Thursday 29 July 2010

It's COMING..!

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim..

Do you still remember your thought in the last Ramadhan? which that you think perhaps it might be our last Ramadhan and hope that we will be given a chance to meet next Ramadhan. Yeah, It's coming again friend. It's coming~~~~!! My feeling deep in my heart really dedicate all the gratitude to Allah for this opportunity to meet Ramadhan again in this year 2010..

During my lecture with my students, I always ask a question to them. "What is your preparation towards Ramadhan?" Then, I heard so many answers from them. The important thing that I want they understand is not the answer, but their own feeling to celebrate the coming Ramadhan. I really want they realize that Ramadhan is the golden chance to have a great meeting with God without the disturbance of Syaitan. Besides, I want they try harder to value the importance of Ramadhan. This is not only for them, but for myself because the question will be like this: Am I have enough preparation to celebrate Ramadhan? The answer will be known only for myself...


Allah said in the Quran: "Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful." [2: 185]

It can be understood that the Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadhan either gradually or directly to the Prophet Muhammad. Jibril also revise the recitation of the whole al-Quran in this month with the Prophet, in order to strengthen his memorization, once in a month, and twice for the last Ramadhan before his death. There were a lot of historical moment happened in Ramadhan including Ghazwah Badr, Isra' Mi'raj and so on. Actually I have to teach all these information for my students in the subject of 'Science of Quran'.

The Prophet said that:
“And it (Ramadhan) is the month of Sabr (Patience). And Sabr, its reward is Jannah (Paradise)”.


The meaning of this portion of the Hadith is that the month of Ramadhan is a month in which extreme patience is required. It is a month in which the patience of a man will be tested time and again, for the change of lifestyle always reduces a man’s level of patience and thus making him more impatient than he would be in other months.


Similarly, the month of Ramadhan is a month of worship and prayer, we have the extra night prayer of Taraweeh in the month of Ramadhan and we are encouraged to perform Qiyamullail every night. This is the month that we can increase our Ibadah to the only God. It cannot be denied that the blessed month of Ramadhan will indeed encourage a person to worship Allah Ta’ala in greater amounts than in the other months, but it should be also noted that we have to Istiqamah in each of every actions in another months, not only for Ramadhan..


All of this entry is reminder to myself, then it is a sharing to all my friends.. May Allah make out efforts for this coming month of Ramadhan successful and may He grant us the rewards that He has promised His pious servants. Ameen..


**What if this coming Ramadhan is my last Ramadhan?? The first day of Ramadhan in this year will be on 11 August 2010, insyaAllah..

**To my younger brother, Welcome back to our hometown~~ Everyone is looking forward for you in this Ramadhan...

Sunday 25 July 2010

Islamization, Dewesternization, Desecularization


Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah for everything. Attending yesterday's One-Day Colloqium on Islam & Secularism was really amazing and very worth. Just wanna share here some important knowledge from the seminar. Sharing is caring~~

"Al-Attas' Concept of Ta'dib as True and Comprehensive Education in Islam"
by Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud (UKM)


The speaker opened his lecture by informing the types of 'Great Book'. It is important to know what can make the book great, because many discussions will refer to al-Attas' books. A great book can be divided into Universally Great and Nationally Great. Each of these types divided into Perfect and Imperfect. Easy summarization can be seen below:

1. Universally Great Book:
  • Perfect Universally Great Book. Eg: Al-Quran. It is the word of Allah and has universal content for all mankind.
  • Imperfect Universally Great Book. Most of this type written by great scholar. Eg: Aristotle, Plato, al-Ghazali, al-Attas.
2. Nationally Great Book:
  • Perfect Nationally Great Book: Eg: The Holy Scriptures of the Prophets, which only for specific groups and times. Taurat by Musa, Zabur by Dawud, Gospel by Isa, etc.
  • Imperfect Nationally Great Book. Specific for certain nation. Eg: Sejarah Melayu.
Then, Prof. Wan elaborated the concept of Adab and Ta'dib with its functions in Islamic Education. In short, al-Attas proposed his own definition of Adab, he said: "Adab is recognition and acknowledgement of the reality that knowledge and being are ordered hierarchically according to their various grades and degrees of rank, and of one's place in relation to that reality and to one's physical, intellectual and spiritual capacities and potentials."

