Sometimes, on Saturdays, I accompany my wife to go to the wet market at Section 16 in Shah Alam and I will have my breakfast besides reading the newspapers whist waiting for her to complete her weekly marketing.
Normally, my wife joins me for breakfast before we leave for home, like this morning. There are many different types of food to choose from; nasi lemak, rati canai, lontong, mee rebus, goreng pisang,assorted kuehs, etc. They are not just good, they are also quite cheap. Drinks, either hot or cold, are available at less than the price of the same items at mamak eating shops. On certain days, there’s also entertainment kara - o - ke style with the resident DJ singing the songs, mostly very popular 60s Pop Yeh Yeh Malay songs and once a while you will have same courageous members of the public singing too. I sometimes sing too, English and Malay classic rock songs of the 70s and the 80s, when my wife is not nearby.
Last Saturday morning at the market, whilst having breakfast, I overhead a discussion about history between two very senior citizens who were seated next to me, both waiting for their wives doing their marketing, I believe. I listened to their conversations and found the discussion very interesting and I could relate to what they both were talking about. One of them said that he is disappointed that students now are not taught the real history but what they are taught is actually ‘alam manusia’(humanities). He said that anyone aged 50 or below are not learning the right things as far as history is concerned and hopes that this is corrected soon.
“Facts are distorted and nobody bothers to check on their accuracy,” according to him. From the way he talks, he must have been a teacher before.
He commented on Sir Stamford Raffles whom he thought was a visionary besides being a statesman and a scientist (botanist) who has a flower, the very smelly Rafflesia, named after him and continued to say that he was also responsible for the commercialisation of rubber in Singapore and Malaya and had developed the Port of Singapore as an important entreport.
“Who do you think was the first person who romanised the Malay language?” he asked his friend. After waiting for a few minutes without receiving any answer from his friend, he said: “It was R J Wilkinson (I thought it was Winstedt?) and not Zaaba like many thought. His friend just smiled at that.
Further, he thought that it is a shame that the government needed to bring in teachers from the USA to teach our students English. He said, “I am sure there are many excellent English writers and speakers in the country and if the government really tries, I am sure many will come forward to volunteer their services. They may be old but they are still very useful”. He fears that some of the foreign teachers that the government brings in may be either CIA or KGB agents, spies like what you see in James Bond movies.
“Do you know that Malays was controlled by the communist for 14 days?”
he asked.
“Yes,” answered his friend.
Seated on the same table with me was another senior citizen and his young son and after exchanging the normal greetings, he began to lament about the lack of discipline of people, especially young people today, and began his comments by saying that many like to throw rubbish indiscriminately; from inside the car to the roads they are driving on, into rivers and drains, for example, and everywhere else.
“How can we ever keep our rivers clean?” he commented.
“Just look at this market, it’s dirty with rubbish strewn everywhere,
this is typical Malaysia,” he said.
He said, “I am sure they are taught cleanliness and not to litter indiscriminately at home by their parents, at school by their teachers and at work by their peers but still they litter”.
“It must be due to the lack of discipline and the lack of enforcement”, he continued.
He said he has a nephew who works with one of the bigger government agencies in the country who, according to him, is corrupt. They come to work at 8:00 a.m. and by 8.30 am they haven’t even started working and when they do after that, by 9:30, they go missing again to have their almost two-hour morning coffee break and nobody bothers, because their bosses also do that. At 4:00 p.m. they go missing again and this time for their tea break and by the time they get back to their
respective counters, it’s almost the end of the working day already.
“Like that, how can they serve the public efficiently?” he asked.
When confronted about his corrupt practices, his nephew told him that all the others do it and if he didn’t do the same, he will be ostracised by his colleagues. Peer pressure, it seems.
About the situation at our markets he says, ‘Look, even markets are segregated, not just schools. There are markets for Malays/Muslims and there are markets for non-Muslims. Like that, how can we be like 1Malaysia.
A young man joined us after over hearing our conversation and gave his take on the situation of Malaysian cars to day. Commenting on the new Perodua Myvi car models he asked, “Are these cars safe to drive?”
“Just look into the engine compartment, there’s no reinforcement at all, if one is to crash head on, it’s finished!” he says. We just smiled and left after that.
“My friend just bought one, the SE 1.5 twin cam model and he had a workshop installed reinforcement bars at a cost of RM600 to make sure that the car is safe to drive,” he told us.
“I know they want to make a lot of profits, but definitely they should
not do that at our expense!” he grumbled.
“Don’t they ever crash-test those cars?” he asked.
