Wake up call - "Every nafs will taste the taste of death"

Innalillahi wainna ilaihi raji'un (From Allah we come from and to Him we return)

Road accidents which cost lives are common in Malaysia. Every festival season like Eid, Chinese New Year or Deepavali, there will be at least one news per day talking about this. Car with lorry, bus accidents, etc. Often it happens to other people, hence always people take it for granted and do not learn something from the tragedy.

Have you ever thought about it, it might happen to you? Are you waiting for the tragedy to happen to you, then you will learn something from it?


Yesterday, it happened to me. For the first time, when I read the newspaper or listen to news, it happened to someone I know. The feeling.... No words can describe. Everything I did yesterday felt wrong. When it happens to me, felt like a lightning stroke me, felt like being woken up by it! It somehow proves a wiseman say "Every human is a sleep. They only wake up when they are dead". It stroke me as a wake up call, reminding me that death is true, death is real. It will come and when it comes, nothing can stop. "Every nafs will taste death" as what the Quran tells us. So Akmal, wake up!


A friend of mine, Mohd Ariff Abd Kadir got into car-bus crash, a few hours after his marriage! Along with him were both his parents and a friend of him who was the camera man for his marriage ceremony.

I can not express what I felt in words. This is from a friend's perspective. It is waaaaaaaaaaay too far from what the bride is feeling. I hope that Allah always bless her and her family with patience, being rational and always believe that what ever happens, should it be something happy or tragic, Allah will never be Zalim to His creation.

To my friend Ariff, Al-Fatihah and do'a from me. Wish that you soul and others are always blessed by Allah and are placed with the people who follows the prophets, companions and syuhada's insyaAllah.

A photo of us in a masjid in Turkey. (Third from left is Ariff)

Rest in Peace

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

NUS Delegate 0910

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

This year, I've decided to run for NUS delegate. What is NUS delegate? Well NUS stands for National Union of Student. Basically by being an NUS delegate, we represent each university student to voice up what ever issues which concern the university student. It is like a Member of Parliament, student version.

Why did I decided to run?

1. Why not? :P
2. So that there will be at least a voice from the University of Nottingham which represents me (a Muslim, international student, Malaysian, Asian, basketball player, what ever criteria you want to put).
   
3. An opportunity which comes once in a life time (at least for the 23 years I've lived so far).
4. To exercise my rights as a student.
   

Like normal elections, there was process of nomination, campaigning period and election period. So far, I've gone through these three periods. Polling closed at 5pm today. Now is waiting period, for the results.

We'll see how it goes.

Manifesto: Credits to my good old friend, Ruzaini. May Allah bless you always.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Inspirational Speech

Found this inspirational speech while Youtube-ing around inspirational speeches and motivational videos. I think the speech is very.. I don't know how to describe it. But its effect can be seen in his team in the movie. Great inspirational speech to describe it very briefly.

Al Pacino's Inch By Inch speech from Any Given Sunday

I don't know what to say really.
Three minutes
to the biggest battle of our professional lives
all comes down to today.
Either
we heal
as a team
or we are going to crumble.
Inch by inch
play by play
till we're finished.
We are in hell right now, gentlemen
believe me
and
we can stay here
and get the shit kicked out of us
or
we can fight our way
back into the light.
We can climb out of hell.
One inch, at a time.

Now I can't do it for you.
I'm too old.
I look around and I see these young faces
and I think
I mean
I made every wrong choice a middle age man could make.
I uh....
I pissed away all my money
believe it or not.
I chased off
anyone who has ever loved me.
And lately,
I can't even stand the face I see in the mirror.

You know when you get old in life
things get taken from you.
That's, that's part of life.
But,
you only learn that when you start losing stuff.
You find out that life is just a game of inches.
So is football.
Because in either game
life or football
the margin for error is so small.
I mean
one half step too late or to early
you don't quite make it.
One half second too slow or too fast
and you don't quite catch it.
The inches we need are everywhere around us.
They are in ever break of the game
every minute, every second.

On this team, we fight for that inch
On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us
to pieces for that inch.
We CLAW with our finger nails for that inch.
Cause we know
when we add up all those inches
that's going to make the fucking difference
between WINNING and LOSING
between LIVING and DYING.

