CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

I just got back from IIUM Mosque where I performed my zuhur prayer there. After the prayer, I sat there for awhile just to have some times to relax. I notice that while a group of people who was performing their zuhur prayer congregationally, guy came in. Instead of joining them, he prayed by himself. Individually. Why does he join the group? Doesn’t he realize the benefits of praying congregationally?

The Holy Prophet has also stated: “It better to join another person and pray than to pray alone and it is more superior in the company of two men and the bigger the congregation the more liked it is by Allah.” (Abu Dawûd)

The Holy Prophet says in another tradition: “He who attended the congregation for Isha prayer, he received the reward of half the nights worship and he who attended both Isha and Fajr prayer with the congregation he received the reward of the whole nights worship.”
(Tirmidhi)

I have noticed this long time ago. Whenever I went out with my friends, when it came to performing our prayer, my friends and I will be the one praying congregationally. Some may join us and others avoid and perform their prayer individually.

From my point of view, performing our prayers congregationally is actually a symbol of our unity. How can we be a strong ummah when we avoid uniting?

BON VOYAGE

To my sister, Amrah who are departing to Melbourne, Australia tonight, have a safe journey. I am sorry that I couldn’t send you off because as you know, I’m in Kuantan, studying for my final. For your information, I DO NOT REGRET it. Balik semata-mata untuk hantar awak. Buat ape! Membazir duit minyak jer. Hehehe. I am such a very good brother.

Study hard over there. Jangan nak cari boyfriend pulak. Tapi, kalau cari pretty blonde girlS for me tak pe. WAKAKAKAKA. Just kidding.

REAR SEAT BELT: LATEST RULING

It was reported in all major newspaper that there is a new ruling on the rear seat belt. I am so happy with the new ruling. The new ruling will come into effect on 1st January 2009. Under the new ruling, if the rear seat passengers under the age of 17 are not buckled up, the car driver will be fined for the offence. Offenders above 17, on the other hand, will be individually fined. Yahoo!


I believe, most of my passengers are above 17. So, if you decide not to buckle up, be my guest. Hehehe. To Majid, I don’t mind if you don’t want to buckle up. You will be fined and not me. To greyellow, you still have to sit in the bonet. Hehehe

HATRED OR RATHER JEALOUSY

As many of you have known, I have a twin brother, Afif. He is currently studying in University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. He has studied there for nearly a year now.

Within that one year, he has bought a lot of gadgets. First he bought Sony Vaio notebook. Fine! After all he needs it to do all his assignment and etc. Then, he bought an Ipod touch. Now, he is planning to buy a PSP.

Oh yes, not forgetting, before he came back to Malaysia, last July, he went holidaying in LA. Now, he is in The Hague visiting our niece. Where did he gets all the money? Kamu cop duitkah??

Argh! I think I hate him.

FAREWELL KISS

Last Tuesday (16th December 2008), the front page news was no other than an Iraqi journalist threw his shoe towards President George W Bush. My first impression: GOOD! Bush deserves it. I’m a bit frustrated that the shoe did not hit Bush. If it hit him, I’m sure that many will be really happy. I salute Muntadar, the journalist for his bravery to do such action. It requires a really strong strength to do that as the consequences is very huge.


“This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq”. This is what Muntadar said when he threw the shoe towards President Bush. For President Bush, in case you did not realize it, many Iraqis lost their loved ones. Some lost their source of dependent. Not forgetting, many people become astray. What is the cause of all these sufferings? It is because of you, Mr. President. Yes, you! Nothing is left in Iraq. What left is only broken buildings and ashes. Why do you have to invade Iraq at first place? Don’t you have better things to do? You offer yourself to be a hero to the Iraqis. You offer to solve the problems of the Iraqis when you can’t even solve the problems of your own country. Certainly, you have a hidden agenda and use war against terrorist as a cover. You are the real terrorist. I am disappointed with President Bush because after the shameful event, he still in his ego state denying that the action by Muntadar did not really express the feelings of all Iraqis. Bush claimed that it is just a one person opinion.


To Muntadar, millions are behind you. They support your action. You are the real HERO. Salam perjuangan.

MUST READ BOOK

I bought La Tahzan book last month. I bought after many people including my own sister influence me of reading it. I haven’t finished reading it, but after reading quarter of it, I found out that the book is worth buying. It is a really good motivation book. No wonder that is a best seller book and have been translated to many languages. I strongly suggest to all people out there to read the book.

