Sunday, April 27, 2008

3 tough questions!

There was a young man who went overseas 2 study for quite a long time. When he returned , he asked his parents 2 find him a religious scholar or any expert who could answer his Three Questions. Finally his parents were able 2 find a muslim scholar.

"Who r u? Can u answer my questions?," asked the young man.
"I am one of Allah's slaves and insyaAllah, I will be able 2 answer your question," replied the scholar.

"Are you sure? A lot of professors and experts were not able to answer my questions."
"I will try my best, with the help of Allah Ta'ala."

"I have 3 questions,"

1. Does God exist? If so, show me His shape.
2. What is fate(takdir)?
3. If syaitan(devil) was created from fire, why at the end he will be thrown to hell that is also created from fire. Did God not think of it this far?

Suddenly, the scholar slapped the young man's face very hard. The young man, who was shocked and hurt by the slap became confused.
"Why are you angry a me?"
"I am not angry. The slap is my answer to your 3 questions."

"I really don' understand," the young man said. He was really confused.
The scholar began to explain. " How did you feel after I slapped you?"
"Of course, i felt the pain!"

"So, do you believe the pain exist?"
"Yes"
"Now show me the shape of pain!"
"I can't"
"That is my 1st answer. All of us feel God's existence without being able to see His shape."

"Last night, did you dream that you will be slapped by me?"
"No."
"Did you ever think that you will get a slap from me, today?"
"No."
"That's takdir.....My hand that I used to slap you, what is it created from?
"It's created from flesh."

"How about your face, what is it created from?"
"Flesh as well !"
"How did you feel after I slapped you?"
"In pain."
"Even though syaitan(devil) and hell-fire were created from fire, if Allah wants, insyaAllah the hell-fire will become a very painful place for syaitan."

The wise scholar had answered all 3 tough questions by one slap. ^_^

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Don’t be Afraid on Islam.


Assalamualaikum,

After the General Election recently, the privilege of Malays and Islam have been questioned quite a number of times. My main concern here is not the privilege of Malays. But the privilege of Islam since Malay is nothing except just the people who like to eat pig, lazy and hot-tempered without Islam. The status of Islam as the official religion of Malaysia has been jeopardized by the politicians. Mainly the non-Muslims and even a few Muslims. People take advantage on politicians since they know that the politicians nowadays are practically their puppet or ‘slave’. Definitely the politicians would say they are the leaders. So disgusting! They afraid that they will lose their seat in the next election perhaps. I don’t know. Wallahua’lam.

Now, let’s take a look on this matter internationally. I’m sure that everyone is well-informed about the cartoon of Prophet Muhammad that has been published in Denmark recently. And also in the wikipedia. Or the short film ‘Fitna’ produced by Geert Van Wilders, The Holland MP. We all know that those things are deliberately produced to provoke and insult the 1.3 Billion of Muslims all over the world. Same thing goes to a book named ‘The Satanic Verse’ written by Salman Rushdie and millions of articles or journals which incline on anti-Islam sentiment. Such are the major insult on Muslim at the international level. They did those things by the principle of Freedom of voice. Such things spark hatred toward Muslims.

Ironically, No Muslim’s prominent figure goes react against them by insulting their religions back, whether it is Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism or Hinduism. Except that the Muslims just stand and fight to protect the dignity of Islam. Thanks to the freedom of voice principle that Muslims have a chance to correct those misunderstanding on Islam and Islam becomes the fastest-growing religion nowadays.

Secondly, when we look at the Islamic World today, we can clearly see that there is an effort to crush, oppress and eliminate Muslims in Bosnia, Algeria, Tunisia, Eritrea, Egypt, Afghanistan, East Turkestan, Chechnya, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar and Sudan. At first glance, the Muslims in these different regions may seem to be facing different enemies. The Serbs in Bosnia, the Hindus in Kashmir, the Russians in the Caucasus, and the oppressive regimes in countries such as Algeria, Egypt and Morocco all target Muslims. Does it happens to Non-Muslims in the countries where Islam as the dominant religion? Yes, maybe a few but generally the answer is absolute NO. If so, then they are actually defying the teaching of Prophet Muhammad. So, why should the non-Muslims be afraid on Islam? It is proven by the following hadith:

Prophet Muhammad said "Whosoever is cruel on zimmi or curtails his right or burdens him more than he can endure, or take any thing from him against his free will, I shall myself be a complainant against on the day of judgement"

Looking back at the peak of Islamic Caliphate in Spain (Andalucia), the Muslims, Jews and Christians lived together peacefully. They had the same rights in the constitution. They were free to pursue knowledge when the western civilization still in the Dark Age. Women were respected and at the same level with men while in the Western Civilization, women were killed as they like, threwn into prostitution and being denied their right to pursue knowledge. By the Darwinism philosophy that has penetrated the people’s mind nowadays, the world is slowly turn to Dark Era again. So, why should non-Muslims afraid Islam?

Come back to our original discussion. When Islam is given the privilege in our beloved Malaysia, it’s just a common sense. Islam is the official religion in a Muslim-dominant country. Make sense isn’t it? Same thing goes to other religions. It happens all over the world even in the countries that uphold Secularism. India, Thailand, China, United Kingdom and so on. While Islam strictly emphasize on the equal rights for Muslims and non-Muslims, people say that it is not fair.

