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!

Heart Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 Ouyang Xun 635: Tang Dynasty

Zhao Mengfu 1254-1322: Yuan Dynasty 

This one has nothing to do with Islamic teachings. It's simple name is only Heart Sutra. It is lord Buddha's teaching to his disciple, Shariputra. I just found that the calligraphy is very nice but I did not have time to practice calligraphy. I tried to translate few wisdom from Imam Shafi'ie rahimahullah as well as other Imams in Chinese. It's only for my personal use and a tribute to all Imams. Just think that it would be beneficial in the future. 

What is Heart Sutra? 

It is a discourse of lord Buddha Gautama with his disciple known as Brahman Shariputra. In this sense I talk about lord Buddha as a teacher or guru among teachers, a historical figure and not some kind of golden idol as what would be understood by some brothers or sisters. It talks about the experience of liberation of the the enlightened being of compassion known as the lord who looks down resulted from the insight gained while engaged in deep meditation to awake the faculty of wisdom. This insight refers to basic emptiness of all phenomena, five senses of human existence known as panchaskandha. 

Panchaskandha are............................

1. Rupa - form

2. Vedanaa - feeling

3. Samskara - volitions

4. Sammjhna - perceptions

5. Vignyaana - consciousness

This is my experience as a Buddhist boy. I learned to shut all of perceptions through this Sutra when I encounter something which I do not know or never experienced. It is also influencing me until today and I do not know whether it is sinful or not because it is not easy for a revert to totally forget previous experience. I am also afraid if my faith is not really a faith because the God would surely condemn me into the torments. I am already tormented in the world and I wish the hereafter would be peaceful abode for me. I only regard lord Buddha as a teacher when I revert to Islam by heart but I do not come to the extent of regarding him as a prophet or messenger of the God because it is never mentioned in the Glorious Quran and Sunnah. This sutra taught everyone to avoid speculation so I do not really like to speculate. 

The volitions refer to what we badly want or desired. It teaches to leave everything behind or release desires because it causes us pain in term of psychological. My ex-colleague, Amir also told me about psychological problem would lead to physical health being deteriorated because he also experienced that. Yesterday, I talked with him through text messages while silently tears flowing down my eyes in the library researching for thesis. He told me to create something nice in my mind if I feel annoyed. Create anything that would make us happy even if we have no nice experience and stop looking at what we do not like or makes us suffocate. 

It suddenly brought me to the memory of reciting this sutra. I began to think that what I am trapped now is related to volitions which causes me pain. However, as a Muslim we must also remember the God is with us and that His divine pre-destiny is apart of His wisdom. We must be confidence in His sudden assistance and pray to Him without feeling tired of His Mercy. Perhaps this sutra is a precaution to avoid from pain. I would elaborate it longer until the Aryasthanga Marg (Noble Path) and Chattwari Ariyasattiyani (Four Noble Truths) if I linger more in this topic, hehehe. So, this is some general knowledge for fellow brothers and sisters in faith. May the God bless my brothers and sisters in faith and in humanity.   

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

New Year 1433 H Event in Masjid al-Malik Khalid

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Souvenir from the event, a Hijriyyah calender so I could also check prayer services time and try to be as early as possible in prayer hall waiting to see Him : )

Before the Maghrib Prayer Service

I regret that I had missed congregational prayer service in masjid this morning. They had conducted a lecture there I can't remember delivered by which Habeeb. This evening, rain fallen quite heavy. I had made a mistake by going to Sungai Dua without bringing clothes and hygiene stuffs where I could just clean up myself at the shower at the side of the masjid. I had some meal at the Thai restaurant at the alley near the KFC of Sungai Dua. I had to walk back to perform ghusl, wudhu' and clean up everything because we must be clean both physical and spiritual to enter the holy boundary as a mean to respect Him. Then walk again to the masjid.