The speaker also highlighted the importance of Adab as the dicipline of man in the mind and soul, to think where to put things in the right place. Besides, he also suggested another suitable term fro the development. The development not only requires the aspect of progress, growth and changes. It can't be defined only as 'Pembangunan' in Malay language, but it needs the additional of Spiritual development. Thus, the real development is 'unfold from potential to actual', and that can be acknowledge as 'Islah' or 'Pengislahan' which is doing what is good whether in forward or backward actions, and it was a message sent by all the Prophets. So that, the development can cover all aspects of life spiritually, mentally, physically, economically and so on.

**Do we developed enough? and Do we promoting Adab to our ownselves and others? Think about it~!

"Dewesternization and Islamizing Science: Operationalizing the Neo-Ghazalian and Attasian Vision"
by Asst. Prof Dr. Adi Setia Muhammad Dom (IIUM)


The second lecture was relate to the first lecture in the combination of knowing and acting which resulting the importance of Adab, because Adab does not only refer to socio-professional ethics and good manners, but more importantly to the right knowledge and its expression in proper action. The knowledge also should come with Islamic Worldview as the vision of reality and truth.

Dr. Adi discussed a lot regarding to the concept of Islamization and Dewesternization. Both are the dual process of deconstructing and analyzing the Knowledge and Science. Al-Attas defines Islamization as "the liberation of man first from magical, mythological, animistic, national - cultural tradition opposed to Islam, then from secular control over his reason and his language." Then, dewesternization is a condition of Islamization by understanding that West brought too many confusion which will ultimately cause grave consequences. Then, the Westerm elements and concepts should be isolated, and then infuse the knowledge with Islamic elements in the view of of their fundamental nature as defining the fitrah, and Islamize by grafting or transplanting into Islamic sciences and principles.

The concept of Islamic Science also has been discussed further by Dr. Adi. He took the definition given by Prof. Dr. Osman Bakar who said that "Islamic Science is the science that is organically related to the fundamental principles of the Islamic Worldview, including the principle of tawhid, and which encompasses the totality of the mathematical and natural sciences cultivated by Muslims and non-Muslims in Islamic culture and civilization."

**Do we depend too much on Western culture & civilization? What are the efforts in Islamizing things and knowledge as a Muslim? Think about it~!


"The Concept and Experience of Religion in Islam: Bring Modernity into the Ambit of Tradition"
by Asst. Prof. Dr. Syamsuddin
Arif (IIUM)

The main content of this third lecture was on the concept of religion, freedom, justice, knowledge, and happiness.

Religion is not refer to the belief in the supernatural or the sacred (Martineau, Spencer, Frazer), not only ethics or morality (Bradley and Arnold), not only for personal piety (McTaggart and Tiele), not the feeling or emotion (Schleiermacher), not 'geworfen' (thrown) into this world (Heidegger), not in vain, not secularistic, even it is not only submission, but as al-Attas said: "Religion consists not only of affirmation of Tawhid, but also of the manner and form in which we verify that affirmation as shown by Prophet Muhammad." Religion also create our covenant with Allah, for us as His slave and servant in absolute sense.

Freedom can be divided into negative and positive freedom. The negative freedom refers to 'freedom FROM obstacles, regulations or restrictions', and it is bad because it leads to anarchy. While positive freedom is 'freedom TO do whatever you like to get pleasure and liberty'. Contrary to the secular Western idea, freedom in Islam refers to the loyalty and preservation of our Fitrah. Muslim should free themselves from worshipping Syaitan, idols, money and desire.

Justice according to Western concept refers only to relational situations of harmony and equilibrium existing between citizens, or between the individuals and the govt, or ruler or king. But in Islam, justice means "a harmonious condition or state of affairs whereby every thing is in its right and proper place, creating an order of things and living beings in accordance with one's own nature and following sunnatullah."

