Showing posts with label masjid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label masjid. Show all posts

Wednesday, 5 September 2012

Bombings of Architectural Structure in Libya

Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah


I have heard about this for so long. It happens everywhere, in Iran, in Pakistan, in Syria and in Libya too. Though I read the treatise by Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab and I actually look like one of them when I am outside, but I am just an ordinary Muslim. How is that I look like them? I wear the trousers with the length of just enough reaching to my ankle or maybe above. My head is bald with some beard. What differentiate me from them is that I am usually in black and it includes my skull cap, hehe. It was not their style but my style since I was a young Muslim kid. I just wear like that again once I get the enlightenment about what should I be. 

Recently, there is a bombing event in a masjid attached with a tomb of a descendant of one of the Hassan, the grandson of prophet Muhammad s.a.w. His name is known as Sharif Abdussalam al-Asmar. The bombing was made legal by the grand mufti of Libya but many of the ulamas of Libya actually are not in agreement with the grand mufti who is influenced by the Saudi Arabia. From what I have heard about the Wahhabi movement, they believe that the act of visiting the tomb is equal to the worship of idol. Perhaps it is true for some ignorant people but as for me I would also chase those who pray to the soul of the dead and asking their assistance and not from Allah the Lord of the lords. I mean we don't have to be a follower of Wahhabi movement or Salafi movement to know this and why they are looking down to other Muslims who are not in accordance with them especially when those who returned from Saudi Arabia began to spread out their treatises and books in their country after studying there or after performing pilgrimage. One thing for sure, the Saudi government itself has banned the distribution of other movements' kitabs and treatise in Saudi Arabia and stopping them from being spread out. If it is not for political purpose, then what else? Only politicians put all lies to other believers to win vote. By hook or by crook. Politicians and the earthly rulers are among the lowest people in the earth when they try to win the influence. 

In the era of prophet Muhammad s.a.w he also visited the grave of his mother in Abwa'. His mother, Aminah was not even blessed with the mercy of Allah to testify witness on her son's prophethood because she passed away earlier. So, by the meaning of witnessing, she is not a "Muslim" by documentation validation. So, when prophet Muhammad s.a.w visiting her grave, did he commit idolatry and pray there??? Is he lower than the followers of Wahhabi movement who just recently getting into influence from 17th century with spilling blood of Muslim brethren wars in Taif and Madina al-Munawwara? Where is the morality and the manner of the Wahhabi movement followers who claim that they are of no jurisprudence school?  They are not speaking the truth. Salafi is the madzhab of imam Ahmad bin Hanbal. The scholar such as Ibnu Taimiyya was the adherence of Hanbali madzhab. And his guidelines at that time was based on the condition of his era. He's not the only Sheikhul Islam at the time while Wahhabi movement influenced people took his opinions like being revealed from Allah to a prophet. 

Last time, when I tried to join the circle in USM Masjid where the Syrian student became the naqib of the circle, I sensed that they are not of religious studies background although they speak in Arabic. When the guy said that after few lessons with them I would be an imam or ustad myself, then I just politely excuse myself and leaving them behind and it surprises them because I don't even care whether they are from Syria, from Lebanon or from whatever holy Arabic speaking country. High religious teachers would never say like that. There lies the boasting attitude in the speech. Just think of what prophet Muhammad s.a.w says when he was in the circle explaining the teaching of Allah to his companions. What would he say? How does his manner looks like? Even when he did not entertaining one of a blind companion eager to learn about revelation, Allah has revealed down the surat 'Abasa to him in order to correct his attitude to the companion. 

Other thing is that, the tomb of prophet Muhammad s.a.w and two of very close companions, Abu Bakr r.a and 'Umar r.a are also in the Prophet Mosque in Medina al-Munawwara. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w as we already know, live in the area of the mosque with the mother of the believers, Aishah r.a. When he passed away, he was buried there and noble companions also had discussed where to bury him under his pulpit and it shows that there is no problem for a tomb to be attached to a mosque. So, is this means these companions were ignorant and their knowledge about religious teaching is lower than of Ibnu Taimiyya or Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab? In Sunan Ibnu Majah no. 1628, it is mentioned that the practice of entombing a person in mosque or mosque area is common as it narrates that the place where a prophet being buried is the place where he breath out his last breath. Aishah r.a, the wife of noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w also prays beside the tomb or the grave of her late husband. She is one of the well-known female scholar of religious studies and hadith narrations. Should the practice of visiting grave and tombs of ancestors is a heresy and idolatry, then Aishah r.a would long asked the tomb of her husband being trampled down like what Wahhabi movement followers did to all of the architectural heritage of Muslim world.       