Islam is the only religion that really cares about the welfare of other religions embraceor. As mentioned by Allah in Al-Quran, Surah At-Taubah, verses 6-7:

“If one amongst the Pagans ask thee for asylum, Grant it to him, so that he may hear the Word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are Men without knowledge.”

“How can there be a covenant Before Allah and his Messenger, with the Pagans, except those with whom ye made a treaty Near the Sacred Mosque? As long as these stand true to you, stand ye true to them: For Allah doth love the righteous.”

However, we need to realize that Muslims are not flawless. Absolutely Islam has no defect, Islam is syumul. But we are not. Therefore, at the same time, we have to check what we did wrong to them. Of course they would not stand up for no reason isn’t it? Give back what they have the rights on. If not then, the non-Muslims shouldn’t blame Islam but blame the Muslims because it is not the Islamic teaching. Please don’t be afraid on Islam. That’s all from me. Sorry for any inconvenience. Wassalam.

Reference:

Dr. Mohd Asri Bin Zainal Abidin

The Winter of Islam and The Spring to Come, Harun Yahya

English Translation of Holy Quran, Yusuf Ali

Friday, April 18, 2008

Tips for Self-Improvement

Every Muslim strives to seek the pleasure of Almighty Allah through continuous and consistent efforts to improve him or herself. As a young person blessed with so much energy, talent, skills, and time, have you given some thought as to how you will improve yourself for the betterment of yourself and your community? This, of course, requires self-awareness, self-discipline, and selflessness. Here are some helpful tips:

1. Purify your intentions.

Often we become so preoccupied with doing, with action, that we forget to check our intentions. Ask yourself, why am I doing such and such activity? Be sure that you are doing it for the sake of Almighty Allah by renewing your intention.

Prophet Muhammad said, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions, and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended." (Al-Bukhari).

Similarly, the first step in improving ourselves should be to purify our intentions and ensure that we want to be better for the sake of Allah alone, not for worldly gain, not for pride, not for anything else but for pleasing Almighty Allah.

2. Talk to yourself. Send yourself an e-mail.

That sounds so strange, right? But it is true. You need to talk to yourself to find out what needs improvement about yourself. You know best what aspects of your life need improvement. There are some aspects of your life that only family and trusted, close friends can tell you about that need improvement. But start by talking to yourself, and type out an e-mail that you will send to yourself. List in this e-mail all the ideas you have about improving and changing yourself. Be frank, only you and Allah know what you have in mind!

3. Set manageable, achievable goals.

Once you have explored all the areas in your life that need improvement, you will need to set some manageable and achievable goals. Be sure to remember that you are human and that you have certain limits not only in terms of time, but also in terms of what is achievable and when! Develop a timeline for yourself, set some deadlines, and, most importantly, be patient with yourself. Do not expect the change to occur overnight, and definitely do not be too tough on yourself if you find that you are requiring more effort than you initially expected.

4. Make du`aa' (Arabic for: supplication).

Nothing you wish to change about yourself will be possible except by the will of Allah. Turn to Him and seek His assistance as you set your goals and try to maintain your schedule. We need not guess as to what areas we must focus on because the Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) make clear some basic areas that must require continuous and consistent attention. For example, establishing the prayer on time and in the most perfect manner is important; seeking knowledge from the Qur'an, the Hadith, and other trusted sources are important; perfecting our character is important; and improving our speech and conduct are important. With so much to do and being blessed with so much time as a young person, in sha' Allah, your efforts to improve yourself will bear fruit if you plan well and make du`aa' to Allah.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Engineers of Poor Quality

Assalamualaikum w.b.t.

This time I'm eager to share with you all a letter that has been published by The Star on 17th April 2008. Actually, it has something to do with my alma mater and my field which is engineering. It's actually written by one of the UTP Industry Advisor Panel members. So, let's take a look on it.(Link to the original article)


Engineers of poor quality


I AM a manager in a chemical manufacturing firm in Malaysia. We often have vacancies for mechanical and chemical engineers, and occasionally electrical engineers. We do take in fresh graduates to train and develop for the future of our company.

In recent years, I have noticed a marked reduction in the quality of the engineering graduates. I would like to suggest that our local universities work with professional bodies such as Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) to address the weaknesses.

Some of the courses should be tailored to suit industrial requirements. BEM and IEM would be in the right position to work with the many universities we have here. Alternatively, they could come up with modules to be included in the engineering curriculum at our local universities.

With the advent of computers and simulation packages, another new problem is that fresh engineers seem at a loss to conduct design calculations from basic principles. They are over reliant on such computer packages.

When they start work, they are at a loss to do design work because some companies may not have such computer packages. Hence, even basic engineering calculations to determine the optimum pipe sizing and pump selection are beyond them.

These are basic engineering calculations, and without the necessary skills, we are left with design works that are sub-optimal, resulting in high operating costs for the users.

Alternatively, everyone would be running to consultants to get even the most basic of engineering work done for them.

