Birds and Bees

Once in a while, I still enjoy carrying Zachary around because he is still my baby and he is quite light actually.

One day, I told him, "You are still so small. perhaps you should go back in my tummy."

No, I cannot because then your tummy will be too big.

Then I asked him, "How do you think you get in my tummy in the first place?"

And he said, "Allah created me there."

Masya Allah.

I am save for now. Until he is big enough to question the sunatullah. The laws that Allah put on His creation.

Odd One In

The children are always playing "who is the odd one out". Generally who is the odd one out loses. So if most are wearing whites, and the only one wearing red is the odd one out. *roll eyes*

Anyway, they played it again a few days ago. Sya asked all of us which one do we prefer summer or winter. All of us like winter more except for Jack, he likes the hot summer. The most likely reason is he really has no fat on him and he doesn't like being cold. I, on the other have much insulation wrapping me.

Then Sya told him that he is the odd one out. Jack was unhappy with it but he refused to change his answer and insisted on summer as his preferred choice. He became quite upset because he was alone against all four of us choosing summer.

I think it is time I interjectlah.

There is no need to be upset about being different. Remember first of all being a Muslim already make you different from others because you are the only one worshiping Allah, the way he wants you to worship Him, bi iznillah. There are so many gods out there and they have no right to be worshipped except Allah. Since a Muslim is the only one worshipping Allah, doesn't that make him the odd one..in?

And also remember this hadith,

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said Islam began as something strange and will return as something strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers. This Hadith is Sahih and was reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

When prophet Mohammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam spread the message of Islam, he (sallallahu alaihi wasalam) is viewed as strange. This is applicable in our world now. To the disbelievers, the one who holds on to obeying Allah and His Prophet salllahu alaihi wasalam are seen as the strange one. To top it, the one who tries to adhere to the quran and sunnah are also strangers in the land of masses of Muslims. A Muslim is the stranger, the odd one...in.

And also, we do not necessarily need to conform to people's agreement. Opinions are opinions. But not agreeing should not lead to fights. We must agree to disagree. Allah Mustaan.

That somehow, bi iznillah, made jack happy. Eh i didnt tell him the hadith though. He was all smiles after that and proud to be the only one who likes the hot drenchy summer.

The lesson today is you can be the odd one in.

Semua Mata Pandang ke Timur

Subhanallah! All the world are eyeing the tragedy in Japan now. A massive earthquake of 8.9 Richter scale causing even a more massive tsunami wiping out towns, radiation leaks and reactor meltdown, shifting the earth's axis off its tangent, moving countries, setting the world calculation of time faster.

The Japanese have proven to be the world winner on top of their many world claim titles of sony, toyota, honda, Nissan and the likes. Another world class product of Japan are their people themselves. Their discipline, their systematic, cost saving, their cooperation and their respect to shura and leaders.

And now the world are looking at the aftermath of Japan trying to absorb the destruction and the difficulties their people are facing. It is heart breaking.

I am sure also you have read on how calm their people are facing this calamity. How all of them collectively get together and help one another. There is no chaos among the people. No pushing and shoving one another to get any scarce food and water. People don't crazily stock food for themselves, only buying what is enough for them leaving more for people behind. The young helped the elder ones. Everywhere you read (in social network sites like facebook and twitter), the Japanese are saying, we are in this together.

People all over the world are watching the Japanese with much respect. We know how disciplined these people are. How they always work together and make decision collectively. How efficient oriented they are - I mean they created JIT and all those three lettered jargon. But in calamity like these, it only shows their true self controlled and unselfishness nature.

The word of the day is probably Gaman, a japanese word which is a concept that defies easy translation but broadly means calm forbearance, perseverance and poise in the face of events beyond one's control. Word gaman-zuyoi (gaman tsuyoi) also comes from the fact most of them are sensitive to the needs of others first.

And this is the culture that they build on for generations.