Besides, the legalization of the destruction of mosques and holy sanctuaries by grand mufti of Libya is not in accordance to the school of Maliki jurisprudence while he is still committed to the opinions of Maliki school's scholars. Unless if he turns to be a Hanbali school followers like the Salafi and the Wahhabi movement followers, then it would be another thing to discuss as there are many scholars of Hanbali schools like the father of Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab who was also a great Hanbali scholar that does not agree with the extremism of his son.   

The conclusion from the treatise written by a Libyan Ulamas spoke person from the Libyan Ulama League mentions that the National Conference and Interim Government of Libya should charge those who raise up the animosity. The court must order them to reconstruct again what they had damaged and getting again what was plundered from the mosque and people. The officials who cooperated with the traitors and breaking the trust of citizens should be dragged into the court of justice. Interim Government of Libya and Libyan National Conference must pressure the government of Saudi Arabia to ban their ulamas from stirring up the internal affairs of others' country. Youngsters who were brainwashed by the Saudi led Wahhabi movement must be continuously schooled again as they plead allegiance to Saudi ulamas more than they plead allegiance to Allah and His prophet, Muhammad s.a.w through the promotion of the recordings and the free distribution of Wahhabi movement books and tapes, attacking the moderate religious tradition in Libya, and lowering the position of the native Libyan ulamas in their fatwa, ijtihad and guidelines. Official complaints must be sent to the Arab League and International Islamic Organization in relation to the act of Saudi Arabia and its citizen who are not respecting the Maliki school of Sunnah jurisprudence in Libya.    

As for what I could see, these people looks more like the ya'ajuj and ma'ajuj who will be followed with the rise of al-Masih Dajjal (the fake Messiah). They love bombs and fire so much. And weird it is why they hate Muslims of other denominations and who are not in accordance with them? I could only see that they are boastful, too much confident that they are free from any scholars' opinions though they actually still bounded to their 'prophet' Ibnu Taimiyya and other scholars' whom opinion is in accordance with their savage attitude. Further information could be checked with the Libyan Ulamas League documents. Recently too, there was a mosque cleric who puts the burned Quran parchments in the bag of a handicapped Christian girl in Pakistan and it was founded that the cleric is the one who did that. What is the purpose for him to do that? Who is behind this? What is the worldly gain for this? Are these kind of people really the believers of Allah and witnessing Muhammad s.a.w the prophet of mercy? Or they are the followers of al-Masih Dajjal in the pretext of Muslims??? It's a matter of polemics...

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad wa sahbihi ajma'in...

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love.

Saturday, 7 July 2012

Qadiri Complex in China : 靈明堂 Ling Ming Tang

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Just few pictures from various websites...


Reporter Ibrahim Ma Weijun for China Muslim Youth Club and Imam Wang Shoutian



The reporter of China Muslim Youth Club and his friends warmly welcomed by the complex committee







Sources :



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


Saturday, 26 November 2011

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!      

Sunday, 13 November 2011

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!

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

What is Adzan? It is Creepy!

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

A person who calls for prayer is called as Muezzin. The first Muezzin was Bilal bin Rabah, a black man from Abyssinia and black were exhibited in democratic European human zoos during colonial time as animal for the Jakuns Europeans.

Peace be upon everyone and blessings of the God be poured on those passing by. I have had heard this issue for long about adzan where some in Europe believe as scary since they do not understand what has been uttered from the minaret. They said, bell at the church tower is not scary as the adzan. Everybody has his own opinion.

Some of my Muslim brothers and sisters also said that listening to church bell or Catholic church organ makes them feel creepy like listening to some ghostly rhythm or being in creepy scenes in vampire movies. People are always afraid of things which they are not familiar with or things which they are not sure about. 

Now I am here to help people especially Muslim ourselves understand what is adzan and at least when 'some' people who do not believe do research, and they are lazy to do interview; they may perhaps checking some information from a practicing Muslim. 

What exactly is adzan??? Adzan  is a special utterance practiced by those who submit themselves to the God as the sign that a prayer service to honor the Lord of the time will happen. It urges the faithful community and people around who hear it to come into the congregation and together performing the prayer service. It is a phenomena for five obligatory prayer service time at every masjid worldwide. It will stop only when the world comes to its end. 

