As I was walking out from my house, a pakcik, who had just arrived in front of my doorsteps told me that my neighbour has passed away. I am not too familiar with the neighbour as he is a middle-aged man who lived several houses from me. Apparently, he had died while he was on a fishing trip to Lumut. Innalillahiwa innailaihi rajiun. I couldn't believe my ears. It seems that just a few days ago, I saw him driving past my house. Now, his wife is left a widow and his 9 children are orphans.
That is life. When our time comes, DEFINITELY we will be called to His side. Whether we like it or not...no matter whether we are prepared or not. What I really regret is the fact that I have never been close to my neighbours. Not just this particular neighbour but almost all of my neighbours. Somehow, because we are all working women, I feel that it is justified that we seldom talk or visit each other.
Secara logiknya, kalau kita bekerja dari 8pg -5 ptg, bila kah masa yg kita ada utk bertandang bertanya ikhabar dengan jiran? Apa lagi kalau jiran kita pun sama2 bekerja. Tentu bila pulang dari kerja, hari pun dah petang, mereka pun sibuk dgn tugasan2 rumahnya. Hujung minggu pula, kita masing2 ada program...mungkin pulang ke kampung, ziarah keluarga, membeli-belah ke pekan atau berjalan2 makan angin. Pendek kata, walau pun kami sudah berjiran hampir 5 tahun, sangat sedikit kesempatan utk kita bersuai kenal atau beramah mesra.
Masya Allah. Ini semua alasan atas kelemahan diri saya. Jika saya benar2 usahakan, pasti dapat saya pergi ziarah mereka dan bertanya khabar. Lemah betul sifat ikram pada diri saya ini. Mulai hari ini, saya berazam akan mengubah keadaan diri. Mungkin saya akan gunakan ilmu masakan dari teman di http://perutkenyang.blogspot.com. Mana lah tau, dengan masakan2 nie, boleh jadi pembuka bicara dan dapat jadi asbab utk saya penuhi hak2 jiran tetangga.
In actuality, our next-door neighbours have vast claims over us. I fear, in the hereafter, their demands on us will prevent us from entering jannah. Astaghfirlahalazim.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Ultimate Laziness
Dear friends,
I do apologize for my looooong silence. Hmmm, there is definitely no excuse for my disappearance. I've been visiting and reading from the net, but, I have stayed incognito.
Entahlah, takde ilham nak tulis n3 baru. I am glad that some of my friends have started their own blogs. Reading their updates forces me to come out of my lazy spell.
Lately, I've finished reading the novel Ayat-Ayat Cinta. Amazingly, it was inspiring. Frankly, I've been reading romance novels since I was 12. I've completed rows & rows of M&B books in my hometown library. From M&B, I've graduated to Harlequins, Silhouttes and many2 others. My hubby used to tell me that my head is permanently in the clouds and I have unrealistic love expectations from reading too much romance books. Furthermore, now that I am much older, this genre of books seemed too idealistic. Thus, I stopped reading romance.
I was introduced to the idea of reading the book because the movie takes such a long time to appear in our cinema. So, I searched thru google and got a copy of the e-book. (I promise to buy the original book). Initially,I was quite sceptical about the book. I heard all the fuss about the book and the movie. I was definitely not convinced. Come on, I've seen quite a few of the Indonesian love stories ( albeit not full-length, only some parts and peices) and frankly, I do not believe in their values. Watching Indonesian movies make me question about the spiritual values of the actors/actresses/producers. Although I believe that most are muslims, their movies definitely do not potray muslim identities and beliefs. I am quite disappointed with all of them.
However, to my amazing surprise, the book Ayat2 Cinta has none of the stereotypical "western" love scenes and nuances. Alhamdulillah...I salute the author who managed to relay his message of love thru his beautiful phrases. He manages to simplify abstract values into everyday occurences. His analogy works. Although there are a whole bunch of Indonesian words which I do not understand, I still get the big picture/story.
I've seen the teaser/trailer for the movie. I do not think that I will be going to watch it. I believe that the movie did not manage to capture the spirituality of the book. From the few trailer scenes that I have seen, the movie seem to have betrayed the actual "feeling" and "values" of the characters. Alas, I guess the movie producers have compromised quite a bit to make the movie more commercial. I prefer to keep the story pure. I'll stick to my novel and I will not want to watch the adapted version of Ayat-Ayat Cinta.
Well...that's my 2 cents review of the book. What's your views ?