In many of the plants I have been to, there is much that could be done to improve efficiency by just going back to good basic engineering practice. And in some cases, it’s just using good common sense.

I think there is a need to teach and emphasise on such basics. We should ensure that our young engineers are provided with good foundation knowledge for the future of our country.

After all, it is upon solid foundations that skyscrapers are built.

In this aspect, I must take my hat off to University Technology Petronas (UTP), which has formed an Industry Advisory Panel (IAP), and invites professionals from the industry to review their curriculum and suggest areas for improvement. UTP is serious about this and has implemented many of the suggestions introduced by its IAP.

UTP also has an adjunct lectures series where professionals are called in to give lectures to the undergraduates. I think these are good initiatives that other universities would do well to emulate.

SHYAM LAKSHMANAN,
Lahat, Perak.


**By reading this letter, you know how tough life in UTP is. haha... With a lot of complicated adjunct lecture series, felt like dying you know. Yet it's exciting. We are exposed on the industry at the very early stage. Even in the first year, we had been brought to chemical plant for exposure purpose. Even though sometime it's too hard to be absorbed, at least we have some ideas on our future path. We are also exposed to current issues mostly regarding Oil and Gas Industry as we are part of PETRONAS family. Somehow we know the politician tricks on the price of Petrol and Diesel issue. hehe... that explain why knowledge is very crucial and priceless isn't it? Wait! This is not to promote UTP, if so, then they need to pay me. haha... Let's hope UTP produces the next generation of good young engineers for the better Malaysia. InsyaAllah. Gud luck everyone! Salam

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Black 14: The Begin of The New Dawn

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

Here, I would like to share a latest article taken from Al-Jazeera regarding Black 14 gathering at Sultan Sulaiman Club on 14th April 2008

Anwar threatens Malaysia government




Anwar will be able to run for office again when
a five-year ban runs out on April 15 [AFP]

Malaysia's de facto opposition leader has said that he could topple the ruling coalition because enough members inside the government have agreed to defect to his side.
Anwar Ibrahim made the claim just before police broke up a rally aimed at celebrating the end on Monday of a five-year ban that had kept him from running for political office.










"Now I can say for the first time that we are ready to govern the country," Anwar said.
"We have the numbers ... Some [government legislators] have had discussions with us, but we are not in a hurry."













Organisers estimated 40,000 people gathered to hear Anwar's first public speech in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, since last month's general elections.
Police said the number was closer to 4,000.
"We are just waiting for the right time. We want to create a new era for Malaysia," Anwar said to applause from the crowd.
"We will hand over the parliamentary opposition post to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi."
Police halted Anwar an hour into his speech and the crowd dispersed peacefully.
Political opposition
Police said the rally was illegal because it did not have a permit required by Malaysian law for all public assemblies of more than five people, and had urged people to stay away.
Officially Malaysia's opposition coalition has 82 seats in the 222-member parliament but unofficially has enough parliamentary members to form a government, Anwar said before police surrounded the rostrum where he was speaking.
Anwar himself will be able to run for political office again on April 15, after the five-year ban imposed following a conviction for corruption, expires.
He was cast into the political wilderness after being dropped in 1998 by Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's former prime minister and, originally, a mentor of Anwar's.
But, as the ban comes to an end, his political fortunes have also been revived by the opposition's gains in last month's general elections.
For the first time in 40 years, the opposition prevented the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition from taking a two-thirds parliamentary majority and seized control of five states.
Barisan's poor showing sparked some calls for Abdullah Badawi, the current prime minister, to resign, although he has refused to step down.


** Such a big worry to my beloved Pak Lah. Hope that Pak Lah would take an aggressive approach to revolutionise his team. Dissipitate all those corruption elements, cronyism and nepotism which spark the uneasiness and dissatisfaction among Rakyat. Or else, you would be watching the end of your reign pleasantly soon. We want to see a fresh idea coming from a fresh leader. But you and your cronies stop it! Now you can see the wave that may shaken your 'throne'. Good luck my dear Pak Lah and DSAI!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Jika Pemerintah Bertaubat Dengan Taubat Nasuha..

Artikel ini dipetik daripada Website Mufti Perlis: Dr. Mohd. Asri bin Zainal Abidin



Kita semua wajar bersikap adil. Pilihanraya telah pun berlalu. Kita mengundi untuk kebaikan negara. Kita inginkan perubahan ke arah yang lebih positif, adil dan telus. Mesej rakyat kepada parti-parti politik dalam perkara tersebut sudah pun difahami oleh mereka.

Hari ini usaha-usaha ke arah hasrat tersebut kelihatannya sedang giat dilaksanakan. Kerajaan pusat juga telah merangka berbagai cadangan dan gagasan agar ketelusan dan keadilan dapat dilaksanakan. Demikian juga sesetengah kerajaan negeri yang baru dan yang lama. Sokonglah usaha-usaha yang baik serta berikanlah kritikan yang membina.

Politik bukan untuk membalas dendam atau ruang mencurahkan emosi yang tidak sudah-sudah. Sebaliknya, berpolitiklah untuk keadilan dan kebahagiaan kehidupan manusia di dunia dan akhirat. Malanglah kita orang Islam apabila berbalah, melampaui batas. Sedangkan Nabi s.a.w bersabda: “Manusia yang paling Allah benci ialah yang berkeras kepala dalam perbalahan” (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim).