I'll tell you this
in any fight
it is the guy who is willing to die
who is going to win that inch.
And I know
if I am going to have any life anymore
it is because, I am still willing to fight, and die for that inch
because that is what LIVING is.
The six inches in front of your face.

Now I can't make you do it.
You gotta look at the guy next to you.
Look into his eyes.
Now I think you are going to see a guy who will go that inch with you.
You are going to see a guy
who will sacrifice himself for this team
because he knows when it comes down to it,
you are gonna do the same thing for him.

That's a team, gentlemen
and either we heal now, as a team,
or we will die as individuals.
That's football guys.
That's all it is.
Now, whattaya gonna do?





I ask myself,
So whaddya gonna do?
Heal as a team or die as individuals?

Reminds me of the good old days when I played basketball in underdog team to represent my school and my sports house in college. That's the spirit we always had. That is the burning sensation which always runs in my vein. That's how passionate each team member..

.. until the team given a test of wealth, when we started to feel good with new pair of Jordan or Kobe's shoes and we forgot that we once won with only merely Palas Jazz and Power.

Where have all the spirit and passionate in studying, achieving the best gone? I talk to myself.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

University of Nottingham Islamic Society presents

***The best day of my life – The day I became Muslim***
with brother Ibrahim Danby



Make the best of this opportunity to hear the experiences of brother Ibrahim,
What were the challenges he faced?
How did his family and friends react?
What changes did he have to make to his lifestyle? And a whole lot more..

It’s also a chance for all of us to ask questions and pick up creative means of Dawah. Who else would be better to inform us on how best to call to the oneness of Allah and spread the message of the Prophet (pbuh).

When? Thursday 5th November 2009 at 18.45 (after Isha prayer)

Where? Room B62, Law & Social Sciences building

Refreshments will be provided

***Hope to see you there and remember to bring your friends along***

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 1430 H

Fuiyo... A dual meaning word?

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.

I am sure, every Malaysian no matter where in the world should at least have said the word "fuiyooo" once in their entire life. What is so interesting with the word eh?

Well, I don't think I can explain the meaning of that word (if it does really have a meaning). Let me just say, it is a way to express something impressive that you can't describe in words. So, how can I describe it?

Anyway, there is another meaning to that word. That is "FUn with Iluvislam Youth Overseas".... Fuiyoooooooo....LoL...

What is so interesting with Fuiyo? Do have a look at the video. Don't forget to register! ^_^





Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Rejab : the month of Solat

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim



Alhamdulillah, Allah grant me more time to be able to enter Rejab, which is the seventh month of Islamic Calendar (Hijrah, based on lunar calendar). Alhamdulillah, this is one of the holy months and contains a lot of historical and spiritual values which I as a person who live in Islam way of life should know by heart. These events include:

1. The first migration from Makkah to Habsyah (Ethiopia)
2. The Isra' and Mi'raj
3. The war of Tabuk
4. Liberation of Baitul Maqdis
5. Imam as-Shafie was born.
   

I would like to focus on the second point, Isra' Mi'raj. Why is it important? Well, it is part of the faith of a Muslim, i.e. part of Iman. Isra' Mi'raj was a test of faith to everybody who believes in Islam. Is it possible for a person 1400 years ago, to travel from Makkah to Masjidil Aqsa in Palestine, went up to the seventh layer of sky to heaven, met a few prophets of the past, met directly with Allah, and went back to Makkah in that same night? Logically, people would say it is nonsence and impossible to do so. That made people in Makkah at the time of Nabi Muhammad SAW to mock him, saying he was crazy and a big liar. Alhamdulillah, Saidina Abu Bakr As-Siddiq trusted him without any question and if I was in Abu Bakr's place, would I be able to do the same thing? A question I should ask myself.

Anyway, when it comes to Isra' Mi'raj, people normally will focus on the historical journey as I mentioned above. Do we really take the jist of the event? As example, when people say Rejab as the month of Isra' Mi'raj, does it really touch our heart? Unless we really understand, think and reflect about the event, can it be a trigger to change ourselves to be a better person? I am astonished with the step taken by an Islamic State in Malaysia, Kelantan which launced the campaign of Rejab: The month of Solat. That is a very good eye opener, shifts paradigm of people.

