List of Haram Foods for Me

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

If we feel that only by taking food or items labelled with Halal "Malaysia" as safe without any knowledge about what is the sources of Shariah Islamiah then I think I should also strictly follow our Hadrami customs (non-Sayyids) regarding food. Even if I touched Muslims like Malays or Indians in this country who are seen as Mualaf as they were converted by our people, I should take bath as they are filthy and not fully clean! Sometimes when we see this kind of people, we kind of feeling irritating. They had stopped us from da'awah missions and seems like trying to monopolize the authority of the Path for them selves!

Haram - Illegal!

1. We should not mix meat with milk and juices of fruits without we see it with our own eyes.

2. We should make sure everything being produced should also been tithed.

3. Food that we don't see how it being prepared should be avoided.

4. No birds of prey.

5. Anything in water that has fin and scales, we can only eat them if we clearly see they have scales and fin.

6. No disgusting fishes like catfish and eel. These are all considered as haram by imams of al-Haramayn not only by Ahlul Bayts and Shi'a Muslims.

7. No camel.

8. No pig.

9. No rabbit.

10. No worm unless if it is inside the fruit and never touches ground.

11. Food with blood in it is haram. I saw fried chicken in mamak's restaurants and some Malay restaurants have blood and not properly cooked. It is haram!

12. No internal organs. Some Malays and Muslim South Indians eat internal organs of animals example hati (liver), limpa (spleen), otak (brain), perut (guts) of cows and sheep. These are all haram!

13. Eating mixed meats in a meal such as mutton or beef with fishes are haram!

14. Human meat is haram! Some Javanese traditional mystics practitioners in Indonesia actually consumed human meat. They had got this tradition from sub-Indian continent Tantra traditions of Vamamargah extreme left-wing.

15. We only eat what we slaughtered and not others even if the slaughterers are "Muslim" because we afraid they did not performed five times obligatory prayers. I used to see my grandfather slaughtered chicken by himself at our village but I never try to do that because I was afraid of looking at blood.

16. No stuffs from elephants, tiger, lion, bear, wild boar, and etc.

17. No prawn.

19. No squid no octopus.

20. No crab any kind of crab are haram!

21. No donation food as it taints the dignity of our ancestors only present food accepted. If friends do not mention them as presents but making it a donation or tithe to us we will have to dump them or giving them to others who need them. Sometimes I feel reluctant to eat at any banquet in masjid because I am afraid of this advice from elders but some of my family members already broken this and looking down at those who practice this. 

22. No alcohol, no tea, no coffee these are for "rich" people. Poor people should not forget their position before Allah.

Halal - Legal!

Only thing that I consumed when I was an undergraduate kid while I was here in Penang except when I was with friends whom were naughty kids as not to offend them. These are foods that I consumed mostly:

1. Pure honey

2. Dates

3. Veggies

4. Rice

5. Plain bread

6. Plain water

7. Spices

8. Milk 

I only bought rice from stalls when I have no alternatives and had finished my dates stock. I eat only dates, bread during Ramadan and drink plain water.  If I have to touch or having no choice but to consume all of those "haram" stuffs I will have to perform "ghusl" and wash everything including my clothes. We just eat to survive. Not eat to build up body or muscles to show to girls or exhibit it to people around as to tell people that we are strong, masculine, etc, hahahahahaha.

So if I start again with our customs do I need to check for Malaysian Halal label at any products and restaurants or seeing whether it is stamped at cooks and waiters forehead? I can't see any Malaysian Halal logo at Mamak's restaurants in Penang here because many of the restaurant which are considered as "halal" at the area of my hostel are Mamak's restaurants. I can't see their halal logogram! Who knows their cook are Hindus and the waiter who touched my food are Hindus. They didn't nail-clipping their nails and I feel disgusted looking at how they handle my rice. They didn't wear gloves. In other areas, the cooks are Indonesians. I checked at the meat they cooked and I found that they violates what I had stated in haram foods for us.      

Anyway, what about the fatawa of smoking as haram?! Anyone including "religious" one who are addicted to it feel guilty or feel sinful for harming others' health and environment with their smokes? Just feeling irritating looking around... Praying Allah 'Azza wa Jalla to give me patience and forgive me my sins and forgive my thoughts.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Happy Chinese New Year 2012

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

It's now Spring time which will be marked by the Harvesting New Year by Chinese brothers and sisters. I wish everyone who celebrate it in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan, Korea and everywhere with Chinese diaspora community Happy Agricultural New Year 2012. I can't go home because of the pressure to finish up this thesis yet I am trying to find the design of the thesis. Quite tensed and sad but what can I do. I must try to finish the thesis as it has become apart of my responsibility to finish up whatever that I had begin.

