"We are made of the same stuff as mud" says Nick Bostrom, Director of the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford. - found in You are Here book. (Yessss..)
And then... masyaAllah, I read this in the Quran -
"We created man from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape;" Al Quran, Al-Hijr 15:26
This is the thing that's drawing me to some scientific books.. I'm finding a lot of familiar ideas in there.. things I've read before in the Quran or Hadith.
MasyaAllah.
p.s. I'm trying to find out more about that statement from Nick Bostrom.
Madame Blossom's Book of Poems
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
into the light
Scientists are saying.. "when the universe began there was only high-energy light, out of which all the matter that is in the universe was created. The universe is light that has evolved."
From You are Here, a Portable History of the Universe. (Yes, yes.. i'm still on this book).
Makes me wonder.. if it's related to what is mentioned in the Quran.
"Allah is the Protecting Friend of those who believe. He bringeth them out of darkness into the light..." Al Quran, Al Baqarah 2:257
I know it can be a metaphor.. but it COULD also be literal. Allah's knowledge is infinite, and our understanding is so limited.
Andperhaps there WILL be a new universe..
"One day the Earth will be changed to a different Earth, and so will be the Heavens, and (men) will be marshalled forth, before Allah, the One, the Irresistible." Al Quran, Ibrahim 14:48
"The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books - even as We produced the first Creation, so shall We produce a new one : a promise We hae undertaken : truly shall We fulfil it." Al Quran, Anbiyaa 21:104
Isn't it such a wonder? Subhanallah.
Note : This is no scientific conjecture or some kind of proof - this is just my own personal humble thoughts - a neurotic thought.
From You are Here, a Portable History of the Universe. (Yes, yes.. i'm still on this book).
Makes me wonder.. if it's related to what is mentioned in the Quran.
"Allah is the Protecting Friend of those who believe. He bringeth them out of darkness into the light..." Al Quran, Al Baqarah 2:257
I know it can be a metaphor.. but it COULD also be literal. Allah's knowledge is infinite, and our understanding is so limited.
And
"One day the Earth will be changed to a different Earth, and so will be the Heavens, and (men) will be marshalled forth, before Allah, the One, the Irresistible." Al Quran, Ibrahim 14:48
"The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books - even as We produced the first Creation, so shall We produce a new one : a promise We hae undertaken : truly shall We fulfil it." Al Quran, Anbiyaa 21:104
Isn't it such a wonder? Subhanallah.
Note : This is no scientific conjecture or some kind of proof - this is just my own personal humble thoughts - a neurotic thought.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Christians, Jews and the Sabians
VERILY, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians -all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds-shall have their reward with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve.Surprised? I was, a bit. Before that, I had ever wondered about good people who are not Muslims - now that question is answered. We discussed this during our tafsir class with Ustaz Haniff.
Al Quran, Al Baqarah 2:62
I can sense the uneasiness felt by some. One student asked "does that mean we don't have to believe in Muhammad SAW?" Another one asked, "So it's ok to be a Christian or a Jew?"
I think some of us have missed the point - these are referring to people who have not gotten the message of the Quran properly. Yes, everyone in the world (which is not true anyway) may know 'Islam' - but what they know about Islam may be askewed and not right at all. After all, there are many deviated teachings using the name of 'Islam'. A clear example of deviated teachings, is teaching terrorism as part of Islam which is what most westerners think of, when they hear the word Islam. That is sad.
So there ARE some people out there, who truly believe in the Oneness of God, and in the Hereafter, and all they do is good.. they give to charity, they are kind to their kindreds and to others - they may even be better Muslims than most Muslims. Allahu'alam.
In any case, it is very important to note that, the book of Tafsir Ibn Kathir suggests that this ayat refers to those Jews, Christians and Sabians who exists before the coming of Rasulullah SAW and the clear Qur'anic message.
So, that does not mean that we can get away with converting to Judaism or Christianity? Think about it..
1) For one to believe in the truthfulness of that ayat, would first have to believe it's coming from Allah SWT, through Rasulullah SAW. How can one choose to believe solely in that ayat and at the same time denounce the believe that Muhammad is the messenger of God??
