Tuesday 29 September 2009

Raya Open House 2009

Four generations present



Insy: Mak, you wore this same exact outfit first raya. Why not wear that killer sarong kebaya?
Me: Never mind lah. This baju kurung is the most comfortable. So what if not sexy - I can quickly langkah-langkah back and forth in these. Sshhh, that kebaya too special lah...
Insy: The caterer's ready... you can now buka langkah and go check the buffet hehe


Everything A-OK
Picture taken later cos someone
didn't charge the camera



Wo terk Kai Sing Peow Mei in tudung
and also from next door




Ajoi: Aunty, what's with your eyes?
Me: I put on mascara just now.
Ali: Aiyo put mascara
Me: That caterer was late, I had nothing to do and my hands got itchy.
Ajoi: One eye is red already.
Me: Yalah after that my eye pulak got itchy and I rubbed it a little.
Ajoi: Aiyo.
Me: Now I'm seeing something like a small spider in my visual space here at the side. I keep trying to catch it and crush it but it's just like a hologram.
Nora: I think it's your mascara clumped together.
Me: Ya kah? So not pro at it. Eh makan, makan I'll take a picture of you.


Babes, that spider? It's called a floater. Here read this:

Eye floaters are those tiny spots, specks, flecks and "cobwebs" that drift aimlessly around in your field of vision. While annoying, ordinary eye floaters and spots are very common and usually aren't cause for alarm.

Floaters and spots typically appear when tiny pieces of the eye's gel-like vitreous break loose within the eye's interior.

You'll notice that these types of spots and floaters are particularly pronounced when you peer at a bright, clear sky or a white computer screen. But you can't actually see tiny bits of debris floating loose within your eye. Instead, shadows from these floaters are cast on the retina as light passes through the eye, and those shadows are what you see.

You'll also notice that these specks never seem to stay still when you try to focus on them. Floaters and spots move when your eye moves, creating the impression that they are "drifting."

Well those are floaters for you..

But these are fliers and I mean 30,000 feet high fliers - Amal with some of his friends, dubbed the MCA gang, from Batch 06/06 of MAS cadet pilots.

Amal: This is KayJay, Hue and LupJoe.
Me: LupJoe, I used to read your blog you know.
Someone: Wah you got blog!
LupJoe: No more oredi.
Me: What happened to it?
LupJoe: Actually I participate in the forum only (airlinespilot.com). Just helping people how to apply for pilot course etc.
Me: That was very good of you, you know. Eh where's another one MCA.
Amal: He's married, he said he's too busy making babies hahaha!



Me: This Abu got too much hair
Abu: I'm not trendy lah Aunty. Actually this trend started by the Botak gang. They all gangsters lah.
Shazmi: I'm a natural botak as you know. These two are just wannabes.
Hanif: Better merasa botak when we're still young lah.
Ras: Yeah, yeah..... haha. Then we won't miss it when we lose it.



Umairah
: Kak, the syrup's too sweet
Alfa: They haven't kacau the ice yet
Me: Add some mineral water lah (wondering if there's a relevant ayat)Capt. (rtd) Lat: How's the syrup now?
Umairah's hubby: Better than the ones you air-lifted in the Caribou, qwa-qwa


Jane: We must take a picture together. Katy and I used to work with your sis-in-law at a famous hotel.
Me: Small world isn't it?
Kaklong: Aunty Jane gave me a glowing testi lah.

Jane: And it was a real pleasure to work with your daughter too, and I just had to come and meet her parents.
Me: Waah that's too much accolades (blush). Work is work what!



Me: Kaklong take a picture here.
Kaklong: Oh my goodness, they are SO cute in their tudongs (Saya's little girls)
Saya: Shhh I'm here under-cover. Don't post my picture OK?
Me: Shhh, here I'm Maria OK?
Saya: heehee actually white makes me look big.
Me: Don't worry I'll edit your pic.

Saya: When you guys are free come over, I'll make you all my meehoon chicken briyani.
Alfa: Aaah we cannot ever miss that, can we? It's something I will be looking forward to, thank you.
Me: (while walking to her car) My God, I'm sure you can sing very well.
Saya: Why do you say that?
Me: Your voice, it's so melodious. You recite the Quran well too I know.

Caaaak!
Saya: Muah,muah,muah...... muah,muah,muah (Saya lost for words for once)


DD: I've got good news and bad news for you
Me: Tell me the bad one first.
DD: No I'll tell you the good one.
Me: OK shoot.

The enginerds - boss not pictured here

DD: The good news is we've got a project in --------tan.
Me: Congratulations.
DD: The bad news is we've got to send Alfa there.
Me: Well that's good news for him!
DD: His stint is for about two weeks.
Me: That's OK. Means I can have a second honeymoon (thinks "but we already had 2 or 3 or is it 4...?")
DD: Yeah I think you can get ready for another honeymoon.
Me: (thinks "YESSSS!")


Me: Doc, I'm surprised you don't sound like a Ganuman at all.
DrSam: A Ganu person is not as unchangeable as the Kelantan man. We can adapt more easily than them.
Zayda: He has been swallowed by the Perakian.
Me: Haha...."Saya" was here too.
DrSam: Yes I ada juga baca-baca dia.
Alfa: I like her candidness though some people may not appreciate that.
Me: Alfa hasn't gone beyond 2 postings.
DrSam: Yes, I noticed.Alfa: My comments can be too frank as well - even though I have my white gloves on when I type. But I like your madah-madah style.
DrSam: Sometimes it just comes hehe.
Me: Here Kak Long take a picture of us. Poor Doc's not been well lately. He's lucky to have a wife who dotes on him.
Kaklong: SMILE EVERYONE.



The Bye-byes





Conspicuous by their absence:



Thursday 24 September 2009

Can't decide on a title and punch-line for this

Maybe

1. This Is He

- a chip of the old block

or

2. Need to Know

- whether I am the beneficiary of his life insurance

or

3. Some Moms

- do have them

or

4. Tak Sudi Lagi

- doa mak dia kot...











As you can guess from the choices above, I have mixed feelings about this. It's after the fact anyway - and I do feel proud of him, happy for him, apprehensive and sebak all at the same time. Because bungee-jumping is such a fear-conquering experience that he might become too over-confident for whatever crazy pursuits that might catch his fancy next time.

Safety above all, Azeim. Remember that.

What say you, my friends?

