Luqman's advice to his son

"O my son! Join not in worship, (others) with Allah: for false worship is indeed the highest wrongdoing"

"O my son! If there be but the weight of a mustard seed and it were hidden in a rock or anywhere in the heavens or earth, Allah will bring it forth: for Allah understands the finest mysteries, and is well-acquainted with them.

"O my son! Establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong : and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in the conduct of affairs. And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for Allah loveth not any arrogant boaster. And be moderate in thy pace and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass."

Al Quran, Luqman 31:13, 16-19.

Composed Upon Westminster Bridge

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would be he of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This city now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did the sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

William Wordsworth "Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802"

morning coffee for the mind

I stood there deep in thought, as the others sang the company song during morning assembly. Morning assembly is normal in Japanese companies. The song speaks of how we can all be a 'glorious symphony'. I thought about what that means. Why do we have to sing this? Do these people really feel so? Will they start their day with this drive to be a 'glorious symphony' in this giant company?

After the song ended, a colleague has to read the company creed and principles, which speaks of, I have to admire and agree, contribution to society, honesty, humility, gratitude, etc. I wonder how much of this is truly in their heart, as they go about their daily duties. Is it something that can be planted into a person by saying it and being reminded of it, once a week? Or even if it's said daily. How do these things come into existence in our selves?

And then, another colleague was presenting about Quality Assurance. Oh God, maybe I'm just a hyper thinker.. but anyway.. I'm thinking now.. if the company is not this big in the first place.. it would be easier to drive through all these ideas, these qualities and goals to all involved in the company. Because I strongly believe that only a good strong leader, with these qualities themselves, can motivate all under them, to have the have the same qualities - follow by example. The leader plays a very important role - these songs and creeds, posters and presentations will not do much. The founder may have, and I honestly think he really did, have these strong believe in these creeds and principles he introduced, and I believe he managed to drive that ideas into the people he hired before, when the company was still manageable by one true leader. But sadly, as a company grows, that will inevitably become not very effective - because it is impossible to ensure that every leader, has that same drive and qualities.. and so in the end, it becomes an old poem, admired.

Then... I thought about my life, our lives. The reality, how our actions and decisions impact other people. Oh no, I don't like to say 'reality' cause what we see here and now, about our life on earth is our perceived reality. God is The Reality - and there is a veil between us and that Reality.. and we're going through our everyday routines, imagining how important and cool they are to our lives.. like buying a cup of overcharged coffee at Starbucks ("I MUST get starbucks coffee to start the day!") - we're missing the whole point.

I guess it is inevitable sometimes that we talk about mundane stuff - and always struggling to put that into perspective against our real purpose and aim in life. But we just have to keep struggling, lest we get carried away in the rapid river of worthless worldly life and ideas.

Ya Allah, it's difficult - but I truly want my final aim, to be lillah. Everything I do, every hard decision I make, lillah.. it's finally about where I want to be in the Hereafter. So, help me make the right choices, give me strength to go through them. Ameen.

did they go to bed early?

I wonder...
before there were TV, Internet and artificial light pollution, do people go to bed after isya'? and have enough rest?

before there were ready gas supplied direct to the stove, and they had to collect firewood, did they have less time for themselves?

before there were super sewing machines and rich designers, were the clothes comfortable and nice?

before there were PSPs and Wii or X-boxes, were the kids bored with nothing to do?

are we really the privileged ones?

plain expectations

Sometimes, we ask people a question, where we strongly expect a specific answer, and the person being questioned knows it, and feels obliged to provide that specific answer too, that it becomes, not a real question, but a request for comfort..

..which you may not necessarily get, if the person does NOT reply you with the expected answer.

creating awareness for... what again?

Last year, supposedly, for breast cancer awareness month, they had the 'put the colour of the bra that you have on now' on your FB status. This message was supposedly sent to only all the females. So the males would have no idea what these colours in the FB statuses are. But I was wondering who really started it? Just like these stupid 'women's rights crap' - what if it was a male who started it.. and he sent out another set of message to all males only.. 'hey guys! check out what colour bra the women are wearing today, on their FB status! haha!' Siow. Even if it wasn't a male who started it.. the male who got to know about it.. can send it to all the males.

