The Reader

Sketch:Tulips field in Holland

About a month ago,I tried to sketch a tulip field I saw when my friends Guus and Marjolein took me to visit the most colourful fields in the world.We travelled from Leiden to Kuekenhof and we stopped some where near the most beautifil tulips garden in the world.I have a field day taking photos with my hosts.Thanks Guus and Marjolein!

One of my hobbies is to take photos of flowers.Now,I began to sketch them as well.However,when I tried to sketch the field of tulips last month,I got stuck.Last night,when I was playing with an apps from AppStore(Paper53),suddenly I got around on how to put in the details of distant trees and white caravans on the horizon and showing rows of tulips.

I dedicated this flower sketch to my dear friend Guus who reads my blog everyday and  who is undergoing a medical treatment and wishing him well on the road to recovery...God bless and take care.

Qiblat direction..

If you look towards Masjid Sultan Mizan through Perbadanan Putrajaya Building facade,you are facing Makkah i.e Qiblat where muslims face themselves when they perform their solat(praying).By default, The Boulevard connecting PM Office and PICC is running perpendicular to Qiblat direction.Congratulations to the Town Planner!

Monthly walk in Putrajaya

In the last two years,I have been actively promoting a healthy lifestyle for my friends and my family.It is a fact that many of my friends got sick from eating too much and exercise too little.This reminder is also for me.

I was told that we have to walk 30 minutes five times a week.It is a tall order but we have to do it.We can't pay people to do for us.If you have not done so,join a group or get a buddy.I cycle with my friends once or twice a week and walk about twice or three times week.From my experience,if I walk/cycle three times a week,it really energizes me and keep my weight in check.

If you live or happen to be near Putrajaya,please come and walk with thousands of people on the 3rd Sunday of every month.The photo above was the first Langkah Ceria@Putrajaya,taken on 20th January,2013 when the crowd passed on Jambatan Seri Gemilang.

See you at the next walk on 17th Febuary.

A leader must lead..

Yesterday,I saw for the first time The President of Putrajaya joining our monthly ride.One lesson that I learnt;if we want to be leaders,we must lead and be where the action is!Whoever can be a boss by appointment but he/she is only a leader if he/she has followers.

My previous postings:

1.Leading Change

2.Leadership failures.

We ride together..

 

and we also eat tegether..

Medan Selera@Food Court

Eating is Malaysian national pastime!Where can you get so many restaurants are open 24 hours a day?No wonder more than 40% of ault population is obese!I know because I am one of them..

In the 60's I knew about 'Eating Shops' when my late father brought me to Kota Bharu.Then I began to know about 'Gerai Makan' at our local market.If my memory is still reliable,I began to know about Medan Selera only in the 80's.To those who hailed from Kelantan,do you remember Taman Selera Tanah Rendah Sekebun Bunga?

As they say,the rest is history.Now,we have a few in every towns and in a few in big shopping complex.In KLCC,we have two Medan Selera.

I live in Bangi but I prefer to eat more often at Putrajaya.It has more choices and better managed with good facilities.My favourite Medan Selera are at Taman Warisan Pertanian,Presint 8 & 9 and RASA inside Alamanda,Putrajaya.As a businessman,I love to own a foodcourt with at least 20 vendors where I can rent food kiosks-enjoying good food everyday and make money every month!

Wet sketch

Sketching is another form of my meditation.It keeps my mind glued to the iPad screen and isolated me from the rest of the world.It is a domain where my mind and my hand are having fun to create something that makes me feel good about what I have done..

After buying Paper53 apps at Appstore more than 6 months ago,I began to learn on my own on how to sketch and and I love it.When I think I have sketched something worth sharing with my friends,I upload them on my blog/facebook.This one above is one of them.

 

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Just a sketch

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Uncle Gadget

Another flower sketch

The Objective of Life

Ya Nabi Salam 'alaika...

Sesungguhnya Allah dan malaikatNya berselawat (memberi segala penghormatan dan kebaikan) kepada Nabi (Muhammad s.a.w); wahai orang-orang yang beriman berselawatlah kamu kepadanya serta ucapkanlah salam sejahtera dengan penghormatan yang sepenuhnya.

(Al-Ahzaab 33:56) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark 
Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.

 

Let me share this writing from another website less we forget why we are on this planet earth:

Al-Sajdah (The Prostration)
Chapter 32: Verse 18

The Objective of Life
"Is then the one who believes equal to the man who is a transgressor and wicked? Not equal are they.”

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.

It is clear that the non-believer, limited to himself and feeding upon his own desires 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 Akhira 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 Janna.

Remember that your personal destiny and, therefore, the end of all your life's pursuits, lie in the Akhira, but the road to that destiny lies in Dunya, in this world. Indeed the achievements made during the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 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

Sharing experience..

Yesterday morning,I was honoured by Putrajaya Corporation,the administrator of Putrajaya(the administrative capital of Malaysia) for being invited to share my experience in cycling around the lakes,wetlands and the gardens within the City with kids and parents who live in Presint 8 & 9,Putrajaya.

I began cycling here since August,2008 and I keep cycling about twice a week on regular basis,except in month of Ramadhan. I also walk at some beautiful trails and gardens here.The facilities here are among the best in Malaysia but very few residents are are making use of them.From my interactions with the kids and observations,the usage of lakes and wetland for outdoor activities are very minimal-hence this effort to gain public awareness and engagement.Well done PPj and please continue your roadshows.This is one step in the right direction.Keep moving and you shall arrive.Above photo Note: Thanks to Sabri Ya for the photo.

Here is a group of kids cycling in Putrajaya..but only a handful.The more the merrier..

Here is a nice snapshot of the Putrajaya Wetland taken when my friends and me went cycling on our MTB ..

On light -2

This is an ordinary block of flats in front of my house.It looks so beautiful under the remnants of light during magrib time~7:45pm.Magrib started at 7:25pm when the sun went down the horizon but the light stayed until total darkness came at isyak time 8:38pm.The lesson I got yesterday was that certain light transform your vision of things.This reminds me of the note below that I wish to share again with my friends and fellow readers of my blog.In this particular ayat,Allah mentions the word 'nur' or 'light' five times!

The Light
Al-Nur (The Light) - Chapter 24: Verse 35 (partial)

"God is the Light of the heavens and the earth."

Scholars, such as the eleventh-century philosopher al-Ghazali understood this "light," or "nur", to be the true quintessential light or the definitive source of all light in the universe. He goes on to explain that to describe God as Light puts Him above everything else in existence and points to His power to create living matter out of dark nothingness. The evidence of God's existence and power is so overwhelming and pervasive in the physical universe as well as in our own everyday lives, that only the ignorant or the arrogant can be blind to it.

Others interpret 'light' as the guidance God infuses into the hearts of believers that gives them the ability to discern right from wrong, good from evil, and gives them a strong belief and confidence in their faith and what they profess to be true.

On closer reflection, the two meanings of the word "nur" will be found to be complementary. As one marvels at the light observed in the physical world, it leads to guidance being imbued inside one's heart, drawing one closer to God. Those who fail to be aware of God and deny or ignore His power and role in the world will be deprived of the privilege of God's Light and guidance, no matter how materially fortunate or advanced or successful they may be.

Compiled From:
"A Thematic Commentary on the Quran" - Muhammad Al-Ghazali, pp. 380, 381

 Further reference on Nur,kindly read the Download Hikam-ibnu-atailah-volume-1