like a revelation
so sudden in my dreams
i know what i need to do now
and if there's ever a heart
willing to brave through
this world of thorns
uncover this shield
i know what i need to do now
will it include you?
Monday, December 10, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Insult not
" And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allah, lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall made known to them all that they used to do." (Al-An'am: 108)
Muslim am I
No no, this is not a proclaimation of any doubt or uncertainty. but let's talk about a book which i am reading at the moment. IIU-pals, you have got to read the book ( My currently reading list), you'll find some very familiar antics there.
am in no promoting this book, i started out being a sceptic towards the book. it clearly proclaimed I AM MUSLIM in a big red dot (somehow reminds me of communism) and the baby portrayed happened to look like a cute chinese baby. I opened to the back flap of the book, and bamm, there's the author looking very pretty and all the intelligent aura, very MOD. i'm thinking, oh no, this lady is going to slammed the religion, disgraced adherents of the religion and say that look, i am so much better than you people out there. i read the first page, and found out the author grew up in a western country. oh no, this lady is going to say something bad about the malays, because clearly she seemed to be proud of her western upbringing. oh no, this lady is going to sham us muslims.
but not so fast. i almost put the book back on the shelf, but somehow, i didn't. i thought, before i spewed all these accusations, it would be good if i read it first and understand what is it she wanted to say. she couldn't be a personal enemy of mine if i happen to dislike the book. and days later i saw her face featured in straits times, about that very book i borrowed form the library. made me more raring to read it.
and so, even though it has not reached my favourite book level yet, i can't help but agree with most of what she wrote in it. about being muslims but going to bomohs for remedies from spirits, about being a muslim and a nationalistic malay (in a certain country), about being muslim but fighting your inner sexuality, about being a muslim but non-philantropists. it's how she expresses her dismay and sadness towards the community she's living in, towards understanding who we really are, truly about finding oneself. i had to stop being a sceptic.
our values are often mixed up, when culture and religion collides, when personal conviction collides with societal blueprint, when inner desires contradicts with what you know. no wonder they say humans are complex. society, more complex than ever. who decides what is wrong or right? and when it is decided, revealed even, why can't we just follow and have a utopian happy idealistc life?? why, if everything's written down, why do sins happen?
humans...christians damned you with sins, hindus damned you with karma, jews damned you with lost land.
but we have always been pure. it's a matter of maintaining that purity. Lord, this hurts. So help me Lord.
I am Muslim.
am in no promoting this book, i started out being a sceptic towards the book. it clearly proclaimed I AM MUSLIM in a big red dot (somehow reminds me of communism) and the baby portrayed happened to look like a cute chinese baby. I opened to the back flap of the book, and bamm, there's the author looking very pretty and all the intelligent aura, very MOD. i'm thinking, oh no, this lady is going to slammed the religion, disgraced adherents of the religion and say that look, i am so much better than you people out there. i read the first page, and found out the author grew up in a western country. oh no, this lady is going to say something bad about the malays, because clearly she seemed to be proud of her western upbringing. oh no, this lady is going to sham us muslims.
but not so fast. i almost put the book back on the shelf, but somehow, i didn't. i thought, before i spewed all these accusations, it would be good if i read it first and understand what is it she wanted to say. she couldn't be a personal enemy of mine if i happen to dislike the book. and days later i saw her face featured in straits times, about that very book i borrowed form the library. made me more raring to read it.
and so, even though it has not reached my favourite book level yet, i can't help but agree with most of what she wrote in it. about being muslims but going to bomohs for remedies from spirits, about being a muslim and a nationalistic malay (in a certain country), about being muslim but fighting your inner sexuality, about being a muslim but non-philantropists. it's how she expresses her dismay and sadness towards the community she's living in, towards understanding who we really are, truly about finding oneself. i had to stop being a sceptic.
our values are often mixed up, when culture and religion collides, when personal conviction collides with societal blueprint, when inner desires contradicts with what you know. no wonder they say humans are complex. society, more complex than ever. who decides what is wrong or right? and when it is decided, revealed even, why can't we just follow and have a utopian happy idealistc life?? why, if everything's written down, why do sins happen?
humans...christians damned you with sins, hindus damned you with karma, jews damned you with lost land.
but we have always been pure. it's a matter of maintaining that purity. Lord, this hurts. So help me Lord.
I am Muslim.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
why being aL.I.V.E. is important
people are so afraid of change sometimes that they jumped to every mistakes, like a prey pouncing on its victims without first, appreciating first. but its normal for humans to think thus.
there was the hype of someone writing in the papers about the latest islamic education to be adopted by most mosques in the coming years. people don't seem to believe in it,they do not think this age-appropriate and holistic idea of teaching is going to work. they couldn't see the WHOLE picture. one slight ignorant remark from a child can make one think that EVERYTHING is wrong. a child being young. an old man being old.
it could be the commentor are not that aware of the whole process it takes to make even one page of syllabus.
it may be there are flaws, it may be there are need for teachers to be more effective in their methods, it could be the children need to be more anticipative, it could be the parents need to be receptive and not jump to conclusions. try to understand.
good things don't always started out smooth. that's the rule of success.
why being alive is so important?
we learn to know the challenges muslims are facing
we learn to believe in the most practical way, as well as, practice in order to believe.
we learn to understand the Qur'an and how it connects us to the world. ie. qur'an- guidebook- knowledge for life- about people, about wealth, about rewards, about sins, about forgiving.
we find out how best to practice Islam. ie. not limited to halal haram, but also expands to seeking knowledge, science, hygiene, relationship. Islam is all about balance between the material and the spiritual.
we find out that everyone is born pure. so why should we leave anyone out? everyone is invited!!
there was the hype of someone writing in the papers about the latest islamic education to be adopted by most mosques in the coming years. people don't seem to believe in it,they do not think this age-appropriate and holistic idea of teaching is going to work. they couldn't see the WHOLE picture. one slight ignorant remark from a child can make one think that EVERYTHING is wrong. a child being young. an old man being old.
it could be the commentor are not that aware of the whole process it takes to make even one page of syllabus.
it may be there are flaws, it may be there are need for teachers to be more effective in their methods, it could be the children need to be more anticipative, it could be the parents need to be receptive and not jump to conclusions. try to understand.
good things don't always started out smooth. that's the rule of success.
why being alive is so important?
we learn to know the challenges muslims are facing
we learn to believe in the most practical way, as well as, practice in order to believe.
we learn to understand the Qur'an and how it connects us to the world. ie. qur'an- guidebook- knowledge for life- about people, about wealth, about rewards, about sins, about forgiving.
we find out how best to practice Islam. ie. not limited to halal haram, but also expands to seeking knowledge, science, hygiene, relationship. Islam is all about balance between the material and the spiritual.
we find out that everyone is born pure. so why should we leave anyone out? everyone is invited!!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sunday, September 30, 2007
night of revelation
17 Ramadhan
most noble of all men
Rasulullah s.a.w.
a meeting with gorgeous light
an angel for messengers
Read!
Read!
Read in the name of Allah.
when the words of Allah
greeted by the universe
welcomed by the angels
their wings as strings of pearls
on clear pebbles
in awe in wonder
for words
as real as can be
as unseen as can be
how words could lead
giving strength and faith
that this is it
which connects you and your Lord.
note: my expression unpoetic, the Qur'an is just so hard to describe
am left speechless though it is such a beautiful thing, it's even hard to call it a 'thing'. it's just so special.
in remembrance of our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and this night, when the truth was revealed.
allahumma salli 'ala sayyidina Muhammad, wa 'ala alihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
subhanallah wal hamdulillah wa laa ilaaha illALLAH wALLAHu akbar.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
I miss this
I miss having my own table, cluttered with books and notes to read. having my own time to spend just studying. i.miss.this.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
on smart
Top 20 Qualities of Smart People
By: Michelle Casto
Adapted from www.hitechtrainer.fitpromag.com
In today’s competitive world, it pays to be smart. No matter how smart you are, I am sure there is something you could “get smarter” about. Below are some qualities of smart people. As you read the list, ask yourself: Am I as smart as I could be in this area? How could I get smarter?
1. Make Decisions Intuitively
Smart people listen to and follow their intuition. They know how intuitions and insights come to them and are tuned-in internally to make wise decisions.
2. Are Self-Aware
Smart people are aware of who they are--- strengths, weaknesses, personality, values, etc. As Confucious once said, “He who knows others is wise, he who knows himself is enlightened,” they know that the most important (and interesting) thing to know about is “self.”
