The Reader

Books on Muslims

In my continuous search to seek knowledge and understanding of Islam and muslims, I keep looking for books and teachers.Once I found them,I try my best to get the most out of them and I shall continue in my journey...

Below are the latest books that I have acquired recently to satisfy my thirst for knowledge and understanding.These two books are in hardcover and a bit expensive but I bet it is worth every ringgit.

1. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE PROPHET-Lessons from the Life of Muhammad by Tariq Ramadan.

2.LOST HISTORY-The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists,Thinkers and Artists by Michael Hamilton Morgan

I strongly recommend the above mentioned books.

Today is a present!

Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s  why it’s called the present.~Bil Keane

Since today is a present,all of us must be grateful to All Mighty God for His Mercy!

In the morning,I had a good and lively discussion with my client on the business plan for the 1st quarter of next year.

In the afternoon, I have a great lunch with my mentor who never fail to teach and guide me in my work.

In the evening,I negotiated for an urgent appointment to see the Chairman and a CEO of a government agency.

Thanks to Allah swt for a good and fulfilling day for His servant.

Link

Phew 1013km..

I have never travelled more than 1000km on a road trip at any one time, but in the last two days,I did break my previous record of 973km during my Alumni SDARA Kembara. My Myvi did 1013km from 8.19am 26th Nov and back home again at 8.30pm on 27th Nov,2007. Today is my rest day...and we are going to have a nice nasi belauk  at Restoran Kak Mah-just between the two of us,my wife and me;-)

Being an engineer by training,I can't help noticing that the quality of PLUS highway pavement as we approached Butterworth is below standard. My small car almost jumped into the air due to the uneven surface profile of the road pavement.I also noticed a lot of work being done to upgrade the road pavement.IMHO, this should have been done years ago to avoid inconvenience to the public.I also noted that road work was being done at night and the the two or three lanes being compressed to just one lane.Even with "adequate" road signs, I felt unsafe to travel at night.

When it comes to speeding,almost everyone could not be bothered with the rules-free for all. Two express buses were racing in front of me and overtaken my car which was doing 100km/hr.( still at running in phase).I believe only speed traps and police presence will make Malaysians obey traffic rules.

By the way,I think the last time I was in Kangar must be more than 10 years ago.I am pleasantly suprised by the development and the town looks like to be more interesting with the presence of  a a few colleges and UniMap.My GPS was quite helpful in assisting my fading memory when I stopped by at Alor Setar for two hours to have 'cucuk' and tea with my old friend.However, it also misled me when I was about to go out of Kangar back to KL.At times, road signs are better than GPS and common sense must prevail all the time.

From my limited experience travelling (not regularly) either up north or down south from KL,I wish to single out Tapah is one of the best PLUS R&R! Two things that I wish to make a note is the mee curry at Shalala Coffee and the special design of musalla( place for solat).

I wish to thank all my friends for giving me good tips where to makan and shop for fruits.This trip was 80% business and 20% pleasure,so I don't have much time to indulge myself in my favourite pastimes/hobbies but insyaAllah next time,it shall be the other way round...

Going up north

It must be more than five years ago since I have been to Alor Setar and Kangar.Today, I come, insyaAllah.It reminds me of my two years stint as a district engineer of JKR Kedah Utara in early 80's. I always look forward to go to Tanjung at the end of the month when I was a bit loaded.

By the way, I must confess that I love laksa and seafood at Kuala Kedah , not to mention also about Kuala Perlis.My trip today is for business and visiting old friends. As usual I will try to use my GPS for tracking my route,a camera to take some photos and my moleskine notebook to write some notes.To-night is a dinner with my cousin at Kuala Perlis,insyaAllah.

I will try to update my trip today via my Twitter(on the right of this posting) and upload some photo here.I hope my new 'horse' will give me a good ride.

Malaysian Black Beauty

I was sleepless waiting for her for almost a week-just can't forget the eyes! You know,one kind of look. In fact, I wanted to take her home on the very day I saw her...The way she glanced at me made my aging knees grew weaker..;-)

Oleh kerana mata...lagu R Azmi.<Jika tak silap>

Just look at the beautiful and seductive eyes of my new horse.It arrived at my house on 22nd Nov,2007 and I have a few rides around the neighbourhood.I hope it will serve me well in the next few years..

