Parkia Speciosa (or better known as Petai)

It (Parkia tree) is beautifully shaped, like a great flat-topped umbrella. It’s leaves are doubly compound, like feathers. It’s bark is smooth but not too smooth, in some species dotted with red. But most glorious of all are the flowers, pompoms of stamens and styles, bright red or pale yellow or bronze depending on species, that hang from on high on long thin threads like Christmas baubles.



The topmost flowers in each inflorescence are sterile, with copious nectar, which begins to flow early in the morning. By mid morning the first flowers begin to open, and all of them are open by mid afternoon. At dusk, the flowers begin to release their pollen. Then the bats come. By morning all nectar has gone, the filaments that bear the anthers have wilted, and the flowers have faded. One of nature’s most glorious shows lasts only one night. Showbiz is not the point. Replication and multiplication is the point. One night is enough.

*Excerpt from The Secret Life Of Trees. LOVE the title.

The soul

Heaven is Real. A Doctor's Experience with the Afterlife. Dr Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon actually.

"It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed verily in this are Signs for those who reflect."
Az-Zumar 39:42 - Translation of the Qur-an by Yusuf Ali

So, the most amazing thing for him is that, even when his body was not functioning, and his whole brain is totally 'switched off', 'something' was experiencing what he related. It's definitely not the body, neither was it the mind. There can only be one thing left. It's the soul that is experiencing all that. There is a soul. That soul is the real us.

Science intrigues me. Another book I've read explained about our senses, i.e. the mechanics of seeing and hearing, feeling. Seriously it's technical, how light waves and sound waves gets converted into energy and is processed in our brains. The interesting question is, so our body is a tool for our senses - then who are what, is the body processing those information for? Who is the ultimate user of all those information? The answer again is, the soul.

This soul that will be accounted, for all our words, actions and feelings. This soul is an abstract thing. Nobody knows the true nature of a soul. Like is it made of of any matter in this universe? Nobody has actually been able to identify or find a soul physically. So when I say I, I'm actually referring to my soul. This soul that can leave the body or return to the body, by Allah's will. This soul that I believe experience our dreams.

And as for the doctor, and all of us.

And say: “All praise is due to God! In time He will make you see [the truth of] His messages, and then you shall know them [for what they are].” And thy Sustainer is not unmindful of whatever you all may do.
~ An-Naml 27:93 - Translation of the Qur-an by Asad

More divine intervention.

Just got back from offline edit for the TV Hari Raya Haji drama. Frankly, when I first saw the scenes lined up, and it was 63 mins - I didn't know if I can do it well, if the story will make it. Many scenes to cut, because we must fit the given transmission time of 43 mins (1 hour, then must give time for CB. (CB is commercial break.. I know.. when I first heard it, I thought it sounded a bit vulgar too.) Anyhow.. after 2 nights (no.. didn't work whole night.. i meant I worked on the edit only after office hours, abt 3 hrs a night), it was still 56mins.

Then on the 3rd night, I assured myself we must do some brutal editing. CUT scenes! Yes, even though we spent hours on certain scenes for set up and many takes.. but if it has to go, it has to go. It turned out to be a good exercise. Cause when you're forced to shorten the scenes and number of scenes, you'll pick only really relevant ones and therefore omit all draggy and not so relevant scenes.

Today, at the end of 4 evenings and a day (hmm.. that makes a good title), we've finally finished the offline version - final offline cut - 43 mins, WITH credit roll song that I like so much! The song which also came from Divine intervention. How?

After first few days editing, I was still looking and thinking of a good song to end the movie with. Problem is, I don't listen to many songs. We don't have the budget to pay big artists for songs. I was still looking.

Then, out of the blue, really, Adzim, who writes and performs his own songs with his band 'Disember' wrote on my FB wall, asking me how I was. We chatted and I remember he has some songs, so I asked him if he has one that is quite relevant to the story I'm doing. Lo and behold, he does. I listened to it and immediately KNEW I want to use that song. Disember is also still unknown, in the industry, and they are of course excited to be featured in a telemovie. Alhamdulillah, so we're using their lovely song. Now, I'm so excited about the ending mostly because of that song!

Truly, it really was a Divine intervention.. I mean, why did he contact me for no clear reason, right at the point when I was looking for a song? Subhanallah. Really.

