The Reader

Half a year review

I am writing this today to remind myself and others that half of the year 2007 has gone by...

As they say,time flies.

Looking back,it is good if we can allocate some time to write what we have done and achieved and check against what we planned to do at the beginning of this year.From the comparison, we can determine  our shortfalls and find ways to do better in the coming next six months.

Just fix a time today or tomorrow and then Just Do it!

Dengan nama Allah, Yang Maha Pemurah, lagi Maha Mengasihani.

[1] Demi Masa! [2] Sesungguhnya manusia itu dalam kerugian; [3] Kecuali orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal soleh dan mereka pula berpesan-pesan dengan kebenaran serta berpesan-pesan dengan sabar.

Miracles

A week ago,during the Friday solat's sermon, the Imam quoted the following ayat:-

Surah Ali Imran,ayat:190. Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,- there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.

The sermon inspired me to think and reflect when I thought about the moon.It looks really beautiful especially when I see it during full moon!

What would you say if someone were able to lift KLIA complex and let it hang 1km above the ground? I think it will be front page news in all the world newspapers and all of us in Malaysia will come to see it as a miracle.And that someone must have a great power to do such an act.I think everybody would think that is a great miracle,indeed.

The next question came to my mind.What about the moon,bigger than KLIA complex and stays hanging there and located much higher?Logically, it is a bigger miracle and yet how many of us realise that? Many of us took it for granted because it is there all the time.May be it is so obvious that we forget that it is one of the miracles of Allah's creations.When some things are ubiquitous,we see them but many a time we just ignore their presence and significance.

In fact, there is a lot more miracles out there or inside ourselves that  we can identify if we take some time to ponder...The more miracles we see,hopefully the more we believe in Allah swt.InsyaAllah.

Below is a relevant article about the subject mentioned above:

 

Al-Araf (The Heights)
Chapter 7: Verses 106-108

                        

Miraculous Signs
"(Fir'aun) said: "If indeed thou hast come with a Sign, show it forth, if thou tellest the truth." Then (Musa) threw his rod, and behold! it was a serpent, plain (for all to see)! And he drew out his hand, and behold! it was white to all beholders!"

                        

Moses was granted these two miraculous signs in order to provide testimony to his being a Messenger of God, the creator and sovereign of the universe. Whenever the Prophets introduced themselves as God's Message-bearers, people asked them to produce some miraculous sign, to perform something supernatural. In response to those demands the Prophets produced what the Quran terms as 'signs', and which are called 'miracles' by theologians.

                        

Those who tend to play down the supernatural character of such signs or miracles, and who try to explain them in terms of natural laws of causation, in fact attempt to build a mid-way house between believing and disbelieving in the statements of the Quran. Such an approach can hardly be considered reasonable.

                        

What it does demonstrate, however, is how such people can be pulled in two opposite directions. On the one hand, they are not inclined to believe in a Book which abounds in narrations of a supernatural kind. On the other hand, being born followers of their ancestral religion, they are not inclined to reject the Book which carries supernatural narrations.
                         
With regard to miracles, there are two basic questions that people should ask themselves. Did God, after creating the universe and establishing a system of natural causations therein, suspend Himself such that it is no longer possible for Him to interfere in the workings of the universe? Or does He still hold the reins to His realm in His owns Hands so that His command is enforced every moment, and He does retain the power to alter the shape of things and the normal course of events - either partially or fully, - as and when He wills?

                        

It is impossible for those who respond in the affirmative to the first question to accept the idea of miracles. For clearly miracles do not fit in with their concept of God and the universe. Honesty demands that instead of indulging in far-fetched explanations of Quranic statements on miracles, such people should clearly declare that they do not believe in the Quran. For quite obviously the Quran is explicit, even quite definite in affirming the former concept of God.

                        

As for those who, being convinced by Quranic arguments, respond in the affirmative to the second question regarding God and the universe, for them there is no difficulty in accepting miracles.

                        

Source:
                          "Towards Understanding The Quran" - Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi

Creative multimedia

First,let me thank Azul,the leader-moderator of MyMug-Malaysia Mac User Group for taking his time to show us how to make full use of the iLife's functions in our mac computer.It covers most of our interests in music, photo, video and publishing.It is more than good enough amateurs like us.

The lesson learnt from Azul is that there are so many available applications that we can use to help in our work and enjoy our hobbies, but not many of us are willing to learn to use them for our benefits.

Just look at our mobile phones.How many features that they have and compare those with  what we use them so far.It also applies to many other things in our lives.[many a time we have yet to fully utilise what we have and yet we want more things]May be I could say that our failures to maximise usage what we already have are due to our lack of knowledge and personal discipline.