Where Does the Word Islam Comes From?

Before that, why I don't use the word Muslim instead I am using people who submit themselves to the God? Because people only take the word as it is. They have no effort to understand what exactly the origin of the derivative nor eliminating ignorance.

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What??! Islam means peace?!!!! WTF are you talking about?! If Islam means peace, why "you" slaughter this and that and s**t and **** bla... bla... bla...

I know all of these s***s will come out of certain red necks and those who suck them up in Asia. Make sure to brush teeth after meals and balun beer ya, hehehe. I am familiar with those kind of barks and do I care? Na'ah... LOL... 

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People have their right to say anything they want. Those filthy words we could see everywhere in comments of many sites. We talk about religion, path of life, and matters which cleanse our souls but in the same time we throw out filthy words, thinking that we are holy amongst others, and we had forgotten to purify ourselves of evil thoughts no matter in what condition we are... ironically : ) This applies to all human-being... No matter whether a person calling himself or herself Muslim, Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Sikh, Jain, Taoist, and what else the name that people identify themselves as adherents in the world?

Arabic, Aramaic and Hebrew are all sister languages. They are of Semitic origin, the children of Shem bin Noah. The origin of the word Islam was actually spelled as Sleem. We have Sarf for phonology of words linked to Nahw or grammar in Arabic but too bad English, French, Italian, German and other European languages has no well built phonology subject. Ancient and well-developed languages like Arabic and Sanskrit has well-built grammatical systems. Most of Arabic speaker students fail this subject. However, we in South East Asia had preserved this lessons and most of South East Asian religious studies students no matter whether they are of Arab descents or natives memorized the lessons and practicing them in speeches. 

This word "sleem" which forms the word Islam and later Muslim to signify a person who embraced Islam or choosing Islam as their path to reach the God. Islam is actually derived from the Name of the God. The God possesses Most Glorious and Holiest Name. It is mentioned in the glorious Quran. I still remember when I was a young child maybe around seven to nine years old, we always recite His Holiest Names before we begin lessons and I was first introduced at home with Arabic alphabets and not Roman alphabets so when I entered National School I also had problems to spell and write, so do my younger sisters. We recited : "He is the God, there is no gods but only Him the Most Compassionate, the Most Loving-Kind, the King of the universe, the Most Holy, the One Who grants Peace, the One Who keeps promises.... and so on..."

We are also encouraged to pray for each other as a greeting with assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu which means may be peace descends upon you and with His boundless Compassion, and His boundless Blessings. 

The word related to Peace is actually derived from one of the Name of the God. It is not a human name and languages came from Him. We are different from Jews or Christians in this sense where we do not identify ourselves with Muhammad or his tribal identification as what had been written by Western writers. That is why we do not greet people in certain dirty places like in toilet or lavatory and in certain circumstances. The Jews also have this rule because I indeed have some Jew acquaintances. Those Orthodox Jews always greet others with shlom'aleichem and some Syriac Christians who speak Aramaic also greet other with shlumlakhum. All have the same meaning with assalaamu'alaikum which I also use to begin my posts.

Again we emphasize to everyone. The God of all the human, creatures and universe is none other than Him. Human build up concepts to view Him and human have their own religious history regarding dogma and creed. People could be childish all they want but soon... They will realize the reality of life where all of human-being possess negative qualities and not angels. That's why human have religions and why human need the teaching of morality : )   

Background of Adzan

Usually a Muezzin will call for the prayer services from high places, it could be on hills, minaret of the masjids, or any high places. Nowadays we have technology like microphone and if we do not accept technology, won't we be called as backward and could not get along with modernization?

Idiomatically adzan means the herald. It is synonymous to the exclamation. Adzan is a combination of certain words signifying that it is now the time for obligatory prayer services or the herald that it is now the time for an obligatory prayer service. A person will take charge to herald this and that is what we hear from the minaret of masjids or from the microphone in masjids across the world. 