So what with Rejab: The month of Solat? What is the difference with Isra' Mi'raj? Well, as I said earlier do we really take the jist of the event? Do we really understand it? Isra' Mi'raj happened around 1400 years ago, and we may or may not feel it deeply in our heart as the years of gap between that time and now. At least when it comes to Solat, it is what we do on daily basis. We remember about solat everyday, we realised how important it is, we can reflect on how did we do so far in our solat. Is it valuable to be presented to Allah in the Hereafter to "buy" ticket of his Rahman to secure a place in the heaven? And do you really strive hard to perform a higher value of solat? Think and reflect especially you who wrote this down, Ibn MuSa!



The Solat Advertisement

Anyway, I came across this advertisement about solat from Youtube. Isn't it great if this advertisement is shown on TV rather than adverts about reality shows like Akademi Fantasia, Malaysian/American/what ever country's Idol, British Got Talent and others?

Lastly, always remember that Rejab: the month of Solat, road to Ramadhan. Be a better person, Ibn MuSa!

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Dialogue with the Presiden of Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Last 2 weekends, I planned to go out of Nottingham which I don't care where. As long as outside Nottingham. The reason being was the Monday coming after it was the first day of my Summer Placement Programme with Boots. Alhamdulillah, I managed to get a place for the internship out of thousand of students who applied. If I did not go out of Nottingham that weekend, I would not get any other chance as I certainly would be busier during the internship.

While deciding where to go, I went around surfing the net, from one site to another. From one blog to another and guess what? Out of nowhere, I came across a blog called malaysianoverseasforum.blogspot.com. In the blog, the owner mentioned that the Presiden of Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) was going to have a dialogue with Malaysian in the UK.


Since I was in the mood of "going out" of Nottingham, I decided to go to the dialogue straightaway. Although the train ticket price drained my cash out of my wallet swiftly, although many tube line services were closed during the weekend, I was determined to go. The powerful promotion video made me wanted to go there even more.




Alhamdulillah, I think it worth it. The dialogue was informative! The audience were vary from Malaysian student who pursue studies over here, to the people who work here and felt more comfortable speaking in English rather than Bahasa Melayu. Tok Guru Hadi Awang explained alot about the Islam version of politics, relating to the seera of Rasulullah SAW. Issues like Unity Government, Sisters IS, Tahaluf Siasi (PAS - PKR - DAP) and many others.


For the video of the dialogue session, do visit malaysianoverseasforum.blogspot.com.


Anyway, some of my friends were there as well. Right after the event, we went for a dinner together and I stayed at my friend's place. That is the beauty of studying in KYUEM and having alot of friends studying in the UK. You would get free accommodation and food! (Same goes to when people come over. No charge).

That weekend became a booster for me to start my summer internship!

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Voluntary Work

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

One thing I am very impressed about people who live, study or work in the UK is their passion in contributing towards charity. People are willing to do anything, as long as they can achieve what they believe is best to help their charity. There are alot of people donate clothes, cutlery, furniture, electronic items, shoes, books, you name it to charity shop like British Heart Foundation, Oxfam, Cancer Research and others. People willing to run for 10 miles, cycle for aroun 40 miles and other things in order to fundraise and earn something for the charity.

If only people here pledge that no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah... If they do, subhanallah I can't imagine how much reward they gain in the life after death.

Malaysian student who studies abroad like in UK and Ireland did not waste this opprotunity, learning the spirit of helping others and contributing to charity. I am proud that 3 of my close friends volunteered themselves to fundraise in supporting an humanitary event in Cambodia, called Cambodia Relief Mission 09.

Thumbs up Firdaus, Shafie and Fairuz! May Allah accept your work as a good deed, and bless you with his Rahmah InsyaAllah.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Cork Mosque Fund Raising Project

Cork Mosque Fund Raising Project

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Personally I am very lucky to get into the University of Nottingham. Why? It is one of the best school of Pharmacy in the UK (If not in the world), it is big, it has great scenery and photogenic places, it has great access to halal food supply, it is located in the midlands (ie middle of England) and last but not least, it has a great Islamic Society and community here.

I am so lucky that we (the ISoc of Uni of Nottingham) managed to get 2 prayer rooms (let me call it as a masjid). One is located in the Portland Building of University Park Campus, the other is in Amenities Building, Jubilee Campus. These masjids were the results of previous committees of striving and asking for it from the university. By having proper masjids, we are free to perfom solats, halaqahs, iftars and qiams. What a bless from Allah SWT.