For people like us (insyaAllah n masyaAllah) who have been given the Hidayah to believe in Allah SWT, Rasulullah SAW n the Quran, we do not n should not pick n choose which ayat to stand by. We will accept Islam as a whole, making us Muslims and therefore impossible for us, to want to be Jews or Christians or Sabians at the same time.
"And whoever seeks religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers."2) Allah judge our actions by our true intentions. We can advise a person but we cannot change them. Allah guides whom he wills. For a person to want to become Christians or Jews because they did not get the proper message of Islam, and they TRUELY believe the other instead, and pray only to One God n do good, who are we to say or know if that is truely in his/her heart. Let Allah SWT judge in the Hereafter.
Ali-Imran 3:85
Or if a Muslim, decides to pick on that ayat, as an excuse to convert, that God knows best what is in his heart.
".. Thy duty is to make (the Message) reach them; it is Our part to call them to account."and..
Al Quran, Ra'd 13:40
Those to whom We have given the Book rejoice at what hath been revealed unto thee; but there are among the clans those who reject a part thereof. Say : I am commanded to worship Allah and not to join partners with Him. Unto him do I call and unto Him is my return." Al Quran, Ra'd 13:36Wallahua'lam. May Allah guide us all. Ameen.
And the purpose it was even brought up in the first place, is to remind ourselves, not to be arrogant, and think like we're the only 'saved' ones. Are we even sure that we'll be saved with all that we do, or don't do?
to smile and be friendly
I've been told by my mother before, that a person once told her, that I appear arrogant and fierce. While another friend of mine, appears friendly. I wonder how that is. I try to smile a lot. I do.
A friend also once told me, to always have a 'half-smile' on my face. It can be quite tiring to control a half smile all day.
In my conscious effort to smile, I had an embarassing experience. In my office, there is this guy who comes down almost everyday to service our printer. He talks to almost all my dept colleagues except me. I wonder if I've missed out some get-to-know session. So, I was reminded of what my mother used to say. One day, he was at the office AGAIN, and i was walking past him, so I smiled at him.
He didn't smile back.
And I wonder why. Did he think I was smiling at someone else? Husnuzon. I didn't make anymore conscious effort, after that.
Personally, I would like to be approachable - but there's something about me, which I myself have yet to find out - that seems to be keeping some people away.
Perhaps I do look fierce or arrogant when I'm unconscious about it.. but that's just the make of my face.. I don't consciously want to be or want to appear like that. Really.
And seriously.. I can't be smiling ALL the time also right? That would make me look crazy pulak.
Suddenly, I'm reminded of The Joker - the man with the perpetual smile on his face. Nope, don't want to be him either.
Anyway, tawakkaltu'alallah - I'll just have to be myself I guess, cause I can't change myself much anyway.
:)
A friend also once told me, to always have a 'half-smile' on my face. It can be quite tiring to control a half smile all day.
In my conscious effort to smile, I had an embarassing experience. In my office, there is this guy who comes down almost everyday to service our printer. He talks to almost all my dept colleagues except me. I wonder if I've missed out some get-to-know session. So, I was reminded of what my mother used to say. One day, he was at the office AGAIN, and i was walking past him, so I smiled at him.
He didn't smile back.
And I wonder why. Did he think I was smiling at someone else? Husnuzon. I didn't make anymore conscious effort, after that.
Personally, I would like to be approachable - but there's something about me, which I myself have yet to find out - that seems to be keeping some people away.
Perhaps I do look fierce or arrogant when I'm unconscious about it.. but that's just the make of my face.. I don't consciously want to be or want to appear like that. Really.
And seriously.. I can't be smiling ALL the time also right? That would make me look crazy pulak.
Suddenly, I'm reminded of The Joker - the man with the perpetual smile on his face. Nope, don't want to be him either.
Anyway, tawakkaltu'alallah - I'll just have to be myself I guess, cause I can't change myself much anyway.
:)
Friday, July 17, 2009
The Signs in the elaborate nature
"Sometimes we forget that, no matter how elaborate the material world has become, nature must be more elaborate since the material world is a sieved-out part of it." Christopher Potter said in his book - You Are Here.