Tuesday 22 September 2009

Clan Bulletin - How NOT To Put On The Weight You Lost Over Ramadan


Be anti-social and NOT attend these open-houses:

first raya: Tokmi's house from after solat sunat aidilfitri til lunch

There were not many dry eyes during the supplication part of the khutbah where the good Imam pleaded " Ya Allah, kami banyak berdosa terhadap ibu-bapa kami Ya Allah,
kami banyak berdosa terhadap ibu-bapa kami Ya Allah, Kau ampunilah dosa-dosa kami terhadap ibu-bapa kami Ya Allah, Kau ampunilah dosa-dosa kami terhadap ibu-bapa kami Ya Allah" . His voice broke "Ya Allah Kau perhatikan amalan kami Ya Allah, Kau perhatikan amalan kami Ya Allah" followed by crying and incoherent pleading..... until the bilal interjected with the takbir. It was heart-wrenching. He was the Imam no less, always at the masjid leading prayers, organising tazkirahs, taddarus, qiamullails, gotong royongs, etc - and I thought, "here I am, a nobody with a heart of stone - pleading nothing with that much sincerity"...

after Tokmi is Uncle Latif's in Subang Jaya
Ziarah - Wak Nah Banting, Wak Lehan Jln Kebun, Cik Manap Jln Kebun, Cik Awi Ampang Jaya, Kak Wati and the gang Ampang Jaya

second raya: Atuk Rahman's house from lunch onwards
Mummy and Haris - Ampang Indah, Mak Piah - Taman Ehsan

22/9 Tuesday noon - 3pm Uncle Sid's house Shah Alam

23/9 Wednesday 8pm Aunty Jas' house Kota Damansara<<<<<<------

24/9 STILL AVAILABLE
Hehe, any excuse for a gathering


25/9 Friday 8pm Uncle Jamil's house Section 12 PJ

26/9 Saturday noon Uncle Khalid's at Salak Tinggi

27/9 Sunday 11am til 6pm Aunty Em at USJ
(Clash with Wak Nah - Banting!!!)


Ampun maaf dipinta




2/10 Friday 8pm Aunty Ani at Section 14 PJ

3/10 Nikah Ceremony - Angah Cik Manan - Shah Alam

4/10 Sunday time??? Ahmad Jamal Clan Gathering at Aunty Rosnah's Bukit Tunku (Clash with Angah's Kenduri)

Further updates as and when more info is available
Who else? Aunty JJ, Aunty Rose, Aunty Sela/Shasha, Aunty Salwa (Condo), Uncle Seman, Company Open House...

Co-ordinators
Abu Iman
Ummi Shyro


PS - Otherwise EAT and renew your acquaintance with the GYM and POCO-POCO!





Hmmmm..... what is he
up to this time???.....



Friday 18 September 2009

Untuk renungan


(Tazkirah Ramadhan mutakhir disampaikan oleh Ustaz Shihabuddin Muhaemin)

1. Kalau kita semangat berpuasa , mengapa kita tidak semangat juga dalam bersolat yang sama matlamatnya iaitu taqwa?

2. Kalau kita bersungguh-sungguh menepati waktu berbuka, adakah kita bersungguh-sungguh menepati waktu solat?

3. Kalau kita berbuka dengan makan berjema'ah, adakah kita solat juga berjema'ah

4. Kalau kita rajin solat terawih di masjid, adakah kita juga rajin solat fardu di masjid?

5. Kalau kita rajin beribadah dalam bulan Ramadhan, mengapa tidak kita rajin beribadah selepas Ramadhan?

Ubahkan persepsi kita terhadap Ramadhan -
dari bulan ibadah
kepada bulan kita BERMULA RAJIN beribadah.


Thursday 17 September 2009

I got no kampong to balik to

Ever since both sets of our grandparents passed on, we've spent Hari Raya in the Klang Valley with our parents. Even that, there's only my Mum left now and arwah Dad's brother, Alhamdulillah.

The nice thing about having no faraway kampong is we that we get to go home at night to our own beds.

No need to put up with communal makeshift ones or the first-to-arrive-gets-the-guest-bedroom kind of deal.

And at this time the valley is at it's most serene, no cars, no lorries, no motor-bikes, in short NO JAMS.

You almost get to hear silence on the roads.

You get to see emptiness in the commercial centres.

And you get to see bands of migrant workers out enjoying the holidays, smiles etched on their faces as they greet their countrymen.

And apart from the occasional fire-cracker, you might even get to hear yourself breathe.





Well for those making the journey, drive safely, exercise lots of patience and do have a pleasant trip.



























EID MUBARAQ TO ALL MUSLIMS EVERYWHERE

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Think tummy, Think Tomee

Eat Less Rice!


My poor tummy, in a few days time after a month's respite, I'll be re-subjecting it to the cruelty of engorgement that it has suffered for as long as I can remember. Every year at Hari Raya Puasa I can't help but think of the futility of it all, we train our spiritual side for a month then slide back into carnal comforts in a day. We rest our tums for a month then bully them till the next Ramadan.


My tech-savvy Abo friend Tomee, who also goes by the Malay name Asif, dispensed this advice in an e-mail:

Eat Less Rice!

and by extension

Eat Less Ketupat this Raya Season!

Why? We ask.....

Because.....

The human body was never meant to consume rice! You see, our genes have hardly changed in more than 30,000 years. However, our food choices and lifestyle have changed dramatically. The caveman would hardly recognise our food or way of life.

Caveman food was never cooked as fire was not yet tamed. Thus, he ate only those foods that you can eat without treatment with or by fire. He ate fruits, vegetables, fish (sushi anyone?), eggs, nuts and meat. Yes, even meat!



You can even eat meat raw if you were starving in the forest. You have the necessary enzymes to digest meat.

However, rice, like wheat and corn, cannot be eaten raw. It must be cooked. Even if you were starving in the desert, you cannot eat rice in the raw form. This is because we do not have the system of enzymes to break rice down. You were never meant to eat rice. To make matters worse, you not only eat rice, but also make it the bulk of your food.
In some parts of Asia , rice forms up to 85% of the plate. Even if you take rice, keep it to a minimum. Remember, it is only for your tongue - not your body.

Actually, rice and other grains like wheat and corn are actually worse than sugar. There are many reasons:
Rice becomes sugar - lots of it! This is a fact that no nutritionist can deny: rice is chemically no different from sugar. One bowl of cooked rice is the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This does not matter whether it is white, brown or herbal rice.


Brown rice is richer in fibre, some B vitamins and minerals but it is still the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar.

To get the same 10 teaspoons of sugar, you need to consume lots of kangkong-10 bowls of it.


Rice is digested to become sugar.
Rice cannot be digested before it is thoroughly cooked. However, when thoroughly cooked, it becomes sugar and spikes circulating blood sugar within half an hour-almost as quickly as it would if you took a sugar candy.
Rice is very low in the 'rainbow of anti-oxidants. '
This complete anti-oxidant rainbow is necessary for the effective and safe utilisation of sugar.

Fruits come with a sugar called fructose. However, they are not empty calories as the fruit is packed with a whole host of other nutrients that help its proper assimilation and digestion.


Rice has no fibre.
The fibre of the kangkong fills you up long before your blood sugar spikes.



This is because the fibre bulks and fills up your stomach.

Since white rice has no fibre, you end up eating lots of 'calorie dense' food before you get filled up.

Brown rice has more fibre but still the same amount of sugar.


Rice is tasteless-sugar is sweet.
There is only so much that you can eat at one sitting. How many teaspoons of sugar can you eat before you feel like throwing up? Could you imagine eating 10 teaspoons of sugar in one seating?