Adzan zuhur dah pun berkumandang kat PC nie. Time for me to go. Do leave your mark :)
I do apologize for my looooong silence. Hmmm, there is definitely no excuse for my disappearance. I've been visiting and reading from the net, but, I have stayed incognito.
Entahlah, takde ilham nak tulis n3 baru. I am glad that some of my friends have started their own blogs. Reading their updates forces me to come out of my lazy spell.
Lately, I've finished reading the novel Ayat-Ayat Cinta. Amazingly, it was inspiring. Frankly, I've been reading romance novels since I was 12. I've completed rows & rows of M&B books in my hometown library. From M&B, I've graduated to Harlequins, Silhouttes and many2 others. My hubby used to tell me that my head is permanently in the clouds and I have unrealistic love expectations from reading too much romance books. Furthermore, now that I am much older, this genre of books seemed too idealistic. Thus, I stopped reading romance.
I was introduced to the idea of reading the book because the movie takes such a long time to appear in our cinema. So, I searched thru google and got a copy of the e-book. (I promise to buy the original book). Initially,I was quite sceptical about the book. I heard all the fuss about the book and the movie. I was definitely not convinced. Come on, I've seen quite a few of the Indonesian love stories ( albeit not full-length, only some parts and peices) and frankly, I do not believe in their values. Watching Indonesian movies make me question about the spiritual values of the actors/actresses/producers. Although I believe that most are muslims, their movies definitely do not potray muslim identities and beliefs. I am quite disappointed with all of them.
However, to my amazing surprise, the book Ayat2 Cinta has none of the stereotypical "western" love scenes and nuances. Alhamdulillah...I salute the author who managed to relay his message of love thru his beautiful phrases. He manages to simplify abstract values into everyday occurences. His analogy works. Although there are a whole bunch of Indonesian words which I do not understand, I still get the big picture/story.
I've seen the teaser/trailer for the movie. I do not think that I will be going to watch it. I believe that the movie did not manage to capture the spirituality of the book. From the few trailer scenes that I have seen, the movie seem to have betrayed the actual "feeling" and "values" of the characters. Alas, I guess the movie producers have compromised quite a bit to make the movie more commercial. I prefer to keep the story pure. I'll stick to my novel and I will not want to watch the adapted version of Ayat-Ayat Cinta.
Well...that's my 2 cents review of the book. What's your views ?
Adzan zuhur dah pun berkumandang kat PC nie. Time for me to go. Do leave your mark :)
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Daughters
Hmmm, sayu rasanya hati. Baru sekejap tadi, aku telah menghantar Sarah pulang ke madrasahnya. Hati ibu mana yang tak tersentuh apabila melihat aliran air mata anaknya. Namun inilah korban. Korban dari kami sekeluarga. Korban utk agama. Korban terbesar dari Sarah sendiri kerana dia lah yang menanggung mujahadah berada dlm suasana madrasah...segala2nya kami lakukan semata-mata untuk mendapat keredhaan Allah.
Puas sudah memujuk dan memberi semangat pada dia utk meneruskan perjuangan. Membaca & menghafaz Al-Quran bukanlah sesuatu yg mudah... mana mungkin ia mudah. Hati yg ingin memikul firman2 suci Allah swt itu pastinya harus suci bersih. Jauh dari kemungkaran dan maksiat. Masya ALlah, inilah yang cuba aku terapkan kedalam hati kecil Sarah.
Sarah, bukan calang2 orang yg akan Allah pilih utk menjadi penerima wasiat nabi. Memegang amanah, menyimpan ayat2 suci Al-Quran di dalam hatinya. Sesungguhnya hati kecilmu yg tulus, bersih dan suci ini yg mampu. Jika di beri peluang sudah pasti ibumu ini ingin saja mengorbankan diri utk usaha ini. Namun, apakan daya, ibu ini berlumuran dgn daki2 dosa & noda. Anakku, kaulah pemangkin perubahan kami.Asbab susah payahmu, ibu & ayahmu dapat bangun malam munajat menangis memohon pd Allah. Asbab getirnya perjuangan mu, kami jadi lebih tawajjuh. Azam kami adalah membawa agama yg sempurna dlm penghidupan kami. Sarah, kaulah contoh tauladan buat adik2mu, malah buat ibu-bapa mu sendiri. Iman yg tersemat di hatimu, membunga & mekar indah dengan mujahadah mu. Yakinlah anakku, pasti Allah ganjarkan bagimu atas setiap titisan air matamu. Tidak pernah Allah itu memungkiri janji2nya. Walau kebaikanmu sebesar zarah, pasti akan dibilang.