Happiness as defined by many Western scholars were incomplete as compared Happiness understood in Islamic Concept. It is ultimately not the feeling or emotion but it a consciousness of the certainty of the truth, which is the result of knowledge of God. It is not only worldly life of happiness but ultimate happiness in the Hereafter.

**So, do you expect that happiness in this world guarantee our happiness in the Hereafter? Happiness cannot be seen materially, but feel it deep in your heart..


"Islamization of History: The Case of Malay Archipelago" by Assoc. Prof Dr Muhammad Zainy Uthman (IIUM)


This lecture discovered that the concept of Islamization was proved in the Malay World hundred years ago. Al-Attas was among the first scholar dates his General Theory of the Islamization of the Malay Archipelago as early as the first century of Islam. He identified three phrases in his theory:

1. Physical Islamization where Fiqh or Jurisprudence played a major role of intrepreting shariah in the conversion of the Malays.
2. Intellectual Islamization in the major role of Tasawwuf, Sufism and Mutakallimun
3. Cultural Islamization in the perpetuation of rationalistic, individualistic and internationalist spirit.

**Do we think that being a Malay is enough? or being a Muslim is important to ourselves? Proud to be Muslim or Malaysian or Indonesian or Singaporean? Think~!


"Building Sustainable Muslim Communities in a Secular World"
by Sheikh Hassan Pederson Henning (Denmark)


This evening lecture emphasized on the concept of Consumerism which was brought by Secularism. That's why the speaker asked a question 'Has the Ummah of Muhammad surrended to Secular Consumerism?'.

Both concepts of Secularism and Consumerism are close to being 'chicken and egg' terms because secularism is needed to make consumerism more successful. The reason why he discussed about its relationship because many of Muslims didn't look the consumption of World resources in Islamic ways, by too much depending and adopting Western norms and values while throwing Islamic ethics to the wayside.

The speaker also mentioned about the importance of World, Water, Halal Food, God Creations from Islamic perspectives. He also promoted the term of 'sustainability' which is really important in Muslim community. Muslims should create sustainable lifestyle and create sustainable community from that lifestyle. It will help to save from the destruction in this World. Sustainability can be understood as the art of living only of the resources of the land where your feet stands on, it comes from the word 'sustain' which carries the meaning of maintain and provide for.

He was the representative for The International Islamic Institute for Sustainability (IIIS). Further information can be looked at http://iii4s.wordpress.com.

**Do we love being in this World or do we love our Worldly affair? Think about it~!

Special Keynote Address "Dewesternization of Knowledge"
by Prof. Dr. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas


This speech was the most waiting speech for everyone. The attendance of Prof al-Attas might be the main reason of many participants for last night. This topic actually was mentioned in Chapter 4 of his book 'Islam & Secularism', forty years ago. Subhanallah...

He began with the meaning of 'Dewesternization' which involves of influences from people and place, especially comes from the West. This concept should imply the understanding on the spirit and strength from the West, because this understanding will help to realize that Islam has greater strength than them. The spirit of the West are:
  • The tragedic story in human predicament. They always come with the idea of tragic hero that was sent to the world.
  • The dualistic vision of things either in the idea of objective & subjective, inductive & deductive, rationalistic & empirical, material & ideal, etc.
  • The concept of humanistic and humanity, which comes as their ultimate truth and object of worship. They too much concern on human rights without deep understanding on its meaning.
  • The constant changing and seeking in certain movements because of different method, thinking and views. In reality, philosophy cannot discover the truth but discover the true perspectives in certain areas.

Al-Attas also reminds all that secularization is a philosophical programme. It simply means about this world and try to separate the religious aspect from any other aspects. Actually it challenges all religions not only Islam and Christianity, and they also know the dangerous impact of secularization. Besides, he also gave an advice "We must not be like a children, we should be matured to liberate and free ourselves from secular challenges". Matured here can be understood in our thinking and mind, because it needs to go through the process of learning to be matured.