Rice is always the main part of the meal.
While sugar may fill your dessert or sweeten your coffee, it will never be the main part of any meal. You could eat maybe two to three teaspoons of sugar at one meal. However, you could easily eat the equal value of two to three bowls (20-30 teaspoons) of sugar in one meal.

I am always amused when I see someone eat sometimes five bowls of rice (equals 50 teaspoons of sugar) and then asks for tea tarik kurang manis!


There is no real 'built in' mechanism for us to prevent overeating of rice:
How much kangkong can you eat? How much fried chicken can you eat? How much steamed fish can you eat? Think about that! In one seating, you cannot take lots of chicken, fish or cucumber, but you can take lots of rice.

Eating rice causes you to eat more salt. As rice is tasteless, you tend to consume more salt-another villain when it comes to high blood pressure. You tend to take more curry that has salt to help flavor rice. We also tend to consume more ketchup and soy sauce which are also rich in salt.


Eating rice causes you to drink less water. The more rice you eat, the less water you will drink as there is no mechanism to prevent the overeating of rice. Rice, wheat and corn come hidden in our daily food. As rice is tasteless, it tends to end up in other foods that substitute rice like rice flour, noodles and bread. We tend to eat the hidden forms which still get digested into sugar.

Rice, even when cooked, is difficult to digest. Can't eat raw rice? Try eating rice half cooked. Contrary to popular belief, rice is very difficult to digest. It is 'heavy stuff'.

If you have problems with digestion, try skipping
rice for a few days. You will be amazed at how the problem will just go away. Rice prevents the absorption of several vitamins and minerals. Rice when taken in bulk will reduce the absorption of vital nutrients like zinc, iron and the B vitamins. Are you a rice addict? Going rice-less may not be easy but you can go rice-less. Eating less rice could be lot easier than you think. Here are some strategies that you can pursue in your quest to eat less rice:

Eat less rice-
cut your rice by half.

Barry Sears, author of the Zone Diet, advises 'eating rice like spice'.

Instead, increase your fruits and vegetables. Take more lean meats and fish. You can even take more eggs and nuts.


Have 'riceless' meals. Take no rice or wheat at say, breakfast. Go for eggs instead.

Go on 'riceless' days. Go 'western' once a week.. Take no rice and breads for one day every week. That can't be too difficult.



Appreciate the richness of your food. Go for taste, colours and smells. Make eating a culinary delight. Enjoy your food in the original flavours.
Avoid the salt shaker or ketchup. You will automatically eat less rice.

Eat your fruit dessert before (Yes! No printing error) your meals.




The fibre rich fruits will 'bulk up' in your stomach. Thus, you will eat less rice and more fruits.


It's your life. Decide what you want to eat!

But eat less rice!



There you are. Think tummy, think Tomee!

Why not take it a step further - Go Abo! .........Like Eva Mendez

No one can blame Eva Mendes for being culturally insensitive. While filming a movie in Australia, the Latina beauty took a short trip to Uluru and dined with a group of aboriginal woman who were excited to introduce Eva to their native cuisine.

“They got these kangaroo tails, wrapped them in tin foil and threw them on the fire, with the hair still on them. Kangaroo tail tastes like the worst beef jerky you’ve tasted in your life.’


Eva, 34, was given a delicious treat for dessert. “They serve up grubs for afters,” she recalls. “You find a tree, crack open the branches and there are these fat old worms, ready to be slightly fried and eaten…After eating the kangaroo tails, the grubs were like the world’s finest tiramisu, believe me.” [Source]


EEEEWWWWHHH!!!

Anyway, everyone......


hali laya sula mali

satu taun satu kali

beli baju satu loli


salah silap wa cakap


SOLI! SOLI! SOLI!


Tuesday 15 September 2009

Should we order Coca-cola for Open House?

Hari Raya will be upon us soon and so it's time to plan for our annual open house.

We've settled on the date and the menu, and will be ordering for 200 pax from the caterer we had for the last couple of years. Heard that other caterers are not taking orders anymore.

I do hope everything's OK with the menu - no mix-up or communication confusion because this particular caterer has yet to finalise her quotation.

C'mon lady, get on with it otherwise I may have to order from Singapore........ serious

(must remember to cut the coke off the menu then)





_________________________________________________________________________________________

Monday 14 September 2009

Specially for my new Abo friend, Tomee




MY BOOMERANG WON'T COME BACK
Charlie Drake - 1961


(Oom-yacka-wurka, oom-yacka-wurka, oom-yacka-wurka)

In the bad backlands of Australia
Many years ago,
The aborigine tribes were meeting,
Having a big pow-wow.

(Oom-yacka-wurka, oom-yacka-wurka)

"We got a lot of trouble, Chief,
On account of your son Mack."
"My boy Mack? Why, what's wrong with him?"
DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back.
"Your boomerang won't come back?"

DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back,
My boomerang won't come back,
I've waved the thing all over the place,
Practised till I was black in the face,
I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race,
My boomerang won't come back.

DRAKE: I can ride a kangaroo (yeah yeah)
Make kinkajou stew (yeah yeah)
But I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race,
My boomerang won't come back.

They banished him from the tribe then
And sent him on his way,
He had a backless boomerang
So here he could not stay.

(Animal noises)

DRAKE: [Spoken] This is nice, innit? Getting banished at my time of life. What a way to spend an
evening: sitting on a rock in the middle of the desert with me boomerang in me hand. I shall very
likely get bushwhacked.

(An animal roars; Drake shrieks back.)

DRAKE: Get out of it! You nasty bushwhacking animal. Think I'll make a nice cup of tea. (Doing, doing,
doing...) Good gracious! There goes a kangaroo. I must have a practice with me boomerang: hit him right
behind the left earhole. Now then, slowly back.

Gruff voice: If you throw that thing at me, I'll jump right on your head. (It chuckles and bounces away.)

DRAKE: Innit marvellous? Got a land full of kangaroos and I had to pick that one.

For three long months he sat there
Or maybe it was four,
Then an old old man in a kangaroo skin
Came a-knocking at his door.

"Well, I'm the local witch doctor, son,
They call me George Alfred Black.
Now tell me, what's your trouble, boy?"
DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back.
"Your boomerang won't come back?"

DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back,
My boomerang won't come back,
I've waved the thing all over the place,
Practised till I was black in the face,
I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race,
My boomerang won't come back.

"Don't worry, boy, I know the trick,
And to you I'm gonna show it.
If you want your boomerang to come back,
Well first you've got to... throw it."

DRAKE: Ooh, yes! Never thought of that. Daddy will be pleased. Must have a go, nyuh-huh! Excuse me.
Now then, slowly back... and throw.

(Boomerang whizzes away; Sounds of a plane approaching and then falling from the sky.)

DRAKE: Ooh my God! I've hit the flying doctor. Eee-hee-hee! Can you do first aid?
Witch Doctor: Don't talk to me about first aid, boy, you owe me fourteen chickens, you know, when
I learned you to throw the boomerang, you know, first things first.
DRAKE: Yes, I know that, but I mean, I think on this occasion, you know, you could be a bit more
perspective...........



