Ayurveda: Dosha and Prakriti

Assalāmu'alaikum wa raḥmatullah

Ayurveda classifies two distinct but inter-related type of person. It concerns with both body and mind. Our nature is determined by this combination of body and mind types. This "nature" is known in Sanskrit as Prakriti. When we refer to the theory of creation, we identify it as the unmanifested nature of matter in the cosmic. When referring to human-being, it refers to unique physical and psychological nature displayed in them.

The knowledge about our dosha and guna provides us with an understanding of our basic physical and psychological nature. It helps us to decide on our personal diet, lifestyle that maintain optimum health and peace of mind. Each person has a unique dosha with unique nutritional needs. By establishing our dosha, we would enable ourselves to get suitable diets, exercise and lifestyles to maintain the balance.

Definition 

Dosha

The translation is quite complicated. It is often translated as "biological type" or physical constitution. This definition brings a simple and easy understanding of the concept. While, the original definition is more complex.

Sanskrit defines, dosha as dusyati iti doshah. It literally means, "that which contaminates is called dosha". The Malay language absorbed this word into the vocabulary, dosa and the meaning turns out to be "sin" in Brahman-Buddhism context where the sin taints one's karma (action). The Muslim missionaries in South East Asia later then, employed the word into their speeches and so; the word dosa remains there but to explain Islamic concepts. The same thing in Thai language, where it is used together with native word as a fixed phrase, khor thod (thod is spelled as thosh) which means, "pardon".

So, doshas may be considered the pathogenic factors, or disease-causing agents in the body. Imbalance of the vata, pitta and kapha doshas cause disease in the body. Dosha only refers to the three biological energies of vata, pitta and kapha. Imbalance of these elemental combinations is the direct cause of physical disease. The become the prime cause factors or contaminants to the body. Secondary factors in the disease process, like dhatus (body tissues), ama (toxins) and malas (waste materials) are just the product of, or, dependent upon, an imbalance in doshas.

Prakriti

Knowing our prakriti helps you to tailor a personal diet and lifestyle that can prevent disease and physical disorders, and obtain peace of mind. It provides us with an understanding of our basic physical and psychological nature, and how to keep it in balance with our surroundings. This is the key to maintaining health.

Every human usually has varying degrees of vata, pitta and kapha. The doshas are usually not present in equal proportions. In most people there is a natural uneven distribution. Very rarely, a person may have a completely even distribution of doshas.

Although we each have characteristics of vata, pitta or kapha to different degrees, one of these elemental natures will dominate and that is the “main” dosha. The secondary dosha is the one present in the next highest proportion. Every dosha type or combination is acknowledged in Ayurveda, which lists seven separate physical constitution types based on the basic three...

Basic

• vata
• pitta
• kapha

Combination

• vata-pitta
• vata-kapha
• pitta-kapha
• vata-pitta-kapha

I am not so much a traditionalist. I employ both modern and complimentary health sciences. Other than Indian health sciences... I also read about other methods such as from the Greeks, the Babylonian's, the Islamic ones based from our prophetic tradition, European and even natives' herbals and remedies. Nothing rigid except that I believe... Health is an important treasure which one could ever has in his life.

Adapted, copied and modified from: jiva.com

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

Diet Plan

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I'm tired of being a little guy and listening to people asking me why you're so tiny. Or maybe some old pedophile homos coming to me and trying to grope me before I kick them like what happened in my first year room! Usually I don't care about my self or how do I look. I don't care about people so much but now I don't know maybe I begin to realize that we need to take care about ourselves. Nobody will take care about us if not ourselves. 

The truth is, I didn't live like a laymen though I was a laymen. I feel like I wanted to answer like this to people when they ask because not all people are the same according to their question. I lived like a monk since I was a child and we really were poor people. Many things we cannot eat and touch not only pork. When talking about skinny, I always avoid spending money that parents gave me for school and silently put them back into their closets. I just learned to be generous when I was an undergraduate student after I saw few kids didn't pay for their breaking fast dinner.

Now trying to change eating habit maybe after I go home. Can't do these here. I find that it's hard for me to gain weight. When I was 15 years old, a doctor who checked me when I was hit by fever had also identified me as a retard, lol. Last time I eat a lot but never gain weight. I eat things like chicken, mutton, and vegetables most of all. My diet keep changing. When I was a little kid, I just can eat burger and bread. I can't take rice and I fast a lot. 