In addition to that, he emphasized also on the importance of knowledge and virtues. According to him, knowledge is not solely the product of human mind, it needs revelation to verify our findings, statements or learning. While virtue has higher status than value, because it is the fundamental element of ethics. I like the way he relates justice, freedom and wisdom, he said: "Justice is to put things in the right place, Freedom is to conform things in the right place, and Wisdom is when you know what the right place is."

Unfortunately, I was too sleepy at the end of his speech, not due to the reason that his speech was not interesting, but it was my own fault and regret to not have enough energy for that day. Perhaps my mind was too full to be forced in receiving information, that's why I was unable to bear for a while during the Q&A session. Anyway, I pray to Allah that Prof. al-Attas was given blessing and love from Allah, and may Allah put his idea and thought well received by everyone including Muslims and non-Muslims. May Allah also bless all Muslim scholars and intellectuals.

**Who am I in the age of forty? Who are you and Where could you be in the future? Think about it~!

Those who read this entry and interested to photocopy the paper work from this seminar, please send request to my email at bintukhair@gmail.com, or PM me at my Facebook (HERE). TQ

It is not only the matter of Islamization and Dewesternization, it also includes the responsibility to desecularize the knowledge. The most important thing to do now is put the WORDS into WORKS and let the THEORIES become PRACTICES.

Wallahua'lam bissawab~~

Tuesday 20 July 2010

Seminar in JULY 2010

Just as a sharing of information about some conferences which will be held in the month of July:

20 - 21 July 2010 (It's happening now)
The Second International Seminar on Islamic Thought
Theme: "The Ash'arite and Contemporary Challenges"
Akademi Pengajian Islam, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur
http://seminar-pemikiran-islam.blogspot.com/


24 July 2010
One Day Colloqium on Islam & Secularism
Paper presentation featuring Prof Syed Naquib al-Attas, Assoc. Prof. Zainy Utman,
Dr.Syamsuddin Arif, Dr. Adi Setia, etc.
MAS Academy, Kelana Jaya, Selangor
http://wia.my/


28 - 29 July 2010
Conference on Prophetic Heritage
Seminar Warisan Nabi (SWAN) 2010
Theme: Sunnah-Source of Information, Essence of Integration
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Nilai, Selangor
http://www.swan2010.com/


Although I really want to attend all these conferences, but I'm unable to do that because I have another responsibility in my work. InsyaAllah, I will copy the paperwork of the first conference which is happening right now at UM from Kak Ghafirah. The conference is discussing on the matter of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamaah and the role Wahabism in Muslim society.

InsyaAllah I will go to the second conference which gather many Muslim scholars, especially the big name of Syeikh al-Attas. I will share the information from the conference in this blog, insyaAllah.

By the way, for the third conference as mentioned above, I was invited to write a paper presentation in the beginning of this year. But due to my lack of confidence, I just leave the opportunity and still hope that I will try to write a paper in another conferences. Since the conference is closely related to my thesis, I really want to go but it will be held during weekdays on my working days. For those who able to participate, really hope that you can share the paperwork with me.

As a full-time student in this life, I'm trying to learn and continue learning. By attending the conference, we can deal with many intellectual people and can create a networking with them. At the same time, we also can make our own dream that one day, we also are able to be a presenter in any conferences, insyaAllah..

The way in seeking knowledge will lead us the way to Jannah.. Wassalam

20 July 2010
IIUM Library

Thursday 15 July 2010

Student Life

New Semester already started in this week..
New job also has began in the same week..

Honestly speaking, I really miss my student life. I miss to go to classes and learn something and new knowledge from the honourable lecturers. In this semester, I cannot do the same thing like a usual student life before this. I have to face the student and adapt a new environment as a lecturer.

