A good conversation.

The profit of a good conversation is something learned and betterment initiated.

One of the attributes of a successful person, is that he is able to turn away from "vain talk" That is, conversations that are idle - and brings no benefit whatsoever.  Worse if the conversation brings harm to ourselves or to others (as in backbiting or spreading rumours).

I want to say more - but I think you can figure out for yourselves what constitutes a good conversation and what is not.

Solitude

Solitude

To be alone.

But not lonely.

To withdraw 

But not from one's self.

To be secluded

But not from one's inner thoughts.

To be isolated

But not from one's heart. 

To retreat

But not from God.

To reflect upon and to nourish

The soul. 

~ Madame Blossom ~

..... (because silence can be poetic too)

.....

I want to make a leave application
A month or two long
From all the positions I'm holding
From being me.
I don't want to see anyone
I don't want to do what I must do
Other than my duties to God
Other than for God
…..
…..
…..
…..
But,
…..
Being a wife is also a sacred duty
Being a daughter, a mother and being me.
…..
…..
…..
…..
Or maybe I can do what Abraham A.S had to do
Be silent for three days
For a different reason of course
For peace and tranquility if I may
…..
…..
All these wishful thoughts,
I think I will do my solat.
~ Madame Blossom ~
*Solat, is a Muslim prayer act, with a defined set of body positions and recitations.

The kecohness to register SG car for Malaysian VEP

Masyaa Allaah.. Have just registered my car for VEP at http://vep.jpj.gov.my  I thought I'd go in and key in my passport, email and car no.

But no......   Just to prepare yourselves here are the list of information and documents required :

You'll need to register user ID for the VEP website.
Prepare a password at least 8 Chars long with at least 1 caps, 1 number, 1 special character (!@@$$).

Email address
Passport No.
Passport Expiry
Correspondence address (I use address of residence)
Permanent Address (IC address)

FROM VEHICLE REGISTRATION CARD:
Ownership DATE
Vehicle type
Year of make
Car number
Make
Model
Colour
Chassis number
COE Expiry
** (You must SCAN your registration card and save it in PDF format with size not exceeding 300kb, to upload immediately, else registration of vehicle fail).

FROM INSURANCE CERTIFICATE
Insurance Company
Insurance Policy no.
Insurance expiry

Road Tax Expiry

PASSPORT for Driver Details:
Your full Name
Passport number
Passport Expiry
Driving License Number

PSLE Results - no need.

Be ready to print out the successful car registration letter, to bring to tag collection office (location to be advised), along with your supporting docs.

Anyone needs help to scan and register their vehicle and driver details on JPJ website,  I only charge SGD10 per car registration. >.<  (recalled those times when we had to fill in white cards, and there would be people near immigration areas, who would write your white card details for 50c each. :p)

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost : The Poetry Foundation

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost : The Poetry Foundation

Fire and Ice

By Robert Frost

 

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

the most trippy one by far

I was lying down on the floor, deep in my thoughts, with my legs up against a wall. Suddenly, I felt like I was stretching my legs, except that I know I didn't do it intentionally. It was my legs stretching on it's own. When it has stretched to it's fullest, I still felt like it was still stretching, pushing myself further from the wall. I remember thinking.. is this the work of a Satan?  I bended my legs a bit, but then it stretched again and this time I really felt like I was going further from the wall and my legs were becoming longer.  I stretched my hands to see if I had reached my bed on the other side.  I shouted for my husband, 'Abaaaaaaaaaaa!' He was downstairs and I wanted so much for him to hear me, so I shouted some more.

At that very moment, I awoke, silent, in the exact position that I had been in my dreams. And I was in awe, at how loud I was shouting and how quiet I actually was when I awoke. I was not screaming. Subhanallaah, I thought. That dream was so vivid and so weird.  I wanted to get up and run to my computer to record this weird / wonderful discovery of a dream experience.  I got up and went to the computer.

But then I woke up, again, and realised that the last part was also a dream. I had fallen back asleep and I was in my dream that I wanted to wake up from.  I forced myself to wake up. I realised sometimes we don't have the power to wake ourselves up, even though we know we are dreaming. I've had this experience before.

I finally managed to wake myself up, alhamdulillaah. I got up and went to the computer. On the computer, I saw that it was on an email page, similar to the my work email. And I was thinking, why didn't I know that my husband was using the same type of email I did at work.