JANGAN MERAJUK

I have 2 nieces.

Iman Amani binti Azmi. 4 years old. She talks a lot. Really a lot. Kuat merajuk and kuat cemburu. Hehe

My second niece is Amni Nadira Binti Amin. 1 year old. She's now in Amsterdam with her mother. Her mother works there at the Malaysian Embassy. Miss her a lot.

Now, Iman is angry at me. Merajuk. Wanna now why? I always want a nephew. Boleh main tumbuk-tumbuk and power rangers. So, during the last raya haji, while Iman was at her hometown in Singapore, I played with my anak sepupu, Azim. Kira melepaskan geram. I managed to take a picture with Azim.


When Iman got back from Singapore last wednesday, she saw this picture and is really jealous. She claimed that I have a new best friend. Now, it is nearly a week already, Iman is still angry and jealous. Susah jadi favourite uncle. Hehehe. Janganlah merajuk Iman. You are still my no1 best friend!

REAR SEAT BELT

The Star, 13 December 2008 reported:

“From Tuesday, motorist whose passengers are not belted up will be stopped by police. However, instead of summonses they will be issued advisory notices. The advisory notice is not a summons but we will take down the car’s registration number, driver’s name and MyKad number, date, time and place they were caught flouting the law”

So, an announcement to all my car passengers, BUCKLE UP! I don’t want to have a bad record. Saya pemandu berhemah. If I were caught by the police because you guys did not buckle up, I will make sure that your life will be miserable. I have to warn you that I am good at that. hahahahaha [Evil laugh]

VISION 2020

I came across interesting news when I read the newspaper yesterday. “Vision 2020 may be in peril”. Tun Dr. Mahathir, the architect of vision 2020, feels that Malaysia cannot achieve the goal to be a developed nation with only 11 years to go. He blamed the global economic meltdown that we are having now and the economic crisis in 1998 as the reason for it. Dr. Mahathir mention about this when he was asked at the Global Financial Uncertainties and The Future of Malaysia dialogue.


I share same opinion with Dr. Mahathir. I think that we won’t be able to achieve our Vision 2020. This is due to political uncertainties and economic crisis. From my reading, the economic crisis that we are facing today is different to that of the 1998 economic crisis. So guys, what do you think?

RELYING ON OTHERS

Last Monday morning was hari raya aidiladha. As usual, like most hari raya, I went to the surau behind my house to perform the raya prayer and listen to the sermon. The khatib on duty that day was no other than Ustaz Imran Habil who is Imam Besar for the surau. From my point of view, he delivered an interesting sermon. He managed to grab my attention throughout the entire sermon. He discussed various issues concerning Muslims from yoga banned to the global economic meltdown. Ustaz Imran even mention about Barack Obama in his khutbah.

In the sermon, Ustaz Imran compared our reactions towards two recent events that are the Majlis Fatwa Kabangsaan decision to classified yoga as haram and Barack Obama’s winning in the US presidential election. The decision to make yoga as haram was made by Islamic scholars after deep studies. Unfortunately, a number of us questioned this decision. We acted as if we are more knowledgeable than the Islamic scholars. As for the second event, we celebrated happily Barack Obama’s winning and waited eagerly for his policies. Why should we be happy when his policies might not bring any benefits to the Muslims world? This show that we have started to rely on non Muslims to decide for us. What benefits will we get from following their footsteps?

The fact that we depends on others is one of the reasons why Muslims are becoming weaker and weaker. When we are too dependent, we will have no strength to disagree. Whatever that we’ve been told, we will follow blindly. There are many foreign policies made by the non Muslim countries particularly the West that are insensitive towards Islam but I fail to recall our action towards them. The reason why I can’t recall is because there are none.

I remember my friend’s respond towards my question during his seminar. I asked him what his view on Kyoto Agreement is. I heard that some people believe that the agreement is just a western agenda to prevent other countries from developing. As we can see, America itself does not follow the agreement. My friend was mad at me for giving him the question but frankly, he answered really well. I should credit him. Good Job Shahir! He responded by saying

“Why everything should follow America. Though America is not following the agreement, other countries are. Hopefully, when other countries work hand in hand, it can prevent from global warming”

Indeed, Shahir, you are right. Why should we follow them? America is just a country. If Muslims were to unite, Muslims will outnumber Americans. So, why should we be afraid? However, sadly for me to say that it is always easy to say but it is tremendously hard to make it a reality. But, nothing is impossible.