Now now now let's take a look at myself. Sometime ago, when the centre i am attending had to move to a new building, the centre ran out of chairs because of the in between transferring. The classes went on though. So some ladies had to sit on the floor and some managed to secure chairs for themselves. I went to scout for a chair and sat myself near the door. Easy access to leave later. My teacher came to me, "But you are young and stronger lollies. Give the chair to the older ones," She said jokingly. I just laughed.

But later it haunted me. I realised I myself am quite selfish. I don't think I am willing to give up my comfort for someone else. Not that I think much about it or the intention is such. It's just I don't think at all maybe.

I have a japanese muslim girl in my arabic class. You know what she does? She would collect her notes and photocopied them and also photocopy her scribbling on the books and give it to those who are absent. I only found out about this when i was absent myself. I have never even thought of doing that. Sure I assisted when someone asked but never to this extent, even though I do know that it is difficult to understand the lesson when you dont come and wished someone would help me.

I am ashamed of myself. There are many selfish incidents or too busy for others incidents that I did.

I believe that Islam taught me to think of others even more. I should be rushing forward for the reward that Allah promises right?

Sunan Abi Dawood that states, “The merciful will be give mercy by the Most Merciful. Have mercy to those on earth and the one in the heavens will have mercy upon you.”

But most of the times it just doesnt sink in. It is not embedded in us. We cannot feel the word mercy. Because it is in english? Can we feel the word rahmah? Can we think how wide the rahmah is? Such that Allah has given only one rahmah to the whole world that a crocodile does not kill her babies, a human is kind to others regardless they worship Allah or not. And He is saving 99 more just for those who believe in Him in Yaumul Akhirah. And only from His mercy will he let us enter jannah.

But we cannot feel the bigness of this.

If it does than we don't have cases like stealing spilled rice on the road leaving the injured unattended (one of the two died). Stealing coins spilled on the road. Taking the elevator filling up the space making sure you enter first even you come later than the disabled guy in the wheelchair. Or what about when we cut queues to get to the clown guy so our children get the dog-balloon first.

We even have to make commercial to give up the LRT chair for the elederly and pregnant woman. And take note also that the commercial run into issues of racism.

We do not fear Allah so much?
We do not fear that will be asked by Allah Himeslf?
Or we do not care about any promised reward which is better than the worldly reward and everything in this world?
Or we think jannah is guaranteed that we dont have to work as hard?
Or we think being a Muslim is a guaranteed jannah?
Or we think learning the deen is only for ourselves, we do not have to extent extra kindness to others.
Or we use learning the deen to bash others?

When I say we, i really do mean me, myself and I.

Hati ada Bunga

My lover is feeling stressed out at work lately. Understandably his project is at their tail of completion. Lots of handovers, disputes, possible V.O.s and whatnots. He has never been as stress as this I think. He doesn't show much, as in he doesn't come home sulking and got angry, but whenever we talked this would pop out. And also I sort of can tell because man has worry face and it shows here and there.

Anyway he said this to me, "Each time I got to work my head feels like bursting. But it all became better when I got home."

And see me? *Grin*

And see you. Peck on the forehead.


------------------------

Just a story to remind myself,

The Prophet sallahu alaihi wasalam came to Khadijah on the first day of Revelation, anxious, trembling and shaking all over. He told her, "cover me! Cover me!" Then he said to Khadeejah, "O" khadeejah what is wrong with me? He told her what happened, then said, "I fear for myself." Khadeeja said, "No, rather be of good cheer, for by Allah, Allah will never fprsake you. By Allah, you unite relations, speak the truth, spend money on the needy, give money to the penniless, honour your guests and help those beset by difficulties."

She spoke to him in kind and sweet words of encouragement, filling him with confidence, tranquility and firm conviction. Throughout her life with him, Khadeeja supported him and helped him to bear the worst oppression and persecution that he faced in his mission. She endured with him every hardship and difficulty.

