Gifts from Friends

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I actually appreciate whatever people give to me. I don't care even if they cut their hair and give it to me or give me parchments of their shirt or just few lines of threads from their shirt, I will keep them in my album. I also keep my late grandma's hair with me. We keep everything and sometimes I feel our house is like a store house because many of the stuffs bring significance to us and we have no guts to dump them... hahaha. Grandparents are actually 'saints' for me. I don't care if last time people including myself treated them badly and made them cry. I hurt grandpa's feeling, I will always apologize to him. I only see halos at their head whenever I think about them now, they were unfortunate in the world. The Lord has promised us whomever being tortured in this fake world would receive His salvation. 

Last week I received some gifts from friends and brothers in faith. One of the brother had just returned from umra and I actually envy him... Urm, I wanted to be there toooo :'( Actually I did not ask anything except I had asked a brother from Xinjiang some Zamzam water only if he has extra because I need to recite the surah al-Kahfi on it and drink it beside using it to rub my head to cure evil thoughts. I mistook him when he said that he put some of my part into another brother's bottle. I said no need if I have to take other brother's right. That would be a violation of brethren right where I would risk the punishment in hereafter.

 From brother Yunos from Xinjiang, Allah bless

I always think that I wanted to die and pray for it but I do realize that Lord will curse me for that because that is an evil thought. I actually miss the Lord. I miss my grandparents. Everyone that I love will eventually perish so why not I also follow them before others leave me first. I love to be the first, I will be sad when people saying goodbye to me.

I really appreciate gifts but I also feel ashamed in the same time because I did not give something to brother who provides me with Zamzam in return. I will try to approach him and return his favor because we should not burden our brothers and sisters in faith.  I thought of using another brother as a medium but I think never mind. I should be more sincere by giving it myself beside it shows that I really respect his gifts.

Chinese snack with cute dried fruits from brother Idris Xian. I just finished them while in boredom but luckily I have its picture, haha. Allah bless

I love to give presents to people around too. Even if the lamest thing that I could provide to people around like plain water or bread. I always give Zaidi something in return for helping me to pray in the room and reviving the musalla. Urmm, I never ask him to pray or do anything because that is everyone's responsibility to the God but when they are doing that, they are actually helping me as their brother. I love to live with brother Zaidi when I was an undergraduate student. I think he hates me because I show no emotion at all when I am in front of people and I treated him 'badly' in the beginning because that is how we test a person. I don't like other people to think that they are not special because I give more attention to others but sometimes I do give attention to those whom I could see 'something' in them. Brother Zaidi was the same age with me and he reminds me about our responsibility on the Path though he never teach me anything in direct. I observed his acts and admiring him in silence. I love to listen him reciting the Quran every morning, praying obligatory prayers behind him as a ma'mum but I can't always show my affiliation because I would be scaring my ex-colleagues.

Since I had no chance to wash his feet, I just cleaned the floor where he spread his prayer mat for everyday and the result is the floor is still glittering when I visited the room. An older junior, Charlie lives in the room where I and Zaidi used to live. I asked Charlie whether he mopped the floor? He said no... He said the floor is always like that ever since he entered the room. Before I went out from the room after we finished our semesters for the second year, I also lit up frankincense and myrrh that I bought specially to clean the room because it was inhabited by a person that I respect. I also did the same when I lived with Tarmidzie but the degree is different because he reported to Azren that I am scaring him, hahaha. I'm sorry if this sounds weird but I am just like this. This is actually our custom. Most Malay students would say this is weird and they might accuse me of puja shaitan (devil worship) because they don't understand the significance of what I am doing or those stuffs that I lit up. It's just a traditional custom and yes it is not part of religion. We divide both religious acts and customs. The significance of incense in our culture is to respect brothers whether they could be seen or hidden. I mean those brothers in the other realm who have faith in Allah and His messenger, Muhammad s.a.w. It is also used to respect ceremonies and the Word which are holy scriptures.   

Keychain from Langkawi from brother Azren. He's among a colleague who survives as a friend, an open-minded mentor, and a senior to me in this current course. I wish him well-being and happiness always. Allah bless 

Anyhow, I just want to say thank you to brothers in faith. I assume these as more valuable than gold. You people are not just friends to me but also brothers in faith in which your rights being reserved more than a 'mere' friend. You are indirectly my mentors and teachers. I will keep them with me (in case of non-food gifts, haha) and try to use them in the way which benefits you in return whether in the world or hereafter. I wanted to return to the holy land and ask forgiveness again as many as I can before I meet Allah. May Allah grants me my wish :'(

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

Two Important Things Which are Related: I Must Remember

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

Just had dinner which is noodle in soup at the canteen. I don't like the chicken used in the soup since it smells. I would prefer to have only veggies especially in this stressful time where I have to run over my time to finish up few chapters for thesis. I was invited by Husaimi to have dinner with him. He's a Tablighi kid who is the balance of those older ones. Heard that they talked about the Qiblah in a hostel inside the campus is misguiding the people who pray there since the direction is not right. So, they wanted to inform the chief of the hostel and Islamic Center to do something about it. 