Then I WOKE UP AGAIN. This time, for real. And I was asleep in the position I was in my dream, in my dream, except that it was the opposite way, I was lying on the floor with my legs up at the edge of my bed.

Masyaa Allaah.. Subhanallaaah. How my ruh travelled! This is so mind boggling!!
It was like... it was like............ inception.


Alhamdulillaah, I am really awake now - well... I hope I am truly, in this current world that is also an illusion.  The real time we will truly be awake, is when we die, and see the real Truth of this life and the Hereafter.

"الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ"

Praise is to Allah Who gives us life after He has caused us to die and to Him is the return.
Doa when waking up from sleep - source Hisnul Muslim -from hadith Bukhari & Muslim)

Boyhood

It has to be the most epic film I've ever seen - in it's simplicity. Masyaa Allaah. So amazing, that this film is made over a span of 12 years, and that you actually observe the boy grow - and how life is mundane, and how it could be so empty, without a real purpose in life. They just try to survive day by day, moment by moment.

So much patience and discipline to be able to carry this out. It's what is amazing about this man, Richard Linklater, writer, director.

There was no 'climax' in this story - what is demanded of me all the time when I submit stories. I get turned off. Cause life does not necessary have climaxes.

If Allaah has written for me to make a film - I hope it's as moving and simple as this. Insyaa Allaah.

My husband, didn't like the movie. He got bored 15 mins into the film. He and I are different. I do realise, the stories I have that I wish to make into films, will not be of everyone's taste. If asked to describe the target audience - I'd say, those who enjoyed 'Before Sunrise' 'Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Boyhood' Those group of people.

Role of newspapers

When it comes to inciting sad or angry emotions, hate or phobia, some of them are so smart on giving dramatic titles to the articles shaping weak reader's opinions. But when it comes to this - about an accident, why don't they think of how to get to the root cause.. speeding cars.

If** it has been established to be true, the title of this article should read, "Speeding car driver killed family of 3." EVERY single time this happens the title should be something to that effect, so that it drives the idea into reader's minds that speeding kills!

Accidents shouldn't be reported as a drama or sad story of grieving families.. unless there is an intention to help them. They are already grieving -  these articles do not help them.  Instead, accidents should be reported as a mean to educate readers on how accidents can be avoided.

Statistics of accidents should be reported frequently if not daily.  The story behind the cause of each reported accident should be made as headlines and motorists advised what to avoid.

But alas, newspapers only want to sell, and as such they sometimes write stories that are none of my business.

** When I first wrote this, I was driven by my emotions.  I wrote without the 'If' - I assumed that the driver who rammed the car was surely in the wrong.  Then I'm suddenly reminded of this story in the Qur'an about David A.S. - that should serve to remind us against making judgements based on just one side of the story.  If we are required to make a judgement, we MUST hear both sides before making them.  Making judgement just based on one side's story is wrong. 

And hath the story of the litigants come unto thee? How they climbed the wall into the royal chamber;

How they burst in upon David, and he was afraid of them! They said: Be not afraid! (We are) two litigants, one of whom hath wronged the other, therefor judge aright between us; be not unjust; and show us the fair way.

Lo! this my brother hath ninety and nine ewes while I had one ewe; and he said: Entrust it to me, and he conquered me in speech.

(David) said: He hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe in addition to his ewes, and lo! many partners oppress one another, save such as believe and do good works, and they are few. And David guessed that We had tried him, and he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he bowed himself and fell down prostrate and repented.

So We forgave him that; and lo! he had access to Our presence and a happy journey's end.

(And it was said unto him): O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy in the earth; therefor judge aright between mankind, and follow not desire that it beguile thee from the way of Allah. Lo! those who wander from the way of Allah have an awful doom, forasmuch as they forgot the Day of Reckoning.



38:21 - 26, Al Qur'an, Surah Soad (the arabic alphabet), translation by Pickthall.

Songs they sing.

Surely, real moments of love,  passion and heartaches, are not as epic or dramatic as the songs they sing.

That's how we move on from moment to moment.

Formula to living healthily and longer (insyaa Allaah)

Again, it's about what we eat.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/150412-longevity-health-blue-zones-obesity-diet-ngbooktalk


"So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah hath provided for you, and thank the bounty of your Lord if it is Him ye serve."
An Nahl 16:114 - Pickthall's translation of the Qur'an.