A simple study circle carried in Uni of Nottingham Mosque.

And as result, it becomes a responsibility of the current ISoc to maintain the mosque and the Muslims, to ensure the University does not "harm" us and to stand up for the rights of the Muslim students here. Sounds challenging to me, especially when the mosque is full with people during Solat Jumaat but the number of people who are willing to give commitment to the ISoc is maybe around half of it.

Have you ever thought about how hard it is for the pervious people to get a masjid in their place? No matter whether it is just merely a prayer room in the Student Union, or a proper building itself. What I am very impressed in the Muslim community here in the UK is they are so hardworking in getting a mosque. They even fund raise in many ways to get sufficient funds to buy a building which later on refurbished into a mosque. This includes abondoned churches. Subhanallah, I can't imagine how many reward (pahala) comes into the account of people who strived for it! It will continue as long as people make full use of the house of Allah.

Alhamdulillah right now I have the priviledge to "feel" the hardship of getting a mosque. Recently, a group of friends in Cork organised a project, which is Cork Mosque fund raising project. The aim is to gather fund in to buy an unused church to be converted into a mosque in Cork. However, the downside of the plan is they require a sum of 1.6 million euros in order to buy that building. That is enormous!

Therefore, let us all participate in this project, donate as many as you can.

Think about it. Imam Ibn Kathir left behind his books, so did Sayyid Qutb and other scholars in the past. These are the asset they left behind and will be the assets in the hearafter in front of Allah. Think about as long as a person read their books and teach to others or at least increase their understanding about Islam, how much rewards did these authors of books get from Allah? In the end, we are left alone in the hereafter, we look after ourselves. A pregnant mother will give birth instantly and forgets about her child, a child will forget about his family, relatives will runaway from one another, all this because of they only need to care about themselves. Because when we face Allah SWT, Allah will count and ask everything we did one by one and individually. On that day we can not rely on others, apart from our own deeds.

Our time is short, but the price of Jannah is expensive. Do you think you can obtain Jannah easily? People in the past paid with their lives, paid with all their wealth and time. How about us? How about yourself, Ibn MuSa? Who knows your time might come soon? Maybe today? Maybe tomorrow? Maybe in the next 5 minutes? If it does come, how much amal jariah we have left behind to be continue supporting us till the Day of Judgement comes?

Palestinians carrying coffin of Sheikh Ahmad Yasin

The remaining of Allahyarham Sheikh Ahmad Yasin's wheelchair and his blood in front of the mosque where he was assasinated by the Israeli.

How expensive the price of Jannah is...

According to a hadith of Rasulullah SAW which its meaning discussed about the connection of sons of Adam with this world has stopped when they die, apart from 3 things. A soleh child (a very pious child always making doa for their parents), continuous chain of useful knowledge and sadaqah jariah. Lending a helping hand in providing fund to buy a mosque, maintaing the mosque or even by just buying a carpet or sound system for the mosque will be a way of sadaqah jariah as long as the mosque, equipment and carpet are still be used for people to worship Allah and to learn about Islam. Therefore if people like Ibn Kathir has left their knowledge behind, what are you waiting for?

I ask again, do you really want Jannah? Do you really want yourself to settle down in Paradise in the hereafter? If the answer is yes, then rab the opportunity to make sadaqah jariah, by banking in your sadaqah jariah into this account:

Account Name: Tabung Satu Hati
Reference: Cork Mosque
Sort Code: 40-10-06
Account No: 52226200

May Allah grant us with Jannatul Firdaus insyaAllah.

Wallahuaalam.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

(Photos taken from Aljazeera.info)

Get Wow-ed with WOW!

Bismillah arRahman ar-Rahim

Once again, ILuvIslam is going to hold a great event in Malaysia..... Announcing... (Drums Rolling...)

WOW!

Coming soon...

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Launching the Theme Song of The Journey

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Title is self explanatory. Well, basically, this is my journey. Everybody has their own journey and why did I use The Journey as my title? Simply to remind myself about this journey is the journey of a mere humble person, searching for the meaning of life, searching the way of obtaining His Rahmah (Mercy) and blessings. The ultimate aim of this journey is to Jannatul Firdaus.

