The Reader

Speak The Truth

Lies are every where.What are we going to do about that?Let's begin with ourselves.Below is an excerpt of Ibn Katheer's tafseer from Surah al-Maidah:

The Order to speak the Truth

Allah sent His relief from the distress and grief that struck these three men, because Muslims ignored them for fifty days and nights, until they themselves, and the earth -- vast as it is -- were straitened for them. As vast as the earth is, its ways and paths were closed for them, and they did not know what action to take. They were patient for Allah's sake and awaited humbly for His decree. They remained firm, until Allah sent His relief to them since they told the Messenger of Allah the truth about why they remained behind, declaring that they did not have an excuse for doing so. They were requited for this period, then Allah forgave them. Therefore, the consequence of being truthful was better for them, for they gained forgiveness. Hence Allah's statement next,

[يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّـدِقِينَ ]

(O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, and be with those who are true.) The Ayah says, adhere to and always say the truth so that you become among its people and be saved from destruction. Allah will make a way for you out of your concerns and a refuge. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah said,

«عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ فَإِن الصَّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ، وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَصْدُقُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الصِّدْقَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ صِدِّيقًا، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْكَذِبَ فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الْكَذِبَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ كَذَّابًا»

(Hold on to truth, for being truthful leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. Verily, a man will keep saying the truth and striving for truth, until he is written before Allah as very truthful (Siddiq). Beware of lying, for lying leads to sin, and sin leads to the Fire. Verily, the man will keep lying and striving for falsehood until he is written before Allah as a great liar.) This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs.

[مَا كَانَ لأَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُمْ مِّنَ الاٌّعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُواْ عَن رَّسُولِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ يَرْغَبُواْ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلاَ نَصَبٌ وَلاَ مَخْمَصَةٌ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ يَطَأُونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ الْكُفَّارَ وَلاَ يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلاً إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ بِهِ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ]

(120. It was neither befitting for the people of Al-Madinah and the bedouins of the neighborhood to remain behind Allah's Messenger nor to prefer their own lives to his life. That is because they suffer neither Zama' nor Nasab, nor Makhmasah in the cause of Allah, nor did they take any step to raise the anger of disbelievers nor inflict any injury upon an enemy, but is written to their credit as a deed of righteousness. Surely, Allah wastes not the reward of the doers of good.)

Majlis Diskusi Buku

Semalam kawan saya Sdr Ab Halim Abdullah selaku Presiden Koperasi Buku ,Malaysia menjemput saya menghadiri satu majlis diskusi buku Falasafah Pendidikan  Syed Muhamad Naguib Al-Attas (karangan Dr Wan Mohd Nor) yang akan diadakan pada hari ini (30/03/2006) jam 3ptg di sudut aktiviti Pentas 2,berhampiran pintu masuk ke dewan pameran buku di PWTC.Majlis ini terbuka kepada umum.Kepada yang berminat,sila hadir.Insya,saya akan hadir.

Prof  Dr Wan  Mohd Nor bin Wan Daud  giving the  overviewsof his two  books-The Educational Philosphy  and Practice  of Prof Dr SM Naguib Al-Attas and Pembangunan di Malaysia.The books were reviewed by Dr Awang Sarian,UKM and Ustaz Wan Hamid Wan Teh from DBP.

Apps for World Cup 2006

The photo above show a free software provided by Tinystocks so that pda users can access information on the schedule,scores and even provide alarms so that we won't miss the football matches.This is the second time Tinystocks(AFAIK) the software is made freely available.I have used it before and it is very useful.You can download here.

Some flowers

Nine flowers
Originally uploaded by Mohd Adib Noh.

I like to take photos of beautiful flowers.Here is a collage of the ones I like.The top right came all the way from Lake District,England.The bottom left I snapped at my mother's garden and the other two at the bottom came from Cameron Highland,Pahang,Malaysia. The rest are from my own garden(actually not mine,it is my wife's garden)

Flowers are just like us-we have different colours,different shapes...Some blooms for only two days and withers away,some last langer...
Some are beautiful and some give good smells...

Book launch

Last night I got a sms (phone text) reminder of the Book Launch by my friend Raja Ahmad. The event will take place today,at 3pm (Tuesday 28th March,2006 ) at Pentas 2,Pesta Buku PWTC.I was informed a few local writers will be present,but I could not confirm.InsyaAllah, I will try my best to attend.

A few years ago, a Malaysian writer who lives in London held her book signing at MPH ,Sg Wang Complex.During half an hour when my wife and me  were with her and her mother,only four of us were present.I was really ashamed of the cold response by Malaysian reading public.On the other hand, when it came to the first day sale of a Harry Potter book,I have to queu from 6am and there were at least a few hundreds of us Malaysians waiting to buy the book.

I think it is timely we Malaysians must show our support to our own local writers.On hindsight,I am also guilty as charged for not buying books from our local writers.So today, I promised myself to buy a book written by a fellow Malaysian for a change.

PS: The photo shows SN Pak Samad giving his reviews.

Where are you,teachers?

Today,I read the report that the Minister of Education Dato Hishamudin admitted that the schools donot have enough teachers.I was not shocked at all because all along my own son had to suffer going to school without a teacher in his class.By the way, my son's school is located only 15 minutes from KLCC.