Not being an ass but little kid at that time eat according to what they feel right for their tummy. Then I consumed vegetables when we were facing financial problems, when I turned to be a follower of lord Buddha. It does affect me, influencing my eating habit and I found that Mahatma Gandhi had also forced his son to be young vegetarian. I begin to fast again when I was an undergraduate too and Amir whom was my close friend did called me a "Zombie" when he texted other friends but mis-send it to my phone, ahahahahaa. I read Gandhi's book titled Swagraham while I was in Thailand. I sweat a lot too though I am just a skinny guy. 

Now growing old I am thinking about health always. It is my concern day by day because I am going to need it in the future and for worship. It is also the advise of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal. I always remember what they say to people and trying to follow advises of teachers.

I checked few blogs including video blogs about diet. Some of them had set up the time for about 9 weeks to gain weight. In a guy's video blog, he briefly mentioned of taking 5 g creatine and three protein drinks. For nine weeks he had these diet which has been divided into breakfast, late morning, noon, mid noon, evening, bedtime. Seems boring and disgusting... He said we need to force it down in first week.

Breakfast

two scoops of whey protein, one banana, 100 g oats, tablespoon of peanut butter mixed with 400 ml water and blended.   

Late Morning

Four peanut butter sandwiches with brown granary bread, natural yoghurt and piece fruit.

Noon

200 g of chicken, brown rice, some vegetables, protein drink. I am not sure what kind of protein, maybe something which consist protein in it. Maybe I should contact the guy and ask him. 

Mid Noon

Bowl of pasta, tuna, peas, sweetcorn, cheese, and any chicken tonight sauce. 

Evening

Jacket potato with tuna or cottage cheese.

Bedtime Shake

Whey protein with milk and half tub of cottage cheese. It's good for slow digestion.

Got to close eyes at grocery bills, ahahahaa.... I ran few rounds at our hostel. Lazy to go out to the running track. Then I climb the stairs and some push up in room. Feeling like carrying a crane on my mass. I read some stuffs about exercising and methods to do some physical work up. I've heard that Yoga is not legal according to national fatwa council so I try not to perform it as not to contradict our belief and faith. I am finding other alternatives such as secular ones. I know few asannas (postures) as I was exposed to Hindus' philosophies. Also Hindu/Indian herbs for medication I am actually good in it as I read Hindu scriptures. Well, actually Buddhism as it is also mentioned in some Dhyana (Zen) or Yogachara school of Buddhism for chapters of Tapah (meditation). I usually have nothing to show to people. But sometimes I must remind myself that I should use whatever I have to bring benefit back for myself. If not I will forget it.

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

Relieved: I don't have to pull off my wisdom tooth, fyuhhhhhhh!

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Wisdom teeth above and below, I thought that I am already old but I had been told that this problem always happen to teenagers from the age of 18-25 years old. I don't think 25 years old is a teenage anymore but more to late teenage. I hate being a man my sins is increasing : (

I am quite relieved after returning from the dentist. I went for oral check at the campus' dentistry and the doctor said that I need not to pluck it out. The problem which caused me pain is the ulcer caused by the upper wisdom tooth. It is too long and stretching to the cheek flesh besides scratching it. So, here it is, the ulcer.  It's not because of the lower wisdom tooth that just newly emerged.

Sometimes when we face pain and sickness we would remember the God more intensely right. Even, Vladimir Lenin who was a Marxist that believed that "religion" is opium for people called for churches to call for prayers with bell and urging masjids to call for prayers with adzan when his country in danger. As for myself, I also tried to call family members or friends just to talk. But for friends I always feel that I am a selfish if I just talk with them when I am in pain. I don't like to be a burden for friends because they are not related to me by blood though I consider everyone brothers by soul. So, I called my little sister to talk about the solution of the problem regarding the wisdom tooth and she said that I would just have to bear with it. Mum also said the same. Perhaps it is also the pain which eliminates my little sins. I wish so. Then I just tell mum and sister to pray for me if I die though this pain is actually just a small pain. Everything that came to me just reminds me to death. It's not like I badly wanted to die. It's just an unavoidable fact no matter if we want it or not. We have no choice : ) I wonder if we also remember Him in all of the time whether in happiness, sadness, while we are scared, while we are courageous, and etc? 