However, I am a full-time student, which means that I will be a student for the whole time in my life. Although I might be not able to attend a class like a student, I'm still a student for the cycle of our life. I'm in the process of learning in this life since I'm still young. Like my father always said that, the real study of life is not during the lecture in the class, but it happens outside the class. And now, I'm facing the real practical learning in this worldly life.

At IIUM, I can see many new faces of junior. I can feel their feeling of joy and happiness as the student of this university. Same goes to IIC, there are many students of Diploma in this private college. I also can feel their feeling to have a new semester and new lecturer like me. I can understand what are their needs and wants for the new semester. In short, I wanna try my best to be a good educator which helps them to achieve their dreams and success.

This alphabet is very important to the students, even though 'A' is not impossible, but it will not come by itself. David Bly said: "Striving for success withour hardwork is like trying harvest where you haven't planted". Think about it~!

As a sharing for this entry, Al-Ghazali considers the seeking of knowledge as a form of worship, and teaching as a duty and an obligation, and indeed a most excellent profession. Teachers are indispensable to society. Al-Ghazali proposes a ‘professional code of ethics' for teachers, who, he says, should practice what they preach, and be an example to their pupils and to people in general. He said:

"O Disciple! How many sleepless nights have you passed reading science and poring over books—but I do not know its purpose. If it was for worldly ends, to gain its baubles, win its honours and to boast over your contemporaries and equals, woe to you, and again woe! But if your purpose was to vitalize the Sacred Law of the Prophet, to develop your character and break ‘the soul commanding evil', then blessing on you and again blessings."

Then, al-Ghazali highlights a ‘code of ethics' whereby students should:
  • Ensure that they are spiritually pure before they undertake the quest for knowledge;
  • Divest themselves of their worldly possessions, detach themselves from hearth and home, and devote themselves to the search for knowledge and the pursuit of the hereafter;
  • Respect the rights of their teachers and behave in a civil manner towards them;
  • Beware, especially at the beginning of their studies, of paying too much attention to doctrinal controversies;
  • Master the fundamentals of the praiseworthy sciences (linguistics, tafsir, hadith, fiqh and kalam), and then specialize by studying one or more of those sciences in greater depth;
  • Choose useful subjects in which to specialize, especially those that are conducive to salvation in the hereafter;
  • Study each subject thoroughly before going on to another, bearing in mind the logical sequence and interconnectedness of the various disciplines;
  • Have as their main goal in their search for knowledge the cultivation and perfection of the innermost self in this world, and proximity to God in the hereafter, rather than the attainment of high office or the acquisition of wealth or fame
For those whe has a responsibility as a teacher, al-Ghazali said that the teacher should be a model and an example, not merely a purveyor or medium of knowledge. His work is not limited to the teaching of a particular subject; rather, it should encompass all aspects of the personality and life of the pupil.

Now, I have a responsibility as a student as well as a teacher. May Allah help me and show me the right path to do well in both duties. Aminn~~

**Note: Majority of al-Ghazali's idea was taken from "Al-Ghazali's Theory of Education: Its Philosophy and Its Impact".

Sunday 11 July 2010

Another Journey Begin....

Alhamdulillah..
Good News.. Good News..
Alhamdulillah that I'm hired after attended an interview last week.. What I can say here is, all of this happened are from Allah. Of course I'm happy because I planned to get a job this year, but it was so soon that I got it in the middle of the year.. Alhamdulillah..

Before I tell what kind of job that I got which will be begin on 12 July 2010, I just wanna tell something. My father is a teacher, and became a headmaster of private primary school in Johor Bahru. Now he still teach at Masjid2 around Johor Bahru, maybe until the end of his life. My mother is a housewife, but previously she taught Quran in our house. Many children came and learned from her. I also khatam al-Quran from her as my Quran teacher. My eldest brother also was a secondary school teacher, now he is a lecturer at UTM with his wife. My second sister is a teacher at secondary school until now. Although my third sister is not a teacher, but as a mother, she is a teacher to her own children. Then, my younger brother and I still in the process of education, but we have the talent to become the educator..