Dukacitalah kita ini, jika dalam percaturan politik kita umat Islam, ‘orang lain’ yang mendapat banyak manfaat dan berjaya memperolehi berbagai tuntutan, sedangkan kita hanya menang ‘tuduh menuduh, bertengkar, bermasam muka, gelar menggelar dan segala macam racun yang lain. Ketika orang lain yang semalamnya bagaikan musuh yang sengit, hari ini sedang berpelukan meraikan kejayaan memperolehi segala macam tuntutan, kita masih lagi bagaikan‘sedang mengasah parang’ untuk meneruskan kematian.

Tuhan sentiasa membuka pintu taubat untuk insan yang bersalah berubah kepada yang lebih baik. Bila-bila masa sahaja taubat itu terbuka apabila timbulnya keinsafan dan kesedaran. Mungkin kesedaran dan keinsafan itu timbul hasil dari nasihat, atau kejadian dan peristiwa tertentu. Kadang-kala insan yang begitu jahat, berubah menjadi insaf disebabkan ketakutan atau penderitaan tertentu, atau peristiwa trajis yang meleburkan keegoannya.

Tidaklah penting apa pun sebab keinsafan itu lahir. Apa yang penting bagaimanakah keinsafan itu dihayati. Maka insan yang insaf disuruh bertaubat dengan taubat yang sebenar atau disebut sebagai taubah nasuha. Allah menyebut dalam Surah al-Tahrim ayat 8 : (maksudnya): Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! bertaubatlah kamu kepada Allah dengan ” taubat nasuha”, Mudah-mudahan Tuhan kamu akan menghapuskan kesalahan-kesalahan kamu dan memasukkan kamu ke dalam syurga yang mengalir di bawahnya beberapa sungai..

Terlaksananya taubat yang sebenar itu dengan seseorang insan menyesali kesalahannya, memohon keampunan daripada Allah dan berazam untuk tidak mengulanginya lagi. Jika kesalahan itu membabitkan insan yang lain, maka dia hendaklah membetulkannya dengan mengembalikan hak yang diambil, atau menafikan tuduhan yang dilemparkan.

Jika itu berlaku, maka mereka akan insan tersebut janji Allah dalam firmanNya: (maksudnya) “Kecuali orang yang bertaubat dan beriman serta mengerjakan amal soleh, maka mereka itu Allah akan gantikan (pada tempat) kejahatan mereka dengan kebaikan; dan adalah Allah Maha Pengampun, lagi Maha Mengasihani. (Surah al-Furqan: 70).

Saya ingin katakan bahawa peristiwa pilihanraya yang lepas, perkara yang pertama yang mesti dilakukan oleh pihak pemerintah bagi mengeluarkan diri semua dari krisis dan kegawatan politik yang saban hari mengganggu kita semua adalah dengan cara bertaubat kepada Allah dengan taubat nasuha. Segala kesalahan, ketidakadilan, ketidaktelusan, kecuaian atas tanggunjawab yang Allah amanahkan selama ini hendaklah benar-benar insaf dan memohon ampun daripada Allah.

Kedua; hendaklah berazam untuk tidak mengulanginya lagi pada masa hadapan.

Ketiga: jika ada hak rakyat yang dizalimi, kembalikan hak mereka. Jika ini dilakukan, percayalah kepada rahmat Allah yang akan melimpahi negara dan kepimpinan akan terus dapat keberkatan dalam pemerintahan yang akan diteruskan. Dengarlah kata-kata Nabi Hud a.s kepada kaumnya seperti dalam Surah Hud ayat 52: (maksudnya) “Dan wahai kaumku! mintalah ampun kepada Tuhan kamu, kemudian kembalilah taat kepadaNya, supaya ia menghantarkan kepada kamu hujan lebat serta menambahkan kamu kekuatan di samping kekuatan kamu yang sedia ada; dan janganlah kamu membelakangkan seruanku dengan terus melakukan dosa”.

Inilah penawar bala yang telah dibuka rahsianya oleh Nabi Hud a.s., dan inilah juga yang pernah disebut oleh Nabi Nuh a.s. sebelum itu kepada kaumnya. Kata Nabi Nuh seperti dalam Surah Nuh ayat 10-12: (maksudnya) “Sehingga Aku berkata (kepada mereka): `Pohonkanlah ampun kepada Tuhan kamu, Sesungguhnya Dia Maha Pengampun. (Sekiranya kamu berbuat demikian), Dia akan menghantarkan hujan lebat mencurah-curah, kepada kamu. Dan Dia akan memberi kepada kamu dengan banyaknya harta kekayaan serta anak-pinak; dan ia akan mengadakan bagi kamu kebun-kebun tanaman, serta mengadakan bagi kamu sungai-sungai (yang mengalir di dalamnya)”.

Ayat-ayat ini menjelaskan bahawa memohon ampun daripada Allah membolehkan rahmat dan keberkatan diturunkan. Allah menambahkan dengan taubat rezeki yang mencurah-curah, kekuatan, harta dan anak-pinak. Maka bertaubatlah wahai para pemerintah, agar kedamaian, ketenteraman dan kemakmuran akan dikecapi di bawah pemerintahan anda.