Ibn hashim in his seerah,

"Khadijah had faith, and believed in what he brought from Allah. In this way, Allah helped His Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam. Whenever he heard any distasteful words of rejection or disbelief that upset him, Allah would cause to put his spirits high and revived when he would come back to her. She would encourage him and advise him to be patient, believe in him and make it easier for him to bear whatever the people said or did. May Allah have mercy on her."

Khadeeja was one of the greatest woman in the world for all the virtues she had.

_______________________________________

And I am far from it.

Ingat! Laki balik aje rumah jangan bombard dengan bebelan dan komplen.

The best day of your life

Sya had an assignment to ask each of the family members to describe to her the best days of our lives. I, the mother of my children, in the effort to every now and again make my children feel good, told her that one of the best days in my life when I had all of them as my children. And I was not lying either because lying is haram.

Haziq mumbled something about getting recognitions and don't know what else. He mumbles a lot in his gruffy voice nowadays.

Jack confidently answered that the best days in his life are Friday and Saturday.










HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!

We all burst out laughing in the kitchen.

(Friday and Saturday are weekends here)

Sentimental Soul

Continuation of reading habil and qabil story to Jack. HERE

Then a few nights ago, I read the another no frill straight to the point story of Prophet Yusuf alaihi salam. He was sad when Prophet Yusuf alaihi wasalam was thrown into the well and was even sadder at the fact that they brought a bloody shirt back to Prophet Yaakub alaihi wasalam lying to their father that Prophet Yusuf alaihi wasalam was eaten by the wolf. And to add to it Prophet Yusuf alaihi salam was also thrown into prison later on.

Indeed what we think is good for us may not be good for us, and what we think is bad for us is actually good for us. Allah is the best of planner.

I ask Allah to make him among the muttaqun and that my children remain in love with each other for Allah's sake.

Palace of the World

The best palace I have visited so far in my life (not that I have visited many. But enough to make comparison I suppose) must be the one in Iran. This is just based on the permanent decoration they have for the castle. In Oman on the other hand, the castles and fortresses are a winer based on their defense and protection strategy. Read about Oman Palaces that I wrote HERE.While in Europe must be the sheer size of most castles.

But Iran's palaces must win for its deco, specifically for the palaces in tehran itself - Golestan Palace and Reza Pahlavi Palace (not the recent 70s one but the one which is build ages ago in the era of Qajar empire).

I was truly impressed on their mirror works on the inside wall and heavily patterned tiles on their outside wall. The reflection of the chandelier's light on the mirror is truly mesmerising.







It brought me to thinking if this is what you get in this world being the ruler, what would it be like in jannah. Teh best of palaces for those with taqwa!

Tremendous narration describe that the palaces in jannah being made by hollow pearls. They are sixty miles high and in some narration sixty miles wide (Bukhari). There will be lofty rooms, one above the other, under which river flows (Az Zumar 39:20)

When Jibreel send Allah's salaam and his salam to Khadijah in a hadith by Abu Hurayrah, Jibreel mentioned that Khadeejah will have a house in Paradise made of brocade in which there is no noise and no exhaustion.

Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam described the building of jannah as below,

Bricks of gold and silver, the mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever enters it is filled with joy and will never feel miserable; he will live there forever and will never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will never fade. (Hadith by Ahmad, Tirmidhee)

And the decorations of Jannah are describe as thrones woven with gold and precious stones of which is worth more than the whole world and everything in it.

And the palace as grandeur as it will be will be in the midst of beauty and splendour. The gates, the soil, the rivers, the river banks, the springs, the fragrance, the trees and fruits and the inhabitants.

Allah and the Prophet sallahu alaihi wasalam has described Jannah to help us imagine what it would be like. To help us long for it and to help us work for it amdist the difficult life living in this world pleasing Allah.

