Beautiful people.

Its been a very long time since I've updated myself.

Last week my best friend Hasan Azhari left Singapore to study in Australia. So I and Taufik sent him there. It was a good sending off moment, for I met my army buddies Din and Izhar. We had to catch up with life since the last time I saw them was at the NSmen Army Briefing. Although Hasan's dad insist on sending me back home since we are neighbours, I excused myself. What more can I ask for than a restoration of friendship ties?

Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who is desirous that his means of sustenance(rezki) should be expanded for him or his age may be lengthened, should join the tie of relationship.

I felt enlightened. This week I have been catching up on very old friends. I get to have a late supper with Din and Izhar at Tampines Mall before going to Taufik's house to sleepover. I must admit his family was very kind to me. And omg, his house was like a king's house la, though he did mentioned that the maintainence of it is really painful haha. I slept at 4am, after talking and gossiping and laughing with him, and watched Russell Peters till I slept. I laughed till I slept sey. Haha. It was really great to catch up with him, really. After all, he is my bestfriend right?

After that, a couple of days later, at around 3omin to ending my job, Kamarul and Fariz Bai came to visit me. I was freaking shock! Haha. They waited for me to finish, and we went straight to Lido to catch Slumdog Millionaire. That's not all- we took a taxi to Mustafa and went shopping haha! Merepek sey. It was great beiong myself in front of them, after all, they are my best buddies in secondary school right?

Wanpee paid me a visit under my block a few days back. He showed me his bike, we catched up on alot of things, before bidding him farewell, looking at his apek helmet and nice sleek green bike. Haha. Wanpee will always be wanpee.

A few days back too, I met up with the IRAS geng, only a few of them, for the rest God didn't will them to come. At first Im supposed to meet up with Wanpee and Taha to go to Singapore Flyer. Skali si bengap tu buble (i mean wanpee). I was in the bus 700 sey. I wanted to freak out, but well, it happened, so might as well forget about it. Had to drop off sumwhere to change 3 busses to get my ass back to AYE.

We met up with Faiza and Taha first. Actually to be in detail, I and Faiza were absolutely lost! How the duck am I suppose to find a tiny man like Taha in the pool of human beings in VivoCity? We found him in this shop called Built-A-Bear.

I swear the concept of the whole shop, the identity, purpose, image, role, principle, essence etc.. It was unique! Usually you'd see shops that sell bears. How often you see shops that make bears? and you can even customized your bear, wear it clothes of your preferences, and even have a brith certificate? of course, such luxury meant big spending- he spend 70 bucks on a stupid bear for his one yearold niece. Talk about love is blind. Haha!

We met a grumpy-looking woman called Fana after that. Hehe.

She went from Ms Grumpy to Ms Im-Going-to-EXPLODE when it was still drizzling at Sentosa. But like I say, if God meant it to be our day, there is always a ray of sun. It was a miracle. Over at Siloso Beach, it was drizzling. But at Palawan, it was sunny!! Haha! How cool is that?!

It was the best IRAS gathering I ever had.. We talked, laughed, joked, all when the sun was setting. And the weather was fine and the clouds so blue. And the breeze was playing. Omg. I got to play my guitar for the first time along a beach hehe. It was fantastic.


Conclusion?

Happiness can also be generated by the people around you.

Sometimes I wonder if I should lead a hermit life. Away from people and their problems.

But I have discovered something that became a life-shifting moment in my life. I have discovered my role in this world, in this society, in this family, in this country that I was born into.

I was meant to help people. And only with that can I achieve that silent peace in my heart.

Beautiful.

Like this song.

Who put the weight of the world on my shoulders?
Who put the lies in the truth that you sold us?

Lost behind a silver screen
are all the things you could've been to us

So don't try to fuck up my head with your problems
I'm just tryin' to fix up my bed in the doldrums

Lost behind a silver screen
are all the things you could've been in Love and Life soooooo

(Chorus)
Help me out my friend
My head just started to hurt
I don't pretend
I've got all of the time in the world
So now she's gone
all alone in her own universe
I still walk on
'Til I hold you within my world

Help me out my friend
My head just started to hurt
I won't pretend
I've got all of the time in the world
So now she's gone
all alone in her own universe
I still walk on
'Til I hold you within my world

Who put the weight of the world on my shoulders?
Who put the lies in the truth that you sold us?

I'll post some pictures of it later when I'm free. Right now, Im hungry.

PS: Naira... What a beautiful name. For a beautiful woman that is. ;)

And because of this I am beginning to love the beach. :)

I came across this weird sign at the outram park interchange with Faiza. I thought at first the people in charge of manning the displays in the MRT station where clearly not doing their job. I have seen such stupidity at my workplace- how the japanese market translated japanese into english, and how the grammar was all over the place if you know what I mean, and they were displayed almost everywhere in the shop.