3. Use Active Reflection
Smart people reflect on and learn from past experiences, finding out what works and what doesn’t, and then adjusts their course of action as needed. They think about things before jumping in, and also take the time after-the-fact to actively reflect to fully understand what happened or didn’t happen.
4. Think Out-of-Box
Smart people can easily entertain new ideas, thoughts, and ways of doing things. They crave progressive and forward thinking information, concepts, and people. They often come up with new and radical ideas on a regular basis.
5. Have An Open-Mind
Smart people are open to different perspectives and see potential where most people don’t. They would agree with what the quote, “A mind is like a parachute, it only functions when it is open.” They are comfortable with paradoxes and can relate to many sides of an issue or opinion.
6. Are Responsive
Smart people recognize and respond quickly to opportunities and people. They act and react fast, and take care of what needs to be taken care-of, well ahead of schedule.
7. Are Resourceful
Smart people don’t have to know it all, but they do know where to go to get whatever information, resources, training, education that they need. They are well-networked and have people to call on for resource referrals.
8. Question Authority
Smart people think for themselves. They do not blindly believe things so-called “experts” say, in fact, they ask deep questions to discover their own truth.
9. Upgrade Their Brain
Smart people stay smart because they are committed to being a lifelong learner. They continuously learn new things, and stay current with their skills, attitudes, and beliefs.
10. Have a Sense of Humor
Smart people do not take themselves or life too seriously. They recognize the importance of finding the fun in the irony and the comedy of everyday life.
11. Take Risks
Smart people are willing to try out new things, knowing that if it doesn’t work out as intended, failure is often cleverly disguised as a learning opportunity. They “swing out there” often, and it usually pays off.
12. Trust Themselves
Smart people believe and trust themselves first and foremost. They don’t have to check with others to make decisions, they instinctively know what is right for them and they go for it!
13. Write and List Things on Paper
Smart people have a well-developed life strategy that includes a written life vision/mission, purpose, and goals statement. They also write lists---one for “have to’s” and one for “want to’s.”
14. Are Productive
Smart people get things done, through whatever organizational/time management system that works for them. They make the most of each day and take action on important life tasks each and everyday.
15. Use Discernment
Smart people are able to discern (see clearly) other’s reasons and motives, so they selectively choose who and what to align themselves with. They surround themselves with only the highest quality people, programs, and places.
16. Read, Read, Read
Smart people tap into the collective brain power of others by reading books, magazines, articles---anything that is helpful for their own development. They are also able to filter out the information that fits for them and let the rest go.
17. Value Learning
Smart people value the process of learning for learning’s sake. They do not just learn for a specific end---to get a certificate, degree, title, etc. They learn because it is intrinsically rewarding for them.
18. Teach Others
Smart people are the teachers of the world, who share their knowledge with other people. They put themselves out there so the rest of us can benefit, and in exchange, their own learning grows and develops because they are actively talking about, researching, and understanding their subject.
19. Reinvent Themselves
Smart people do not like to stay the same, they love to grow and develop. They often play with their image, brand, company name, and expand or change it entirely. To stay ahead of the game, they often reinvent themselves time and time again.
20. Are Students of Life
Smart people not only know about specific subjects and topics, but also about what it means to be a human being at this time in our evolution. They are insatiably curious and want to know more about becoming bigger and brighter, as a result they naturally evolve.
As Lao Tzu said, “To gain knowledge, add things everyday. To gain wisdom, remove things everyday.” This is so true, our brain is like a computer and in order for it to function at a higher level, we must always be adding, while simultaneously taking away information that no longer serves us. Think about it, what do you want to remove from your database? And, what new software program will you replace it with?
By: Michelle Casto
Adapted from www.hitechtrainer.fitpromag.com
In today’s competitive world, it pays to be smart. No matter how smart you are, I am sure there is something you could “get smarter” about. Below are some qualities of smart people. As you read the list, ask yourself: Am I as smart as I could be in this area? How could I get smarter?
1. Make Decisions Intuitively
Smart people listen to and follow their intuition. They know how intuitions and insights come to them and are tuned-in internally to make wise decisions.
2. Are Self-Aware
Smart people are aware of who they are--- strengths, weaknesses, personality, values, etc. As Confucious once said, “He who knows others is wise, he who knows himself is enlightened,” they know that the most important (and interesting) thing to know about is “self.”
3. Use Active Reflection
Smart people reflect on and learn from past experiences, finding out what works and what doesn’t, and then adjusts their course of action as needed. They think about things before jumping in, and also take the time after-the-fact to actively reflect to fully understand what happened or didn’t happen.
4. Think Out-of-Box
Smart people can easily entertain new ideas, thoughts, and ways of doing things. They crave progressive and forward thinking information, concepts, and people. They often come up with new and radical ideas on a regular basis.
5. Have An Open-Mind
Smart people are open to different perspectives and see potential where most people don’t. They would agree with what the quote, “A mind is like a parachute, it only functions when it is open.” They are comfortable with paradoxes and can relate to many sides of an issue or opinion.
6. Are Responsive
Smart people recognize and respond quickly to opportunities and people. They act and react fast, and take care of what needs to be taken care-of, well ahead of schedule.
7. Are Resourceful
Smart people don’t have to know it all, but they do know where to go to get whatever information, resources, training, education that they need. They are well-networked and have people to call on for resource referrals.
8. Question Authority
Smart people think for themselves. They do not blindly believe things so-called “experts” say, in fact, they ask deep questions to discover their own truth.
9. Upgrade Their Brain
Smart people stay smart because they are committed to being a lifelong learner. They continuously learn new things, and stay current with their skills, attitudes, and beliefs.
10. Have a Sense of Humor
Smart people do not take themselves or life too seriously. They recognize the importance of finding the fun in the irony and the comedy of everyday life.
11. Take Risks
Smart people are willing to try out new things, knowing that if it doesn’t work out as intended, failure is often cleverly disguised as a learning opportunity. They “swing out there” often, and it usually pays off.
12. Trust Themselves
Smart people believe and trust themselves first and foremost. They don’t have to check with others to make decisions, they instinctively know what is right for them and they go for it!
13. Write and List Things on Paper
Smart people have a well-developed life strategy that includes a written life vision/mission, purpose, and goals statement. They also write lists---one for “have to’s” and one for “want to’s.”
14. Are Productive
Smart people get things done, through whatever organizational/time management system that works for them. They make the most of each day and take action on important life tasks each and everyday.
15. Use Discernment
Smart people are able to discern (see clearly) other’s reasons and motives, so they selectively choose who and what to align themselves with. They surround themselves with only the highest quality people, programs, and places.
16. Read, Read, Read
Smart people tap into the collective brain power of others by reading books, magazines, articles---anything that is helpful for their own development. They are also able to filter out the information that fits for them and let the rest go.
17. Value Learning
Smart people value the process of learning for learning’s sake. They do not just learn for a specific end---to get a certificate, degree, title, etc. They learn because it is intrinsically rewarding for them.
18. Teach Others
Smart people are the teachers of the world, who share their knowledge with other people. They put themselves out there so the rest of us can benefit, and in exchange, their own learning grows and develops because they are actively talking about, researching, and understanding their subject.
19. Reinvent Themselves
Smart people do not like to stay the same, they love to grow and develop. They often play with their image, brand, company name, and expand or change it entirely. To stay ahead of the game, they often reinvent themselves time and time again.
20. Are Students of Life
Smart people not only know about specific subjects and topics, but also about what it means to be a human being at this time in our evolution. They are insatiably curious and want to know more about becoming bigger and brighter, as a result they naturally evolve.
As Lao Tzu said, “To gain knowledge, add things everyday. To gain wisdom, remove things everyday.” This is so true, our brain is like a computer and in order for it to function at a higher level, we must always be adding, while simultaneously taking away information that no longer serves us. Think about it, what do you want to remove from your database? And, what new software program will you replace it with?
