The Reader

Morning walk@Taman Saujana Hijau

The joy of ibadah ,Part11

Almost three years ago,I wrote on this subject,here is the link if you have not read it before or wish to refresh your memory.I still remember a friend in her early 50's told me that she only experienced 3 times the joy of solat.And I know of someone who felt sad to say salam(ending the solat) because he was in the state of 'joy' with his Lord,Allahu Rabbul 'Alamin!

Let me share my cycling experience when I started cycling every weekend at Putrajaya under the leadership of Col(R) Haji Azuddin about two years ago.Every weekend I always looked forward to the ride and after each ride,I was asking when and where to ride again.Why? Simply because I enjoy the ride.When I took my friend to ride at FRIM,the same thing happened to him.He really enjoyed the ride and the trail and after our ride,he asked me,"When is the next ride,Abedib?"

Khusoo' is the key to enjoyment is solat.Here is the link for you to explore further.Every muslim/muslimah knows the importance of solat,but do we give it enough time and put enough effort to upgrade its quality & quantity as as we grow older and closer to death?Have we ever wondered if Allah has accepted our solat?Doing good deeds and performing solat is one thing but what matters more is it accepted by Allah swt?

Let us be reminded by the first two ayats from Surah al-Mu'minuun:

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

 

[1] Sesungguhnya berjayalah orang-orang yang beriman.

[2] Iaitu mereka yang khusyuk dalam sembahyangnya.

Let us seek comfort in our solat,insyaAllah.

Photo Note:It was snapped using my camera phone last night,magrib time.

 

 

 

 

Gloomy KL

Sent from my Nokia phone

Yes,heart attack is a silent killer!

A few days ago my TIKL shoolmate passed away due to heart attack.He was about my age~late 50's.Yesterday a schoolmate from SDAR came to my house and he told me he got a mild heart attack a few weeks ago.One valve was reduced 90% and the other two about 30%.He is 50 years ago and every time I meet him,he looks healthy as any man could be.By weight, his BMI is less than 25.A week before the heart attack he felt some chest pains on his right chest and a week later,he fainted during the heart attack.Luckily,he told me he was sent to hospital within 6 hours to prevent any blood clot and later he undergone a procedure at IJN.These examples are enough evidences for me to believe that heart attack is a silent killer AND we must take time and make a real effort to look after it.Here are two postings I wrote a few years on physical heart and another on our spiritual heart i.e our qalbu.Below is what I did for my heart this morning..

Diary:Going less digital

A few days ago, I saw the new paper diaries for 2011 are already on the shelves for sale.The one I like to use is Monologue diary from Grandluxe.Even though mobile phones nowadays have all the features of good diary,I still see quite a number of people are still using the paper diaries-and I am one of them.When the era of computer world invaded us a few decades ago, many people believe that we are going more paperless.Looking at what is going on today,I think we are using more papers!Here is what I wrote in Dec ,2008 on my choice of diary.

Have you decided what diary to use for 2011?What ever works for you is the best diary.

 

100,000km!

My new "porsche"
Originally uploaded by Adibi

Yesterday,my Myvi clocked 100,000km since I bought it on 22nd Nov,2007.Compring to the circumference of the earth,I must have gone about 2.5 times around the world.However.that worked out to be 4km/hr-on average.Let's compare that to the speed our country(Malaysia) travels daily around the axis of the earth(taking at Equator),it is about 1667km/hr!!!This is faster than the Boeing 747.

IMHO,Myvi is a good Malaysian small car.It served me very well and I love it.

Taman Saujana Hijau ,Presint 11,Putrajaya

Taman Saujana Hijau Putrajaya
Originally uploaded by m.a.h.e.r.a.d.i.b.

This morning,my son asked me to take him to Taman Saujana Hijau for our family morning walk.My wife planned to join us but she was too tired after two wedding ceremonies which took us home almost mid-night yesterday.

Today,the morning was gloomy with dark clouds hanging from the sky.As we approached Presint 11,the rain began to fall.My son exclaimed ,"Oh My God,I don't think we can walk today!".I told him to keep going and see..

By the time we arrived at the entrance (water reservoir,net Police Station) the rain stopped. Alhamdulilah..we had 1.5 hrs roaming the beautifully landscaped garden.Every step was a joy..You can view some photos I took at my flickr website.The photo attached in this posting was snapped by my son using his iPhone.In my case, I use Nokia N8 as shown below..