Pasca politik kini adalah ujian untuk kepimpinan negara. Bukan masa untuk menunjukkan ego, atau mencari-cari di mana silap orang lain, tapi melupai dosa-dosa politik yang pernah dilakukan. Masa ini sepatutnya kepimpinan negara di setiap peringkat menunjukkan tadarru’ iatu benar-benar merendah diri kepada Allah dan memohon keampunan daripadanya.

Kita ingin mendengar kepimpinan memohon kemaafan kepada rakyat di atas segala kesilapan yang pernah berlaku sepanjang pentadbiran yang lalu. Inilah yang akan mendatangkan keberkatan dan menimbulkan rasa hormat rakyat. Ingatlah amaran Allah apabila sesuatu bala atau ujian ditimpakan kepada sesuatu kaum dalam firmanNya: (maksudnya) “Dan Demi sesungguhnya Kami telah utuskan Rasul-rasul kepada umat-umat yang terdahulu daripadamu (lalu mereka mendustakannya), maka Kami seksakan mereka dengan kesusahan dan penyakit, supaya mereka merendah diri (insaf dan bertaubat).

Maka Alangkah eloknya kalau mereka merendah diri (insaf dan bertaubat) ketika mereka ditimpa azab Kami? tetapi yang sebenarnya hati mereka keras (tidak mahu menerima kebenaran), dan syaitan pula memperelokkan pada (pandangan) mereka apa yang mereka telah lakukan. Kemudian apabila mereka melupakan apa yang telah diperingatkan mereka dengannya, Kami bukakan kepada mereka pintu-pintu segala perkara (kemewahan dan kesenangan), sehingga apabila mereka bergembira dengan segala nikmat yang diberikan kepada mereka, Kami timpakan mereka secara mengejut (dengan bala bencana yang membinasakan), maka mereka pun berputus asa (dari mendapat sebarang pertolongan)”.

Ya Allah! Peliharalah kami dari balaMu! Lihatlah Keamanan kita juga dirasakan makin terhakis saban hari. Kejadian-kejadian yang meragut ketenteraman mula bertali arus. Setiap kita mula bimbang dan risau atas keselamatan diri dan keluarga sekalipun berada dalam rumah sendiri. Polis pun tidak dapat menyelesaikan ketakutan seperti itu. Wahai pemerintah! Hanya Allah yang dapat mengeluarkan kita dari semua itu. Kembalilah kepadaNya!

Perubahan yang berteraskan taubat kepada Allah perlu dilakukan. Kepimpinan utama mestilah tegas dan ikhlas. Insan-insan yang telah terlibat dengan penyelewengan harta rakyat hendaklah dipupuskan. Mereka perlu disiasat secara telus. Bagaimana mungkin kepentingan negara yang diamanahkan untuk dijalankan, lalu dijadikan sumber kekayaan diri yang luar biasa.

Janganlah dihitung sebesar mana pun kedudukannya, atau serapat manapun persahabatan dengannya. Hak rakyat mestilah dipelihara. Tergamakkah seorang insan yang mengaku beriman memenuhi diri dengan kemewahan harta rakyat, sedangkan berapa ramai rakyat yang masih miskin dan susah, hidup dibanjiri airmata.

Bertaubatlah, kembalikan hak-hak rakyat, belalah mereka yang teraniaya. Jika orang kaya yang dizalimi, ada peguam yang dapat membawa kesnya ke mahkamah. Si miskin yang susah apabila ditindas, tiada peguam yang mampu dibayar, maka tidak ada mahkamah yang sudi mendengar. Namun esakan dan tangisan itu tetap didengari oleh Allah Yang Maha Mendengar. Rintihan itu sampai ke langit tinggi dan Allah akan membalasnya.

Wahai pemimpin! Jika engkau tidak adil, engkau akan didakwa di mahkamah Allah di pandang mahsyar kelak. Juga, jika dosa orang kena zalim itu mustajab di dunia, engkau akan dibalas di dunia dan akhirat. Wahai pemimpin! Bertaubatlah.

Para pemimpin adalah contoh untuk sekelian rakyat di bawah mereka. Mereka diperhatikan. Kemewahan mereka –jika tidak betul cara- menjadi tanda tanya. Sikap dan perwatakan mereka dipersoalkan. Demikian jugalah anak isteri mereka. Gaya yang berlebih-lebihan membuat rakyat merasa jelak. Ada yang sehingga ketika artis hindustan datang ke Malaysia yang terlebih boollywood dari boollywood. Sedangkan dia isteri orang besar.

Sebabnya, ramai seketika dulu merasakan mereka manusia kebal yang tidak mungkin ditumbangkan. Mereka lupa bahawa rakyat sedang merasa mual. Jika pemimpin itu bercakap Islam, buktikanlah menerusi percakapan, pendekatan, sikap dan juga pakaian anak isteri. Jangan berlebih-lebihan, tetapi bersederhanalah dan ikut peraturan. Rakyat tidak bertanya, berapa harga ‘make-up’ datin? Tetapi rakyat akan selalu mengingati kehalusan akhlak dan budi.

