Finally, after almost a week of waiting for the Senandung Ramadhan clips, masyaAllah, I got the clips at last. But alas, SB did not record all songs. We missed the rap i was telling u about, and some other good songs, including one 'Rasa Sayang (Ramadhan nak datang)', which my kids enjoyed.
Excuse the quality lah eh. Cause kita ni semua bukan lah professional camerawomen kan.. furthermore a digital camera was used to video tape. But takdelah teruk sangat jugak.
I tell ya.. these past few days I've doing quite a few video editing. But it was fun. If you all got nothing to do, and want to be entertained, the other video is here.
For now, here are excerpts of the available songs - for those who couldn't make it for Senandung Ramadhan, and for those who wants an encore of their performance. I've saved it to the most appropriate file size so that the video will not take a whole year to load.
Enjoy and listen to the messages too!
Madame Blossom's Book of Poems
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Too much hands?
Hubby has always said that I use my hands too much when I talk. But I've never realised how much, until I saw myself in this video.
It was taken by mynot so professional camerawoman colleague, in our meeting these few days.
Too much?
Maybe a little bit la..
It was taken by my
Too much?
Maybe a little bit la..
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Who is your God?
Sorry eh. I really wanted to upload those clips, but I haven't got the video clips from SB yet. Kita merancang & Allah SWT menentukan.
I've been feeling quite melancholic the last 2 days actually. Rupanya PMS - I should've known.. it's that time of the month already. Can't fast, can't pray - but can at least still read the Quran. Hopefully the Iman tak merosot teruk.
The outlook at the office is also quite bad. This week is the start of a big project that I need to be involved in. A whole new system. But I'm determined to make this one turn out good. Good as in, we get what we expect to get, by making sure all the requirements are properly documented. Sometimes I feel like a Sherlock Holmes, asking questions after questions, grilling for answers - to both users and our vendor. If not for the migraine, I'd have enjoyed the whole session better.
Yup, been having migraine since Sunday. But I can't quite pin down the cause of this 'head-banging' thing. Few possible causes:
1. Lack of sleep or too much sleep (can't tell - sunday slept too much, monday?.. ntahlah..)
2. Trying to think of too many things at the same time?
3. Anticipation of this few days meeting at work?
4. Or the spectacles that sometimes feels tight..
Walaubagaimana pun.. ok lah.. no big issue. Saje nak ngadu sikit. Just pop 2 panadols, and it's normally much better.
Apa lagi eh.. Macam nothing much is happening. Or maybe I'm feeling like this, cause last Sat and yesterday Monday, no classes whatsoever. Oh yes! Hanaa started to read the Quran, so we went out to buy her, her OWN Quran. I hope the enthusiasm to read stays on. Ameen.
And talking about Quran, the other day, I came across this ayat and translation in the Quran:
Hast thou (Muhammad SAW) seen him who chooseth for his god his own lust? Wouldst thou then be guardian over him?
Al Quran, Al Furqan, 25:43
Na'uzubillah. Taking other gods than God, does not only mean that a person actually prays to god-idols or trees or fires, or put their trust in tangkal or penyapu tepi pintu. Letting our lives be 'controlled' by lust and our wants is also like worshipping our lusts/wants. Because they come as top priority in your life. They control your life. Lust for wealth, status, enjoyment, ekseteraa, ekseteraa, ekseteraa..
During Ramadhan, is the time for us to fight our wants, our lusts, kasi dia tahu SIAPA boss. This can be achieved through fasting and restraining ourselves, insyaAllah. So let's think about our choices, our actions.
Who, is to us, the real God in our lives?
I've been feeling quite melancholic the last 2 days actually. Rupanya PMS - I should've known.. it's that time of the month already. Can't fast, can't pray - but can at least still read the Quran. Hopefully the Iman tak merosot teruk.
The outlook at the office is also quite bad. This week is the start of a big project that I need to be involved in. A whole new system. But I'm determined to make this one turn out good. Good as in, we get what we expect to get, by making sure all the requirements are properly documented. Sometimes I feel like a Sherlock Holmes, asking questions after questions, grilling for answers - to both users and our vendor. If not for the migraine, I'd have enjoyed the whole session better.
Yup, been having migraine since Sunday. But I can't quite pin down the cause of this 'head-banging' thing. Few possible causes:
1. Lack of sleep or too much sleep (can't tell - sunday slept too much, monday?.. ntahlah..)
2. Trying to think of too many things at the same time?
3. Anticipation of this few days meeting at work?
4. Or the spectacles that sometimes feels tight..
Walaubagaimana pun.. ok lah.. no big issue. Saje nak ngadu sikit. Just pop 2 panadols, and it's normally much better.