The pain actually began since last four days but I just realized it last night. Last night I can't really sleep so I sent messages to few friends. I have some Malay acquaintances here but I don't feel close to them. Just telling friends that wisdom tooth sometimes could cause pain and reminding them to quickly see dentist if they have the same problem. I don't want people to experience same problem especially those I know. Before I went to the dentist, I was actually so afraid, hahahahaa. I went for the mosque and asking the God to forgive my sins if I have to pull out my wisdom tooth and if it bleeds me till death. I had been late to prayer services because of the world and I feel that I am so evil and shameless to the God. 

Anyway, I think it is a good experience for me though it's just a plain experience, hahaha. I always took everything even the lamest one as nice for me just to make it more fun for myself. I also love to listen to friend's story about plain things like some friends and acquaintances used to tell me. I think their experience though just plain ones but it has some significance in our life : )

The receptionist in the clinic was nice to me. A girl I don't know younger or older than me. Because she called me "adik" or little brother so I assume her as older than me. But later she just call me with my title in Malay which is enchik or mister after she handled my matrix card. I hate people calling me abang or older brother here in the musalla. Maybe those Malay kids are younger but I don't like to be called as abang. I just prefer to be called as saudara or equal brother. Usually only girls at home are calling me abang so I feel a little weird, hehehe. 

Not so many people there in dentistry so it's moving quite fast. I just wait there around 15 minutes and get to my turn. The dentist told me that there is an ulcer and infected area in my mouth. I just need to properly rinse my mouth with mild salt water and carefully clean my mouth after each meal. I don't have to pull out my lower wisdom tooth that just newly come out. She just repaired the sharp edges at my upper wisdom tooth and setting another appointment for next Wednesday at 9:00 where I have to come again to dentistry and repair more my tooth. Then she prescribed me two kinds of medications which are the pain-killer and antibiotics. 

The above one is Mefenamic Acid 250 mg which I have to take a tablet twice per day. Lower one is Bacampicillin HCI 400 mg, I have to finish the packet all in four or five days. Take it at the same time gap and a tablet twice per day. I just took tablets from each packet at 23:22. These drugs are controlled medications.

Last night I used mouthwasher and perhaps it irritates the ulcer. So, I avoid it today and just using salt water. I am actually very particular with cleanliness and hygiene even I would also make people around me to be particular with it. I used to wash my nephews and nieces stuffs like plates, toys and etc many times to prevent them from diseases. Their mum or dad never did that to them, hahaha. Parents should be careful with children health, it is important for them especially they will enter educational institutions. I learned about this from third sister's assignment too and it makes me more particular and strict especially when it is also related to religious rituals.  

Everyday when we still breath, the God is actually giving us some more opportunity to thank Him and to be grateful to Him. He is also Generous in term that He gave us the chance to repent and asking forgiveness. When we wake up from the bed, we must remember to say His Name in supplications:

With the Name of the God Who makes us alive and also makes us dead.

It implies that our faith is only with Him. He is our Guardian and also the Guardian for life and death. He protects us while we are sleeping either our soul or our mass. We offer thanks to Him for the chance to repent and bless us with the blessings for the future in the hereafter.

Already few days I just drink water and had some porridge. I can't find any place here selling porridge except at the fast food restaurant like McDonald or the Peranakan Chinese restaurant called Roti Bakar. I saw local Muslim Chinese having their lunch there so I just went into the restaurant because I believe they don't simply went in but they know about the restaurant. I already know few Myanmar workers in the restaurant. I love to make friend with migrant workers either from Myanmar, Vietnam, or Nepal. Most of them are nice though some of Malaysians said Nepalese or Vietnamese slaughtered dogs as their source of protein. As long as I don't see it myself, I don't want to believe it : ) I had took bus to Kuala Lumpur for my A-Level classes with these migrant workers. Most Malaysian possess cars or motorcycles so they don't really use public transport. Maybe we can see more expats and Malaysians in Light Rail Transit system or other rail systems in Kuala Lumpur.