Suddenly, my wife appeared from nowhere and sat next to me and the conversations stopped abruptly. She ordered a bowl of mee rebus and teh - o and as soon as she finished her breakfast, we left for home and had me thinking about the things common people say every day.
posted by hak55 at 5:13 pm
When I practiced law in a large firm, a mentor told me that death and divorce reveal a person’s ‘true colors’. I found this to be the case more often than not. Some people are magnanimous in the face of tragedy, thinking of others before themselves. Other people use the opportunity to vent their hatred and resentment, as if pain is an excuse to say or do as one wants. Recent events suggest that a third category can be added—namely, the deen.
Muslims refer to Islam as a “deen” not a religion. Deen is a broader term and has been translated as a “way of life,” based on submission and obedience to our Creator. Like death and divorce, the deen, or Islam, triggers a response in many. The mere mention of Islam today can reveal a person’s true colors.
Take for instance the now infamous and ongoing controversy over Park51, the proposed Islamic center in lower Manhattan. It has allowed many closet Islam-haters to come out, believing that they now have a legitimate excuse to express their hatred, even if couched in what they believe are socially-acceptable arguments. Across this nation, mosques and other Islamic centers are being challenged, encouraged by the vocal and sometimes prominent opponents of the project. The controversy surrounding Park51 also has provided the impetus for hate crimes.
Yet, look at all the non-Muslims supporting the rights of Muslims to be guaranteed to the same rights as every other American. I personally have been contacted by several friends to let me know how “appalled” and “dismayed” they are over recent events. Many can’t believe this is America. Many do not like where the conversation is heading.
Where does the expression “true colors” come from? The answer may be found in the Qur’an. Several verses in the Qur’an mention the various colors of creation. For example,
And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors: verily in that are Signs for those who know. (30:22)
Seest thou not that Allah sends down rain from the sky? With it We then bring out produce of various colors. And in the mountains are tracts white and red, of various shades of color, and black intense in hue. And so amongst men and crawling creatures and cattle, are they of various colors. Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge: for Allah is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving. (35:27-28)
Islam teaches that God (swt) is unique and one but reveals Himself through His many names and attributes. And just as a rainbow reveals the many colors of light from the sun, each part of creation reveals aspects of our Creator and ourselves. In other words, although we originate from pure light, we each display our own true colors.
http://www.examiner.com/muslim-in-baltimore/non-muslims-supporting-muslims-what-do-divorce-death-deen-have-common
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Continue reading on Examiner.com Non-Muslims supporting Muslims: What do Divorce, Death & Deen have in common? - Baltimore Muslim | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/muslim-in-baltimore/non-muslims-supporting-muslims-what-do-divorce-death-deen-have-common#ixzz1fxHGO2Cg
Mula-mula aku rasa malas nak pergi solat Jumaat hari ini. Aku mengantuk sangat sebab malam tadi aku kurang tidur. Pagi tadi pula seorang perempuan Indonesia datang mengemaskan rumah ku. Oleh itu aku terpaksa menunggunya selesai bekerja baharu aku dapat tidur untuk menggantikan tidur yang hilang malam tadi.
Akhirnya di saat-saat akhir aku pergi juga ke masjid kesukaan ku iaitu Masjid India Muslim, Ulu Temiang, Seremban. Minggu ini ialah giliran Imam Melayu yang memberi khutbah dalam bahasa Melayu juga.
Oleh kerana aku tiba lewat aku terpaksa duduk di belakang dan tidak di tempat biasa aku di tepi sebelah kanan masjid. Sedang Imam memberikan khutbah pertama aku terbau asap dan nampak pergerakan jemaah di tempat biasa aku duduk. Kemudian terdengar beberapa letupan dan jemaah yang sebelumnya duduk berdiri dan memandang ke siling masjid. Masjid berhawa dingin, tetapi kerana jumlah unitnya kurang kipas juga dipasang.
Aku nampak api di papan fuis masjid. Mula-mula kecil dan akhirnya bertambah besar. Imam yang sedang membaca khutbah memberhentikan bacaannya. Aku nampak beberapa orang jemaah meninggalkan masjid untuk pergi ke masjid lain, agaknya. Aku pun turut sama keluar dari masjid.
Mujurlah ada beberapa orang pergi ke tempat wuduk dan mengambil air dalam baldi. Ada yang menasihatkan supaya air tidak boleh digunakan. Di samping itu baru aku nampak seorang menjenjeng pemadam api dari luar masjid.
Apabila aku masuk semula api sudah dipadamkan dengan menjirus air. Pemadam api tidak digunakan. Kami pun meminta Imam meneruskan bacaam khutbahnya. Kali ini kami duduk mendengar khutbah dan seterusnya bersolat dalam keadaan panas.
Semasa solat saya terdengar kenderaan bomba datang, tetapi mereka tidak dapat memasuki masjid kerana di halang kenderaan para jemaah. Tetapi khidmat mereka tidak diperlukan.