Yeah, my family blood of educator is going along very well. And I'm sure that I will become an educator in the future, insyaAllah. After i got a call for the job, Allah already decided that I will follow the path that had been gone trough by my family. I was appointed as a partime lecturer at International Islamic College (IIC). Even though I'm happy getting a job, but I know that my new journey of life begin...

In this journey, new responsibility increased. I have to face a new life and new environment. Everything will be new for me, and I want to become a new of me. I have to change. Yeah, I have to change my bad attitude to become a good one. I want to be a good lecturer that will be remembered, like my all lecturers at IIUM. Please pray for me that I can do better for my new job... InsyaAllah i will try my best.. I'm not a coward, but I'm just scared.. I'm little bit scared, but I have to do my best..

Confucius said: "If you think in terms of a year, plan a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people."

Lets focus on the journey, not the destination...

Ayah, this is my first start..
InsyaAllah, this experience will bring me another better career like you hope for me..
Emak, I need your du'a.. Please pray for me, coz you understand what kind of me..
Dear Relatives & Friends, I appreciate all your support and du'a..
May Allah bless all of us..
Aminnn~~~

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Beloved IIUM


IIUM
The Garden of Knowledge & Virtue
The Paradise of learning
Nothing can describe,
Nobody can measure,
The education and wisdom..

Alhamdulillah for the uncountable Ni'mah
the happiness and sadness,
the healthiness and sickness,
which all gain in IIUM..

Memories never die,
Keep tight deep in the heart..


**Taaruf Week at IIUM in this week really remind me those memories as a freshie. Now, it's almost over 5 years I've been in this beloved university.. Miss those innocent days..

Sunday 4 July 2010

Prevention is better than CURE

Once upon a time, there was a conversation between a lovely daughter with her admirable father..

Daughter: Dad, I hate medicine..

Father: Yeah, me too..

Daughter: But.. I saw you eat medicine everyday. Mom will give you a lot of medicine every morning after breakfast..

Father: It was not medicine. It was supplementary food for old people like mom and me. We were old. We need the best food for our body. I wanna know why do you hate medicine so much?

Daughter: Hmmm.. My teacher said that all medicine are full of drug. I can't let the drug enter my body. Besides, the medicine had a bad taste.. I don't like it..

Father: I knew about the drug too. That's why I tried my best to get a healthy body like this. Alhamdulillah, I don't have any bad illness or disease until now. I believe that prevention is better than cure. The prevention is not only a word, but we have to do it well. It means that we have to prevent ourselves from any disease by take care of our health. Only then, you don't have to eat the colourful 'drug' given by the doctor.

Daughter: Yeah, prevention is better than cure.. But, what if Allah still want to give us the illness, even after we prevent ourselves from those illness ?

Father: That was a test from HIM. He wants to test us whether we can be patient from His 'gift' or not. Sometimes, He wants us to feel the feeling of other people who have to bear those tests for the rest of their life.

Daughter: But how about the cure? Do we have to take the medicine? I hate it so much...

Father: Although prevention is better than cure, but we have to find the cure for our illness. We cannot let the illness control ourselves. We have to stop it. We have to love our body, and give them the perfect cure if we are sick. I'm sure you know that "The healthy brain depends on the healthy body" (العقل السليم في الجسم السليم). So, my daughter should have the healthy body to be an intelligent student..

Daughter: Yeah, I knew it. I also knew that every illness or disease has its own cure, except for the death..
كل داء دواء إلا الموت

Father: The Prophet Muhammad said in a hadith: "Take benefit of five before five: Your YOUTH before your OLD AGE, Your HEALTH before your SICKNESS, Your WEALTH before your POVERTY, Your FREE-TIME before you are PREOCCUPIED, & Your LIFE before your DEATH." So please appreciate the health before you get sick, and please take care of your health because health is not something that you can buy at the shopping complex, even the doctor cannot give us the health.

Daughter: So, is it mean that I have to eat medicine if I fall sick?

