An Excerpt from my facebook notes

Thank you once again to everyone who asked me about the above subject for my personal opinion. I am not sure why you asked but i guess i am obliged to answer. As there is quite a number of emails, i suppose i better answer thru this otherwise it will be very tiring typing out one by one :)
I am not a saint nor i am the devil. We are all humans and we all make mistakes in life. However as we gradually grow older, we tend to choose the path that we eventually want to lead.

The very first time i heard of Halloween was when i was 15 years old. I was greeted by some schoolmates in the day "Happy Halloween". We dont have internet at that time so i checked out the library.

Of course there are many versions of how the event started and I am no expert in historical facts to ascertain it. Therefore the best is dont believe a word of it.

However, from an Islamic stand point of view differs however.
I will try to point out gently why it should not be considered a culture and celebrate it.

In a multi racial society of course we cant avoid this but at least we respect the people who wishes to celebrate. We dont need to tell them NOOOO ITS HARAM or something like that... we can choose to just smile and tell them to enjoy the day as long as we defy it in our hearts.

Reason 1:
It is not an Islamic holiday.
So is chinese new year, or deepavali or christmas - some would say. But i said we dont celebrate by offering prayers to any of the temples or go to churches right?
Halloween do not have any of those but by attending a party and dressing up as ghost and ghouls and whatever not, tell me what are you doing?

Reason 2:
Some say it is permissible as it is just a party and there is no worshipping or whatsoever.
Well, why not dress decently then? must you dress up as some ghost or whatever? Allah SWT created Man in his finest form. It is so fine that the theory that Man evolve from Ape do not even hold. Why? The Quran did not SAY anything about Man being part of the apes!

Reason 3:
Such parties usually are celebrated by non-muslims and most of the time , many clubs hold parties and some individuals do actually have such events going on. We are only human and we get influenced easily if we do attend such party. Getting intoxicated may lead to other things - you never know. As i said we are only humans.

Reason 4:
It is unrealistic that you can attend a night of party on Halloween but rarely have the time to do a Taubat nasuha, tahajjud or tasbih prayer at night.

Reason 5:
Some say individuals are responsible for their actions. Then let me ask, why bother calling yourself part of an Ummah then? We are here to remind each other. If you choose to go ahead it is your call but i hope you do heed my advise as well.

Reason 6:
Encouragement of any form for such a party is not acceptable. Preparing costumes, providing it, doing horrifying make ups on that day - why? There are many other things to do - why choose to glorify it?
I am in no way telling you what to do or what not to do. In our daily life, we should strive towards balancing between what is ok for us and what is not ok for us. Mistakes that has happen in the past should not be allowed to be done again now.

In striving towards the wellness or goodness of our own Ummah, we must further think of the consequences of our actions.

In ending this short note which i am sure will be a debate for some towards by end of day as many of us have various opinion let me share with you a verse which i think simply advise us not to make the same mistake and to follow what is prescribed upon us:

Surah Al Ma'idah Verse 104
"When it is said unto them, 'Come to what Allah has revealed, come to the Messenger,' they say, 'Enough for us are the ways we found our fathers following.' What! Even though their fathers were void of knowledge and guidance?"


As what my colleague has ever mention to me:
Yang batil tetap batil, and no matter how hard you try to correct it, it is still batil. In this respect, never ask for His blessing when you are doing something that is not prescribed to us by Him.

I hope this answers most of your questions to me. I try not to be too long winded but just put up the important points for you.

Sekian Terima Kasih



.

All that begins with a good intent ends with a good intent

Syukran Allah or Thank you Allah begins this post.

At exactly 1902hrs today, i received an sms from the army that i am not required to serve the overseas training which will be held from the 7th November 2010 - 24th November 2010.

There are many reasons that i can actually write out here but it reflects a lot on me. I have a family to honour and i shall keep it enclosed within my heart why i dont wanna go. I think let the personnel who happen to see the doctor's letter be the one to know what happen. Nothing shall escape my lips.

However, a few people to thank for being such a strong pillar of support!

1. My new CQMS - Abang Herman or SGT Herman.
i got to know this father of 2, a very quiet, reflective & pious individual earlier this year when he came to join our unit for the very first time for an incamp training. It took me a while to warm up to him but no regrets :)

His knowledge of religious views is vast and i can share with him my thoughts without being oppressed. Of course i must always draw the line that he is an elder and he deserves all the respect from me.