Point of Culture

Nakhorn Sri Thammarat Coat of Arm, Southern Thailand Province 

About the culture of the Malaysian Northerners or Orang Kedah and how does it is related to Chinese New Year and why I also celebrate it. Orang Kedah generally refers to the citizen of the state of Kedah and it also includes those outside of the border of the state but speaking in the language and its dialects regardless ethnicity whether Malays, Hybrid Arabs, Arabs, Chinese, Indian, Siamese or etc. 

We actually have the traditional cycle of year called as Piama or Cycle of Agricultural Season. Not many Kedah youngsters know about this but I am aware about our differences from the rest of states in Malaysia because we preserve some points of our state's traditional culture as compared to other Kedah Malay compatriots. 

It is cognitive to Chinese zodiacs or calenders with some differences. Those zodiacs are called in different language which is different from Thai or Malay. Altogether there are 12 zodiacs just like the Chinese ones. Once upon a time, we also celebrate Agricultural New Year with the Sultan or King opening the water gate for paddy fields in the city and horse racing in the field. In case of respective non-Muslim King like in Thailand, there would also be Brahmin involvement and Buddhism rituals for blessings. The New Year in Southern area including Southern part of Yunnan with Dai ethnic begins with Songkrant festival around April like Indian New Year and not with the New Year as in Spring like Chinese brothers and sisters celebrate.

The zodiacs also represent our ancient states which collaborate with each others to protect themselves from foreign attacks. My state, the state of Kedah is represented in the coat of arm by the Merong or Dragon. Kelantan is represented by Khal or Tiger. And so on. This year is the year of Dragon which is also the same with Chinese calender. The coat of arm is not our state's coat of arm but belongs to Nakhorn Sri Thammarat of Thailand. It is a province in southern Thailand but it was also an ancient Malay dynasty in Siamese empire where it incorporates itself with another kingdom known as Sukhothai from the North since 12th C. Southern Thai area has a very long history since the first century which makes everything in our area being shared by each other and confusing.

The Zodiacs of Kedah Agricultural Year

Chuwat  Rat

Chalu Cow

Khan Tiger

Thoh Rabbit

Merong Dragon

Masing Snake

Mamea Horse

Mameh Goat

Wok Monkey

Raga Roaster

Chaw Dog

Gur Turtle

The year calculation is basically the same with Chinese zodiac year calculation. Usually Muslim farmers would use Arabic-Roman influenced monthly calender accompanied with this zodiac to check the season of paddy agricultural period. Buddhist would use Hindu-Buddhist influenced solar calender as well to count months with the zodiac for year calculation.

Once again, Happy Agricultural New Year and the Year of Dragon to Chinese brothers and sisters regardless what faith you are. We celebrate the same thing at this point. Take care and drive safely if you are returning home to celebrate it with family.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!

News from Friend: Tibetan Summer Retreat in Bhutan

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

Just saw some pics by a friend, Sherab Palsang who lives in Arunachal Pradesh in Indian eastern region. He is a Tibetan monk in exile which I had known since many years ago. He had many times invited me to visit him at his monastery but I have to finish this studies and lack of mobility. 

He went for Singapore when I was in the first semester doing this post-grad degree but I was occupied so I can't see him. Maybe when I get proper job and stable that I would plan a visit to India and visiting him beside traveling to other parts in India. I hope he at least could come to Penang or Thailand and I would be glad to meet him, having cup of drinks. I had lost his monastery address. I have got some English books to be donated to the monastery library for educational purpose. Some had been donated to mosques and random libraries. People need education to be civilized.

These pics are about summer retreat during Shrawant to Bhadrapad months in conjunction to events in August and September. Thai Theravada Buddhism called it as Warn Khao Pharnsa (Varsha) which begins around the mid of July and ends in the mid of September. Monks would retreat and fasting in their monasteries rather than traveling around. It is to avoid harming little creatures and crops if monks traveling around during the period. Let us see how Vajrayana-Tantra Buddhists performing their varsha or rainy season ceremonies. This is also my first time seeing Tibetan style ceremonies.

 Sakya Rinpoche which is the monastery head in India arrived in Mon Thawing, Bhutan.

 Confession ceremony where monks would confess their errors and ordination ceremony 

Trairattana ceremony

Pattimokka (monastic rules) recitation in the hall in front of Wairocana statue

Laymen devotees at monastery compound

Sadhana mudra ritual where devotees would go around the mandala

Feast where they distribute barley porridge at the monastery head quarter

Sherab graduation day, guess this is more than six or seven years ago since the pic looks old. I think Sherab is at the middle. They look almost the same, hehe. I am proud of you, friend. It's not easy to be ordained

Special thanks to our friend, Sherab Palsang for pics sharing. Sharing is caring. I would visit you and your monastery if condition permits me, someday... You live in such a nice place with fresh air. It is a good place to study :)

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love, amin!