Of all the description of jannah, the one that engulf me most, that made my heart skipped a beat and made me stop to ponder is from a hadith qudsi reported by Abu Hurayrah that Prophet Muhammad salllahu alaihi wasalam said

Allah said: "I have prepared for My righteous slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart can imagine. Nevermind what Allah has told you; what he has not told you is even greater." Then he (salllahu alaihi wasalam) recited "No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward of what they used to do. (as Sajda As 32: 17)"

May Allah accept our deeds and place us in the highest jannah. Ameen.

Living in the Mountain

If Allah permits it, perhaps I would be able to see more of how people live in the mountain areas around the world.

We saw Misfah Al Abreyeen in Oman. I wrote it HERE.



In Iran we saw two beautiful mountain areas where the residents have adapted themselves to the mountainous building in their own unique way. First there is Masouleh. It's near the town that is near to the caspian sea. It is in the forested mountainous area and thus to travel to it, one has to go through beautiful forest.

The unique thing about Masouleh is the houses. The terraced houses by the hill village is at least a millineum old. The houses are built as such that the roof of the houses below is the walking path for the people above.

The path are really confusing. Sometimes you think you are walking straight through wanting to go to the house you see at the end of the path, only to find yourself going downwards. You can miss the uphill path or downhill path without noticing it. Walking about in the village is a labyrinth that is pleasant to get yourself lost in.





And they have lived like that for a millineum old.

In further North, kandovan, we visited the mini kappadokya of Iran. Kappadokya is actually in Turkey. (I have been there. he he). Like Kappadokya, kandovan also have mountains formed by compressed volcanic ashes. But the best thing, is, unlike Kkappadokya, people stll live in the very same house they lived centuries ago. People have been boring the mountains to make lovely homes within it. Hard Rock Villages.

It is really amazing here. I went to one of the houses and experienced myself how the houses were naturally warmed when it is freezing outside. And they told me, that it is cooling in the hot summer.

The main livelihood is through sheep rearing and little business of honey (really good), walnuts and dairy products.





Mountains are a marvel to look at, to walk on and Insya Allah to live in.

Al Qaf 50: 7
And the earth! We have spread it out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and have produced therein every kind of lovely growth (plants).

An Anbiya' 21: 31
And We have placed on the earth firm mountains, lest it should shake with them, and We placed therein broad highways for them to pass through, that they may be guided.

And mountains are big and solid and strong.

Al Isra' 17: 37
And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height.

Subhanallah! One of Allah's greatest signs in His creation.

Speaking English in Iran

I heard, from reading and from what the people who have been Iran, that the young ones in Iran love to approach foreigners and practice their english. In certain sense I think that is quite daring because i cannot remember myself doing that when I was younger. But then there are not many foreigners in the town of muo anyway.

But i remembered we had an exchange student in our school. She was from amayrikah. She had blonde hair. So many girls came up to her and ask her for a strand of hair. This of course happen before we knew that we can get somewhat similar effect by bleaching our hair. We asked her many things and she in return. But when the teacher made a question-answer session in class, and asked us to ask her questions. None of us did.

Anyway, we were approached by a couple of iranian youth - but they are not couple according to her. She wanted to interview me and the guy will be recording our "session". I found out from her that she is an english teacher and also quran teacher. I reckon, speaking to someone who can speak english can help them improve their english.

However, out of habit, I might have spoken a bit too fast. I hope the recording helps though.

Anyway I just want to point out this. The standard greeting in Persia is "Salam". Literally saying the word salam. Greeting Assalammualaikum is quite rare. Sometimes even when we say Assalammu alaikum, we rarely get an answer back. Maybe it is the way we say it.

But this is a habit I am trying to cultivate, giving Islamic greeting to people first. Even in the society who knows this greeting, I am already mentally ready to only be responded with a blank stare, Insya Allah. And I would tell those who are trying to live this sunnah to not be frustrated when people do not reply. It starts with you first.

And in Iran if you say salam, you can be sure of a good respond and a smile.