Might be these migrant workers' country are third world countries unlike countries in Europe, Australia, the US or New Zealand so most of Malaysian who are working in the office and having good positions such as executives, engineers, doctors, lecturers looking down to them. I don't mind to sit with them. Even if people wanted to call me a Nepalese or a Myanmar or Vietnamese when I sit with them. I don't care. We are the same human-being, what differentiate us only sincerity to the God and only He and ourselves could determine it  : ) 

Hairan orang semua apabila bersembang akan berkata yang mereka hendak berhijrah ke negara di Eropah, Amerika Serikat, Australia, atau New Zealand tetapi tiada siapa pun teringin berhijrah ke Myanmar, Bhutan, atau Tibet. Saya suka Bhutan, Mongolia dan Tibet walaupun orang tak kenal dan berasa bahawa kawasan-kawasan tersebut tidak maju, hahaha.         

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

How a Single Guy Deals with Toothache

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

From left: cotton wool. toothache drop, mouth washer, and acti-fast panadol  

Just before we go for bed for the experience of a master degree student, hahaha. I took some dinner around 23:00 after paying for my copies of journals, notes and readings at xerox shop. It costs me around RM27:50 and what can I do... The Chinese family who handle the xerox job are quite hilarious, they had quarreled over the quality of paper. The husband just didn't want to waste the piles because they had done them all the night while the wife just wanted to dump the paper and do it over and over until they've got the good quality xeroxs. Last time I had agreed with the lady to do some binding but never-mind... I just don't care because I need to hurry. I am not a fussy person while time is gold, at least says most books... hahaha. 

Then only, I went for dinner and having some mushroom fried rice and a glass of orange juice all for about RM5 at those Thai restaurants. I thought of ordering some vegetables but I am afraid that they would put seafood like squid or anything related to it. So, it would be safe to order something which is vegetarian. While chewing the food I felt so painful in my mouth and I just realized that I had some injury in my mouth. I don't think that my toothache but it is related more to gums and area around the wall at the cheek felt like torn down at the end of the molars. Perhaps I had committed sins with my mouth that I have this pain. Lately I had been late to musalla and even masjid because of studies so I might turned to be an evil creature. I must recite more intensely the Quran to get rid of evil so that it won't harm me in the future. We take this as a test from the God to test our faith. A servant without tests and tribulations are like empty bags.

After dinner, I went to 7E convenient store and buying those stuffs in the picture. All of them costs me around RM18, quite expensive because it is a convenient store. Not a plain one as those plain ones were closed. I just felt like I wanted to cry out loud when I chew my food. I didn't eat properly since few weeks. Just having some plain bread and biscuits. Even when I met my classmate Siva, she said that I became more skinny than ever. Well, I hate people to sympathize me. But I can't hide my face when I see those whom I know. Usually I would avoid the way when I see people whom I know but when it happens so sudden I can't really avoid but just talking with them. I don't know whether this is called as social anxiety but I am just afraid of sin. It's not because I feel uncomfortable with myself. I could be myself all I want according to situation.

So, this is another experience of a lone ranger dealing with pain. How's respective brothers and sisters deal with toothache? Any suggestions? Or should I just go to clinics? I hate clinics and hospitals, hahaha...

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

Factor of Anxiety : Vice

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I had read some parts of my roommate magazine. He's not here anyway. Just having a glance. I found out interesting stuffs. I'm just sharing it and adapting it again for other brethren. Just a community service for English audience. It is also for me to take heed. If brethren have anything to share please suggest it to me. I would be glad to read them and trying to get into practice as well, inshaallah : )

Introduction

The article talks about the God knows what is harmful for His servants compared to servants themselves. When the God prohibit something whether in the form of articles, matters, or acts, there must be virtues and wisdom lies behind them. Prohibitions do not mean to burden or tyrannizing human-being but for the benefit of human-being itself.

The God reminds His creatures in surah Ta-Ha verse 124, whomever turns away from His reminders, indeed for them a difficult life. 

Says the God : "But whosoever turns away from My reminders, verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection."

Why the God prohibits vices? 

- It brings disaster to everyone not only in this life but also in the hereafter.

- A person who commits vices and crimes will be tortured in two hells which are the hell of the world and the eternal hell of hereafter.

- Human will lose blessings such as hidden from knowledge, sustenance fade away, lost the sense of humility, being shameless, always in doubt, feeling a burden to perform worship, always in doubt and anxiety, losing the blessings of natural health.

