alhamdulillah :)

Go screen yourself before it is too late, aisyah!

Alhamdulillah, Ramadhan is here. :)

Seriously. Who would have thought we got to live through a year and meet the Holy month again, right? All praise to ALLAH SWT. :)

Bila Ramadhan datang, jiwa jiwa yang masih ada sekelumit iman akan tunduk hormat kepada tetamu agung ini.

Yang tak rajin pergi masjid, akan gagahkan diri pergi masjid untuk solat terawih. Yang jarang buka alQuran, tetap letakkan target untuk khatam alQuran dalam bulan Ramadhan. Yang tak selalu bagi derma pun jadi rajin untuk bersedekah.

Inilah antara kelebihan bulan Ramadhan yang dikatakan padanya "pintu pintu syurga akan dibuka seluas luasnya". Pada bulan Ramadhan, hati hati manusia akan lebih cenderung untuk melakukan ketaatan. Maka pintu pintu syurga akan terbuka untuk mereka.

Orang yang selalu marah marah, akan jadi penyabar dalam bulan Ramadhan. Yang smoking terpaksa stop. Yang selalu duduk dekat padang sampai tak ingat nak solat Maghrib, pandai balik rumah before Maghrib. Yang kedekut jadi pemurah.

Inilah yang dikatakan "pintu pintu neraka ditutup serapat rapatnya dan syaitan syaitan dirantai". Pada bulan Ramadhan, hati hati manusia akan cenderung untuk meningalkan maksiat. Maka pintu pintu neraka akan tertutup untuk mereka.

Tapi usaha usaha ini mesti istiqamah, even lepas bulan Ramadhan. Sebab kita menjadi hamba ALLAH SWT bukan hanya pada bulan Ramadhan.

More or less what I got from kuliyah Maghrib earlier before Ramadhan.

Aaaaaand ... this is what I got from dad before going to the masjid just now ...

"Nak kejar pahala bukan dekat masjid je. Duduk rumah pun mengaji la banyak banyak sket."

KENA PERLI! =.=" 

Okay. Happy Ramadhan to all! :) 

Make it worth as it maybe our last.

"Ya ALLAH, sesungguhnya telah datang bulan Ramadhan. Wahai Tuhan pemilik bulan Ramadhan, yang telah menurunkan di dalamnya alQuran. Engkau jadikanlah alQuran penjelasan dan petunjuk bagi kami antara haq dan batil. Engkau singkaplah segala hikmah yang terdapat padanya.

Ya ALLAH, berkatilah kami pada bulan Ramadhan ini. Bantulah kami untuk menyempurnakan ibadah puasa dan solat di dalam bulan Ramadhan. Dan terimalah amal ibadah kami."

p/s:
nak ngelat tarikh publish, aci tak? hehe.

life

[Caution : Lengthy and wordy post ahead!]


Have you ever been on boat? I have. It was a small boat and I was out at sea. The waves were rocking it here and there. In such a constant, perpetual motion. I remember thinking, "Please stop moving. I want to walk in a straight line." Eventually, I made it to the dry land. And I have come to realize that I may be made up of many elements. But I am out of my element when it comes to large body of water.


My life at the moment feels like that. Like I am on the boat, out at the sea. There is no solidity. No constancy. It is a perpetual motion, constantly rocking. And I am walking into people. And hard objects. I would like to return to the dry land again. I would like to walk on solid material which is stable enough to make me believe I will not fall along the way.


There are times when I feel absolutely okay with what I hold now to carry on. And there are some other times when I am overwhelmed by the worries of what I might lose in the future. There are times when I feel secure and guided, while some other times I feel completely lost in my own world. There are times when I do not mind falling down -- because I can always stand up and move on. But to fall down many times and get up for nothing is so tiring.


All the unsettled feelings came because I forgot ONE THING.

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Yesterday, as I was getting ready for Zohor prayer, I quietly whispered -- I pleaded that ALLAH would let the rain fall. And just within a few seconds, the sound of water came pouring down from the sky could be heard. Curious, I headed to the corner of my room and took a peek through the window. I could not believe it. It was really raining. It touched me deep inside -- way much deeper than you could imagine. And I actually felt like crying.