I have told some friends about what I think of 'exercise'. The only exercise we need is our routine daily prayers and the exercise you can do with your spouse.

I truly believe that whatever is required to live healthily in body and in spirit - has already been spelt out. No need for additional activities. :D That's what I truly believe. You have your rights to believe otherwise.

Reference : Charging equipment with your body energy

Came across this video, and at this moment, no chance to try yet.

I need to get real silver coins to try it out.

Do note that all of the standard coins we have (Singapore and Malaysia) are not real silver.







P.S.  maybe.... just maybe...  we can actually lose some weight with this... Why?  because it uses our body energy.. and if energy is used, fats are burned.   but of course, I don't know how much energy is actually used.  need to do more research. :D  Plus.. i haven't tested if the charging actually works.

Allahua'alam.

Our anchor

Because the 5 daily solah (prayers) is like an anchor in our lives. 
It connects us to the basis of our existence, to our Creator. 
And it keeps us from drifting too far away with the strong currents of this world's illusion and play.

Learning from the Koreans

Yes, I watch Korean dramas.  It's not something to brag about because their writers and directors are so good at drawing you into the story.   Well, not ALL dramas or movies are good.  Only some that I enjoyed and had me thinking.

As in every matter - there are the good and the bad points.   But the point I want to bring up here are the good traits that I've observed in the Korean culture, that I hope will influence the Korean show fans.  I'd like to share a couple here :

They always 'wish' for another person whom they come into contact with, good things or say words of appreciation.   
E.g. to fellow workers, before leaving their workplace they'd say : 'You've all worked hard', or  'Good work'.
To the vendors they purchase from 'May you get good sales'

Humility when meeting with new people or with someone older.
It's not just the bowing out of respect -even in the faces you can see humility and respect.

 We are so lacking in the above two traits.  
I hope those good traits brush off on us who watches them, and the rest.


"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)."
The Quran, Al Hujurat 49:13 (translation of the Quran by Yusuf Ali)

[ I know I've quoted the above verse quite a few times.   Shouldn't we always remind ourselves?]

An interesting word

I was at the Nuts and Dried Fruits stall,  looking at the varieties offered - $3.90 for every 100 grams.  There were also various kinds of cashew nuts available, honey coated cashews, roasted cashew, and about 3-4 others,  And then I saw dried cranberries, and I love to eat cranberries with roasted cashew together.  I wondered if I can buy them mixed, since both of them cost the same.  So I asked the seller, "Can I mix them up?"

"Mix?"
"Yes mixed."
" 'Hanchegem' 'hanchegem' can mix.. not 'hanchegem' cannot mix. "

It sounded like some Korean word.  What does it mean? Was it like coated non coated?  Interested, I asked,

"What is... 'hanchegem'?"

"Hanchegem,  then like two hanchegem.. then can mix."

About 2 seconds later I realised what it means.

'Aah.. hundred grams.. ok ok. "

a tribute for her

It's been a long long time since I've called her by name.   Now that she's going soon.. I've reminiscing those times I've spent with her.  I found myself, opening my blog and looking for posts about Blossmobile. :p

"Harta dunia.. harta dunia" - I reminded myself.   We first used this term when we were in Makkah.  We notice that most drivers there drive like there is no one else on the road.  And they don't care if their car is scratched or even if windscreen is cracked.    In Singapore, when we get into a mini-tiny accident.. just a bit of scratch.. drivers get out of their cars, causing a major traffic jam during peak hours, to discuss the 5cm scratch on their cars.

So we figured - these drivers in Makkah, they are Muslims right.. so their take on their worldly belongings, like their cars.. must not be as serious and precious as the Singaporeans.  To them, this must be merely 'harta dunia' (just a worldly belonging).

After I got back from Makkah, I too began not to feel too attached to material belongings, little by little.  The car too, I'm not over sensitive about the car - especially after moving to JB, when you have to sometimes miraculously squeeze between cars to get to the Customs booth on some mornings or evenings.  These days it's much better alhamdulillaah.

