Respect

"Hey Asif, could you tell our teacher, tomorrow I will be absent...I will be celebrating Vaisakhi" he said.
"What? Celebrating what?.." I replied.
"Vaisakhi..my religious festival..."...

BAM!

That moment, I feel very guilty. How can I do not know about him? He's one of my best friends here, and I did not even know about his religious festival. Deep down, I feel ashamed. He often asked me about Quran, Jawi, Hudud, even Halal and Haram food. And I did not even know his religious festival. I know about the Khalsa order, but the term 'Vaisakhi' didn't ring a bell, AT ALL. Astaghfirullah.. Until now, I do not know how will I patch that up. He did not show any remarks, at all. Not knowing how remorseful I felt inside I guess. Insya Allah, we often talked and both of us know we are kind of 'open' person. My azam, I wish to dump my ignorance, and show that I too concern about him and his religion. Insya Allah..

Reminiscing, I still remember my former classmates last year during Ramadhan. When they had a birthday party, and I was there. I was there just to wish him and went back. And they understood. But to my surprise, they prepared a polystyrene box to pack the food for me. And when they were wishing, before they started, they gave me my box of cakes and food, so that I could go without watching them eating. Masya Allah.. I pray so that Allah will give them hidayah one day..

Along my experience with 'not-yet Muslim', I know the key is to respect them. We cannot expect them to respect us, when we easily label them infidels and other bad terms. We have to show first. And the vital thing is, to respect them. Know them, and their religion. And do not forget, tarbiyah and dakwah are our keys of life. Maybe along our experience with dakwah, we may find something uncomfortable. I've met an ikhwah, where his intellectual level I respect, said that, if we didn't agree with something in the usrah or group, don't run, be the changing agent. Wallahu a'lam....

There's a BIG difference between religious tolerance and pluralism... Just keep that in mind. 

I believe Islam the one and only true religion.. 

* Alhamdulillah, exam sudah habis..ucap tahniah pada diri. :) Cuti semester seminggu....

Of a diamond and hardship

* This is not an attempt to describe diamond's physical properties and its characteristics scientifically.

Assalamu'alaikum..
I always believe that my God, Allah created His creations with purpose. He created us to worship Him. And He also created this universe with certain purposes, only He knows all the purposes. Wallahu a'lam. I love beauty, and I can be easily astonished by it. Whether it comes from diamond, sun, stars, animals, jungle, or music, it reminds me effectively of who I am. My iman fluctuates frequently, and I pray to Allah, hoping that He will watch over me and let me die in defending His religion. Insya Allah..

"Diamond is a lump of coal that did well under pressure...."

Diamond has a legendary history. When you hold them, you are actually holding one of the ancient world heritages. Diamond consists of carbon. Coal also consists of carbon. But what makes them different? Although most of people thought that diamond really comes from carbon, some may disagree. But, wait, I'm not writing this to explain the science of coal and diamond. Referring to the above beautiful saying, Let me write you a beautiful story of metaphor.

Coal and diamond are made up of carbon. Both of them are from the same element. But, why are they so different? I often think that we have many similarities with them, perhaps I'm wrong, I can't help but to entertain my metaphoric mind, that we as human and them consist of the same material mostly for us, which is carbon - the renowned building-block of life. So, it is one similarity right?

Coal and diamond both are made up from carbon. But, coal, as you can see is made up of complicated impurities other than carbon. It is not a pure carbon. Diamond, on the other hand, is pure carbon. Diamond as we all know is the most fascinating mineral, chemically resistant and wins the hardest natural substance in the world. And they are rare. But their journey is not an easy one. These guys endure a long hard process before they form diamonds. They were formed around 990 million years ago. And not just that, they must be persistent and consistent enough to withstand the unbelievably high pressure under the mantle. But, where does such pressure exist? Diamonds inhabit a level 200-120 miles below our feet, and the pressure down there is fifty thousand times greater than what we feel above the crust. And do not forget, it is also hot down there. 900 -1300 Celcius.. Masya Allah..

Mantle burst out and became lava.

For them to form a complete diamond, they must endure thousands of years or millions, high pressure, and high temperature, where in my mind initially I thought for that kind of condition there was no place for beauty, just total chaos. But, I was wrong. Beauty did come from there. And I know, humans are like that. We always initially start as a lump of coal. Normal people. Coal also has their benefits. But, for great humans, they choose to be the diamond. Each of us has the choice to make. Our life is full of problems, obstacles, and hardship. What makes us different than others is the way we choose to deal with it. Coal-people chooses to endure small temperature, and they might be glowing for a while in red, but later they will turn into ash and dust. Nothing much. While diamond-people chooses to endure unimaginably insurmountable problems and obstacles, they never give up, and they keep trying although it takes time. They push their limits, and keep their faith intact. Hope is always in front of their mind, and they believe they can achieve their objectives. From this process will born a bright and hard man, with exceptional quality and experience. And they become like diamonds - rare, exceptional quality, and invaluable asset to the earthlings.