Sunday, September 02, 2007
saying ok
it is such an understatement. most times when we ask people, are you ok??? and people tend to say 'yeah i'm ok' but deep inside you, you know they are not ok. you know something is troubling them. something is just so wrong. i'm ok has become such a favourite clause, that everytime people said it, you tend to take it for granted, taking it that people are really ok, and live it at that, not wanting to know more. just ok.
i think i want to stop asking 'are you ok'? because people will automatically, sometimes without thinking, and says i'm ok. or sometimes, because they want to conceal their real feelings, what's really bothering them, maybe because they do not want to hurt other people, or spoil the day by talking about what's troubling them. or because it's just not the right time.
and when people say i'm ok, it became a full stop. don't ask anymore, i don't want to talk about it. and ended up keeping them at heart, hurting oneself more, but then, keep talking about it, and you'll be more hurt. so just stop. don't ask.
but then again, i'll be fooling people telling them i'm ok when am definitely not. and i know you know i'm not ok. but why do i say i'm ok??
i don't want to ask, neither do i want to keep quiet about it. i need an honest question, for i want to give an honest answer. it's just me. i always say i'm ok. when i'm not feeling that. i'm ok, just because i don't want to talk about it, just because i'm ashamed, just because it hurts to talk about it. just because it doesn't matter.....but it matters.
life has never been easy. never. we won't value life without its hardships. we had it hard because there is a reason for it. because the Lord knows, only we, are strong enough to get through it. other people might give up and falter. but not us. the hardship has chosen us, not to fail us, but to be touched by Lord, to be the strength to go on and realise a dream. if things were easy, it won't be sweet.
i just want to think of the good things. i have always told myself. don't think of the things that deters me from doing what i want to. because these 'things' simply don't deserve my attention. they just don't.
i want to wake up to another day. smile a real smile. and say today is going to be a good one. i love me. i love what i'm doing. i have all these people around me who do care. i will not disappoint them.
i think i want to stop asking 'are you ok'? because people will automatically, sometimes without thinking, and says i'm ok. or sometimes, because they want to conceal their real feelings, what's really bothering them, maybe because they do not want to hurt other people, or spoil the day by talking about what's troubling them. or because it's just not the right time.
and when people say i'm ok, it became a full stop. don't ask anymore, i don't want to talk about it. and ended up keeping them at heart, hurting oneself more, but then, keep talking about it, and you'll be more hurt. so just stop. don't ask.
but then again, i'll be fooling people telling them i'm ok when am definitely not. and i know you know i'm not ok. but why do i say i'm ok??
i don't want to ask, neither do i want to keep quiet about it. i need an honest question, for i want to give an honest answer. it's just me. i always say i'm ok. when i'm not feeling that. i'm ok, just because i don't want to talk about it, just because i'm ashamed, just because it hurts to talk about it. just because it doesn't matter.....but it matters.
life has never been easy. never. we won't value life without its hardships. we had it hard because there is a reason for it. because the Lord knows, only we, are strong enough to get through it. other people might give up and falter. but not us. the hardship has chosen us, not to fail us, but to be touched by Lord, to be the strength to go on and realise a dream. if things were easy, it won't be sweet.
i just want to think of the good things. i have always told myself. don't think of the things that deters me from doing what i want to. because these 'things' simply don't deserve my attention. they just don't.
i want to wake up to another day. smile a real smile. and say today is going to be a good one. i love me. i love what i'm doing. i have all these people around me who do care. i will not disappoint them.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
my gift for you
my gift for you
for all the prayers
for all the sacrifices
for all the inspiration
for all the wise words
have i made your dream come true
have i made you on top of the world
have i made you worthy to their eyes
have i shown them we are special
have i shown them you are the best ratu and romo
for i won't be here without you
never would have exist without your existence
never would have be without the ties that bind
the sweetest tears
the proudest smile
the sparkle in your eyes
have i made you happy
for that one moment
have i shown you
the gift
of my love
Thursday, July 19, 2007
on wicca
Witchcraft: An Islamic Response
The young generation today is living in a fast learning world in which, information is immediately accessed at the point of their fingertips. It is also a world of entertainment and the media is the top source for the latest trends and in the young minds, this means the latest fashion, music, movies and anything materialistic. This will further detach the youths from any form of religious beliefs. The subcultures emerging from this melting pot of trends are creating worry and concern on the influences it brings to the young, when it is adopted negatively.
It is important to know what subculture means before going further. Subculture can be defined as a cultural subgroup differentiated by status, ethnic background, residence, religion or other factors that functionally unify the group and act collectively on each member. Another definition is ‘a set of people with distinct sets of behaviour and beliefs that differentiate them from a larger culture of which they are a part of.’ It is a form of expression detached from the cultural dominant mainstream in unexpected ways. Some examples of subcultures are the punk ideology, hip-hop culture and hippies lifestyle.
One of the disturbing and growing subcultures is the interest in witchcraft among the young adults. In Singapore, it cannot be said as a new subculture, though it might have been on the scene since during the seventies. It has become a disturbing issue now when it is found out, that teenagers as early as thirteen years of age are already exposed to witchcraft. What makes it more interesting and appealing to the inquisitive and secularized young people is the atheistic and pagan influences, the strong self-esteem that one may built within one self to change the course of events, believing as without any transcendence assistance. The writer believes that this growing popularity is due to the nonchalant or sometimes adventurous but attractive portrayal of witchcraft from television drama series, movies such as the Harry Potter series and fictional novels, whereby, gifted and noble borne characters with supernatural powers are able to have control over events and, as the story goes, save the world from evil creatures.
Nevertheless, to the Muslim born youths, this can be seen as a sign of declining faith(‘aqidah), disregarding Islam as the way of life and might even lead to blasphemous acts of rebellious and angry young hearts. It might seem that some are trivial popular practices such as performing séances, praying to an imaginary god while surrounded by candles, making love potions and invoking harmless spells, though there are other practices which are diabolical in essence, such as performing voodoo spells for revenge. These teens, in need to have a sense of belongingness to something binding to its members may cause social problems and this must be see to immediately before it becomes even more widespread, and later be seen as an issue of mere phases of teenage life.
Witchcraft
It is not the aim, at present, to fully study the subject of choice. Witchcraft is a very wide subject and can be discussed from various approaches of the different lines of study: sociologically, anthropologically, and even psychologically. It has a very long history tracing back to the ancient times, as a primitive ritualistic practices and had went through various eras such as medieval periods of the Western world, up to the present of new age movements, after going through the enlightenment and renaissance eras.
Witchcraft has also gone through various levels of societal acceptance, from one which has high regards to those practicing witchcraft, with titles as shamans and high priestesses to facing periods of suppression and perceived as a source of terror and evil, thus, despised by the society and avoided like the plague. There was the witch –hunt rush, which claimed hundreds of lives claimed or accused to be witches.
The term witchcraft is derived from an Old English noun, ‘wicca’ meaning ‘sorcerer’ and the verb ‘wiccian’ meaning ‘to cast a spell.’ Witchcraft has been defined as human’s ability to manipulate natural laws to their advantage. Witchcraft has always been associated with Satanism, though its followers will assertively deny any association with satanistic themes, claiming that Satan, hell and even the original sin as imaginary creations of the Christian Church.
Sorcery is an original concept of witchcraft, a web of beliefs and practices, whose purpose is to manipulate nature for the benefit of the witch or the witch’s clients and believed as a generous act of aid. This is the ritualistic practices performed by African tribes in their attempts to create remedies and causes to illnesses or when the tribe is going through some misfortunes that affect the whole community such as plagues and droughts.
Another phenomena of witchcraft is the alleged diabolism practiced by the witches. This is in the late medieval Europe period, in which it faced aggressive remonstration from the Christian churches, accusing witchcraft as a Satanic occult. The Christians were imaginative and provided illustrative descriptions of the witches’ practices and their mysterious dark gatherings that usually involves, as it is claimed, bloody sacrifices and blasphemous acts. A very popular illustration of these gatherings would be one that featured a goat-headed man, being worshipped by the witches. It is believed that this goat-headed creature is the Satan himself.
A new age phenomena has emerged during the 1800s- 1900s, which is termed as the pagan revival of the twentieth century. The Wiccans of this new age movement believes that the world is made of balanced forces, neither good nor evil, but a necessary counterparts, complimentary elements of the world. These beliefs are often mixed with mystical traditions such pagan Celtic or Norse, Greek and Roman God- worship.
It is important to note that witchcraft has often been associated with women, even though there have been a number of male witches, specially holding the high positions of a wiccan organization. Nevertheless, witchcraft is very much a female dominated religion, centred on the worshipping of a Mother- Goddess. It is no wonder that feminist movements show an interest on witchcraft, for it shows the female empowerment to nature and giving a high degree of respect to women who possessed this intuitive and instinctive powers. This surge of belief to a Mother-Goddess is of Greek and Roman ancient theme, but it seems that this idea of a goddess characterized with love, peace and fertility seems to be receiving popular acceptance.
These new age movement includes clairvoyance, astrology, spiritual practices of diverse kinds, even including yoga and witchcraft has found its place in new generation as an accepted form of occult, rather than what its predecessors faced earlier, being suppressed and tortured.
