regretting for the act with tears and was seeking forgiveness from Allah in his prayers. Yes ! Shive Prasad has embraced Islam. He has changed his name to Mohammed Mustafa. One will be moved to learn how he embraced Islam.

This change in Shive Prasad's heart was published by Malayalam News (7.12.99) issued by "Arab News Publications" in Saudi Arabia. Shive Prasad's father Trigal Ramanathan was chief among the heads of Sangh Parivar. His whole family was actively involved in demolishing the Babri Masjid.

Soon after the demolition of the mosque, Shive prasad felt a depression in his heart. He had no peace of mind. He felt that he had committed a great sin. In 1997 he went to Sharjah in order to seek employment. But even at work his mind was restless.

On Dec. 4, 1998 as he was walking along the streets of Sharjah, he happened to hear a speech before Friday prayer held in a mosque which was in Hindi. When he heard the speech, which he felt was something different. He wanted to listen the complete speech. That message about Allah created a revolution in his rest less mind. He continued to listen to such speeches thereafter. The revolution in his heart was completed.

All praise be to Allah ! Allah has shown him the right path. He has forfeited the ignorance and chosen the righteous path. When Shive Prasad embraced Islam he was driven out by his family members who were strong RSS activists. He is praying to God that his family members should also choose the righteous path as he did. Shive Prasad says that among those who led the demolition on the spot were Ashok Singhal and Advani. On the day of demolition the police and CRPF connived with the leaders of BJP, Bajrang Dal and RSS. Both these law enforcing agencies greatly helped in the demolition.

He recalls that on that day Ashok Singhal dressed himself in military uniform and gave orders. He also recalls, soon after the demolition of the mosque they entered the muslim areas in the Faisabad and shouted "Jai Shriram". Now, Shive Prasad is receiving continuous threatenings from RSS, BJP and Bajrang Dal. Sangh Parivar has threatened to kill if he returns to India. But Mohammed Mustafa (Shive Prasad) says firmly that he will never turn away from Islam - the righteous path even if death comes his way.

Having learnt 17 Surahs in the Holy Qur'an, he is anxious to complete learning the whole of the Holy Qur'an. His ambition is to become a true Islamic preacher and and bring ignorant people to light. If Allah wishes, his ambition will be fulfilled and the very same hands which demolished the Babri Masjid will built up again.

source : http://www.usislam.org

-SubhanALLAH...May Allah SWT fulfill Brother Mohammed Mustafa's ambitions and guide him and us with His Hidayah all the time...

How Could You Deny The Oneness of ALLAH?

Yes I lived a life alone, Living it just for me,
and I had no idea this life would judge my eternity,
I look at my self and I wondered who created me,
I had to open my heart and my mind and open my eyes to see.
Open my eyes and see the existence of whats surrounding me,
Its more than just chance, its more than just co-incidence,
Look around and see, the earth, the moon, the sun and the stars,
A beautiful creation of Allah (God) so how could you deny,

How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar

How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar
How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar
How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar



Lift your head and look up above, and youll see it so clearly
The stars that glitter all around, the birds that fly above me,
I see the rain fall from the sky, I see a seed become a tree,
Lift the veil from your heart , worship Allah and youll succeed, you surely will succeed,
Open my eyes and see the existence of whats surrounding me
Its more than just chance, its more than just co-incidence,
The air that I breath, the food that I need,
The plants and the trees, the sun and the seeds,
You and me everything you see, so how can you deny.

How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar
How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar
How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar
How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar
How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar
How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar
How could you deny the oneness of Allah Allahu akbar

Above are the lyrics of the following Nasheed by NBN (No Beat Necessary)...lately I don't have much things and time to write something new in my blog..I just browse thru the internet and pick up something interesting like the nasyeed below from website Islam Explained.

Hope it will benefit to us all...InsyaAllah

Beatiful Nasheeds From Yusuf Islam

This few weeks especially last weekend were quite hectic for me...went to KL and back on the same day..went to KT the next morning...registered and waited for Azim first day Tae Kwan Do lessons in the evening and at night,prepared presentations for the meeting until 1.30 am the next day....

And to be able to listen to these beatiful nasheeds from Yusuf Islam this morning...really help to soothe my clustered mind and tired body..

enjoy the nasheed and may Allah SWT bless us all...

Is My Income Halal?

While surfing the internet today to find other fellow muslim bloggers, I came across a blog called ProductiveMuslim.com
and I feel some sort of obligations to share its posting with others. Good way of "muhasabah" ourself and improve our "halalness" of our income. May Allah SWT give us strength.....

"The TV commercials, recently debuted in major Middle-eastern channels, depict different scenarios which make your income non-halaal, and then cleverly interprets the Prophetic saying "hellfire is more deserving of every flesh which has been nourished through that which is unlawful” by showing fire burning on the faces of those you feed non-halal income. Scary but sooo visual and makes one think!

Although the commercials are in Arabic, yet they are mostly self explanatory. I’ve added some titles/sub-headings to help you understand the gist of what's going on. The last part of each video asks "Is your income halal?""

- my comments; for the purpose of "muhasabah" we should ask ourself instead of others...Is My Income Halal??


TV Commercial 1 - Accepting Bribery at work




TV Commercial 2 - A Doctor at his private clinic who over-prescribes tests/x-rays/medicines for his patients so he earns more money




TV Commercial 3 - A teacher who simply sits in front of her class and does not teach them anything, but sits and waits for the bell to ring so she can sign off and go home.




TV Commercial 4 - Arriving late at work but having your friend sign you in early!




TV Commercial 5 - Waking up late and making up lies as excuses for not coming in!