Apa lagi eh.. Macam nothing much is happening. Or maybe I'm feeling like this, cause last Sat and yesterday Monday, no classes whatsoever. Oh yes! Hanaa started to read the Quran, so we went out to buy her, her OWN Quran. I hope the enthusiasm to read stays on. Ameen.
And talking about Quran, the other day, I came across this ayat and translation in the Quran:
Hast thou (Muhammad SAW) seen him who chooseth for his god his own lust? Wouldst thou then be guardian over him?
Al Quran, Al Furqan, 25:43
Na'uzubillah. Taking other gods than God, does not only mean that a person actually prays to god-idols or trees or fires, or put their trust in tangkal or penyapu tepi pintu. Letting our lives be 'controlled' by lust and our wants is also like worshipping our lusts/wants. Because they come as top priority in your life. They control your life. Lust for wealth, status, enjoyment, ekseteraa, ekseteraa, ekseteraa..
During Ramadhan, is the time for us to fight our wants, our lusts, kasi dia tahu SIAPA boss. This can be achieved through fasting and restraining ourselves, insyaAllah. So let's think about our choices, our actions.
Who, is to us, the real God in our lives?
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Senandung Ramadhan
"Thursday night 8:38pm, bro HJ (bukan Haji.. jauh dari perkataan Haji) sms: Wanna go 4 d forum Irama bertema Senandung Ramadhan? Bsok mlm 7.45pm, pat Payar Lebar mrt post ofis buildg.. Gonna b cool, cos d vry young ustaz2 r gonna sing n perform! Personally i da dngar. Baik woo! N they r sharing gd msg to prepare us 4 ramadhan! Outside d tix r selling at $30. If u go w us Saff, in grp of 10,it's just $20! Amcam? Nak ikut gi ramai? Jom aah! (Mak ai!! panjang jugak eh sms dia ni.. macam email.. dan bersemangat!)"Hmm... apa eh ni.. best ke?? Nak kena bayar pulak tu.." I haven't had the chance to answer, at that point, hubby said he needed to use my hp, so I let that sms be.
Next day, Friday, I smsed back, 'Budak2 tix berapa?'
I was thinking that I should spend some time at home with the kids, so if I want to go, then I think I want to bring the kids along. Then dia jawab.. budak2 tix same price. HA?? terkopak la gitu!! Furthermore, I'm still skeptical if I'd enjoy the event. Actually dilemma jugak, between saying no to HJ or leaving the kids behind or bringing them, then they get bored-takut kecoh pulak.
Then HJ said pay for 2 tix, diorang dah genap 10 so can get 2 tix free, and I can have them. Hmm.. apa alasan lagi aku ada. I asked hubby, dia kata OK - but he's not going cause he's tired. Ok lah go.
So after work, went home to fetch the kids and we went, not with high expectations. I was mentally prepared to layan kan budak punya kerenah and patiently and courteously sit through the whole event.
The auditorium was not very big, maybe it has a capacity of 500 pax. But macam full house. Hmm...not bad...but I'm still skeptical. Then the show started.
The sound system during the earlier part was not good, they were adjusting volume and what not. I was trying to keep an open mind, don't be judgemental.
Then they started introducing themselves, these ustaz2 ni.. There were :
Ustaz Sofyan Mohd Yadi
Ustaz Mohammad Bahrul-Ulum
Ustaz Mohd Effendy Suparde
Ustaz Mohammad Dzariff Abdul Wahab.
Ustaz Mu'adz Dzulkifley (he is from KL. They say he has an album already.. hmm..must buy)
They were natural, funny, cracking jokes about each other. They interacted well with the audience. From that point on, it only got better. Tak lah perfect merfect, but then again, so are other live concerts - tak perfect. To my own surprise, I actually enjoyed the show. Even Hanaa enjoyed it very much.
Between informal talks on Ramadhan - it's virtues and what we should do in the sacred month - the ustazs sang songs of various genres. Ada pop, arcapella, rap. Ya! RAP! can you believe it?!?! ustaz2 rap? but they DID! and not bad at all! Such an innovative way to reach out to the younger masses! MasyaAllah.
I think everyone in the auditorium, enjoyed the whole event. In the end, the $20 ticket (X 2) or even if I had paid $30 for each, was worth it. SERIOUS.
So, HJ thanks for asking and arranging for the tickets!
I don't know how to describe the performance of each song (or maybe penat and macam leceh pulak nak explain satu-satu kan...) so u all just watch some excerpts I'll post here IF i get the clips.