The world of witchcraft is full of symbols and sacred items. Their rituals are designed with charms, amulets, crystals and magical stones, and the new age witches sometimes used herbs and leaves as ingredients to their potions and spells. Some of the popular symbols used in witchcraft are the pentagram and pentacle, a five-pointed star used for protection, a three- pointed equinox, also the crescent moon as the symbol of the Goddess, and was claimed to be similar to Islam.
A Response
Christianity has regarded witchcraft as its main adversity and considered is as heresy. The witch-hunt craze started in the 15th century was initiated by Christian churches, though not so much for theological defense, but sometimes influenced with the socio –political situations of that time, and it was observed that the women prosecuted as witches were mostly women from the lower working class, slaves and immigrants. As discussed earlier, the churches provided descriptions of the witches’ practices and even a guidebook on how to scout for a witch and a single accusation without any eye-witness will lead to death by hang.
From the Islamic perspectives, witchcraft and sorcery is closely associated to the term sihr, which brings the meaning, one which was caused by subtle or invisible ways, or in the form of spells and incantations which have effects on the mind and body. Sihr is considered as one of the major sins of ‘aqidah for it is disbelief, syirk in Allah and associating partners with Allah SWT, it is acknowledged in the Al-Qur’an that these form of practices do exist. Stories of magic and sorcery are told during the times of Sulaiman alaihissalam and Musa alaihissalam. Sihr is forbidden and it is narrated, by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah, that the Prophet SAW said, “Keep away from the seven destructive sins!” They said, “What are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He answered, “Associating partners with Allah; practicing sorcery; taking a life, which Allah has made forbidden except for a just cause…”
Sihr is associated with the partnership of Shaitan and its counterparts, the jinns and the belief that these creatures are the source of help and able to control events, being at the advantage of those who practices sorcery, at the same time having serve these unseen creatures. Sorcery is usually used for evil acts of revenge or having evil intentions to make the victims’ lives difficult and disturbed. To be initiated to sorcery will usually require blasphemous and abominable acts, and performing any form of sihr is an act of kufr! In the opinions of the salaf and the great scholars of the past, those who practice sorcery deserves capital punshment. This is to protect other people from the vicious acts of the sorcerers. Among its consequences are destroying the relationship between husband and wife, among members of the family, losing one’s consciousness and unable to think and act sensibly and makes one suffer terrible pain.
A person with strong faith and belief in Allah will know that everything done was because of Allah and only He has the power to decide and do as He wills. Victims of sorcery should seek refuge only from Allah SWT. Regard those who perform sorcery as swindlers and disbelievers of Allah.
Here are some verses and traditions of the Prophet that are related to the subject of sorcery and withcraft.
“Say: None in the heavens and the Earth knows the Ghaib (unseen) except Allaah.” (An-Naml 27: 65)
The Prophet SAW said: “Whoever visits a soothsayer and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad.” (Abu Dawood)
On the authority of Aisah (raa): Allah Messenger was bewitched such that he thought that he had done something but had not really done it and he said to her one day: "Two angels came to me and one sat by my head and the other at my feet and one said: 'What ails this man?' The other said: 'Sorcery has been done against him.' The other said: 'And who is the sorcerer?' The other said: 'Lubaid ibn Al-A'sam with a comb and and object in the well of Dhi Arwaan."
“And the sorcerer will never succeed no matter what they achieve.” (Taha 20: 69)
From the contemporary perspective and issue at hand, which is the problem of teenagers being influenced to witchcraft, they will need a different approach, not the capital punishment of the Islamic rulings in the past. The approach may include reaching out to the youths affected and to try and bring them back to the basics of Islamic ‘aqidah, to have strong foundations of faith and to show them the grave consequences and the mean acts resulted from performing witchcraft.
To conclude, witchcraft is indeed an act performed since ancient times and not only in the western world, even during the Islamic civilizations, witchcraft and sorcery was widely practiced by those who have weak hearts and lead an ignorant life. The reason Rasulullah himself was inflicted by evil sorcery was to point out that it really exists and its only cure would be to seek refuge with Allah SWT with zikr and reciting the Qur’an.
References
1. Encyclopedia of Religions, Second edition
2. Spellbound: A Time Tour of Myth and Magic
3. Ahkam al-Sihr and Al-sahrat fi al-Qur’an al-Karim, Imam Al-Razi, Darul al-Fikri al-Labnani, Beirut, 1991
4. Sorcery, Imâm al-Madîna al-Munawarrah 'Alî Abd-ur-Rahmân al-Hudhaifî, 12th July 2005, Islamic Network website, retrieved on 11th September 2006.
5. Curing Magic, Shaikh Mashhoor Hasan Salmaan, 16th February 2006, Islamic Network website, retrieved on 11th September 2006.
6. Defiance and Despair: Subcultural and structural linkages between delinquency and despair in the life courseJohn Hagen, Social Forces, Proquest, September 1997.
7. Way of treating sihr, 12th November 2005, World of Islam website, retrieved on 11th September 2006.
The young generation today is living in a fast learning world in which, information is immediately accessed at the point of their fingertips. It is also a world of entertainment and the media is the top source for the latest trends and in the young minds, this means the latest fashion, music, movies and anything materialistic. This will further detach the youths from any form of religious beliefs. The subcultures emerging from this melting pot of trends are creating worry and concern on the influences it brings to the young, when it is adopted negatively.
It is important to know what subculture means before going further. Subculture can be defined as a cultural subgroup differentiated by status, ethnic background, residence, religion or other factors that functionally unify the group and act collectively on each member. Another definition is ‘a set of people with distinct sets of behaviour and beliefs that differentiate them from a larger culture of which they are a part of.’ It is a form of expression detached from the cultural dominant mainstream in unexpected ways. Some examples of subcultures are the punk ideology, hip-hop culture and hippies lifestyle.
One of the disturbing and growing subcultures is the interest in witchcraft among the young adults. In Singapore, it cannot be said as a new subculture, though it might have been on the scene since during the seventies. It has become a disturbing issue now when it is found out, that teenagers as early as thirteen years of age are already exposed to witchcraft. What makes it more interesting and appealing to the inquisitive and secularized young people is the atheistic and pagan influences, the strong self-esteem that one may built within one self to change the course of events, believing as without any transcendence assistance. The writer believes that this growing popularity is due to the nonchalant or sometimes adventurous but attractive portrayal of witchcraft from television drama series, movies such as the Harry Potter series and fictional novels, whereby, gifted and noble borne characters with supernatural powers are able to have control over events and, as the story goes, save the world from evil creatures.
Nevertheless, to the Muslim born youths, this can be seen as a sign of declining faith(‘aqidah), disregarding Islam as the way of life and might even lead to blasphemous acts of rebellious and angry young hearts. It might seem that some are trivial popular practices such as performing séances, praying to an imaginary god while surrounded by candles, making love potions and invoking harmless spells, though there are other practices which are diabolical in essence, such as performing voodoo spells for revenge. These teens, in need to have a sense of belongingness to something binding to its members may cause social problems and this must be see to immediately before it becomes even more widespread, and later be seen as an issue of mere phases of teenage life.
Witchcraft
It is not the aim, at present, to fully study the subject of choice. Witchcraft is a very wide subject and can be discussed from various approaches of the different lines of study: sociologically, anthropologically, and even psychologically. It has a very long history tracing back to the ancient times, as a primitive ritualistic practices and had went through various eras such as medieval periods of the Western world, up to the present of new age movements, after going through the enlightenment and renaissance eras.
Witchcraft has also gone through various levels of societal acceptance, from one which has high regards to those practicing witchcraft, with titles as shamans and high priestesses to facing periods of suppression and perceived as a source of terror and evil, thus, despised by the society and avoided like the plague. There was the witch –hunt rush, which claimed hundreds of lives claimed or accused to be witches.
The term witchcraft is derived from an Old English noun, ‘wicca’ meaning ‘sorcerer’ and the verb ‘wiccian’ meaning ‘to cast a spell.’ Witchcraft has been defined as human’s ability to manipulate natural laws to their advantage. Witchcraft has always been associated with Satanism, though its followers will assertively deny any association with satanistic themes, claiming that Satan, hell and even the original sin as imaginary creations of the Christian Church.
Sorcery is an original concept of witchcraft, a web of beliefs and practices, whose purpose is to manipulate nature for the benefit of the witch or the witch’s clients and believed as a generous act of aid. This is the ritualistic practices performed by African tribes in their attempts to create remedies and causes to illnesses or when the tribe is going through some misfortunes that affect the whole community such as plagues and droughts.