Yes, indeed man always forget. We are so caught up in our 'advance' gadgets and capabilities. The iPhones and the LCD TV or images that can appear out of nowhere (holograms), and our voices being heard thousands of miles away without a single wire attached (handphone). The very very very expensive and very bulky machinery that takes us out to... not Venus, not Jupiter, and definitely not out of our Solar System - just our moon.
We are very proud of these advancements, some of us think, man can conquer all. But scientists, as mentioned before, do realise, that there is still much much much much more that we don't know and we cannot achieve, though they are still trying to achieve just a teeny weeny bit more.
As for the common people like us.. we think, that all this is a LOT for man to be able to do, that some of us feel proud. And we think God and religion is quite backwards. We forget, that nature is what God created. And for us to be able to achieve all this - it has to come from God also, from God's creations, the nature - which men are still struggling to understand.
So we should take a step back and ponder and wonder in awe, at the elaborate workings of nature, God's wisdom and His powers in all of these. And I quote this again, one of my favourite verses from the Quran:
"Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day - there are indeed Signs for men of understanding." Ali Imran 3:190
Yes, indeed man always forget. We are so caught up in our 'advance' gadgets and capabilities. The iPhones and the LCD TV or images that can appear out of nowhere (holograms), and our voices being heard thousands of miles away without a single wire attached (handphone). The very very very expensive and very bulky machinery that takes us out to... not Venus, not Jupiter, and definitely not out of our Solar System - just our moon.
We are very proud of these advancements, some of us think, man can conquer all. But scientists, as mentioned before, do realise, that there is still much much much much more that we don't know and we cannot achieve, though they are still trying to achieve just a teeny weeny bit more.
As for the common people like us.. we think, that all this is a LOT for man to be able to do, that some of us feel proud. And we think God and religion is quite backwards. We forget, that nature is what God created. And for us to be able to achieve all this - it has to come from God also, from God's creations, the nature - which men are still struggling to understand.
So we should take a step back and ponder and wonder in awe, at the elaborate workings of nature, God's wisdom and His powers in all of these. And I quote this again, one of my favourite verses from the Quran:
"Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day - there are indeed Signs for men of understanding." Ali Imran 3:190
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Our address in the universe
I'm currently reading a book called, 'You are Here', by Christopher Potter.
I want to know more about what scientists think about where we are and our place on this insignificantly tiny earth amongst the ever expanding universe, among other awe-inspiring, mind-boggling things.
One interesting 'fact' I learnt from this book, is our address in relation to the universe. :D It is :
(the usual address),
Singapore,
South East Asia,
The Earth, The Solar System,
Orion Arm, The Milky Way,
The Local Group, Virgo supercluster.
Local Supercluster,
The Expanding Universe
& Allahu'alam.
*The last two lines I added myself.
Amazing isn't it. How tiny-puny-minute, tinier than a speck of dust, we are when compared to the other creations of God in the whole indescribably large universe - and yet, how close God is to every single one of us.
NOW, verily, it is We who have created man, and We know what his innermost self whispers within him: for We are closer to him than his neck-vein.
Al Quran, Al Qaf 50:16
Subhanallah.
I want to know more about what scientists think about where we are and our place on this insignificantly tiny earth amongst the ever expanding universe, among other awe-inspiring, mind-boggling things.
One interesting 'fact' I learnt from this book, is our address in relation to the universe. :D It is :
(the usual address),
Singapore,
South East Asia,
The Earth, The Solar System,
Orion Arm, The Milky Way,
The Local Group, Virgo supercluster.
Local Supercluster,
The Expanding Universe
& Allahu'alam.
*The last two lines I added myself.
Amazing isn't it. How tiny-puny-minute, tinier than a speck of dust, we are when compared to the other creations of God in the whole indescribably large universe - and yet, how close God is to every single one of us.
NOW, verily, it is We who have created man, and We know what his innermost self whispers within him: for We are closer to him than his neck-vein.
Al Quran, Al Qaf 50:16
Subhanallah.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Oh... Michael Jackson.
Watching the memorial, hearing and knowing all the GOOD things he's done and all the positive and strong impact he has on people around the world, makes me quite melancholic. I feel this..lump in my.. heart(?) Especially when his daughter said, '..he is the best father anyone can ever imagine'.
And I'm trying to decipher these feelings. And I was thinking, perhaps it's for these 3 main reasons.
