Happy Passover 2012

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I dedicate this post to brethren of the people of the books whom having the faith in the prophethood of Moses a.s and to all our Hebrew brothers whom are attached to the 13 pillars of faith. It will begin around 15th Neesan according to Levant calender. It is a celebration to commemorate the exodus of Moses a.s and his people from Egypt. 15th Neesan is equivalent to 7th of  April and it's fixed in Solar calender. It is the first month in Levant calender.

Actually the Hadrami Yemenis are also counted as Hebrews so I can't really differentiate ourselves when I get to know about our ancestry except that I am professing the faith toward Muhammad s.a.w prophethood and reciting the Glorious Quran with the Sunnah. A chain of event would follow in this festival like fasting, festive meal and liturgy of psalter recitation for about six to seven days. 

Ours Passover in term that we are Muslims is in the 10th of Muharram and we also fast during these days beginning from the 9th day to 10th of Muharram every year according to Lunar calender (Narration of Ibnu Abbas and Abu Qatadah). This fast is optional but our people usually fast. I still remember when I was a little kid listening to elders talking about this and they would racing among each other to treat people for breaking fast meals. Urm, firstborn son will also fast and in my family I am the first born son though I am the fourth in the sibling. Muharram is the first month in Lunar calender.   

Just talked with an Israeli-Yemeni brother and wishing him Passover greeting too. I just wept to him cause I don't know to whom should I talk about how I regret that I had committed errors in pilgrimage in the holy land. When I get the chance I just talked with him like talking to a cousin. 

I feel like talking with my another self when talking to him and feel he's more closer to me than my Muslim cousins but at least he is happy now in the holy land (Hebron, the tomb of our patriarch Abraham a.s is in here). Heard that he's going to get marry with a western girl. Need to think what should I send to him as his wedding present since I can't attend his wedding. He's still in the service and can't perform his religious duty. 

He said so many sick-minded people trying to play around with him and he's not one of them so he decided to get marry. He's still young I guess around 23 years old, lolll. I can't imagine myself getting marry though I am older, hahahaha. Feel funny... I think I am old by age but I am still a 19 years old guy inside. Hate being an old guy, I love my 19 years old age but I can't get back my time and what I had lost.... Time passing without we realize.

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

Happy New Year 1433 H

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Despite of feeling anxious because of the thesis and classes right now, I am still trying to approach the God our Lord and dearly Friend. I wish that the God listens to my prayers and releases me from this worldly torments which trying to harm my heart. Muharram is the month where we are forbidden to act with unlawful acts such as waging war or quarrelling. Usually in Muharram I would try to fast as many days as I can but this is not obligatory! 

Last time when I talked with brother Eidan, we also share some traditions among us. Brother Eidan is not a Muslim anymore and he is a Jew of Hadrami Arab descent of Johore state as he had chosen to follow his mum's religion. I am so sad because last time I could talk with him about my anxiety and asking him to pray for me though we are of different Shariah (Way) since I also have the faith in the prophethood of Moses (as) the prophet. Now we had lost the contact. I always feel him like a mirror to myself. He also feels the same when we talked to each other. We share similarities in term that we do not have many friends, we are of the same paternal ancestry, we share some points of traditions inherited from ancestors and prophets, and most of all I could not mingle well with people around because of some differences due to past experience that always made me feel down and low-estimating myself just like him while he was the citizen of this country. 

Now, brother Eidan is not in the line anymore because he has to serve his country and I am actually very angry with his country because forcing my friend and a brother to serve the country at a young age and too bad that I could not hang out with him when he was in this country. I actually feel that nobody could accept myself too just like his experience but I am not a Jew but a Muslim who share the same faith and scripture with other nations here. I always think again whether my sins are actually harming me? I was taught not to blame anyone but only myself if anything wrong happened to me. I tried to ask forgiveness from the God and always questioning my faith to Him when I am in tribulations like now. 

Each time we meet new friends and people, but each time we also will go our separate ways when the time reaches us. My seniors had also departed from me. My colleagues had also departed from me. I had already lost contact with Amir whom was my close friend and classmate. He is also my long-lasting friend but I think he is struggling with the changing phase of his happy life (teenage way of thinking) to the new one (adulthood). I had already undergo this experience and will still struggle until He takes me away from this 'beautiful' world into His Mercy, may He be Merciful to my soul and brothers and sisters. 

I am just taking this opportunity to wish brothers and sisters Happy New Year 1433 H which will fall on this Saturday. I know some would say that this is a bida'ah (invention) but worshiping Allah together in a congregational prayer services in the masjid for everyday is not a bida'ah right? Remind everyone about valid sunnah but don't hurt people feeling by just stating this and that as bida'ah (invention). Provide evidences or else we are also considered as committing bida'ah to call other brothers and sisters with names. Dividing brothers and sisters by calling names is bida'ah and haram where we had already declared our testimony of faith to Allah (the God) and His messenger and servant, Muhammad (saw). Talk with everyone with love and mercy. Our Lord, the God is all-Merciful and full of Loving-Kindness. 