I just wanted to pray to the God for the better future which also includes my future in the hereafter. Also praying for other brothers and sisters either Muslims or non-Muslims for their life to be blessed. So, I don't care about the rain and I never try to get any help from others in term of borrowing their transportation. I am not really close with people here anyway because I always feel afraid to say goodbye to friends. I regard friends the same as blood brothers and sisters. When I was a first degree student, brother Mijie and brother Duwe had also offered me their motorcycle but I just politely refused their offer. I feel bad to burden them though they don't mind. I just want to make sure that my heart and intention is purely for Him. We can strive hard to get certificates for better job or better life improvement but to sacrifice ourselves for Him is hard? He never asks us to give Him money, kill ourselves for blood nor anything. Just surrender to Him, our heart because He is the Most Compassionate full of Love and Mercy : )

The masjid people had also recited Yaasin Surah and the supplication to end the year and beginning the new cycle of year 1433 H. At home, parents and second sister would also go for masjid and pray there. I did that to respect my parents though I am in the distance of 400-500 km from home. I am aware about acts mentioned in valid Sunnah. I keep hadith books as well as Quran with me where I had immediately get them while performing hajj and I memorize some parts of 40 hadiths. Still in the process and this annoying political administration studies had also delayed my memorization. 

I also try to translate some important books into other languages when I am free for example Chinese for Malaysian Muslim Chinese compatriots but it hasn't finish yet because I need to check terminologies used and record them as not to commit mistakes of Orientalists. Second problem is that I am just using pen and paper because I don't know how to install Chinese application in this lousy computer, hahaha. We must be fair to Oriental brothers and sisters. They're all equal brothers and sisters. I intend to send them to some non-Muslim Chinese friends and pay them to type. Then just print them out and distribute them for people's personal use without sending them to religious departments but first I need to neatly check it as to make sure it is a right translation. I had already tried to access federal religious department but so far nothing in response and I know they have few Muslim Chinese translators too. I just observed that, Sunnah Islamic books' translation into Eastern languages is so limited except in the languages where the people are in majority Muslim. If it is not legal, then I would silently send them out maybe to Taiwan, Hong Kong or to Japan pleading help from friends out there to send them to masjids and Muslim families. Doing everything alone is actually very exhaustive but what to do. We have no choice.

Basically it is a good way to recite any surah of the Glorious Quran together because we could listen to others' recitation and we could also recite aloud without feeling shy because nobody care about our voice when we recite together. Usually some fellows who listened to Muhammad Abdul Wahhab followers' lectures would be harsh to their parents but I choose not to be harsh because I don't like to be a blind followers. I read Muhammad Abdul Wahhab however I am not his devotee. I am a devotee of Allah 'Azza wa Jalla and I sincerely proclaim my testimony on Muhammad s.a.w prophethood. I respect all the Salaf as-Saaleeheen and all the guided teachers including the ahlul bayt.

After Maghrib Prayer Service

I didn't get the first unit of Maghrib prayer service because I had already been late. I regret myself so much for that. Then, people listened to a lecture delivered by the religious officer of Kedah state Islamic Guidance Department, Ustad Muhammad Isa Abdul Rahman. It revolves around Hijrah and it went on for about half an hour. I just sat at the pillar and trying to hide from people because I don't want to be spotted recording notes because it is shameful, hahaha. But I was busted by an old resident of my hostel now. He was a Geophysics student. His name is Sayful and is now working in Bayan Lepas. I don't know how he recognized me. Because I hardly talk with people nor noticing people because I hate to show my face to people. Already experienced many things and the recent one in my current hostel last semester. So, I don't feel any importance to be tied to people around or knowing so many people. My name is also not important.    

Lecture Notes

It mentions that Hijriyyah calender is very important thought it was designated by Umar al-Khattab r.a. It was marked by the event of migration by Muslims after the prophethood of Muhammad s.a.w into Medina al-Munawwara. It is based from lunar calculation unlike the Gregorian calender which uses solar calculation. When we record important events such as matrimonial, birth, death, and everything related to life and death, we use Hijriyyah calender. An example, a divorcee sister may count her 'iddah (period after divorce) with Hijriyyah calender before she get marry again with the man of her choice. 

We must take heed on the importance of the terms used in the Glorious Quran. Hijrah or hegira signifies the migration from evil to goodness. From hideous traits to good traits. We do not want to associate Quranic terms with filthy or non-related matters. The Islamic Guidance Department of Kedah for example had issued a ruling for the term used in Islamic rituals should not be used in others' rituals. For example the term Qubur had been differentiated to Jeerat. Qubur and Jeerat both means cemetery but Qubur is Muslim cemetery while Jeerat is the term for non-Muslim cemetery. I remember that my dad had once scolded me because using the term Qubur to refer to non-Muslim cemetery because they are very particular with terminologies and language used. The term tahallel for example is used for Muslim supplications and the Buddhist should use the term phra paritt for their specific ritual because they indeed chant phra paritt during the ritual and not tahallel. As to say, hijrah means the migration where we transfer from evil to goodness.