JOO KOON???!?!

Sounds like Joe Koon, the Bravo Spec from 4SIR. At a fleeting moment I thought he actually WERE in charge of this nonsense.

Good thing I read the newspaper about the opening of two stations after Boon Lay. Hehe.

The lost of adab in times of modernity

I was in deep thoughts about to what degree can an Islamic environment be idealistic in times of such fast-paced accommodation of globalisation and modernity, when I stumble across a particular memory trenched deep in my mind. I had dinner with Taha and Samir at Long John Silver last 2 weeks, and they showed me videos and pictures of how the KEM usahawan was carried out.

At that moment it didn't matter to me, really. I was more interested, perhaps, dillussioned by the food that was laid on the table. I was really hungry.

But after that day, after visiting NUS library with my brother and Taha, after reading heaping books about historical views of how was it like back then during the Prophethood era, I realised something was amissed.

I checked with Taha and a few friends who attended that event, organised by PBMUKS and SIM Malay/Muslim Society, and found out something that really disturbed me, to a point where I am found myself in close encounter with the possibility to write to the BH. But after further discussion about the terms of adab in Islam and akhlak with my wise parents, I realise that I cannot stand on a platform of continued criticism. Instead, I must continue to strive to be a good individual Muslim and from there, like my dad say, I will cross into the realm of tabligh, and with great continuation of patience and proper character, I can possess the power of articulation- one that is possessed by many sahabahs in the Prophethood era. So the key to adab and akhlak is from me- myself. As a small unit. And from there I grow.

But still, I pushed on with my proposal of writing to BH about this. I consider the lines between religion and culture too close-perhaps intertwine- to the extent that many thought that it is ok to do something but actually in fact the religion those not beget on such actions. I went to KL last June, and I was walking with Samir to the mosque. I saw a young European lady wanting to enter the mosque. I presume she wasn't a Muslim. Outside the mosque, outside the boundaries of the mosque, meaning to say, the courtyard of the mosque, there is an office in which hejabs can be loan to fellow females who wishes to enter the courtyard of the mosque but are not properly dressed.

Why can't this be practised here in Singapore?

I understand that now, the mosque is playing a larger role in the Malay/Muslim society. Malay/Muslim people do not enjoy participating in grassroot community events. Simply because, at a certain old age, many would want to retire in the arms of Islam rather than dancing their life away in Line Dancing events. We are viewed as a society who are careless of community togetherness, back then. That's why the mosque took that responsibility and create an image of the mosque as a Muslim community centre- an institution of education, promoting pluralism and harmony among members of the public.

I embrace the concept of harmony. It is very important in Singapore. But I would suggest that despite the necessity to reach out to the cultural nominalist (a term to describe the general Malay/Muslim people who are in support of the cultural aspect of the religion, disregarding the divine and spiritual elements of it- who occasionally attend eid prayers, participate in Muslim funerals etc) we must not take adab in the mosque area lightly.

The prophet himself sensed and has overseen this problem. That is the reason why he teached us to read prayer before and after entering the mosque- to ask for forgiveness.

But I view a problem by solving the root of it. What can be more disturbing than your friend calling you all the way from that event when you're at work, just to mention that there are so many hot girls wearing obscene immoral clothings?!?! ASTAGHFIRULLAH!

I will write to BH, posing an enquiry to the public regarding this issue. But instead of critising, I was thinking of a more constructive approach- by suggesting them, they could have use the area at Kampung Glam instead. KEM USAHAWAN is a good event with a simple niat to help and encourage young Muslim entreprenuers, and with the event located next to the mosque, it would be like killing 2 birds with one stone- instilling business culture AND bringing the youths closer to the mosque. I must applaud and compliment them on their goodwill. However, we must employ strict adab of wearing proper clothings- minimum a head gear- to even enter the courtyard of the mosque. That includes women who want to pray but haven't have the acceptance to wear headgear. They must bring along at least a selendang to cover their head. Same goes for the men. I will bring a songkok in my bag from now on. To show akhlak.

Reaching out to the youths is good, but do reach out IN PROPER. That way, the youths won't be in dilemma between secularism and islamism.

I suggest having any further events located in Kampung Glam. I know it is expensive, but we can still try pulling sponsorships. The mosque is a place to pray. Not a place to conduct earthly means. Although some might argue that the location is outside the praying hall. But still, it is near the mosque. It is by far, morally wrong.