Or YEW COULD start a blog Tomee! or I'll get the pirate onto yew.....

Saturday 12 September 2009

Meme: Save Yvonne's Sight

What if you or any of your loved ones is afflicted with neurofibromatosis type II and his/her sight has been severely affected? Would you have written a book about the condition to help raise funds for the very expensive surgery. Well, someone has done just that, not for another but for herself.
















Yvonne Foong, 22, has neurofibromatosis type II, which has severely affected her sight and hearing due to tumours in the brain and spine. She is scheduled for an operation between 1 and 4 December 2009. The cost of surgery is USD44,000 or RM154,770, and the cost of staying in hospital for two weeks is USD915 or RM3219.

She has raised about RM10,000 of this and is hoping to raise the rest by republishing her book I'm Not Sick; I'm Just a Bit Unwell in English and Chinese. The books are now available in Malaysian bookshops and from her web site store. She is also selling T-shirts at bazaars and via her web site store. You can read about her surgery and donate to her fund here.

You can also help by sending on this meme. If you do, please follow these meme rules:
1. Create a blog entry titled "Meme: Save Yvonne's Sight"
2. List three things you love to see. Add in the picture of Yvonne's book cover. The URL is http://www.yvonnefoong.com/images/banner/my-story.jpg
3. End with the line, "Yvonne Foong is in danger of losing her eyesight thanks to neurofibromatosis (NF). Please find out how you can help her by visiting her blog at http://www.yvonnefoong.com.
4. Tag 5 blog friends. Be sure to copy the rules, OK?
5. If you have a Facebook account, please check out Ellen's new invention, a "feme" pronounced FEEM, a meme designed for Facebook here. And if you want to blog about NF, that would be great too!
Three things I love to see :
1. A perfect omelette
2. A green light at the intersection
3. A toddler staring at me
Kak Teh has tagged me for the Save Yvonne's Sight Meme.

Bloggers I'm tagging are:

Ayub Jamil of Delights of Remembrance
Dr Sam of An Archive of Time
Pak Zawi of LAISI
Saya of I, Blog (currently)
Uncle Lee of A Moonlight Rendezvous


"Yvonne Foong is in danger of losing her eyesight thanks to neurofibromatosis (NF). Please find out how you can help her by visiting her blog at http://www.yvonnefoong.com."


In fact if anyone else out there would like to meme or feme this - please feel free.
LET'S DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HELP YVONNE.



Friday 11 September 2009

Kitchen Blues

When I was in Std. One we were taught nursery rhymes such as this one:

Mix a pancake,
Stir a pancake,
Pop it in the pan.

Fry the pancake,
Toss
the pancake,
Catch
it if you can.

Nope, not making pancakes today.


Just taking a breather from the kitchen.

Why can't I ever make a perfect omelette?

The tomatoes and the daun bawang and sliced onions and garlic all combine so perfectly in the beaten eggs, the colours are enticing, the shape's perfectly round, the bottom's done perfectly, and when I flip it - a part of the edge koyak!!!

Now it's NOT perfect - SHEEEEEESSSSH.


______________________________________________________________

Thursday 10 September 2009

Bridging the Divide

As we enter the final stages of Ramadhan, I would like to share a story (link provided by Amin in KK) about a Malaysian daiee's experiences in Malaysia and abroad (Belfast, Ireland). It was written 3 years ago but still an eye-opener on the issues relating to spreading the message. The writer is Ustaz Hasrizal. His biodata is here and his website is http://saifulislam.com

AKU SALAFI, ANAK (MURID)KU BAGAIMANA?


KISAH SELUAR

“Eh, Mid. Seluar engkau tu tak sesuai. Warnanya tak masuk dengan warna baju engkau. Tukarlah seluar lain. Pakai yang gelap sedikit”, Edi menunding jari ke arah Hamid yang wajahnya masam mencuka.

“Mid, engkau nak keluar macam tu? Tak malu ke? Orang zaman sekarang ni sudah tidak pakai seluar begitu. Carilah yang up-to-date sikit”, Zamri pula mencelah, turut sama memberi komen kepada Hamid yang baru sahaja menukar seluarnya.

“La Ilaha Illallah. Itukah seluar terbaik engkau? Malu aku nak berjalan dengan kamu, Mid. Seluar macam itu, orang sekarang buat kain pengelap lantai sahaja, kau tahu tak?”, kata Azlan yang tidak berpuas hati dengan penampilan rakan serumahnya, Hamid.

Pipi Hamid sudah merah. Wajahnya sudah masam mencuka. Rupanya seperti bom yang mahu meletup. Pakai yang ini salah, pakai yang itu salah, habis yang mana satu?

“Yelah yelah, susah sangat, aku keluar rumah bertelanjang lagi senang”, akhirnya Hamid keluar dari biliknya bertelanjang. Ia menjadi insiden yang amat mengaibkan. Tidak tergamak untuk ditulis di sini.

Ya, akibat keliru dan diasak dengan pelbagai pendapat, akhirnya Hamid mengambil keputusan paling drastik iaitu bertelanjang.

Kisah di atas mungkin sekadar bayangan saya. Namun saya menulisnya sebagai gambaran tentang kekeliruan yang berlaku di kalangan masyarakat kita dengan kepelbagaian pendapat yang menyerang. Bila dibuat begini, dikatakan Bid”™ah. Bila dibuat begitu, diserang pula dengan tohmahan sebagai Wahabi. Akhirnya golongan ini terkeliru dan mereka membuat keputusan yang paling popular masa kini, iaitu bertelanjang. Mereka menelanjangkan diri dari agama, kerana agama itu sungguh mengelirukan.

Siapakah yang mengelirukan masyarakat tentang agama? Tidak lain dan tidak bukan, iaitulah golongan agama sendiri. Sama ada yang berkelulusan agama dari Alif sampai Ya, mahu pun yang Alifnya rumi, dan di tengah-tengah jalan, Lamnya menjadi jawi dan Arabi.

REALITI YANG DILUPAKAN

Ya, dalam keasyikan melayan pelbagai pandangan dan aliran, kita sering terlupa bahawa majoriti telah memilih untuk bertelanjang. Mereka menanggalkan agama dari diri kerana agama sungguh menyerabutkan. Pandangan ini saya kutip daripada pelbagai siri pertemuan, terutamanya apabila mengendalikan kursus wajib yang disediakan oleh pihak Universiti dan Kolej. Saya bertemu dengan ramai pelajar yang pelbagai dan nyata sekali di hari pertama kursus, kebanyakannya hadir dengan paksa rela.

