The Journey

Warkah Hari Guru dariku

2011-05-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Cari Ilmu Itu Fardu

Mencari ilmu itu adalah fardhu bagi setiap orang Islam.

Dengan masa yang sama, setiap pencarian ilmu perlu juga berguru kerana tanpa guru ilmu dan kefahamannya tidak mungkin dapat dikuasai dengan sepenuhnya.

Oleh itu, saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan selamat hari guru kepada semua orang, sama ada yang berkarier sebagai seorang guru atau tidak.

Masakan tidak, setiap hari kita pasti akan belajar sesuatu yang baru, secara formal atau tidak. Rakan-rakan adalah guru kepada rakan-rakan, abang adalah guru kepada adik, adik boleh menjadi guru kepada abang, ibu adalah guru kepada anak-anak, anak pun boleh menyampaikan ilmu kepada ibu bapa, jiran boleh menjadi guru kepada tetangganya dan seterusnya.

Guru, Terimalah Teguran Dari Murid Juga...

Apa-apahal pun, yang penting adalah kepada guru-guru di luar sana yang pernah mengajar aku, ingatlah bahawa kamu juga merupakan seorang murid. Maka elakkanlah diri kamu daripada merasakan diri lebih "power", hebat, berhak membuat apa sahaja ke atas murid kerana kamu adalah guru.

Aku benci perbuatan cikgu yang mendoakan aku kehancuran gara-gara aku pernah ponteng sekolah. Tak cuba selami apa yang murid hadapi, tapi terus menghukum sesuatu yang berdasarkan hanya pada permukaan. Bagus betul kaedah kamu tu ye.

Aku tetap membenci perbuatan cikgu merotan aku yang tak putus-putus yang aku rasa mau 40 kali juga (aku tak kira pun actually berapa) cikgu ni rotan aku hanya sebab aku ponteng prep. Siapa kasi kamu kuasa rotan pelajar sewenang-wenangnya? Walaupun tak sakit, tapi aku tetap punya belas kasihan terhadapmu dengan tidak membuat laporan. Tidak kah kau sedar wahai cikgu itu?

Aku tetap membenci perbuatan cikgu membodek di hadapan pengetua semasa lalu memaksa aku mengaku kesalahan yang sangat picisan yang sekaligus memaksa aku meletak jawatan daripada menjadi MPP di sekolah. Bukan aku nak sangat pun jawatan tu, tapi perbuatan cikgu itu sangat aku benci. Aku dengan sukarela meletak jawatan. Malah rekod khidmat aku yang singkat dalam MPP itu turut lenyap dengan lusuhnya warna biru dan menjadi putih daripada baju kemejaku, dan seluar hitamku kembali menjadi hijau.

Aku benci kepada sikap sekolah yang tidak mengendahkan saranan dan idea yang aku kongsikan untuk penambah baikan tentang kekurangan yang aku lihat berlaku di sekolah, malah menolaknya bulat-bulat. Bukannya nak cakap idea aku ini baik sangat pun, tapi dengan sekurang-kurangnya meraikan, menerima dan membincangkannya, ianya mencambah keyakinan dalam diri pelajar, membentuk peribadi, akhlak dan kemampuan pelajar berbincang secara ilmiah. So much of "Di Sini Lahirnya Pemimpin Yang Bertanggungjawab" sebagai moto sekolah.

Aku tetap benci kepada keegoan guru yang apabila aku menegur kesalahan mereka, mereka menganggap aku melawan. Aku tetap benci kepada tindakan guru yang membawa aku ke muka pengetua hanya kerana melakukan "kesalahan" yang bukan kesalahan pun. Enggan menyusun kerusi je, aku bagai dilabel sebagai pengganas, pemberontak dan membawaku menghadap Pengetua. Aku tidak menyesal menegur ko cikgu walaupun cikgu tidak terimanya.

Aku tetap benci dengan perbuatan-perbuatan yang banyak menjadikan aku rebellious.

Selamat Hari Guru

Aku sayangkan cikgu-cikgu yang jadi kamcing, baik dengan aku macam member. Aku sayangkan cikgu-cikgu yang menerima aku sebagai aku, dan bukannya mahu menukar aku menjadi sebuah robot. Aku sayang cikgu yang mendengar teguran, sudi berbincang idea dan pendapat aku yang tak seberapa. Aku sayang cikgu-cikguku yang ini.

Selain daripada perbuatan-perbuatan yang hitam yang dilakukan oleh segelintir guru ini, guru-guru ku aku sangat menghargaimu. Aku tak reti nak tulis pantun berpuitis, menulis lagu berirama, menghadiahkan sesuatu yang setimpal untuk menggambarkan betapa aku hargai jasamu itu.

Aku sangat-sangat sayangkan Tok Guru-Tok Guru yang mengajarku dan membimbingku mencari, memahami tujuan hidup ini. Semoga Allah merahmati dan memanjangkan umur kalian.

Selamat Hari Guru

Ibn MuSa
Bandar Ilmu
Jamadil Akhir 1432H

Lesson of last weekend: Aqiqah

2011-04-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

CONGRATULATIONS FOR GETTING A BABY

Alhamdulillah, all praise are to Allah, Lord of the universe. I attended 2 invitations to aqiqah ceremonies lately, one sometime ago (I forgot when exactly it was) and another was last Sunday. The former was the aqiqah for Mr Azlan and Mrs Zaffan's new born daughter, Khadijah while the latter was for a Fuai's nephew, Muhammed Harith Faiz (correct me if I spell it wrong please). Congratulations to both families for being blessed with a future generation of the leader of the ummah insyaAllah!

Nope, this is neither my baby nor the baby mentioned. This is Ameera Mujaheedah, my second cousin's newborn baby *captured in summer 2010 in Nottingham*

Having being invited to such events and learnt from people there about the rituals and explanations behind aqiqah, I realised it was the great opportunity to revise about what I've learnt about aqiqah itself. We need to refresh from time to time to ensure what ever have entered into our long term memory is still there and usable.

Open book time!

For the record, I am referring to Al-Fiqh Al-Manhaji Mazhab Al-Syafie by Dr Musafa Al-Khin, Dr Mustafa Al-Bugha and Dr Ali Al-Syarbaji to write this and translate it to English. Due to my limited ability of language and translation techiniques, I may miss out the point that the authors wanted to emphasize and I ask refuge from Allah from misguiding people on what ever things I wrote.

SO LET'S LEARN ABOUT AQIQAH

Aqiqah comes from the word al-'Aqqu and literally means to cut. It originally refers to the hair of the baby that being cut after birth. The hair is termed as such because it is being cut or shaved. From the syara' definition is the animal slaughtered when the baby's hair is being shaved. It is called as such because the meat of slaughtered animal is cut or flayed.

It is categorised as sunnah muakkad (meaning voluntary but highly recommended deeds).

Aqiqah can be done as early as whole of the baby's body has been safely delivered by the mother. Yes, I mean whole of the baby's body. If the animal is slaughtered when the half of the baby's body is still in the mother's womb, that does not count as aqiqah.

It is categorised as sunnah (voluntary) deed until the baby reaches maturity. That is when the responsibility of doing aqiqah is released from the guardian and afterwards aqiqah is highly recommended for the person to do it for himself if no aqiqah was done for him.

However, we are highly encouraged to do aqiqah when the baby is seven days old.

During aqiqah, 3 things should be done and highly recommended to do it on the seventh day are:

Slaughtering animal (usually a sheep or a goat is sufficient), cook it sweet and serve it.
Announce the baby's name.
Cut or shave the baby's hair, weigh it and donate equivalent weight of gold or silver to the weight of the hair.

These are based from hadiths of the prophet Nabi Muhammad SAW:

Whoever being blessed with a child and desire to do worship on their behalf, perform aqiqah. (Riwayat Abu Daud)Rasulullah SAW performed aqiqah for al-Hassan via a goat.
Ransom for a baby is via his aqiqah.
The aqiqah is slaughtered on the seventh day from birth, the baby is given a name and the hair is shaved (Riwayat at-Tarmizi).
Rasulullah made aqiqah on behalf of al-Hassan.
"O Fatimah, shave his head and donate silver based on the weight of his hair." Ali then said,"Fatimah weighed and found out the hair weight around half or one dirham".

Although one goat is sufficient, it is ritually better that 2 goats are slaughtered for a baby boy while one goat for a baby girl. Shaving more afdhal to be performed by a respectful religious person, a sheikh, a Tok Guru onto the baby.

Even the goat is happy for the baby ^_^

ATHAN, TAHNIK AND KHITAN

On top of these, some other acts are highly encouraged to perform onto newborn babies. Firstly, right after labour, we need to make athan to the babies' ears. Athan is the Call for remembrance of Allah. Athan glorifies Allah the Almighty, testifies that no God worth to be worship but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, calls people to prayers and encourage people to excel. Muslims are called to prayers via the athan 5 times everyday at a particular place. However, athan is a miracle itself because as we speak, it is called at some places on earth. Don't believe me? Have a look at this video.

The video is not in English though.

It is also recommended to perform tahnik which is "splits" the baby's mouth (ie feed them) with chewed or mashed date and is rubbed gently on the baby's gums. It is sunnah to use dates but when unavailable, do substitute it with something sweet like honey. Circumcision (khitan) is also highly recommendable, but this can be done at any time but the earlier the better.

All activities other then those mentioned are not stated in the sunnah of Rasulullah SAW like shaving the baby's hair and put into coconut water, let the crowd shaves the baby's hair and so on. So be aware of the Malay cultures that do not suit the teaching of Islam and do avoid them. I also encourage people to perform all these in one go when the baby is seven days old. It follows the sunnah, the parents responsibilities towards a new born are completed and no such issues as "should I do aqiqah for myself" or "have my parents made aqiqah for me" arises in the future.

The tahnik ceremony, performed by Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat

Well, those all are deeds that highly recommended to be performed by the family of the newborn and they are not obligatory.

Lastly, don't forget to congratulate the family!

BEAUTY OF ISLAM

Islam is a beautiful and complete way of life. It saves the humanity and dignity of people. Islam encourage marriage and prohibit adultery. Marriage is better than adultery. We do not have to be ashamed of ourselves and hide from people. People praise us and celebrate with us. Our souls will be in peace and reward from good deeds are multiplied. Being blessed with a child, we feel happy, being blessed and people celebrate with us. Allah blesses us and the prophet is proud with us.