Other example is the term of ulama' which generally means scholar. But there lies a hidden meaning of it where a scholar is a scholar who fear the God so he never distort the teachings for himself nor practicing out of what he preaches. A person with a knowledge is different from 'ulama. A person who learn Islamic knowledge but has no fear to the God is not an 'ulama (scholar) but just a person who had accessed the information. They could do whatever they want with the information that they have but they are not scholars. A very nice explanation by the ustad : )  

The lecture emphasizes the importance of terminologies and meanings of the word. The ustad also brought the quotes from Ibnu Katsir exegesis. The prophet Muhammad s.a.w mentioned that there is no more physical migration after the re-opening of Mecca to the Light of Revelation. But a person who live with the discipline like in Ramadan though he or she is not fasting because it is not Ramadan could still get the merit as equal as the merit of Ramadan. He or she eats only physically and spiritually clean food but leaving doubted and illegal foods. So do the migration event. It never happen anymore but the concept of migration is still there.  

Regarding illegal things like the ketum or kratom leaves or biak leaves in Kedah, it is advised for public to stay away from it. Kratom (Mytragyna Speciosa) is a kind of leaf which is used as a drug to cure fever but could be harmful if used excessively. Ustad said that don't misuse the drug and turning it into a crack. It is illegal or haram especially they soak it with the cow dung. Cow dung is not a kind of food.

Migration to study, spreading, and sharing Mercy and Love to others is counted as a migration. The person who migrates for these courses will be classified as muhajir (immigrants). While those who receive them are the ansar (the helpers). The honorable Imam al-Ghazali mentions that a dangerous friend is an ignorant friend. Because an ignorant friend loves his friends but he is ignorant and does not know about what is legal and what is illegal. Ustad explains in Kedah people tradition to serve guests with raw salads, rice, and other food stuffs. Raw salads is very important in Kedah people cuisine where they would dip them with sauces such as sambal belachan (shrimp paste sauce). He explained that the ignorant friend might pluck leaves at trees on others' lands to prepare food for his friend and it is spiritually illegal.     

The right on Guidance is the right of the God. It is not the right of human-being. When He is Willing and Pleased to open up the heart of a person into His Light, then it is His Will. For example the person will strive to seek knowledge and he will be released and entered into the Abode of Peace. We take opportunity on the teachings. If we've got little, then little we benefit. If we've got a lot, then a lot we've got. Perhaps from the little thing that we've listened could help us in the future or giving us some understandings. The ustad mentioned about his experience where Muslims in Singapore had accepted the ruling by the Guidelines from the mufti of Singapore that they could perform rituals with the recycled water as Singapore has no fresh water supply. The mufti has to think on the consequences of the nations in his supervision. 

Says the member of wisdom, Luqman al-Hakeem, a knowledgeable person who fears the God will be blessed with extra knowledge. Luqman al-Hakeem lives in the time of prophet David a.s the ruler of Judah. He was granted with a vision and dream by the God where he was asked to choose to be a prophet of the God or a member of wisdom? Luqman al-Hakeem had chosen to be a member of wisdom and not a prophet of the God. Luqman al-Hakeem had passed 20 advices to virgin girls. 

There is a merit for an immigrant who migrates from the chaotic land to a peaceful land. There are few matters related to immigration which is accompanied by merits and they are: 

1. Migration to protect his or her faith when being tyrannized by rulers

2. Migration to seek knowledge

3. Migration for da'awa and spreading love, amity and mercy

4. Migration from evil to goodness, from vice to charity and chastity, leaving illegal for legal matters

5. Migration to the way of the prophet s.a.w in performing shariat (way of conducting life)

6. Migration to protect one's dignity

It is not easy for someone to leave his or her land when we had already feel accustomed with the environment around. However as Muslims, our life principles is always revolving around the God. The God is always with us. Even if everybody had left us alone, the God is still with us. It is also not easy to migrate from bad habit to good habit. This event of hijrah by the prophet Muhammad s.a.w and Muslims in Meccan era into Abyssinia and Medinah signifies both physical and spiritual matters. In the matter of protecting one's faith, faith is not something which can be bought nor could be sold. It is in the heart and only the God has the Power to turn it upside down. Protecting faith has the merit as the merit of migration from the tyranny of old days.