A person who commits vice will feel poor while he is rich. He will feel occupied while he is free. He will feel alone while he is surrounded by people who idolize and admire him. Ibnu Kathir elaborates more about the condition of those who commits vice by stating:

"He will never feel peaceful and never getting tranquility. His heart will feel anxious for going astray. Physically he looks like in pleasure, he can get anything he wants to eat, he can live anywhere he wanted to, but as long as he is not getting the guidance and faith, his heart will be in anxiety and doubt. This is the life which tortures."

Division of Vice

Vice is divided into two and both of them are harmful for health... They are:

1. Physical Vice

For example stealing, adultery, drinking liquor, gambling, robbing, killing, murdering, genocide, massacring, and etc. 

2. Spiritual Vice

These are concluded in the categorization of Mazmumah characteristics by honorable Imam al-Ghazali such as envious, arrogant, greed, attachment to the world, craving for praises, and others. 

Explanations on Physical Vices

Adultery vice for example, will cause direct diseases such as AIDS, syphilis, and others. Perhaps there are also contraceptives to avoid these diseases but the God knows what will happen. That is why we have preventive causes. Preventing is better than curing. Drinking liquor, drug addiction, and other stuffs which could make someone high or intoxicated will make someone lose his sanity and exposed to acts which are harmful to themselves, and most importantly, others.

Avoiding tithe will cause rifting in social relation and damaging the relation of the poor and the rich. It will cause higher rate of physical vice and crimes such as stealing, pickpocketing, drug dealing, prostitution and others. They directly harm health and the life of society. To explain this fact, there is a hadith narrated and reported by Abdullah bin Umar which says, the prophet Muhammad s.a.w said:

"Dear migrants, there are five things that will happen to your groups. I seek protection from the God when these will happen to you:

I. When a group committing adultery in the public, thus they will be attacked by diseases in which their ancestors had never experienced it before.

II. When they decrease scales and measurement, they will be punished with poverty and being tyrannized by the authority.

III. Each one of them who are reluctant to pay the tithe for poor people, they will be prevented from rain of the heaven. If not because of poultry and livestock animals, rain would cease away from the earth. 

IV. Each of them who breaks the commandments of the God and His messengers, they will be colonized and plundered by other nation who will steal some of their property.

V. And whilst leaders of society do not keep, observe and implement commandments of the God as what had been mentioned in His Words, they will never be in accordance amongst them." 

(Reported again by Ibnu Majah) 

Explanations on Spiritual Vices

Spiritual vices such as grumpy, envious, and grudge are also harmful for ones health. They silently kill as they cause many dangerous diseases such as hypertension, high blood pressure, cancers, and heart failure as examples.  

How these happen? To answer this, we have to look at what are the effects of sins (vices) on one self. When a companion was asking the prophet Muhammad s.a.w : "What is sin?" The noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w answered : "It is something which brings your heart into anxiety."

It means that those who commit sins will feel anxious haunted by the feeling of guilty. He is not only feeling guilty to the God but also to his self. This happens because the "nature" of human-being who are inclined to goodness and trying to be far from evil. When ones commit evil, he is not only opposing the God but also opposing his own "nature." This could explain why a sinful person feel not at peace.

The Effects of Restless Soul and Heart

When heart is not at peace, ones will have irregular heart beats and blood pressure. This is the same physiological change that happened to a person who is tested with foolin' around polygraph test. Fooling around is also a sin. Sin and vice brings effect to physiology. 

There are effects for other vice and sin as well. They effect blood flow and digestion system. Vitamins absorption and antibody will decrease. Nervous system will not properly function and the whole organs in ones body will be in pain.

Modern specialists are aware about this fact. Too bad that many are afraid and worried about diseases which are diagnosed but not at the root of the diseases which are sins and vices. AIDS for example, causing the world in anxiety and sparked panic situation worldwide. Everyone is told about the danger of this disease and campaigns were launched to tell everyone. 

However, the campaign for the danger of the root for diseases such as anti-adultery campaign is not as popular as the later. While the sacrifice of the disease is more than other diseases around the world. Curbing vices actually is more important than curbing physical diseases and epidemics. There are also cases of blood transfusion where innocent people being infected by HIV virus and affected by AIDS. Those who had commit vices and sins had also dragged others into disaster.

Everyone agrees that the factor which lead ones to vices is filthy heart and soul. Ironically, there isn't any serious effort to prevent this problem. These problems come from madzmumah characteristics. These characteristics bring human into vices and physical diseases.   