TV Commercial 6 - A man having trouble with rent/bills/expenses calls his employer who hasn't paid him for 2 months, the employer gives him the excuse that he has no money even though he's having a lavish dinner with his family!

Taubat Seorang Hamba

Lirik2 nasyid yg cukup menyentuh jiwa-jiwa yang merasakan dirinya seorang hamba yang tidak akan lari dari melakukan kesalahan dan dosa kepada Penciptanya....semoga memberi manafaat kepada kita semua...

Abah..hadas besar tu apa?

Hari isnin lepas macam biasa aku pergi jemput Azim balik dari sekolah...Masuk je dalam kereta Azim ajukan satu soalan yg agak menarik, "Abah, hadas besar tu apa?"...terkejut jugak aku...ini kali pertama aku dapat pertanyaan seperti ini dari anak2 aku...abang dan kakak azim sebelum ini tak pernah tanya soalan macam ni....

"Mana azim dengar perkataan hadas besar tu?" aku tanya balik.."ustazah beritahu hari ini" jawab Azim..."apa lagi kata ustazah", ku tanya balik untuk tahu setakat mana pengetahuan yang Azim dapat dari ustazahnya...

"ustazah kata kalu ada hadas besar, kena mandi, kalu tak, tak leh solat" jawab Azim.."ahh..betul lah kata ustazah tu" kataku untuk cuba menamatkan perbualan sebelum pergi lebih detail...

"tapi......apa benda hadas besar tu...? tanya Azim lagi....nampak gayanya aku terpaksa berterus terang sahaja kat Azim..bagi dia faham terus...

Baru je aku nak terangkan, kereta dah sampai kerumah...Azim keluar dari kereta dan selepas buang kasut terus bertanya kepada Manya, "Ma..hadas besar bende Ma".....Manya mengerlingkan matanya kepada ku sambil tersenyum.....emm giliran zaujahku pulak untuk menjawab...

"Bila Azim mimpi naik kapalterbang...Azim kira hadas besarlah..kenalah mandi" terang Zaujahku....macam biasa kudengar penerangan macam tu....maka berlakulah soal jawab antara Azim dan Manya..

"kalu tak mimpi"...

"tak payahlah mandi"...

"naik kapalterbang tu camna..."

"nanti Azim besar, Azim tahulah macam mana naik kapalterbang tu.."

"abang yo dah mimpi ke belum?"....

"dah dekat2 dah nak mimpi tu...suarapun dah mula tukar"...

Lepas tu aku tingalkan mereka berdua dan aku kira Azim dah faham sebab tiada lagi soalan selepas aku kembali semula...

Selepas bersiap2 menaiki kereta untuk ke Masjid untuk solat maghrib..."Abah..Kena mandi tiap2 kali nak solat ke bila hadas besar?"......La..ada lagi soalan mengenai hadas besar ni...ingatkan dah selesai...

"Tak..sekali je...." Jawabku pendek

"ohh..sekali je...ingat tiap2 kali nak solat"..."pah tu macam nak tahu kita ada hadas besar ke tak"

"Tadi Ma terangkan Azim tak faham ke?"

"Dok..."

Masanya dah tiba untuk aku selesaikan kekusutan anakku sorang ini....

"Hadas tu ada 2 jenis..hadas besar dan hadas kecil, Azim tahu dok, apa tu hadas kecil? tanyaku

"Dok tahu..."

"Azim tahu dok, perkara2 hok batalkan wuduk?"

"buang air.....errr...kentut....betul dok abah?"

"Ah..betullah tu..bila batal wuduk..maknanya kita dalam hadas kecil..dok leh solat..pegang Alquran...nak solat kita kena....?

"ambil wuduk...." jawab Azim pantas..

"hadas besar pulak biasanya untuk orang2 tua je...budak2 tak ada lagi hadas besar"

"budak2 pun mimpi naik kapalterbang gok, abah..Ma kata bila mimpi naik kapalterbang..kira hadas besar tu..."

"Betul tu...cuma Ma bagi kiasan je tu...ada tak ustazah kata sebab2 boleh jadi hadas besar?

"ada...emm..kalau keluar air...emm..air mani...air mani tu apa abah?

"budak2 tak keluar lagi air mani...bila dah besar..baru keluar air tu...dan biasanya dia keluar bila kita mimpi.....tu yang Ma kata mimpi naik kapalterbang tu..Faham?"

"faham2...air mani tu warna bende....dia keluar kut mana, bah"....banyaklah tanya budak ni...

"warna putih....keluar ikut "anu"...bila keluar air nilah kita ada dalam hadas besar...masa ada dalam hadas besar ni kita tak boleh solat, pegang alquran...lebih kurang kalu dalam hadas kecil jugok...untuk kita nak solat kita kena mandi...namanya mandi wajib...faham dok?"

"faham doh, bah..."

"kalu faham...cuba khabor ke abah apa dia hadas besar dan hadas kecik?" kataku nak uji balik Azim.

"emmm.....kita hadas kecik bila wuduk kita batal sebab...kentut..emmm...hadas besar pulak ...emm....bila kita keluar air mani.....betul dok abah?"

"betullllll...camne kalu kita nok solat kalu dalam hadas besar?"

"kita kena mandi wajib....sekali je....bukan tiap2 kali nak solat..kan abah?"

"ya...sekali je...ada apa lagi dok faham....nanti nak tanya lagi...."

"ok..doh..Azim faham doh...kita nak solat masjid mana ni abah.?

Alhamdulillah.....dia dah faham setakat yang perlu difahami dalam usia mudanya.. 9 tahun...