This time, I get a message asking us to update our FB status, indicating where we normally place our handbags at home - but we have to say it like 'I like it on the _____________' It's so damn obviously misleading and creates wild imaginations for those who doesn't know - especially the guys. Now it could be possible that if it's a guy who started it - he's sending another set of message to all the guys 'hey guys.. check out where the girls like it ;) '

All these, for breast cancer awareness? I don't see how that creates awareness for breast cancer, I mean SERIOUSLY.. how? I know it creates wild thoughts and imaginations, that's for sure. You want to have a breast cancer awareness program? Why not ask everyone to just update FB status "Have you checked yourself for breast cancer today?"

*October is the breast cancer awareness month.

conditioning

*unplugged*

There are some short films that we wanted to shoot, where Nadhrah, my girlish, dainty 8 yr old baby, has been cordially requested to act in.

When I first told her, she asked me.. 'is it a speaking role?'.. macam dah biasa gitu.
Ok lah.. she didn't use those exact words.. she asked 'do I need to say something?'

I said, maybe. She said, she'll think about it.

Today I brought it up to her again. I told her, in the film, she will be flying a kite with her 'father' She said.. "ha! and I'm alone?" I said 'Yes.'
"Nadhrah malu.." (I'm shy)
"Ok.. what about dgn abg hazman? You become abg hazman's sister, he'll read to you a story"
She still has that 'errrrrr' look on her face. Then she finally coyly said.. "I don't want to act with any boy..."

And I immediately decide to respect her decision. Because masyaAllah.. that's how I want her to be.

And this is an 8 yr old.. and naturally, they are shy. And naturally, they are not comfortable being around members of the opposite sex, no matter how old the other person is. This is natural.. fitrah. And I want her to stay like that as long as she wants..

And it is also natural for girls to be shy about showing off their skin.. Naturally, they want to cover up. But the people around them, condition them to care less or feel less about the way they dress, the way they act.

But sadly, in Singapore circular schools, the girls are FORCED to show off their legs since P1, during P.E. And what the hell for, I don't know. Why can't they wear slacks? WHY WHY must they be conditioned to be less modest?

Ooooh baby, it's a wild world.

what is love

Found this in my email drafts.. from 12/9/2006. I never did send it to Pink.. but here goes.

*************************************

Pink dearest,

What is love?

"Love is never having to say you're sorry." :p naaah..that's from an old, old movie 'Love story'.

People always think that love is what they feel when they are first get attracted to someone.
But actually when you first fall for a person, what you feel is awe and excitement - most people term it as 'a crush'. SOMETIMES it develops into love.

Love is something much much more than just excitement and awe, or a crush. Love is when you are willing to sacrifice for the other person's happiness.

Then there are the levels of love.

The lowest level is loving for your own sake. You love him because he makes you feel happy, or give you material stuff. I shall not dwell on this further.

The mid level would be loving him for who he is, but still for your own sake. A condition for this love is that, the other person must give you some level of happiness.

The ultimate love is love lillah (for the sake of Allah SWT). When someone loves for the sake of Allah, they are willing to sacrifice for the other person's happiness, without much concern about their own. When this happens, the lover, I truly believe - will not suffer much damage, when the love is not returned appropriately or worse betrayed.

we are our own

E : it's amazing how we are shaped so differently by everything that's happening around us and to us, and therefore, nobody can be like another person, simply because we all hv our own experiences that shapes the way we think and look at things.  so we will always be us.

H : If the value of an object is measured by its rarity and uniqueness, then each and every one of us is truly valuable..

Yes, i love it. So true...

the 3rd time is for real

I feel like a drunkard at work today. Sent an email, with the wrong attachment.
So I resent the email with subject "... with correct attachement", and STILL attached the wrong file!

I had no choice but to send the 3rd email, this time with the correct file attached. And to differentiate the earlier email, I indicated in the subject ".... with correct attachment, for real".

I hope the recipient didn't think I was trying to be funny.

My Name is Khan

I actually don't normally watch Hindi movies.. but just now, someone turned on 'My name is Khan' and so I sat to watch.

It's good, it's touching.. it's long. But it was okay.