Dale Carnegie wrote in his book "Stop Worried" said that : "A businessman who doesn't know how to fight anxiety will die early." It had already proven that anxiety and feeling afraid of no reason become factor for cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, and dizziness. 

Diabetes is also related to anxiety, worried, and etc. Take this as an example. When economic recession happen and stock market crashed, sugar in corporate figures' blood will increase. They will experience joint pain, tooth ache or sore throat. Medical practitioners had cynically reminded that coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and digestive problem are "siblings" to anxiety. 

Famous Greek philosopher, Plato had said: "The error of most medical practitioners is that, they tried to cure a mass without curing its mind. Mind and mass is one and should not be differently treated." It means that if spiritual diseases or whatever is related to mind being first treated, then physical diseases will automatically being healed. That is why we also have psychosomatic treatment to treat both physical and mind problem.  

Attachment to the World

It is a fact which could never be denied that medical science had succeeded in curing diseases caused by virus and fungus. However, medical science had failed to prevent mental, soul, and physical destruction caused by anxiety, afraid, hatred, and etc. 

Until today, nobody really knows what specifically drives a person crazy. According to religious science, it is due to madzmumah (filthy heart) diseases and mind disorder. To cure them, mind must be attached to the strength of soul. Strength of soul is attached with faith. If mind and soul being detached from faith, destruction will happen like a spinning fan which is not attached to wall or ceiling.

Factors of Mind Disorder and Confusion of Soul     

If we ask men, factors perhaps are two which are women and money. If women? Main factors which cause stress and pressure is that they are too much focusing on protecting relationship with their couple, looking seriously at others perception toward themselves or their family, or workaholic to get employers' recognition or higher salary. They could also be in either way because both men and women are human-being, only different in function.

When we conclude all of these factors for stress and pressure, the real factor is actually the attachment to the world. Job, money, salary, position, employers' recognition, family, couple, and etc are considered as the world. Those who are attached too much on these matters will face this problem of mind disorder and confusion of soul. 

The God says in His revelation : "It is made beautiful at human-view the love and desire for women, and for children, many properties of gold, silver and best horse, livestock, and farms. Those are the enjoyment of the world. And at the God is the better place to return (paradise)." (surah aali-Imran verse 14)  

The God remind every faithful servant with His revelation : "Their property and their children (of those hypocrites) do not be it amazing to you as the God is torturing them with the life of the world and they will be taken their life without any faith." (surah at-Tawbah verse 55) 

Judges and sages had said that attachment to the world is the chief of evil. Too much being attached to the world will make people afraid of lost. They will be dying to get and maintain it. The world should only be placed at the hand and not in the heart. The heart of human is only one and it can't hold two love. Love to other than the God is idolatry and polytheism : )

Those who hunt the world will be disappointed if they fail to get it, but will never get satisfied if they get it. They are like drinking salty sea water. They drink lots of water but still feeling thirsty. Soul and heart being exhausted, energy worn out. It leads to chronic diseases. 

Western researches themselves showing that corporate figures in majority suffered any of these diseases of coronary heart diseases, diabetes, or high blood pressure. Success in business always come in a package with these diseases. What for the success in this world when we are not healthy? No matter how rich we are, we could only have three times proper meal to not feeling hungry or sleep only on a bed in one time. 

John C. Maxwell emphasized that success in business or careers without any clear goal of life will lead ones into adultery and depression. How many celebrities in the Hollywood or in the West live in depression because of feeling empty, depression, boredom and lonely?

Somehow, I think life of ascetics like primitive people is better than today's life. If we live in the mountainous area such as Bhutan, we perhaps are much healthier than in the so-called urban area...

Everyone can humorously talk about 72 virgins beside the river for those who bomb themselves like we care. Why not spread this factor of anxiety widely to everyone no matter to Christians, to Atheists, to Gnostics, to Sceptics, to Communists, to Fascists, to Jews, to Terrorists and to everyone. It is public health. Make videos and fun about this too. We can laugh together. It is more beneficial than just laughing while we waste time and age : ) 

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!

Reminder: Drink Lots of Water to Avoid Dehydration

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Peace be upon brethren in soul. This is just a reminder and a community service. Please drink lots of plain water while you break your fast or while having pre-dawn meal. Ramadan is a month which is dry and a little bit hot. It is good to consume less food but we must take lots of water to remove excessive heat.