The condition of repentance had also has something to do with migration. A person have to migrate from a place which leads him or her to vices and illegal acts. For example a drug addict must migrate from his old place to the new one which will lead him or her to goodness. The ustad had mentioned that he had tried to write and distribute the sermon about the danger of smoking but many of imams in the masjid in Kedah had refused to read the sermon but reading other sermon because imams also have the habit of smoking. So, migration from bad habit really need perseverance and strong will. It is not an easy matter.    

The event of Isra' and Mi'raj of prophet Muhammad s.a.w was actually the event which tests the strength of the faith of those who would later perform migration to Medina al-Munawwara. It means that a person who wants to perform migration needs a strong-will, determination, and strong faith. When we try to please the God, even if it is only a common act of worship, that should be ok in order to migrate to a better situation.

When we preach da'awa, we try to find person who wants to listen to us. No matter who listens to us, the person who listens to us actually is a person who is honored by the God. The God had mentioned about honorable companion of prophet Muhammad s.a.w who is so determined to learn the teachings of the God though he was just a poor blind man, which is Abdullah bin Maktum. He was honored by the God in surah 'Abasa. Teach to people who are willing to listen and those who are not willing just leave them once we remind them. Medium of da'awa today could vary according to technology that we have. We could also use text message system to message friends.  

I did texting messages and calling some friends though some of them (my Kedah and Kelantan compatriots) had humiliated me but never mind. We should never take people seriously but forgive everyone as the God forgives us our sins. How did the ustad knows this??? Maybe lots of people are using the same way, recycling messages, hahaha. I just typed what I feel to friends and I love to wish people around well-being because I was unfortunate when I was a school kid and nobody really cares about me. Usually the wishings come right away from my heart though sometimes I feel shy to tell them but I just send it without thinking about my self anymore. Let people be happy and enjoy and I would also feel happy for them : ) I don't like recycled messages.

Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah had once stated that: "When a human was born, he is crying while people are laughing to receive him. But let people cry when the human is dead but he is smiling because of the goodness that he had left for everyone around to share." 

Ustad mentioned also about the figure of Libya, Umar Mukhtar who was illegally hanged to death in front of public by Italian imperial power in 1913 at the age of 70 years old. Umar Mukhtar was an 'ulama of Libya. Umar Mukhtar had said (with his faith) before he was hanged that let people hang him. People who hanged him will never be known after they hang him, but he (his soul) will smile because he had united his people and his resistance to Italians was that because the Italians had did wrong by plundering people lands. A righteous person never even pluck leaves from others people land which thrust into the fence of his house.

Now, Italy is a member state of European Union and death sentence is not according to human rights but what these countries in the Union would do regarding the people who were killed by the governments before the establishment of the Union or before their ascension into the Union? Where are apologies and confession from civilized nations? I lose respect to these countries and nation-states. I am so sorry.

Closing

They prepared some refreshments for congregations which are some breads and beef dhalcha mixed with eggplant and potatoes. Urmm, I don't really like beef but it has no smell in the dhalcha so I think it is ok and I'm not a Buddhist anymore so what beef has to do with me? There is also a guy who currently live in Aman hostel which was my previous hostel and despite of his eyesight problem, he still come to congregational prayers and attending the event in the masjid. I am so amazed with his spirit and wishing him a good future may he be blessed too. This is another dimension of migration despite of what is understood in the West. Western world had claimed Christianity as their tradition but they never implement the morality of the Christ where the Christ had once said blessed be the meek. But Western world are craving for comfort, materialism and tyrannizing others in the name of 'civilization.' I don't believe any Christ followers exist in Western world when they talked about it in their discussions for example the discussion of Geert Wilders. He's not a Christ followers but a stinky politician. My advise to fellow Muslims in Europe, respect locals and maintain your faith. No need to show off to people nor looking down on others.

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad, wa 'alaa aali Muhammad. Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love for nations, amin!      