Its Position within the Law 

Its position within the law and tradition is encouraged while we are about to perform obligatory prayer services. I don't know how to translate this concept of sunna muakkada. Our translation and interpretation lecturers never taught us on the language of shariah. We only learned about Nida and Bible translations and later about editing of newspapers and stuffs. Now it is on my initiative and brothers and sisters to make lists of shariah terms and concepts because we have large corpus of shariah terms in Malay but we never do translation and adaptation to other languages. It leaves people in ambiguity and I am not actually supporting the usage of other ritual languages rather than Arabic because Arabic is better but people need to understand or else there would be of no use to embrace something that we do not understand.   

Then, it is obligatory for a person in a community or a group to take charge to call for congregational prayer services when obligatory time to honor the God is coming. We call this as fardu kifayya and I had explained the meaning more or less. If only a person in an area and there is no people for congregation, then it is considered as an observation of prophetic tradition. There are merits for observation of prophetic traditions but no sins if they are not observed. If there are a Muslim community, then one of the community must take charge to call for obligatory prayer services. Women are only encouraged to perform other form of adzan which is called as iqamah only among them as to prevent them from being slandered if they raise up their voice. 


Evidence in the Quran and Sunnah

The Quran, the Sunnah, and the agreement of ulamas stated that adzan has many benefits and its merit is great. The evidence from the Quran surah al-Maidah verse 58 mentioned about the exclamation...

Says the God : "When you are exclaiming to (perform) prayer services, they take it as mockery and something to make fun of; that is because they are the people who possess no mind (to think)."

Evidence from prophetic traditions covering many hadiths. Among them is from the narration of Bukhari and Muslim which sounds : "When the time of prayer services is there, one of you must perform the adzan and the elder among you must be the leader of the prayer service." This is one of the reasons I feel not comfortable to be imam in prayer services in my hostel because there are many elders in our hostel musalla. Unless if it is very very crucial, then I would not question anything.

How Adzan Began to be Practiced?

Adzan was practiced by Muslims in the first period of Hegira. In a hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim from the report of Ibnu Umar r.a : "In the beginning of Meccan Muslim migration to Medina, they had assembled and waiting for the time to perform daily prayer services. At that time, there was no adzan yet. One day, the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w had called all of his companions into a meeting on how to herald the coming of prayer service time and how to call people to the masjid for prayer services. There were few suggestions regarding the herald about the time. Some had suggested that they should show up flag to denote the prayer services time so people who see it will come to the masjid and pray together. Some had suggested the sofar (whistle) being used to call people. Some had suggested bell as a mean to denote the time and to call for congregation. 

However, Umar al-Khattab had suggested that it should be more appropriate and natural with just the announcement through human voice and just saying 'it is now the time for prayer service.' Muhammad s.a.w accepted the suggestion of Umar al-Khattab but he changed the wordings with 'let us perform prayer (charity).'

One night a companion whose name Abdullah bin Zayd had dreamed about more better way to announce the prayer time with the beginning of the word are God is the Greatest and so on... The morning after that, Abdullah bin Zayd went to see prophet Muhammad s.a.w and talked with the meeting. Prophet Muhammmad s.a.w said that his dream is a true dream. The prophet Muhammad s.a.w ordered another companion, Bilal bin Rabah to proclaim the herald. After listening to wordings of the adzan, Umar al-Khattab then came to the meeting and said that he dreamed the same thing and his dream was the same dream as Abdullah bin Zayd."

Al-Bazzar narrated from a report that : "The messenger of the God s.a.w during the night of Isra' had been shown and listened to the adzan at the seventh heaven. Then the archangel Gabriel a.s came to him and he became the imam for the members of heavens. Among those members of heavens are Adam a.s and Noah a.s. The God had completed the noble value of him on the inhabitants of heaven and earth."   

What Is Uttered in the Adzan?

Straight to the point without Arabic parallel texts because it might make monolingual people dizzy. People in Middle East are actually bilingual people and I believe around the world there are many bilingual or trilingual people. Usually Christians in Middle East could also speak Arabic, Syriac, and Greek and they use all three languages in parallel in their prayers. 

For us Muslims in South East Asia, some of us would do supplications in native languages and only obligatory rituals in Arabic. Like one of a Malay brother in musalla had also recited supplications after obligatory prayer services in Malay, and it is not wrong. People who could not understand Arabic also understood what he said. Adzan in Arabic that everyone listens from minarets of masjids means....

The God is the Great.... 
The God is the Great...
I bear witness that there is no gods but only the God... 
I bear witness that there is no gods but only the God...
I bear witness that Muhammad s.a.w is the messenger of the God... 
I bear witness that Muhammad s.a.w is the messenger of the God... 
Let us perform prayer...
Let us perform prayer...
Let us all achieve success (in the world and hereafter)...
Let us all achieve success (in the world and hereafter)...
The God is the Great...
There is no gods but only the God...