Another phenomena of witchcraft is the alleged diabolism practiced by the witches. This is in the late medieval Europe period, in which it faced aggressive remonstration from the Christian churches, accusing witchcraft as a Satanic occult. The Christians were imaginative and provided illustrative descriptions of the witches’ practices and their mysterious dark gatherings that usually involves, as it is claimed, bloody sacrifices and blasphemous acts. A very popular illustration of these gatherings would be one that featured a goat-headed man, being worshipped by the witches. It is believed that this goat-headed creature is the Satan himself.
A new age phenomena has emerged during the 1800s- 1900s, which is termed as the pagan revival of the twentieth century. The Wiccans of this new age movement believes that the world is made of balanced forces, neither good nor evil, but a necessary counterparts, complimentary elements of the world. These beliefs are often mixed with mystical traditions such pagan Celtic or Norse, Greek and Roman God- worship.
It is important to note that witchcraft has often been associated with women, even though there have been a number of male witches, specially holding the high positions of a wiccan organization. Nevertheless, witchcraft is very much a female dominated religion, centred on the worshipping of a Mother- Goddess. It is no wonder that feminist movements show an interest on witchcraft, for it shows the female empowerment to nature and giving a high degree of respect to women who possessed this intuitive and instinctive powers. This surge of belief to a Mother-Goddess is of Greek and Roman ancient theme, but it seems that this idea of a goddess characterized with love, peace and fertility seems to be receiving popular acceptance.
These new age movement includes clairvoyance, astrology, spiritual practices of diverse kinds, even including yoga and witchcraft has found its place in new generation as an accepted form of occult, rather than what its predecessors faced earlier, being suppressed and tortured.
The world of witchcraft is full of symbols and sacred items. Their rituals are designed with charms, amulets, crystals and magical stones, and the new age witches sometimes used herbs and leaves as ingredients to their potions and spells. Some of the popular symbols used in witchcraft are the pentagram and pentacle, a five-pointed star used for protection, a three- pointed equinox, also the crescent moon as the symbol of the Goddess, and was claimed to be similar to Islam.
A Response
Christianity has regarded witchcraft as its main adversity and considered is as heresy. The witch-hunt craze started in the 15th century was initiated by Christian churches, though not so much for theological defense, but sometimes influenced with the socio –political situations of that time, and it was observed that the women prosecuted as witches were mostly women from the lower working class, slaves and immigrants. As discussed earlier, the churches provided descriptions of the witches’ practices and even a guidebook on how to scout for a witch and a single accusation without any eye-witness will lead to death by hang.
From the Islamic perspectives, witchcraft and sorcery is closely associated to the term sihr, which brings the meaning, one which was caused by subtle or invisible ways, or in the form of spells and incantations which have effects on the mind and body. Sihr is considered as one of the major sins of ‘aqidah for it is disbelief, syirk in Allah and associating partners with Allah SWT, it is acknowledged in the Al-Qur’an that these form of practices do exist. Stories of magic and sorcery are told during the times of Sulaiman alaihissalam and Musa alaihissalam. Sihr is forbidden and it is narrated, by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah, that the Prophet SAW said, “Keep away from the seven destructive sins!” They said, “What are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He answered, “Associating partners with Allah; practicing sorcery; taking a life, which Allah has made forbidden except for a just cause…”
Sihr is associated with the partnership of Shaitan and its counterparts, the jinns and the belief that these creatures are the source of help and able to control events, being at the advantage of those who practices sorcery, at the same time having serve these unseen creatures. Sorcery is usually used for evil acts of revenge or having evil intentions to make the victims’ lives difficult and disturbed. To be initiated to sorcery will usually require blasphemous and abominable acts, and performing any form of sihr is an act of kufr! In the opinions of the salaf and the great scholars of the past, those who practice sorcery deserves capital punshment. This is to protect other people from the vicious acts of the sorcerers. Among its consequences are destroying the relationship between husband and wife, among members of the family, losing one’s consciousness and unable to think and act sensibly and makes one suffer terrible pain.
A person with strong faith and belief in Allah will know that everything done was because of Allah and only He has the power to decide and do as He wills. Victims of sorcery should seek refuge only from Allah SWT. Regard those who perform sorcery as swindlers and disbelievers of Allah.
Here are some verses and traditions of the Prophet that are related to the subject of sorcery and withcraft.
“Say: None in the heavens and the Earth knows the Ghaib (unseen) except Allaah.” (An-Naml 27: 65)
The Prophet SAW said: “Whoever visits a soothsayer and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad.” (Abu Dawood)
On the authority of Aisah (raa): Allah Messenger was bewitched such that he thought that he had done something but had not really done it and he said to her one day: "Two angels came to me and one sat by my head and the other at my feet and one said: 'What ails this man?' The other said: 'Sorcery has been done against him.' The other said: 'And who is the sorcerer?' The other said: 'Lubaid ibn Al-A'sam with a comb and and object in the well of Dhi Arwaan."
“And the sorcerer will never succeed no matter what they achieve.” (Taha 20: 69)
From the contemporary perspective and issue at hand, which is the problem of teenagers being influenced to witchcraft, they will need a different approach, not the capital punishment of the Islamic rulings in the past. The approach may include reaching out to the youths affected and to try and bring them back to the basics of Islamic ‘aqidah, to have strong foundations of faith and to show them the grave consequences and the mean acts resulted from performing witchcraft.
To conclude, witchcraft is indeed an act performed since ancient times and not only in the western world, even during the Islamic civilizations, witchcraft and sorcery was widely practiced by those who have weak hearts and lead an ignorant life. The reason Rasulullah himself was inflicted by evil sorcery was to point out that it really exists and its only cure would be to seek refuge with Allah SWT with zikr and reciting the Qur’an.
References
1. Encyclopedia of Religions, Second edition
2. Spellbound: A Time Tour of Myth and Magic
3. Ahkam al-Sihr and Al-sahrat fi al-Qur’an al-Karim, Imam Al-Razi, Darul al-Fikri al-Labnani, Beirut, 1991
4. Sorcery, Imâm al-Madîna al-Munawarrah 'Alî Abd-ur-Rahmân al-Hudhaifî, 12th July 2005, Islamic Network website, retrieved on 11th September 2006.
5. Curing Magic, Shaikh Mashhoor Hasan Salmaan, 16th February 2006, Islamic Network website, retrieved on 11th September 2006.
6. Defiance and Despair: Subcultural and structural linkages between delinquency and despair in the life courseJohn Hagen, Social Forces, Proquest, September 1997.
7. Way of treating sihr, 12th November 2005, World of Islam website, retrieved on 11th September 2006.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
on live earth
last weekend was a global dedication to create an awareness on the need to save the earth. for we are on the path of destruction with global warming. live earth wanted the world to wake up and look at the reality of the earth in crisis.
why global warming? because of the increasing by the millions by the minute population, consumption are ridiculously deteriorating the earth with the amount of carbon dioxide, the amount of trees felled, the amount of rubbish the whole world are disposing. its actually a scary thought, thinking that maybe in the next generation, the world is, not on land, but on ice, or in water. just watch A.I, or the Day after Tomorrow, or sinking of japan even. and on the day that live earth concert was held in tokyo, some parts of japan were actually having a flood.
i won't talk here on the hows to save the earth. there are websites dedicated to it. and its actually practices we already learnt in school on civics class or geography. same old same old, people. recycle paper, save water, recycle tins, less transportation, do not litter. it's just a matter of practicing it!
well, back on live earth. the concert did create some sort of awareness, well at least with the celebrities showing ways to save the earth, saying some random facts on global warming. and more clips. while i was watching the live earth concert on tv, i was thinking, just how much electricity, energy used for the concerts? the lightings, the amps, the mikes. never mind the rest of the world watching it on tv in the comfort of our homes. 24 hours, tv watching. for the record, i didn't watch it 24 hours. other than having the rational thinking of i did not want my parents to get the shock of high billed for electricity usage in the house at the end of the month, the concert were actually boring. other than linkin park, i don't seem to know who's who.japan's rock bands are cool, though.
well the real shocker revelation: post concert, on the news, the places where the concerts were held, the floors were covered with plastic cups and rubbish!!!! HELLO PEOPLE?? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAVE THE EARTH!!! NOT MAKING IT WORST!! how irresponsible can these people be??? what's the point of being there, assuming to show their support, but littering the very minute it ended??? what's the point people??? it really was sad!! just shows how uncaring people can be? they just don't understand do they?
one child in one of the clips said that God will not let the earth be destroyed. well, she is just a child. and i believe in Allah's mercy and blessings. but why were we created in the first place? yes to utilise all the resources He has created for us, endless resources* of it. but humankind were also created to administer and 'protect' other creations. at the pace we are consuming now, we really are just being ungratefully wasting when we can conserve**
*"And do not do mischief on the earth after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope.