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

Aidulfitri Mubarak 1432 H

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

Aidulfitri Mubarak, congratulation for those who managed to control their desire in the school of Ramadan! Let us pray may our worship bein' accepted by the God and may our practices of charity and devotion to Him remain constant in the coming year, insyaallah...

Just coming home to the hostel from our beloved state, Kedah. Mum and dad could not stand celebrating raya in the city as all of the people return home to be with their family. Our grandparents had all passed away. I sometimes think that such a custom of balik raya or returning home to our hometown is not so important for me. However, it is important for mum and dad. This raya is a bit different. All of our family members return home, including sister who works in Saudi. Not just mum and dad.

I have to help third sister with her thesis proposal. She would be busy after returning to Saudi. So, she sent me earlier to my hostel as it is difficult to get internet connection while we are off towns. I can see many changes in our state after 2-3 years. New buildings, new roads, and others. Raya is a generic term for celebration in Malay. We just call any celebration as raya. It means great day. It is a custom for Malaysian to return home during Aidulfitri or Aiduladha spending their quality holiday time getting along with family.

1st of Syawwal

We prayed in Sultan Muzaffar Syah mosque in Sungai Petani. I managed to follow mum and dad to visit sister Faridah. She is one of dad's nieces from our first grandma. She had already moved from Malacca with her husband and children since few years ago to our elders' station in Pantai Johor. It's quite complicated since those elders practiced polygamy marriage and most of them married their maternal cousins for the sake of family bond and religious purpose. They only marry people of the same caste or race according to Shafi'ie madzhab of Yemen. But that was in the past. Now, that is not effective anymore since many had moved out of their elders' stations. 

We exchanged information about our family tree line with her and she speaks in the speed of a bullet. How funny she is, loll. I get to know her son and daughters but not all since some of them are away. I hope to get to know them all but that is just a dream. We live far away and we don't always get along out of the celebration. I wanted to know more about dad's family. Most of them aren't really religious since elders passed away earlier. So, they have no proper religious nor moral education. I believe they are nice people. All of the people around the world are nice. It's just environment and destiny that molded us to be what we are today. We went to grandma (dad's mum) grave at the nearby mosque and I saw the banner indicating they are going to enlarge the mosque and moving the graves there.

2nd Syawwal

We went to mum's cousin brother. His son who is about the same age with me is going to get married in November. I can't believe that he's going to get married while he has no proper job yet. Maybe that is his destiny and I pray that he could get suitable job soon. He's a nice guy, but I am not close to him too though when we were kids we used to play around together. He was also a schoolmate when I was in Soltan Ahmad Tajuddin Primary School spending about a year there as a primary school pupil in Jitra. We are adults now, of course things would be different and I don't really spend my time with our relatives. Most of us are nomads. We moved here and there for study purpose, making a living, and others.

We spend a night at their house before going to Thailand in the day after. Second sister never enter Thailand in her whole life so she insisted to go there and trying Thai authentic cuisines. I had already been there with third sister for her hidden marriage, hehehe. We have to pretend that we don't know about the place though we had already been there since her proper ceremony is not done yet. It's just a little cowboy town, called Baan Daannok Samnak Khan after the passport control with halal restaurants but the most popular halal restaurant there was closed since the lady owner went home until the end of the 6th Syawwal fasting. So we just randomly going to a Tabligh owner restaurant called Yahya. The most scary part for us is that we crossed the border without any passport or grant for the car. If anyone wanted to enter Thailand from Malaysia, make sure to bring the grant of the car. I would next time always bring my passport if I enter places near Thai border. Those in Thai border control of Kwan Mai Dam or Bukit Kayu Hitam are quite negotiable and polite compared to those counterparts at Singapore.

Then, they went to an alley buying cheap stuffs. We can easily get cheap stuffs which looks the same like original ones there. I didn't buy anything since I am a student. Spending must be discreetly controlled. We returned home to our side at night before 20:00 since the border will be closed at 24:00. Many cars at the border. People as far as Singapore went there to have fun. It includes fun in the 'other way.' 

3rd Syawwal

I just followed third sister to Sungai Petani to our old house there after we reached Jitra. Mum and dad still maintain that house for everyone who have the need to return north to be stationed there or loading stuffs. That's why they do not want to sell it. I stayed there a night with third sister and helping her with her thesis proposal. She only has two weeks to finish everything and her supervisor is so irresponsible. I didn't know that she was doing her thesis proposal, so I just treat her assignment as a mere report. I plan that I wanted to help her out today. She has to return to Kuala Lumpur getting her second supervisor opinion and she also has to prepare returning to Saudi. Her leave is almost done. Please help me, brethren passing by with your prayers may I finish helping out my sister with her thesis proposal and finishing my own thesis by time. Thank you.