You see, coal and diamond have the same core substance. Just like human, each of us has our own unique abilities and potential. It is up to us to choose how to live our life. Well, obviously, diamond chooses to live a much more meaningful life. How? Just be persistent and consistent, never give up, and have our faith to Allah, you'll be the diamond. After all, diamond is a lump of coal that did well under pressure.. :) Look at our history. Our prophet Muhammad was a great man, and his problems and obstacles were also great. He grew up as a strong, fine man. He became an orphan since he was six. He was trained to be the shepherd, and he was out-casted by his own people. And many more tests and hardships he had endured. And there he was, the greatest man in the world. With great obstacles, comes great characteristic. With great characteristic, comes great power. With great power, comes greater responsibility.

Natural uncut diamond.

Similar isn't it? It's pureness is astonishing. They are made up of carbon. We are also made up of carbon. Our DNA, the famous double-helix molecule is made possible by carbon's ability to form long molecular chains. We are similar. To take lesson from them is inevitable. So, let us be the best of us... Wallahu a'lam..

Level of life

My cousin and I, Ahmed Nasrul Asyraf in my previous house compound. When I was little, I always told my mum that it must be feeling great to be an adult. When I was in secondary school, I thought that university life must be relaxing. Because I saw most of them were like that.

My friends and I have a chat last week. One of them said, "I thought college life would be easier. But this is sh@t, we don't even have time to eat our lunch". And I somehow agreed with him. We don't have time to eat our lunch most of the week. Our classes are arranged so pack. Like solid. Little room to move.

Heh. Susahlah kalau nak fikir semua susah kan? Kenapa tak fikir senang? Ha.. NLP. Leverage season 3 bagi sangat terbaik. By the way, nak hidup senang, di syurga la kan? :) Sebelum itu kena susah dulu. Dengan susah la kita menjadi lebih baik. Berlian ditempa dalam persekitaran yang sangat 'perit' dan 'pedih'. Di mantel, yang sangat-sangat panas suhu dan tinggi tekanan. Keluar ke permukaan, ia menjadi khazanah bumi yang paling keras di bumi dan paling cantik. Worth the challenge.

p/s - tahniah untuk achievers di Takrim Al-Amin. Tahniah juga kepada Fawwaz dan Diyanah yang menjadi pelajar mithali. Moga kalian dapat menjadi duta Islam di luar sana....

Success and chance

Assalamu'alaikum.

It is normal in my Further Math class, be it statistics or pure, at one time the whole class will stop talking and moving, staring to my lecturer, like we all do not know what is happening. Like "what is she talking about...?" or so quiet all 15 of us will have the face of complete lost and disorientation.

I have sister and some juniors who are still in dilemma whether to take up or not Additional Math for their SPM. My opinion, value it with your effort and its relevance for your degree, or diploma or whatever ambition you want to pursue. It is not about others. You do not need to follow the typical flow that implies 'Science' stream is better than 'Art'. The comparison should not even start in the first place. Because when you see how this world works, you will understand how we need each other. But, wait, I'm not saying that I already see the whole world works, only the tip of its iceberg can make you understand.

This week's Further Statistics class makes my day brighter. Alhamdulillah. After doing one after one question, proving one by one each formula, my lecturer gives us a beautiful advice. In my class, I learn about Geometric Distribution, geometric probabilities. It is about calculating the probability of success after n of trials. Calculating the probabilities of the number of attempt, up to and including the first success from n trials, each trial is independent. Like, if the probability that I will shoot the target is 0.2, the probability that I will miss it will be 0.8 (as miss and hit plus will be 1). The formula is X~Geo(0.2); P(X=r) = pq^(r-1). If I try 4 times, and hit at my fourth attempt, the equation will look like this P(X=4) = (0.2)(0.8^3).

The most likely that I will hit the target is on my first attempt. Why? Because the probability will only be p, which is equal to 0.2. If I don't hit it on my first attempt, the probability that I will hit it on my next attempt will be smaller, and the probability will continue to be smaller for the next attempts.



The probability is getting smaller....as it goes..