Allah pula suka kepada yang merendah diri dan menyayangi sesama muslim. Manusia ini bagaimana pun wataknya, hati nuraninya akan terasa hormat kepada orang yang mengingati Allah dalam ertikata yang sebenar. Diterjemahkan ingatan itu dalam bentuk tawaduk dan ketertiban sikap. Wahai pemimpin! Lakukanlah perubahan kerana Allah dalam hal ini. Nanti rakyat akan menyayangi anda.

Hala tuju negara hendaklah digaris dengan jelas. Saya kadang-kala melihat seakan generasi muda melayu Islam di negara ini dicandukan agar tidak lagi mampu berfikir dengan seimbang. Hiburan-hiburan yang melebihi dari tahap keperluan dan tidak memiliki matlamat yang jelas seakan sengaja dilambakkan untuk hidangan mereka. Inilah yang kelihatan dalam media-media kita sedangkan ketika yang sama gendang ‘Islam Hadhari’ dipalukan. Sebagai tanda restu atau sebaliknya, saya tidak pasti. Lalu anak muda kita dalam khayal dan mabuk, dadah, keruntuhan akhlak dan berbagai.

Maka tidak hairanlah jika mereka tidak mempunyai pandangan yang jelas dan terurus tentang masa depan negara. Lalu kita bising hilangnya nilai-nilai patriotik dalam jiwa jenerasi baru, padahal kita sendiri yang seakan memandulkan minda dan fitrah mereka. Barangkali kita suka, kerana dengan demikian, mereka tidak banyak mempersoalkan kita. Mendidik rakyat adalah tanggungjawab pemimpin yang Allah amanahkan. Bertaubatlah kepada Allah, betulkan perjalanan masa depan negara ini.

Banyak perkara yang patut saya komen tentang Islam Hadhari. Sejak dahulu saya selalu mengelakkan dari menyebut jenama yang mengundang ‘seribu kekeliruan itu’. Saya akan menulis tajuk khas mengenainya, insya Allah. Apa yang penting banyak perkara perlu dibetulkan. Bertaubat!. Kembalilah kepada Islam yang murni lagi asal seperti zaman Nabi s.a.w. Islam yang terbukti membangunkan kehidupan masyarakat yang aman lagi harmoni dunia dan akhirat. Tokok tambah agama hanya menghilangkan keaslian dan keberkatan dari Allah.

Wahai pemimpin! Pena saya tidak menzalimi anda. Sudah setahun, saban minggu ayat-ayatnya berbaris di sini. Bukan untuk menjatuhkan, tetapi mengajak melihat bersama laluan di hadapan. Allah yang memberi kuasa kepada sesiapa yang Dia kehendaki, dan mencabutnya dari sesiapa yang Dia kehendaki. Sesungguhnya taubat adalah penghalang bala bencana. Firman Allah: “Dan Allah tidak akan menyeksa mereka sedangkan mereka beristighfar (meminta ampun)”. (Surah al-Anfal: 33).

Maka, jadikanlah kerajaan yang sedang merubah dirinya itu sebagai kerajaan yang bertaubat dari segala bentuk ketidakadilan dan ketidaktelusan. Seperti mana insan yang bertaubat, kelihatan bersih bercahaya dan merendah diri kepada Allah, demikian hendaknya kerajaan yang bertaubat.

Terjemahkanlah taubat itu dalam kepimpinan, pengurusan, media dan hati budi pemimpin. Pohonlah kemaafan kepada rakyat, dan kembalikan hak mereka jika ada yang ‘tidak kena’. Demikianlah juga hendaknya sekelian rakyat memohon keampunan dan kembali kepada jalan yang lurus. Inilah jalan keluar yang hakiki dari kemelutkan yang ada.

Jika itu berlaku maka, Allah berfirman: (maksudnya) “Dan sekiranya penduduk negeri itu, beriman serta bertaqwa, tentulah Kami akan membuka kepada mereka segala keberkatan dari langit dan bumi, tetapi mereka mendustakan (Rasul kami), lalu Kami timpakan mereka dengan azab seksa disebabkan apa yang mereka telah usahakan”. (Surah al-‘Araf: 96).

Source:

Friday, April 11, 2008

How did Dr Ingrid Mattson became Muslim?

Ingrid Mattson is a professor of Islamic Studies at Hartford Seminary. She is Vice President of the Islamic Society of North America.I spent a lot of time looking at art the year before I became a Muslim. Completing a degree in Philosophy and Fine Arts, I sat for hours in darkened classrooms where my professors projected pictures of great works of Western art on the wall. I worked in the archives for the Fine Arts department, preparing and cataloging slides. I gathered stacks of thick art history books every time I studied in the university library. I went to art museums in Toronto, Montreal and Chicago. That summer in Paris, “the summer I met Muslims” as I always think of it, I spent a whole day (the free day) each week in the Louvre.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Death of a Palestinian Child

Leaves leave ...
The trees ...
They leave ...
No one grieves.

Tears fall down ...
The child cries ...
Run down the cheeks ...
Falling from the eyes.