Mid Term Break: Acheen Street Masjid

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 

Just returned from Tesco. Imagine how cheap stuffs that we bought from the store. I just paid RM12 for Premium BBQ Puff, Chicken Curry Puff, few Cucumber Sushi and a box of Chicken Rice which cost me about RM2. It's better than having meals in restaurant around my hostel here or at mamak restaurant where we pay around RM6-RM7 for a plate of rice and drinks. I walked home through my old hostel which was Aman Hostel, thought of spending some minutes there watching TV but I found that many anak ikan (young guys) are sitting there watching football. Anak ikan, hahahaha... 

I also saw my ex-hostel mate there, Jantr of Pendang and because he never contact me after we graduated in 2009 and he was there in Aman Hostel perhaps looking for his gangs. I think he's working in Kuala Lumpur, maybe he has something up here like seminars that made him spending some time in this "lovely" institution. The time had passed so its enough... No one will stuck in the same place and time but we will move to other places and spaces.

I just walk right away in front of his nose without saying any word as I will only open up my mouth if I feel important. No important thing, no talk. If people wanted to take this as arrogance, go on. I don't care a bit. Sometimes there are some things which make people acting in certain manner. I did called him last time, and also sending texts to most of my friends not only him. I don't care about people status, racial background or even skin tone because I always assume myself as lower than others since the God never look at those physical stuffs but at our heart and sincerity because of Him. If people do not think that it is important, I would just get away from them. At home I also think like that because many times my sisters also asked me assistance and opinions but when I need them, they would stay away. No dependence, no satisfactory, no feeling, nothing except dependence to the God.

Lets see our pics of Acheen Street Masjid with its unique architecture though simple, few minutes before عموديم 'ammudim (dipping for maghrib prayer service) rituals : )

Thursday, 14 Zulhijjah 1432 H (10 Nov 2011) 11:36 am

Acheen Street Masjid a.k.a Malay Masjid

Minaret

View from the gate

 

Front view, some Chinese National Type School students are listening to their teacher talking about the history and architecture of the mosque

Traditional style houses of masjid staffs

Modern style houses of masjid's residence

Balcony of the masjid

Wudhu' pool, before entering the prayer hall make sure that we are in state of ablution to respect the Lord of the House

 Prayer hall with the place to deliver sermon which is called as minbar and mihrab

 It wasn't Dzuhr prayer service time yet so we just perform tahiyyat al-masjid salat to respect the Lord of the House

I've got a test tomorrow for the paper that I have to repeat. What can I do, it's already fated so we just go on. I have to read few journals as well and it's difficult to understand. I just want to read my Quran, I am tired and sick of all of these duniya (worldly) matters : (

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

Beautiful South Thai

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

If those who were born and maintain relation with the state in northern Malaysian Peninsula like Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Northern Perak, they would also find it hard to resist from the influence which coming from neighboring states in neighboring country which is Thailand...

This song was actually produced during the Southern Thai insurgency in Pattani and Yalar provinces during the administration of Mr. Thaksin Shinawat. I have nothing against Mr. Shinawat nor any leader in Thailand. Even we Muslim outside of Thailand border actually respect Thai emperor, Mahagasatr Bhumibal just like we respect the Sultan who lead our state and we would kick those who insult him or his consort. This song was sung by Southern Thai artists whom are Luang Gai and Jiep Benjabarn. Luang Gai is a Muslim while Benjabarn is a Buddhist.

When I stayed in late grandparents' house during weekend off, I just tuned to Thai radio station and sleep beside radio because I felt bored being there alone while grandparents doing their chores around or taking a nap in the noon. I didn't really pray like a Muslim when I was 13 years old and I would hide myself during prayer times while we were in the madarasah, hahahaa. 

This song actually encourages Southern Thais to maintain unity and co-exist in peace since we are brothers and sisters. Our state was once almost being integrated into a Thai province in Southern Thai too while one of our territory which is Satun (Setul) had already being an integrated part of Southern Thai province. These singers are using Southern Thai dialect, it's not Central Thai dialect used in Bangkok or elsewhere in Thailand. We share great deals of similarity with them outside the border there, hahaha. When we went to Thailand whether in Dannok or Bangkok, we would speak using Southern Thai dialect unless if the people speak to us in Malay.