So, what is it about, success and chance with this geometric thing? Thanks to my lecturer for giving us this beautiful advice. When we are given chance to do something, we must try our best. Personally, I often feel that, I can do better next time. "Relaks dulu" attitude sometimes makes the outcome not so beautiful. Even I'm sure that I can do better next time, and I do most of the time, but she gives me a headshot. She said, in  our life, in everything we do, we must try our best. In every attempt, in every thing. We must not learn to say "I will do better next time, this time I want to relax or do something else first". Because Mathematics has proven that it is not true. So, even in each attempt, we think it is so easy and useless, we must give our best so that we can live our life to the fullest. Gaining full benefits, from our best attempts. The highest probability that we will success is in our first attempt.

BUT, although the probability is getting smaller after we fail, times after times. Mathematics has proven also, that there is chance that it will happen, it will succeed. So, when you fail so many times, never give up! You must have faith, and you must bear in mind, there is still a probability that you will succeed. So, never give up. After she gives the advice, I feel so refreshed and thankful. I don't know why.

And for us Muslims, our God will always help us. When you do something, do your best, and let Him decide the best for you... :) And if we want to do something the next day, or the next time, do not forget to say Insya ALLAH.

Nor say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow"- Without adding, "So please Allah." and call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say, "I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road." [Al Kahfi, 23-24]

Insya Allah, I believe in Him.

p/s - I think Mathematics is beautiful, but Physics is more earthy. Like my Physics lecturer said, If you think Physics is hard, dont blame Physics, the hard part is Mathematics, so blame Mathematics...haha

p/s 2 - Happy birthday to my beloved brothers Amru, Ayaz, and Saif this month. Ayaz and Saif got two remote control cars, and at the end of the day, it was their big brothers who played those cars, while the little two switched to more conservative toys like Hot Wheel and Ben10 action figures, Hybrid and XLR8. =.=

Hybrid. Saif's best friend for few days.. haha



Children; I have a dream.

* This post is about a program for kids - standard 1 to 6. Open. First of its series. Stressing mainly to live and translate the Sunnah in our daily life.

Last Saturday was a very tiring day. The day started with a program for kids; Program Aulad IKRAM. Me and other friends were responsible for conducting the activities, Alhamdulillah it went well and not well and we got positive feedbacks. Alhamdulillah.

It has been so long since I last interacted with them publicly. So to forget that I felt so powerless when being with them. Children - a different kind of human. That day, they drained me so much. I thought I could control them at least like adult and teen. Nope. That way failed. At last, I looked exactly like primary school teacher. I guess that is the most effective way. Don't be fierce. Be cheerful. Do not get distracted when some kids were playing and running and talking, it's normal.

We have put few elements that we thought suitable for them. Lagu tema, videos, and many sirah stories. It did attract them. Only when we have outdoor games, perhaps they were a bit excited they acted like gases. Running randomly, screaming, and poking friends. There was a game, for Ice Breaking where they were grouped. The game required each person to sound a specific animal voice that was designated to them, and to gather with same voice. The initial four voices were duck, cat, dog, and cow. Eventually they changed it voluntarily to monkey and the duck's voice they spoke sounded like a mutated duck with an integrated chip in its mouth. Weird. Perhaps it's the influence of today's cartoon.

Insya Allah, I hope we can prepare better for them in the next series. This one, it lacked of preparation from me especially. Insya Allah, for a better future. For a better generation. For a better line of future leaders. For a better life. Let us together contribute for a better world. A world that once had breathed with a peaceful fresh air of Quran and Sunnah during our prophet's time. A world that our prophet had promised in his sayings, a futuristic and idealistic period of the fifth, a peaceful one.

I look forward to live to see it comes.

A good video, Phase 3. Ada Bruce Lee dalam ni. Wing Chun mari...


p/s - Syukran pada Amin, Naim, 'Ammar Sahrim, Jannah, Dalilah, Aisyah, Nurazah, Husna atas kerjasama dan pertolongan.

Au Revoir

"Bila nta bertolak?" ana bertanya.
"Insya Allah 15 Mac ni.." dia menjawab. Hati ana gembira untuk dia, pada masa yang sama juga sedih.

___________________________________________

Ana kenal dia sejak kecil lagi. Dia senior ana, setahun tua. Kami bertaekwondo sama-sama, lagi dalam team demo sama-sama. Satu Selangor kami jelajah berdemo. Selalu jugak muka kena reverse turning kick dia. Tidur hotel, mandi swimming pool, macam-macam lagi. Lepas itu sekolah sama-sama, sampai besar masuk DQ pun tempat sama. . Ana rapat dengan adik dia, sebaya dengan ana. Orang yang ana maksudkan ini, akhlaqnya sangat baik dan ana sangat hormat. Kalau nak diletakkan dalam rank, dia lah orang paling ana hormat selepas ibu bapa dan guru-guru yang ana rapat.

