Who you are determines how you see and use something

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"

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

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

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


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


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

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

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

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

Rest in Peace

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

NUS Delegate 0910

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

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

Why did I decided to run?

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

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

We'll see how it goes.

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

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

Inspirational Speech

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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





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

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

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

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

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 2009

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

University of Nottingham Islamic Society presents

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



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

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

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

Where? Room B62, Law & Social Sciences building

Refreshments will be provided

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

Ibn MuSa
Dunkirk 1430 H