"Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of their Lord? It is We who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world; and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may command work from others; But the Mercy of thy Lord is better than the (wealth) which they amass."
Zukhruf 43:32
Madame Blossom's Book of Poems
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
sound
I was downloading a sound file onto my handphone, from the internet via wifi - and I suddenly thought about the process.
Can you imagine, taking our voices or any sound, turning it into some binary codes 0s and 1s. Then storing it somewhere in the far western part of the world, then make it travel through the atmosphere and then it gets identified as the specific set of codes called upon, to be retrieved and put into my handphone.
The fact that sounds can be recorded and reproduced is in itself amazing.
It is found that what we experience as 'sound' is actually caused by minute and very quick vibrations created on the thing that produces the sound. These vibrations are dispersed out, like waves, and gets transported through the available mediums (e.g. air or even solid). Then when the vibration hits our eardrums, it produces the sound to us. In the old days, voices or sounds are simply recorded by imprinting these vibrations. Now, these vibrations are stored digitally by translating it into bytes (0s and 1s)
But of course, it will never be the same as we seeing it or hearing it in person, because the quality of these original apparatus can never be beaten. In fact as I've blogged about before, these awesome gadgets and capabilitiescreated derived from natural sources, utilised by man, is only a sieved out part of the whole Nature - which surely is so much more awesome and amazing.
Observing how amazing nature is, how sound and images can be reproduced, how cloning is possible, man in modern days should find it easier to believe how we can die, our body decompose, and then be made to rise and live again on Judgement Day.
I guess I have digressed quite a bit from the amazement about downloading a sound file.
BUT, truly, doesn't it all come down to this? Were we not asked to ponder about the Signs of Allah SWT in the very Nature than Allah has created?
In the end... Subhanallah, Allahu Akbar!
p.s. the sound file is still in the process of being downloaded from the time I started this till now.
Can you imagine, taking our voices or any sound, turning it into some binary codes 0s and 1s. Then storing it somewhere in the far western part of the world, then make it travel through the atmosphere and then it gets identified as the specific set of codes called upon, to be retrieved and put into my handphone.
The fact that sounds can be recorded and reproduced is in itself amazing.
It is found that what we experience as 'sound' is actually caused by minute and very quick vibrations created on the thing that produces the sound. These vibrations are dispersed out, like waves, and gets transported through the available mediums (e.g. air or even solid). Then when the vibration hits our eardrums, it produces the sound to us. In the old days, voices or sounds are simply recorded by imprinting these vibrations. Now, these vibrations are stored digitally by translating it into bytes (0s and 1s)
But of course, it will never be the same as we seeing it or hearing it in person, because the quality of these original apparatus can never be beaten. In fact as I've blogged about before, these awesome gadgets and capabilities
Observing how amazing nature is, how sound and images can be reproduced, how cloning is possible, man in modern days should find it easier to believe how we can die, our body decompose, and then be made to rise and live again on Judgement Day.
I guess I have digressed quite a bit from the amazement about downloading a sound file.
BUT, truly, doesn't it all come down to this? Were we not asked to ponder about the Signs of Allah SWT in the very Nature than Allah has created?
In the end... Subhanallah, Allahu Akbar!
p.s. the sound file is still in the process of being downloaded from the time I started this till now.
Monday, February 27, 2012
The jihad to do good
The avowed enemy, Syaitan, when he can't convince us to do a bad deed, he tries to stop us from doing a good deed by trying to convince us that we're doing it to show off, and therefore shouldn't. If we fall for that, he wins, we lose.
How I try to overcome this is by asking myself what or who did I think of when the idea first occurred? Was I thinking about someone I was trying to impress? Or was I thinking about the thing I wanted to do or the person I wanted to help?
Another test to know if my intention is true, is to ask myself honestly, if I would do it, if no one knows or acknowledge. If the answer is an easy yes, masyaAllah, then I shrug the Syaitan off. That helps me ascertain my true intention. Then I istighfar, to ask Allah SWT for forgiveness if then the thought of trying to impress somebody did cross my mind. Keepinge in mind that Allah SWT is Oft Forgiving and All-Knowing, I go ahead and do what I intended to do.
But what if our initial intention WAS to impress someone? Do we just abandon the intention to do the good deed?
I think we should rethink our intention, istighfar, and do it.
May Allah grant us strength in this constant jihad within ourselves. Aamiin.
How I try to overcome this is by asking myself what or who did I think of when the idea first occurred? Was I thinking about someone I was trying to impress? Or was I thinking about the thing I wanted to do or the person I wanted to help?
Another test to know if my intention is true, is to ask myself honestly, if I would do it, if no one knows or acknowledge. If the answer is an easy yes, masyaAllah, then I shrug the Syaitan off. That helps me ascertain my true intention. Then I istighfar, to ask Allah SWT for forgiveness if then the thought of trying to impress somebody did cross my mind. Keepinge in mind that Allah SWT is Oft Forgiving and All-Knowing, I go ahead and do what I intended to do.
But what if our initial intention WAS to impress someone? Do we just abandon the intention to do the good deed?
I think we should rethink our intention, istighfar, and do it.