Hanya pada Allah saja tempat kami mengadu. Susah sungguh ujian2 mendatang dlm meniti arus kehidupan. Semoga kami tidak tergelincir dari jalanMu yg lurus. Amin
Puas sudah memujuk dan memberi semangat pada dia utk meneruskan perjuangan. Membaca & menghafaz Al-Quran bukanlah sesuatu yg mudah... mana mungkin ia mudah. Hati yg ingin memikul firman2 suci Allah swt itu pastinya harus suci bersih. Jauh dari kemungkaran dan maksiat. Masya ALlah, inilah yang cuba aku terapkan kedalam hati kecil Sarah.
Sarah, bukan calang2 orang yg akan Allah pilih utk menjadi penerima wasiat nabi. Memegang amanah, menyimpan ayat2 suci Al-Quran di dalam hatinya. Sesungguhnya hati kecilmu yg tulus, bersih dan suci ini yg mampu. Jika di beri peluang sudah pasti ibumu ini ingin saja mengorbankan diri utk usaha ini. Namun, apakan daya, ibu ini berlumuran dgn daki2 dosa & noda. Anakku, kaulah pemangkin perubahan kami.Asbab susah payahmu, ibu & ayahmu dapat bangun malam munajat menangis memohon pd Allah. Asbab getirnya perjuangan mu, kami jadi lebih tawajjuh. Azam kami adalah membawa agama yg sempurna dlm penghidupan kami. Sarah, kaulah contoh tauladan buat adik2mu, malah buat ibu-bapa mu sendiri. Iman yg tersemat di hatimu, membunga & mekar indah dengan mujahadah mu. Yakinlah anakku, pasti Allah ganjarkan bagimu atas setiap titisan air matamu. Tidak pernah Allah itu memungkiri janji2nya. Walau kebaikanmu sebesar zarah, pasti akan dibilang.
Hanya pada Allah saja tempat kami mengadu. Susah sungguh ujian2 mendatang dlm meniti arus kehidupan. Semoga kami tidak tergelincir dari jalanMu yg lurus. Amin
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Welcome Friend
Jeng...Jeng...Jeng
I am kinda expecting an old friend to drop by. As she is coming, I better update my blog asap. Hehehe...else, she would think that I am such a lazy bum for not updating any new n3 since March. True, I did promise to write more. However, life has been hectic these past few months. I am anticipating that things will wind down soon...Insya ALlah, when this happens, I shall vow to keep a daily update on my blog.
Two weeks ago, I got the opportunity to visit London. Wowweeeeee...seronoknya. Actually, its kinda business+pleasure trip. I did not bring any of the kids. But...I did bring the kid's father. hehehe...the trip turned out to be sorta like a second honeymoon. In fact, we never even had our first honeymoon. So, it was actually more like a belated honeymoon. Insya Allah, once I get the pix from hubby, I shall post it onto this site.
SubhanAllah, how great is ALlah. Bila melihat keindahan alam ciptaan ALlah, maka terdetik kesempurnaan & kehebatan Allah dalam mencipta dunia ini. Pasti, tidaklah sia-sia ciptaan2 ALlah itu.
"Tidaklah aku ciptakan jin dan manusia kecuali untuk beribadat kepadaKu"
Surah AdDzariyat Ayat 56
Sesungguhnya, manusia ini telah dijanjikan untuk menjadi makhluk ciptaan Allah yg terbaik. Bagaimanakah caranya utk kita dapat pengiktirafan sbg makhluk yg terbaik ini ? Marilah kita sama2 fikir2kan.
After all, even Socrates, a kufar believed that an unexamined life is a life not worth living. Apatah lagi kita, yang telah terpilih lahir sebagai muslim. Menjadi tanggungjawab kita untuk mengkaji dengan ikhlas, "APakah tujuan hidup kita di dunia ini?" Adakah utk mencari keseronokan ? Atau mengumpul harta? Atau menjana ekonomi keluarga, bangsa & negara? Atau mencari job satisfaction/career advancement? Atau semata-mata mencari redha ALlah? Seikhlas hati, marilah kita lapangkan masa & fikir2kan. Fikirkan tujuan maksud hidup kita di dunia ini. Sesungguhnya, hadis nabi Muhammad saw ada mengatakan bahawa fikir sesaat itu adalah lebih baik dari ibadat sunat 70 tahun. Insya Allah, kita mampu melakukannya.