Bookshelves

Flower top
Originally uploaded by Adibi

After giving away three big boxes(actually suitcases) of books to my alma mater library,I still have two bookshelves of my favourite books.This photo on the right shows a little corner where I sometimes stand alone looking at my books...and lost myself there.

I am very choosy when it comes to buying a bookshelf and placing and arranging the books later.This is MY territory and no one was ever allowed to interfere.This is my little kingdom-My books and I!

What prompted me to write this note was a recent posting by Pak Idrus about his arranging of his books.I was very privileged to be given the honour to see his huge books collection inside his attic during my previous visit to his house.

It is very easy to buy a book, but as I said many years ago,it is NOT easy to live by the Book.However,it takes some time and effort in this love affairs with books.By the way,it is always a joy for me...

Al-Hajj(reposted)

Jan,2004:

Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) Chapter 22: Verses 27-28 SPECIAL NOTE:

I have just received sms from a friend who has just arrived in Arafah. The weather is fine and the temperature is about 16 deg. C. Ibadah wukuf starts after dzuhur on 31/1/04.(about 5:30pm Malaysian time Tomorrow is Eidul Adha ,1424. I am happy that my friends in Makkah and in London can celebrate it on the same day. May I wish you Eid Mubarak,wherever you are..

Before I went for my Haj, I don't feel as much joy as for Eidul Adha compared to Eidul Fitr.But now,my feelings improves because now I understand the significance of Haj through my personal experience.For those who have been there, you know what I am talking about. But for those who have not been there,try your best to go as soon as possible.

 Below is an excerpt taken from Friday Nasiha #259.It will make you understand the benefits of Haj:

Benefits of Hajj "And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men; they will come to you on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways; That they may witness the benefits for them.”

The word "benefits" is in the indefinite, implying all types and numerous forms of benefits. Most notable among these benefits are the purification of the soul, refinement of character, refreshing of one's spirit and the spiritual training that takes place in the most honourable land on this earth. In addition to the points made above, one may note some of the following effects of Hajj in the purification of one's soul:

1. There are a number of important historical events that the Hajj commemorates. These events should be a source of reflection as well as inspiration for the believers. These events include but are not restricted to the absolute trust of Abraham on Allah and the sacrifice of Abraham and Ismail.

2. One of the greatest ways to remove sins from one's being - and thus aid in the process of purification - is to perform the pilgrimage of Hajj.

3. In the Hajj, there is an opportunity for the Muslim to demonstrate his complete submission and obedience to Allah.

4. One practical aspect that occurs from the Hajj and that anyone who has performed the Hajj can testify to is that during the Hajj one can see the willingness of other humans to sacrifice for the sake of Allah.

5. Hajj helps us to realize the relationship between our faith and sacrifice. Islam is not about practicing those aspects of faith that one finds easy or pleasing.

6. Selfishness, arrogance, looking down upon others and greed are some of the dangerous diseases that despoil the soul. One must work valiantly to remove any remnants of these diseases. The Hajj is a helpful step in this process.

7. The Day of Arafah, which the Messenger of Allah described as the "essence of Hajj," is a moving experience that immediately brings thoughts of the Day of Judgement to one's mind.

8. Even the preparation for the journey to the Hajj and the pilgrim's farewells to his family and friends is a reminder to the believer that he is on a true, lifelong journey for which there is no return. In the same way that he must prepare for the Hajj journey in this life, he must always be prepared for that final journey by having the provisions of Taqwa (consciousness of Allah.)

9. All of the events that one performs at the Hajj and the historical and spiritual significance of the place in which the person performs them should have a profound effect on the believer. He should view his own life in the light of the lives of the Prophets. He should recognize his own shortcomings and the insignificance of the other aspects of this world that he gives preference to.

Source: "Purification of the Soul" - By Jamal al-Din M. Zarabozo, pp. 251-263

via adib.typepad.com

Some of our friends and relatives are now in Madinah and Makkah.It is the Haj season and they are there to fulfill their duties as able muslims and muslimahs.Let us du'a for their health and safety and may Allah swt grant them Haj Mabrur.Herewith I attach my old posting (Jan,2004) as posted above  on this subject matter to remind us of The Haj.