There were some scenes which were not logical - and reminded me of Forest Gump movie..
but it's okay.

Overall, it's heart warming.

And about him, being Muslim, marrying a Hindu lady.. well, there are some scholars who believes that Hindus are People of the Book also.. so wallahu'alam.

In fact, I hear that Hindus, they do have a main book that teaches man to believe in One God, and not assign partners to Him.

Allah guides whom He wills.

Okay not a real movie review.. just my thoughts after watching it.

My first short film - Geram

InsyaAllah, this 9 mins short film is planned for release in Singapore after Raya (24th Sep - Friday evening), to invited guests.

Places will be limited - if you're interested to watch it, please PM me.

Made from clay..

"We are made of the same stuff as mud. We are moved by neurophysiological signals and subject to a variety of biological, psychological and sociological influences over which we have limited control and little understanding."
Nick Brostrom, University of Oxford.
(taken from You are Here, Christopher Potter, pg 4)

"He it is who has created you out of clay, and then has decreed a term [for you] - a term known [only] to Him. And yet you doubt." Al Quran 6:2

looking for a nice person

You know how, when you work for others, you have to put up with all sorts of people, and you wish you can pick and choose who you work with..

So, when I was doing my own production.. and after having some not-so-nice exchanges, I was feeling down and dejected and moody. I would be more angry at myself if I let myself continue to be subjected to working with someone whom I was not comfortable with at that time, when I had the CHOICE not to. I had to stand up for what I think is best for me.

So right after that episode.. I wrote to a friend of mine, "Do you have anyone nice, who can edit for me?"

Her reply was.. "I know of this nice, warm, friendly, loving & approachable person by the name of Hazman... hmmm..."

Wokay... over.

But anyhow.. he turned out to be like that.
So now I have this nice, warm, friendly, loving & approachable person working with me. :)

guidance

Sometimes I feel like I'm in the rapid waters of worldly affairs, earnestly trying to hang on to the branches of Iman. 

I would start doing something, with the ultimate aim to please Allah SWT. but along the way, sometimes that aim is blurred.  I must rub my eyes again, and re focus. 

Must aim to do it all, with Allah as the ultimate goal. 

Ya Allah, I NEED your constant guidance.

Stitched

My life right now, is a series of unrelated events and feelings stitched together so haphazardly.

Gratitude, sadness, happiness, contentment, desire, frustrations, detemination.

Ya Allah, let me pass these many forms of tests that I'm being put through.

Alhamdulillah, life is beautiful.

Raping the Earth

"the sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago... had they happen to be within the reach of predatory human hands." - Havelock Ellis.

"Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not." The Quran 2:30 (Yusuf Ali)
Only Allah knows the ultimate aim and destination for us - the vicegerent going through Allah's tests. Will we be the one who participates to create mischief? Or will we be the minority who fights for what is good and true?

Perhaps that's why, so far, even though human have managed to break through earth atmosphere, we can only reach the moon. Perhaps when man can do more in the universe, if God gives the authority - it will be to create a reason for the end of our world.

"O ye assembly of Jinns and men! If it be ye can pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, pass ye! not without authority shall ye be able to pass!" - The Quran, 55:33 (Yusuf Ali)

Jim Richardson on Travel Photography -- National Geographic

Jim Richardson on Travel Photography -- National Geographic

Oh, I love the advice given on travel photography.
No I'm not doing travel photography. I only dream I may.
Just love looking at those pictures that reminds me of how great and intricate Allah's creations are. Subhanallah.

The two ends of pricing.. in this crazy western influenced world

On pushing for free softwares and such, I don't think the idea and aim should be to give away things/services for free. If so, how can companies cover back R&D costs, operating costs and gratification costs (a.k.a. profit)? It should basically be, to provide the BEST products and services you can provide and at a reasonable price that would cover your costs and efforts.