Islam is a beautiful way of life. When blessed with children, the family shows their syukur and shares the happiness with other by performing aqiqah. The news will of getting a newborn will spread freely and hence prevents from prejudice towards the family. It also corrode the greed and stingy feelings of the family. Everybody will be happy during aqiqah starting from the family, relatives, friends, the poor and all the people that attend as it encourages love, strengthen bonds and these attributes are taught in Islam.

Islam is a beautiful way of life :)

Ibn MuSa
City of Knowledge
Jamadil Awal 1432/April 2011

Kembara Bermusafir ke Utara: Hari 2 (...sambungan..)

2011-03-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

DESTINASI SETERUSNYA

Alhamudlillah, hujan mula reda pada sebelah petang. Setelah bersolat zohor asar jamak qasar di masjid berdekatan bersama bekas rakan sekelas saya semasa di sekolah, Zainul Dzubir (aka Chot), kami menuju ke destinasi masing-masing. Beliau menuju ke Padang Besar, saya menuju ke... errr... belum tau lagi ke mana.

Mulanya agak ragu-ragu sama ada patut teruskan main redah ke kawasan-kawasan tarikan pelancong ataupun tidak kerana saya tidak nyatakan kepada pakcik saya tentang ke mana saya akan tuju selepas kenduri tersebut. Saya risau jika pakcik dan makcik saya risaukan kami, terutamanya sepupu sayalah. Memikirkan saya sudah boleh menjaga diri sendiri, insyaAllah hatta di negara orang pun saya telah berjaya menempuhinya. Maka saya yakin untuk teruskan misi seterusnya dan bertanggungjawab akan keselamatan sepupu saya ini.

Baik, misi seterusnya adalah misi FOTOGRAFI dan MERAYAU (FnM).

Asalkan ada papan tanda berwarna perang saya jumpa di sepanjang perjalanan, saya terus KIVkan sebagai salah satu destinasi untuk dituju. Pada yang tidak tahu, papan tanda berwarna perang adalah tempat-tempat tarikan pelancongan ya.

Destinasi pertama adalah: Gua Kelam.

Tapi sebelum itu, kami singgah ke tempat-tempat berdekatan di Arau. Aku baru tau Arau ni Bandar DiRaja di negeri Indera Kayangan ni, macam Klang di Darul Ehsan. Aku teringat dulu masa sekolah rendah aku selalu kena marah sebab tak hafal Bandar DiRaja yang ada di Malaysia. Bila ditanya Bandar DiRaja di negeri Darul Makmur, aku dengan main bedal tapi dengan yakin dan konfidennya jawab Temerloh. Terus kena marah dengan cikgu. Hahahaha... Mustahil untuk ku lupa pengalaman tu.

Bandar DiRaja Arau, Perlis Indera Kayangan

ARAU - GUA KELAM

Gua Kelam terletak lebih kurang 35km jaraknya dari lokasi kenduri kahwin. Kami bertekad meneruskan perjalanan walaupun kelihatan awan tebal jauh di hadapan kami, yang menunjukkan kemungkinan hujan lebat di Gua Kelam. Sangkaan kami ternyata tidak meleset kerana tidak lama selepas itu, hujan pun turun selebat-lebatnya. Kami redah juga....

Dalam perjalanan, Amzar sempat menangkap beberapa gambar untuk dikongsikan tetapi tidak banyak. Saya ada menerangkan kepadanya tentang konsep-konsep fotografi, bagaimana hendak menghasilkan gambar yang cantik dan sebagainya. Saya juga cakap, alat yang sama, subjek yang sama tetapi dengan teknik yang bermacam-macam, gambar yang terhasil adalah macam-macam. Beliau "mencabar" apa yang saya cakapkan itu dengan mencuba tangkap gambar pemandangan sambil saya memandu.

Tidak lama masa beliau ambil untuk mengesahkan kesahihan ilmu tersebut. Katanya lebih kurang, "betul lah, kamera ada, pemandangan cantik tapi tak tau macam mana nak tangkap gambar cantik..."

Antara pemandangan yang cantik yang cuba diabadikan.

Sebelum tiba ke simpang masuk ke Kaki Bukit untuk ke Gua Kelam, jalan tersebut sangatlah terasa macam dalam movie di mana kawasan bergunung-ganang di hadapan yang dilindungi kabus dan awan, tiada orang di sekitar, hujan rintik-rintik dan matahari tidak kelihatan. Kami pun turun untuk bergambar... Lepas bergambar baru kami sedar, rupanya kami telah berhenti di kawasan jirat. No wonder atmosphere sebegitu dirasai...

Suasana yang macam dalam movie yang dikatakan... (kawasan jirat di sebelah kiri jalan)

Setibanya kami ke Gua Kelam, kelihatan kosong di sana. Gembira rasa hati, ye lah bukan cuti sekolah lah katakan. Sudah pastilah tidak ramai pengunjung. Alhamdulillah, misi mengarut pertama telah tertunai dan hujan telah berhenti. Siapa sangka sampai juga saya ke sana dalam pengembaraan kali ini.

Malangnya gua ditutup. Terpaksalah kami "improvise" aktiviti yang boleh dijalankan di sana. Nak mandi sungai, baju basahan tak bawa lah pula. Lagi pun baru lepas hujan dan aliran sungai sangat deras. Janganlah mencampakkan dirimu ke lembah kehancuran...

Apabila kami telah berkemas untuk ke destinasi seterusnya atau pulang, kami ternampak papan tanda untuk ke puncak gunung atau bukit di mana Gua Kelam berada. Apa yang ditulis adalah puncak / look out point (20-30 minutes walk). Kami pun redah, naik ke puncak walaupun tidak tahu berapa tinggi puncak tersebut.

Memulakan pendakian ke puncak dan look out point lalu kami terjumpa gua ini...

Kami bukan kaum Tassaday atau orang gua ye... jangan salah faham.

Jalan punya jalan punya jalan, kami rasa agak kecewa kerana merasakan pihak pengurusan Gua Kelam tidak menjaga dan menyelia laluan pejalan kaki ke puncak yang dikatakan. Puncak dan Look out point tidak dapat kami sampai kerana laluan terputus dan tidak lengkap. Malah di satu bahagian terdapat dahan pohon yang tumbang menghalang laluan sekaligus meruntuhkan tempat memegang dan benteng laluan pejalan kaki. Tidakkah ianya membahayakan keselamatan pengunjung? Adakah pihak pengurusan hanya akan mengambil tindakan apabila ianya dijadikan fokus oleh media dan apabila terjadinya sesuatu kemalangan melibatkan pengunjung ke sana?

Ini ke look out pointnya? Bukannya puncak pun sebab laluan pejalan kaki tidak terhenti di situ. Agak kecewa daku dibuatnya.

Tempat memegang bagi laluan pejalan kaki yang telah runtuh kerana pokok tumbang.

GUA KELAM - WANG KELIAN (MALAYSIA) - WANG PRACHAN (THAILAND)

Sebelum menyambung pengembaraan, kami berehat sebentar. Letih juga memikul bag yang berkilo-kilo beratnya, mendaki ke puncak dengan pakaian yang kurang sesuai dan tubuh yang tidak bersedia untuk aktiviti seumpama ini. Sekurang-kurangnya senaman regangan badan perlu dibuat sebelum melakukan aktiviti sebegini. Regangan dapat mengurangkan risiko kecederaan terutamanya ketegangan otot. Kami bernasib baik kerana tidak mengalami apa-apa kecederaan. Terasa macam DoE pula (DoE adalah Duke of Edinburgh, ala-ala Rakan Muda kot tapi dapat medal lepas kita lulus ujiannya).

Perjalanan diteruskan... dan kali ini kami ke Wang Kelian! Saya tidak tahu apa yang ada di sana, begitu juga dengan Amzar. Tapi itu adalah papan tanda warna perang dan jaraknya dari Gua Kelam adalah yang paling pendek, maka kami pun terus meredah ranjau onak untuk ke sana.

Jalan ke sana sungguh mencabar, selekonya ala-ala selekoh tajam litar F1 Sepang, tapi naik turun gunung. Kami ke sana berbekalkan tangki yang hanya isinya suku sahaja. Apabila naik bukit, terus jarum meter minyak menunjukkan ke E dan apabila turun, ianya naik semula ke takik suku.

Kami terkedu apabila tiba-tiba kami perlu melalui 2 check point polis yang tertera Unit Pencegah Penyeludupan, dan bertambah terkejut apabila tiba-tiba kami sampai ke pejabat imigresen di sempadan Malaysia-Thailand. Alang-alang di sana, saya menyuruh Amzar bertanya pegawai yang bertugas, bolehkah kami ke sebelah sana walaupun tiada dokumen dibawa.

Bertambah lagi terkejut lagi gembira apabila pegawai tersebut membenarkan kami menyeberang ke sempadan Thailand. Beliau mengatakan sempadan di sana dibuka setiap Sabtu dan Ahad sehingga pukul 7 petang. Jam menunjukkan lebih kurang pukul 5 petang lebih. Kami sungguh bernasib baik sampai sebelum sempadan ditutup.

Pasar di Wang Prachan, Thailand. Yup, I'm in Thailand babeh, without any documentations!

Yup, bendera Thailand :)

Waiting for my meal. I have no idea how to spell it or to pronounce it though.

1 of the things I've learn from traveling with my father is try local food and speak to local people when you go to other places. You will appreciate whatever trip you are in and learn more from it. Don't go to other places and trying McDonald's or other fast foods retail the because it defeats the purpose of traveling, at least from getting food point of view.

Unfortunately I could not explore more of Thailand because the boarder was closing soon and I don't wanna get into deeper trouble. To both of the governments, please keep on this good relationship of allowing people to go in and out of both countries easily. In the same time, please take care of the people and don't allow any instabilities to happen. For the record, the day we went there some incidents happened at south of Thailand, but not this part where we were at. Please please please, take care of the people.

So, sad to say but it is time to go home. Good bye Thailand.

MASA UNTUK PULANG

Jam menunjukkan 20 minit lagi untuk pukul 7 petang. Maka kami terpaksa melabuhkan tirai berada di Thailand dan memulakan perjalanan pulang. Tetapi kesempatan tetap digunakan sepenuhnya untuk mengabadikan memori ini. Di mana ada sesuatu, pasti kami akan berhenti untuk menangkap gambar dan sebagainya.

Sempadan Malaysia - Thailand pun ditinggalkan, menuju ke Gurun semula.