Truly, he is one of those whom i shared the reasons. I am very very afraid to go. On Oct 18, i told him i feel very depressed. He told me to continue praying & believing in Him.

Prior to that 01st Oct was the briefing, and i told him how i felt after it. Immediately i didnt waste time and decided to check in to the poly clinic to get referrals to get to the hospital for a medical review.

My review was done on the 15th Oct, and deferred submission on the 16th.

On the18th they called me and i started having goosebumps and nausea and all that which is associated with feelings of uneasiness.

His smses are very reassuring. His encouraging words are something that i rarely hear of from my own father too. Imagine at 29 i m still afraid? you have no idea what i went thru in life.

What strikes me most is his patience with people around him, the way he advises me - that i have to open my heart, relief myself of all worries and let Him handle it for me. He encourage me to continuously zikir  or glorified Him and share with Him my worries.

I recollect my thoughts, gather all the calmness and begin my non-stop zikir till i slept.

I was more calm.

19th October went to submit my kit bag and went to medical centre to meet the MO. The review by MO was not that fantastic but i guess they do want us to go. Hence again i trust Allah will never forsake me. Hence i continue believing in Him.

21st - the result of patience. ALL I CAN SAY ALHAMDULILLAH ALHAMDULILLAH ALHAMDULILLAH!

Abang Herman you are like a brother that i never have. I am truly thankful for your guidance. You said that I bring you closer to Him but actually you narrow the gap i have with Him. May He gives you the best that He has ever give to anyone! :) AMin.

2. Next is my colleague - Abang Jati
He seems to know that i look very pale and sickly because of the deferrment case. He also advise me to zikir and glorified Allah. i guess he seconded Abg Herman's suggestion indirectly! :)

Thank you to Abg Jati for being such a great soul.

3. Next is one of my friends who never fails to make me laugh - Surjali Aslah!

I went to him to ask for an opinion on prayers to calm the heart after Jati. He advise me to zikir and also glorifed Him & say salam to the Prophet PBUH.

My thanks to you too.

Alhamdulillah.

May Allah bless all of you. I have never been so blessed i have been felt so love and thankful.

You have no idea how much this deferment means to me. At least i can plan my life ahead for another month or so.

Thank you abang Herman, abang Jati & Jali! I love you all. Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah!

And with that news, it seems appropriate to sujud syukur for the wish that came true. Amin.

Should I or Not?

I am thrilled that my dishes manage to gain attention.

Friends have asked for recipes and i gladly share it away. :)

Therefore, i m pleased to ask for your opinion if i should take up my friend's offer to cook for him and close friends.

The thing is, he wants me to cook for less than 10 pax..and asking for a catering company is gonna cost him a bomb..whereas he doesnt wanna go the hassle of cooking (or rather ask his mom)

should i or should i not?

Do advise me by commenting on this post. thank you!

Turning 29.

As like the previous years, i have the tendency to write something up on the eve of my birthday. This year is no different.

This would be the last of the twenties. It is my 29th.

Life for me has not changed much. I am still the same person, wearing the same clothes almost every other day but perhaps i have changed to be a more better person.

Aside recent activities, that caused my temper to flare - i find that many old friends have begin to touch base with me. I was also consulted on various issues they face from financial matters to marriage life issues.

I am not sure why they tend to ask me but perhaps, they believe that i have faced much of life adversity and i always believe there are more to come depending on the type of person you are.

Nevertheless, i am always thankful for what has been given to me. Alhamdulillah, my providence is still with this same company. My providence is not meant for me alone. It is shared among family & the less fortunate.

There are many of my old friends who are of the same age as me, love the life that i lived, endure the pain that i went through and laugh together with me during good times.

For that, here with are the people i dedicate my life to:

My father 

He looks like Mahadi Syor if you dont give him a 2nd look. He may look serious but actually he is a clown beneath. He never fails to make us laugh during our meals together.

He is a very good father. I am very sure of that because at his age now, he still works to support the family. He is someone i can pour my woes to and share my problem with. Usually finance matters i will let him know :)

I am like his personal assistant, approving his credit cards, allowing what to buy what not to buy and all financial matters must seek my approval before he swipe the cards.

He is one person that i always love but i will never show it :P coz he is not the sentimental type!