I didn't feel like I wanted to meddle in. I have no mood to talk about anything related to their activities anymore after I closed the contact with those who previously came by to talk with me and left me without any notification while I had already being stuffed in the camp. I had violated the rule of using community property because we could not touch anything which belongs to the nations without being told what are their 'intention' once we are aware about ourselves. I'd told my family members too but they are stubborn. They do not want to listen to me and consider that as old traditions which only bring troubles to ourselves and restricting our movement. The search about our ancestral lineage was initiated by me. Lately, mum also begin to search her ancestral lineage through the network of her relatives. Her relatives are more established compared to dad paternal lineage because they scattered everywhere that makes it hard to find them or recognize them. I always prefer to act rather than just talking. I know it is good to advise each other, but we just do everything according to limit since everything has its own space. Act should work together with the talk. 

After Isya' service, I heard something delivered by those kids from Pusat Islam who also prayed in the musalla. Maybe they are now collaborating with Tablighi kids. That is a nice thing to see, but I am already old. At least older than those who are doing first degree. So, I don't think my way of thinking is the same like other people and I must also respect others. We are travelers. We're not permanent in a certain place just like Bedouins wandering in the desert. I don't like to talk with my mouth, but with acts and mind. When I am typing this, my mouth is closed but my mind is not. It is talking and telling me to act. I believe, the same thing goes to other brothers and sisters who talk in medias through their writings. I can talk, and I don't mind to talk but I think my time for that is over. I don't care what those Tabligh kids wanted to think or say about me anymore. We just devote ourselves according to our way, as long as it is according to Quran and Sunnah I am sure it will never contradict each other.

Now, we come to important part where I listened to the points delivered by those Islamic Center kids, they talked about the importance of time for us. We are always careless with it even when we still remember how crucial it is. I myself always having this problem. It is not easy brothers and sisters, when we are alone. We try to pray to the God to always be with us and remind us. We don't have anyone even parents to tell us to do anything. So, everything must be planned. I am actually very bad in planning something, but I tried. 

When we have free time, we tend to do something else and not doing any charity and penance to Him. Charity and penance includes things such as reciting Quran, memorizing Quran, reading sunnah articles, dzikr, and other beneficial activities. But when we are occupied, we would feel sorry to ourselves and think that it must be fun if we can do all sort of things that we had left during free time. Hurmmm, this is true. I always lament myself for this. I can't get the momentum and struggling. Is it because of internet? I believe so. It's not good for me perhaps. But now lecturers uploading everything in the portal so I have no choice but to look at the net. Tomorrow I have a class. I must put determination to fast for Yomul-Khams (Thursday) to beg for Quran from Allah. 

And later, we do not appreciate our health to remember Allah 'Azza wa Jalla. When we are in sickness we perhaps remember Allah and pray to Him. I guess this is also true. When we are in war only we want to prostrate to Him. When we are not in haste in war, in occupation and others we won't even remember Him. We are so happy and we forget everything. This is human, in Arabic, we call human with the root word an-naas, which could also mean the forgetful. 

Let us take the essence of the surah al-'Asr to benefit ourselves....

 

In the Name of Allah the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Says Allah 'Azza wa Jalla: 

By time

Indeed human is in loss

Except for those who believe and had done righteous deeds and advised each other with patience

To benefit the time according to the sayings of the God the Most Highest are:

1. Believing in the God, so we remember the God with dzikrs, prayers, and supplication services.

2. Doing righteous deeds, repenting our daily sins including for time wasted, be good to everyone, and other charity which is related to the first matter.

3. Advising among brethren with patience toward penance and charity.  

These are basic things that we should understand, once we understood, we could apply this in daily life. I wish that Allah sayings become inseparable from my vessel and soul, amin :''(

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad. May Allah protects everyone of us, brethren in faith from evil eyes.

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

Sunday Sightseeing 12th June Part I

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Just after Dhuha optional salaat, I went down to Khaleel restaurant to have some breakfast around nine in the morning. Tomorrow would be optional fasting service for Allah. I felt that I couldn't just stay in the room, nobody could stand that unless if the person has something wrong in his mind. Because of this, I could sense that I am still normal.