Kami melalui Perlis State Park (Taman Negeri Perlis) yang terletak tidak jauh dari sempadan. Namun atas kesuntukan masa, kami tidak jadi melawatnya. Tapi sekarang saya terasa agak menyesal kerana rupanya terdapat gua yang lebih menarik berbanding Gua Kelam di situ dan kami tidak menjenguknya. Allah Allah... bukan rezeki kami untuk melawatlah tu.

Empangan Tasik Tasoh yang menarik perhatian Amzar.

WANG PRACHAN - SENA - GURUN

Perjalanan pulang diteruskan dan kami berhenti di sebuah masjid yang tersergam indah yang kami temui. Masjid tersebut bernama Masjid Tunku Syed Putra Jamalullail. Kami berhenti di sana untuk berehat, alas perut dengan bekalan yang kami beli dari Wang Prachan sekaligus menunaikan solat jama' maghrib isya'. Subhanallah, masjidnya sungguh indah dan punya taman di dalamnya. Tetapi letih punya pasal, kami malas nak tangkap gambar untuk dikongsikan. Sila google lah ye.

Menikmati bekalan yang dibeli dari Wang Prachan.

Gambar Masjid Tunku Syed Putra Jamalullail:

....bersambung...

Ibn MuSa
Bandar Ilmu
Rabiul Akhir 1432/Mac 2011

Kembara Bermusafir ke Utara: Hari 2

2011-03-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

KEMBARA KE PERLIS

Setelah bersarapan pagi-tengah hari (Brunch kalau istilah orang putih), dengan keizinan pakcik saya meminjam kereta beliau untuk ke Perlis dengan sepupu saya menemani perjalanan ini. Alhamdulillah, kereta beliau yang telah maju dalam usianya (nak kata tua, tak sedap pula) tetap mantap dan gagah meredah cabaran yang dibentangkan. (Ok, konon-konon nak tulis macam ala-ala novel yang tak jadi).

Sekali sepanjang perjalanan awan tebal, gelap dan ada tempat-tempat yang hujan lah pula... Namun cuaca sedemikian tidaklah melunturkan semangat ku berkelana ini.

Hujan lebat tidak melunturkan semangat seorang pengembara berjiwa kental! :P

BERJUMPA RAKAN-RAKAN LAMA

Rakan-rakan lama dari kolej persediaan dan sekolah rupanya sudah berada di sana, menikmati santapan mengisi perut yang semakin membulat.

Kebetulan pula sepupu saya, Amzar baru dapat keputusan SPM beliau dan alhamdulillah, semuanya adalah abjad yang sama, sedap mata memandang (senang cerita straight A lah). Beliau pula tetap pendiriannya untuk menyambung pelajaran ke bidang perubatan. Daku menasihati beliau agar buat masa sekarang ini, relaks dulu, take a deep breath, berbincang dengan orang-orang yang lebih matang, yang telah melalui fasa ini tentang karier masa hadapan. Karier doktor bukan segala-galanya, lihat gambaran yang lebih besar tentang prospek kerjaya, lihat kepada cabaran dan onak duri liku ranjau yang akan ditempuhi.

Apa yang saya tekankan yang paling utama jika beliau benar-benar ingin menjadi seorang doktor adalah berikan saya jawapan yang paling kukuh yang menyentuh hati saya dan tidak dapat saya sangkal pada soalan dasar ini: "Mengapa kamu mahu menjadi seorang doktor?"

Rakan-rakan yang hadir pada kenduri tersebut majoritinya adalah bakal doktor-doktor masa hadapan yang sedang mengambil kursus perubatan secara "twinning" iaitu 2 tahun setengah di Ireland dan selebihnya di Malaysia. Ada antara mereka yang saya kenal semasa di sekolah, ada di kolej persediaan dan ada semasa mereka menyambung pelajaran di Ireland. Maka saya perkenalkan Amzar kepada mereka, agar Amzar dapat berbincang dengan lebih lanjut mengenai cabaran menjadi seorang pelajar perubatan.

Keputusan di tangan kamu. "Part of becoming an adult is making your own decision and living with the consequences" (quoted from movie Coach Carter).

KETIBAAN PENGANTIN LELAKI dan ADAT BERSANDING.

Tidak lama kemudian, lebih kurang waktu zohor dan hujan yang turun dah mula reda, pengantin pun tiba... dan kawan saya pun ditangkap oleh sang tuan rumah untuk menjadi pembawa bunga manggar..

Kurt-two si bidan terjun menjadi pembawa bunga manggar. Moga keberkatan mendirikan masjid ini melekat pada beliau :D

Raja sehari tidak berhenti senyum sepanjang hari

Masih ada tol rupanya sebelum bertemu dengan sang permaisuri sehari ini.

Antara first timers bertepung tawar pengantin

Konon-konon gambar formal

Tak pasal-pasal kamera man suruh angkat tangan lepas dia kira 3. Layan je lah.

Giliran golongan hawa pula. (Tapi mereka tidak pula angkat tangan masa sesi gambar informal..tak supporting betul).

Mengambil "berkat" dari kawan-kawan yang telah mendirikan masjid masing-masing :)

Tiba-tiba terjumpa seorang pakcik dari qaryah Surau An-Nur. (Lupa pula nama pakcik ni). Sama-sama hairan macam mana boleh datang kenduri perkahwinan sampai ke Perlis.

Selamat pengantin baru kepada pasangan Amira Anis dan Dr Azri. Semoga berbahagia sehingga ke syurga saya doakan. Alhamdulillah, misi utama saya berkelana telah tercapai. Mission accomplished! Sekarang mari buat perkara bukan-bukan.

PERJALANAN DITERUSKAN...

Selepas itu, cuaca menjadi baik dan hujan pun mula berhenti. Perancangan yang awalnya tidak jadi kerana faktor cuaca, kami teruskan juga sebab alang-alang telah tiba di bumi Indera Kayangan itu. Banyak juga papan tanda jalan yang menunjukkan kawasan-kawasan tarikan pelancong. Cuma disebabkan hari telah mula petang, kami terpaksa memilih destinasi yang hendak dituju.

For sure, Padang Besar kena dipangkah dahulu kerana bekalan fulus yang terhad dan tujuan berkelana bukanlah hendak bershopping. Ingat 2 misi utama yang digariskan!

... Malas nak tulis dah. Bersambung lah... hehehehe...

Ibn MuSa
Bandar Ilmu
Rabiul Akhir 1432/ Mac 2011

Kembara Bermusafir ke Utara: Hari 1

2011-03-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

HASRAT BERKELANA KE UTARA

Dengan kehadiran kad jemputan daripada sang mempelai, perancangan untuk bermusafir ke utara pun bermula. Mulalah berfikir nak pergi sini lah, situ lah. Tapi 2 misi utama yang saya dapat gariskan untuk kembara pada kali ini iaitu:

MISI 1: Menghadiri Kenduri Perkahwinan di Perlis
MISI 2: Melawat saudara-mara yang menetap di Kedah.

Kali terakhir saya ke Kedah melawat depa adalah pada tahun.... errr.... 1999 or so? La ni dah tahun 2011. Memang dah sampai masa untuk melawat depa, mengeratkan kembali ukhuwah persaudaraan dan pertalian silaturrahim yang sememangnya menjadi sunnah Rasulullah SAW dan ajaran Islam.

PERSEDIAAN SEBELUM PERGI:

3 benda yang penting yang MESTI dibawa:

kamera
tripod
dan lain-lain

Memang ini 3 benda yang saya akan bawak ke mana-mana saya berkelana. Ye lah, kita tak jangka pun apa yang kita akan tempuhi. InsyaAllah setiap yang ditempuhi akan menjadi sejarah dan kenangan untuk kita. Amat rugilah kalau ianya tidak diabadikan dalam apa-apa bentuk medium yang bersesuaian.

MULA BERKELANA....

Alhamdulillah Bandar Ilmu ini dilimpahi dengan pelbagai kemudahan, antaranya adalah kemudahan jaringan pengangkutan yang luas. Perhentian Bas yang berdekatan adalah sangat saya sayang dan suka kerana bas ke semua destinasi di Semenanjung Malaysia ini terdapat di sana. Saya tidak perlu ke Hentian Putra untuk ke Kelantan, tidak perlu ke TBS untuk ke Selatan dan tidak perlu ke Hentian Duta untuk ke Utara.

Untuk misi kali ini, saya memilih untuk mencuba perkhidmatan Intercity Coach.

Seperti yang saya katakan dalam tulisan yang lepas, berdasarkan rupa luaran dan first impression ianya adalah satu coach yang selesa. Wifi yang laju, kerusi yang selesa, ruang yang luas dan aircond yang sejuk! Ruang untuk menyimpan barang adalah seluas-luas tingkat bawah coach. Saya rasa, nak bawa motosikal sekali naik coach ini ke destinasi pun boleh. Harga tiket tidaklah mahal mana pun, cuma RM45 untuk kelas Executive Coach Super VIP untuk Bandar Ilmu ke Kedah.

Mulanya masa membeli tiket tu, saya saje bergurau tanya dengan orang di kaunter, ada WiFi tak dalam bas? Beliau dengan seriousnya menjawab ada. Saya sangkakan beliau bergurau, tapi hakikatnya tidak.

Ada tertera "WiFi" di atas deretan simbol perkhidmatan yang disediakan oleh bas ini.

Bas telah tiba lebih awal daripada yang dijadualkan, menunggu penumpang untuk sampai. Ini satu lagi add-on points saya boleh berikan kepada coach ini. Masa berangkat pun boleh dibanggakan menggunakan kayu ukur ketepatan masa pengangkutan awam Malaysia. (Lambat lebih kurang 2 minit dari jadual)

MENGISI MASA 8 JAM KEMUDIAN...

Alhamdulillah, WiFi yang ada dalam coach ini adalah laju dan konsisten. Ianya tidak terputus-putus, tetapi saya tidak cuba pula untuk menonton video secara online. Saya hanya menyemak email, menulis blog (lihat entry yang lepas, itu ditulis dalam perjalanan ke sana), bermain Twitter dan Facebook.

Adalah mustahil untuk hanya mengisi masa dengan berinternet. Maka saya pun membawa lah sesuatu untuk menemani saya...

Budaya membaca semasa dalam perjalanan yang saya dapat dari UK, akan cuba saya terus amalkan di tanah air.

Sambil-sambil itu juga, saya cuba mengabadikan sedikit banyak pemandangan untuk dikongsikan bersama... (sebenarnya semua gambar buruk sebab gegar atau angle sangat teruk. jadi tak payah kongsikan lah ye).