I am kinda expecting an old friend to drop by. As she is coming, I better update my blog asap. Hehehe...else, she would think that I am such a lazy bum for not updating any new n3 since March. True, I did promise to write more. However, life has been hectic these past few months. I am anticipating that things will wind down soon...Insya ALlah, when this happens, I shall vow to keep a daily update on my blog.
Two weeks ago, I got the opportunity to visit London. Wowweeeeee...seronoknya. Actually, its kinda business+pleasure trip. I did not bring any of the kids. But...I did bring the kid's father. hehehe...the trip turned out to be sorta like a second honeymoon. In fact, we never even had our first honeymoon. So, it was actually more like a belated honeymoon. Insya Allah, once I get the pix from hubby, I shall post it onto this site.
SubhanAllah, how great is ALlah. Bila melihat keindahan alam ciptaan ALlah, maka terdetik kesempurnaan & kehebatan Allah dalam mencipta dunia ini. Pasti, tidaklah sia-sia ciptaan2 ALlah itu.
"Tidaklah aku ciptakan jin dan manusia kecuali untuk beribadat kepadaKu"
Surah AdDzariyat Ayat 56
Sesungguhnya, manusia ini telah dijanjikan untuk menjadi makhluk ciptaan Allah yg terbaik. Bagaimanakah caranya utk kita dapat pengiktirafan sbg makhluk yg terbaik ini ? Marilah kita sama2 fikir2kan.
After all, even Socrates, a kufar believed that an unexamined life is a life not worth living. Apatah lagi kita, yang telah terpilih lahir sebagai muslim. Menjadi tanggungjawab kita untuk mengkaji dengan ikhlas, "APakah tujuan hidup kita di dunia ini?" Adakah utk mencari keseronokan ? Atau mengumpul harta? Atau menjana ekonomi keluarga, bangsa & negara? Atau mencari job satisfaction/career advancement? Atau semata-mata mencari redha ALlah? Seikhlas hati, marilah kita lapangkan masa & fikir2kan. Fikirkan tujuan maksud hidup kita di dunia ini. Sesungguhnya, hadis nabi Muhammad saw ada mengatakan bahawa fikir sesaat itu adalah lebih baik dari ibadat sunat 70 tahun. Insya Allah, kita mampu melakukannya.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Hello there
Salam & Peace be with you.
It has been a while since I've logged in. Much has happened but I have remained silent. Maybe because I am not able to put into words, feelings I have in my heart and thots racing thru my head. Life has been full of complexities.
Today, after having read some articles, I feel motivated to write. After all, the main reason I started blogging was to practise writing. Thus far, I have only been silently reading thru others...not even leaving comments in my wake. I have a dream...I want to write a book. Sometimes, it is more wishful thinking but at other times, I do feel convicted to start.
I borrowed a book from a friend recently. It is entitled "like the flowing river". It is relatively light reading. Hmmm...I guess, everyone is entitled to their own thots & reflection. Still, the book cost RM35. Alhamdulillah for the wonders of the internet. We can have a good read for free. In the midst of our boring & mundane routine, we can have a short "mind break". Wandering through the virtual landscape, we have a host of selection. Picking out some sweet smelling & refreshing read is an adventure. I do believe that some of our fellow bloggers do have quite profound thots.
ANyway, some of my favourite haunts have shut down. Most probably due to some change in their owners' principles. Alas, I feel as if I have lost some good "friends". I hope they will change their mind and start blogging again. I do miss them.
It has been a while since I've logged in. Much has happened but I have remained silent. Maybe because I am not able to put into words, feelings I have in my heart and thots racing thru my head. Life has been full of complexities.
Today, after having read some articles, I feel motivated to write. After all, the main reason I started blogging was to practise writing. Thus far, I have only been silently reading thru others...not even leaving comments in my wake. I have a dream...I want to write a book. Sometimes, it is more wishful thinking but at other times, I do feel convicted to start.
I borrowed a book from a friend recently. It is entitled "like the flowing river". It is relatively light reading. Hmmm...I guess, everyone is entitled to their own thots & reflection. Still, the book cost RM35. Alhamdulillah for the wonders of the internet. We can have a good read for free. In the midst of our boring & mundane routine, we can have a short "mind break". Wandering through the virtual landscape, we have a host of selection. Picking out some sweet smelling & refreshing read is an adventure. I do believe that some of our fellow bloggers do have quite profound thots.