Tears dropping ...
Dropping like leaves ...
Forever he leaves ...
No one grieves.

God is watching ...
With watchful eyes ...
He will award ...
All tears and sighs.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Genius: A Bless or Curse?

Who’s Who?

Generally, expert said that a person who had IQ index above 150 is considered as a “Genius”. IQ was calculated as a ratio with the formula 100 x mental age/chronological age. It means that the ratio of mental age and chronological age for a Genius is 3:2. They are people of great intelligence, who show an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work. Genius may come in a variety of forms, such as mathematical genius, literary genius, or poetic genius, etc. Artistic genius may show itself in early childhood as a prodigy or later in life; either way, geniuses eventually differentiate themselves from the others through great originality. Intellectual geniuses often have crisp, clear-eyed visions of given situations, in which interpretation is unnecessary, and they build or act on the basis of those facts, usually with tremendous energy. Accomplished geniuses in intellectual fields start out in many cases as child prodigies, gifted with superior memory or understanding.

Malaysian Children Prodigy: Where Are They?

Remember Mohd. Shukri Hadafi? A child who sparks the local newspapers on early 1970s because of his ability to read newspaper only at 3 years old. Now, what happen to him? Where is he? It is reported on early 1990s that he’s working at a stall as a Penebar Roti Canai . There are some sources too that said Shukri falls into the world of drug-addict. The Genius adopted son of Prof. Diraja Ungku Aziz lost his potential which makes him very famous before. There must be something wrong somewhere.

While for Chia Ti Ming, It is a terribly sad story. He had enjoyed an extraordinary life as a genius and blessed by being the youngest student ever at California Institute of Technology (CalTech) last two decade. However, he dead on early January 2007 because of uncontrolled, enormously bad depression, which caused him to be admitted to HKL on 2002. We lose another so-called precious asset.

It is a far complex matter happen to Sufiah Yusof, another remarkable child prodigy. The daughter of Farooq Yusuf, a Pakistani and Halimahton, a Malaysian was a child math genius who won a place at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford University aged just 13. But now the only sums Sufiah Yusof is interested in are the ones she earns as a HOOKER.

Sufiah Yusuf

Maths prodigy who won an Oxford place at 13 is now a £130-an-hour HOOKER

By Keith Gladdis

SHE was a child maths genius who won a place at Oxford University aged just 13—but now the only sums Sufiah Yusof is interested in are the ones she earns as a HOOKER.

For sad Sufiah the daily equation she has to solve is simply sex equals £130 as she sells her body to punters over the internet.

With family

The gifted girl with the winning smile had the world at her feet ten years ago and should be a rich woman by now—but last week she was busy subtracting her underwear for our undercover reporter in her dingy back street flat.

“Would you like to start your half hour now?” said Sufiah, 23, as she danced on the bed, displaying her body for examination.

Then she listed all the sleazy plus points she would throw in for our man if he took up her offer.

Calling herself Shilpa Lee, the former child prodigy still juggles with figures on a hookers’ website, describing herself as a “very pretty size 8, 32D bust and 55 tall—available for booking every day from 11am to 8pm.”

She says she is a “sexy, smart student” who prefers “older gentlemen”— but a former pal who has witnessed her downfall told us: “It is all desperately heartbreaking.

“With her amazing brain she should be able to make money any way she wants. But instead her life has spiralled completely out of control.”

Life has never quite added up for Sufiah. Her descent into prostitution in Salford, Manchester, is the latest in a long line of tragedies to have engulfed her since the sunny day when she posed with her university mortar board for the world’s press outside prestigious St Hilda’s College.

Our shock revelations today come in the week her domineering dad Farooq was jailed for sexually assaulting two 15-year-old girls as he home-tutored them in maths.

And he was always at the root of all her troubles— even as she passed the further maths A-Level she needed for entry to Oxford at the age of 12. In those days Sufia was a strict Muslim child who prayed five times a day and was subjected to her father’s famous Accelerated Learning Technique.

Her days involved stretching and breathing exercises in freezing rooms to keep her brain attentive.

Sufiah would then study hard and be forced to play tennis with just as much intensity as fanatical Farooq drove her on. The routine was so effective Sufiah was seeded number eight in the country for under 21s.

But three years into Oxford, the 15-year-old sparked a massive police hunt after running away.

Abuse

At the time her father bizarrely claimed Sufiah had been kidnapped and brainwashed by an organisation seeking the key to her intelligence.

But Sufiah sent an email to her family describing her life under her father as a “living hell”.

One message to her sister read: “I’ve finally had enough of 15 years of physical and emotional abuse. You know what I am talking about.”

Sufiah was missing for two weeks before being found in an internet café in Bournemouth where she had been working as a hotel waitress.

She refused to go back to her parents and instead was taken into the care of social services.

It was then revealed that Farooq had been jailed for three years in 1992 for his part in a £1.5m mortgage swindle. Before that—at the age of 19—he had been sent to borstal for his role in a conspiracy involving £100,000.

Free from the spell of her father, Sufiah returned to Oxford to complete the final year of her Masters in Maths.

But she was now more concerned with enjoying herself—and failed to finish the course after meeting trainee lawyer Jonathan Marshall.