Shi'a Muslim brothers might have a slightly different adzan but just one addition regarding Ali k.w. Nothing really different. So, when we understood things we won't be paranoid right? Or some people love to scare others away with something which does not really happen? Its like a creation of negative perception for example don't go to the forest lest you will see a monster, a demon, a ghost, and etc negative by some village folk parents to scare away their children from going to certain area since they are lazy to answer questions that will be posed to them by their children after they know what happen in the forest while the parents are lazy or just perhaps became chickens since they are also influenced by their imagination, hahahaha.

Then we have supplications after the adzan which means in English.......................

Dear the God our Lord, please be in contact with our prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family as You had been in contact with our father, Abraham a.s and his family. Dear the God our Lord, please bless our prophet Muhammad s.a.w as You had blessed our father Abraham a.s. and his family.

Dear the God Who Dominates the perfect exclamation and the prayer service which is being performed. 
Please make the prophet Muhammad s.a.w (for me) as a rope which connects me to You and a priority for me. 
And raise prophet Muhammad s.a.w with the appraised position as what You had promised for him.  

(Supplication from the report of Bukhari)

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

Friday, 19 August 2011

Islam: Key to Perfection

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Just listened to a short tadzkirah (reminder), as always delivered by brother Syeikh Abu Khalid from Medina University after Taraweekh and Witr prayer services. I had slightly changed the topic, it should be Islam is the key to paradise. I know few people do not really care about paradise but that is the promise of Allah. I don't think it is wrong as it is the sign of Allah's mercy, but people have different understanding regarding the reward and meritorious deed because it is also related to pure sincerity in worship according to their understanding.

It says that whomever choosing paths other than Islam, then they will be losers in this world and hereafter. Islam is His greatest grace to human and other creatures in the universe. In millions of human-being, Allah had chosen our soul to be Muslims. There are also millions of people who are not Muslims as they do not know about Islam or do not accept it due to misunderstanding. Islam is the path of our forefathers. I still remember I read in glorious Quran last few nights before sleeping. It says that our beloved patriarch, Abraham may peace be showered upon his soul had said his will to his children Ismael and Isaac, peace be upon them both.  It also applies to Jacob whom is also known with his other name, Israel.

Says Allah in glorious Quran reckoning our patriach's will to his sons: "And Abraham had his will to his sons, and also to Jacob. (Abraham said): "Dear sons! Indeed the God had chosen for you this path, thus do not you die except as muslims." (surah al-Baqarah: 132)

Allah also orders us to be in submittance in the path in which He says: "Dear faithfuls! Fear the God in the real sense, and do not you die except as muslims." (surah aali-Imran: 102)

In this sense, brother syeikh, said that it is not enough by physically being a Muslim. We look like a Muslim in front of others with Muslim name like Abdul Malik, Abdul Kareem, Muhammad, Othman, and others. But we do not follow the code of law taught by Allah in His glorious teachings. Many Muslims do not follow Quran and Sunnah (prophetic line traditions). It is not enough with Islamic names. We must make sure that we spiritually and physically practise Islam in our way to the abode of peace. 

There are two conditions for the perfection in submission to Him:

1. Niyyah which implies that we have to be sincere in our act of worship and life. It begins with sincere intention for Allah. We perform everything only for Allah and hoping to see Him.

2. Mutabi'ah which signifies that we follow the prophetic line tradition. This is what Muslims always talk about when performing act of worship including our daily life. We must make sure that we have evidence for everything that we perform. Do not do something out of prophetic tradition line in our daily life. We may consult evidences from tradition experts or ulamas (religiously knowledgeable persons) to confirm everything. 

We ask the God: "please forgive us our sins and errors. Make us firm in our path and give us strength to perform the covenant. Salvate us from the torment in hell and also salvate our parents and brethren through the God's mercy." Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love, amin!!! 

