Salam Tahun Baru 2020

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Lamanya saya meninggalkan blog ini bersawang. Atas beberapa tanggungjawab lain, saya hampir melupakan ruangan ini untuk menulis semua catatan kehidupan.

2019 sudah pun berlalu pergi, dan hari ni sudah pun hari kedua dalam tahun 2020. Banyak kenangan manis dalam tahun 2019, begitu juga beberapa kenangan pahit sebagai perencah asam garam kehidupan.

Antaranya yang boleh dikongsikan di sini adalah seperti berikut:

Afeef memasuki dunia baru, alam tadika dengan penuh kesedihan tetapi Alhamdulillah dia menunjukkan progres yang sangat baik. Belajar banyak perkara baru dan mendapat keputusan yang cemerlang setiap kali peperiksaan menjelma. Tahniah anak ibu! 

Saya belajar aktif menulis dalam mewakili sebuah NGO. Banyak tulisan-tulisan yang disiarkan dalam media tempatan, dan ia adalah pencapaian yang membanggakan buat saya untuk menyumbang kepada masyarakat dalam dunia penulisan.

Dalam dunia akademik pula, saya berjaya terbitkan beberapa artikel di jurnal tempatan. Masih belum menembusi jurnal bertaraf Q1 (ia menjadi target untuk tahun 2020). Malah, dua geran telah diperolehi dengan menjadi PI pada tahun ini. Alhamdulillah! Teruja untuk berkongsi juga bahawa saya telah disahkan jawatan pada akhir tahun, dan moga perjalanan akademik saya semakin cemerlang dari tahun ke tahun yang lain.

Sebuah anekdot diterbitkan pada akhir bulan Ogos sempena catatan ke Pesta Buku. Dunia buku memang tidak pernah menghampakan!

Berkisar tentang buku, target yang hendak dicapai tidak dapat dicapai sepenuhnya. Tetapi saya berjaya menghabiskan 40 daripda 60 buku yang disasarkan. Target yang sama untuk tahun 2020, dan saya akan cuba mencapainya, InsyaAllah.

Tidak dapat dilupakan kenangan 'balik kampung Afeef' pada bulan Julai. Alhamdulillah atas nikmat graduasi dan kenangan belajar di Tanah Inggeris tersebut. Ia sebuah perjalanan yang tidak akan dilupakan sepanjang hidup.

Saya juga menerima berita gembira pada November 2019. Berita ini akan dikongsikan jika sesuai pada masanya insyAllah.

Atas semua nikmat yang diperolehi, tiada tempat yang dituju melainkan rasa syukur kepada Tuhan yang Maha Pemberi, Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang. Dia yang memberi rasa bahagia, dan Dia juga berhak untuk menarik segalanya. Semoga Allah jauhkan keluarga kami dalam segala ujian dan mala petaka, dan mengingatkan kami agar sentiasa kembali pada NYA dan sentiasa menjadi hamba yang bersyukur atas setiap nikmat dan ujian.

Alhamdulillah

Alhamdulillah

Alhmadulillah

Semoga tahun baru 2020 ini memberi sinar bahagia yang lebih cerah. Semoga tahun ini lebih baik dari tahun-tahun yang sebelumnya. Dalam masa yang sama, semoga Allah berikan ketabahan buat kami jika ditimpa sebarang ujian, jadikan kami bersedia untuk semua yang baik dan kurang baik, dan sentiasa beringat dalam apa juga urusan.

Amin.

2 Januari 2020
Nilai

Catatan Pensyarah

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Semester bakal berakhir dan ditutupi dengan peperiksaan akhir semester. Ini semester pertama saya mengajar sebuah subjek yang sangat menarik dan penting bagi pelajar dalam fakulti saya. Sejujurnya saya jarang berkongsi kisah kerjaya di blog kerana blog merupakan catatan peribadi berkisah keluarga dan perjalanan hidup. Tetapi entri kali ini merupakan perkongsian khas sebagai catatan untuk mengenang memori dan pengalaman menjadi warga pendidik.

Menyebut nama pendidik, terasa begitu besar amanah dan tanggungjawabnya. Tetapi ia tugas sebenar untuk semua profesion guru dan juga pensyarah. Untuk subjek ini, ia bukan subjek-subjek biasa yang boleh dianggap remeh. Sedangkan saya sendiri merasakan ia agak susah, apatah lagi untuk pelajar yang kebanyakannya berusia baru mencecah 20 tahun.