Aku dapat tahu Presiden Kesatuan India Muslim Malaysia atau KIMMA ialah orang kuat masjid ini dan sekarang sudah dilantik menjadi Senator. Aku harap dia berbuat sesuatu untuk membaiki bekalan elektrik di masjid ini.
Antara yang saya pelajari dari pengalaman ini adalah seperti berikut:-
1. Sentiasa menyimpan pemadam api.
2. Jangan menggunakan terlalu banyak alat-alat elektrik di satu masa.
3. Jangan meletakkan papan suis dan papan fius terlalu dekat dengan siling.
Inilah gambar-gambar yang sempat saya ambil. Minta maaf mutu kurang baik kerana gambar-gambar diambil dari kamera telefon bimbit Nokia 6210 yang berumur lebih tiga tahun.
Api baru nak mula. Perhatikan juga alat pendingin hawa.
Api dah marak sedikit. Lepas ini dia marak lagi.
Api sudah dipadamkan. Nasib baik wayar di atas itu tidak sama terbakar.
Imam meneruskan khutbah tanpa pembesar suara.
Jemaah selepas solat Jumaat dalam keadaan panas.
Kenderaan bomba terpaksa diletak jauh dari masjid. Tempat letak kereta ada yang kosong kerana ada jemaah telah meninggalkan masjid untuk solat di masjid lain.
Seorang ahli bomba melihat dari luar masjid.
Ahli bomba di dalam masjid. Imam sedang membaca doa. Baldi itu digunakan untuk memadam api sebelumnya.
Sekian.
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh!
May Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you O Muslims of the world!
We are blessed once again to be in the fold of Ramadhan al Mubarak. The Sacred holy month of fasting, ibadah and redemption. We never know whether we will be fortunate enough to live to the next? Thus, it is important for those of us who understand the tremendous opportunity given to us here by Our Supreme Creator, Master of the entire universes, Lord of all there is to make the best of this month. We get a chance to redeem ourselves in His Eyes. We get to repent and get blessed ; be able to reformat our entire self.
Question is whether we know how to go about it?
Ramadhan is not a month where we just fast, not eating or drinking. No, it is more than that. It is a month where the Blessed Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam received the Final Testament of Allahu Ta’ala in the form of the revealed Words of Allah. Al Qur’anul Kareem.
The Complete Guidance for Believers comprised of the entire mankind. It is the ultimate guide for those of us who choose to believe. It makes no difference to be in the possession of those without faith. Those who refuse to accept that ‘There is no other God but Allah and that Muhammad ibni Abdullah is His Final Messenger to all mankind!’.
Brothers and sisters, my dear fellow Muslims,
It is true that there is freedom of choice in faith. Yet it would be foolish to imagine that faith would come naturally for any of us. Faith is attained by effort. If we do not make a serious effort to learn about what Islam is and what it is not, then we expose ourselves to the dangers of illusional faith.
By that, I mean to clarify that to this day and date, there has come to be various forms of misinterpretations of Islam. Let’s go to the beginning of mankind.
We all believe that Our Father, the Prophet Adam Alaihis Salam was the First Man. He was created from earth which was taken from all parts of the world by Sayyidina Izra’il Alaihis Salam, the only Malaikat @ Angel of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala who succeeded in getting such earth whereas all other Malaikats failed in their given mission to do so by Allahu Rabbi.
As a reward for his success, Sayyidina Izra’il Alaihis Salam was given the ultimate job or task of being the Malaikatul Maut @ The Angel of Death. Not an easy task but befitting Sayyidina Izra’il’s stature as being one of Allah’s mightiest Malaikat’s. His attributes are explained so very clearly in one of the tazkirah’s of the learned ulamak of Malaysia, Al Fadhil Professor Dato Dr Hj Harun Din Al Hafiz, in one of his religious lectures available on cassette with the title ‘Al Israk Wal Mikraj’. I recommend those of you who wish to enrich your ‘Ilm of Al-Islam to seek for it at your preferred Islamic audio and video centre.
Prophet Adam was personally taught by Allah Azza Wa Jalla and given all kinds of knowledge pertaining to his role as the origin of Mankind. He was taught to learn the faith of Al-Islam which starts with the important aspect of the bedrock of faith ~ Tawheed.
Tawheed means ‘The Oneness of God’. I strongly suggest that you visit Allaahuakbar.Net and read the chapter or article on the subject. Islam is the first ever and only faith directly revealed and taught to our Father the blessed Prophet Adam Alaihis Salam in the matter of worshiping only Allah the Almighty!
It would be preposterous to assume that there is any other god or deity worthy of worship other than Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala Himself!