KAPTEN LAPAR

Beberapa jam kemudian, setelah agak jauh memasuki Perak, kapten kapal (drebar coach) pun berhenti di salah satu RnR yang ada di sepanjang PLUS, iaitu RnR Sungai Perak Utara. Kami berhenti setengah jam di sana untuk makan tengah hari dan solat jama' qasar zohor asar.

Saya menikmati semangkuk bihun sup. Lapar punya pasal, lupa nak tangkap gambar. Tapi takpe, biar lupa tangkap gambar, jangan lupa baca doa sebelum dan selepas makan :)

Muka puas kenyang makan tengah hari pada lebih kurang pukul 3.30 petang.

RnR Sungai Perak Utara yang sangat selesa.

MEMASUKI PULAU MUTIARA...

Berkelana diteruskan ke utara memasuki negeri Pulau Mutiara. Coach hanya singgah sebentar di Butterworth untuk mengambil dan menurunkan penumpang.

Suasananya subhanallah.... Cantik rupanya Pulau Mutiara ni.

Subhanallah... Indahnya alam kau cipta ini ya Allah...

TIBA DI DESTINASI...

Pengembaraan diteruskan memasuki Negeri Jelapang Padi, di mana kapten singgah sebentar di Sungai Petani untuk menurunkan penumpang. Baru saya tahu, di sanalah terletaknya Radix Friend Chicken yand digembar-gemburkan itu kerana coach melewati di hadapan restoran itu. Manalah sempat nak tangkap gambar atau singgah makan. Aduh...

Lebih kurang waktu maghrib, saya tiba di destinasi tujuan saya iaitu rumah saudara saya di Kedah. Malam tersebut kami berborak panjang dan juga merancang perjalanan keesokan harinya mudah-mudahan tiada aral melintang dan tidak sesat.

Alhamdulillah, 1 misi tertunai.

... Bersambung ...

Ibn MuSa
Bandar Ilmu
Rabiul Akhir 1432 / Mac 2011

I AM ON A MISSION

2011-03-24T23:43:00.001-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

SUDAH SAMPAI MUSIMNYA

Alhamdulillah, kawan-kawan sebaya saya seorang demi seorang mula bertunang dan ramai juga yang menjejakkan diri ke jinjang pelamin. Tidak ketinggalan juga yang sudah mula menyambung zuriat dengan kelahiran cahaya mata masing-masing.

Bak kata Maher Zain, barakallahu lakuma wabaraka alaikuma wajama'a bainakuma fi khairi.

Saya tumpang berkongsi kegembiraan kawan-kawan dengan cuba memenuhi undangan yang terdaya, dengan jemputan kenduri keluarga diutamakan,diikuti dengan sahabat rapat dan jauh.

BERADA DI LEBIH SATU TEMPAT DALAM SATU MASA

Namun begitu, memang sekarang sudah musim generasi sebaya saya mendirikan rumah tangga maka adalah sukar untuk penuhi undangan kesemuanya. Lagilah kalau lebih daripada 1 undangan diterima pada hari dan waktu yang sama tetapi dari segi geografi adalah mustahil untuk hadir. Pernah satu ketika, 3 jemputan berlangsung di mana satu di Kedah, Puchong dan Johor.

Sebagai seorang hamba Allah dan insan yang terbatas kudratnya, saya tidak boleh berada di 3 tempat dalam satu masa. Maka pada jemputan yang saya tidak hadiri, selamat berbahagia saya ucapkan dan mohon berlapang dada dengan ketidakhadiran saya.

I'M ON A MISSION

Bak kata teman-teman saya di England "it's a mission" atau "I am on a mission" bila bermusafir berkelana dalam memenuhi sesuatu hajat.

Contohnya bermusafir ke London hanya untuk sertai perbincangan ilmiah dengan para ulama' dan ahli politik yang melawat UK. Begitu juga bermusafir ke Ireland, Northern Ireland dan Edinburgh pada saat musim sejuk untuk mencari ilmu dalam perkongsian ilmu yang diadakan.

Penggunaan frasa ini juga sesuai jika pergi berjalan jauh untuk satu hajat yang tidaklah sebesar mana seperti memandu dari Nottingham ke Leicester hanya untuk makan Nando's halal atau ke Rusholme di Manchester untuk menikmati nasi ayam atau kobeda kebab di Restoran Al-Jazeera. Atau pergi ke Cheshire Oak, York atau Bicester Village hanya untuk bershopping.

MISSIONS ACCOMPLISHED

Saya berpendapat jika diberi undangan, saya mesti penuhi jika tiada keuzuran. Jarak bukanlah halangan tetapi jika lebih daripada 1 undangan diterima dalam satu masa, saya terpaksa memilih yang mana satu patut saya hadir dan mana satu tidak.

Antara "misi" memenuhi jemputan perkahwinan yang saya penuhi adalah Abg Joe di Warwick dan teman rapat saya Meita Lydiawati di Jakarta. Mission kan?

Sekarang misi terbaru saya adalah memenuhi undangan teman pengajian di KYUEM dahulu iaitu Amira Anis. Kali ini di Perlis! Malah saya sekarang sedang menaip blog ini menggunakan telefon saya di atas bas. Canggih sungguh teknologi zaman sekarang.

NATIONAL EXPRESS VS COACH DI MALAYSIA

Salah satu perkhidmatan yang saya tidak banyak gunakan di UK dahulu adalah perkhidmatan coach. Coach yang utama di sana adalah National Express. Saya tidak menyukainya kerana sempit, tidak selesa, panas, strict dan tiada wifi. Di UK saya lebih gemar menggunakan perkhidmatan keretapi yang selesa walaupun lebih mahal harga tiketnya.

Di Malaysia, perkhidmatan coach adalah sangat banyak dan sangat selesa. Jika National Express masih menggunakan bas 4 kerusi satu baris, di Malaysia tidak kerana boleh kata semua bas antara bandar adalah 3 kerusi sebaris.Tahniah Malaysia!

Seat 2+1 sebaris

Namun begitu kes kemalangan maut melibatkan bas antara bandar adalah antara penyumbang ramai orang sangsi menggunakan perkhidmatan ini.

INTERCITY COACH

Untuk misi ke Perlis kali ini, saya memilih Intercity Coach. Berdasarkan rupa luaran dan first impression ianya adalah satu coach yang selesa. Wifi yang laju, kerusi yang selesa, ruang yang luas dan aircond yang sejuk! Tahniah!

Mungkin penambah baikan yang saya boleh cadangkan adalah berikan tisu lembap, snek dan air kepada penumpang untuk mengekalkan kesegaran.

Alhamdulillah setakat sekarang (baru melepasi Lembah Beringin), kapten coach memandu dengan berhemah dan berhati-hati. Keep up the good work Capt!

Tiket Executive Coach Super VIP yang berharga hanya RM45 dari Kajang ke Gurun

NO CARD NO MISSION

Prinsip saya mudah. Anda jemput saya cuba sedaya upaya untuk datang. Syarat saya cuma satu. Kad jemputan kahwin perlu sampai ke tangan saya.

Zaman sekarang, hebahan kenduri perkahwinan dibuat melalui Facebook dan jika berminat untuk hadir dan mahukan kad, sila berikan alamat. Sayalah antara orang yang ringan tulang kasi alamat. Bukan susah pun kan :)

SEMOGA MENJADI IBADAH

Apa pun yang dibuat, pastikan ianya menjadi ibadah. Bermusafir juga patut jadi ibadah. Mudah-mudahan berkelananya saya kali ini dapat menambahkan ilmu, membuka mata hari saya, menguatkan iman, diterima sebagai ibadah dan mengeratkan persaudaraan atau talian silatirrahim.

Orang bermusafir di jalan Allah insyaAllah diterima doanya tanpa hijab.

Wallahuaalam

Ibn MuSa
Seat 10A
(sebab Seat 8A dah ada orang duduk rupanya)
Intercity Coach
Kajang - Perlis

Rabiulakhir 1432 / Mac 2011

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Testing

2011-03-24T16:22:00.001-07:00

This is a testing post. I just installed an app on my phone called Blogger-droid on my newly flashed Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) on HTC HD2.

This phone was launched with Windows Mobile 6.5 as its operating system. Thanks to its high spec,comes with high potential to do alot of things. And of course, with the present of groups of highly talented and dedicated developers from around the world to test and materialise what used to be a dream.

I mean during launched,HTC announced that it can't run Windows Mobile 7. Developers overcame that. The complicated system built so that Android on HD2 was impossible,overcame by them. Other OS includes Windows 95,UBUNTU and others.

I found it cool. Thanks guys, with the progressive XDA dev forum presence and some guts to potentially create an expensive brick all these goals have been achieved.

Good job guys!

Ibn MuSa
City of Knowledge
Rabiulakhir 1432 /March 2011

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Another Similar Designs

2011-03-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Another few photos captured by friends in the UK:

Marker pen

Now Mini Cooper?

Is it a sign that dark green with while circle is capturing more and more of the westerners heart?

Ibn MuSa
City of Knowledge
Rabiul Akhir 1432 / March 2011

DESIGN OF THE DAY

2011-03-10T22:48:00.000-08:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

T-SHIRT DESIGN OF THE DAY (OR MAYBE YEAR OR DECADE OR MILLENNIUM)

Here's a mobile photo shot by my friend in the UK:

Nike Football T-Shirt

Not custom made, not self printed, originally made by Nike.

Nike, how about selling it in Malaysia?

Ibn MuSa
City of Knowledge
Rabi'ul Akhir 1432 / March 2011

Congratulation KUSESS Boys Basketball Team

2011-03-09T21:12:00.000-08:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

THE BIRTH OF MY BASKETBALL CAREER

Nah.. Just bragging. I won't say it as a career because I own no income, but it is my passion.

I've talked about this before. The first thing I saw when I was admitted into this school was the basketball courts. That was when I made up my mind I am going to learn basketball and develop my passion in it.

I remember when I was a freshmen, we couldn't even form a basketball team because the basketball club only had 5 people; 1 girl and 4 guys and I was one of it. Then in my second year, basketball tournament was introduced to the boarding school and out of sudden the number of members boomed!

Each school will compete with each other and top two schools; ie the ones that manage to reach the zone finals will get through to the National level. In 2000 we got third place overall and 2001 we got second place overall. Both were in National level. However in 2002, we only managed to go to the National level but never get into the playoffs stage.

That was the last time we got through zone level and played in the National level.

During KYUEM Alumni weekend, I was part of alumni playing against the current students

9 YEARS OF CURSE

After that, the curse began. Freshers and people played basketball for the co-curricular points or for fame of getting the privileges given. It was when people looked at what shoes they wore and not the winning stats or the basketball skills they have.