Sunday, 14 August 2011

Mosque View: Masjid Putrajaya at Night

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Site view

Front gate

Stairs down to ground level which consists of imam's compartments, office, library, classes and ablution area

 Prayer hall

Wall decorations

Under the Masjid

Souq or bazaar, already closed in operation in the day

Fountain and painting stalls in front of the stair to restaurants

It looks like this when we go down the restaurants. This site is the site of mamak restaurant. Another site has Nando's chicken, Chicken Rice, and others which I could not remember though being here many times

Hope you don't feel bored and take good care of your health. I love you dad. Next time I will travel along with you if God permits it. God bless : )

No matter how beautiful a mosque is, if it is closed and out of activities, it is nothing to be proud of. Just reminding everyone, it's not trying to defame particular person na'udzubillahu min dzaalik but there is a muadzin which is a mosque staff originated from a state in Eastern coast who has some attitude problem. He would scare people away from the mosque if he continues like that. 

If anyone being insinuated or stared at by this particular guy when you are at mosque's feast, just ignore him. I don't like this kind of person insulting His sacred House scaring people away with their closed mentality and sick attitude. He had once shouted and chased a father with a little child out of the mosque during Ramadan Taraweekh service few years back then because of the child was crying in the prayer hall. His deed had put the father into great humiliation in front of other congregation. Poor father and child. The father had just said back to the inconsiderate muadzin: "I will never come to the mosque anymore!" It already turns out to be a sin. May Allah forgives everyone and guide us to righteous attitude. Other mosques' officers are nice and friendly.  

Allah please be in connection with our noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family and his companions. Allah please enlight us our view with the light of Your scripture, make wide our heart, purify us our body, make easy our articulation, strengthen our honor, quicken our understanding, since there is no One who has the Strength except You dear Lord. Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!

Thursday, 11 August 2011

Introducing Islam to Others

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

What we have tonight for a short tadzkirah (reminders) session after Taraweekh sunnah service? Let us check up our Quran translation and exegesis for a moment. Open up surah al-An'am in our glorious Quran as these two verses are from the same surah...

So whoever by the God's wills to guide, He opens his chest to Islam and whoever He wills to send astray, He makes his chest closed and constricted as he is climbing up to the sky. That is how the God puts His wrath on those who have no faith 125

Among crucial part in the law of life is the faith to Him and His messengers. Our task is to introduce the Path to others, but the guidance is not in our hands. It is His will as it is only through His decree that anyone who listens the verses would silently having a deep thought. 

Those who have no faith are actually in His wrath without they realize it. These people receive not His mercy... how sorry they are... That is why, it would be hard for them to understand nor having a deep thought on His words over simple matters. No matter how hard we try to talk about His Existence, His Greatness, or His Grace, those who have no faith would never come to believe as it is difficult for them just like they are climbing up to the sky. The obstacles such as egoism or attachment to worldly matters (idolatries) that prohibits them from coming close though it is just a simple thing : )

Another notion for this simply is that, guidance is His right. It is not our right although we are obliged to orally or verbally introduce His noble Path to our friends and brothers in humanity through wisdom and proposed manner.

And this Path of your Lord the straight one. Indeed We had explained our verses (proves) for those who take heed (reciting the verses) 126

This verse further explains that our task is to bring together people who take heed and already recited with deep thought the verses of glorious Quran and benefit from it with practices of noble life. People who recite and practice His teachings will be granted the abode of peace.

What is abode of peace dear brethren? It is the jannah (paradise) promised by the Lord of Mercy. It is granted to His servants because of the noble conduct, good deeds, charity, chastity and great faith toward the God the Most Highest. - Brother Syeikh Abu Khalid, Medina al-Munawwarah; 12 Ramadan 1432 H; USM Mosque, Penang Island 

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for brethren in faith and humanity, amin!

Friday, 5 August 2011

Every Soul Will Taste Death

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Alhamdulillah, we had safely finished our prayer services. More importantly I could pray together with congregation for Isya' because I had few times left behind due to that I live far from Islamic center. I hope to move inside since I wanted to join Islamic center activities and still thinking on how to deal with bureaucracy. Hope Allah helps me :'(

We also listened to the advice and preach given by the imam of Taraweekh prayer service. It is concerning death. The verse in surah Aal 'Imraan 185:  

Every soul will taste death. And indeed your merit will be completed in the Day of Resurrection. For those who are prevented from the Hell and they will be placed in the Paradise, they are fortunate. And this worldly life is nothing but merely a deceiving pleasure.

Everyone will face death. It is a fact. Muslim, non-Muslim, animals, affluents, paupers, and everyone will have to face this test. We do not know when and where we are going to die. We have to be ready and well-prepared to face the death. 