Why this song? Well simply as mentioned in my previous post that sometimes I tend to like lyrics and musics which tend to touch my feelings. Then people might ask, why not nasheed? The answer is I haven't came across a nasheed that I like which talks about The Journey. Furthermore, I came across this song when I was young, younger than 13 if not mistaken. For sure it brings a lot of memories to me. I like the lyrics, and it fits the music. Messages from the song: be strong and stronger, learn from past experiences and when ever feeling down, always look back on how you manage to face those difficulties in life.

So, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful, (Drum rolling....) I launch the Theme Song of The Journey, a blog of Ibn MuSa.

The Journey

Time waits for no one, sure as the tide pulls the ocean
Sure as, the path that's been chosen, cannot be changed
In my life's destination, I searched for the explaination
For some kind of reason, for my sorrow and pain
But in my isolation I learned to listen
To be thankful for the love that I'd been given

[Chorus]
This is my journey, journey through life
With every twist and turn I've laughed and cried
As the road unwinds
This is my journey, and I've learned to fight
To make me strong enough, to lift me up, to bring my dreams alive

In my desperation I swore that never again
Would I hear all the laughter of my friends and my family
A million tears that I'd cried then began to dry
In the silence of the night time
I had came to realize
A sweet inspiration filled my horizon
Gave me the heart to go on and never would give in

[Chorus]
This is my journey, journey through life
With every twist and turn I've laughed and cried
As the road unwinds
This is my journey, and I've learned to fight
To make me strong enough, to lift me up, to bring my dreams alive

I'm going to love each moment, of every day and night
I'll look back to the past with the sweetest smile
For now I realise, I've been given the key to life
I've been kissed by the angel by my side

[Chorus]
This is my journey, journey through life
With every twist and turn I've laughed and cried
As the road unwinds
This is my journey, and I've learned to fight
To make me strong enough, to lift me up, to bring my dreams alive
To bring my dreams alive
To bring my dreams alive

This is a reminder to myself.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Happy Teachers Day

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

This morning, I woke up after hearing my housemate singing the "Guru Malaysia" song. I was thinking, is he out of his mind or what? Then after "starting the day" by reading some blogs, news and articles, then I found the answer to his "weird" action.

Today is the 16th May! How can I forgot that! In Malaysia, 16th May is a special day dedicated to all the teachers; The Teachers Day. Therefore, I want to wish to all my teachers since the day I was born till today and till my final breath.

Mama, bapak, all my siblings, my friends, my kindergarten mates, my school mates, my subject teachers, my housemates, my murabbi, my naqib, my ustazs and ustazahs, my housemates, my Tuan Guru....basically everybody.

Why everybody? Well, basically whether we realised or not, we are teachers to one and another. Whether we cherish the teachings or not is another thing. But we are all teachers. Teaching by examples, by advise, by correcting what is wrong, by teaching new stuff and by many other ways you can think of.

But out of all, of course Rasulullah is the best teacher, best example EVER. Let as all make salawat to him.





Mama and bapak, you are not forgotten. Don't worry ;)

*Back to revision

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Taking A Break

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Have you ever heard any Muslim performing a stand comedy show? Well, before this I have not. But thanks to the technology (Youtube, of course!), I have now. It is called Allah Made Me Funny. LOL!

Anyway, I enjoyed watching them. As long as you understand what they talk about, you will as well. So, happy watching.





Alright, enough youtube-ing for now. Back to revision

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Katrina Kasyfullah

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

One thing about beeing a student here in Nottingham (and UK in general) is that we have the power to own a car. Why is that so? Well, basically the purchasing power here is strong, and people have the money to buy one. The minimum wage here is currently GBP5.73 per hour and I do believe that it will increase in a few years time. Here in the UK, even the mere cleaners can go travelling around EU if not around the world. I believe all this can happen because of purchasing power and reasonable minimum wages. (And of course, the cheap airlines available but I think this is the minor part)

I myself own a car. It is a Honda Accord 2.0, K reg (i.e. registered in 1992/93), with imported specs (Japanese specs). Katrina is her name, thanks to Norshie for giving her such a nice name. To make things even better, I got the car for free! Thanks to Ust Kasyfullah Abdul Kadir for letting us have such a great car. I can't imagine the number of reward (pahala) enters your account since day 1 you gave it to us till today. May Allah bless you always for being very generous, polite and a good friend and "family" to me. That is the sweetness of ukhuwwah. You can not describe in words but you can feel it.