Father: Yes you are.. Don't be so cruel to yourself especially your body. If you hate so much the medicine given by the doctor, you can find other alternatives. You can eat vitamin. You can replace the medicine with honey. You also can try the traditional way of medicine by previous old people. But the most important one, prevention is better than cure. Take care of your health dear..

Daughter: Thanks Dad.. May Allah always bless you..

"Bila Ubat Batuk Berbicara" can be read HERE

Finally, the daughter decided to buy some medicine for the sickness that she had after a week, because it becomes worst day after day, night after night. She will not forget that her father is the one who always take care of his health. No cold water. No sweet food. No oily food. No spicy food. Exercise every morning. Drink water a lot everyday. After then, NO disease~! And she will remember this conversation each time she falls sick...

**O Allah, You are the one who cures, and there is no cure except from You..

Thursday 1 July 2010

July ?

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Today is the first of July 2010. Sigh. Sigh again. My target is unachievable. Of course I'm sad, but I should admit that it's all my mistakes for not giving more concentration and playing too much. I set another target for July, and really hope that the plan will be achieved this time.. aminn~~


Last month, I read so many books. I did share in the previous entry about Quran and Cricket. And now I wanna share a little bit about The Quran and I, written by Anas Zubedy. Actually, this book is his personal story of life. It tells about family and friendship. It emphasizes on the plural society in Malaysia. The important thing is, it discovers the values in the Holy Quran and how to practice it in our daily life. The author is creative. He wrote his own story with humor description, and usually it will begin with big smile and laugh, then it will end with cry. I do appreciate the beautiful life that everyone of us had it even though in a very different situations.. Eventually, I knew why my supervisor ask me to find this book. The author not only promote the happy life in our multi-cultural society, but he experienced it and did well in his life. Now he organised a company called Zubedy Sdn. Bhd. and promotes the unity of Malaysian. Further info can be read HERE.


Another book is a popular novel written by Hamka: "Tenggelamnya Kapal Van der Wick". Yeah, I knew too late about this book, but I believe that 'Better late than Never'. My father said that he read this book on 1949 whereby this book is written by the author on the year of birth of my father, 1939. My mom also said that she read this book before she get married to my dad. Unfortunately, I read this book at 2010 when I'm still young and not married yet..hehe..

Hamka's book is beautiful. Everything is beauty especially the language of love. I really love it. I dont know how to describe it in English, but if in Malay, I could say that: Daku tenggelam di dalam lautan Cinta yang luas terbentang.. However, every story has its difficulties. The love story between Hayati and Zainuddin did not end with happy ending, but they happy to face the reality that they loved each other and will not easily forget their love story. As quoted from the book: "Cinta itu tidak melemahkan, tapi membangkitkan". Yeah, same goes to Love is not blind, but we are the one who get blind because of love. And the dangerous disease of love is EGO or simply selfish. Both of them (Hayati and Zainuddin) were selfish and afraid to face the fact that their love actually can do great without consider the talk of people, wealth, lineage, and any other aspects. I don't like the ending of their love story, but I like how they loved each other until death..


Last month also, I got two new books from Indonesia. Thanks a lot to Rini for bought me those books at Acheh. The price is cheaper than in Malaysia. The first book is Negeri 5 Menara which I read it two month ago, but i wanna buy it for my book collections. The second book is Di Bawah Langitmu, written by Opick and Taufiqurrahman. I like Opick as a singer, then i wanna know his writing by reading his book. I'm not started yet the reading of his book. Maybe end of July, because I have too many books to be read...

In this July, I have to change my reading materials. I have to be serious if I really want to complete my thesis by the end of this year. Now I'm reading these books, borrowed from IIUM Library:
  1. Sunshine at Madinah, by Zakaria Bashier
  2. Muhammad at Medina, by W. Montgomery Watt
  3. Challenges and Choices in Malaysian Politics and Society, by Chandra Muzaffar
Three is enough, because it is not easy to finish them all. I hope Allah make all things easier because He is the one who create the easiness and difficulties at the same time. May Allah forgive all my sins..

**Batuk, Please go away......