On the other hand, companies who charge exorbitantly for their goods (read Western branded bags and clothes) should not be supported. I mean c'mon.. you work your *** off for that money.. and you're going to give it just like that to Louis Vuitton? For heaven's sake, the guy is old and filthy rich already! Go get a good pretty bag from your local brand instead. They are just as good and lasting. Let the filthy rich donate to the filthy rich.

the day after shooting my first short film

Firstly, as I have mentioned, I feel so grateful, alhamdulillah, to be equipped with such passionate, hardworking and fun crew and casts. Having a good and accomodating Director of Photography - DOP
was also helped me a lot. Then there's the detailed Art Director cum Make up Artist, the lighting and sound guys, all the other production assistants, the still photographer, and of course, the
experienced casts. I love them all.

But surely, it's not perfect lah. Nothing is. There is still SO MUCH room for improvements on my part. There were quite a few things to ensure and see, that I think I didn't pay enough attention to
how I want the whole story to feel. I forgot some details that I've thought of when writing the story and imagining it. At some point, I concentrated on each scene only, not thinking about the
story.

I think a monitor to allow me to have a good view at the look of each scene would have helped more. I did bring, but didn't have the correct cable - Duh!.

But all is not lost, yet. A lot can be done during post-production. My teacher said that a movie or film is not made when we're doing the shoot. Those are all collection of materials. A movie is
actually being made during post production. This is the most important part. So shooting is like you going to the supermarket to get your ingredients, and the post-production is you're actually
making and baking the cake. Of course, shooting is also important, I mean you cannot get just ANY ingredient - it has to be of good quality also.... you get the picture. So..

I think I'm going to spend more time on post production. I should.

do you wanna p?

"D'ya wanna pee?"
"Huh?
"Do you wanna pee?"
"Huh?
"Do you want to pee?"
"Oh.. err..ok"

This was overheard at work, not in school. Quite cute.. but not cool.

She could have said.. 'Do you want to go to the ladies with me?' ... hmm.. ok maybe not. That might give 'another' kind of impression in this upside down crazy world. Or maybe she can say, 'I'm going to the ladies, you wanna.. join me ... come also...go too?'

Why am i even blogging about this.

Oh! 515! time to go home!

a typical Melayu in Singapore

I was in a cab in KL, on my way to a course I was attending there. The cab driver was a middle aged Malay man with white kopiah. He started off the conversation by asking me if I'm from Singapore. I replied affirmatively.

Then he started.

He asked me, how I was, as a Malay living in Singapore. I immediately knew what he is trying to get at. Anyway, I told him, I'm...err.... fine? Things are normal, I'm okay, we're ok. Then he asked if Malay Muslims are discriminated in Singapore e.g. about practising their religion. I told him, it's more about making others aware, or educating others about what we do as Muslims, and that... no, we don't carry bombs and our peers will understand and accept.

"Tapi.. takde rasa terkongkong ke?"
"Hmm.. rasanya, tak. Kita okay aje nak tunaikan ibadah kita, nak puasa, pergi haji.. takde siapa larang. Kira okay lah, selagi kita boleh jalankan ibadah2 kita, ada rumah, ada kerja.. alhamdulillah"
"Abis kerja semua macam mana?"
"Kerja pun rasanya biasa aje.. kalau si Melayu nak usaha, insyaAllah, takde pulak siapa yang larang dia dari nak berjaya. Antara dia nak usaha dengan tidak. Takde kongkongan or larangan dari pemerintah untuk Melayu aje"
"Abis dia tak cari orang dia aje?"
"Kalau ada company2 kecik, mengikut individu tu, mungkin adalah yang nak beri peluang dengan orang sendiri. Tapi sama jugak lah dengan orang Melayu, mesti dia nak cuba tolong kaum dia sendiri dulu. Tapi kalau dah company besar, jarang kita dengar hal2 macam ni"
"Abis, azan boleh laungkan kat luar?"
"Tak cik, tak boleh"
"Abis hari tu, dengar pasal budak perempuan tu, nak pergi sekolah pakai tudung tak boleh? macam mana dengan hal tu?"
"Ya, tak boleh cik, tapi budak tu boleh masuk madrasah ke.., madrasah tak dilarang"
"Abis kat situ, takde pembangkang Melayu?"
"Cik, kalau tengok kiraan peratusan bangsa, susah jugak lah orang Melayu nak jadi pembangkang pemerintah.."
"Abis pembangkang yang Jayaratnam tu.. dia kena tangkap eh?"
"Agaknya lah cik, salah2 cakap pasal pemerintah Lee, boleh kena saman, kena tangkap"
"kalau gitu, tak adil lah sangat"
"Tak sangat cik, tapi alhamdulillah, kita Melayu hidup kat Singapore, takde rasa kena tindas. Terpulang masing2 nak usaha untuk berjaya atau tidak..."