Sederhana memang sinonim dengan dia. Dia tawadhu'. Ada sekali masa ana tanya keputusan semester 2 DQ, dia diam dulu, pejam mata, istighfar kemudian baru cakap, dapat 4.0 flat. Ada lagi sekali selepas dia selesai A-Level A2, masa tamrin kami berjumpa. Ana bertanya mengenai result A2 dia. Dia jawab 3A dan 1B. Dia mendapat B dalam bahasa German. Ana dalam hati, oh..Mungkin German susah sangat. Dia pelajar pandai. Lepas itu ana tanya dia pasal ikhwah-ikhwah lain kawan ana yang di GMI yang lain dapat berapa. Dia cakap-cakap, pun ikhwah-ikhwah tu tak dapat A German. Ana tanya la, berapa yang dapat A German. Dia cakap, seorang A, seorang B, yang lain C dan ke bawah. Nak tersedak masa itu, dia dapat 2nd ranking untuk Bahasa German. Sangat-sangat low profile. Masya Allah.

Kalau tengok muka dia, rasa bertambah iman. Dia macam abang pada ana. Mentor dan guru. Masa ana jadi SU Masyab, dia pun pernah jadi SU Masyab. Ana rujuk dia. Dia jadi KU, tahun berikutnya ana pulak. Pun ana rujuk dia. Dia masuk DQ, pun ana masuk, ana rujuk dia. Tapi, rapat dengan dia bukan melahirkan rasa taksub macam kita taksub pada sesetengah tokoh politik atau PS. Dia pendiam, tapi dia selalu mengingatkan ana, menegur sangat-sangat halus, dan ambil berat. Ilmu dia banyak, diam dia pun banyak. Bercakap bila perlu.

Banyak lagi nak cakap, dan ana pun tahu dia tak online selalu, dan sangat rendah probability untuk dia baca post ini. Pernah masa kami berprogram di Bukit Fraser, kami disuruh tulis nama orang-orang yang kami inginkan jika berada dalam situasi tertentu macam ketika tersesat di hutan ataupun jika mati nak siapa imamkan solat dan nyatakan sebabnya. Ana masih ingat dia menulis nama ana untuk situasi tersesat di hutan, dan ana betul-betul ingat sebab ana ada skil atau tenang dalam cemas(sebab orang lain tulis macam itu juga), tapi dia cakap apa, "Sebab ana rapat dengan dia". For someone you respect so much, when he admits that he is your close friend, cloud nine la.

Cuma, sedih dia nak pergi ke German dah. Lepas ni tak jumpa dah program, tak jumpa dah. Sebab sayang sangat. Tapi takpe, lagi tiga tahun jumpa balik kan? Ha. Insya Allah. Cuma lepas ni kurang la ahli AJK kem tahfiz seorang. Ana doakan moga perjalanan nta dipermudahkan. Insya Allah, moga perjalanan menjadi Muslim engineer berjaya. Amin. Ya rabbal 'alamiin.

Barakallahu fiik ya akhi.

* Post peribadi.

Interfaith Dialogue

Assalamu'alaikum.

Saya nak berkongsi mengenai 'interfaith dialogue' baru-baru ini. Cadangnya nak berkongsi hari selepasnya, namun, tuntutan akademik tidak membenarkan lagi untuk duduk dengan aman di hadapan komputer.

Secara peribadi, saya amat menyokong berdakwah melalui cara ini. Kita Muslim dapat bersama-sama dengan penganut agama lain, berbincang secara terbuka dan berlapang dada. Ia sedikit sebanyak dapat mengikis ideologi pluralisme agama di peringkat individu, bukan politik, yang sememangnya secara asasnya adalah sama dengan kehilangan identiti sesebuah agama. Alhamdulillah, bertambah ilmu mengenai agama Islam dan agama lain, juga bertambah sayang pada agama sendiri.

Juga dapat membuang sangka buruk, pada masa yang sama menyedari keperluan berdakwah pada mereka, dengan cara melengkapi diri dengan ilmu Islam juga mengamalkannya. Sanatana Dharma - membawa konotasi agama sebagai cara hidup, walaupun maksudnya agak berbeza sedikit.

Ini sedikit perkongsian catatan saya..

__________________________________________________________________

Mr Chew, a lawyer. 

[Christian] Mr Chew Phye Kiat
1. Christian worship 3 gods. -confusion of the doctrine Trinity.
2. The Bible today contains errors and not reliable.
3. Jesus was a prophet
4. Christians dont have to be responsible for sins because Jesus had died for their sins.
5. Christianity has been the cause of war and oppression.
6. We cant really know God - thats why Jesus was sent

Cikgu Raguna, a friendly teacher, a modern Hindu.