Personal note to Azul: I enjoy watching your movie and photo travelogue to Bangkok.And the the photo book is great.

Showers of memory...

After more than 30 years since I left Sheffield University,I got the gut to call my housemate to tell me the address of a terrace house where we lived for about two years when we were students there in 1973-1976! In fact I was ashamed not to remember when I brought my wife there on our ten anniversay of our marriage when she asked me where I lived and I just could not recall.Twenty years later,yesterday to be exact,as I was playing around with maps.google.co.uk, I just typed Sheffield University and to my suprise  the names of the roads came back to my fading memory....

I remember where my engineering faculty was at Mappin St and I did virtually walk allthe way from The Union building to Mappin St.Then I noticed Portabello St where I normally had my lunch there.The next question came to me was what did I live? I tried hard to recall but it just refused to come back.Immediately,I called my house-mate and he told me that we lived at 13 Ruth Square.So I googled the address and my God,I now know where I live for two years in 1974/76!

I spent more than one hour checking the map and the satellite image and then a had a shower of memory started to fall on my head...

Thanks to google and my friend Aman. 

Court of The Hereafter

[50:18] Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready (to note it).

The recent court case which is on-going revealed many forms of evidence to be presented to the judge-some physical and some eletronic.Reading the details in the newspapers, it provokes my mind to think what would it be like in the court of The Hereafter when Allah swt is The Judge.Referring to the above ayat,everything will be recorded and we ourselves are our own witness against ourselves! Imagine watching a video where we were the actor doing all the forbidden things in front of our family members and the whole Ummah!That is very scary IF we really believe in the Akhirat. If not,as some of us are doing,we keep disobeying the commands  of Allah swt.

Just look back on our lives ...would we be doing the wrong things had we believe in the Day of Judgement?To some, they are more afraid of the traffic policemen than Allah swt!

In most of the court cases published in the newspapers,most people were seen to be hiding their faces. They were ashamed of what they have been accused of or what they have done.Some had also cried and a few were even proud!

Remember, we may be walking alone, but there are two scribes who follow us every where all the time.

Please ponder on the following ayats from surah al-'Aadiyaat:

[7] And to that (fact) he bears witness (by his deeds); [8] And violent is he in his love of wealth. [9] Does he not know; When that which is in the graves is scattered abroad, [10] And that which is (locked up) in (human) breasts is made manifest, [11] That their Lord had been well-acquainted with them, (even to) that Day?

Majlis Temu Ilmu

Satu majlis untuk membincangkan sumbangan Prof Dr Syed Naquib al-Attas akan diadakan di Rumah Persatuan Penulis Nasional Malaysia(Pena),Jalan Dewan Bahasa,KL pada 24 hb Jun,2007 jam 3 petang.

Perbinacangan akan bertumpu kepada sumbnagan beliau dalam bidang teologi, falsafah,metafizik, sejarah dan sastera selain daripada pemikiran dan peradaban Islam.

Kepada yang berminat sila hubungi Setiausaha Pena. SM Zakir di talian 03-21455824.

Travel notes to Singapore

  Travel notes to Singapore 
  Originally uploaded by Adibi

The photo shown is my travel note I wrote in moleskine when I visited Singapore for 4.5 hours on 12th June,2007.I was there last year to visit Robinson but it was under renovation.The last time I went there with my family was about five years ago...

Lately, I somehow become more interested in maps.I think you can guess why;-)  When I arrived in Singapore, I got hold of the tourist map and planned my short journey.With the map,I identified where we planned to be and how we wanted to move from place  to place according to my busy schedule.

This trip is an extension of my business trip to Johor Bahru the day before. One thing I wish to put on record is that the sea food at Senibong that night was fantastic! Thank you Dato' B for the dinner to remember..

All the best wishes..

Today,my youngest son Munir joined a local univerity college to pursue his education to become a civil engineer. As a father I am glad that he decided to follow my foot steps to be a professional.I am indeed a happy man and grateful to Allah swt for His mercy upon him.May Allah guide him to seek knowledge that will benefit him personally and mankind in general.

Munir,
Today is the starting date for you to get a degree in civil engineering.From my personal experience, you will be exposed to basic foundamentals of engineering subjects that are relevant to your discipline.InsyaAllah, in four and half years from now you will graduate and start your career.From then on, you will work and hopefully you will learn from your experience and gains knowledge.