Blossmobile has a few dents and scratches that does not bother me AT ALL - alhamdulilaah.
In fact there was once, when there was a knock - I moved too close for comfort. I thought I hit the car very light.  There were no visible scratches or dents on the car in front.  We moved on and I forgot about the case.   Then in the evening, at home, my husband was the one to noticed the car and asked so surprisingly, 'What happened to your car?!'  By then I had totally forgotten about it, so I asked him back.. 'why? what happened?'.

"Why?!?!?!  there is a big dent in front!"

I was surprised to see the big dent too.  I didn't realise it was like that.  At that time, I thought I'd just draw a bandage and write 'Ouch' near the dent - but of course I didn't. Anyhow.. the next time we went to service my car, we had it knocked back in shape.  Now it's as good as not so new.

Blossmobile has served me well over the last 9 years plus. Masyaa Allaah, Alhamdulillaah.   If it's not for the stupid COE system in Singapore - I would have kept that car until I die (illa masyaa Allaah)

My husband's car's COE is ending this month.  Now that we can only afford one car for the family, we surely need to get a bigger car than Blossmobile.   So I'll have to let her go too, even though she has 10 more months to the end of her COE term.

I'm suppose to let her go by next Monday in exchange for the bigger 2nd hand vehicle.  But I asked my husband to negotiate with the dealer, to let me keep her for 2 weeks more - until the last day before hubby's car's COE expires.  At least until then, we'll still have the 2 cars.   Insyaa Allaah.


May it be a good 2 weeks.  Aamiin.


Update : I'm holding on to her for another 10 months insyaa allaah.  Until the end of her COE term.

Sitting outside

Sitting outside, reading a book, occasionally looking up at the stars, feeling the soft cool breeze - is wonderful - alhamdulillaah.

I'd love to write a story with a scene and dialogue about the stars, insyaa Allaah.    We really need to add nature into our stories.

A weird dream

This dream.

I was advising a brother, who doesn't want to repent yet because he says his sins are way too many.  So I was thinking of how to convince him and to assure him that Allaah will forgive him and how easy it is to to gain rewards than it is to gain sins.

I remember trying to draw a scale to show that idea.

I think we were in a desert.



"Whoever shall come [before God] with a good deed will gain ten times the like thereof; but whoever shall come with an evil deed will be requited with no more than the like thereof; and none shall be wronged. "

Al Qur'an Al-An-am 6:160
Asad's translation.

The Excellence of Gathering in which Allah is Remembered

For my reference. 

Source :
http://www.muhammad.net/151-riyad-us-saleheen/book-fifteen-the-book-of-the-remembrance-of-allah/510-chapter-247-the-excellence-of-gathering-in-which-allah-is-remembered

Chapter 247

The Excellence of Gathering in which Allah is Remembered

Allah, the Exalted, says:

"And keep yourself (O Muhammad (PBUH)) patiently with those who call on their Rubb (i.e., your companions who remember their Rubb with glorification, praising in prayers, and other righteous deeds) morning and afternoon, seeking His Face; and let not your eyes overlook them.'' (18:28)

1447. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Allah, the Exalted, has teams of angels who go about on the roads seeking those who remember Allah. When they find some people remembering Allah they call to one another and say, `Come to what you are looking for;' and they surround them with their wings till the space between them and the lowest sky is fully covered. Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, asks them (although He is best informed about every thing): `What are my slave saying?' They say: `They are glorifying Your Tasbih, Tahmid, Takbir, Tamjid, (i.e., they were declaring Your Perfectness, praising, remembering the Greatness and Majesty of Allah).' He asks: `Have they seen Me?' They reply, `No, indeed, they have not seen You.' He asks: `How would they act if they were to see Me?' Thereupon they reply: `If they were to see You, they would engage more earnestly in worshipping and glorifying You and would extol You more.' He would say: `What do they beg of Me?' They say, `They beg You for Your Jannah.' Allah says, `Have they seen My Jannah?' They say, `No, our Rubb.' He says: `How would they act if they were to see My Jannah?' They reply, `Were they to see it, they would more intensely eager for it.' They (the angels) say, `They seek Your Protection.' He asks, `Against what do they seek My Protection?' They (the angels) say, `Our Rubb, from the fire of Hell.' (He, the Rubb) says, `Have they seen the fire of Hell?' They say, `No. By Your Honour, they have not seen it.' He says: `How would they act if they were to see My Fire?' They say: `If they were to see it, they would more earnest in being away from it and fearing it. They beg of Your forgiveness.' He says: `I call you to witness that I hereby grant pardon to them and confer upon them what they ask for; and grant them protection against what they seek protection from.' One of the angels says: `Our Rubb, there is amongst them such and such slave who does not belong to the assembly of those who are participating in Your remembrance. He passed by them and sat down with them.' He says: `I also grant him pardon because they are the people by virtue of whom their associates will not be unfortunate'.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

(The narration in Muslim is also the same with minor changes in wordings).