And we reached my destination. Phew.

I guess, his perception of Malays in Singapore is like, we're suffering and being 'bullied' by the government. But as a typical Malay in Singapore, I'd like to state that, I don't feel that way. I am quite happy to be where I am, under the current government, as long as I am not stopped from practising my religion, driven away from my home for no valid reason, denied of education and the right to succeed - then I'm fine. Alhamdulillah.

As a good Muslim citizen, I am expected to respect the governments and it's rules, as long as I'm given my freedom to practise my beliefs and not driven away from my home and family. Am I 100% satisfied with the people in the government? The Lees in particular? No, of course not 100%.. I wonder and question some of the things that is happening at the top. But then, the citizens are being taken care of. And then again, tell me is there ANY perfect government in this world today? Even the Muslim ones?

Down at Marina Barrage

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Up at Marina Barrage

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The (obvious) golfer asleep.

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At the National Geographic shop.

..in support of Earth Hour.

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Then I find myself at the Airport with Pink and baby Ammar!!

The flowers are for me!


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..that death checking machine.

1) My little girl asked me, "That time... time Nadhrah kat hospital tu... yang machine.. yang... check dah nak mati ke belum... diorang letak kat kaki Nadhrah kan?"

She was referring to the clip of the pulse rate monitor. :p

2) She was doing her homework and she asked, "Door-mat ('mat' as in mat, minah) tu apa?". I said, door-mat tu, mat yang jaga pintu. Doormat tu, alas kat depan pintu.

He said, that is his..."Samsudin power ranger!!"

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She reads the papers in d morning? :p

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make peace.

"Allah forbids you NOT, with regard to those who fight you not, for your faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for Allah loveth those who are just.
Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for your Faith and drive you out of your homes and support others in driving you out, from turning to them for friendship and protection. It is such as turn to them, that do wrong."

Al Quran, Mumtahan'a 60:8-9

Practising his short game at RCC

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desperado

Sometimes I feel so TRAPPED! working fixed working hours.. EIGHT hours away. Who is the selfish, inconsiderate person who came up with this idea that you have to spend that big amount of time working, away from family?! Life is not about working, life is not so fixed. Family's needs are not so fixed. Sometimes we need more time with family sometimes we need certain times with our family, that may fall within the working hours - which cannot be defined or satisfied by the 14-20 days annual leaves.

Why do I feel like I'm always the only ONE in the office with all these issues and requirements to attend to family needs, to have to come in later, or leave earlier, to have to take urgent leaves. There was even a time, when during office hours, I got a call about my child misbehaving, I feel so helpless that I'm in the office, unable to discipline her right away.. so helpless, that I just started crying hard. With no care what my boss might think, I told him I need to go back home for 2 hours and I left. That was how desperate I felt.

This morning, my daughter was not well, I came in late again. I feel bad about being late and angry at the fixed working hours.
Don't the others feel desperate to have to do stuff, or have some personal/family time?

At times like this, I really feel like quitting or at least request to work part time.

Ya Allah, please give me a good way out. Ameen.

I went in today. I love the shop.

I love the picture books, the photographs turned posters. Makes me feel like taking photos again.

And the apparels, particularly the 'lasak' pants, which if I buy n fits me nicely, maybe my constant pants from now till koyak do us part. But it's *gulp* SGD199. Don't know if I want to spend that much on pants. Will think long long about it.


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Nadhrah attending a princess' birthday party

BEAUTIFUL house her friend has there. The princess themed party venue (which is the porch of her house, is decorated to elaborately and nicely. I like.

And the girls, they are all so cute. :)

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Eema going for Bunayya camp!

2nd year running.. :)

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me, and mee upeh

I have been craving wanting to eat mee upeh for a few months already now. Ever since I saw it being served on New Year's Day 2010. And only yesterday, I managed to have one.