Although there isn't any biblical proof to support my claims of the adabs in the mosque, I would like to share with you something interesting.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having said this: Two are the types of the denizens of Hell whom I did not see : people having flogs like the tails of the ox with them and they would be beating people, and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined (to evil) and make their husbands incline towards it. Their heads would be like the humps of the bukht camel inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise and they would not smell its odour whereas its odour would be smelt from such and such distance. Hadith Muslim.

Narrated from the Quran, Surah Al-Araf verse 31, "O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying and going round (the Tawaf of ) the Ka'bah, and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifun (those who waste by extravagance)."

The hadith teaches us about the importance of women covering their aurah. And the quran tells us how important it is to wear 'clean clothes' (translated as proper) when entering the mosque. So when you enter, truly you must walk past the courtyard of the mosque..

It is important to recognize the need of adab in certain places of important values. If it were to be a company anual dinner, people would dress up formally for the occasion. If it were to attend a funeral, a prompt humble baju kurung should be sufficient. But if it were to be an event organised, with bazars and youths, mixing the muslim and the muslimah together,in a Mosque Courtyard, at least wearing a proper coverage of clothing is enough.

Few would argue that the people who come in the courtyard of the mosque are from the public and they themselves do not know how to adhere to the dress code. That is the reason why I proposed the event to be conducted on the Kampung Glam grounds, to prevent from fitna dunia. Balancing the goodwill, the problems that arised with the fall of adab, the financial terms to rent Kampung Glam, I think by reverting the place to Kampung Glam, it would not only promote a good image of Malay/Muslim society engaging in entrepreneural culture, it also avoids the advent issue of adab. And Kampung Glam is near the mosque, but not IN the courtyard of the mosque, so the question of adab would not even surfaced.

I urge the Malay/Muslim people to reform and rethink of the things that we did. We offer submission to Allah, pray to him, zikr, salawah, do good deeds, not because of the REWARDS. Islam is not about going to Paradise. That is earthly. What is lack in me and the many people is the spiritual and divine principles of Islam.

We do things not because of the rewards, but to search God's blessings and be Loved by Him.

Wslm.

PS: I know this song is not appropriate. The song itself is very atheist in nature. But I like the melody. It is very peaceful. :)

That is one of the reasons why I love John Lennon.

The Duality of All forces

A year and a day has passed since I ORDed.

A year and a day has passed since I msged Dian I am free from the clutches of army.

A year and a day has passed since I hear her voice say, 'Alhamdulilah'.

Little did I know, back then, a year and a day, I was going to lose someone so precious.


10 more weeks till her Death Anniversary. And few days after, our Anniversary.
I have specially prepared a maulid/tahlil session at my house, with close family members and close friends. I will message those who are invited. It'll be a small one.

To embrace pain, is to understand pain. To understand pain, is to accept pain. To accept pain, is to submit myself to God. Ultimately, only you oh Allah, has the Power to make things better. Have mercy on me, and erase her sins. Make her sleeping a sanctuary and not a pit of hell.

Oh Allah, the Most merciful, the Most Gracious. Have pity on us. On me. On her. And give me the courage to spread her love to the people that needed it most. She has made an ultimate sacrifice. To let me go. Now it is my turn.

I have understood it all. We can never conquer the ocean, nor the highest mountain. It is not Einstein who invented the quantum theory. It wasn't Ibn Sina who travelled across thousands of miles in search of knowledge and adventure. It wasn't Neil Armstrong who walked on the moon. It wasn't Hitler who nearly wipeout the entire Jew community. It wasn't Israel who slaughtered the Palestines.

It was Allah, the True Might of all universe. And that every adversary we face, it is not about overcoming it that makes us winners, its about submission to the victory and the lost. The duality philosophy of all kinds. To submit to two opposites of forces in order to understand one conclusion- that God is the Strongest of all, and 'tiada daya dan tiada upaya melainkan Dia.'

I can smile now.

A note from the heart

A note for a friend. (You know who you are)

The western term of 'fight your fears' is drastically irrelevant in terms of philosophical life. As I have mentioned in the messages I send you in my utmost sincerity, I have explained that fear is the driving force in a human's subconscious mind in making decisions. Decisions are made based on three notions; Rational thinking, natural instinct and the 'soft mind' called the soul. The human mind was created simply as a medium to solve any problems that is faced by the specific species. When you are itchy, the mind tells you to scratch. When your body is full of waste, the mind tells the body to excrete it out. And the key goal of the mind is none but one- to achieve a solution that is simplified.

You chose to blame on your emotions. It is a simplified solution. Simply because, it is simple. Emotions are hard to control, they have a lot of underlying elements that is in relation to the decisions made. So it is easier to put the fault at a factor that can't be controlled.