What basis is there for anyone to assume that there would be room for mankind to go worship any other? That’s the reason why at the very beginning of this article, I implied that the greeting of peace, mercy and blessings is meant only for those of you who are Muslims. Believers. Period.
Kaffirs @ Disbelievers are destined for the Hellfire. Period. As far as I have learned, there is no provision for anyone who doesn’t believe in Allah to be spared from the Hellfire. There are no if’s or but’s about the subject. Anyone who tells you otherwise is pulling a fast one on you. Believe me.
You either choose to believe in Allah or you don’t. There’s no fifty-fifty thingy here. You are either a Muslim or you are a Kaffir. There’s no room for in between’s.
Be wise. Be Muslim.
You have only only one chance to do that whilst you are still alive? You wanna take a risk by remaining as a Kaffir, then it’s your call. There is no compulsion in becoming a Muslim. We can just encourage and invite you. The choice is yours. We can lead a horse to the water but we can’t force it to drink! Same situation here as far as the matter of belief or faith is concerned?
Living in these End Times @ Akhirul Zaman has its plus and minuses. Plus in the sense that here we are having the luxury of getting all kinds of stored information in the archives of the Internet at just a click of the keyboard button.
Yet there are many who squander this golden chance by looking for useless and destructive materials online. Instead of enriching themselves with the treasures of knowledge, they waste away the precious remaining moments of their miserable lives with things or pursuits that do not really matter?
We are what we read and learn about?
What we read, what we see and what we come to understand makes up our being. We self consciously program ourselves by feeding in information and data that we glean from books, internet websites, listen to and follow lectures, forums and debates whether online or in real life?
Are you not aware that we are all living in borrowed Time?
Have you not read the news and seen the reports published of so and so suddenly meeting his or her supposedly untimely death?
Who says so?
There is nothing untimely about death. Each of us will die at a specific second very soon based upon the Taqdeer @ Fate that Allah the Almighty Has Set for us. Period!
Not a second too soon or a moment too late. Some might even get a second chance in life by going through surgical procedures, etc to prolong their so called life but in the end, it is Allah Who Decides!
Ramadhan al Mubarak is a month not to be wasted by idle pursuits or by thinking that because one has fasted and abstained from all acts that nullify it will get rewarded big time in the Akhirat?
Excuse me. There’s just no such guarantee.
Fasting has to be done with faith and sincerity. Not because you want to show off that you are one kick ass Muslim or Muslimah. No sirree.
There are certain rules and regulations that come along with the ibadah. You have to keep to the do’s and stay away from the don’ts. This one article can’t cover the subject so please do your part and read up about it in the internet by searching for the right and relevant stuff about Ramadhan. Insya Allah you will find oceans of knowledge and information about it online. For a start, click here!
Please learn to differentiate between what are cultures originating from each country’s form of practice in the month of Ramadhan and what are the true fundamentals concerning it according to the true teachings of Islam originating from the Sunnah of the Blessed Final Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam?
God Willing, I will share with you what I myself have come to learn about it either through this website or over at my own blog.
May Allah bless and guide us all.
Ameen.
Zainol Abideen @ Mahaguru58
Bandar Tun Razak,
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Sourced from : http://ifirrr.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-will-happen-when-we-use-allah-for.html
What will happen when we use Allah for God in the English Bible..?
Jesus said: “Allah is greater than I” (John 14:28),
Jesus said the most important commandment is “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our Allah, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your Allah with all your …heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:29-30)
“I am Allah, and there is no other; I am Allah, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9),
‘One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to Allah.’ (Luke 6:12),
“Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by Allah to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which Allah did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” (Acts 2:22),
“I am the LORD your Allah, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2-3; Deuteronomy 5:6-7),
Jesus prayed to Allah:
‘Going a little farther, he (Jesus) fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “Allah, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39),
‘Jesus prayed to Allah for himself and said, “…Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent…”‘ (John 17:3).
Now I wonder what was the actual teachings of Jesus Christ according to the HOLY BIBLE !!?
Broteby
Bro. Shah Kirit.
Brother Shah Kirit Kakulal Govindji
Dicatat oleh Firdaus di 17:12
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I came across this article in the blog of brother Firdaus, Strategic Advisor to PERKIM KL.
I congratulate Brother Firdaus for his insightful outlook as to the consequences to the Catholic Church of Malaysia’s insistence that they be allowed to publish their Herald Magazine in the Malay language using ‘Allah’ as the name of their ‘God’?
I wonder whether the Catholic Church will have the guts to change their ‘Bibles’ in English to have the word ‘Allah’ replacing the term ‘God’?
Thank you Brother Firdaus for raising this matter. May Allah the Almighty bless you.
Amin!
The true Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala of course. 
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