Though we've been saying 'mee upeh' and when we order, we also ask for 'mee upeh', I just realised, it's not really 'MEE' upeh, i.e. it's not some specific type of mee. Rather it's mee (noodle) served or packed in daun upeh.

You can order 'mee upeh' at three different places and you'll find that you're served with different types of noodles. At Simpang Bedok, they serve mee hongkong in it, at Bedok Corner it's like mee bandung, at Geylang, I was told, they serve hokkien mee.

My father says it CAN be any type of noodle, especially with gravy - it's just packed in upeh.. that's mee upeh. It used to be the norm in the 50s and 60s.

Actually the thing that really draws me to this mee (served in) upeh is that it reminds me of those times when i was little, and Mak would always buy a few packets of mee kuah packed in upeh, at Geylang market after our weekly religious class, EVERYTIME. That stall was well known, I think. I remember having to queue, and there'll be quite a number of people queueing for the mee upeh. I wonder if the seller is still around and still selling his mee kuah, packed in upeh. He would skillfully put the cooked hot noodles in upeh, and tie a rafia string through the upeh leaf, so that we can carry it back. Cool.

And you know, it is environmentally friendly too.

where I'm from

Yesterday, was the company department CNY dinner, where some of us don't know each other, because some are new and we are situated all over Singapore, so we only meet during company events. In our department, we have people from all over, namely, India, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore (of course), etc..

So, there's this one 'new' guy, a Singaporean, seated at the same table as ours. And he asked me where I'm from. I asked him to guess. He said, 'somewhere in the Middle East'.

Must be my black eye liner.

what achievements?

Do you realise, how old I am already? I'm going to be 41 this year. FORTY-ONE.

The other day, someone ask me to write a profile about myself, and state my achievements. I have nothing.

No outstanding achievements. Not in current life, not when I was in school... ok lah.. at work I think I did progress well, masyaAllah, alhamdulillah - but there's nothing concrete. Nak cakap achieved to panjat Bukit Tabor before I hit 40 pun, it's like nothing kan. It's not even Mount Kinabalu. Errm...no, no thanks - I don't think I want to do that now.

Sad huh?

But to be fair to myself, Ok lah.. I did achieve some in increasing my knowledge in my own religion, over the last 5-6 years. I feel and I think about the wonders of His Creations, much more, in the last 5-6 years, than before. Alhamdulillah, may Allah guide us. But this is again, not the kind of 'achievements' you put in profiles.

But funny right, how these personal achievements don't count as relevant achievements that one would put in profiles. But it means a lot to me. I think it has made me a more thoughtful person - or at least I try my best to be - in everything I do or say.

Right. But I'm not going to talk about what I hope to do and plan to do... because I would hate it, if I have said it, but nothing much happens. So, I'm just going to pray, that if my plans and intentions, would contribute positively to me or my family or the ummah, then, God, let me succeed. Ameen.

Their new groove!

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Like The Mentalist seh.. my orange bottle vapour mark.

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What is progress?

How do we measure progress? What is the ultimate aim here? Can, having an internet connection, be defined as progress on it's own?

Or is progress finally about living in contentment, peacefulness, or knowing that you've made somebody else's life better? And by 'making somebody else's life better, I don't mean providing more money to be spent on useless things like TV or get a McDonalds meal.

One's life is only better, when one don't feel depressed about their own life. I do believe God-consciousness, peacefulness, and the knowledge of our aim in life - is how we can progress in life.

Our concept of progress have been so contaminated with the greedy ideas coming from the west. It's time to stop and reflect. Take the good and throw the vice.

Sleepless in Singapore

I should not have drank that coffee just now.

It may have triggered this RLS I'm having now. What's RLS? that's 'restless leg syndrome.' no, I'm not joking. It's a real medical term. And it's a cause for my insomnia tonight.

And then I hv to be up , and stay up fm 630 onwards. How now, cow?

Favourite commercial at d movies, besides the visa one.

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why are we here, again?

Life on earth, is basically about hurt, dissappointment, pain, frustrations. About how we can face them all with patience and perseverence. To expect no problem at all, is unrealistic.

A constantly blissful life, is something that only exists in Heaven.