I remembered the toughest semester (for me) during the foundation days -- first semester in the second year of studies. In the midst of exam, I had this scary thought of failing and giving up came to my mind. Imagine, you were writing on your examination answer sheet and while you were writing and excreting the answers from the little brain of yours, a small mindless thought came to mind. It went ... "It seems like I am going to fail this paper."


I had to literally stop writing to clear my mind and get that thought out. But it did not help much. When I started to write again, my palm was cold sweating. It was daunting, heart pumping. With hands trembling, I walked to the hostel after the paper, feeling that I have failed the paper badly. It was a terrible feeling.


I was so worried about it until ALLAH spoke to me not to. Not audibly, of course. Not by any physical effect, not by sending extra ordinary things before my eyes. Nothing of the sort. But you just know it when it was HIM assuring you. It was unexplainable. It was a good calming effect. Very refreshing -- like having an awesome cold shower in a hot day. Maybe better.


And I remembered (another once upon a time) when I was in form 4. I had an ustaz who would give penalty for students who got other than A for his subject. So, it was the day when the ustaz returned back the monthly-test papers. I was a little bit too confident that I might get an A because usually no one would go below the passing bar.


But to everyone's surprised, the ustaz announced there were some failures this time. I went from a-little-bit-too-confident to a-little-bit-too-scared-I-might-be-one-of-them. Unfortunately, but expected-ly, I was one of them and I was soooo disappointed. Really. Not because of the penalty, but because I have never scored that low for the subject (time sekolah kan, biasa la tu, semua nak letup letup je. haha).


I could not wait for the class to end because I could not seat at ease anymore. Luckily it was the last period. So after the class, I immediately went to the musolla to perform Zohor prayer -- bringing together  a super heavy heart which carried the burden of I-cannot-accept-this kind of feeling. Then I started to pray until the last rakaat. And I gave salaam.


I felt no burden anymore. I did not realize which part of the prayer did blow all the worries away. It was there when I started the prayer, but when I wanted to recite a little doa afterwards, only then I realized that the troubling thought was not there anymore. I felt tranquil at heart as if getting-the-lowest-ever-mark incident had never happened. 

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All these make me realize that ALLAH is always near. HE hears my whispers all the time. HE knows what I want even before demanding it from HIM. Why should not I spend a little time to tell HIM all the worries? Why do I always think that I have to suffer alone when all the people I talked to do not understand? Why do I talk to all those people in the first place?


If you experience a life on a rocking boat (just like me), always remember that ALLAH is strong enough to stop the motions of the boat. And HE is powerful enough to stop all the giant waves. If HE does not want stop them, just remember that HE is merciful enough not to let us hopelessly lost in the middle of the ocean. HE sure will bestow us with the strength to handle it.


The thing is, (1). How many times in life did you turn to HIM, first hand, when something went wrong? (2). How many times in life did you thank HIM for all the bounties, even a small one? (3). How many times in life did you ever feel that all you need is HIM even when you have nothing to scare about? (4). How many times have you looked at the past and realized it is HIM who helped you to go through?


Jadi, siapa saya pada pandangan ALLAH? 
A person who comes to HIM only when she needs HIM? A person who can really feel the existence of HIM only in certain things she does? A person who runs after the worldly life as if she is going to be there forever? A person who remembers HIM during the prayer and not after that?


Believe it or not we actually tend to secularize our daily life.

Betapa indahnya kalau setiap detik dalam hidup ni kita dapat rasa yang ALLAH ada bersama.

When you have ALLAH with you, dear, you will have nothing to worry. :)
When you have ALLAH with you, dear, you have attained the true meaning of happiness. :)


To live your life without worries is completely different from living your life happy go lucky. -Bottom line is.

fly me to ISS

Yeah. Meet me again in the fly me to somewhere series. Haha.

Last week, I attended an event which, according to the organizer, mimicked a Noble Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany. It provided a way for senior professors to pass on advice and inspiration to students in various fields of science.

Over the span of almost three days, the participants, attended some rewarding and enjoyable events, both social and formal. To avoid undue length of writing, I will just highlight a few of them.