Commentary: What kind of circles and gatherings of remembrance of Allah are referred to here? Obviously not those in which Allah is remembered in the ways invented by the participants themselves, i.e., repetition of the slogans "Allah-Hu'', "Haq-Allah'',  etc.,which have not been mentioned in any Hadith. The repetition of any specific word, in a specific manner and in a peculiar surrounding (such as by putting the lights off) - this manner of conducting the remembrance of Allah is also not evident from the practice of the Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions. The circles and gatherings mentioned in this Hadith are those in which, the Prophet's Sunnah is fully observed. The words such as Subhan-Allah, Al-hamdu lillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar etc., are recited and Praise and Glorification of Allah are done after Salat. 

The groups are quietly engaged in the remembrance of Allah, and those who attend the sermons and speeches delivered in mosques on Friday also come in this category of meetings and gatherings as these are ordained in Islam. This Hadith also highlights the distinction of Muslims who are engaged in the remembrance of Allah and the Du`a they recite on the suggested times and occasions.

1448. Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When a group of people assemble for the remembrance of Allah, the angels surround them (with their wings), (Allah's) mercy envelops them, Sakinah, or tranquillity descends upon them and Allah makes a mention of them before those who are near Him.''
[Muslim].

Commentary:  This Hadith also highlights the merits of remembrance of Allah and the high grades of the people indulging in it.

1449. Abu Waqid Al-Harith bin `Auf (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was sitting in the mosque with his Companions when three people came to him. Two of them stepped forward to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and the third went away. Those two men stood by the side of Messenger of Allah (PBUH). One of them found a space in the circle and he filled it, while the other one sat behind him. When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) finished, he said, "Shall I not inform you about these three people? One of them sought refuge with Allah and Allah gave him refuge; the second one felt shy and Allah showed kindness to his shyness (and so he was accommodated in that meeting), and the last one averted, and so Allah turned away His Attention from him.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith highlights the following three points:

1. The inducement for participation in the meetings held for the remembrance of Allah.

2. The merit of avoiding anything that causes inconvenience to people and distinction of those who are bashful.

3. The condemnation and evil consequences of avoiding, without any genuine reason, the meetings or gatherings which are held to remember Allah or to disseminate religious knowledge.

1450. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Mu`awiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) came to an assembly in the mosque and asked them: "What has made you sit together?'' They replied, "We are sitting here to remember Allah.'' He said, "I adjure you by Allah to tell me whether nothing else has made you to sit together.'' They replied: "By Allah! We are sitting only to remember Allah.'' Then he said, "I did not adjure you because I suspected you. No one of my rank in the eyes of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) is the narrator of so few traditions as I am. The fact is that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) went out to a circle of his Companions and said, `What has made you sit there?' When they replied that they are sitting together to remember Allah and to praise Him for guiding them to Islam and bestowing favours on them, he (PBUH) said, `I adjure you by Allah to tell me that nothing else has made you sit together.' On their reply that there was certainly no other purpose, he (PBUH) said, `I did not adjure you because I suspected you, but Jibril (Gabriel) came to me and told me that Allah was talking proudly of you to the angels.'''

[Muslim].

Commentary:  This Hadith, like those preceding it, mentions the merits of the meetings which are held for the remembrance of Allah as well as the distinction of those who participate in them.

How much to eat

We always hear the 2nd part of the hadith, but actually the whole idea of the hadith is as follows :

On the authority of Al-Miqdaam ibn Maadiy-Karib who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah saying:
"No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight.
But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath."

Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa’I, Ibn Majah – Hadith sahih.

Muslim restaurants or stalls should offer 'sunnah portions' :D (if they don't then we can ask for less)
We are [I am] ALWAYS eating too much.
:-/