Manners for Quran memorization process

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

With the Name of Allah (the God), the Most Merciful the Most Beneficent

I am actually a bit disappointed with my self. I suppose to follow one of my sister and parents to Saudi next semester but I had made wrong plan in the last semester. Well, at least this will happen when we do not discuss the matter with anyone. I have no one to talk too concerning my studies even my lecturers are so busy and my classmates, of course I have barriers to talk with girls since they are not my mahram. 

My sister had offered to help me with visa so that we could be together in Saudi. She wanted to move out from the place where she currently works in. She wants me to help her out with her english due to that her level of confidence in english is quite low and i also have to help her out with her final semester thesis as it is in english. She studied nursing and I have to read her books too. Since I could not see anyone cries so I would just agree to help her. She is my sister anyway, I don't want to see anyone in sadness nor failure.  

I had been thinking to get arabic certificate too so that I could possibly apply for translator job in private companies there while hoping that I could perform 'umrah in holy mecca to get better luck and getting His valuable blessings in this life and hereafter. Maybe He wants me to improve certain things more before reaching Him again. I am so sad, but yeah we would never reach Him easily as this life is full of bumps, loopholes and heaps.

I have to repeat a paper on political and decision making in Europe this coming semester and the next year I would have to cover another paper concerning the economy in Europe. Wenpei too did not pass the political and decision making paper so I am still lucky to have my classmate with me next semester. 

Economy is not my thing so I was so afraid that I would do it bad so I talked with my classmate, Sivagami. The girl said that she is also afraid since she is also from pure linguistic line. We do not have any ample knowledge about economy.  I also called our senior, sister Rezwana and she suggested me to split the paper in the beginning of this semester if I think that I would not be able to cover the whole thing because she did the same and she is working while doing master. So, basically I and Siva decided to be the only seniors that taking the paper in the fourth semester. I also hope that I would not facing too much obstacles for my research and hope it finish according to the plan. 


The other thing is that I have to take spanish again because I had forgotten to attend my german test. And german is quite tough so I think I better off with spanish. Just to fulfill my certificate requirement and I had already have some basic in spanish compared to german. Only a level more to finish, be patient friend!

I also heard a news which is not so good to be heard last two days where one of my friend from the same course but a bit senior than me had only pass minimum requirement for his thesis. I could not talk with him and I hope that he would not lose his faith in God. I understand how he feels especially when I always listen to friends in sadness if they wanted to share it with me. At least if I could not share their happiness I could listen to their sadness and they would feel a bit relieved. Beg Lord God for the obstacles being removed please! This friend also had helped me when I was in my first degree and he still helps me when I am in this level of study although he never follows me to the mosque when I persuaded him because guidance is only with Him. If I can't return his favor with favor I really feel that I am so evil. Say that indeed everything is from God, and to Him we return.

So, what should I do to cure my disappointment, ja? I think I maybe need to recapture my memorization of muqaddam (beginning of Quran) and juz 'amma suras. Next semester I still have more or less six months, I had wasted times in my life so may He permits not wasting anymore. May God forgives me but I would never have any chance to recover it back. Serves me right anyway for being an ignorant! 

Some friends had suggested me to divide my memorization according to parah or juz (section). I had already finished ek parah (one section) which consists of dvai suras (two divine letters). But to maintain them both is so hard. I maybe need a notebook special for memorization. I had already begin this custom when I was in holy mecca but once i returned home i was so busy with academic studies and distractions around. I tried to ask forgiveness but the distractions still come, my Lord. Maybe I haven't enough focus, may You forgive me. 

Later when I lived with Zaidi who was my second year roomate during my bachelor degree, I practised memorization again. I found that my life was full with energy when I practise a Muslim life according to what we call as sunnah tradition to guard memorization although my daily routine in the campus is so hectic and sometimes quite frustrating. I even could submit my assignments only a week after being issued by lecturer and she was so surprised with what I had done. She said, "I had never seen such a student like you doing this, this is crazy!!!" May God bless Zaidi, I always remember you brother no matter if you had already forgotten me. You are one of my teachers and mentors, how could I forget you? My respect, dear brother.

To begin with the manner of memorizing Quran. I need to first isolate myself from publics because it may distract me. This is for personal recitation for memorization and time with God during Saturday service during Friday evening because it is the time for personal supplications or du'a. 