1) For all the goodness he has done, I hope he did believe in one God. Because for the gentle soul that he SO is, and all the goodness that he has done, and all the love people feel for him - I truly truly hope, he'll be rewarded in the Hereafter.
2) Knowing all those things he did - this mere human being - I feel quite empty. What have I done with MY life? What impact have I made to others? How have I made use of my time and money? It's almost a shame to think about.
3) And about being a parent.. do my children think that of me? Have I done enough for them?
So yes, I have to start with the 'man' in the mirror, and make the world a better place, with what little ability I have. InsyaAllah. Ameen.
His favourite song : Smile.
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you'll just...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just...
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile...
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile
"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives and the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere -
Who say when afflicted with calamity: To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."
Al-Baqarah 2:155-156
"Those who believe (in the Quran) and those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures) and the Christians and the Sabians, any who believe in Allah and the Last Day and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."
Al Baqarah 2:62
And I'm trying to decipher these feelings. And I was thinking, perhaps it's for these 3 main reasons.
1) For all the goodness he has done, I hope he did believe in one God. Because for the gentle soul that he SO is, and all the goodness that he has done, and all the love people feel for him - I truly truly hope, he'll be rewarded in the Hereafter.
2) Knowing all those things he did - this mere human being - I feel quite empty. What have I done with MY life? What impact have I made to others? How have I made use of my time and money? It's almost a shame to think about.
3) And about being a parent.. do my children think that of me? Have I done enough for them?
So yes, I have to start with the 'man' in the mirror, and make the world a better place, with what little ability I have. InsyaAllah. Ameen.
His favourite song : Smile.
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you'll just...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just...
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile...
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile
"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives and the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere -
Who say when afflicted with calamity: To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."
Al-Baqarah 2:155-156
"Those who believe (in the Quran) and those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures) and the Christians and the Sabians, any who believe in Allah and the Last Day and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."
Al Baqarah 2:62
Monday, July 06, 2009
thoughts - in less than 140 chars
My thoughts, they seem to be generated in the form of less than 140 characters - ever since I start to update my status in twitter -> facebook. FB allows more than 140 - but I update in twitter - because that is like killing 2 (to 3) birds with one stone. (no pun intended for twitter).
And that can be good for some updates.. but I feel like it's beginning to have a negative effect on me. I'm not thinking more. My thoughts are often short and very loose. And in the end, I feel like I have not thought much about anything much. But we need to ponder and linger more over a thought - especially an important one, or an inspiring one.
Yes, I need to get back to blogging, to train my mind to think more deeply about stuff.
That's not to say I won't tweet anymore.. but.. oh.. let's just see how that goes. That will happen insyaAllah.. especially when I have something so interesting (to me and that split moment), to share.
Actually, a lot of things have been happening in my life - but I'm.. yes, I need to ponder about it more.
Bapak has an ailment - but I'm feeling and thinking positive, that insyaAllah, he'll live quite a normal life - especially after completing his treatment - insyaAllah. Ameen ameen.
I've been hoping and planning to open a cafe - it looks so positive few weeks ago, but now it's starting to look unachievable, if we do not dare to just jump into it. I wonder if that's the attitude the Chinese often take when they open big businesses. It's like a gamble to them. But for the Malays, we are often more calculative and if it does not show some clear outcome, we are quick to retreat. And that's why there are not many successful Malay businesses? I'd like to try. insyaAllah.. I'm still crunching the numbers.
Hanaa is sitting for her PSLE this year. People (especially my Chinese colleagues) are often surprised to see my 'calm' appearance when telling them that she's taking her PSLE this year. I'm not calm because she is so good in her studies. No, she has a LOT to catch up on if she wants to pass. I'm asking her to study and do revisions - but I'm not feeling stressful (alhamdulillah?) because 1) this is not the ultimate determining agent to how her life will turn out. 2) Allah has definitely set a path for her and we will do what we can right now to work, but we will accept what comes. I want her to be in a school where she'll get positive moral influence, more than I want her to be in a prestigious school, because of the stress.
For these major things that's happening now or I'm thinking/working on now, I pray that Allah will show me the right way, provide what is best for us, insyaallah. Ameen.