Today also is the first day that you begin your life to live in a hostel with other fellow students.For the last 17 years of your life,you live with your family.Naturally, you will miss your family; so are your mother and me. To pursue a goal, we all need to make some sacrifices in one way or another.C'est la vie..

If you remember some seven years ago,I wrote a letter to you before we celebrated your 11th birthday. If my memory is right, I wrote that I wished you will remain my 10-year old boy forever. That is how much we love you...but that is very selfish of me. You are now a fine young man.I am glad you grow up and please be informed that I am always available whenever you need a guide and a friend.

That is all for today.By the way,you know my mobile phone number and my email;-)

My best wishes to you my son,Munir.

Life is not short!

Most of us have heard the phrase "Life is short..".And many of us think it is and believe it.When it refers to this duniya(the present world),it is true.Not many of us can live to 100 years old;even that is short compared to the life of the planet earth todate.

The understading that life is short makes one strives to fulfill one's desires as much as possible within the shortest possible time.In the pursuit,one may have transgressed those forbidden by Allah swt. This is due mainly to the misunderstanding the meaning of Islamic World view as conceived by many modern men that the 'world' refers only to this duniya without the akhirat(the Hereafter).This is confirmed by the society perception of success like position,power and wealth associated with a person.

As muslims/musliamahs, we must include akhirat as part of the 'world'(alamin) in our thinking and understanding.As I was taught, the word 'alamin' is a plural in Arabic language,hence it is made of this world(duniya) and the Hereafter(akihirat). Therefore, life is not short. It is forever after one has passed through Alam Barzah.

It is very important to have this understanding of Islamic world view so that we may live our lives as stipulated in the Qur'an and The Sunnah.

Below is a copy of relevant article I got from Nasiha website which explains more and better on this issue.

Al-Isra (The Ascension)
Chapter 17: Verse 19

                        

Road to The Final Destiny
"Those who desire the life to come, and strive for it as it ought to be striven for, and are true Believers - they are the ones whose strivings find acceptance and reward"

                        

When the lifestyle of one who is working solely for the material gains of this world is compared with that of a person who is striving for the everlasting rewards of the Hereafter, there is seemingly very little difference. In both cases, each person is seen to be striving to maintain a quality life. But, it is clear that the non-believer cannot compare with the true Believer. The non-believer may find that all his worldly desires are fulfilled, but his accomplishments will only bring temporary satisfaction. The true Believer on the other hand, may achieve worldly gains but he realises that true contentment will only come when the ultimate reward of Paradise and the pleasure of his Lord is achieved.

                        

This understanding of life and its true objective is the secret of the believer's strength and support. This makes him the most powerful and resourceful person to walk upon the earth.

                        

Start, then, to prepare for the Hereafter today! Why waste your time and energy on what will perish when you can use the same to earn the delights and pleasures of the life to come? Everything you have must be put forward as an investment for that life, but you must keep in mind that the investment is not the objective. All that Allah has bestowed on you - body, mind, faculties and property - are valuables for investment, but the real objective is to earn the pleasure of Allah and the rewards of Paradise.

                        

Remember that your personal destiny and, therefore, the end of all your life's pursuits, lay in the Hereafter, but the road to that destiny lies in Dunya, in this world. Indeed the achievements made during the time of the Prophet were the results of full participation in this world - neither withdrawing nor retiring from it - for the sake of the Life to Come. The Prophet and his Companions planned for this world as though they were going to stay here forever but equally they sought the rewards of the Hereafter as though death was close at hand. It is this delicate balance that you must strive to achieve in your approach to life.

                        

Source:
                          "In The Early Hours" - Khurram Murad

Higher properties price

This is good news for property developers but how about the house buyers? My 26-year old son once confided in me that his generation can't even afford a single story link house in Kampung Pandan area where we live.The price has more than doubled since 25 years ago.

During my time in the mid -70's when we were young and just starting a family,we could afford to buy a single story link house even though our pay is about half of what the young persons are earning now.

Not only properties price has gone up but also the price of cars. I still remember buying a Honda Accord 1600cc for RM24000 in early 80's.

Looking back and compared to what the young persons now are earning, my time in the 80's is much better.We have more money left to spend and to save.

Knowing this scenario, the banks are having a field day offering credit cards to young graduates so that they can buy what they can't afford and pay the bank later with high interests.

By the way, the rich people(foreigners and Malaysians) are snapping up high end apartments in CBD of KL at RM1000 psf!Please read The Pavillion home run story.

In summary , many of us who could not resist to please our desires for our material requirements/needs will forever become slaves to our employers and the banks.