If you wish to see more of her,please click here. More photos here.

PS: The book is here.

Ya Buna'ya..(again)

After every solat subuh at our masjid,we read a few ayat from the Holy Qur'an. and this week,we have been reading Surah Luqman.Let me quote a few ayats:

17. "O my son! establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs.

18. "And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for Allah loveth not any arrogant boaster.

19. "And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass."

I am writing this posting is mainly to remind myself of my responsibility to continuously remind my sons in the similar manner as Luqman reminded his son. If not,then I shall fail in my duty as a father.

As parents, ask yourselves, how much time you have sat down and talked to your children about our religion? For your information,the one who asked the question is also guilty as charged.I must admit that I have not done enough! What about you? The one who reminds others actually needs the most reminders. In a like manner,the one who teaches needs the most knowledge.

Before the end of this year,I plan to gather my wife and my children and then read this surah so that all of us can learn from the Learned and wise Luqman.By the way,I am also 'the son' that needs to be reminded.

My previous posting about two years ago.

Caution-Wet floor

I saw the sign CAUTION-WET FLOOR!

I was aware of it and yet I went into the ablution compartment next to the toilet at my friend's office.After doing my wuduk,I walked out and then my foot slipped,and  that destablised me and I fell.Luckily,I was near a door and managed to clinch to it.And  that prevented my bottom from falling flat on the wet floor!

I was quite careful and yet I fell!

So, the lesson learned is avoid dangerous places-either physical or moral or spiritual spaces!
Being careful,sometimes is NOT enough.

Love has no destination..

Love is a subject that I am most unqualified to talk about.Is it a noun or a verb? It all depends on the context and if I may add,the contact. According to the scholars of philosophy, love cannot be defined - so who am I to know what is love?

The title of this posting is the name  of one of the famous songs by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali .He was the maestro of Qawwali.

And tonight, I am going alone to sit and listen to the Qawwali at MPO -  which I have not heard before. What is Qawwali? Honestly,I do not know before I google it . And after reading about it here,I bought a ticket for tonight.I hope it is going to be a musical adventure for me...

If music is the food of love,play on.I hope to be able to  return home sober...

But then,it is not really the music to the ears in the similar manner as the rolling waves of the oceans to the eyes. .It is the water..

PS:

Writing the above note,it reminds me of the song I love to sing when I was much younger...

Loving you
Is easy because you're beautiful....
Making love with you
Is all I want to do....
Loving you
Is more than just a dream come true....
And everything that I do
Is out of loving you....

No one else can make me feel
The colors that you bring....
Stay with me while we grow old....
And we will live each day in spring time....

Because loving you....
Has made my life so beautiful....
And every day of my life
Is filled with loving you....
Loving you....
I see your soul come shining through....
And everytime that we....
Oh I'm more in love with you....

9MP Projects..

The Star today reported that a few 9MP projects are behind schedule.The Chief Secretary to the government attributed this delay to lack of detailed planning by the implementing agencies.
I have written about my worries about this way back in March,2006,so I will not comment much further except that ,if I may suggest to the government to take a closer look at the capacities of the implementing agencies in carrying out the task given.Planning without taking into consideration of the capacity to implement is futile.

Saving money for Haj

I just came back from visiting a friend who is going for the Haj on 4th Dec,2007.He was given VSS by his employer many years ago and since then he was driving a taxi to feed his family.What impressed me most that he had enough money to save for him and his wife to go to Mecca next month to perform his Haj.My du'a for him and his wife to get Haji Mabrur,insyaAllah.

This reminds me what my lorry driver said to me 30 years ago when I was a JKR district enginner in Pasir Mas,Kelantan.One day,he came into my room and asked for my forgiveness and also asked me to du'a for his trip to perform Haji.He told me that he began saving more than 20 years to get enough money to pay for his trip!When I asked how much,he told me RM50 a month!His salary was only RM600 a month! At that time,my salary was three times his income but I had not saved a cent yet for my Haj!

From my conversations with those who had been to Haj  and also from my personal observations,many of us can go to Haj once we decided to perform the Haj and start saving for it.We will never have enough money and the time if we don't have the 'niat' to perform our Haj!One example is my ex-boss who was earning RM20,000 month and yet he only had the time to go for his Haji when he retired at the age 55!