And again, RAMADHAN MUBARAK - tonight's the night! Turn on the lampu lap lip and turn on your heart towards Ramadhan.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Free Offers!
Ustaz Ali yang diminati ramai pelajar2 wanita, said:
Awak semua imagine eh.. kalau Sheng Siong (a big store - macam GIANT) satu hari tu, dia kasi FREE offer.. Boleh amik apa benda pun kat dalam kedai tu..
Stock dia takkan abis - kalau nak abis aje dia tambah.. amik lah berapa banyak awak semua nak amik.. Takde polis tangkap.. halal semua amiklah semua.
Mesti ada orang datang bawak LORRY, ada datang bawak van, semua kan? Tapi ada jugak datang amik sikit2, and ADA yang datang tengokkan aje.. senyum aje.
RUGI kan?? Dah orang kasi benda free free camtu, datang senyum aje..
Gitu jugaklah Ramadan. Allah dah kasi macam2 offer.. rugi lah kalau kita tak grab these offers...
(Disclaimer : Ok lah, the accuracy of what he said may not be word for word. but sikit lebih kurang cerita dia macam gitu lah. And by the way, he is well liked because a few tutors have attempted to teach us Arabic, and by far, his enthusiasm and his method is the best. He also teach us Al Quran, di mana dengan tak ku sangka2 dia suruh kita,yang dah tua2 ni, repeat examples like 'baaa-ta' after him! I suddenly felt like I was in primary 1. But but but.. the whole lesson was very effective, I must say. This disclaimer is starting to look like a post of it's own. stop.)
Yeah, in syar'u Ramadan, Allah promises a reward beyond anyone's imagination and comprehension. Every good deed is rewarded multiple times over. Every charity given, is repaid many times over.
Ask for forgiveness and you WILL BE forgiven.
It's the greatest month for Muslims, I tell ya. It should be received, di sambut dengan meriah nya. Colourful lights are turned on at every mosques, and the same should be done at Muslim houses. This will reflect the greatness of this month for the Muslims, to the Non-Muslims. Excitement fills the air around those who understands what Ramadan can bring to them.
Resolutions, determination to become better, can be declared and worked on, during this sacred month (bukannya Gregorian new year..). Of course lah, nak buat baik bila2 pun boleh start. But if you are planning to start soon, then start in the month of Ramadan. InsyaAllah if ikhlas, it will be easy to achive.
Besides, the actual fasting and payment of zakat fitrah, some people set targets such as, :
- to read the Quran from end to end (if you're just starting, that means 1 juz a day).
- not to miss terawih/witir,
- to bangun tahajjud at least twice a week,
- to spend $1000 from savings to the needy
- to pay off all your zakat harta..
kaza wa kaza....
InsyaAllah, I pun nak lah jugak try set some targets to achieve, insyaAllah.
Ada yang pre plan for Ramadan, by preparing for Hari Raya way in advance, so that they don't bother about Hari Raya preparations in the month of Ramadan, and concentrate on buat ibadah. Good idea. Oops.. that reminds me, I haven't ordered the all time family's favourite kuih tart! Kuih ni, kena have at least 300-400 - orang2 kat rumah ni semua hantu kuih tart. Kuih lain tak sangat.. but in the last few years, I'm beginning to like kuih makmur too. Itu dah order, cause Pink punya mak yang buat - SEDAP... Hmm.. now, where was I? Right, during Ramadan.. we should try to concentrate on our ibadah.
Ramadan is also the month when the Quran, was revealed. It's good if we can read the Quran during Ramadan. Even Rasulullah SAW pun 'revise' the Quran with malakat Jibril AS on every Ramadan. So why don't we?
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
The Prophet was the most generous person, and he used to become more so (generous) particularly in the month of Ramadan because Gabriel used to meet him every night of the month of Ramadan till it elapsed. Allah's Apostle used to recite the Qur'an for him. When Gabriel met him, he used to become more generous than the fast wind in doing good.
Sohih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 61, Number 519
Besides reading the Quran in arabic, you all should also try reading the translation or transliteration of the Quran (since kita tak paham Arab), to grasp more of the miracle of the Quran. Kalau lah boleh baca Quran in arabic and know the meaning sekali, i tell you, the impact is greater. However, it is important to note that these translations/transliterations are in the view of that particular translator, as he understands it. So one shouldn't take bulat2 - word for word translations of a Quran. The genuine message of the Quran is still in it's arabic language. Sometimes Malay or English words cannot describe the words used in Kalam Allah perfectly.
wow.. is this my longest post ever? I should stop.