I remember during lexicography project during first degree, I used this song as a project and the lecturer for this course, Dr. Aniswal is also a Kedah person but she had been living in London for many years so her Malay or Kedahan Malay sound quite different in accent even when she tried to speak in Malay. Well, I understand her situation and she's a nice person who does not boast around even when she lived there in Britain because we love our state no matter where we are. I used to use Thai model for our interpreting project where most of colleagues using well-known languages such as Swedish, French, Arabic, and other Caucasoid languages but we only use a modest language which is Thai and we didn't record it in video but simply talking whatever we had in our mind, lol. It was so hilarious when I played a character as a Tuk Moh Siam (Thai shaman) speaking to a Malay patient (Birshahman) with Amir as my interpreter. I don't know whether lecturer was laughing because I felt quite ashamed speaking in Southern Thai dialect in front of people who didn't speak the language. Whatever it is, we passed the course so it can flow down the stream, hahahahaa.... 

I heard that there are Dai people in Southern China... I guess in Jinghung city or Sipsongbanna of Yunnan province. They speak the language resembles Thai and Lao. Cultural traits are almost the same too with Theravada Buddhism and support of Gathin offerings by the emperor of Thailand. I used to listen to some videos where those people conversing in their language and I could more or less understand them, haha.

It's rainy season now and I don't know what happened to those in Bangkok. I also wish that Southern Thai do not being hit by flood because it will sure affect our states up here. If we have more sustenance with us, we may also help those in Thailand and Cambodia with some donation.   

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

Egyptian Movie : 'Asal Aswad

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Egyptian movie had been very influential in Kedah around 1950s until early 1960s. Around 1960s, movies from India also penetrating Kedah state in the theaters imported by Chinese towkeh (businessman). A little town like in Kodiang of Kubang Pasu district also had a theater called Panggung Gembira Sentiasa. 

Presenting everyone a movie about American-Egyptian returning home to Egypt after 20 years stuck in the US. The title means Black Honey. The main character Misriy Sayyid el-'Arab (Muhammad Hilmy). His Arabic is kind of cute, hahaha. I tried to imitate him talking in Arabic with American accent while I am alone in the room and having a good laugh.

 

Basically this guy has American passport and nationality but he keep telling people that he is an Egyptian. And he speaks Arabic so people who had treated him well in the beginning turn to be harsh to him. Check at what happened in the passport control since he was convinced by the person who sits beside him to fill disembarkation card with Egyptian as his nationality because he told the guy that he is an Egyptian. 

There is also a scene about how dirty Egypt is when the driver who takes passenger at the airport throw out thrash from the window and the American-Egyptian stopped that guy from throwing thrashes out of the window. Not to forget low-cost ink used at the newspaper painted at his fingers, hahaha... Also scenes on how horrible Egyptians way of speaking English for e.g an English teacher pronounced class as keelaus... Thank you ferry mash... (Thank you very much). The character also has a tattoo if everyone notice that while watching.

Basically one doesn't have to understand the movie, because we can see their expression. Muhammad Hilmiy is one of my favorite actor, haha. I'm sorry to non-Arabic speaker, it's without subtitle. I wish everyone stumbled by enjoy different angles of view from Northern Africa and Mediterranean region. So, what everyone think about an Orthodox Muslim guy watching movies? I'm not following others but this is one of a way on how I observe the world and around. It's not only for entertainment while I am bored. It makes me feel wanted to visit Egypt too, omm ed-donya (mother of the world)... bahebbak awi awi : )

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

Deepawali Festival

Peace be upon everyone and blessings be to everyone

Just after 'Asr prayer service. Before I go out for some evening sight seeing, this one is about Deepawali celebration. I don't know when is the festival since I didn't watch TV for long and I didn't bother to check local newspaper. 

Basically our Indian communities are from Southern India and most of them are of Tamil descents. They celebrate few celebrations I guess related to their religion and customs too such as Deepawali or Deewali in Northern India. It is a celebration of light. We learned about this too in Local Research subject for primary school children. I don't know how to translate it into English. I don't know whether the subject is still in existence, haha.

 

This video is actually a Petronas advertisement aired in Malaysian TV many many years ago. It was directed by the late Yasmin Ahmad. She had also produced several movies and I had learned that she is quite famous in Australia. Well, her movies are not of my type but I still watch some of her advertisements. First time I watched this advert I burst out of laugh. Looking at how Asians trying to imitate American Blacks. I think those guys in the video are cool too.

The scene which is interesting could be seen at the part where the diggie-dee guy saw a paati (grandma) with white sharee at the night market. She called him and his real name is not diggie-dee something but Muniandy Chinnatorai. The kukutalee (friend) had also used a nickname which is Sam. 