A few other things that are to me, quite miraculous, are
- the sudden ability to get a well known Malaysian actor for this telemovie, to be directed by this first-time-tv-drama director. Sudden I say, because he was contacted and confirmed only about a week before shoot.
- He only came for a day for shoot - that's all. That afternoon, we had to shoot a picnic scene outdoor. While we were taking our break, dark clouds began to form above us. It looked set to rain. The cameraman has also gathered his equipment in case it rains. It was already nearly 5pm and we only had that specific time to shoot that scene. If it rains, I don't know how and where and when we can cover this scene. I prayed real hard for Allah SWT to help me get this over with. Then, subhanallah walhamdulillah, the clouds passed and it became sunny again with nice evening rays. We quickly prepared and shot the scene.
- For the ending scene, after the lead gets into a cab and is driven off, suddenly 'extras' start coming out of nowhere, crossing the road and van passed by, making it look like 'life goes on' y'know. It's really the effect I want. Subhanallah. :p

Of course, this whole string of events, falling into place is itself, also masyaAllah.

Having said all these... it's not over yet. We still have to show the offline telemovie to the station for acceptance. And then there is still the online, and the airing. Then, finally we'll see if the audience likes it, and if they can draw a lesson or inspiration from it (that is the ultimate aim).

May Allah help us in doing good. Aamiin.


*unplugged*

integrated within a universal plan

It seems like it was only a few months ago (actually it was last year), that I was sharing a story idea I had about a Hari Raya Haji telemovie.
At that point, I had no idea, how possible it could be to produce for TV. I was also contemplating a short film for this. I was really feeling sincere about wanting to share this story with a lot of people out there, a lesson we can draw from the story of Nabi Ibrahim A.S. and Siti Hajar.

Then, subhanallah, how Allah SWT answers silent prayers and unsaid wants. A couple of months later, a TV producer whom I was introduced to earlier, asked if I would like to submit a story for... Hari Raya Haji to Suria (Singapore Malay TV Channel). Gave it a shot. I submitted without placing too much hope. Mind you, I had no experience in directing a full TV drama. So far it's only short films. But of course, there must be a 'first time' right? A few months later, I received the news, our story was short-listed.

Next the producer invited me to go do the pitch at Suria, to the station's decision makers. Alhamdulillah, I guess we did a good pitch. Few weeks later, we were told, our story was accepted for production.

Now, yet few months after, we have now prepared the plot and did the script. And tomorrow is the shoot!!

I want to tell you more about the production itself, but let's wait till it's done and perhaps near the telecast date. I mean, we still don't know right.. anything can happen... masyaAllah. Tawakkaltu a'lallah. I hope something good and pure comes out from this, that more goodness is spread through this project.

Now, I'm just thinking about how this whole thing has developed, with Divine intervention - alhamdulillah. This reminds me of Asad's words :
"The religious human being knows that whatever happens to him and within him, can never be the result of a blind play, of forces without consciousness and purpose. He believes it to be the outcome of God Conscious will alone, and therefore, organically integrated within a universal plan." Allahu Akbar.

A way of life, that is Islam

Islam is not only about the 5 pillars. It's not something that we do part-time. It is a way of life. Yes, we keep hearing that right?, Islam, as a way of life. Well, because it really is.

When we were a baby, do our parents just make sure we're fed and leave everything else up to us? No. We are looked after in every way.

Don't you think then, that it's only logical, for our Maker, Who created us, will guide us in all aspects of our life? About how to take care of ourselves, how to treat other human beings, how to treat animals, how to appreciate other creations. Yes it's a wholesome teaching. Yes, it's wondrous. Yes it's complete. And why not? He is God, Most Merciful, Most Wise.

When a person is truly a Muslim (as in he surrenders his life to the Will of Allah SWT), and therefore he follows as much as possible all the teachings of the Qur'an and the (authentic) Sunnahs, you will find him to be the most humble, kind, generous, sincere, honest, courteous, but firm towards those who does wrong to him. If only he follows the Qur'an and Sunnah.

That is for one person. Imagine a community, where each individual is trying to be the best in this sense. What a nice community it'll be.

Me. Yes, I'm trying.. I'm working on it. Sometimes I forget. I try to remember and follow all the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah. I find it beautiful. I want to be a part of that beautiful being...
I want Islam, as a way of life.



We seek Allah's assistance and guidance.
May Allah SWT make us constant in our faith and effort. Aamiin.