A Great Sahabah from Esfahan

We saw the oldest fire worshipping temple in Esfahan. Magians or majusi or Zorostrian is among the oldest religion in Iran. When Islam came, most people became Muslim except in the area of Yazd where people still practise this religion.

We cannot pass by the city of Esfahan without narrating the story of one of the greatest sahabahs - Salman al Farsi. When I first heard this hadith my heart swelled so much to learn the journey of one who seeks the truth.

Here goes..

Ibn Abbass RA once asked Salman al-Farsi RA about his story and Salman narrated his story to him.

I grew up in the town of Isfahan in Persia in the village of Jayyan. My father was the Dihqan or chief of the village. He was the richest person there and had the biggest house.

Since I was a child my father loved me, more than he loved any other. As time went by his love for me became so strong and overpowering that he feared to lose me or have anything happen to me. So he kept me at home, a veritable prisoner, in the same way that young girls were kept.

I became devoted to the Magian religion so much so that I attained the position of custodian of the fire which we worshipped. My duty was to see that the flames of the fire remained burning and that it did not go out for a single hour, day or night.

My father had a vast estate which yielded an abundant supply of crops. He himself looked after the estate and the harvest. One day he was very busy with his duties as dihqan in the village and he said to me:

“My son, as you see, I am too busy to go out to the estate now. Go and look after matters there for me today.”

On my way to the estate, I passed a Christian church and the voices at prayer attracted my attention. I did not know anything about Christianity or about the followers of any other religion throughout the time my father kept me in the house away from people. When I heard the voices of the Christians I entered the church to see what they were doing.

I was impressed by their manner of praying and felt drawn to their religion. “By God,” I said, “this is better than ours. I shall not leave them until the sun sets.”

I asked and was told that the Christian religion originated in Ash-Sham (Greater Syria). I did not go to my father’s estate that day and at night, I returned home.

My father met me and asked what I had done. I told him about my meeting with the Christians and how I was impressed by their religion. He was dismayed and said:

“My son, there is nothing good in that religion. Your religion and the religion of your forefathers is better.”

“No, their religion is better than ours,” I insisted.

My father became upset and afraid that I would leave our religion. So he kept me locked up in the house and put a chain on my feet. I managed however to send a message to the Christians asking them to inform me of any caravan going to Syria. Before long they got in touch with me and told me that a caravan was headed for Syria. I managed to unfetter myself and in disguise accompanied the caravan to Syria.

There, I asked who was the leading person in the Christian religion and was directed to the bishop of the church. I went up to him and said:

“I want to become a Christian and would like to attach myself to your service, learn from you and pray with you.”

The bishop agreed and I entered the church in his service. I soon found out, however, that the man was corrupt. He would order his followers to give money in charity while holding out the promise of blessings to them. When they gave anything to spend in the way of God, however, he would hoard it for himself and not give anything to the poor or needy. In this way he amassed a vast quantity of gold. When the bishop died and the Christians gathered to bury him, I told them of his corrupt practices and, at their request, showed them where he kept their donations. When they saw the large jars filled with gold and silver they said.

“By God, we shall not bury him.” They nailed him on a cross and threw stones at him. I continued in the service of the person who replaced him. The new bishop was an ascetic who longed for the Hereafter and engaged in worship day and night. I was greatly devoted to him and spent a long time in his company.

It was not long before they found a man to replace him. I stayed with him, and found that there was none more ascetic than he, or more desirous of the Hereafter There wan none more persistent then he in worship, day and night. I formed a great affection for him, and lived with him for a long time. When he was on his deathbed, I asked him”

“Who do you recommend me to, and who do you advise me to go after you are gone?”