Ia berbeza dengan kuliah di masjid. Masjid hanya dihadiri oleh mereka yang berjiwa masjid. Maka kita bertemu dengan insan yang hampir sama corak fikir dan gelombang frekuensinya. Ia juga tidak sama dengan program terbuka yang iklan di papan kenyataan hanya dipedulikan oleh mereka yang peduli. Akan tetapi, ketika saya berprogram melalui Fitrah Perkasa, saya bertemu dengan manusia yang sungguh pelbagai. Saya tidak berhasrat untuk mengulas dalam skala yang terlalu besar, maka untuk kali ini saya hanya ingin mengajak pembaca menumpukan perhatian kepada kekeliruan yang menimpa golongan muda, khususnya pelajar sekolah, kolej dan universiti.

Saya masih ingat, semasa di Belfast, saya menghadapi masalah yang sama. Soalan saya semasa itu mudah sahaja, AKU SALAFI, ANAK (MURID)KU BAGAIMANA?

Bagaimanakah sepatutnya saya mengajar anak-anak murid yang pelbagai itu? Jika saya mengajar solat Fajar tanpa qunut, ia menghairankan anak murid saya yang beribu bapakan seorang Melayu yang tidak pernah meninggalkan qunut, bahkan menggantikan qunut yang tertinggal dengan sujud sahwi. Seandainya saya mengajar solat Fajar dengan qunut, ia membingungkan anak murid saya yang berketurunan Pakistan dan Turki yang hairan mengapa mereka diajar qunut sedangkan ibu bapa mereka terus sujud selepas bangun dari rukuk di rakaat kedua.

Saya harus akur bahawa pelajar di sekolah saya terdiri daripada anak-anak yang datang dari lebih 25 negara. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Kashmir, Turki, Bosnia, Adzerbaijan, Mesir, Jordan, Syria, Arab Saudi, Maghribi, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Lubnan, Iraq, malah Iran dan tidak lupa Malaysia, serta yang sudah pastinya British, English, Irish, dan Scottish. Semua itu terhimpun dalam sebuah sekolah kecil bernama Belfast Islamic School yang berpengetuakan saya, seorang budak Melayu yang baru berusia 26 tahun ketika itu.

Itu baru satu isu.

KEBENARAN ISLAM VS KRISTIAN

Masalah seperti ini juga membabitkan isu kebenaran Islam dan Kristian. Saya tidak boleh secara mudah menyebut, “agama yang benar adalah Islam, manakala Kristian itu batil dan sesat, tempatnya di neraka!”�. Mengapa tidak? Sebabnya mudah. Hampir 20 orang daripada anak murid saya yang ibu mereka Kristian manakala bapa mereka Muslim. Dengan menggunakan peruntukan perkahwinan bersama ahli Kitab, jumlah penduduk di Belfast yang mengahwini perempuan Kristian tempatan agak signifikan.

“Imam, saya rasa emak saya yang Kristian lebih baik akhlaknya berbanding ayah saya yang Muslim. Takkanlah mak saya masuk neraka!”, kata salah seorang anak murid saya.

Habis, apakah jawapan yang dapat saya berikan? Hakikatnya memang begitu.

Saya pernah dihubungi oleh pihak polis yang meminta agar saya hadir ke sebuah funeral house. Saya dijemput dengan sebuah limosin hitam, bagi menghadiri upacara menyembahyangkan jenazah seorang kanak-kanak perempuan berusia 4 tahun yang meninggal dunia semasa tidur. Ibunya Kristian bermazhab Katolik dan ayahnya seorang Muslim Arab dari Algeria.

Semasa tiba di majlis tersebut, saya bertemu dengan si ayah. Bertindik, rambut kerinting cantik berdandan. Si ayah bersalam acuh tidak acuh dengan saya. Tiada sepatah pun kalimah dari mulutnya, salam saya juga tidak berjawab.

Saya dibawa bertemu dengan si ibu, wanita Irish dalam usia akhir 20′an. Wajahnya sugul sekali dan ketika melihat saya, dia datang sambil melemparkan senyuman yang dipaksa.

“Terima kasih, Imam. Saya amat menghargai kedatangan Imam. Maafkan saya kerana meminta bantuan polis untuk mencari Imam sebab saya tidak tahu lokasi masjid di Belfast.”, katanya.

“Tak apa, puan. Malah saya amat berterima kasih di atas kesungguhan puan menghubungi kami. Apa yang terjadi puan? Bagaimana puteri puan meninggal dunia?”, saya bertanya.

“Tuan Imam, anak saya tuan Imam. Itulah satu-satunya anak kami. Kami amat sayangkan dia. Tetapi pagi Isnin baru-baru ini, kami bangun pagi dan dapati Mary sudah tidak bernyawa. Wajahnya biru dan tubuhnya sejuk membeku”, jawab wanita tersebut dengan tangisan air mata.

“Inna Lillah wa Inna Ilayhi Rajioon. Takziah dari saya, semoga Allah memberi kekuatan kepada puan dan suami”, saya cuba mententeramkannya.

“Maafkan suami saya Imam, dia memang begitu. Agak kurang peramah”, kata perempuan tersebut sambil merenung suaminya yang sedang menghembuskan asap rokok ke tingkap koridor.

Saya dan rombongan masjid dibawa ke dewan. Kami meminta supaya di arah kiblat, tiada sebarang tanda salib atau patung. Semasa menjenguk ke keranda, berderai air mata saya melihat si anak kecil yang dihias cantik, dengan gaun putih dan rambut yang disikat kemas.

“Allah telah menyelamatkan dirimu wahai anakku, Maryam. Pulanglah engkau ke syurga-Nya”, saya berbisik sendirian ke arah sekujur jenazah yang mati penuh misteri.

Saya susunkan saf menjadi tiga. Seterusnya saya imamkan solat jenazah di pagi yang hening itu, sambil diperhatikan oleh puluhan anggota keluarga ibu si Mary. Ayahnya enggan bersolat bersama kami.

Selesai mengerjakan solat, saya diminta berucap di hadapan orang ramai, sebagaimana adat yang diamalkan oleh penganut Kristian Katholik.

SAYA BERTALQIN?

“Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan, khususnya Puan Catriona sekeluarga. Sesungguhnya kematian ini adalah sesuatu yang pasti. Kita merancang pelbagai perkara yang entahkan sempat atau tidak kita melakukannya. Tetapi janganlah kita lupa merancang untuk hidup selepas mati.

Ajaran agama kami iaitu Islam, menyatakan bahawa setiap bayi yang lahir, adalah suci dan bersih. Suci dan bersihnya mereka menyebabkan setiap mata yang melihat wajah kanak-kanak akan terhibur, kerana pada diri mereka tiada dosa. Di antara kanak-kanak yang suci itu adalah Mary Daly yang akan berpisah dengan kita buat selama-lamanya hari ini. Mary lahir dengan penuh kesucian, seperti kanak-kanak yang lain, seperti Mary ibu kepada Isa. Dan apabila dia pulang kepada Tuhan seawal usia ini, dia pulang dengan suci, dan pastinya Tuhan menyambut kepulangan Mary dengan penuh restu.

Walaupun sedih, namun bergembiralah Puan Catriona dan suami, serta sekalian yang mengasihinya kerana Mary pulang ke syurga. Tempat yang selayaknya untuk insan-insan yang suci sepertinya. Semoga Allah menerima Mary dengan sebaiknya, dan memberikan kekuatan kepada ibu dan ayahnya, Amen”, saya mengakhiri ucapan pagi itu dengan sekalung doa.