Surely Allah's mercy is near unto the good-doers. And it is He Who sends the winds as heralds of good tidings, going before His mercy(rain). Till when they have carried a heavy-laden cloud, We drive it to a land that is dead, then We cause water to descend thereon. Then We produce every kind of fruit therewith. Similarly, We shall raise up the dead, so that you may remember and take heed.
The vegetation of a good land comes forth easily by the Permission of its Lord, and that which is bad, brings forth nothing but with difficulty. Thus do We explain variously the Ayat for a people who give thanks." [Al-A'raf: 56-58]
**"...eat and drink but waste not by extravagance..." [Al-A'raf:31]
one word: barbaric.
why global warming? because of the increasing by the millions by the minute population, consumption are ridiculously deteriorating the earth with the amount of carbon dioxide, the amount of trees felled, the amount of rubbish the whole world are disposing. its actually a scary thought, thinking that maybe in the next generation, the world is, not on land, but on ice, or in water. just watch A.I, or the Day after Tomorrow, or sinking of japan even. and on the day that live earth concert was held in tokyo, some parts of japan were actually having a flood.
i won't talk here on the hows to save the earth. there are websites dedicated to it. and its actually practices we already learnt in school on civics class or geography. same old same old, people. recycle paper, save water, recycle tins, less transportation, do not litter. it's just a matter of practicing it!
well, back on live earth. the concert did create some sort of awareness, well at least with the celebrities showing ways to save the earth, saying some random facts on global warming. and more clips. while i was watching the live earth concert on tv, i was thinking, just how much electricity, energy used for the concerts? the lightings, the amps, the mikes. never mind the rest of the world watching it on tv in the comfort of our homes. 24 hours, tv watching. for the record, i didn't watch it 24 hours. other than having the rational thinking of i did not want my parents to get the shock of high billed for electricity usage in the house at the end of the month, the concert were actually boring. other than linkin park, i don't seem to know who's who.japan's rock bands are cool, though.
well the real shocker revelation: post concert, on the news, the places where the concerts were held, the floors were covered with plastic cups and rubbish!!!! HELLO PEOPLE?? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAVE THE EARTH!!! NOT MAKING IT WORST!! how irresponsible can these people be??? what's the point of being there, assuming to show their support, but littering the very minute it ended??? what's the point people??? it really was sad!! just shows how uncaring people can be? they just don't understand do they?
one child in one of the clips said that God will not let the earth be destroyed. well, she is just a child. and i believe in Allah's mercy and blessings. but why were we created in the first place? yes to utilise all the resources He has created for us, endless resources* of it. but humankind were also created to administer and 'protect' other creations. at the pace we are consuming now, we really are just being ungratefully wasting when we can conserve**
*"And do not do mischief on the earth after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope.
Surely Allah's mercy is near unto the good-doers. And it is He Who sends the winds as heralds of good tidings, going before His mercy(rain). Till when they have carried a heavy-laden cloud, We drive it to a land that is dead, then We cause water to descend thereon. Then We produce every kind of fruit therewith. Similarly, We shall raise up the dead, so that you may remember and take heed.
The vegetation of a good land comes forth easily by the Permission of its Lord, and that which is bad, brings forth nothing but with difficulty. Thus do We explain variously the Ayat for a people who give thanks." [Al-A'raf: 56-58]
**"...eat and drink but waste not by extravagance..." [Al-A'raf:31]
one word: barbaric.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
on missing
you won't cry for my absence i know
you forgot me long ago
am i that unimportant?
am i so insignificant?
isn't something missing me?
isn't someone missing me?
even though i'm the sacrifice
you won't try for me not now
though i'd die to know you love me
i'm all alone
and if i bleed knowing you don't care
and i if i sleep just to dream of you
awake without you now
---missing---Evanescence
Sunday, July 08, 2007
answer the call
answer the callglobal warming melting the world
animals on the extinction path
toxic breathing humans
water water water
when humans are the vicegerents on earth to administer
when the earth are created to serve the humans
when God speaks
Saturday, July 07, 2007
on stories of love
there is a new drama on tv, called stories of love. it has a different story every week without any continuation with the previous one. Well, i watched it's pilot episode.
about a daughter aka single mother, her son and her father aka the grandfather.
apparently the single mother got a job which requires her to travel, and without anyone willing to look after her troublesome son, she had to leave him with this grandfather, who's living in an old shophouse, a karung guni man aka used -items collector (and i don't mean antiques) for survival. the protagonists are the boy and his grandfather.
a heartmoving story but it makes us think.
it's how the young people of today. the 2000 generation has somehow forgets where their morality lies, confused of their priorities and an incomplete family at that.
the young single mother has apparently left her frail and sick father surviving on his own, in pursuit of her dream job, her husband is unknown (divorced? shot gun marriage? unmarried with a son? who knows? it's sad that these are happening to the young generation, they just don't know the meaning of marriage and family!!)
obviously, her son, rebellious, possibly for not having his father around. troublesome and simply does not listen to her and temperament. when he was in the taxi with his mother, on the way to his grandfather's place, her mother offered to buy him things > xbox, gameboy, handphone..all those gadgets that seem to overrule our needs (trying to sooth her son with the promise of materialistic items, as if those would make things better, when were the times when children were ordered to save up their money, took it out at the end of the year, only then, will they be able to buy the toys that they desire?? when were the times when only getting good grades in exams deserve a wish fulfilled? children now just need to ask, and they will get it by the next payday. where's the hardwork? where's the value or the significant of having those luxuries? oh wait, it's no more luxuries, it's just wants!)
so the story tells of how the rude young boy treats his grandfather, his denial to respect his grandfather, and the old lady staying next door, his sarcastic remarks towards his grandfather. oh the most rude of all, he ordered his grandfather to not enter his school. what? he's ashamed of his grandfather now??
the grandfather endured his antics and rudeness, until one day, he fell real sick, and it's a wake up call for the boy! he did his grandfather's routine of collecting items at back alleys and sold them in markets, even cooked for his bed ridden grandfather.
now why do we have to wait till a person drop dead to realise that they matter to us? why do we have to wait till we lost an elder, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, to realise that we ought to take care of them?? instead of living them behind while we embark on the materialistic dream of money and all things nice and expensive? who do we think they are? some piece of rubbish, hindering our steps to glory? it's sad how the world has turn into.
has our world turn into a heartless and meaningless dominion? children losing respect, youths forgetting their priorities, and parents unable to teach their children the essence of living, beyond materials, and the elderly? unable to do anything, except to reminisce in memories, counting days till all these end.
is this the point of no return, or are we able to relive those simple and loving times. when families is the world.
about a daughter aka single mother, her son and her father aka the grandfather.
apparently the single mother got a job which requires her to travel, and without anyone willing to look after her troublesome son, she had to leave him with this grandfather, who's living in an old shophouse, a karung guni man aka used -items collector (and i don't mean antiques) for survival. the protagonists are the boy and his grandfather.
a heartmoving story but it makes us think.
it's how the young people of today. the 2000 generation has somehow forgets where their morality lies, confused of their priorities and an incomplete family at that.
the young single mother has apparently left her frail and sick father surviving on his own, in pursuit of her dream job, her husband is unknown (divorced? shot gun marriage? unmarried with a son? who knows? it's sad that these are happening to the young generation, they just don't know the meaning of marriage and family!!)
obviously, her son, rebellious, possibly for not having his father around. troublesome and simply does not listen to her and temperament. when he was in the taxi with his mother, on the way to his grandfather's place, her mother offered to buy him things > xbox, gameboy, handphone..all those gadgets that seem to overrule our needs (trying to sooth her son with the promise of materialistic items, as if those would make things better, when were the times when children were ordered to save up their money, took it out at the end of the year, only then, will they be able to buy the toys that they desire?? when were the times when only getting good grades in exams deserve a wish fulfilled? children now just need to ask, and they will get it by the next payday. where's the hardwork? where's the value or the significant of having those luxuries? oh wait, it's no more luxuries, it's just wants!)
so the story tells of how the rude young boy treats his grandfather, his denial to respect his grandfather, and the old lady staying next door, his sarcastic remarks towards his grandfather. oh the most rude of all, he ordered his grandfather to not enter his school. what? he's ashamed of his grandfather now??
the grandfather endured his antics and rudeness, until one day, he fell real sick, and it's a wake up call for the boy! he did his grandfather's routine of collecting items at back alleys and sold them in markets, even cooked for his bed ridden grandfather.