“‘Son,’ he said,’I know of nobody who lives as I did, except for a man in al Mawsil, his name is so and so, and he has not deviated or changed. Go to him.”
“So when the companion died, I went to the man in al mawsil. When I arrived, I presented myself to him, and told him my story. I said:
“My companion recommended, before he died, that I go to you, because you practice the correct way of life.”He answered: ‘Stay with me.’ So I lived with him, and found him to be a virtuous person. After a while, he also died. Before his death, I said to him: The time ordained for you by Allah has come, and you know my story. tell me, to whom do you recommend me?”
“Son,” he said,”the only man I know who lives as we have lived is in Nassibayn, and his name is so-and-so. Go to him.”

“After he had been buried, I went to his friend in Nassibayn, and told him my story, and how my companion in Mwsil had commended him to me. he told me to stay with him, and I found him to be as virtuous as his two companions. It was not long before he, too, died. When he was on his deathbed, i asked him to whom I should go. he told me that the only worthy person whom he knew lived in Ammuriyah.

“So I went to him, and managed to earn, while living with him, some cattle and wealth. he did not live long, either. As he lay on his deathbed, he said: Son I know of none alive who still holds on to the way of life that we have practiced. But the time is coming for a prophet to appear from among the arabs. he will be sent with the religion of Abraham, and will migrate from his land to a land of date palms betweent two bare mountains. There will be signs by which he can recognised. he will eat from something given as a gift, but not from charity. between his shoulder blades will be a ring indicating the seal of prophecy. If you are able to travel to those lands, go and join him.”

A group of Arab leaders from the Kalb tribe passed through Ammuriyah and I asked them to take me with them to the land of the Arabs in return for whatever money I had. They agreed and I paid them. When we reached Wadi al-Qura (a place between Madinah and Syria), they broke their agreement and sold me to a Jew.

I worked as a servant for him but eventually he sold me to a nephew of his belonging to the tribe of Banu Qurayzah. This nephew took me with him to Yathrib, the city of palm groves, which is how the Christian at Ammuriyah had described it.

At that time the Prophet was inviting his people in Makkah to Islam but I did not hear anything about him then because of the harsh duties which slavery imposed upon me.

When the Prophet reached Yathrib after his hijrah from Makkah, I was in fact at the top of a palm tree belonging to my master doing some work. My master was sitting under the tree. A nephew of his came up and said:

“May God declare war on the Aws and the Khazraj (the two main Arab tribes of Yathrib). By God, they are now gathering at Quba to meet a man who has today come from Makkah and who claims he is a Prophet.”

I felt hot flushes as soon as I heard these words and I began to shiver so violently that I was afraid that I might fall on my master. I quickly got down from the tree and spoke to my master’s nephew.

“What did you say? Repeat the news for me.”

My master was very angry and gave me a terrible blow. “What does this matter to you’? Go back to what you were doing,” he shouted.

That evening, I took some dates that I had gathered and went to the place where the Prophet had alighted. I went up to him and said:

“I have heard that you are a righteous man and that you have companions with you who are strangers and are in need. Here is something from me as sadaqah. I see that you are more deserving of it than others.” The Prophet ordered his companions to eat but he himself did not eat of it.

I gathered some more dates and when the Prophet left Quba for Madinah I went to him and said: “I noticed that you did not eat of the sadaqah I gave. This however is a gift for you.” Of this gift of dates, both he and his companions ate.

That confirmed one of the signs told to Salman al-Farsi RA. He then went back. Then Salman brought food again and told the food that he gave last time was for charity this is now as a gift, this time the prophet ate the food with the companions.

Then Salman al-Farsi RA went to Muhammad SAWS and went around him and the prophet noticed that Salman was looking for something so the Prophet took off the cloth to show him what is between his shoulder blades.

When Salman saw the mark between his shoulders, he knew it was the Seal of Prophet hood, and Salman RA said when he saw it fell down in tears and began to kiss the prophets feet and made sujudd to him. Rasulullah SAWS immediately told him to stand up and asked Salman his story, and then told him to tell his companions the same story.

May Allah grant peace to Salman al farsi.

Perhaps you like to listen to audio lecture by Anwar Awlaki.