Basketball is an honor, it is a privilege to able to play and be part of the team. Excel and you will get it. Simple concept.

The curse started from 2003. Sad to say, I was in that 2003 team. We loss to our rival, Sekolah Alam Shah (SAS) in the semi-final of the Zone Playoffs stage.KUSESS never managed to get through the zone level. Finally today KUSESS boys basketball team broke this 9 years curse, got through to the zone finals and secured a ticket to the national level.

PLAY BECAUSE OF PASSION, NOT JUST FAME OR NAME

Until now, I still play basketball. It is my passion, and I enjoy playing it. I watch NBA everyday to learn and to enjoy. That's the way it should be. Don't just play for the sake of fame, name or prestige given but play because you love it.

I still play basketball in university =)

Last but not least, congratulations guys! I'm proud of you. Keep it up and if I'm allowed by the school, I will come to play, compete and give what ever I can to prepare you guys for the national levels.

Ibn MuSa
City of Knowledge
Rabi'ul Akhir 1432 / March 2011

Saman Ekor dan Saman di Malaysia

2011-03-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

SAMAN DI UK

Saya ingin kongsikan pengalaman saya dan rakan-rakan yang pernah memandu di UK. Ada yang pernah kena saman, ada yang tidak. Bagi yang pernah kena saman, pengalaman tersebut dikongsikan bersama kepada mereka yang tidak pernah kena agar sejarah tidak berulang.

Saman kesalahan jalan raya di UK, hukuman dendanya melibatkan bayaran yang tinggi serta points ditolak daripada lesen kita. Jumlah bayaran denda dan points yang ditolak adalah bergantung kepada jenis kesalahan yang kita lakukan. Sebagai pelajar di UK, kena saman dan terpaksa mengeluarkan wang untuk membayarnya adalah perkara terakhir anda inginkan berlaku pada anda. Namun jika terkena, apa nak buat. Mungkin kita harus lebih banyak bersedekah agar duit yang keluar tu, sekurang-kurangnya menjana pahala daripada disalurkan untuk membayar saman.

Apa yang berlaku adalah, orang kena saman (OKS) akan menerima surat saman sama ada secara terus apabila ditahan oleh pegawai Polis atau dihantar secara pos terus ke rumah di mana kenderaan yang dibawa didaftarkan. Jika ditahan polis, kita akan diminta masuk ke kereta polis, bersoal jawab dan diterangkan apa kesalahan yang dilakukan lalu surat saman dikeluarkan. Jika saman diterima melalui pos, maklumat didapati daripada imej ditangkap oleh kamera had laju.

Setelah setiap saman dikeluarkan dan diterima oleh OKS, mereka diberi satu tempoh masa yang tertentu untuk mengaku salah atau pun mahu kes tersebut dibicarakan di mahkamah. Jika OKS mengaku salah, jumlah denda saman yang perlu dibayar akan dinyatakan dan OKS diberikan satu tempoh diskaun 50% untuk melangsaikannya. Jika tempoh tersebut tamat, OKS perlu membayarnya secara penuh.

Jika OKS dibicarakan dan didapati tidak bersalah, saman tersebut akan luput.

Jika OKS dibicarakan dan didapati bersalah, denda saman dikeluarkan dan sama seperti di atas, OKS akan menerima satu tempoh diskaun untuk menyelesaikannya. Jika tidak, saman tersebut perlu dilangsaikan secara penuh.

Saya merasakan tidak ada OKS yang berani tidak membayar denda jika mengaku salah atau didapati melakukan kesalahan. Ini kerana mereka telah dididik sedemikian.

Namun begitu, yang lebih menarik adalah kamera-kamera perangkap had laju adalah sebesar-besar objek yang diletakkan jelas di bahu jalan. Pada yang membawa laju, anda memang menempah saman lah.

Contoh Kamera Perangkap Had Laju di UK
(Diambil dari http://news.cnet.com/2300-1028_3-6130201.html)

SAMAN DI MALAYSIA

Saya belum pernah kena saman melanggar kesalahan jalan raya di Malaysia. Alhamdulillah. Jadi saya tidak tahu mekanisma yang digunakan.

Pada siapa yang mahu membaca dengan lebih lanjut mengenai saman dan hak kita sebagai pemandu di Malaysia, sila ke sini.

MANA LEBIH BAGUS?

Pada pendapat saya, itu bukan persoalan yang sebenar. Persoalan yang lebih besar adalah bagaimana sesebuah negara mendidik dan membentuk akhlaq masyarakatnya.

Di UK, adalah amat sukar untuk seseorang lulus dalam ujian memandu mereka. Malah ada yang mencuba banyak kali namun tidak juga berjaya mendapatkan lesen memandu. Ramai rakan-rakan saya kelahiran UK yang tidak boleh memandu kerana belum lulus dalam ujian memandu. Oleh itu, dalam mendapatkannya, dedikasi dan disiplin yang tinggi adalah amat penting dalam menelaah buku, membuat simulasi dan belajar teknik-teknik yang tepat untuk memandu supaya lesen memandu dapat diperoleh dengan jayanya.

People even congratulate others who passed their driving test!
(Take from http://www.poppydesigns.co.uk/Congratulations/Traffic%20jam.jpg)

Setelah seseorang berjaya mendapatkan lesen, itu adalah satu kepuasan yang dibelakangnya tergalas satu tanggungjawab dan disiplin bagi memastikan mereka menjadi pemandu yang berhemah.

Memang menjadi satu amalan dan tabiat pemandu di UK memberi laluan kepada pemandu lain, mengutamakan pejalan kaki dengan berhenti di zebra crossings (dan bukannya pejalan kaki yang perlu teragak-agak melintas di situ), mengucapkan terima kasih, tidak “langgar lari” dan bersemuka sesama pihak jika berlaku kemalangan.

Di Malaysia? Anda fikir-fikirkan sendiri. Bawak laju macam bini nak beranak, kemudian sangkut juga di lampu isyarat sebelah aku, tergelak aku dalam kereta kat orang macam ni. Lorong laju jadi perlahan, lorong perlahan jadi laju. Ini belum kira yang susah betul nak kasi laluan hatta jalan jam atau memberi peluang kepada pejalan kaki untuk melintas jalan di zebra crossing dan sebagainya.

Oh Rakyat Satu Malaysiaku

Ibn MuSa

Bandar Ilmu

Rabiul Akhir 1432 / Mac 2011

Cuciter cuciter

2011-02-28T15:40:00.000-08:00

Pada suatu hari...

... burung-burung pun berkicauan hari tu...

... ada yang bekerja...

... ada yang bergembira...

~ muzik latar yang sungguh mengasyikkan pun bermain di udara ~

~ "Happy birthday to me" nyanyi Usop ~

Entering a new era, new phase of my life

Ibn MuSa
Bandar Ilmu
Rabiulawal 1432 / Mac 2011

Nilai Akhlaq Segelintir Rakyat Malaysia Cuma Berharga RM4.70?

2011-02-21T17:12:00.000-08:00

Atas permintaan rakan-rakan, saya berkongsikan artikel ini secara terbuka.

"Kalau dah bodoh tu, bodoh juga. Tak guna ko belajar tinggi-tinggi" kata seorang pegawai KTM Komuter kepada pengguna Komuter di Stesen Komuter Nilai semasa menunggu komuter yang dijangka tiba pada 9.48 malam 20 Feb 2011 di platform untuk menghala ke UKM.

Bermula daripada saya terlelap apabila dapat duduk dalam komuter yang sesak setelah beberapa penumpang turun di stesyen-stesyen antara KL Sentral dan UKM. Saya terlelap dan apabila saya terjaga, saya tidak tahu saya di mana. Tidak lama kemudian, saya sampai ke Stesyen Batang Benar dan saya hanya tersedar bahawa saya telah terlajak beberapa stesen adalah apabila saya tiba di Nilai kerana destinasi saya adalah UKM.

Di stesen Nilai, saya turun, menggunakan jejantas untuk ke platform utama yang menghala ke Rawang untuk menunggu ketibaan komuter seterusnya. Tidak lama kemudian, seorang pegawai KTM berbangsa Melayu, berkulit sawa matang, tinggi kurang 170cm, tidak berkacamata, yang bermisai tebal datang untuk memeriksa tiket komuter daripada semua orang yang menunggu di platform tersebut. Saya menyatakan bahawa saya menggunakan Touch n Go. Beliau meminta kad tersebut, menyentuh pada mesin keluar dan menyentuh masuk sebelum memulangkan kad tersebut semula kepada saya. Hal ini menyebabkan saya terpaksa membayar tiket perjalanan tambahan untuk kembali ke UKM.

Saya mempersoal tindakan beliau yang tanpa persetujuan saya telah melakukan yang sedemikian. Namun saya terkejut, marah dan kecewa apabila beliau menjawab soalan saya dengan herdikan, cacian dan ugutan. Antara cacian yang beliau lontarkan berbunyi "kalau dah bodoh tu, bodoh juga. Tak guna belajar tinggi-tinggi", "ini adalah stesyen keretapi, saya adalah pegawainya. Setiap hari saya memeriksa beribu-ribu penumpang, bukan kamu seorang. Kalau bodoh tu bodoh juga" dan sebagainya. Saya berasa sangat marah tetapi ditenangkan dengan beristighfar dan seorang anggota polis yang berada di stesen terbabit membawa saya pergi untuk terus duduk menunggu ketibaan komuter.

Saya bertambah kecewa apabila walaupun saya telah duduk untuk menunggu ketibaan komuter, pegawai KTM Komuter terbabit masih terus mengherdik saya dengan kata-kata seperti di atas. Malah beliau mengugut untuk menulis surat kepada universiti supaya saya dibuang dengan alasan sikap saya yang melawan beliau menjalankan tugas.

Saya bukannya melawan, tetapi sekadar mempersoal tindakan beliau. Jika beliau menegur dengan elok, saya tidak kisah untuk membayar tiket tersebut. Bukannya susah, sekadar touch keluar dan touch masuk sahaja dan bukannya mahal sangat pun harga tiketnya.