We will harvest and reap our charity and good deeds in the hereafter. It is during the Day of Resurrection when we will be judged by the God on what we had done in the world. 

This world is nothing but merely a deceiving pleasure. Indeed... I could see this since when I was a kid. Even when some people talking about this to us, they don't actually have inner feeling about this because they still are clinging to worldly pleasure. A brother from the so-called JT had just tyrannized me but I don't know what to say. I respect this movement and its founder. 

That's why I had provided shelter to him but it seems like some of them love to twist their words and using their movement name to deceive others. He said that he would be here for a while and I ask him no more as a matter of courtesy and politeness. Many people condemning Arabs as uncivilized race that makes a prophet being sent to these people but I guess after observing, we Arab descents are actually more polite and considerate about everything that happens around. 

I had also encountered problem with my current roommate because of this guy. Maybe I am a naive person and that makes me always a loner because I really need to be careful with my surrounding. 

Sometimes, I'm losing my faith toward Islamic brotherhood (not in Allah because I always believe in Him as my Protector and trustworthy Friend who never betrays me) because so many people who seems like following the teaching are inconsiderate, not compassionate and never think about other soul. I know it is not the teaching to be blamed but I guess their spirituality perhaps do not reach the level like what they externally displayed. 

Next time I would have to be really discreet, never easily entertain people around who come by to talk and I don't care if people wanted to condemn me for not strengthening the ukhuwah (brotherhood) because I am not friendly. We should not judge the book by its cover due to that sometimes people that we look as evil or bad are actually the most generous, polite, considerate and kindhearted person compared to ourselves.

I'm sorry for the rant and royanan (depression) after the preach sharing. I just don't know to whom should I talk about this except to the God. Just consider this as a complaint of a lowly servant to his beloved Master. Maybe this is a test from Allah to me in this blessed month and I have to bear with it. May He grants me strength to overcome this and I could finish my thesis writing according to time. Wish everyone happiness and peace. 

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

First Friday in Ramadan 2011

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

 Pic source from rohzikir.wordpress. Faith and fear against polytheism and ungratefulness in the whole angles.

I had overslept after Fajr prayer. It is not a good habit but I think it is the effect of toxic in our mass or perhaps the lack of sugar level when we begin to fast again after a long time resting from fast, hehe. 

I shouldn't listen to one of my acquaintance who prevents me from fasting in alternate days last time. It was actually our habit to fast according to sunnah tradition and usually I would try to avoid from being detected by people with prescribed manners.

I woke up just before 13:00 and managed to clean up for the congregational prayer. I had a short dream and felt like someone singing a qaseedah praising Muhammad s.a.w at my ears that made me realize this is Friday and spontaneously woke up, lol. Maybe it is from my past experience listening to those stuffs and it replays again in my ears, haha.

So, I just walked to the mosque like always. Not really hot today although I began to sweat while approaching the mosque. It's calorie burning, haha. The sermon today is still about fasting month which is Ramadan. It talks about fear or taqwa to the God and obedience in performing the fast.  

Let us just share among us the verses from Quran regarding fear...

O, those who believe it was written for you the fast as what had been written on those who came before you may you have fear to (the God) (al-Baqarah 183)

O, human-being indeed We created you as male and female and making you of different ethnicity and tribes for you to know each other. Indeed We honor you according to your level of fear to the God. Indeed the God is the Most Highest the Most Discreet (al-Hujurat 13)

And then regarding charity...

Indeed those believers who are faithful to the God and His messenger, then they have no doubt and they put efforts with their properties and their selves on the Path of the God. They are all the people whom adhere to Truth (al-Hujurat 15)

Before the week to come for Ramadan to begin I had also heard Friday sermon in our mosque, about two days after I came back from individual Bangkok trip. The preacher had suggested for us to do things like these in Ramadan:

1. Reciting Quran with manner and trying to deeply think or ponder on the message of the God for us to obey.
2. Being generous in Ramadan although it is also good to be generous all over the year. In the same time avoiding showing off and wasting.
3. Learning Arabic to understand the message of glorious Quran and strengthening brotherhood bond through the language.
4. Increasing our knowledge about the pillars of fasting, the manner to fast and related to it.
5. Qiyaamullail or night vigil whether individually at home or in the mosque with congregation in service. In our mosque we just perform about 11 units of Taraweekh prayer including Witr. If we wish to do it until 20th units, we could individually perform it at our room or home.  