Final day of Ust Kasy in the UK

I share my car with some other friends. Eventhough the car was very cheap (in fact, free!), the cost in getting a car insurance here is overwhelmingly expensive especially for people younger than 25 years old. Maybe the UK government think that young drivers like us can not drive properly perhaps? Although the car is owned by a few people, most of the time I am the one taking care of it, make sure it is companied by someone, mending here and there to ensure she is in good condition.


However, I am afraid I have to let her go. To Ust Kasy, I am so sorry that the chain of pahala flow is getting to its end (Maybe). It all started with...

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine drove my car away to a program somewhere not far from Manchester. Should I say, "our" car. He was not really use to driving car with manual gear box which Katrina has. So, you can imagine how people who can not drive manual car drive it. I guess the only thing in mind (same with most other drivers) was ensuring the engine stays on. In order to do that, usually they will press the accelerate pedal more than the amount required. You know how it sounds like.

Katrina, a gift from Ust Kasy

To make the story short, that weekend I was away and received a text message saying something like, "I am so sorry, Katrina got into an accident, she was injured." I was speechless. Normal reaction for someone in drama series is jaw dropped widely, letting go of what ever thing in hand (normally, a a glass of water). Well, I am not an actor so that did not happened. I replied asking what happened, anybody injured?

When I came home, again I was speechless. I just could not believe my eyes. My dear Katrina is badly injured. Sigh...

To Katrina, I would like to say that you have done well Katrina. We've travelled here and there together, had good time together. When your engine refuse to run I understand that you were tired and needed some extra rest. Same like normal human, when sleep is required not matter how hard you try to wake him up, he just won't. I will always cherish our moments together, sweet and short.

I guess time to let you go has come. Sad to say, gommennasai and sayonara...

Her injuries...

Forgive me, Katrina and Ust Kasyfullah

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Examination Period Is Back!

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

It is now time of the year where you can see people sleeping in libraries, libraries are open 24/7, not a lot of vacant desks available to study because a lot of them people have already "booked" by just putting their jacket, books and stuff unattended. When that time comes, you will be in a big trouble if you do not be part of them, studying like mad.

A Free Library in Selly Oak.

And at time like this, you fill your brain as you have never done before. The more you study, the more you realised you do not know and the more you get panic. That is a nature of last minute studying. Sigh...

What ever it is, this is the time when the brain works very hard to absorb, process and release facts and knowledge later during examinations. Out of all times, this is the time when my brain suddenly explode with ideas to write about all things including the nonsense ones. That is a good thing, right? However to ensure I do not write crappy thing should be the main concern before writing anything. Like what Arab sayings, "You can only give what you have." In other words, if you don't have anything in mind and feels like writing something just to follow the flow, that is the starting point of crapping around talking nonsense.

Anyway, I should continue my revision right now. Writing at crucial time like this can lead to distraction to me and others.

Allow me to end this post with a video. When you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong, and you'll finally see the truth, that a hero lies in you. A nice song from Mariah Carey. Sometimes when we face problems and feeling down, we feel hopeless like there is no chance of regaining our strength back. We forgot how fortunate we are by just being ourselves at our current state.



Tension with revision? Think about those who really want to step their foot into tertiary educational level but have to forget about it because of poverty and do not know how to search for sponsorships. Think about students in Palestine who are denied from educations because the Israeli attack on their schools and universities. Premises are damaged and non function and hence forces their closure. Feeling down? Think about those people who were born blind and deaf. How dark and gloomy do they feel everyday?

Think about it and study hard!!

Wallahuaalam

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

40 Hadith in a simple way

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

A friend of mine shared a link about 40 hadith. The website portrays the hadiths in a simple way with some cartoons. I see it as a good and easy way in order to convey the message without making it boring. A good way to entertain as well as teach your children. A good reading source for your children and replacing books from Ladybird and Marvel comics.

Do share and spread with others.

40 Hadiths of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH)

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Humanities Research literature

Wallahuaalam

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Music and Lyrics

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.

I am a musician by hobby and love music very much. I can listen to almost all types of music exist, whether I like or not is another issue. I listen to classsicals, instrumentals, traditionals, to the modern nu-metal, heavy metal, alternative, rock and not forgetting nasheed. As long as the music somewhat makes me feel relax, or the lyrics meant lot or I just like the band or singer.