Every time when his teacher went on maternity leave or  had to attend courses,my son and his classmates were left to do work on their own.At some times,he told me he is wasting his time at school.He would rather stay home and do his homework. No wonder, he asked me permission to attend tuition classes.

By August 31st next year, we have been independent nation for 50 years.I would be very ashamed of my country if we donot have enough teachers by then.Not only the numbers, but also the  quality of teachers for our schools.

My sister is a teacher.She graduated in Bio Chemistry from UM.She was trained to teach Science and Mathematics.Owing to shortage of English teachers in her school,she has to teach English as well.I pity the children....

While the ministry of Education is making efforts to get enough quality teachers,your children and mine have to suffer.I think from now on,we should stop to be the  BIGGEST or THE LOOOONGEST in anything.Just give us enough good quality teachers for our kids,and we would be grateful.

Kaki Lima

  Kaki Lima 
  Originally uploaded by Mohd Adib Noh.

There are so many types of 'kaki'- some are kaki judi,kaki botol,kaki perempuan atau betina,kaki samseng,kaki buli,kaki bola,kaki etc,etc.

This morning,I saw a clean 'kaki lima' (five-foot way) in the  commercial area of my neighbourhood and I decided to snap a photo of it to include in a photo group which I called KLKL-Kaki Lima Kuala Lumpur. Along or near this 'kaki lima', you can see many things-the good,the bad and the ugly..If you happen to have some photos that is relevant to KLKL, please post it here.

Klickr Meet Up

  Forbidden photo 
  Originally uploaded by Mohd Adib Noh.

If you love to take photos and post them at flickr.com,please be informed that a gathering to talk about photos and flickr's features with be held at Gloria Jeans KLCC today from 2pm.Klickr is a combination of KL+Flickr.My flickr is here.

All are welcome.Most likely I will be there by about 2:30pm

PS:Please read the note about the photo I have taken at my flickr.com by clicking the photo on the right.Looking at this photo,I feel like I am on a big ship.

Untuk Makluman:Forum Bicara Ad-Deen

Program : Forum Bicara Ad-Deen.

Anjuran Bersama Masjid Asy-Syakirin KLCC, Pusat Pengajian At-Tibyan,
Majalah I dan Radio IKIM,

Tempat : Dewan Utama, Masjid Asy-Syakirin, KLCC.

Tarikh : 26 hb Mac 2006 (Ahad) / Masa : Selepas Waktu Isya'.

Isu Perbincangan : "Rasulullah SAW Sebagai Model Kehidupan - Dimanakah
Kita?'.

Pengerusi Forum : Yg. Bbhg. Ustaz Zamri Zainal Abidin (Radio IKIM).

Ahli Panel    :   1. Yg. Bbhg. Ustaz Zaharuddin Abd Rahman (Pusat Pengajian
At-Tibyan).
            2. Yg. Bbhg. Dr. Sharifah Hayati.

Nota: Para Hadirin akan menerima sumbangan Cenderahati daripada Majalah I.

Maklumat lanjut sila hubungi Pejabat Masjid Asy-Syakirin KLCC no. telepon
03-2382-1291.

Pihak Masjid Asy-Syakirin, memohon jasa baik muslimin dan muslimat semua,
agar memanjangkan e-mail ini kepada kaum keluarga dan sahabat-handai.
Kerjasama dan sokongan semua didahului dengan ucapan ribuan terima. Semoga
ianya diterima sebagai amalan yang soleh di sisi Allah SWT.

Apa yang baik dari Allah SWT, kekurangan adalah kelemahan kami. Ribuan
kemaafan dipohon.

Taqabalallah minna wa minkum.

B/P Pihak Masjid Asy-Syakirin, KLCC.

Being ungrateful

100:6	Truly man is, to his Lord, ungrateful;	إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ
100:7	And to that (fact) he bears witness (by his deeds);	وَإِنَّهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ لَشَهِيدٌ
100:8	And violent is he in his love of wealth.	وَإِنَّهُ لِحُبِّ الْخَيْرِ لَشَدِيدٌ
100:9	Does he not know,- when that which is in the graves is scattered abroad	أَفَلَا يَعْلَمُ إِذَا بُعْثِرَ مَا فِي الْقُبُورِ
100:10	And that which is (locked up) in (human) breasts is made manifest-	وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِي الصُّدُورِ
100:11	That their Lord had been Well-acquainted with them, (even to) that Day.?	إِنَّ رَبَّهُم بِهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّخَبِيرٌ

 

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The above ayats are from Surah Al-'Adiyat.At first ,I was attracted by the beautiful recitation of the surah recited by Sheikh Al Rahman Abdul Azizi Assudais-one of the imam at Masjidil Haram in Makkah al-Mukarammah.At first, it was from the CD and later on by the grace of Allah swt, I was his makmun at Masjidil Haram and he recited this Surah.It was really a beautiful experience listening to him alive!Just read for yourselves or listen to the recitor like Said al-Ghamidi.All praises are for Allah,the Owner of All the Praises.

Let's read,understand and reflect on the above ayats and avoid from being ungrateful to Allah swt.Being grateful means we must be ACTIVELY ENGAGED in  three dimensions-in our speech,in our heart and in our deeds.Let's be reminded before we all go to our graves.Please reflect on what we have done and check them out whether we have been obeying the commands of Allah.If not,then we are one of the ungratefuls.

PS: Please refer to the tafseer of the whole Surah.