Take shower with the intention to be in prayer and worshiping Him. Well, each daily prayer time especially for fajr (sunrise), dzuhr (noon), 'asr (after noon) and maghrib (sunset) prayers we need to perform the hadas akbar shower (dipping in water) and I call it as ma'mad in arabic and wudhu' (ablution) after that.  It is actually time consuming accompanied with niyyah (intention) and supplications so around half an hour or 15 minutes before prayer times we need to perform all of these if we have no duty or in free time. 

This is actually an old tradition which is also mentioned in sunnah. Usually I do not care how busy I am or no matter where I am, I would try to perform this and after that being called as an orthodox by few friends. I don't care, let them call me anything they want or how pathetic I look like when performing these. I believe what has been prescribed in Quran and Sunnah benefits us in this life and hereafter. I was just like them or even worse laughing at the sunnah adherents when I was an ignorant.   

Then I may need to have some 'oud (sandalwood), myrhh and frankincense stock in my closet, because we need to respect and celebrate holy words of God with fragrances. He is indeed Merciful and full of Love to lowly slaves and servants by revealing His holy words to us as a blessing among blessings. I had noted a ba'alawi shop in Georgetown when I followed tablighi friends. I may not buy those stuffs with friends because only for my personal use. Malay friends might mistaken me for performing polytheistic worship because last time Mijie had complained that to my friend and my friend had asked me to be careful with certain practices not in common with Malay customs. Now I am lucky because my roomate is only in the room once in a blue moon. 

Then I also need to perform memorization and recitation after obligatory prayers. To begin with memorization I may need to follow the guidelines given by elders concerning memorization. They are in the form of dzikr (remembrance of God), invocations, and supplications before beginning memorization and after finishing memorization. 

I could not type the arabic script for the supplications due to barriers and respecting holy words but only sharing the meanings of those formula for Quranic memorization. They are necessary to guard memorization and cleaning our inner selves after we purified our external self with ma'mad and wudhu' rituals.

To begin the memorization 

Recite the al-Fatihah, mother of the scripture

Recite the ayatul Kursi verse 255 surah al-Baqarah

Recite al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Naas seeking protection from God from distractions

Chant the dzikr asking forgiveness from God, "I seek forgiveness from You and I repent my sins" 10 x

Chant the salawaat to prophet Muhammad (saw), "Our Lord be in connection with Muhammad (saw), and the family of Muhammad (saw) as You had been in connection with Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family. Our Lord, please bless Muhammad (saw) and his family as You had blessed Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family." 10 x

Chant this supplication to Lord God for our personal recitation and memorization

"O Lord our God, enlight me my view with Your scripture, and clear me my chest (to receive Your lessons), and use my body (to contain Your holy words), and make the words risen from my tongue, and fasten them inside my heart and soul, and make me quickly understand Your lessons and with Your Power and Your Strength thus there is no power except the Strength of God, the Greatest!"

Then chant this supplication

O Lord our God, open to us Your Wisdoms and from  the many blessings O You who is the Merciful amongst the merciful (no one is merciful than Him).

O Lord, clear me my chest (fill it with confidence and boldness), and make me easy in accomplishing my task, and untie the knot at my tongue so that they would understand my speeches (surah Ta-Ha:25-28). 

Indeed We revealed down the remembrance (scripture), and indeed it is with Us the task to guard it! 7 x

Begin the memorization of any surah or part of Quran that we desire to the end, memorize it and chant it slowly about half an hour at any time we feel free to do.

After the process done, chant this supplication dear brothers and sisters

I testify that God the Greatest is indeed true in His message (to me). And had accomplished the task of His messenger the noble one the message. It is indeed revealed by the Lord of the Universe. Our Lord, we believe in what You had revealed and we follow the messenger and write for us (in Your holy tablet) that we are among those who testifies Your truth! And praise be only to the God, the Lord of the Universe. Amin! 

These are some invocations that I use to chant for the process of memorization. I am sorry for the language style because it is in classical arabic and I tried hard to convey the message and try to stick to the meaning without making people misunderstand the message especially when there is no gloss translation with original language. 

Other people might have different prescriptions but this is what I had received and I practised when performing pilgrimage hajj rites and after I returned. Basically not really different, almost the same. maybe some are with additional prayers or simpler. Hope everyone teach our friends and anyone we are close with these supplications and spread the knowledge of scripture to everyone. May everyone being saved from disaster during the Day of Religion. 

I hope it is beneficial for everyone including myself and I sincerely pray that my respective brothers and sisters could also being granted the ni'mah (grace) to receive the honor from God our Lord. Amin! Sealed with love and peace.