There were talks and discussions which gave excellent advice about pursuing scientific research. The speakers were sharing their passions and experiences at conducting experiments and researches. All the sessions had, undoubtedly, inspired and motivated us to do more.

Quoted from one of the mentors, "In science, when you are studying everything about just one thing, sometimes it is easy to get lost in small details and to forget the bigger picture. A step back and a fresh perspective often bring the best solution -- look at the forest, not only the tree." Whatever does it mean.

The event was not all about academic experience, but also a great social experience. We were enjoying an evening cruise ride with the Fellows of Akademi Sains Malaysia and having very close conversations with them. The air was buzzing with excitement.

Later at night, we were having a dinner as well as a launching ceremony for the event. Explorace during the very last day was quite a bonding event when we were put together in a group of 12 with complete strangers (at least for me).

Checkpoints for the explorace were scattered all over the campus (and the campus was so hot). Tasks given covered every discipline of science. It ranged from the athletic thingy, to the basic science, to the healthcare, to general knowledge, to general skills, and so on. You name it.

There was one checkpoint where we were given a task to build 3D molecular structure of two organic compounds. So, my graduated-from-UTM's-chemical-engineering groupmate professionally drew the linear structure of the compounds on a piece of paper.

Me, feeling a little bit familiar with the compounds immediately picked the plastic models up to build up the structure. And the moment I touched the models kit, everyone (not really everyone actually) was woowed and woahed. I was like, "Hahaha. People, if you have been taking Organic Chemistry for two consecutive semesters, you surely can do this better."

YEAH. While you are not good at one thing, does not mean you cannot impress others at all. But, of course, you will feel like you are impressing people by practically doing nothing. Haha.

So, that's to report. Overall, the event was excellent!

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Oh, well ... Last night, there was a taalim after Maghrib prayer. The Imam reminded the jemaah on how the world (or people in the world) is now losing its true value. Semuanya dah tunggang terbalik.

People are only thinking of what they deem as their rights. In fact, some groups of people are fighting for their rights -- while what they think as their rights, are actually NOT. To the extend, people are now listing down all the rights they could possibly think of.

Husbands are claiming their rights as a leader in family. Wives are claiming their rights from the husbands. Children are claiming their rights from the parents. Employees are claiming their rights from the employers. Men are claiming their rights as a man. Women are claiming their rights for equality between males and females.

Let us do some self-evaluations. Is that true? Is that how we are supposed, and we are taught, to do?

Sedangkan, said the Imam, Rasulullah (pbuh) and his companions had shown us the good example. What we are supposed to think, is not our rights from other people. Instead, what are their rights on us, and what kind of things we should do and fulfill for them.

People, during Rasulullah (pbuh) and sahabah time, would not be at ease if their neighbours had not enough food. The leader drew a clear line to distinguish between his properties and his people's. Harta kerajaan is still harta kerajaan, harta rakyat is still harta rakyat.

Ada satu masa, khalifah nak bahagi bahagikan duit zakat untuk golongan faqir and miskin. Listed among the names was one of his gabenor in one country. Upon receiving that money, the gabenor immediately gave it all to the orphans. Because he knew that they needed the money more than him.

No wonder they could raise such an excellent and established khilafah.

Tapi sekarang, nak cari pemimpin yang memikirkan kerunsingan orang lain lebih daripada diri sendiri sangat susah. Memang ada. Tapi sangat sedikit. Pemimpin semua kaya, while rakyat yang miskin makin lama makin miskin.

Nak cari jiran yang memikirkan kerunsingan jiran lain lebih daripada keluarga sendiri pun sangat susah. Padahal itu memang hak seorang jiran yang kita kena penuhi. Sebab dekat akhirat nanti Allah akan tanya semua tu.

Imam cakap, sekarang ni tak payah lah nak sibuk sibuk tuntut hak kita dekat orang lain. Biar lah kalau pemimpin tak tunaikan hak rakyat, biar lah kalau majikan abaikan tanggungjawab dia. Yang penting kita tunaikan tanggungjawab kita dekat orang lain.