now why do we have to wait till a person drop dead to realise that they matter to us? why do we have to wait till we lost an elder, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, to realise that we ought to take care of them?? instead of living them behind while we embark on the materialistic dream of money and all things nice and expensive? who do we think they are? some piece of rubbish, hindering our steps to glory? it's sad how the world has turn into.
has our world turn into a heartless and meaningless dominion? children losing respect, youths forgetting their priorities, and parents unable to teach their children the essence of living, beyond materials, and the elderly? unable to do anything, except to reminisce in memories, counting days till all these end.
is this the point of no return, or are we able to relive those simple and loving times. when families is the world.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
on exam results
good people, being in the dean's list does not change anything, it does mean that you are smart somehow, but it doesn't mean those who doesn't get it, are not in the smart list. and rushing or studying for the sake of that list only, will mean you're doing it for name, not for the sake of the knowledge itself. and not being in it does not mean you didn't try hard enough. i've known people who tried very hard and they don't usually got good grades, but that does not mean they are failures, it just means they will value hardwork more than those who get into it without much study. what's most important is the gift of learning. treasure that. not the cert that says you're in the list.
i was just imagining some friends who had tried hard, though not getting much, is it fair to say they are not doing good enough? is it fair to label them? is it fair to judge them by the grades they get? or by their personality? i've heard various stories of people getting As in their studies, but doesn't have much in communication skills, and lack of attitude.
it's the reason why i never liked to compare 'intelligence' with others. i believe everyone has their own special way of studying and everyone is smart enough to me. who are we to judge? so what if we got As? does that make us better then them? how do we know if their hardwork are lesser than us? think about it.
i was just imagining some friends who had tried hard, though not getting much, is it fair to say they are not doing good enough? is it fair to label them? is it fair to judge them by the grades they get? or by their personality? i've heard various stories of people getting As in their studies, but doesn't have much in communication skills, and lack of attitude.
it's the reason why i never liked to compare 'intelligence' with others. i believe everyone has their own special way of studying and everyone is smart enough to me. who are we to judge? so what if we got As? does that make us better then them? how do we know if their hardwork are lesser than us? think about it.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
a line
am stressed because my mind is not working intellectually. and am stressed because ihave been reading people's articles and thinking, why can't i write as them??
and i remembered a lecturer's advice when i told him i wanted to write, "start with a line"
where do i start???
and i remembered a lecturer's advice when i told him i wanted to write, "start with a line"
where do i start???
Sunday, June 24, 2007
on roses
Roses are red
Violets are blue
A rock in my head
I'm feeling blue!!
Haha, a parody isn't it? Nice...
Let's talk about roses, shall we? I was just thinking about how people seem to think that roses are symbols of love. It's culturally socieatally inherited and taught throughout the generations that roses means love and passion. I don't remember this as being a revealed knowledge though ; )
Well, what I had in mind was between real roses and artificial roses. Red roses and bleached roses which are more interestingly coloured than just bloooddyyy rrredd.
There was even the hiden meaning behind the number of roses given to a special someone and even the colour of the roses means something, for example, one stalk of rose would mean 'you're the only one for me,' and blue rose (yey my fave) would mean eternal love. I don't even remember the exact meaning behind these by the way. (simple simple things like these just don't stick to mind). The problem comes when deciding whether to give real roses which don't really last that long, guaranteed life span of a week, or the artificial ones, paper roses or crocheted ones or they call it bunga plastikkK, which, admit it, they last longer, despite the dust they accumulate.
So does giving real roses, which is "romantic" and gives a pleasure feeling of tender loving care, but then will survive within a week, UNLESS, you're good with roses -survival, which, not many of us do. Does that mean, the love will only last for a week? (Okay, i'm gonna get a hearing from people who DO GET ROSES.) But on the other side, giving artifical roses, which looks just exactly like the real roses but it stays longer, therefore metaphorically the feeling stays longer? And not to say cheaper than a dozen of real roses. But they say artifical roses = artificial love = cheapskate!! But it stays longer for GOD's sake! But dried (is it dried or is there a better term for it??) roses stays longer too!! Only it turns brown and crunchy~hmmm, provoking aren't I? ; )
Violets are blue
A rock in my head
I'm feeling blue!!
Haha, a parody isn't it? Nice...
Let's talk about roses, shall we? I was just thinking about how people seem to think that roses are symbols of love. It's culturally socieatally inherited and taught throughout the generations that roses means love and passion. I don't remember this as being a revealed knowledge though ; )
Well, what I had in mind was between real roses and artificial roses. Red roses and bleached roses which are more interestingly coloured than just bloooddyyy rrredd.
There was even the hiden meaning behind the number of roses given to a special someone and even the colour of the roses means something, for example, one stalk of rose would mean 'you're the only one for me,' and blue rose (yey my fave) would mean eternal love. I don't even remember the exact meaning behind these by the way. (simple simple things like these just don't stick to mind). The problem comes when deciding whether to give real roses which don't really last that long, guaranteed life span of a week, or the artificial ones, paper roses or crocheted ones or they call it bunga plastikkK, which, admit it, they last longer, despite the dust they accumulate.
So does giving real roses, which is "romantic" and gives a pleasure feeling of tender loving care, but then will survive within a week, UNLESS, you're good with roses -survival, which, not many of us do. Does that mean, the love will only last for a week? (Okay, i'm gonna get a hearing from people who DO GET ROSES.) But on the other side, giving artifical roses, which looks just exactly like the real roses but it stays longer, therefore metaphorically the feeling stays longer? And not to say cheaper than a dozen of real roses. But they say artifical roses = artificial love = cheapskate!! But it stays longer for GOD's sake! But dried (is it dried or is there a better term for it??) roses stays longer too!! Only it turns brown and crunchy~hmmm, provoking aren't I? ; )
Monday, June 18, 2007
A reminiscence
I used to say how slow time goes!
I have three more years to go!
Oh look, my seniors are graduating
They're going to face a more challenging life
but at least...they are out of IIU!!
How fast time goes now!!
There's the five assignments I need to do
and oh yes the mid term tests coming up back to back!
and oh No, three more weeks to go before the exam period
Lord help me now.
Time is running out.
I'll remember the friends who have stayed true
The times we have spent together...
The laughters and tears, hand in hand working together
I'll remember the classmates, the groupmates, the discussion mates
every single person with different ways of thinking
not to mention the different attitudes!
of course, the beloved lecturers!
Their words and smiles printed in my mind
No thank yous or gifts would replace
the valuable KNOWLEDGE they have taught
Their words of courage and the spirit of Da'wah in them
May ALLAH bless them all
I'm coming back now
For that precious scroll
The meaning of hard work
The meaning of sacrifices
The meaning of Lillahi Ta'ala
For the smiles on my father's and mother's faces
The meaning of their hopes for me
I'm coming back now
Not from a two weeks break
Not from a weekend trip
Not from an emergency break
Unexpressed emotions in me
Seeing familiar faces once again
I need to immortalize these memories
For I'm coming back now
Only to leave you behind
A part of my past
But the step to my future
-IIU-
-the taste of ink-
the golden rule
it's the golden rule that's written in most books on religions.
the strive for religious tolerancy.
the strive for understanding the true meaning of faith.
the strive for the Muslims to find peace in their own world.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
SARCASM AT ITS WORST
i am suddenly inspired to post something here.it's about the different characteristics of people that we have to endure in a society.
people who claimed we, the excos, are unproductive childish lot.
people who claimed we, the excos, are unproductive childish lot.
i heard that last year during my first year bearing the post of secretary. here we are trying our very hardest and our very best to organize some quality programmes and we got stamped unproductive. so what is productive?? are you productive enough to contribute ideas and suggest programmes or agendas that we can carry out for the benefit of others? and the person saying it doesn't even have the initiative to come and join our programmes. they would rather sit in their rooms and be as anti-social as can be. while on the other hand we are slogging through classes and assignments and we still have to organize programmes. why in the whole world are we doing it at all?
we can claim now that we managed to organize two creative thinking workshops, a collaboration with MUIS for Singapore Seminar and another with IMPIAN for an inter-faith preface and another with RSI for a forum.
even with these, they don't bother to come!!! because.....
people who want us to knee down and beg them to come to our programmes
this is the most favourite group i have ever come to know. we usually gave out handbills as invitations to our programmes. not only that, we wasted RM10 to top up the credit to sms to these people as reminders or in case they didn't get the handbills. and then surprise2 they claimed they didn't know anything about the programme!!! what the tooottt. and they have this inclination, that if they didn't get the handbill, they are not invited.