My Mother 


Mother has been the central person in my life. She adores me and i know that :)
There are many things i can actually write and go on and on about her but i guess not before you guys find it cloying.

Whatever it is, i am very sure you all know Mothers are the best cook, best person to let ur emotions to, u can cry your heart out and she will ease your heartache, be ill and she will be the doctor.

A mother completes our life. I will never know what life is like without her. :)


Beloved


Finally, i m putting this on record. Beloved is someone very close to me. beloved dont like to be mentioned nor to be seen but beloved is around :) physically & emotionally.

Beloved adores me too and forgives me too easily whenever i made my beloved angry. that's beloved nature.

Such is the bond that we have. Till date, i still love my beloved.


Siblings


As the eldest of 4, i hold part of the responsibility of nurturing, disciplining them. I realize that the hard tactic of scolding and screaming no longer works. I turn to be more friendly in my approach nowadays and talk it out with them as compared to last time. It seems to work better.

To Y - you are my sister; among the 4 of us, you made it all the way up there. I can only pray that Allah bless you with a good husband, good children in future & a good marriage life. Obstacles are meant for us to go thru. it is only thru these life lessons we grow up to a be better person.
You are the most beautiful among us and we all know it. The ugly duckling is now a beautiful swan. I watch you grew up remember that. You also dont take to heart what others say or did towards you. I have eyes and ears and i heard and seen what others did to you. I m thankful that you do not follow my hot tempered nature. Such is the balance that exist between us.

PS: tell him to count his blessings. u know who i m referring to.

To K - you are the other male after your sister. A huge responsibility awaits us. Aside from what had happen within this few weeks, i hope you will know what the word "responsibility" means. In 2 months' time, you will finish your NS liability - my hope that you will get a good job and start building your life. It is never easy but no one says it is difficult either.

Allah SWT will provide if you ask. Allah SWT will give if you persist. Be a good Muslim - such is the requirement of us men.

To A - you are the baby of the family. The jewel of the family. It is obvious that among 4 of us you are the smartest in the family. However, there is much more to learn.
you will never know when you might lose a love one, cherish them while they are around & dont ignore them when they are still around. You will get my meaning if you realize how old our parents are now.

Good Friends Who have been with me thru thick & thin

And as always my number one is Suriana.Hey Girl thanks for the long years of friendship. This is the best gift that i can ever have. I do wish you have more time for me though~

I have renewed friendship with Surjali Aslah. Another good friend.

Not forgetting the kind friends from NSS who have given me endless support.

The lovely FB friends.

My lovable Kak Nurul

Great new acquaintance from FB - Dayang Nira....

Not forgetting colleagues who have been there with me all the time for the past 5-8 years of my working life.

Life is a never ending journey. At each crossroads, we come across different directions we can take. Our choice is always influenced by the people that we love.

I hope my choice is in direction of Allah SWT. It is in my hope that He leads me on to the right path. I am thankful for what it has been for the past year. The road has been smooth so far and i hope it would remain that way for the subsequent years - Insya Allah.

Ya Rabb,
Hear my prayers,
From your humbled servant,
Serving his Lord.

Ya Rabb,
Hear my thoughts,
Deep in my heart,
Heartache of a son,
Wishing for relief

Ya Rabb,
Feel my pain
deep in my soul
worrying for the siblings,
Wishing for solution

Ya Rabb,
Bless them all,
Bless us All,
We hold on tight,
to the rope of righteous.

Ya Rabb,
Bless those who prays to You,
Reward those who seek You,
Be with those who remembers You,

My thanks to you God.
For letting me journey so far.
May You let me go further,
Till the youthful skin sag,
Till the eyes turn blue,
Till the hair turns white.
Only You can grant this wish of mine.


Amin.

Selamat Tinggal

Amat dukacita untuk saya umumkan bahawa permulaan bulan October ini , saya kehilangan beberapa individu:

1. Mommy Linda atau nama sebenar Amir Bin Haron yang meninggal dunia pada 2hb October 2010 jam 2.35 pagi.

2. Mrs Lee Kuan Yew - isteri kepada Menteri Pembimbing Mr Lee Kuan Yew pada hari yang sama.

Nampaknya tahun ini lebih ramai yang meninggalkan kita - tidak seperti tahun tahun sebelumnya.