How many times we have to remind ourselves about this.. but still we people do complain, once in while about 'why' such and such a thing happens to us. But still I think we need to quickly remind ourselves again, about the purpose of our life on earth.

I think, if we try to think about our Final destination, and the purpose of life - we would be able to handle most life challenges, a little bit better. InsyaAllah.

mid life crisis

I have no problem being old. It's being 40 that's the issue.

Is this what they call the mid life crisis? My recurring self-pressure, is to 'act my age'. Sometimes, after just being myself, I wonder what others think. Sometimes I feel like I should go into recluse - shut up and grow old.

Or maybe I'm just thinking too much.

Maybe I should just continue to be myself and watch my moral values.


Another issue I have with myself is always trying to do EVERYTHING, as perfectly as possible. And get frustrated when I (obviously) can't.

Thanks for analysing yourself, madame.

Now, go live.

A wrong turn.

MasyaAllah. How we sometimes take the wrong turn, or go about aimlessly, missing our intended route.

How the wrong turn, can sometimes lead you deeper into an unknown place, if you don't realize soon enough. You'd have to learn and take the long route back out.

But sometimes, the wrong turn lets you see and understand things, you didnt know before. Maybe there was a hikmah. And as long as there is fuel and energy, we still have time, to get back on track.

And to always stay or get back on track - is what I hope to do. Ameen. InsyaAllah.


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Lift view

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We are here.

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a weird nice thing

I'm suddenly reminded of the weirdest thing that my good girlfriend has ever said to me.

She said, 'if I'm a guy, I'm sure we'll be so good together'.



'say what?'


Of course, I knew she meant it in a very strangely nice way, to say that we click so well together. :D

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Why do they want to use the word 'Allah'?

I was of the opinion that such things shouldn't be fussed about. But to say just that, would not justify the concern that some of the Malaysian Muslims have about it's usage by the Christian community.

I don't find it wrong, for the Christians and the Jews to use the word 'Allah' or anyone for that matter, BUT as long as, when they use it, they know it means that it's referring the THE GOD, the ONE, the UNIQUE, One who begets not, nor is He begotten - and He who is unlike ANY of his creations. That is the true ONE GOD.

Then a friend of mine, shared a concern - giving images of the word 'Allah' being used in Indonesia rampantly by the Christians.. and I find it quite shocking and with no clear purpose, other than to confuse. saying 'Allah itu Cinta' (God is Love - as seen in some churches in Singapore also ) - since they are using the word 'Cinta' - which is Malay.. why don't they use 'Tuhan itu Cinta' instead?

'Allah' is an Arabic word for The God. There is an English word for God, there is 'Yahweh' that the Jews use for God, or Tuhan in Malay. So, I wonder.. WHY in the first place, do the Christians in Malaysia, who basically speaks either Malay or English or Chinese and Tamil - wants to use an Arabic word in the middle of nowhere to represent the word God? What is the real motive? If they wanted to use an original language, shouldn't they have selected a Hebrew word instead - which was the language of the Old Testament. I really wonder.

Perhaps the word Allah should be represented in all dictionaries, as not just 'God, used in Islam' but instead to officially be represented as it is basically described in our surah Al-Ikhlas. So that, there is no confusion about it being Jesus - or should I say 'Isa A.S' if they would like to use Arabic.

Hmm...what if there is a law that whenever the word 'Allah' is used in non Muslim publications and events - it should be accompanied the the official meaning of the word?

In any case, the real concern - or the root concern here is that - this is going to be used to confuse the younger or the less knowledgeable Muslims into Christianity.
We can only do our best to educate or to prevent, but Allah guides whom He wills.

May Allah guide us all. Ameen.

Such a beautiful, breezy, dreamy,peaceful morning... Subhanallah I don't want to go to work! Oh well.

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forgive, even when angry

Whatever ye are given (here) is a convenience of this Life; but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting; (it is) for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord. Those, who avoid the greater crimes and shameful deeds and when they are angry, even then forgive. Those who hearken to their Lord and establish regular prayer; who conduct their affairs by mutual Consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance. And those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, help and defend themselves.
~ Al Quran, Syura 42:36-39

..and it is perfectly ok, to defend oneself.

Cupcake decorations by d girls

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