Saya sangat sayangkan negara Malaysia yang rakyatnya terkenal dengan keramahan dan budi pekerti yang mulia, saya rasa adalah wajib bagi saya untuk menulis artikel ini. Sikap pegawai yang biadab, kurang ajar dan tidak berbudi pekerti dalam menjalankan tugas harus dielakkan daripada berlaku. Jika ianya terus berlaku, saya sarankan pihak KTM dan mana-mana agensi kerajaan atau swasta lain agar mengenakan tindakan disiplin atau memecat sahaja pekerja seperti ini kerana ianya bukan sahaja mencalar reputasi majikan, malah berupaya mencalar nama baik seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Adalah silap bagi saya untuk tidak melihat tag nama pegawai tersebut, namun begitu saya harapkan KTM Komuter dapatlah menyenarai pendek pegawai yang bertugas pada waktu dan hari yang saya terangkan di atas dan mengambil tindakan yang sesuai.

Harga budi bahasa bukannya semurah RM4.70 atau RM2.10 seperti harga tiket KL Sentral ke Nilai dan Nilai ke UKM. Harga budi bahasa lebih mahal daripada itu. Saya sarankan sesuatu tindakan disiplin diambil oleh pegawai-pegawai seperti ini kerana mereka menjadi liabiliti organisasi dan mencemarkan maruah agama, bangsa dan negara Malaysia yang kita cintai ini.

- Insan yang inginkan sikap rakyat Malaysia bertambah baik

Kepada insan yang berkenaan, saya telah menghantarkan artikel ini kepada semua saluran yang ada. Ini termasuklah akhbar, pengurusan KTM, Biro Pengaduan Awam, dan sebagainya. Tujuan saya satu: menyedarkan rakyat Malaysia agar akhlak kita tidak jadi sangat murah harganya. Sekiranya individu berkenaan menyatakan kemaafan secara terbuka atau secara peribadi kepada saya, saya dengan rela memadam artikel ini.

Maulid Rasul: an Open Letter to a Person Name Saiful

2011-02-14T09:34:00.000-08:00

Maulid Rasul: an open letter to a person name Saiful

Bismillah

Dear Saiful,

I hope you are in your greatest state of Iman insyaAllah.
During this blessed day of Maulid Rasul, let us all recite as many selawat to our prophet, Nabi Muhammad SAW, as we can to show our love to him.

Allahumma solli ala saiyidina Muhammad

Dear Saiful,

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind myself and to you that showing love to the prophet is not only via selawat and parades like we use to do, practicing the teachings of Islam is another way for us to show our love to him. Allow me to suggest something, which is what was taught by the prophet that we love some much. This can make your court trials versus DS Anwar Ibrahim on the sodomy case comes to a conclusion at no time at all.

My suggestion is: Can you please accept Qazaf as the method for the trial? It is simple, just provide 4 witnesses that DS Anwar sodomised you and the case will be over in no time. If you can't come up with the witnesses, I suggest you keep quiet and apologies to DS Anwar for the accusation. Case close.

Islam teaches that we will die and after death we will enter the hereafter. There, we all will get the suitable punishment for all the things we've done. Every single one, every single action. Absolute justice will prevail there but not here.

SITUATION 1: you did not come up with 4 witnesses.

In this case, I suggest you to keep quiet and ask apologies from DS Anwar for the heavy accusation. I am sure he will forgive you and will put things at the past. The reason is if you can't provide the witnesses, the suitable punishment for you is 80 times of being whipped and all your swear, testification and witness will not be accepted in the future.

If he did sodomise you, he will be cursed (laknat) by Allah in this life and will be punish in the hereafter. While you on the other hand will be rewarded for obeying Islam and being patient in facing this situation. Allah might grant you paradise for this. Remember, Allah is with the patient people.

In case he did not sodomised you, you apologize and he accepted, you will be free from the punishment in this world and in the hereafter. After all, Allah Pardons and Forgives so never lose hope on his forgiveness.

Case closed.

SITUATION 2: you came up with 4 witnesses.

If the witnesses are genuine and DS Anwar did sodomised you, pleaded or found guilty, he will be stoned to death in public. You will achieve justice, are free and your dignity will be restored. This also gives justice and saves DS Anwar from the more severe punishments in the hereafter because he is willing to be stoned to death according to Islamic laws. Allah is the ultimate Just and Fair, He is also Pardons and Forgives.

Case closed.

If the witnesses firmly saying DS Anwar sodomise you and Anwar denies it, then there must be either party is telling lie but we won't know who is lying. Therefore all people must swear and testify in the name of Allah that you are telling the truth and if you are lying, may Allah's curses be upon you.

Then, I am not sure whether Anwar will be stoned to death or not. (i need to refer back to the Islamic books regarding Qazaf). If not mistaken, he gets stoned to death.

If he gets stoned to death, it will be done in public so that no one else may repeat the same case again. He will obtain the absolute justice in the hereafter. He will be rewarded because of his patience and strong believe in Islamic laws. He maybe granted paradise because he is the oppressed people in this case.

You and your witnesses will face Allah's curse (laknat) in this life and hereafter because of the oppression you've done that cost another Muslim's life, shatters his dignity and leaves widow and orphans behind. On this world you maybe save but not for eternity.

Case closed.

Whatever it is,the only solution for this case is via Qazaf. Not by swearing and taking oath in a mosque nor via any other methods.

Therefore Saiful, shall we agree on using Qazaf to settle this? Let's settle it via the Islamic way, via the teachings of our prophet. What more honor can we give him on his Maulid day other than believing without a doubt in his teachings and applying in our daily lives.

Let us take the opportunity of Maulid Rasul to practice his teachings and continuing this case via Qazaf insyaAllah.

Allahumma solli ala saiyidina Muhammad

(ps: correct me if I'm wrong)

Yours truly
Ibn MuSa
City of Knowledge 2011
13 Rabiul Awal 1432

Donuts for charity, sir?

2010-11-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

"Donuts for charity, donuts for charity"

People rushing from one lecture to another, ignoring the dudes selling donuts. Some even pretend that they never heard our voices or never saw us no matter how sweet our smiles or how friendly we approached them.

"Donuts for charity mam?"

She smiled whilst replying, " Oh, I don't know we have competitor." This lady is one of the people working for the cafe of The Exchange Building in Jubilee Campus. I smiled, I approached the wrong target customer.

An matured looking gentleman walk pass the stall.

"Donuts for charity, sir?" said one of the fella selling the donuts.

"Pardon me, I'll donate some money but you can take the buns. I am in the middle of my teachings." It happens that he is one of the lecturers rushing to get some coffee. Who knows he might be one of the top professors in the university? I smiled.

"How much is the donut?" asked a guy. When we said the price and the money will go to charity, it still didn't manage to make him contained his feelings and uttered the words, "What? £1 for a donut? That's expensive!" Later on, he pretended that his phone rang, talked into it and walked away. I smiled, because I saw his phone was completely blank and nobody was calling.

Entering maghrib, it was around 5pm. We took turns performing our maghrib prayers at a corner and selling the remaining donuts.

"Donuts for charity? Come on sir, you know you want them," one of us said to a guy walking to and fro passing us. Finally he stopped by, bought some donuts and we smiled.

Closing Time

It was about time we packed up. Out of sudden, a couple of people came to buy a box of donuts each. Few boxes of donuts sold in a matter of minutes when we were about to wrap up.

At the end of the day, I felt this feeling tingling in my vein, the feeling that I can't really find words for it. It was a happy, satisfying, worth the effort, tiring but fun experience. What touched me most was I can see how I react at other times when other people were trying doing the effort of selling things or fund raising for charities. I can see sometimes I ignored like they weren't there, I pretended I didn't hear or see them, some people pretended the phone rang when the phone was completely blank, talked into it and walked away. What ever reaction people gave me that day, it reflected back on me.

Now I know how they feel.

Donuts for Charity? But attention was on their iPhones -_-"

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2010
Zulhijjah 1431

Missing my basketball doses makes me sick

2010-11-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Basketball is my passion

I love basketball. In fact, I love basketball so much. This is the sport that I started when I entered high school. The basketball court was the first beautiful view I saw at that school. I started to have my hands on the basketball, played rubbish and went through the hardship of being rookie, being laughed at by the senior students, was one of the 5 members of basketball club when nobody else wanted to join it back then. I went through the hardship of being part of the only non-Chinese team in Kuala Selangor district when all other schools were looking forward to beat us. I went through being "rejected" to play in the school team in 2000 because the coach wanted me to give my place to the only final year senior who did not made to the team. Seniority.... sigh...

I was part of the team that played well when we were underdogs, when we all couldn't afford to buy fancy Nike, Converse and Adidas basketball shoes and everybody wore some cheap badminton shoes and I wore RM7 Pallas Jazz. I was part of the team which played crap when we had sponsors for our jersey with our names written on it, when all my team mates rewarded them selves with nice expensive basketball shoes for fashion rather than playing and when we started the "curse" of losing at the Zone Division in Boarding School basketball league. Ever since, I don't recall the name KUSESS in the National Level of Boarding School Basketball Tournament.

I remember the good times and will always cherish the good times when we played well, when my team mate scored a buzzer beater and won the semi, when we chased from behind and beaten one of the Chinese teams in Kuala Selangor with multiple 3 pointers, led Garnet team to the championship and left a legacy behind in KYUEM. I remember the good time of playing in the team named "Sampah" for 3-on-3 with my team mates Dr Muaz and Shakkir and won second place and playing for fun during my final year in University with my mates.

I miss my basketball doses.

Life goes on, people move forward with their dreams and ambitions. My mates have left university and started a new life. Ariff Sod, Din, Kyo, Azim, Hartono, I'm going to miss so much playing basketball with you. Although it was short, it was fun and I wish you the best for your future! Now that I'm no longer a student in University of Nottingham, I wish the best to the rest to carry on the legacy. Akashah, Neo, Yuri, Rudy and Cha, when is our next basketball session?

Today, it marks more than 6 weeks of missing my basketball doses. God, that IS long!

Basketball makes me feel good. A lot of my tweets and facebook status updates talk about "Basketball never disappoint me". Nowdays, the only way for me to quench my thirst of basketball is via watching NBA. But that is not enough, I want to play, I want to play, I want to play!

Literally, losing my basketball doses makes me don't feel good.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2010
Zulhijjah 1431H

If Facebook existed during the Kesultanan Melayu Melaka era...

2010-10-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

The picture that made my day. Can't stop laughing looking at it.

Credit to Waris Jasid for sharing this picture on Facebook.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2010
DzulQaedah 1431H

Proton, Please Don't Disappoint Me

2010-10-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

I Love My Country

I'm a Malaysian by nationality and by heart. Although my forefathers were from Java, Indonesia and I claim Javanese is my mother tongue, I am still a Malaysian. After all, Java still lies within the Malay ethnic group if we look at the larger picture.