Entahlah, apakah perbuatan saya itu menjadi talqin yang dibid’ahkan oleh sesetengah orang? Namun ia adalah peluang dakwah yang amat besar kerana hanya dengan Islam sahaja, kematian Mary boleh dilihat positif, sedangkan ramai yang hadir gusar kerana Mary belum disucikan daripada original sin sebab belum sempat dibaptiskan paderi.

PENTINGKAH ILMU PEDAGOGI?

Pengalaman di atas sungguh unik, namun saya tetap melihatkan sebagai suatu cabaran yang mengelirukan, apabila ia dibawa ke institusi pendidikan. Di Belfast Islamic School, saya harus serius memikirkan kaedah pendidikan yang tersendiri lantaran keadaan anak-anak murid saya yang sungguh unik lagi tersendiri.

Pada masa itu ilmu dan pengalaman saya amat cetek. Saya terpanggil untuk berusaha meningkatkan diri dengan memohon menyertai program Master di bidang Sosiologi Agama di The Queen’s University of Belfast. Tetapi semasa hari pendaftaran saya membatalkan hasrat itu kerana tidak mempunyai bekalan wang yang mencukupi.

Pada tahun yang berikutnya saya telah mengambil keputusan untuk melanjutkan pelajaran di peringkat sarjana di bidang Pendidikan (Curriculum Studies) bersama The Open University, UK. Tujuan saya memilih bidang ini adalah kerana cabaran saya di Belfast Islamic School. Saya harus serius membangunkan kurikulum yang tepat bagi sekolah itu bahkan sekolah-sekolah lain di UK dan Ireland.

Tidak mungkin generasi anak-anak ini dididik dengan sistem pendidikan yang dilalui oleh ibu bapa mereka. Anak-anak ini menerima pendedahan terhadap Islam dalam bentuk yang berbeza. Soal mazhab, perkahwinan campur dan banyak lagi isu, harus ditangani dengan teliti.

Saya tidak boleh mengambil pendekatan bebal. Ahh, manhaj aku adalah yang paling tepat dengan al-Quran dan al-Sunnah. Maka dunia harus berputar mengikut putaranku. Soal mereka ikut atau tidak, itu tidak penting. Yang mengikut tandanya dapat hidayah. Manakala yang menolak, terserahlah nasib mereka untuk ditentukan Allah! Wah, mampukah saya berkata demikian? Jika anak orang lain mungkin sedap mulut kita menyebutnya. Tetapi apabila terkena anak sendiri, mahu dibiarkan sahajakah dia terhumban ke lembah yang terpesong dari jalan ke syurga itu?

Guru-guru yang mengajar anak murid tanpa mengambil kira kesan pengajarannya, adalah sungguh tidak mempedulikan Sunnah. Kita mengajar untuk express atau impress? Kita berceramah untuk memandaikan orang atau untuk tunjuk pandai di hadapan orang?

Kerana itu, saya tenggelamkan diri saya dalam himpunan buku pedagogi. Alhamdulillah, rakan-rakan sekuliah amat pelbagai. Ada cikgu sekolah di Jepun, ada guru penjara di Hawaii, dan ramai lagi rakan forum saya dalam subjek semester pertama kami. The Open University of UK mempunyai Fakulti Pendidikan yang terbesar di Eropah, dengan jumlah pelajar yang mencecah 16 ribu orang semuanya.

Malang sekali, di tahun pertama pengajian, saya ditimpa penyakit dan terlantar selama berbulan-bulan di rumah. Saya tidak boleh keluar rumah kerana kulit saya menjadi foto sensitif. Berbahang apabila terkena matahari. Saya mengundurkan diri dari pengajian di tahun itu.

Manakala di tahun berikutnya, saya menyambung kembali pengajian, tetapi malang sekali lagi, kami terpaksa pulang ke Malaysia kerana isteri saya dipanggil pulang berkhidmat di tanah air.

Walaupun MEd. saya terbengkalai, namun saya masih sensitif dengan metodologi pengajaran. Pada saya, ilmu mengajar adalah sama pentingnya dengan ilmu yang hendak diajar.

Read the rest here




Another excellent read on treading the delicate divide between two dissimilar views http://www.zaharuddin.net/content/view/218/95/


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Wednesday 9 September 2009

Special Dates and Berbuka Puasa

Nice date sequence today - 090909.

Next year's special date is 101010.

Have already told the older kids if any of them wants to get married, 101010 sounds like quite a nice date for a wedding.

One quipped "Everyone will be getting marrried on that date, poyor ler". Well then, 101110 looks nice too. The the next year someone else can get married on 111111, and the next 121212.

My first 3 kids were born in consecutive years 83, 84, 85 which makes then very eligible lah.

My parents were married on 040444. Nothing suey about that - they had me mah - plus 8 others. All of us are from the baby-boomer generation - the least oldest being 45 years of age, the eldest 63. I'm smack in the middle: 8 years older than the youngest and 8 years younger than the oldest. Just do the maths. Hint: My age is double-digit, with a repeating number which adds up to 10.

Not bad being in the middle - can manja with the older ones, and bossy with the younger ones. Not anymore lah, ever since the younger ones became cleverer than me.

Anyway since it is 090909, I'll make it special by posting a tazkirah ramadan on the subject of the breaking of fast. This seems to be a "hot" subject in other blogs which are filled with stories of food, menus and cooking for iftaar.

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Syarat untuk mendapat nikmat ketika berbuka puasa - iaitu mendapat kekenyangan dengan makanan yang sedikit:

1. Duduk menghadap makanan 2 hingga 5 minit sebelum berbuka untuk merangsang air liur. Air liur membantu dalam proses penghazaman makanan.

2. Berdoa sebelum berbuka - Ya Allah! Kerana Engkau aku berpuasa dan kepada Engkau aku beriman dan atas rezeki dari Engkau aku berbuka puasa dengan rahmat Engkau yang meliputi segala sesuatu.

3. Makan dengan mengguna tangan kanan.

4. Bermula dengan makanan yang paling hampir - jangan sampai terangkat punggung.

5. Kunyah makanan lembut sebanyak 11-20 kali dan makanan keras sebanyak 21-40 kali. Berhenti makan sebelum kenyang.

Dengan mengikut kaedah makan seperti tersebut di atas akan memastikan kesejahteraan perut yang harus kita isikan hanya sepertiga dengan makanan, sepertiga lagi untuk minuman dan sepertiga dibiarkan untuk nafas.

Wallahua'lam.

Tazkirah telah disampaikan oleh Ustaz Shihabuddin Muhaemin pada 020909.

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To really stimulate the salivary glands before the iftaar, I suggest the following video. It worked on my dear husband, especially the last 2 minutes. Enjoy!