Personally, I mingle lot with people who like halaqahs, like Islamic study circles, like talks and like surfing Islamic websites and reading Islamic books. (Don't get me wrong, I do mix around with others as well) There were few times when nasheed musics were tuned, I asked around who sings the song. Normally the reply will be "How come you don't know? This song is....sang by.... " and my typical reply will be "I don't like nasheed except Raihan." And the conversation will carry on "Why? You should listen to nasheed, it reminds us about God.....Bla Bla Bla..."

Alright, I have my own reasons not liking nasheed, eventhough I am capable listening to it. First of all, maybe I was not exposed to Nasheed much. Not much of my friends who like nasheed shares their songs with me. Back then when I was a teenager, amoungst my friend who love nasheed are usually surau people, kinda exclusive to themselves, like a wall present between you and me. I like Raihan because firstly they emerged around 1997 and that time they were so top till they manage to sell at least 500 000 copies of their album. The closest rival on the number of album sold was KRU with Krumania.

Puji-Pujian, first album by Raihan which stole my heart.

I am a die hard fan of KRU, logically I should hate Raihan for being as their largest competitor to KRU in album selling back then. However, they manage to proof me they worth a fan like me. They are good, their songs are unique, their tune and tempo fits the lyrics, when a song should be in a happy mood they manage to make it happy and vice versa. The concept of the song fits the lyrics and music. That is what I call unique, that is what I like most about Raihan.

Not like songs when we suppose to promote the angelic behaviour (Sifat Mahmudah) amongst us but make the song sounds so scary and the lyrics somewhat tell us that it is impossible to obtain it. This is so wrong. Songs that promotes people to do good things should be happy, cheerful, full of smiling faces, and easy to listen. Conversely, songs that talks about bad deeds, about hell, about punishments, about satanic behaviour (Sifat Mazmumah) should be scary, full of fire, darkness, suffers in the videos and so on. Nasheed should not glorify women and jiwang so much. There was a period when almost all of the Malaysian Nasheed group sings at least a song about women and jiwang. I was like, what happened to nasheed?

Secondly, what is wrong with not listening to nasheed? As far as I'm concern, there are alot of songs which promotes cherishing life, about preserving nature, about peace and so on. All these are persistent with the messages that Islam brings upon us. Even these messages might even brought forward by heavy metal bands, surprisingly.

One famous example is:

"So close no matter how far,
couldn't be much more from the heart,
forever trusting who we are,
and nothing else matters"
(Nothing Else Matters by Metallica).



Isn't that song contains the soul of someone who should have a belief that God is so close no matter how far we want to runaway from Him? We should always be proud to be a Muslim, to carry the title Islam in us despite of what the media portray how bad Islam is. Forever trusting who we are, and nothing else matters.

Another example from Metallica is:

"All the wants you waste
All the things you've chased
And it all crushes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger but there's no one around
Just want one thing
just to play the king
but the castle crumbled and you've left with just a name
Where's your crown? King Nothing."

Isn't the song teaches us to be moderate and not greedy in living in this materialistic world of us now day? It talks about how people are so greedy that when they want something, they want it now and they don't care how. Doesn't it talks about how fragile and temporary these materials are and will not last long? Are we going to wait until the hereafter to realise it?

Metallica, the best band ever!

I haven't touched about songs by Michael Jackson, XPDC, Ramli Sarip, Sweet Charity, Wings, ... (And the list goes on and on and on...) Therefore, must I like nasheed songs when other songs convey the message across clearly? So, must a person who claims himself as a dai'e, who likes about Islam likes nasheed? And I haven't touched about hypocrites, acting in front as a good person but behind us he is the complete opposite. I haven't talked about those who used to be in nasheed bands and left to try their luck in reality shows to be an instant star.

Don't get me wrong. I can listen to nasheeds. I support nasheeds which make the task of memorising verses from Quran as well as Hadith easier. I support nasheeds which the lyrics and musics touch my heart. If people recommend me a song, I will surely listen to and might love it as well. My point is do not limit the choices of songs to listen to. You will miss half of the fun!

Lastly, I am comfortable listening to these kind of songs. Life is ours, we lead it our way and nothing else matters.

Wallahuaalam

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009