I love my country, I love the seas and beaches, I love the mountains and forests, I love the cities, I love the harmony people especially those who live in the countryside. I love my both my paternal and maternal kampungs, Pasir Panjang & Muar. Last but not least, I love my national car.

The Cars of My Family

I remember that my family never used any national cars, regardless whether they are Proton, Perodua, or Naza until the invention of Proton Waja. The first car my father used was a very old fashion Toyota Corolla E70 (the forth generation) until he went to the Japan for his post graduate studies. Later on, he drove Talbot, Ford Escort Mark III and Mercedes W123 when he furthered his studies in the UK. When he came back to Malaysia, he drove the Mercedes, then changed to Mitsubishi Pajero and right now Honda Accord. My mom drove a small cute little Daihatsu Charade Aura when my dad had his Pajero, and right now she drives a Proton Waja. All the cars were sold before the new ones were bought.

Toyota Corolla E70

Mercedes Benz W123

Although my family never drove a national car, I started to love it since my primary school and became kinda proud of it...... Until I realized the harsh truth.

The Harsh Truth of National Cars

Never before the cars my family drove had any minor problems which occur in Proton. These include problems with the power windows, problems with the door knobs not opening, problems with here, there...problems with everything and anything minor. Although they were minor, trust me it becomes irritating. Within just a couple of months or maybe a year owning the car from brand new, I assure you you will experience any of these problems. Neither of these were experienced before in our previous cars.

In addition to that, the most important aspect I'd look for in a car is the safety it provides me. Malaysia is known for its festival nightmares. During festive seasons like Eid, Chinese New Year or Deepavali, there will be loadsa news about fatal crashes, sometimes between cars and lorry and so on. Sadly, most of these road accidents involve the national cars. Even more sad, one of my friend was involved in one, he passed away in a car crash on his wedding day! (Innalillahi wainnailaihi roji'un)

Therefore I can understand why people are willing to pay more to get the comfort of driving and traveling whilst retaining the performance and safety of the car they drive. That is why people prefer imported cars like the ones from Europe (Mercedes, Audi, BMW, etc) and from Japan (Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, etc).

Don't Blame Us For Not Buying National Cars but Give Us Hopes!

Alright, I am still at the point of wondering what should be my first car when I start working. Most probably, I'll drive my mom's Proton Waja, which I don't really mind. But judging from the safety and other problems, I'd rather look for a nice second hand Japanese made car. I know I can't afford one yet, but buying a second hand one won't cost that much, will it? After all, I don't wanna get killed in a road accident, driving a 3 stars car. Wanna know the definition of 3 stars, 4 stars and 5 stars cars? Do watch this video.

Well, I've heard that Proton will be launching its replacement model of the Proton Waja. Its real name is still unleashed but most probably Proton Inspira. What ever it is, Proton please listen to this. Please provide the Malaysian hope by producing cars that are competitive, world class, 5 stars in all the specs and at the reasonable prices. Sounds crazy, but the truth is, it is not.

The news reported that this new car will start its price at under RM80k for a 1.8 manual transmission and around RM95k for 2.0 automatic transmission.

Snip preview of Proton Inspira

I can buy a used Mercedes Benz W203, year 2004 at around £7000 and add another £7000 to ship it to Malaysia, settle the customs and whatever tax concerned and I know I'm driving a good quality car in all its aspects. Convert that, it will turn out to be around RM70k, and the cost of a new Proton is more expensive than that. Why would a person risk his lives, buying a more expensive car with the less specs? That is just not rational.

Mercedes Benz W203

Proton, Please Don't Disappoint Me

I love being optimistic. I love looking things at the bright side, and always be positive. I hope that Proton has produced a competitive car that has all the safety features which are WORKING, eliminated all these minor problems, good in performance and at a reasonable price.

Otherwise, you lose a valuable customer like me. If you do, definitely I'll buy an imported car and won't allow anybody in my family or my friends to buy your product.

Now or never, dude.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2010
Zulqaedah 1431H

The Time of The Year: PUISI 2010

2010-10-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Alhamdulillah, almost all new students have arrived safely to their respective universities. Welcome and ahlan wa sahlan wa marhaban bikum I wish to all. I hope all of you have already settled down, get the feeling of how university life is, plan your time, get involved in society activities and you control your life.

It is the time of the year, when event organizers will be promoting all out for people to join their program. Subhanallah, only Allah can reward the intention and hardworking in delivering awareness of Islam in the most entertaining, easy going and fruitful while enabling the participants to create new networks and strengthen bonds that are present.

I remember when I was in my first year. I went to PUISI 2006 and that time the main speaker was Ustaz Hasrizal Abdul Jamil (SaifulIslam.com) and what happened was amongst my batch from KYUEM, a lot of us decided to register in a bulk. Therefore during PUISI, it looked like we "invaded and colonised" it. Nevertheless, new bonds and friendships were formed. I even still keep in touch with some of the new people I met back than. Alhamdulillah, what a nice brotherhood it is.

However during that year, I didn't planned to tour Dublin and other places on Ireland which I should have done. Therefore, I was looking forward to attend PUISI in the following year in addition of planning to travel interesting places around Ireland.

What I did was gathering few of my friends and planned the trip with a good friend of mine, Im Koyube. But I firmly inform everybody in the group that I wanted to go to PUISI as the main agenda, and traveling around Ireland and other places are included because PUISI is always in Ireland. If I didn't use the opportunity to travel there when I attended PUISI, chances are I won't explore Ireland at all. This is important to ensure all the new students are well informed before making a decision.

Regardless of how polite a senior is or the uncountable the helps and lending hands given to welcome you, you must have a grip of your life. You run your life and never let other people, regardless who the person is, how mature or more experienced they are you have to get grip of your life. You determine your path, you determine your future.

I keep on emphasising this every year because there is a great tendency that the senior students here in the UK to "control" the lives of the junior students. The seniors tend to be very very very very very very very very very kind to the juniors when they arrive, pick them up from the airport privately although in Nottingham we have the official entity to do so, cook for them and invite them secretly and so on. I believe the intention is to promote the organisations where they belong to so that the juniors and to prevent the "clean" senior students who are not part of them from "poisoning" the minds of the new students.

I remember when shamefully, some of these people even "prevent" and "discourage" the new students from joining events and programs which are not theirs by saying this and that about the respective events. Who are you to do so, and to the juniors, don't be such a fool to follow these bullshitty ideas. Please don't. You are all the bright students of the clever, the successor of the leaders and the Malaysian hope. Don't allow yourself to be a fool. To the seniors who had done it before, please stop it and be gentlemen. Do things at the right way, do things professionally.

Alright, I'm going too far already. But the gist of what I wrote are you decide on your life pathway and if you don't have anything in mind on what to do this winter, I recommend you go to PUISI and travel around Ireland. It didn't disappoint me, so I dare say it won't disappoint you insyaAllah.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2010
Zulqaedah 1431H

Syawal Fasting 1431H: 10 days left

2010-09-27T18:10:00.001-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Today is the 19th Syawal 1431H. We only have roughly 10 or 11 days left for this year's Syawal. So to all who have not yet fasted the 6 voluntary days of Syawal, please do so as the time is running out. Please do start it today but if you forgot or decided not to fast today, have the intention and fast starting tomorrow!

I remember what I learn from Quran Workshop in university which discussed about verse 184 of Surah Al-Baqarah. It was mentioned that the previous generation, they were prescribed fasting like us now days. However, they fasted 3 days every Lunar Calendar throughout the year. Therefore, the total days fasted were 36 days every year. I see it that since this fasting was done consistently, 3 days every month, it is like doing it through out the year. The ummah of Muhammad SAW, we are prescribed with compulsory Ramadhan fasting for about 30 days and 6 days of voluntary Syawwal fasting. Hence the total is also 36 days and the reward is similar to fasting throughout the year.

Subhanallah.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2010
Syawwal 1431H

Photographer vs Photoshoper

2010-09-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

One of my passion since school is photography. It started in secondary school but never got it bloom because I had no camera that time, always have to "make bookings" first with my sister as we shared our parent's compact camera and back then I didn't get the exposure I'd love to have. This lovely passion came back to life during my A-Levels when I joined the photography club. That was when I started to get my hands on digital point-and-shoot cameras and single lens reflect (SLR) cameras. Boy, how I love them so much. Thank you Dr Foord for the guide you shared with me.

However, during A-Levels a lot of my friends developed the skills and knowledge of photo editing especially using Photoshop. Up to one level, I can't really tell which of their photos were original, which were edited. They claimed that the purpose of digitalisation of everything, including photography, is to make post editing more easy and convenient. True, but I don't buy that.

Until I bought a DSLR, went some photo outings with new friends who share the same interest, then only I realised that post-editing is as important as snapping the greatest photo. Thanks to 2 of my lovely friends; Syafiq and Faiz, who taught me some post-editing techniques, now I can appreciate what photoshop can do.

But I still prefer something fresh, straight out of camera rather than editing them afterwards. After all, I would like to claim myself as a photographer, not a photoshoper.

Anyway, here are some of the photos I produced after learning some basics of HDR photography. Have a look. The first photos are original and the seconds are edited into HDR photos.

Photo 1: Kensington Gardens, London, England

Photo 2: Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Photo 3: Shakespear's Birthplace, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, England.

Photo 4: Attenborough, Nottingham, England

Yup, post editing does bring some life to the original photo but I still prefer straight out of camera photos.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2010
Syawal 1431H

Syawal 1431H

2010-09-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Allahuakbar Allahuakbar Allahuakbar
Lailahaillallah Wallahu Akbar
Allauakbar Walillahilhamd

Allah the Greatest, Allah the Greatest, Allah the Greatest
No object worth to be worshiped except Allah and Allah is the Greatest
Allah the Greatest and to Allah all the praises belong to.

Let us all listen to some message and reminder from Tok Guru Datuk Seri Hj Abdul Hadi Awang, the President of PAS (Islamic Party Pan-Malaysia).

Allahuakbar Allahuakbar Allahuakbar
Lailahaillallah Wallahu Akbar
Allauakbar Walillahilhamd

Allah the Greatest, Allah the Greatest, Allah the Greatest
No object worth to be worshiped except Allah and Allah is the Greatest
Allah the Greatest and to Allah all the praises belong to.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2010
Syawal 1431H

Ramadhan in Foreign Land

2010-09-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

In 9 days time, it will be 4 years has gone by since I stepped my foot onto this land of England, the land of people who colonised my country, ruined it, extracted all the wealth to be brought back and left when we were exhausted with resources.