Saya tahu ia sukar buat saya, tetapi saya mahu memudahkan pelajar supaya yang sukar akan nampak seperti mudah. Selepas minggu pengajian berakhir, dan minggu peperiksaan juga berakhir, ketika menanda kertas, saya membuat kesimpulan bahawa terdapat tiga golongan pelajar:

1. Hardworking students

Pelajar di dalam kumpulan ini jarang tidak hadir ke kelas atau kuliyyah. Tempat duduk bukan ukuran, sama ada di hadapan atau di belakang, mereka memberi konsentrasi dengan baik. Jika malu bertanya di dalam kelas, mereka akan bertanya luar kelas. Tapi ada juga yang terlebih-lebih tanya, tetapi saya layankan juga. Kehadiran pelajar begini memudahkan proses pembelajaran dan pengajaran.

2. 'Take for Granted' students

Pelajar begini kebiasannya suka untuk rapat dengan pensyarah dengan membina hubungan yang baik. Tetapi sayangnya mereka kurang serius dengan proses pembelajaran sehingga ada yang memberi impak negatif di dalam hasil keputusan peperiksaan. Sepatutnya, hubungan baik yang dibina perlu digunakan sebagai peluang untuk menambah baik pemahaman dalam subjek yang diambil.

3. Manageable students

Pelajar ini sejujurnya telah berjaya menukar persepsi negatif saya kepada positif. Mereka nampak seperti tidak menunjukkan minat di dalam kelas, tetapi berusaha di belakang tabir dan memberi usaha yang terbaik di dalam kertas peperiksaan. Mereka mampu menguruskan diri mereka dan mendapat hasil yang memberansangkan tanpa disangka.

Setiap daripada kumpulan pelajar tersebut mempunyai kekuatan tersendiri. Sebagai pendidik, saya bertanggungjawab memberikan yang terbaik dan mendoakan kejayaan untuk setiap pelajar. Saya mengharap agar tiada pelajar yang gagal, dan bangkit semula jika gagal. Kerana kegagalan sekali tidak bermaksud gagal selama-lamanya.

Selamat Maju Jaya!

Challenges with Non-Muslim Students

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim..

New semester of IIC had began in the middle of March, and it is a short semester to all the lecturers and students. I received a responsibility to teach 2 subjects for 3 sections. And I'm happy for this task... Teaching is sharing, and sharing is caring..

However, I have a big challenge for this semester and it sometimes make me feel uneasy in my class. Teaching "Islamic Ethics" is not a new thing for me but teaching that subject to non-Muslim students is not new thing too because I had teaching experience with an Indian student and he is Malaysian. But, teaching to non-Muslim students with strong belief to the Christian is a new thing for me. It is not easy as others think...

I take this challenge with positive mind. This might be the time I can share the beauty of Islam to them, especially the subject relates to the ethics and behaviour as taught in the Quran and Sunnah. Nevertheless, it becomes difficult when the teaching is not similar with the reality happened among Muslims.

For example, Islam teaches not to lie, backbite and slander, but there are many Muslims involve in that vices. Islam encourage patience and modesty, but there are many Muslims do not practice these good virtues..

I tried my best to answer their questions and will try again and again to reduce their bad perceptions towards Islam. And I wish Allah will help in guiding their hearts to accept Islam not mere a religion but as a way of life..

إسلام يعلو ولا يعلى عليه

[Photo: a view from my apartment. Masjid Salahuddin al-Ayyubi]

Teaching & Learning

12 November 2010 - Today is the last day of semester before final exam begin. It has been 4 months of working at IIC since July 2010. The end of the semester really mix all the feeling of sadness and happiness together.

Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah that I fulfilled my responsibilities to finish in teaching all the subjects which were assigned to me in the beginning of semester. Sometimes, I feel that it was too tough for me to teach 5 different subjects for 7 sections of students. Too many courses, students and responsibilities as well, but I try my best to develop the good intention and aim in this field of work especially in sharing knowledge. The Prophet said: بلغوا عني ولو آية

A class of my students. Photo credited to my students.

This week, I've been very sensitive person. I don't why but perhaps it is due to the busyness to complete their carry mark before final. In addition to that, some of my students really make me disappointed because of cheating and lying to me, and honestly I cannot judge them due to their marks and performance in class, but I need their hardworks and efforts. However, there are some students who always make me smile and do their best in study of any subjects. By the way, I still will pray for all of them to get success not only in the final exam, but for their future life, insyaAllah..

A present from my students. Jazakumullahukhairankatihra..

My hope is that to not make them remember or not forgetting me, but I do hope that they can practice what they learned along this semester, because all the knowledge that they learned are not only for their exam but will help them to be a better person, InsyaAllah..

Besides teaching, I'm learning so many things as well. Yes, I'm learning from my students. They helped me to be a good lecturer even though I'm not really good especially I'm new. This is our process of learning from mistakes and any shortcomings. The role of lecturer is not only teaching but they will learn from students as well..

End of word, I'm so grateful to teach and learn for this semester. All the best~! Be the best among the best~!

I'm really love this quotation: "Learning is finding out what we already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. You are all learners, doers, and teachers." -- Richard Bach

**New shelter is waiting for me.. Nervous.. Huhu

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".

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~~~