RAMADAN MUBARAK!
May all of us be able to do the good deeds and accomplish the targets set. May Allah SWT help us in our attempts to do good and reward us with the best in this world and the Next. Ameen!!
Awak semua imagine eh.. kalau Sheng Siong (a big store - macam GIANT) satu hari tu, dia kasi FREE offer.. Boleh amik apa benda pun kat dalam kedai tu..
Stock dia takkan abis - kalau nak abis aje dia tambah.. amik lah berapa banyak awak semua nak amik.. Takde polis tangkap.. halal semua amiklah semua.
Mesti ada orang datang bawak LORRY, ada datang bawak van, semua kan? Tapi ada jugak datang amik sikit2, and ADA yang datang tengokkan aje.. senyum aje.
RUGI kan?? Dah orang kasi benda free free camtu, datang senyum aje..
Gitu jugaklah Ramadan. Allah dah kasi macam2 offer.. rugi lah kalau kita tak grab these offers...
(Disclaimer : Ok lah, the accuracy of what he said may not be word for word. but sikit lebih kurang cerita dia macam gitu lah. And by the way, he is well liked because a few tutors have attempted to teach us Arabic, and by far, his enthusiasm and his method is the best. He also teach us Al Quran, di mana dengan tak ku sangka2 dia suruh kita,
Yeah, in syar'u Ramadan, Allah promises a reward beyond anyone's imagination and comprehension. Every good deed is rewarded multiple times over. Every charity given, is repaid many times over.
Ask for forgiveness and you WILL BE forgiven.
It's the greatest month for Muslims, I tell ya. It should be received, di sambut dengan meriah nya. Colourful lights are turned on at every mosques, and the same should be done at Muslim houses. This will reflect the greatness of this month for the Muslims, to the Non-Muslims. Excitement fills the air around those who understands what Ramadan can bring to them.
Resolutions, determination to become better, can be declared and worked on, during this sacred month (bukannya Gregorian new year..). Of course lah, nak buat baik bila2 pun boleh start. But if you are planning to start soon, then start in the month of Ramadan. InsyaAllah if ikhlas, it will be easy to achive.
Besides, the actual fasting and payment of zakat fitrah, some people set targets such as, :
- to read the Quran from end to end (if you're just starting, that means 1 juz a day).
- not to miss terawih/witir,
- to bangun tahajjud at least twice a week,
- to spend $1000 from savings to the needy
- to pay off all your zakat harta..
kaza wa kaza....
InsyaAllah, I pun nak lah jugak try set some targets to achieve, insyaAllah.
Ada yang pre plan for Ramadan, by preparing for Hari Raya way in advance, so that they don't bother about Hari Raya preparations in the month of Ramadan, and concentrate on buat ibadah. Good idea. Oops.. that reminds me, I haven't ordered the all time family's favourite kuih tart! Kuih ni, kena have at least 300-400 - orang2 kat rumah ni semua hantu kuih tart. Kuih lain tak sangat.. but in the last few years, I'm beginning to like kuih makmur too. Itu dah order, cause Pink punya mak yang buat - SEDAP... Hmm.. now, where was I? Right, during Ramadan.. we should try to concentrate on our ibadah.
Ramadan is also the month when the Quran, was revealed. It's good if we can read the Quran during Ramadan. Even Rasulullah SAW pun 'revise' the Quran with malakat Jibril AS on every Ramadan. So why don't we?
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
The Prophet was the most generous person, and he used to become more so (generous) particularly in the month of Ramadan because Gabriel used to meet him every night of the month of Ramadan till it elapsed. Allah's Apostle used to recite the Qur'an for him. When Gabriel met him, he used to become more generous than the fast wind in doing good.
Sohih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 61, Number 519
Besides reading the Quran in arabic, you all should also try reading the translation or transliteration of the Quran (since kita tak paham Arab), to grasp more of the miracle of the Quran. Kalau lah boleh baca Quran in arabic and know the meaning sekali, i tell you, the impact is greater. However, it is important to note that these translations/transliterations are in the view of that particular translator, as he understands it. So one shouldn't take bulat2 - word for word translations of a Quran. The genuine message of the Quran is still in it's arabic language. Sometimes Malay or English words cannot describe the words used in Kalam Allah perfectly.
wow.. is this my longest post ever? I should stop.
RAMADAN MUBARAK!
May all of us be able to do the good deeds and accomplish the targets set. May Allah SWT help us in our attempts to do good and reward us with the best in this world and the Next. Ameen!!
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