ANyway, some of my favourite haunts have shut down. Most probably due to some change in their owners' principles. Alas, I feel as if I have lost some good "friends". I hope they will change their mind and start blogging again. I do miss them.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Work for ALL
My Beloved Friends,
There is no nabi amongst us anymore. It has been more than 1400 years since his death. Allah swt has decreed that there will be no more messengers to come and remind humans and guide them to ALlah swt. So, does this mean that Allah swt is being cruel and unfair? Why? Why has ALlah swt not sent down to us anymore guidance? Look around us, humans have gone astrayed. We are at our lowest. In fact, it is now that we need the most help. We need guidance. Do not fear, it is not ALlah's intention to leave us without a lifeline.
Allah swt has given us, the umat of Nabi Muhammad saw, the privilige of continuing the work of Nubuwwah. .. Allah swt has given us, weaklings, the work of the messengers. So arise, Umat of Nabi Muhammad saw. This is THE test from ALlah swt. This is our battlefield, our jihad...to prove to ALlah that with what ever that has been endowed to us, in our short stay in this temporary abode, we will use to propagate ALlah's Deen. It is actually a rahmat from Allah swt. It is therefore our utmost duty to remind and guide others to Allah swt. Nabi Muhammad saw has left us with this parting sermon during his final years ;
"O People! No Prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore O People! and understand words that I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray."
"All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly."
So, we should come together and take this task. Those who are willing to put effort into the deen of Allah swt will be greatly rewarded. Those of leave this work to others will be greatly deprived. Take this chance, umat is in great suffering. Umat of Nabi Muhammad saw is not just us (Malays. Even the Chinese, Indians, Americans, Europeans, Afrikans. These are all umats of Nabi. Do not be tricked by Syaitan and get into turmoil with each other. Work of dakwah transgressed nations. There are no borders in Islam. Our work does not focus only in Malaysia. Who will bring deen to brothers & sisters in other parts of the world ? Allah swt has granted the people of Malaysi with so much rizk. It is unfair for us to keep it for ourselves. Use all that Allah swt has given to us to propogate deen. Bring those far from ALlah swt closer to Him and He will bestow onto you great rewards. Not only in this dunia but transcending into the akhirah. Remember, Allah has stated in Surah At-Taubah, Verse 111;
"Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed.
May Allah accepts our sacrifices and chooses us for the work of His Deen. Amin
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Keberkatan Waktu
Masya Allah,
How time flies. It seems that my last entry was in November. Alhamdulillah, a lot has happened since my last post. Hubby is back from khuruj. Insya ALlah, with his return, life should change for the better.
One thing for sure, with hubby at home, life sure is hectic. I've told him again & again that routine and calmness are rare nowadays. His answer..."I am better off not being at home...me being on the path of Allah is the best for all". Life is complex...ever changing. Time is never enough for us. ALthough Allah has granted each one of us with 24 hours in a day...sometimes, we wonder why our time and energy always eludes us. Keberkatan Waktu...that it what we should aim for. Verily, if ALlah aids us, all our tasks seems to simplify and at times, when we slipped from ALlah's grace ( due to our own misdeeds ), nothing seems to go right. This is made clear to us...time and time again. Alhamdulillah, Allah has made us understand this. However, to know and to do is something else.... May ALlah grants us the strength to do what we know is right.
How time flies. It seems that my last entry was in November. Alhamdulillah, a lot has happened since my last post. Hubby is back from khuruj. Insya ALlah, with his return, life should change for the better.
One thing for sure, with hubby at home, life sure is hectic. I've told him again & again that routine and calmness are rare nowadays. His answer..."I am better off not being at home...me being on the path of Allah is the best for all". Life is complex...ever changing. Time is never enough for us. ALthough Allah has granted each one of us with 24 hours in a day...sometimes, we wonder why our time and energy always eludes us. Keberkatan Waktu...that it what we should aim for. Verily, if ALlah aids us, all our tasks seems to simplify and at times, when we slipped from ALlah's grace ( due to our own misdeeds ), nothing seems to go right. This is made clear to us...time and time again. Alhamdulillah, Allah has made us understand this. However, to know and to do is something else.... May ALlah grants us the strength to do what we know is right.
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