Syawal reunion

I reflected back on Ramadhan and told myself, it's not that bad after all. Of anything that happened in the blessed month, there were new experiences never achieved before, and the start of new chapters that I never obtained in previous years.

It's the 7th day of Syawal and visitings, for most, are still at the peak. As per usual, the salam routine at nenek's house, from the eldest to the youngest generation.

With all the ala pa.pa.razzi hype and pose, and the forgiveness we seek from family members.

This special time, the chance once again to rekindle bonds with cousins and relatives in Johor after a long hiatus. Abah can now relax as I chauffeured my parents from Singapore to Johor for the 'eid visits there.

For a while, I indulged in reminiscence. How time flies, and how my hiatus caused myself to be a little shocked at the changes that have happened. Basically, the changes happened both ways; to them and to us. And I gladly welcome a new baby-born into the cousins' list...

Enjoyable time with the kids, and the ayams as well. Oh, how I miss the kampung food, especially lauk kicap ayam (Chicken with black sauce). The driving there and here, for obvious reasons differ; their ways and the system and the never-ending E.r.a station with the raya message of 'Rancanglah perjalanan anda' and other drivin' adverts tickled me along the way. And of course, I wouldn't forget the final visit before heading back to homeland when the super heavy rain, caused this to happen.

And this Miss, wouldn't miss it! (pun not intended)

To all, whom I've not seek forgiveness, please forgive me from the bottom of my heart
to all my distant relatives, friends & acquaintances.

'Eid Mubaarak!

x x x

Buff, I'll upload the rest of the pix in multiply.
And yes, the show was a success. Thanks for you support system.
I'll upload the DK pix as well in multi.

It's ending... let's hope it's not the end...

Alhamdulillah. I hope most of my Muslim friends are able to spend their last days of Ramadhan fruitfully. I wouldn't say that I did that well for my last 10 days. However, to those who knew, thanks for the du'a. I am still on my road to recovery, still finding the signboard ;p

So for the closure of Ramadhan soon, I'd like to share a write up I did on caliphate or known as khilafah. I watched the tarawih prayers in Makkah last 2 days and was stirred by that aura. I realised, I miss the peacefulness and the tranquility I once had. Oh, and the ice cream too, ha..ha. So I remembered the sahabahs who faced challenges during their leadership.

A critical assessment on the successions in Khulafa’ Rasyidin and their legitimacy in the eyes of the Muslims

. April 2006 .

Khilafah was a natural outcome of the elementary concept of the unity of life, relating to Tauhid which does not allow a separation between religion and state, as it strives to attain a unity between belief and practice, between individual ethics and social ethics, between religion and life. The basic features of the caliphate were based on the Syura system by the Majlis Syura, bai’ah of the Muslim public and to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah. All the first three caliphs received bai’ah by the Syura members as well as the Muslim community although Hadrat Umar was nominated by Hadrat Abu Bakr before his death.

During Hadrat Abu Bakr’s succession, the only question upon his appointment was by Hadrat Ali. As-Siddiq then explained his presence in Saqifah Banu Sa’idah about the dispute between the Ansars and Muhajirin. He accepted the position due to the difficult situation as the people also took their oath of allegiance and showed complete unanimity in the matter. For Hadrat ‘Ali, Sayyidatina `A’isha consented the khilafah later on due her opposition on it because of the delay in taking avenge from the assassinators of Hadrat Uthman’s death.

Out of the four caliphs, the first half can be called the religious and spiritual rule of Islam where faith dominates materialism. In fact, the Muslims were united due to the just administration carried out by the caliphs. Hadrat Omar’s period was the “Golden Age” of Islamic history when Islam was practiced at its true form with good initiatives based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. The unity of the Muslims started to deteriorate in the second half of the Rightly-Guided Caliphate. People who wanted to create chaos among the Muslims took advantage on Hadrat ‘Uthman’s soft nature, unlike Hadrat Omar’s stern hand that kept away unwanted practices during his reign. Abdullah bin Saba’ who initiated the internal clashes within the Muslim community resulted in four divisions. As for the legitimacy of Hadrat ‘Uthman’s period, the Shiites thought that he was not fit for Khilafah.

According to Sunni historians, the assassins were amongst this group. As mentioned earlier, the assassination of Hadrat ‘Othman has divided the Muslims into four main groups. These groups had different beliefs towards the succession of the fourth caliphate. For the 'Uthmanis, they totally rejected Hadrat ‘Ali’s designation as caliph because of the failure to settle the assassins of Hadrat ‘Uthman. So, after the judgement of the arbitrators, they pledged their allegiance to Amir Mu’awiyah. The Shiites, in the beginning just declared themselves as Hadrat ‘Ali’s friends during the third caliphate. However, they later developed a belief that only Hadrat ‘Ali was the only fit person for the position and discarded the authority of Amir Mu’awiyah and the first three caliphs. Only that during the first two caliphate, they did not criticise openly. The Khawarij only accepted Hadrat Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and denounced the rest. Ahli Sunnah wal-Jam’aah were in favour of all four caliphs as these caliphs set examples according to the Qur’an and Sunnah and as discussed earlier, the basic features of caliphate was to be guided by these two sources.