I intended to apply for a visa to Thailand as I planned to take train for Central part. Just wanted to visit few historical mosques there but I also need to take some safety precautions because Thais could be quite crazy, well not all but still we have to be careful. We are going to be outside of the boundaries that protect our rights as a citizen. Disappointed I was but I still go for Georgetown. Ain't got no money, but we have feet to walk. 

I took Rapid Penang from Gelugor to the Jetty and it costs me RM2. I can see Tun Sardon area where I had some breakfast with Tabligh kids at the market early this passing semester while I was in the bus. I felt sad when the memory comes out of my mind. Nevermind... I would just follow my feet where it brought me to walk today since nobody could imagine how boring it is here. I believe some stranded USM students also feel the same. They wanted to go somewhere to relax their mind but stranded because of commitment toward their certificates. 

I had been to Georgetown alone during Chinese New Year festival but because I don't know where to go so I just go there again for sight-seeing. Whatever that we have right now, we just be thankful to Allah and we say, alhamdulillah!!! May Allah helps us with bountiful of His givings in the future...

    
This is the first place I decided to begin my walk before roaming to other areas, old style buildings are everywhere in Georgetown. This street is called as Chinese Ghaut Street.  Walk straight, and you will see British Council and Quay Street. Off the road is the pier.

Back street of the Quay Street. We walk forward and we would see the next picture. The building is quite nice. It looks like we are somewhere in the Europe. British influence could we say.

This is when we come out from Church Ghaut street. From the plaque sign at the building, I get to know that the street was named after a Catholic Church which was first build in Penang Island by the Portuguese around 17th C. I could see the remnant of the church at the left side of the street.

Cantonese Association when we walk straight from Church Ghaut Street. I always thought that Penang Island only has Hokkien community and might be some Teochew, but now I am sure there is also Cantonese inhabitants in the town. No wonder I could hear some Cantonese spoken in a settlement near Batu Feringghi when I walked around during CNY.

We are already in Little India. I can hear Bhajans. For fellow brothers and sisters in faith information if you by accident come across this section. Bhajan is Hindu religious hymns sung at their religious ceremonies. I could listen to Soolamangalam sisters, they are famous amongst Tamil Hindus and I know few of their bhajans for Hindu god pantheon's figure like Skandha (Murugan) for Shaiva cult. I could also listen to Krishna Bhajannam sung at Indians videos store by the Vaishnava cult religious singer. 

I went through the lane and walked in front of the Satya Sai Baba center. He currently passed away. Just greet an Indian auntie with a nod and smile in front of the center. She doesn't join the ceremony, I guess she must be from other cult. I recall my memory while I was in Metro Bus early in the morning to private classes for STPM in KL. I learned all of these from the time I was stranded as a STPM student who didn't go to formal school. Even my classmate, Prema said that I know about them better than them when I asked her about shivanavarathri and mahapurnnami festival (nine nights of god siva) before she went to their temple, lol. 

Didn't get to check calender on what occasion is today because I saw many people. Indians and Chinese roaming around with their religious activities in temples and those bhajan stuffs signify something for them. Some Chinese also lighting joss-sticks at the idol of ganesha. Some Thai Buddhist also revering ganesha but they call that god as viganet before performing art and performance like wayang kulit (traditional shadow play) to avoid obstacles or being victims to others' jealousy while performing. Maybe those Chinese hawkers are asking for good business flow from the Hindu deity.

This street looks familiar. Oh, yeah!!! I remember I used to follow Tabligh kids to Bengal Mosque for their Thursday evening activity and bayans.

At the left of this Muntri Street, we could see Bengal Mosque. It is the center for Tabligh Jama'at in Penang. Along the street are budget hotels and they also offer helps to deal with Thai visas and accommodation in Thai Southern provinces tourism spots.

Ok, this is the street where we walk straight and we could see the Bengal Mosque. I didn't perform any salaat to respect the mosque because I feel like I am crying in my heart. I learned a lot from there but in the same time, hati banyak sakit juga lah... Ada parut sikit-sikit kawan-kawan kita tinggalkan kita terkapai-kapai at the center while they tried to recruit me to be one of them :'(

This is Bengal Mosque where we could take a look at it clearly in day light. Last time I was there in the night. So, this is the day scene of the mosque. Any brother interested to learn about Tabligh system of da'awa and sunnah may come to the mosque and perform salaat respecting the Lord of the House and listen to their bayaan.

This is Leith Street. In front of shop lots there is a catholic church called St. Francis Xavier. Francis Xavier is a Franciscan figure and he is ethnically a Basque from Spain. They also made efforts evangelizing people in Asia into Latin rites including the Eastern Christians in India. 