or favourite excuse, we have other important things to do. oh yeah, we forgot that the excos have tremendous free time to spare!! and they think they are smart beacuse they don't know how to manage their time.having saying that, i have to point out that there are people who couldn't come because of classes. that we are perfectly ok with that. but to those who doesn't want to come because they are too matured to join, i'm sorry we can't cater to your hormonal needs.
they never understand that we NEVER see them on campus, so how are we supposed to give them the handbills. sometimes, we passed it around to the others to pass to these unidentifiable people, and was that our fault if you didn't receive those pass-it-along handbills?? and then they have the cheek to feel disappointed with us! what the tooottt. reflecting back, do they even come if they do receive the stupid handbills? this come to another point which are...
people who doesn't appreciate the dissemination of information
they throw the handbills away. and to think we put extra effort to put in cool pictures and sometimes printed in colours, with the thought that they would take it as keepsakes, as reminders, that it would be nice enough to be pasted on their noteboards. but no. the most significant experience i had was the handbill was folded into a paperplane and was so appropriately thrown back at our table, which coincidentally the table was filled with 4 excos. what a pretty thoughtful sight. that was a sharp dagger right through the heart. we were trying our best to let every breathing -and- wasting person on earth get the information and this is what we get. how narrow minded some people are. at least if you don't want it, put it in the recycling bin, or pass it to the next person you meet!!
and then the smses!! this also became a problem to the united people of singapore. the favourite excuse would be they didn't get those smses. and then we found out that....
people who doesn't care to inform that they have changed their numbers
very intelligent lot these people are. they changed their number and they are just too forgetful to inform the excos about it. do we have to go to every person and ask 'have you changed your number lately, dear???' but hey wait, aren't you among the unidentifiable persons in iiu-land, dear?? i guess we'll try telepathic network, next time.
'tak cakap seyy!' 'tak tahu ppuuunnn!' 'takde orang cakap puun!' 'tak ajak ppuuun!' = i had enough of these beautiful proses. i'm so overwhelmed with the compliments.
people who are not serious about their tasks
sometimes they just have to be told. without having any initiative to do something and here i am doing the thinking. too much thinking at that. i was always thinking whether she got the prog-info, or whether they are included in yahoogroups, will they read the emails, will they be able to come?? why are they not coming?? and they might be some people who doesn't care less. like i've said a hundred times to make use of that stupid exco emails to remind people, but they just won't do it and then complain people are not paying the fees!!
and then there would be those who doesn't care what in the whole world is happening in the society!! they don't bother to come for meetings, they don't bother to ask what's happening. they just don't bother to do anything, can i tell you to just go jump and die? i can't. like the debate thingy. i tried hard looking for people, i cared about the debators wellbeing, i asked how they are going to be, i even ran to-and-fro from the booth to the canteen during lunch just to ask about them. where are the rest of the important people?? they don't even bother to ask about the outcome!!
people who have always been there
i am ever so grateful for the people who have never failed to come to our programmes and have always given us positive support! May ALLAH bless them ever. without them, our programmes wouldn't be a success. their presence are like flowers blooming in a desert of souls. being in a post for two years now, there had been some who have always been there for us and personally am grateful to them. i assure you there is nothing to lose in spreading some care and concern towards fellow scholars. having once in a while gatherings and have a talk about what is going on. i wish we could strengthen our ties more. but we cannot be too idealistic. i understand that now.
pardon me for letting these out but sometimes, things have to be let known or we might just perish with heartache. i'm no perfect person but sometimes efforts and hardwork pays. and a little interest that could bind us together. and these are my experiences having positions in some societies.
dont put the blame on the workload, blame your selfishness.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
The encounter of haris and the Nenek Kebayan
this is a fictional story that i have to write as an english exercise for a lecturer. he liked it and am proud of it. though i feel like a p6 kid writing a composition of a bad nightmare. here goes, only the first part of it. have yet to complete it.
Dawn has greeted the world. The blue and yellow hues of the sky is a welcoming sight, bringing promises to be fulfilled. The coolness of the morning air, the visible dew drops on the leaves, chirping birds, it is indeed a beautiful day, thought Mak Teh. (that's my nenek kebayan)
"I should rise now," Mak Teh thought aloud. Her mind is already reeling with the tasks she plans to accomplish today. Failing to plan is planning to fail, and she is not about to fail this fine day! She slowly made her bed. Her humble wooden bed, holding a thinmattress and a feather-filled pillow, covered with a faded blue bedsheet. Still, this has served her resting needs all these years. She really meant it, all these years.
to be continued.....
Dawn has greeted the world. The blue and yellow hues of the sky is a welcoming sight, bringing promises to be fulfilled. The coolness of the morning air, the visible dew drops on the leaves, chirping birds, it is indeed a beautiful day, thought Mak Teh. (that's my nenek kebayan)
"I should rise now," Mak Teh thought aloud. Her mind is already reeling with the tasks she plans to accomplish today. Failing to plan is planning to fail, and she is not about to fail this fine day! She slowly made her bed. Her humble wooden bed, holding a thinmattress and a feather-filled pillow, covered with a faded blue bedsheet. Still, this has served her resting needs all these years. She really meant it, all these years.
to be continued.....
lake house
i was watching The Lake House for... i think... the fourth time. and i can never understand how the communication between 2004 and 2006 could possibly happen. and how they can actually meet on 2008 at the lake house!! i just don't get it!! it's a beautiful story all the same but where's the logic to it?
if this kind of relationship really works than i would love to have one. a keanu reeves look -alike architect who sent a random email which finds its place in my inbox and surprise2, we have actually met but i did not realise it and fate brought it that we meet in 2008. ok i have one more year before 2008 to work that out. do relationship involves mathematics??
if this kind of relationship really works than i would love to have one. a keanu reeves look -alike architect who sent a random email which finds its place in my inbox and surprise2, we have actually met but i did not realise it and fate brought it that we meet in 2008. ok i have one more year before 2008 to work that out. do relationship involves mathematics??
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Ma'al Hijrah 1428
you know I was thinking...
it's the new Islamic year. Think about it, it's only 1428 years ago that our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW was perfectly breathing and alive. walking on this earth spreading the Words of ALLAH. it seems short yet so long ago. GREAT MAN. Praise be upon him.
It's how we always forget this simple things and be complacent with the life we're living. That we forget our task. It's like looking at other people and just thinking: Do they know what they're doing?? do they know why they are even living?? Do I know why I'm living?
Sometimes i'm looking at people and thinking that they're doing what they're doing because they think they need to fulfill the rules of life, materialistic, hedonistic, utilitarianistic, idealistic. we do because we have to be on par, to be on the same status with ithers. I feel like a hypocrite but what guarantees that I'm unlike them?? I could be worst than them? looking at the students at the place i'mstudying...what are they thinking? bearing an Islamic education to their name, when they grad, what are they going to do? do they think that it's even important to realise that they have an 'islamic' background? what is this identity that we're upholding?? we're just lost.
and me? what have i done? is my knowledge good enough to be a spokesperson of my religion? seriously, i don't think i'm good enough. there's still just too much that i have not learnt!! and I feel like i'm running out of time. i haven't been reading enough. i haven't been doing well. So help me Lord.
time will tell we say, but i say... time is most unpredictable, it doesn't tell, it reminds.
it's the new Islamic year. Think about it, it's only 1428 years ago that our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW was perfectly breathing and alive. walking on this earth spreading the Words of ALLAH. it seems short yet so long ago. GREAT MAN. Praise be upon him.
It's how we always forget this simple things and be complacent with the life we're living. That we forget our task. It's like looking at other people and just thinking: Do they know what they're doing?? do they know why they are even living?? Do I know why I'm living?
Sometimes i'm looking at people and thinking that they're doing what they're doing because they think they need to fulfill the rules of life, materialistic, hedonistic, utilitarianistic, idealistic. we do because we have to be on par, to be on the same status with ithers. I feel like a hypocrite but what guarantees that I'm unlike them?? I could be worst than them? looking at the students at the place i'mstudying...what are they thinking? bearing an Islamic education to their name, when they grad, what are they going to do? do they think that it's even important to realise that they have an 'islamic' background? what is this identity that we're upholding?? we're just lost.
and me? what have i done? is my knowledge good enough to be a spokesperson of my religion? seriously, i don't think i'm good enough. there's still just too much that i have not learnt!! and I feel like i'm running out of time. i haven't been reading enough. i haven't been doing well. So help me Lord.
time will tell we say, but i say... time is most unpredictable, it doesn't tell, it reminds.
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