SEBAB KITA TAK NAK JADI ORANG YANG MUFLIS DI AKHIRAT. :)

Dengar tu, wahai anak anak? 

1 vs 27

I have a question.

Have you ever encountered a situation where you were already prepared to pray, and then came another person -- who was also about to pray, and suddenly there was like an awkward moment when both of you (or maybe only you) were thinking whether or not both of you pray together. But then, you ended up praying alone instead?

It is such a long question. Haha. But seriously, have you ever been in such situation?

I have. Countless of time, in fact. And I am supposed to regret every moment of it, am I not?

27 is obviously better than 1. And you just have five chances for that in a day. I, honestly, am not a very patient person. I hate waiting. Waiting makes me cranky -- especially early in the morning when I just wake up from a deep sleep. This is one of the major reason why I do not usually pray in jemaah for Subuh prayer. A part from waking up late, of course.

When I was in this institution, my roommate and I used to pray together. Almost everyday. Almost five times daily. And we did it especially for Maghrib and Isyak prayer. I treasure every minute of that, and I miss it so badly. When one of us went to the bathroom to take wudhu', the other person would also rush to take wudhu' so that no one was left out for jemaah prayer.

It became a habit. A routine. It came to a point where there was a hint of guilt when you were praying alone without asking your roommate to join you. Sometimes, friends from other rooms would knock the door asking us to pray with them. It was so impressive how people, back then, were so committed in jemaah prayer, even it wasn't made compulsory for us to do so.

Unfortunately for me, all the habits disappeared just like that when I registered in this new institution. One of the reason is because we can hardly find our sweet moment where everyone is in the room to pray together. We can only see each other in the room after classes -- the earliest is at 5.30 pm. Well, this is just an excuse. Bigger reason is, of course, no one ask for it. And everyone is so reluctant to ask first.

I guess, the feel with the people you are used to pray together is different as compared to the people you are not used to -- especially strangers you meet in the mosque somewhere during your travel. There is like a sense of fear to start asking whether or not the other person wants to pray together with you.

I don't know why. And I have to get rid of that feeling. I know. I have to start somewhere, right? And make it a habit.

MORAL OF THE STORY :

1). 

Do pray in jemaah whenever you have the chance. Allah sayang orang yang solat jemaah more than orang yang solat sendiri. :) That's why He rewards them 27 times better.

2).

In order to be consistent in doing good, you cannot do it all alone. You must have a companion. So that, kalau tiba tiba rasa futur, ada orang yang akan remind. :)

3).

Mingle around with good people -- those who make you do a lot of self-reflections. Your friends will shape your attitude in a way or another.

4).

The very first move can be real hard. So, force yourself! Or else you will never start doing anything. Mujahadah itu penting. :)

Dan barang siapa yang bermujahadah (untuk mendapat keredhaan Allah), Allah akan menunjukkan mereka jalan jalanNya. Sesungguhnya Allah bersama dengan orang orang yang berbuat baik. [Al Ankabut : 69]

5).

Last word, as well as a self-reminder jugak, JOM SOLAT JEMAAH! :)

Editted :// Bak kata Anwar Hadi, ramai je orang yang lagi nak buat sesuatu benda tu kalau kita ditawarkan ganjaran 27 kali ganda daripada biasa. Kalau Big Apple buat promotion buy 1 free 26, cepat je orang nak pergi kan? So, kalau kawan ajak solat jemaah tu, jangan la tolak. Tak rugi pun. :)

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Hmm well ... I involved in a tragic incident a few days back. I will not talk about it, nor do I want to fill in any detail. Aaaaaaaaaaand I am starting to think that yellow is now my utmost unlucky colour. Oh, I am still going to wear that yellow blouse though. Yeah, I will fight that ridiculous superstitious of mine. Haha.

But. Mister, you might think that I am a coward girl who will not be joining nor participating anything like that upon being threatened by you and your boys. Do not worry because I won't. But I am supporting it anyway. So what?

And Mister, I don't like your boys. And you, too.

p/s :

menyampah je tengok iklan yang dekat RTM tu. Ooooops. tak baik eh cakap macam ni?