I read few books about Dominican and Franciscan orders' mission not to forget their reports. They also made few books for missionaries like learning the languages of natives and few researches about natives or cultural traits in South East Asia. 

It reminds me of Abdullah Munsyi or Abdullah Paderi when I am in churches. He is a figure in Malacca old days who translated St. Matthew Gospel into Classical Malay. I had visited the center during CNY but didn't get to pay a visit inside due to time constraint. I intend to only visiting the building when there are occasions but no occasion so far. They had a mass on Sunday morning and few other daily mass according to time. 

I'm so sorry not to offend anyone. I don't know how to erase the sleeba (cross) at the building to respect respective Muslim brothers and sisters eyes. I would try to find photoshop software and install it after this. I'm sorry for being a bit slow, I really am ignorant in computer thingies. This is just how the church looks like because it is hidden inside and for my personal record. 

I also watched Imam Muda program in Astro Oasis and they visited a Buddhist temple in Kelantan. If I am not mistaken it is called as wat Bodhiviharn. They said in the beginning they were also afraid and shivering but that was an exposure for them as da'is (people who call others to Allah), hehe. I had been to wat Macchammaram and wat Phikunthong, and few other wats (buddhist monasteries) in Tumpat when I was a bachelor student. 

Nothing would happen if Allah wants our faith to be in its place, insyaalah! We pray for His guidance every time and do not stop for that because His guidance and the ability to perform the guidance are the greatest grace amongst all. Each time I began my journey no matter into pasar (market), in shopping complex, to work and other places I would recite ma'athurat to remind me on who I am and my responsibility as His servant and humble slave. The basic things that we should understand is our iman (faith). Then comes 'ilmu (knowledge), ikhlas (sincerity), and 'amal (practices).

This is the interior side. I couldn't put all of the pics because there are also other pics to be recorded for today's sight-seeing. It is just a typical Roman Catholic Church with pews, sleeba (cross), statues of their saintly figures. Some colorful mosaics at the window and the corpus christi (body of christ) at the table representing the church where they perform rituals for khubz hu lahmi, damm wa khamr (bread is my body, blood and wine) according to their rites for mass.  Sorry for the mix with Arabic, I learn about Christianity through Middle East sources.

I was there only for about 20 minutes just observing around and sitting on the pew before an uncle came in to lock the door as the personal prayer time had finished. I just went out and nod my head to the uncle respecting him. He seems like surprised to see a young man in the church sitting alone on the pew and he seems like wanted to ask that maybe I need something. I just walked out to give him way to lock the door. 

Then I walked along the street from the church to a mamak stall and had some teh ais (iced milk tea). Standard price, RM1.20 for a glass of iced milk tea even at a stall in an alley but the uncles there are nice and greet me with salam. Now, I love those who greet me with the prayer although my mouth feels hard to greet others. I would try to make it as a habit. That's why I begin every post with salam prayers.  

Komtar, the landmark of Penang. In Penangites telefilm such as Anak Mamak Menantu Mami, they would show this as apart of their pride. I can't stand Azad Jazmin's voice when he made that suara kepit. Anyhow, I love the movie. Immigration department is there and my cousin sister also works in Komtar. Just feel shy to contact my maternal aunt here which is her mum. She and her husband are generous enough offering me to help buying tickets to return home if I am in shortage or stuck in Penang. But just feel bad to burden them, I would try to rely on Allah and work it myself if I have the ability.

The street is known as Lim Chui Long street. Last time during the first semester, I went out with brother Kurnia of Indonesia and brother Idris of China to Penang Botanical Garden and we stopped by at a mosque at the street just beside the road in our way home for dzuhr prayer service. Brother Kurnia will be home and I would never see him anymore in the next semester because he had done with his thesis : (

This is a banglo of Qiu Tianbao, the father in-law of Syed Ahmad al-Attas who married his daughter. The architecture is according to colonial style. This place became a school which was founded by followers of Sun Yat Sen, a nationalist figure of China. He is not a communist but a member of Guomindang party.  

Lebuh Farquhar, I walked here too but my previous pictures were lost swiped by the person who repaired my computer. I had also took pictures at Chayamanggalaram and Dharmmikaram temples but it is OK. I have my mind as a record too.

Around Lebuh Farquhar. There is a Catholic Cathedral there called the Assumption and also a museum. I didn't visit the cathedral because I had once been there. I wanted to see something like museum more. Besides there just about two buildings gap, I could see Pulau Pinang Museum. In front of the museum is a school. I can't remember its name but the school buildings look nice.

to be continued....