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Tuesday 8 September 2009

Signs for the Ignorant

As promised in my response to the comments to the entry "Ignorant of the Signs", I have as per below, reproduced the contents of the fatwas / opinions of various scholars to the question of the validity of donating Al-Fatiha to the dead, as contributed by anonymous commenters Sesama Muslim and Alfaqir ilaLlah. Thank you.

For the commentary by Shaykh Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti, I have extracted "relevant excerpts" (my take only) from his long discussion. Do visit http://baalawi.com/articles/fiqh/318-shaykh-muhammad-afifi-al-akiti-the-amal-of-the-living-for-the-dead.html for the whole article.


This is just for sharing only. I would appreciate no further discussions / arguments on the matter. :)

“Rabbi zidni ilma.” (“O my Rabb! Increase me in knowledge.” ) (20:114).


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Reading Surah Ya Sin for the dead

Answered by Shaykh Amjad Rasheed


Question:

What is the ruling for reciting the chapter of Ya Sin for a dead person? Some people have said that is wrong, because it is based on hadiths that were fabricated.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Our imams and others have said that the recitation of Koran at someone�s death is recommended, especially the chapter of Ya Sin. The majority of the scholars of Ahl al-Sunna agree that the recital of Koran at someone�s death does benefit them, whether it is the chapter of Ya Sin or any other, for all of it contains blessings and benefit. Actually, the recitation of Ya Sin has been specifically commanded in what has been narrated by Imam Ahmad and al-Nasai� and Ibn Majah that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �Read Ya Sin for your dead.�

Daraqutni and Ibn Qattan determined this hadith to be weak. But Abu Dawud also narrated this hadith and did not consider it weak, his rule being that what he narrates and does not consider weak, he considers well authenticated. And Ibn Hibban rigorously authenticated this hadith. And al-Hafiz Suyuti considered it well authenticated in his al-Jami al-Saghir.

And al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, when discussing this hadith in al-Talkhis al-Habir, mentioned that Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his Musnad, �Abul-Mughira informed us that Safwan informed us that the scholars used to say: If it, meaning Ya Sin, is read for the dying, his [death] will be lightened by it.�

This is proof that reciting Ya Sin for the dead was well known amongst the Salaf (righteous predecessors) from what has been transmitted from Imam Ahmad � and he is sufficient as Imam in transmitting. This is also proof that Imam Ahmad himself approved acting upon this hadith, because he transmitted it from the scholars, and did not reject it, for had he not approved it, he would have said so and would not have been quiet about it. And this will be emphasized later on.

After relaying what Imam Ahmad said, al-Hafiz [Ibn Hajar] went on to say, �The author of al-Firdaus attributed this hadith to a chain of transmission from Marwan ibn Salim, from Safwan ibn �Amr, from Shuraih, from Abu Darda�, from Abu Dharr, who said: �The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, �There is not a person who dies and Ya Sin is read for him, but that Allah makes it easy upon him.� And Abu al-Sheikh in Fada�il al-Quran has transmitted another variant of this hadith from Abu Dharr alone.�

Thus, it can be seen from all of this that the hadith of reading Ya Sin for the dead has an irrefutable basis, even if it is weak, as some of the abovementioned have said, who were, in turn, contradicted by others mentioned. And the weak hadith can be applied in matters of virtue, according to the consensus of the scholars. Imam Nawawi mentions this in the preface to al-Adhkar. And the scholars have acted upon this hadith, amongst them Imam Ahmad, as mentioned by the Imam of the Hanbalis in fiqh, Imam Ibn Qudama, in his book al-Mughni, which is their greatest book. His text reads, �Ahmad said: And they recite for the person dying; so he will be relieved by the recitation. Let Ya Sin be recited. And he commanded the recitation of al-Fatiha.�

I said: So you see how he [Ahmad] recommended reciting Ya Sin and even added to it the recitation of al-Fatiha, even though nothing has been mentioned specifically about reciting al-Fatiha for the dying. However, Imam Ahmad recommended it and commanded it, and this is proof that this matter is broad and cannot be refuted. And this is corroborated by what has been transmitted from al-Nawawi that: Some of the Tabi�in (first generation after the Sahaba) recommended reciting Surat al-Ra�d for the dying.

Then Ibn Qudama said, �And Said narrated that Faraj ibn Fadala said that Asad ibn Wada�ah said: When Ghadif ibn Harith was dying, his brothers came to him. He said: Is there any amongst you who will read Surat Ya Sin? A man from amongst the people said: yes. He said: read and read slowly; and listen to him. So he read slowly and made the people listen to him, and when he reached �So glory to Him in Whose hands is the dominion of all things, and to Him will ye be all brought back,� his soul departed. Asad ibn Wada�ah said: Whosoever of you goes to the dying, and death is severe for him, let him read Surat Ya Sin so that death will be lightened for him.�

And Imam Nawawi has said in his al-Majmu�: �It is recommended to read Surat Ya Sin for the dying, as has been told to us by our companions. And some of the Tabi�in also recommended Surat al-Ra�d.�

And the conclusion is that the expert Imams from the hadith scholars and the jurisprudents are agreed that reciting Ya Sin and other chapters from the Koran for the dying is recommended. And the one who rejects this is wrong and ignorant of the way of the Salaf and the Imams who are considered for the explanation of laws. And Allah guides to what is right.

All that is left is for me to point out that the scholars have differed in the meaning of �the dead� in the hadith �Read Ya Sin for your dead.� Ibn Hibban said in his Sahih: the meaning of this is whoever is on the verge of death; it is not recited over the person who has already died. But al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar mentioned in al-Talkhis al-Habir that Imam al-Hafiz al-Tabari refuted that; meaning, he said that the definition of �the dead� in the hadith is what is obvious, and that is the person who has departed life.

Amjad Rasheed

[Translated by Sr. Zaynab Ansari]


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Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz

Ruling on reciting al-Faatihah for the deceased
What is the ruling on reciting al-Faatihah and giving the reward for it to the deceased?

Praise be to Allaah.

There is no evidence (daleel) for reciting al-Faatihah or any other part of the Qur’aan and giving (the reward for) it to the deceased. We must not do that, because it was not narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) did any such thing. It is prescribed to make du’aa’ for the dead Muslims and to give charity on their behalf by giving to the poor and needy. In this way a person may draw closer to Allaah and ask Him to give the reward for that to his father, mother or other people, deceased or alive. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When a man dies, all his deeds come to a halt apart from three: ongoing charity (sadaqah jaariyah), beneficial knowledge or a righteous child who will pray for him.”

And it was reported that a man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “O Messenger of Allaah, my mother has died and she did not make a will. I think that if she had spoken she would have given in charity. Will she be rewarded if I give in charity on her behalf?” He said, “Yes.” (Saheeh – agreed upon)

The same applies to Hajj and ‘umrah on behalf of the deceased and paying off his debts. All of these actions will benefit him, as was narrated in the shar’i daleel (evidence). But if the questioner is referring to treating the family of the deceased person kindly by giving them money or meat (i.e., food), there is nothing wrong with that if they are poor.