This is some transcription from conversation, quite nice to learn about other compatriots, haha... Paati asked kukutalee...

Paati : Pyere na aiya? 

What's your name?

Sam : Sam... Sam... 

Paati : Ennama shaam shaam enggerengge, nalla pyere yelle?

What is that Sam Saam? You've no proper name?

Sam :  Muthusammy...

Paati : Huhhhhh???!

Sam : Muthusammy Karuppia paati pyere.

Muthusamy Karuppiah, grandma that's my name.

Paati : Muthusammy Karuppiye naala shyaami pyere..

Muthusamy Karupia what a divine name.

After that, the grandma gave them murungakai (marukku) which is Tamil's spicy traditional biscuit. Those girls are just laughing to those wannabe guys. In the end, the advert says, "the world is changing but we will always be proud of what we are." So, why must we follow other people's value when we have our own ones here? Whether we are forced to follow others' values or we choose to. 

Just because we see others' values for example hedonism, materialism, americanism, secularism, narcissism and etc look like popular or mainstream ones, does not mean that ours are totally out of date or we should also think like others : ) I also have friend who listens to Metal music and I learned about it from him. I also listened to some musics and watching movies but they do not really make me attached to them. I love my Quran more and I feel at peace with it compared to listening to other things. Being an Orthodox Muslim does not mean that we are smashing everything, I believe in gradual changes because nothing could change only in a day : )

Wish Hindu friends and teachers happy celebrating Deepawali Naal Valtugal... Take care of your health, safety, and drive safe if you want to visit relatives or friends.

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

Theory of Religion Evolution: Sect of Thought

In the history of cultural anthropology, there is a sect known as evolutionism embraced by scholars. This sect sees that human gradually achieving their development. From the lowest to the highest. This shift from the lowest to the highest happened so slow until it seems almost invisible.

Usually, the followers of this thought focusing more to a certain culture. Some would be focusing to human relation, and some would take a look at their art. Others would base their studies on the subjects such as mans' religion and their belief in supernatural world.

Among those who talked about theology according to this theory is Edward B. Tylor. Around 90 years ago, based from the book's publication year, he had an opinion saying that the first stage of human level in belief was that they believed, there are supernatural creatures called as ghosts, spirits, genies, or ancestral spirits (Rahmat, 1979).

According to Tylor, animists living in the primitive economic stage. In the beginning, people founded this belief when they find the fact through dreams. It is the fact about life and death. According to knowledge and science, dream is some kind of hallucination or imaginary experience which could not physically being touched or sensed. 

In dream, a person might find out various experience, sometimes sad, sometimes misery, sometimes pleasant. In dreams, a person feels that he visits places which he had never been before. In this experience, his physical body is on his bed but he feels like he had traveled far. In this condition, primitive community had this conclusion that there is something which comes out from physical mass and traveling here and there. The one which travels is the non-physical body of human which lives in physical mass. Now, they had come to the classification of human into two elements which is physical mass and spirit which generates the physical mass, making it moves. Physical mass will die but spirit is eternal.

Primitive human views that not only human have spirits. In dreams, they could also see animals, plants, rocks, places, river, houses, and etc. Hence, they view that everything consists spirits. The form of spirit is the same as the physical mass, only the essence is discreet. From this belief to spirits, human begin to belief that there is ghost and the worship of ancestral spirits.

When their economy stage developed to livestock and farming where they did not collecting fruits or hunting animals; other stage of belief arise which is polytheism. The more developed human culture, the lesser the spirits as the rank and the power of spirit developed. Spirit now is called as god, deity, or anything related to it.

From polytheism, then it develops to monotheism. Monotheism means believing only in one deity. According to Tylor, monotheism is the final result of human intelligence after going through stages such as animism, polytheism, and monotheism.

So, this is Tylor opinions regarding humans' belief to the God. He did not elaborate in detail whether human will keep going with this evolution in their creed after they reached monotheism stage or it stops at the stage. If it is still in evolution, will it bring everyone to atheism? Perhaps, this hypothesis could also be applied by atheists as a ground for their opinion regarding what they hold?

Tylor's book known as Primitive Culture consists of two volumes which are the Origin of Culture and the Religion in Primitive Culture. The first volume talks about various aspects of ethnography such as social evolution, linguistics and myth. The second volume deals with the interpretation of animism.