[Hinduism] Cikgu Raguna
1. Hindu is not the name, the name of this religion is 'Sanatana Dharma'
2. Too many holy texts - no absolute to refer except the Vedas.
3. Ignorance about Vedas. konsep kasta tak ada dalam hindu, hanya level macam ulama', pahlawan dan hamba. jadi,, buat tugas masing2 masuk syurga. takde lagi tinggi dari anyone
4. Hinduism is polytheistic - actually, Hinduism is monotheistic, I guess a strong one, for real. Ekam Evadvitiyam, (He is one without a second, Chandogya Upanishad, 6;1;2) - Sebab ramai dewa, misunderstood. Hindus ada kebebasan pilih untuk potray image Brahmin. sama ada dalam bentuk laki, ayah, mak, boyfriend etc
5. Women's place
6. Culture and religion - cakap pasal jgn judge agama dari pemakaian.
* Dia minta kerajaan buat hindu council, fungsi sama macam fatwa council, untuk standardize kan hindu punye fatwa.

Dr Phar, a psychologist. 

[Buddhism] Dr Phar Cheng Kar
1. Are buddhist idol worshipper?
2. Buddhism is all about Shaolin Kungfu
3. Buddhist burns money, jocks and sticks for the 'departed'.
4. Are all Buddhists vegetarians?
5. Buddhism is for the old and the uneducated ones.
6. Buddhists are superstitious and unscientific.
7. Is the Buddha fat and has many hands?
8. Do monks ask for food and money?
9. Do buddhist priest gives 'yellow papers' to chase ghost away?

Bro Shah, a very objective person. 

[Islam] Bro Shah Kirit
1. Meaning of Islam
2. Is Islam = Malay?
3. Causes of misconceptions
- Media
-Prejudice - Culture and religion - macam di barat, nampak jambang je terrorist. sedangkan tu Sunnah mulia nabi, dan dia cakap, jambang tak boleh bunuhh lalat pun, nak jadi terrorist macam mana.
-Muslim - muslim sendiri tak faham Islam, dan buat sesuatu guna nama Islam, fitnah. - Islam tu susah - Islam mundur - Allah kejam - Semua agama sama
4. Surah al ikhlas as closing speech, pendek tapi padat - makan dalam semua panelis agama lain.

Q&A Session

Brother Muhammad..terbaik soalan dia.

1. What does Christianity have to offer me when I love Jesus very much, and I havent found any verse in the Bible be it in Matthew, Luke and in the Old testament that states Jesus claims to be God? So, now, what does Christianity have to offer me? [Foreigner, Bro Muhammad]

2. Fate pasal parents nabi Muhammad, Syurga atau neraka.
3. Ayt Quran pasal semua non Muslims masuk neraka, macam mana kita nk jawab kalau ada non muslim tanya.
4. Expain trinity.
5. Kenapa tuhan kristian pilih untuk reveal agama dia 2000 years ago? apa jadi dengan sulaiman daud dan ezekiel nabi2 sebelum Isa alaihissalam. Islam dr adam lagi, kenapa kristian baru? tak adil la.
6. Apa method dakwah hindu kepada org lain.

__________________________________________________________________

Alhamdulillah, kali ini punya dialog sangat tenang, gembira, dan aman. Tak rasa sangat 'intense' dia, dan semua pun macam faham. Alhamdulillah, rasa macam nak minta MCS buat macam ini di kolej pula. Insya Allah.. doa-doa.

Moga program sebegini dapat menjadi penenang dalam kalangan Muslim yang sibuk menyesatkan orang dan siapa salah siapa betul. Argue, not to win, but to search for the truth.

Tahniah IYC atas program yang cemerlang, cuma, mula lewat. Moderator sangat pandai menjaga masa, juga menghiburkan suasana. Terbaik. Untuk MC, lain sikit. Haha. Masa moderator cakap, ''Thanks Puan Raihana", kedengaran suara-suara "Alah..Puan ke? Melepas.." lebih kurang macam tu. That is a very 'what the heck' response from male audience.

p/s - hujung minggu lepas, gathering dengan rakan-rakan Al-Amin. BerCOD dan DoTA. Seronok bangat. Insya Allah boleh buat lagi lepas ni. Pagi sikit, berukhuwwah dengan keluarga. Sampai ke petang, diakhiri dengan basketball dengan mak dan adik-adik. Seronok. Alhamdulillah.

Assalamu'alaikum/ :)