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him), vol. 9, p. 324


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Shaykh Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti : The ‘Amal of the Living for the Dead

The question posed to the Shaykh:

“Didn’t the Qur’an say: “And that man can have nothing but what he does”? Is there an ahl tafsir who says that one can donate the reward of our worship to the dead? Can you please clarify this for me? Also what is established ruling in the Shafii school regarding donating the Fatihah, for example, to the dead?

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My dear questioner, if I were allowed only to give you a one-line answer, it would have been sufficient for me to say only this: be humble, and learn to trust your scholars! May Allah make it easy for us to open our hearts to make us accept and trust what we have not found “proof” of, what we have not seen and what had been veiled from us; for we have been unworthy of it, Ya Rabb!

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What is more, never did Allah nor His Messenger prohibited the living from giving charity on behalf of the dead. Because if there was such a prohibition (for there is none), even if it be a Hadith which is Da’if and weak, those who prohibit and dislike this practice (such as the Mu’tazila) would have used it by now. (Despite the fact that Da’if Hadiths cannot be used to derive primary rulings in fiqh but can still be used for the fada’ils and illustrations.) Owing to the fact that our Prophet (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him!) never said anything against this practice (and on the contrary, there are numerous rigorously authenticated Hadiths that encourage it), no one has therefore the right to prohibit and deny others a practice which our jurists have deemed good, and indeed, to which the Umma has recorded a Consensus over the issue.
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Is it not sad (and would it not be a tragedy for us all from now on) if those who do not know are unable to trust a living jurist and that he would rather in this case (until someone digs the dead references that will suit his pleasure) deprive himself of the immense benefit that this well known practice, a practice which is accepted by the Umma, brings to both the dead as well as the living amongst us, and especially for the sake of our own departed family members and of our loved ones? We will only know the extent of our folly and how our time have been wasted in the months and years of our arguing about the validity of it when we find ourselves needing that extra help and favour once we pass the point where we cannot anymore do things by ourselves. It is precisely then that we will be wishing those who are still alive to exercise their God given right; but by then it may only be wishful thinking on our part. Worse still, owing to our not thinking about the welfare of our own parents who have passed on to the other world and to our never showing this in front of our children, they might think it unlawful to make sadaqa for us once we are no longer in this world. What goes around comes around, and we ask that Allah save us from such a fate! Let us end with the du’a’ that our Prophet had taught us to say for our Muslim brothers and sisters, always:

Allahumma ghfir li-hayyina wa-mayyitina!

[O Allah, forgive those of us who are alive and those who are dead amongst us!]

++Something extra and a fa’ida for us all at the end of the road++ Imam Ibn Hajar was asked about a man who passed by a graveyard and read one Fatiha and donated its reward to all of the members of the graveyard, whether (a: by subtraction), that one reward will be broken up equally and apportioned to all of them, or whether (b: by addition), every one of them will receive the same whole reward of a single Fatiha each. His answer was for the latter and for the reward to be added together, for it is the one worthy of the immeasurable mercy of Allah the Most High! [Ibn Hajar, Fatawa Kubra, 2:24; cf. Ba'alawi, Bughya, 97]. Subhanallah, so look, my dear questioner, at why we shouldn’t restrict the Rahma of Allah, for we would deprive ourselves of this immense blessing!

Let us all say a Fatiha for the souls of all the scholars mentioned here, al-Fatiha!

al-fAtiHata ilA arwAHi mani jtama’nA hunA bi-sababihim, ajarakumu LlAhu l-fAtiHah!

The one in need of forgiveness,

Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti ©
Oxford
17 Dhu l-Qa’da I 1424
10 January 2004

Saturday 5 September 2009

Ignorant of the Signs

Today is the first day of normalcy after 3 days of the sniffles. Was traipsing about the house in socks and long-sleeves like it was somewhere cold like Australia. However that didn't stop me from going out when I needed to, where it was OK to go without a mask, in my condition.

And that was to the hospital to visit my biras, hubby's brother-in-law, who had fallen in the bathroom. The doctor's notes said "alleged" fall as if there was something sinister about it. Off course doctors are trained to write their notes like that. In Hollywood dramas, they say "sustained" a fall. But whatever.

My biras had suffered bleeding from the nose and ears but was alert and could move his limbs, according to the notes. He had been fasting and had vomitting episodes prior to the fall. He was a diabetic and had been for 17 years. Even had an ulcer on his big toe which seemed to have healed.

Saw his sugar readings. They had put him on insulin administered through a sliding-scale syringe. It was 4.6 upon admittance but had increased erratically 6+, 9+, 8+ even though on a fasting diet on doctor's orders. I thought that was strange because the readings were quite high. You'd have low sugar when on a fast, but what do I know. Hubby reckoned his body was in catabolism - using up muscle tissue to derive energy. Hmmm possible.

The notes said "alert" but I did not think he was when we were there. He was breathing hard. His eyes were glazed. He looked but did not see, I thought.

Why I'm writing this is because my biras passed away at 10 o'clock that night. We were there at visiting hours from 12 - 2pm. It's just that he was dying and I couldn't read the signs, in fact I did not know the signs. I thought he was going to pull through, Insha Allah. That was what I said to my sister-in-law and the two children who were there. They had tears in their eyes, they probably knew better than me.

But then he was not in the ICU and there were no labels that meant "No Resuscitation to be administered". This was something I learnt from a houseman in KK. They have such tags for terminal elderly patients.

My biras was 72. About the average life-span for Malaysian men. He was a very nice gentleman Abang Mahmood. He was never not smiling except on that hospital bed. But his time had come and it was through that fall. How I wished I had done more, like reciting Fatihas and zikrs for Abang Mahmood instead of poring over the medical notes, like I could make sense of them.

On the way home, Hubby had pondered about possible scenarios for bad endings and good endings to our lives. For Abang Mahmood, to me it was nothing but good. May his soul be amongst the Righteous.

Hubby and son went to the funeral the next morning 3rd September 2009, whilst I stayed home sniffling but was almost caught unkempt by an unexpected visitor, which........ is another story for another time.



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Thursday 3 September 2009

Showing Off

I've been producing totally amateurish sillyish videos - what I had categorised in this blog as Zendravids - using the very basic tool Windows Movie Maker.

Not so my first-born, Munirah.

Do I hear GROANS? "Aiyo she's showcasing yet another one of her kids?"

Alah never mind lah. Have to be fair, seem to be fair, and seen to be fair.

Yes, as I was saying, Munirah does media productions FOR A LIVING!

She's been with a studio house of sorts for some-time now and has gained tremendous experience doing basically A-Z.

She is ready to move on now and has requested that I show-off her show-reel here to my little band of blogger friends.

Manalah tau, rezeki ada di mana-mana, atas usaha kitalah untuk mencarinya.



She free-lances as well doing paradigm-shifting bride-and-groom montages for wedding receptions, if anyone is interested.


Anyway, this is her show-reel which has snippets of projects she had been involved in the past two years or so:





Hai mana lagi nak tumpah kuah.... hehe



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