Ok, that's a bad way of visualizing England. In a good way, this is an eye opener country for those who seek the experience. 4 years in the making, and 5 times of Ramadhan away from my family. If I stayed behind till 10th Zulhijjah, it will be 10 Eids I celebrated in the UK. Quite an achievement for me as I can't imagine myself doing it again.

A lot of things happened, lot of things I've learn and many room for improvements. What ever it is, the Ramadhan in England will be one of the most memorable event for me in this life. Not everybody have the chance of experiencing long day of fasting and short night for qiam.

Alright, let the photo do the talking :)

(OMG! I just realised I didn't capture much photos of "moments"... sigh... )

First Ramadhan (1427H)

Second Ramadhan (1428H)

Third Ramadhan (1429H)

Forth Ramadhan (1430H)

Final Ramadhan (1431H)

As usual, photographers rarely appear in photographs. Sigh... What ever it is, let's make doa that all our deeds are accepted by Allah, bless us with his Rahmah and Mercy and free us from the hell fire insyaAllah.

Allahumma innaka afuwun karimun tuhibb ul-afwa fa'fuanna.

Ramadhan Kareem, Ramadhan Mubarak.

Ibn MuSa
Dunrkirk 2010
Ramadhan 1431H

First Mobile Post: UK Election

2010-05-04T06:54:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

This is my first time, blogging from my mobile phone. Let see how it goes.

InsyaAllah in 2 days time, the United Kingdom will be facing its General Election to elect its Members of Parliament (MP). This will be my first ever opportunity to vote in a foreign land, the land of the people who invaded my beloved country many years ago. Alhamdulillah this is an opportunity to learn about the politics and the election system in the UK and who knows it can be applied in Malaysia in the future?

Here is a good summary about the election in UK, was a comment from a friend in Facebook.

Kagum dengan proses piliharaya Britain.
1: Banyak debat
2: Liputan Berita untuk semua Parti
3: Universiti adalah pusat Kempen
4: Takde poster
5: Kebebasan bersuara
6: Bincang pasal isu bukan skandal
7: Public participation dalam Q & A (bukan tahu sorak jer)
8: Banyak analisis bukan spekulasi
9: minor issues of race and religion
10: Professional & Intellectual.

Hate to admit it, but it is true. The Malaysian election and hustings system are still way behind and I'd say not as professional as here. Well maybe this system does not fit with Malaysia as its waqi'? I believe that is not the case.

1. Banyak debat (a lot of debates)

Over the past 3 weeks, leaders of the main 3 parties, Labour, Conservatives (aka Tories) & Liberal Democrats (Lib Dem), met face to face to debate about issues and policies that they bring and would fought for should they were elected to be the next government. Yup, you heard me right. They met face to face and debated. What they debated on were the policies and analysis of flaws in the UK and ways to improve it. And these debates were broadcasted live in many TV channels!

2. Liputan berita untuk semua parti (News coverage from all parties).

Yup, TV channels, newspapers and internet websites covers the news about all parties, from the current government or its contesters. News about Labour strength and weakness were fairly broadcasted with news from Tories, Lib Dem and others. Unlike Malaysia where the TV only shows what the current government says about something and the opposition do not have the chance at all to have their say unless their says benefits the current government.

3. Universiti sebagai pusat kempen (Universities as the centre of campaigning)

Being an NUS Delegate myself opens my eyes to this. There were delegates from my uni which represent the Labour party and fought for its policies to go through the NUS. NUS is National Union of Students, which acts like the Parliament of Students and have the power to ensure all Student Unions to follow the constitutions and motions passed in the NUS Conference. In other words, university student as the future country leaders are given the opportunity to gain experience of politics, able to express its rights and fight for it and not oppressed by Acts and Laws which suppressed the student's hidden potentials.

In addition, the last series of Election Debate (last Thursday) was held in the Great Hall, Birmingham University itself. Yup, debate session between the leaders of 3 main parties was held in a university.

4: No posters

Very true indeed. I can snap a photo of Nottingham today and not see a single poster or banner of election. It makes the world look less messy, i guess it costs less, more greener and less hassle to clean it back later on.

5. Kebebasan Suara (Freedom of Speech)

Very much indeed. The parties who are running for the election can give speeches about why they are the best to be the next government. It can be done anywhere and I do not think these people will be captured and prisonised if they criticise the government. The etiquettes of freedom of speech is maintain. Freedom of speech doesn't mean you can utter such racism and facism words like "go home, Paki" or something like that. I believe if racism speech uttered, it won't be long before that person is captured and accused for racism.

6. Discussing issues, not scandals.

As mentioned, debates and speeches were focused on discussing issues, not scandals. If a candidate have scandals like marriage scandals, the opposition does not use that point to attack this candidate personally. Instead focus is on telling the public why their policies are the best and its opponents' are not. That is called professional and maintaining election etiquettes.

7. Public participation in Q&A

The public were given opportunity to ask controversial questions to the government and its competitors without the fear of some sort of secret agent or special branch would be tracking down and assasinate the questioners. As example if I was given a chance to ask, I'd ask "why does the government decided to allocate more funding into warfare (eg: Afghanistan) and not into education and health system?". I would not be arrested for asking that and the parties' leader must answer it professionally otherwise they will lost a lot of votes.

The rest are self explanatory.

I can see that there are more to be done in Malaysia, in fact many of them. Who will have to change it if not us, the students and future leaders of the country? Not that I'm saying students must involve in politics, but we should not be restricted by any Acts or Laws which suppresses students from even knowing or showing interest in it.

My 2 cents

Wallahuaalam

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2010

NUS National Conference 2010 recap

2010-04-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Last week I spent 3 days away in Newcastle and Gateshead for the NUS National Conference 2010. Right after I got home, I got ille and sick and hence lost the interest and ability to write and share some insight from the new eye opener experience for me. I am still sick as I wrote this.

Today, I received a text message from one of the FOSIS people who was there during the conference, which reboosted my spirit to write something. The text message was a news about the outstanding election results. Alhamdulillah Br Usman Ali and Sis Fatima Junaid got elected on the positions they ran for, the Vice President of Higher Education and a member of Block of 15 respectively. Congratulations to both of you. (Sorry sis Fatima, I think I lost your lovely campaign leaflet. Otherwise I can share it here as well)

Campaign T-Shirt

That was the good experience from the conference. The bad one was when I checked my bank account balance today, I saw an expenditure of GBP250 towards the hotel where I stayed. That is massive, a third of my monthly allowance! Immediately, I gave the hotel a ring and they said it was charged for a broken mirror in my room. It wasn't my fault. The mirror in my room was broken when I checked in. I should have reported to the hotel management about it when I was there. However, the luxurious and the comfy of the hotel made me forgot to do so.

Now I am fighting to get my GBP250 back! Tomorrow I am expecting phone call from one of the hotel manager to discuss about it. Luckily I snapped numerous photos of every angle of the room. Hope that they could be my evidence saying that I didn't break the mirror. Thinking about it, a mirror worth GBP250! I could buy a brand new 32" Samsung HD TV with that price on ebay!

The broken mirror (See bottom right of it)

Well, I am not supposed to write my experience there now because my priority should be reading journals, criticizing and writing on my dissertation. However once that is done, I hope I still can share some insights about the NUS National Conference 2010 here insyaAllah. Make doa that I will do so.

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2010

Who you are determines how you see and use something

2010-01-14T12:40:00.001-08:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

Exams are back! So far, I have gone through 2 papers, very heavy ones, and going to face another 2 more. Next in line is on Saturday about Biomolecular Therapeutics. Last year's batch shown quite a number of student failed this module. I don't want to be the one who repeats this history. (May Allah give me the strength to face this paper and all other obstacles. Amin).

About the topic, who you are determines what you see, how you use something. As example I am quite new with the IT era (to be honest). I only knew about Youtube around 2004 or 2005 when I did my A Levels. Before that, I barely touch the computer and had a better outdoor life. (No offence, computer geeks). One of the most interesting website so far is Youtube.

When I first know Youtube, I always search around videos of my interest including my favourite music band (Metallica) and favourite sports (Basketball). But from time to time, I started to get bored and I felt like almost all videos on these 2 aspects I have watched at least once. I felt like Youtube wasted a lot of my time and this is persistent with reminder from my housemate. Please do not "Lagho" with Youtube. (Lagho means doing something unbeneficial) However, when ever I go online, I must at least visit Youtube at least once (accidentally or not).

So...What else to search in Youtube eh?

I recently developed a new way of revision, which is using Youtube! Who knows, what ever things you want to know is videolised (is there such word?) there. An example is, video about RNAi approach (one of the topics in the Biomoleculare Therapeutics module). Well, it further enhances my understanding by seeing it visually.

Let me share you this. Please don't fall asleep, it is only around 4 minutes long.

Other things I've found so far which aids my revision was about how retrovirus functions, how immune system works, etc. Great way of utilising the technology, right?

As conclusion, who you are determines how you see and use something. If you see Youtube as a way to entertain yourself, you will find it. If you see Youtube as lagho, you will feel guilty whenever you use it. If you see it as a way to assist your knowledge of something by seeing it visually, you will get it!

Back to revision.

Dunkirk 2010
Ibn MuSa

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

2009-12-11T16:45:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

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?

Why not? :P
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).
An opportunity which comes once in a life time (at least for the 23 years I've lived so far).
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

2009-11-08T18:42:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-02T17:48:00.001-08:00

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?

2009-10-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-28T08:58:00.001-07:00

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:

The first migration from Makkah to Habsyah (Ethiopia)
The Isra' and Mi'raj
The war of Tabuk
Liberation of Baitul Maqdis
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

2009-06-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-05T03:25:00.001-07:00

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!

2009-05-29T03:30:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-05T21:58:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-04T02:48:00.000-07:00

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) 40 Hadiths of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) Abdul Rehman

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Humanities Research literature

Wallahuaalam

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Music and Lyrics

2009-05-02T13:40:00.001-07:00

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

My First Post

2009-05-02T04:42:00.000-07:00

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.

Finally, I've decided to open a Blogger account after thinking long. I've blogged around from Friendster to Multiply and now here.

Why?

Friendster was my first try and realised that the features were somewhat limited.
I like using the one in Multiply. Everthing is straight to the point, and everything is there. I can share my songs, reviews, videos, and others in one simple site. I am thinking of importing my posts here into my multiply one because to be honest, I really like using multiply.

However, not everybody have multiply account therefore the coverage of audience and readers of what I wrote is limited.

Therefore, maybe making a move is a good choice. Who knows?

Wallahuaalam

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009