Natural instinct can simply overcome the delicate balance of the soul and the mind. At the brink of survival, a human can simply kill another human in a civilised state. This is what theologist call, the 'dog-eat-dog' world.

Emotions are part of a derivative to the subconscious element of fear. It is easy to say, I do this because I am angry. For example, the Israel soldiers who asked an old Palestinian man to kiss his donkey's ass can based their actions simply because of the resentment they have on the Palestinians. I kill because I am angry. I cry because I am sad.

Do not take the simple road to solve a problem. What I mean when I message you, "Life is either like a cup of water, or a cup of water taken from the ocean" is that you are given a choice to choose to view your life in what perspective. Either you choose to take an easy way out and view your life as a small cup of water, or taking a rather difficult route but much wiser attempt by understanding the various elements affecting your life, and try and soul search the reason why such things happen in your life.

A case study I would like to share. A palestinian man was interviewed days after her new born child was killed in an Israel bombing back in the 90s. What he shared was proof that a mosaic life- a life of total acceptance, is realistic and not idealistic. He told the reporter that he accepts what God has given to him, and that he prays that the sins of the world are forgiven.

It is in this idealistic character, proven realistic by the Prophet pbuh, that is lacking in each individual. They lack the philosophical knowledge to delve deep in themselves and search not the solutions but the question, 'why' and 'how'. This is the part that you do not understand, and when the time comes, when it resurfaces again and again, then you will understand what I told you.

Blaming on overreaction is like taking a painkiller to cure a painkiller. It is a norm to the general public of the idea of painkillers curing a certain sickness. But doctors would argue that it only puts away the symptoms temporarily and it is up to the antibody system to create a strain of anti-virus to fight the virus.

So what im trying to say is that, instead of taking the chill pill, why not you take the vitamin C? Why not you have a balance diet, a healthy lifestyle, a case to prevent sickness from even coming? They say prevention is the best medicine.

Prevention is a knowledge. A knowledge evolved by people who delve deep into the understanding of the problem, and finding the questions 'why' and 'how'.

I say this because I care, you know that. I have seen what you have gone through, it pains me to see you like this, having to proof yourself worthy and sacrificing all the time, and you kept saying it makes you stronger. But how strong can a person be? How do you define strength? How do you measure it? No matter how strong you are, God is the strongest, and he will keep giving you tests after to test until you reach a point of self-realisation. A point where you submit yourself fully, and not trying to fight against it.

You have to ask yourself questions like 'why is this all happening to me' and 'how is it possible..'. May these questions guide you in your quest.

I say this only because I care and love you as a human close at heart. You must know that a good friend is there to listen, but a true friend is like a star, always guiding you in your journey. And a true friend only guides you to the right path, as it has been defined by God as Ad-din; the way of life. I care only for your true welfare. You know I'm always here praying for you and the whole world.

May Allah love you and bestow you strength. Amen.

PS: If only I was there for you earlier..



بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم



I went to God's clinic to have my routine check-up and I confirmed I was ill.

When God took my blood pressure, He saw I was low in tenderness.

When He read my temperature, the thermometer registered 40' of anxiety.

He ran an electrocardiogram and found that I needed several 'love bypasses' since my arteries were blocked with loneliness and could not provide for an empty heart.

I went to Orthopaedics because I could not walk by my brother's side and I could not hug my friends, since I had fractured myself when tripping with envy.

He also found I was shortsighted, since I could not see beyond the shortcomings of my brothers and sisters.

When I complained about deafness, the diagnosis was that I had stopped listening to God's voice talking to me on a daily basis.

For all of that, God gave me a free consultation thanks to His Mercifulness.

So my pledge is to, once I leave this clinic, only take the natural remedies He prescribed through His words of truth:

1) Every morning, take a full glass of Gratitude

2) When getting to work, take one spoon of Peace

3) Every hour, take one pill of Patience, one cup of Brotherhood and one glass of Humility

4) When getting home, take one dose of Love

5) When getting to bed, take two tablets of clear Conscience

Do NOT give in to sadness or desperation for what you are going through today

God knows how you feel . . .

God knows exactly and with perfection what is being allowed to happen to you in your life at this precise moment.

God's purpose for you is simply perfect.

He wants to show you things that only you can understand by living what you are living and by being in the place that you are now.


MY PRAYERS FOR YOU:

"May God give you . . .
For every storm, a rainbow;
For every tear, a smile;
For every care, a promise;
And a blessinig in each trial;
For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share;
For every sigh, a sweet song;
And an answer for each prayer."

God bless you. (",)