Though some of us are living in the northern hemisphere but I am sure you also have to deal with dry climate just like here in the southern hemisphere. I was affected by fever now because of the lack of water consumption. Make sure that your health is in good condition while observing fast. When we are in sickness and in pain, make sure that we are in wudhu' (ablution), recite the testimony of faith toward Allah and His messenger the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w, recite salawat (prayer) blessings for noble prophets Muhammad and Ibrahim, say repentance astaghfirullahal'azeem (I seek forgiveness from You dear the Great God) and anoint some olive oil if we keep it with us. I have joints pain because of this fever. Olive tree is a blessed tree mentioned in glorious Quran, surah at-Teen and olive oil could be used as an external ointment.

I remembered during I was in form 5 just few weeks before the Malaysian Examination Certificate (SPM) where I was affected by dengue. My joints felt so pain, almost passed out alone across the road at my school in Semenyih after finishing classes. I was admitted to hospital. No friends nor relatives visited me. I was alone in the ward with another dengue patient. I don't know what happened to him, after he was brought out when blood appears at his skin, may Allah bless him no matter where he is. My parents and other sisters were busy with elder sister's delivering her first son which is my nephew. He is now eight years old and I love him though never showing it to him nor anyone. I was just thinking about death at that time. It happens before I fully return to the Path and actually many sad events happened since we were young kids. So, when we see a rebel kid, don't quickly judge him or her. He or she might be facing problems in life and we don't know about that because we don't live with them. Regarding dengue, it affects us without we realize so make sure that we go for medical check-up when we feel unbearable heat and pain at joints. These are among symptoms before we realize that we're actually affected by dengue. It is notoriously affecting those in the area of peat land, usually the area with palm plantation in tropical climate. Every hour, nurse would bring syringe with needle to get our blood to be tested. Blood and water would be pumped into our vein.

These practices of faith testimonial and asking forgiveness during in sickness is just a preparation. Who knows He might send His noble angel of death to invite us. Some people like those who just blindly follow their sheikh might accuse this and that as bida'ah (innovation). We always do investigation first, never listen to hear says because sheikhs are not the God. We accuse Jew or Christian counterparts as deviating because they are listening to their cohens and priests like listening to the God but what is our difference when we accuse others' practices because we blindly follow our sheikhs? Whatever Allah says in His glorious Word is also reminders for us. Aren't we too the ahlul kitaab? What is the glorious Quran? Isn't it a kitaab (celestial scripture) too?  

Other than that, perhaps I had wronged the brother whom I gave shelter to and I might be under kaffarah (punishment). Feel sorry for him but my elderly roommate can't tolerate others to scout in the room even though he only comes here once in a blue moon. I already had problems with three previous elderly roommates and I don't want any now especially when it is almost close to the new year. I have to ask the brother to leave through another brother from his movement because I don't want to hurt his feeling. Well he might also forgotten that I am not his roommate and he is illegally scouting. I am also housing his stuffs and other two brothers stuffs on the rack and under the desk. I didn't have any intention to blame him nor looking down at his movement but think that he could also take this as a lesson when he deals with others in the future. Orang memberi kita merasa, orang berbudi kita berbahasa. This is a Malay idiom which means politeness and grateful is always our priority. When this problem happens, it also affects my rituals or responsibilities and it is a cause for me to enrage because the time is killing us.

I would say that I am quite particular regarding adab (civilized manner) and prophetic sunnah (tradition) though I don't wear any religious attire for my faith identification. Nobody would sense my religion when I am outside besides a male do not have to wear hijab (veil). I had already tried my best to serve brother no matter what their movement is and we just known each other less than a year. I am not an easy person to be made a friend, but once a friend I would serve others like a soul brother or sister. It's just a habit. Some of these people here had also, could I say deceived me but never mind. I am just an ordinary human-being, they're also human-being. No one is perfect and I understand that. I could only apologize to him on my weaknesses and limitation. Hope that he won't take it seriously. Wish that everyone spiritually enjoy in worshiping Him today and in this blessed month.   

O Lord our God, please forgive us our sins. Forgive our brethren in faith and in soul sins. Send us Your beautiful Mercy o the One who is Merciful over others. Please be in contact with our noble prophet Muhammd s.a.w and his family and his companions, dear Lord. Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!