May Allah forgive us all our sins, prolong our life in iman, in ibadah, in health & good wealth, in humbleness, and when it's time for us to die, may we die in iman, in His redha and my our death be easy and painless. Ameen.
*unplugged*
And that can be good for some updates.. but I feel like it's beginning to have a negative effect on me. I'm not thinking more. My thoughts are often short and very loose. And in the end, I feel like I have not thought much about anything much. But we need to ponder and linger more over a thought - especially an important one, or an inspiring one.
Yes, I need to get back to blogging, to train my mind to think more deeply about stuff.
That's not to say I won't tweet anymore.. but.. oh.. let's just see how that goes. That will happen insyaAllah.. especially when I have something so interesting (to me and that split moment), to share.
Actually, a lot of things have been happening in my life - but I'm.. yes, I need to ponder about it more.
Bapak has an ailment - but I'm feeling and thinking positive, that insyaAllah, he'll live quite a normal life - especially after completing his treatment - insyaAllah. Ameen ameen.
I've been hoping and planning to open a cafe - it looks so positive few weeks ago, but now it's starting to look unachievable, if we do not dare to just jump into it. I wonder if that's the attitude the Chinese often take when they open big businesses. It's like a gamble to them. But for the Malays, we are often more calculative and if it does not show some clear outcome, we are quick to retreat. And that's why there are not many successful Malay businesses? I'd like to try. insyaAllah.. I'm still crunching the numbers.
Hanaa is sitting for her PSLE this year. People (especially my Chinese colleagues) are often surprised to see my 'calm' appearance when telling them that she's taking her PSLE this year. I'm not calm because she is so good in her studies. No, she has a LOT to catch up on if she wants to pass. I'm asking her to study and do revisions - but I'm not feeling stressful (alhamdulillah?) because 1) this is not the ultimate determining agent to how her life will turn out. 2) Allah has definitely set a path for her and we will do what we can right now to work, but we will accept what comes. I want her to be in a school where she'll get positive moral influence, more than I want her to be in a prestigious school, because of the stress.
For these major things that's happening now or I'm thinking/working on now, I pray that Allah will show me the right way, provide what is best for us, insyaallah. Ameen.
May Allah forgive us all our sins, prolong our life in iman, in ibadah, in health & good wealth, in humbleness, and when it's time for us to die, may we die in iman, in His redha and my our death be easy and painless. Ameen.
*unplugged*
Sunday, July 05, 2009
dying everyday
I watched michael jackson's top 40 videos - videos of him when he was young, when he was still black, when he changed his nose and then his chin. Then I thought about him now - what if he was still alive? None of those would have changed.. as in the changes he made to himself, the person he has become now.. doesn't change.
Don't we die everyday?
A part of us - our past, die everyday as we pass them, and cannot retrieve them back. At least not in our current capacity and ability. My youth days are dead. I can listen to old songs, look at old photos - but I just can't go back to them. I can even meet old friends, but how I am now, is definitely different from how I was back then. The old me, is dead. Now there's only the current me - shaped by all the things I went through and things I learnt along the way.
Even before MJ passed away, we have already lost that old MJ. That part was already long gone. Only thing is, thanks to current technology - we can enjoy the old MJ in our current time through his old videos. But the him in that video, is no longer around, for a quite long time now.
My only hope is that, for all the good messages he was giving out in his songs, the way he knows how, for the gentle soul that people who knew him, say he is (and I believe so), and for him believing in God and doing good, may Allah reward him. InsyaAllah.
Don't we die everyday?
A part of us - our past, die everyday as we pass them, and cannot retrieve them back. At least not in our current capacity and ability. My youth days are dead. I can listen to old songs, look at old photos - but I just can't go back to them. I can even meet old friends, but how I am now, is definitely different from how I was back then. The old me, is dead. Now there's only the current me - shaped by all the things I went through and things I learnt along the way.
Even before MJ passed away, we have already lost that old MJ. That part was already long gone. Only thing is, thanks to current technology - we can enjoy the old MJ in our current time through his old videos. But the him in that video, is no longer around, for a quite long time now.
My only hope is that, for all the good messages he was giving out in his songs, the way he knows how, for the gentle soul that people who knew him, say he is (and I believe so), and for him believing in God and doing good, may Allah reward him. InsyaAllah.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Thursday, July 02, 2009
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