The qualities of second half of the Rightly-Guided Caliphate appeared to be gradually receding thus ended the Righteous caliphate as the Muslim community became divided and creating their own agendas, most for their own benefits. After the prophet’s time, it was God’s will that the same legacy is carried on by deserving persons, who could take up the khilafah to continue the tradition started by the prophet. Ultimately, the four of them were the closest companions to the Prophet and they were eager to follow in his footsteps. None of them assumed the pretensions of the latter day “kings” and “sultans” of a decadent age.

x x x

Will I meet you again?
I'll be missing you for a year...
Patiently waiting for you once more...

Have a well-spent last day of Ramadhan, everyone...

The tests of the last phases...

The hazy atmosphere..
P.S.I changes I need to adhere..

PSLE exams marking four straight days...
Non-stop of my right hand that sways...

Sum up to a single effect...
One which the pro has detect...

So One MC to let it be
Dear mind, body and soul; be free

X X X

So, should I go for the minor op?
Pretty bad it is. 80% of the flesh swollen.
Oh yes, it has affected me a lifetime.
Perhaps, after 'eid, I'll think about this.
After much reading, it's labelled under chronic.

Oh Allah, to you I seek cure from illness...
That everything be okay...
In this last phases of Your special month...

Ramadhan Gempaq! [15 Ramadhan 1527]

Detik itu pantas berlalu.
Setiap nafas bererti buatmu.
Jika kau bijak menggunakan waktu.
Melawan nafsu amarah yang melulu.

Cabaran itu.
Titik noktah belum ku temu.
Langkah terus biar maju.
Tawakkal terus pada yang Satu.

Nisfu Ramadhan tidak menunggu.
Hargailah terus usah terpaku.

The narrow routes of life

The Parable of the Pencil
Source : Qisas.com

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world.

Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.

ONE: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand.

TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.

THREE: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

FOUR: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.

FIVE: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark.

No matter what the condition, you must continue to write. The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

ONE: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you place your Trust in Allah.
[Yes, and I surely will put my trust on Him rather than the trust on the people whom lack trust in me]

TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
[I have to be strong. I got several sharpernings. But I can still endure and move on. ]

THREE: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
[ It is surely a learning process... ]

FOUR: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.

FIVE: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark.
[ I am gonna leave a very memorable mark on this, I believe ]

No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties. By
understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this
earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart.

* * *
Duties. Duties come with responsibility. Responsibilty is an amanah bestowed to you. Am so disturbed with things happening around. When we were small, how easy it was to forgive and forget. Remembering an incident today...

Cikgu, Petom, Melor dengan Kemboja taknak kawan saya, Lily, Hibiscus dengan Orkid.

After awhile, less than a minute, they were in talking terms. No grudge against each other. Happily doing the essay assigned to them.

As we grow older, we are tied down by all these sensitive issues. An act considered zilch would suddenly be a big hoo-haa. One of the sasterawan I knew ever wrote a poem on the changing chronicles of humans' personalities. What we do might not be sincere anymore. A laughter may just be a mask worn to satisfy the needs of others.

Sometimes, I just don't understand, why minor things turn out big. Easy things, turn out difficult. People complain more, but they do little. Sincerely, I'm not at my comfort zone. My senses are telling me to get away from the undesirable phases of life.

My phase of growing up. I miss my school years now. Where you can do stuffs voluntarily without getting depressed on pr0.t0.c0ls. A minor step of help is even a big issue. In the first place, the amanah was on me alone. Giving me something you think I could do alone. I don't want to lie to myself and be idealistic. If I were to ask those who loves to complain to help, duh, unfinished task for sure. I am very happy with where I am at now with those who help me currently. Those whom I really regard as friends.

My role model, our dear Prophet Muhammad. Never failed to make me reflect and pick up these broken pieces and go on. Knowing what I have in my heart. To just go through the obstacles, come what may.

So this is my life. My duty. This amanah, I wouldn't burden to another person. How can the thought of me wanting to junk the bulk to the other person be a thought in the first place? This thing might just be a minor item. But I am doing the best for the umbrella above me. Great it is, compliments you get.

But as the end note of the beautiful story above, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart.

They may not understand. But Allah does. That is sufficient.
Another Ramadhan test, I guess.