May Allah grant us strength in this constant jihad within ourselves. Aamiin.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Caught in the act
After my Isya' prayers, I comfortably lay down on my bed, tucked my feet under the blanket, and picked up the book I was finishing. It's Akira Kurosawa's 'Something like an Autobiography'.
On the section of Random Notes on Filmmaking, I came to read this passage:
"I've forgotten who it was that said creation is memory. My own experiences and the things I have read remain in my memory and become the basis upon which I create something new. I couldn't do it out of nothing. For this reason, since the time I was a young man, I have always kept a notebook handy when I read a book. I write down my reactions and what particularly moves me. I have stacks and stacks of these notebooks, and when I go off to write a script, these are what I read. Somewhere, they always provide me with a point of breakthrough. Even for single lines of dialogue I have taken from these notebooks. So, what I want to say is don't read books while lying down on a bed."
Right.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At the end of the book, I felt like I personally knew him.
But, of course I don't.
Like he said, people tend to write a good description of themselves, or even a description that is more towards the type of person they'd like to be, but not necessarily is. Most of the time too, people would leave out the negative or ugly parts.
But then again, of course, right? I mean, who in the right mind, would write about their ugly parts for the public to read. As Muslims we are told not to go reveal our personal sins to others - just acknowledge it personally to God, and ask for forgiveness.
Anyway, like I said, I enjoyed the book. Apart from some of the funny incidences he related, I think a lot can be learnt from this man's thoughts about life in general, and filmmaking.
On the section of Random Notes on Filmmaking, I came to read this passage:
"I've forgotten who it was that said creation is memory. My own experiences and the things I have read remain in my memory and become the basis upon which I create something new. I couldn't do it out of nothing. For this reason, since the time I was a young man, I have always kept a notebook handy when I read a book. I write down my reactions and what particularly moves me. I have stacks and stacks of these notebooks, and when I go off to write a script, these are what I read. Somewhere, they always provide me with a point of breakthrough. Even for single lines of dialogue I have taken from these notebooks. So, what I want to say is don't read books while lying down on a bed."
Right.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At the end of the book, I felt like I personally knew him.
But, of course I don't.
Like he said, people tend to write a good description of themselves, or even a description that is more towards the type of person they'd like to be, but not necessarily is. Most of the time too, people would leave out the negative or ugly parts.
But then again, of course, right? I mean, who in the right mind, would write about their ugly parts for the public to read. As Muslims we are told not to go reveal our personal sins to others - just acknowledge it personally to God, and ask for forgiveness.
Anyway, like I said, I enjoyed the book. Apart from some of the funny incidences he related, I think a lot can be learnt from this man's thoughts about life in general, and filmmaking.
Friday, February 24, 2012
these happy events
I have so many things to express. So many things going through my mind, one after another.
[One after another - reminds me of the paper Leen let me read on 'multi tasking', which was found to be counter-productive. So one AFTER another is better than thinking/doing a few things at the same time.]
One after another are also the blessings I have received from Allah SWT in the last few weeks, among His other 'permanent' blessings (such as IMAN and the ability to breath and eat and go to the toilet normally, family, friends.. countless). Alhamdulillah!
I posted 3 of these rare blessings on my FB wall yesterday - I felt that I had my reasons. The first was about my films which will be screened to the general public. I'm hoping with the announcement, some people who had wanted to see my films can go and bring their friends if they want to. I'm also happy that it will be shown to the general public because the objective of making these films is to spread the messages contained in the films.
Then, about not being able to BE at the screenings because, alhamdulillah, I'll be in Makkah doing my umrah, insyaAllah. Then, suddenly I received news that my son won a golf tournament in KL. I felt I had to share this with friends and family who would be happy to know and would probably feel hurt if we kept quiet about it.
By this time, I suddenly felt quite tired of seeing my own posts about 'good' things happening. Don't get me wrong; of course I DO, I DO appreciate and am happy with these blessings. MasyaAllah, alhamdulillah - la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
However, it also got me thinking about a few things.
1/ I was afraid that people may think that I don't suffer from any misfortune - nothing bad ever happens. Of course that is not true. Surely some bad things also happen to us - causing us to grieve or be angry or disappointed. However, normally I would accept that in silence and supplicate to Allah SWT for assistance, and perhaps only share it with a few close, trusted friend/s.
2/ in the few moments of one good news after another, I had a sensation, or should I say, a realisation that as a normal human being, put on this earth, it's not normal for one to have only blessings and no difficulties at all. It seems unreal and unnatural. I started to worry. I felt that if we constantly get these blessings... (wait... I shouldn't use the word 'blessings' - being alive is a blessing in itself, and that does not equate to happiness all the time. What shall we call those things? Achievements? Things that gives us temporary bliss and happiness? Oh, let's just call it 'happy events') So, I felt that if we constantly have these 'happy events', it stunts our emotional growth, our ability to emphatise, to withstand hardships, to learn.
I see a bit more now, how difficulties and challenges are the ones that nourish us as human beings in our growth to be a better human being.