Wish that it is a beneficial sharing for everyone especially myself. May we recite salawat always for prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family and his companions. May Allah bless our faithful ancestors and parents. Sealed with prayers for peace, love, and mercy, amin!

Tuesday, 2 August 2011

Recap: Taking BTS to Bangrak District

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

I wanted to have dinner at night but I cannot continue drinking tea in Chinese restaurants or Thai stalls at Silom road. It is not because I am a racist but I am trying to obey religious commandment, hehehe. So, I end up walking a little bit to Chong Nonsi BTS station. 

The reception lady earlier told me that they would lock their entrance door around 21:30. And I checked the time and it still early around 19:45 after I had performed jama' prayer of Maghrib and 'Isya services in my room. 

I could still unlock the door by swiping the card tied together with the keys if I come back late. We need to always be careful. Even in Kuala Lumpur, we can not just walk alone late at night. Better be careful than sorry. Recite some supplications invoking Allah's protection and tawakkal (dependence) on Him, then off we go.....  


From Chong Nonsi BTS Station, the road is heading to Bangrak district. I can not recall the road name nor I jot it down in my notes.


Cars coming from Surawong road.....


This is how the BTS station looks like... They say "Bee Tee Ehtt" in their slang the same like Northern Malaysian style when saying something ended with the letter "s". Just like in KL people are using public transportation too but it still jammed with cars down there, haha.


To go to Bangrak district, we need to wait at National Stadium side. I had wrongly wait at the other side and I asked the station guard there few times to conform with my ugly broken Thai, ahaha. The guard was quite polite as he thought I am from rural Thailand... Kita cakap bahasa Siam kampung saja, lol.


This is the area of Ban Ou Mosque in Bangrak district. I snapped the picture while rain was pouring down. The mosque is just after the market at the right side. In front of the mosque are random houses, also Chinese community houses could be seen there.

When I arrived at the BTS station near Bangrak district, I saw a Muslim girl wearing hijab there. I tried to greet her and asking her the direction to Ban Ou Mosque. The map and explanation which I jot down in my notes look like confusing. I could see a Chinese temple at the alley but I didn't know that deep down the alley is a mosque. 

The girl is quite helpful and she told me the direction to the mosque. I just cannot continue speaking in Thai with the girl because it would end up like a kutu (thug) talking to a girl and she is quite polite. I speak Thai in its rough form, hehehe. I guess not only her but most people there talking in polite manner and I do not know where exactly the specific place to use that frustrating "khraap". It seems like in every sentence we say, we must say khraap or kaah for female and I found that it is so not natural. Besides, their tone of accent is quite different and weird too.


There is also a shopping center like Macy at the left side of the motorcycles from front view....

I could hear the bang or adhan which is the calling of prayer for 'Isha' when I reached the mosque. I had already performed the jama' but I just joined the congregation again. Feeling so relieved to find our community there although we are of different countries. There were few Tabligh guys in the mosque and I guess they are not local but might be from Bangladesh based from their appearance. After the prayer, I approached the janitor of the mosque and telling him that I am not a local. I come to find some halal food and seeking the assistance of community to show me the place. 


Khao Mok Kai. It is served with Nam Tom Kai, the Chicken Stock Soup and some sweet chillies dipping which I have no idea on what they call that thing.

Then he walked with me to the food court just close to the market and ordering me a plate of khao mok kai which is a kind of rice with chicken hidden inside the rice. It seems a bit like Biryani but made by Thai Muslim. Then I had a conversation with the stall owner in broken Thai. He seems like trying to invite me to his house in Yaowa but I just politely turned his invitation down because I had already have a room in Silom and I feel it would be a burden for him.

However, I had to return to the mosque and luckily they did not lock the gate. I had forgotten my notes in the prayer hall. It is very important for me because I jot down everything in the notes and I also have some guides in the notes. I returned before 21:30 anyway and managed to buy some mineral water from 7E. Their 7E have no gardenia bread and only serves noodle and rice just like in Japan they serve sushi, udon, and those stuffs.  

Interestingly that I noticed most of the people there love to eat varieties of salad but rarely eat rice at night. They just take side dishes and not rice. They also have foot massages everywhere for 25 bhat (RM 2.48) per hour. I did not try it anyway. Hope that I could try it out in the next visit, hehe.


to be continued...
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