I wish everyone well-being and spirit of devotion to Him. It does not matter what faith people are, I don't care. May we learn everything which could lead us to Him and may He helps us purifying our soul. I wish everyone especially my beloved compatriot سْلامَت مِثَمْبوت هارِي رايَ عيدُالفطرِي مَعَفْ ظاهِر باطِن!

Sealed with salawat an-nabi and prayers for peace, mercy, and love, amin!

Ramadhan Mubarak 1423 H!!!

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

We stop a moment on the recap about Bangkok. I would continue it when I am free may Allah permits it. I would like to wish my dearly faithful brothers and sisters in faith regardless lines, sunni or shiite, Ramadhan Mubarak. We are thankful to Allah for prolonging our life to see this blessed month again in this year, it is through His Grace and Mercy that we could reach this month.

May everyone have a blessed Ramadhan which begins with His Mercy, continued with His Forgiveness, and ends with Liberation from the torment and His salvation over every faithful servant. I just went to the mosque in USM because it is close to my hostel and we prayed only 11 raka'ats while other kind of prayers could be performed while we are alone or after we sleep for a while. 

It is quite lively at the mosque and I love to see everyone greeting each other although I know no one in the mosque no more. People coming in and out year by year. People are reciting holy verses after Taraweekh prayers, it is a relieve to hear holy verses recited by brothers. May we have good experience this Ramadhan and learn as many things as we can in order to see Him :)

Salawat for prophet Muhammad s.a.w: Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad, wa 'ala aali Muhammad, ka-maa sallaita 'ala Ibrahim wa 'ala aali Ibrahim. Allahumma baarik 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad, ka-maa baarak-ta 'alaa aali Ibrahim wa 'ala aali Ibrahim. 

Allah please be in contact with our prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family, as You had been in contact with our patriarch Abraham and his family. Dear Allah, please bless our prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family as You had blessed our patriarch Abraham and his family. May we be blessed and may Allah forgives our sins this whole year, aamin!

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for dearly brothers and sisters, I equally love all of my brothers and sisters!

Happy Chinese New Year 2011

安賽倆目阿來空!!!

這空間的時... 我向我們華人兄第姐妹大家恭祝一句...

新年快樂!!!

心想事成, 萬事如意...!!!

Happy Chinese New Year to all Chinese brothers and sisters. Although I am not a full blood Chinese and with Arab paternal lineage but I still consider myself as apart of Chinese civilization. I grew up alongside with Chinese environment surrounded me. It might be strange and might be unusual but that is what I am now.

No matter where we are, we still aware of our cultural root. We remember the traditional values taught by Confucius. Hahaha, my mom always remind us about Confucius even when we crossed the streets when I was a little kid. Allah has created us to know each other and to appreciate everyone as they are. 

This holiday is just a week, but Chinese New Year is about 15 days. I didn't get to tidy up my room, sticking some red papers  with good luck remarks like I did with my younger sister during Chinese New Years. I have a roommate whom I believe will not tolerate a different culture because he lives in a non-multicultural area. He might feel uncomfortable in a Chinese environment, lol.

Allah bless prophet Muhammad (saw) and his family and his companions, as Allah bless prophet Ibrahim (as) and his family. Keep us in peace, ya Allah to its due time. Sealed with love to brothers and sisters.

Happy Hijrah New Year 1432 AH

Salaam and Peace!

Happy Ra'sussanah of 1 Muharram 1432 Hijriyyah!!!!

I guess it is on Dec 7th where this new year begin. I had greet everyone with phone messages but not yet in this blog, lol. I hope that I am not too late to greet everyone with Hijra new year greeting. It is always a remark for our migration from evil to goodness. From something which is not so good to the better. 

I had gotten this good message from a friend and a brother. It is just a remembrance but, I would like it to be apart of my memory. Said Ibnu Mas'ud: "the most saddest thing ever for me is that each time when the new year arrives, and my age increasing old, but my charity deeds are not increasing."

I have no new hope, it will always be the same everytime. My hope is that all of us will be a unified Muslim nation. Regardless who we are, rank, status, color, background, whether from Jama'at-e-Tabligh, Sunni, or Syi'ah, as long as we profess our witness that Allah is our G"d, and Muhammad is His servant and messenger. Thus we are in a nation, we just need unification and understanding of each other.

May Allah grants us a year of goodness through His love which is His law, may His mercy be with us in our daily life, full of prosperity, and sustainance. And may this new semester of my study moves on in a smooth flow without any obstacle, aaamiiin!!!!