Sweet moment with Jonathan Marshall

They were married in 2004 when Sufiah was just 19 and Jonathan 24. But the strains with her family were still there.

Despite being invited, Sufiah’s parents and four brothers and sisters failed to turn up to the wedding.

Her dreams of a happy life with Jonathan were shattered when the couple divorced just a year later.

Now, in her sad little flat, she uses her body to pay the rent. Sufiah met our man, posing as a punter, at the entrance to her building wearing a tiny skirt, leather boots and a tight t-shirt. She was carrying three mobile phones.

She laughed and joked as she led him to her small apartment where a bed was already set out in the lounge.

She told him it was £130 an hour and offered him a glass of water before putting some music on to a cheap portable stereo and nervously stripping down to her red lace bra and knickers.

Sufiah then peeled off her underwear and danced on the bed. She told him she did full sex with a condom and oral sex without protection.

After our man had made his excuses, Sufiah kept him talking by telling him how she was studying for a Masters degree in Economics on a part-time two year course in London.

The former prodigy added: “I’ve got exams coming up and I’m thinking ‘Oh my God!’”

Once described by her parents as “naïve and unstreetwise”, she works alone from her flat without any obvious physical security or protection.

She even admitted to our reporter: “It’s always a surprise who you are going to meet.”

Cheerful Sufiah gave no indication of any sadness at the jailing of her father the previous day. On Wednesday Farooq, 50, was sentenced to 18 months at Coventry Crown Court for touching two 15-year-old girls when he was home tutoring them at maths.

The court heard how in May last year Farooq arrived at one of the victim’s home for a maths lesson.

He started whispering in her ear and kissing her hair and cheek. He also touched her breast and told her she was a genius and pretty before putting her hand on his upper thigh.

Destroyed

Farooq’s defence lawyer Tim Hannam said: “He’s been back in prison for over five months and knows there’ll be no more teaching and any hope he had of gaining an income from the teaching method he had developed to a high degree of success is lost to him. His reputation is destroyed.”

Now it’s clear the daughter who fled his strict regime has almost been destroyed too.

Her friend said last night: “Sufiah has suffered so many knocks in her life. I just hope she can drag herself out this life she has got herself into.

“She is a good person and deserves a much better life than this. Her gift really has been a curse.”

Sufiah, who’s regarded as nice, righteous, and pious at his early age with bless of genius by Allah, end up in the world of prostitution after facing uncertain and problematic life. Another Malay Muslim genius child becomes the victim. What the heck has happened? Who’s next?

Meet Dr Chan

after completing year 12 subjects at 10, mathematician Yao-ban Chan has now become Melbourne University’s youngest-ever PhD graduate. Photo: Craig Abraham

Lucky Chan Yao-ban, another Malaysian-born child prodigy, at 21, today he becomes the youngest-ever PhD graduate at Melbourne University. Mr Chan, who was born in Malaysia and raised in New Zealand, was largely home-schooled by his mother Peck-Woon, a microbiologist, and father George, a director with Heinz. He is now conducting a research of statistic method to identify the protein abnormality in human brain to diagnose schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He has met the right path to trim his ability to the peak. My question is, do we need to run away from Malaysia just to support such kind of children? Well, we do have bodies such as National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), Malaysia. Apparently, that is not enough.

Who’s Adi Putra?

Adi Putra

Another young math whiz Adi Putra Abdul Ghani, who could read newspapers by the age of four, fascinated Malaysians with his ability to solve Additional Mathematics problems. He faces the possibility of being thrown out of his primary school. The parents of the seven-year-old boy have received show-cause letters from his school, SK Jalan Matang Buluh in Bagan Serai, warning them that he could be expelled for cutting classes too often. His mother Serihana Elias, a former teacher, said her son was reluctant to go to school because he was bored with the basic syllabus of reading, writing and counting lay down by the Education Ministry. Let’s put it in simpler manner. What would have happened if Mozart went to a regular school as other children despite his talent in music? What would have happened if Mozart’s father didn’t capitalize on his talent? Let’s read what Allah says in Surah 13 ar-Ra‘d, verse 11 as a point to ponder:

لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلاَ مَرَدَّ لَهُ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَا

For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Allah does not change a people’s lot unless they change what is in their hearts. But when (once) Allah willeth a people’s punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.

Conclusion

Nurtured and taught the right way, we can expect great things from the children prodigy in the future. But until then, it is also important that the glare of the media and attention be diverted away from them. They are still first and foremost children and should not be exposed to such pressures. They should be allowed to enjoy the things every normal child enjoys. Every child have their right to have a normal childhood, to experience everything a normal child should experience, regardless of whether he's a genius or not. The most important thing here is not only to nurture their abilities so that they will not be one day burnt out like many other geniuses around the world, but also to build him up in other skills, not just Math. The government is supposed to be the umbrella body: supporting and nurturing. The government must also realize that this is not a problem. This is actually an opportunity. Supposedly Genius is a manifestation of bless and not curse naturally. So, please don’t manipulate them as if they are some kind of alien as it is going to destroy the nature of Genius itself. Till then, thank you.

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