3/ I, my family, and everyone else must remember and understand that these 'happy events', the good things we receive on this earth are all a part of the series of tests that Allah gives to his servants. It's important for us to realise that these are all very temporary, that it can be taken away at any time, just as it has been given to us. As such, we must not be too proud of it, or too attached to it.
"That which is on earth We have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them, as to which of them are best in conduct."
Al-Kahf 18:7
We must remember to thank Allah... and I see how the surah An-Nasr acts as a good reminder for us. We praise Allah for these successes, not forgetting to seek forgiveness from him in our happiness, in fear that even for a moment, we forget that all these comes from Allah SWT.
"When comes the Help of Allah, and Victory,
And thou dost see the people enter Allah's Religion in crowds,
Celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: For He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy)."
An-Nasr 110:1-3
p.s. ** I'd like to say here, that when I quote a translation of the Quran, that, firstly, this is not THE word of Allah - it's a translation. Some ideas or true intent of the original words, most of the time, they get lost in translation. What more the word of the Creator, whose knowledge is way beyond what we can even begin to comprehend.
Another thing is that, these ayats that I quote, is in relation to how it applies to ME in MY life. Or how it affected my thoughts or triggered it, within my own capacity. It may affect you in the same way, or not. Or it may affect you even more. I feel that our relationship and experience with the Quran, for each of us, will be in our own unique ways. Sincerity is key. May Allah guide us, and may we be guided, when we take the Quran as one of our guide (the other is Rasulullah SAW), as Allah has asked us to.
[One after another - reminds me of the paper Leen let me read on 'multi tasking', which was found to be counter-productive. So one AFTER another is better than thinking/doing a few things at the same time.]
One after another are also the blessings I have received from Allah SWT in the last few weeks, among His other 'permanent' blessings (such as IMAN and the ability to breath and eat and go to the toilet normally, family, friends.. countless). Alhamdulillah!
I posted 3 of these rare blessings on my FB wall yesterday - I felt that I had my reasons. The first was about my films which will be screened to the general public. I'm hoping with the announcement, some people who had wanted to see my films can go and bring their friends if they want to. I'm also happy that it will be shown to the general public because the objective of making these films is to spread the messages contained in the films.
Then, about not being able to BE at the screenings because, alhamdulillah, I'll be in Makkah doing my umrah, insyaAllah. Then, suddenly I received news that my son won a golf tournament in KL. I felt I had to share this with friends and family who would be happy to know and would probably feel hurt if we kept quiet about it.
By this time, I suddenly felt quite tired of seeing my own posts about 'good' things happening. Don't get me wrong; of course I DO, I DO appreciate and am happy with these blessings. MasyaAllah, alhamdulillah - la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
However, it also got me thinking about a few things.
1/ I was afraid that people may think that I don't suffer from any misfortune - nothing bad ever happens. Of course that is not true. Surely some bad things also happen to us - causing us to grieve or be angry or disappointed. However, normally I would accept that in silence and supplicate to Allah SWT for assistance, and perhaps only share it with a few close, trusted friend/s.
2/ in the few moments of one good news after another, I had a sensation, or should I say, a realisation that as a normal human being, put on this earth, it's not normal for one to have only blessings and no difficulties at all. It seems unreal and unnatural. I started to worry. I felt that if we constantly get these blessings... (wait... I shouldn't use the word 'blessings' - being alive is a blessing in itself, and that does not equate to happiness all the time. What shall we call those things? Achievements? Things that gives us temporary bliss and happiness? Oh, let's just call it 'happy events') So, I felt that if we constantly have these 'happy events', it stunts our emotional growth, our ability to emphatise, to withstand hardships, to learn.
I see a bit more now, how difficulties and challenges are the ones that nourish us as human beings in our growth to be a better human being.
3/ I, my family, and everyone else must remember and understand that these 'happy events', the good things we receive on this earth are all a part of the series of tests that Allah gives to his servants. It's important for us to realise that these are all very temporary, that it can be taken away at any time, just as it has been given to us. As such, we must not be too proud of it, or too attached to it.
"That which is on earth We have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them, as to which of them are best in conduct."
Al-Kahf 18:7
We must remember to thank Allah... and I see how the surah An-Nasr acts as a good reminder for us. We praise Allah for these successes, not forgetting to seek forgiveness from him in our happiness, in fear that even for a moment, we forget that all these comes from Allah SWT.
"When comes the Help of Allah, and Victory,
And thou dost see the people enter Allah's Religion in crowds,
Celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: For He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy)."
An-Nasr 110:1-3
p.s. ** I'd like to say here, that when I quote a translation of the Quran, that, firstly, this is not THE word of Allah - it's a translation. Some ideas or true intent of the original words, most of the time, they get lost in translation. What more the word of the Creator, whose knowledge is way beyond what we can even begin to comprehend.
Another thing is that, these ayats that I quote, is in relation to how it applies to ME in MY life. Or how it affected my thoughts or triggered it, within my own capacity. It may affect you in the same way, or not. Or it may affect you even more. I feel that our relationship and experience with the Quran, for each of us, will be in our own unique ways. Sincerity is key. May Allah guide us, and may we be guided, when we take the Quran as one of our guide (the other is Rasulullah SAW), as Allah has asked us to.
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