Body and Mind Type

Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I am extremely happy that I waited so early in the mosque. I managed to recite surah al-Haqqah several times and pondering about the facts of the universe. 

Nothing so interesting in Friday sermon today. The preacher only talked about the socio-economical issues such as the role of Federal Territories Islamic Council in  managing endowments, tithe and their achievements in accumulating piles of treasures. However, I would like brothers and sisters to know. I do not believe in their management system. I feel that it is safer for me to manage my property with my own capacity. I wanted to see my donations, tithe and endowment reaching the right places! I had seen how the people in the religious authority behave. This is not an over-generalization because I had came across with them for so many times. I was educated within the religious circle itself. I strongly believe in the practices prescribed in the articles of the path and the articles of faith highlighted in the Hadith al-Qudsi through the question-answers between Muhammad s.a.w and archangel Gabriel a.s. But I cannot accept the people in the authority! I turned to Buddhism-Brahmanism customs last time not because I have problem with Islamic teachings. 

In fact, I always love the God the Highest, Islamic teachings, prophet Muhammad s.a.w, his trustworthy companions, all the noble prophets sent by the God to nations throughout the history as they are the brothers of our noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and the Ahl Bayt as they form parts of my "self" identity. I have problem with people who call themselves as "Muslims" even until today! I believe in the Justice of the God the Highest and so many people disrespect His Justice to His creatures and the universe!

Mind and Body Type 

I had made some checking on my body and mind type as according to ancient Indian system of sciences. Even I chose Islam as my permanent faith in contrast to those who chose Islam as the faith because their parents are Muslims but I have a strong respect to ancient Indian knowledge and philosophy. It represents the traditions of my paternal grandmothers' heritage since they were from Indian sub-continent. I am grateful to the God the Highest since He directs me to the Path of Islam but I am proud to share some crossed heritage with ancient Indians. I even studied Sanskrit and Pali along with Arabic as our ancestral language though I speak mostly in English, Malay and Chinese.

Some questions that I answered could give me some ideas about my self. I am aware that I have to know about my self before I could eliminate other obstacles in my path. I made notes too about myself. Even I tried to get feedback from friends around about my personality because I was afraid that I hurt their feeling when I deal with them.

Frame

I am thin, lanky and slender with prominent joints and thin muscles.    

Weight

I have low weight. Yeah, this is especially true since I could fly when heavy wind flows me. I guess I am now perhaps 47 kg (103.6 pounds). I always fast since I was five years old and I avoid meat including fish and beef. I took only chicken in small pinches. I prefer to take fresh green vegetables. Nowadays I have to turn everything as pickles as to save the money for other services. I may forget to eat or have a tendency to lose weight. Next week I would have to fast again because I am afraid that the Quran would leave me behind if I exceed the limit and the food nowadays are not so clean as compared to last time. We can find halal foods but not all of those halal foods are "clean". By taking greens in limitation, I could reduce the risk of the meat which came from animals that had been brutalized before being slaughtered or caught with diseases because of antibiotics injection to the chickens. Fishes in the sea are facing extinctions too because of human greed. If others do not care about other creatures, then I do not want to be among them!

Eyes

I have small eyes and active. I wear spectacles and I guess the power of my spectacles' focus is increasing to 1000 +. I love to read and still love to read.    

Skin

My skin is rough, dry and thin. I have olive yellowish skin. I am not white as compared to Northern Arabs or those with the ancestors from Northern Egypt, Syria, Northern Iraq or Lebanon. My old neighbors were North Arab descents, their skin is mostly pale and fair like Middle Eastern Jewish. I think we are yellowish because we have some genetic crossing with Mongoloids. Sometimes people would mistaken me to a Nepali or a Central Asian. Most of Chinese nationals in my university thought that I was from Western China provinces namely Xinjiang (Turkistan) or from the border of China-Pakistan-India. I tried to explain to them and even to Malay compatriots that I am an Arab descent with North-Western Indian grandmothers but we are not recognized with our identity instead being lumped into "Malay" nationality and we are not united because we were too tiny. The same thing which happened to ancient Jewish people in China who were lumped into "Muslim" identity.

Hair

My hair is dry, brittle and frizzy. I think I do not have much hair.

Joints

My joints are thin, prominent and have a tendency to crack.  

Sleep Pattern

I am moderately sound sleeper, usually needing less than eight hours to feel rested. 

Body Temperature

My hands and feet are usually cold. I prefer warm environments. 

Temperament

I am lively and enthusiastic by nature. I like to change. 

Under Stress

I become withdrawn and reclusive. I guess in most of the time. An example for this is when I served only for a week in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) like six months ago before I have to quit. The problems and troubles came at once jumping on my head. 

Firstly, my sisters think that I am a male and I should be responsible for my father who is bedridden or moving with my own feet because they think that only they faced difficulties in their life while I live like a "king" since I am a male. This is fine, but I cannot do that alone. I am the only son in my house with five female siblings. I have no close companions and I hardly make friends with people because I am a loyal type of person. The burden dealing with them is like I am a stranger man who live among the women. I cannot talk or discuss anything with them. They would not listen to me but they only think about their feelings and care only about their life. One of my younger sister accused me that I am a spoiled brat where my mother never ask me to do anything while in fact is that she did not live with me all the time although we are a family. We have different events in our life and we do not know about each others life for real. We seldom communicate because of gender differences and it also lead to the differences of opinions, beliefs and worldviews. They are very judgmental. I could see that in our society here, people tend to believe that all brothers (sons) in a sibling would be a commander and bullying their family based from the news headlines like "a son stabbed a father or kicking a mother for not listening to his material demands" while in fact now I am the one who is bullied and still is bullied because I consider their feelings, giving a high value for their life and respecting all genders or souls. I am a minority at home. After my father is bedridden, I am even more vulnerable! Not everyone is the same! Stop over-generalization!

My sisters do not even know that I went for Buddhist temple and seeking refuge from Buddhist community (Samgha) because of their attitude and I ended up a layman Buddhist boy for five years before being forced by my mother to go for pilgrimage in Holy Mecca and I have to decide my faith myself without any support from Muslim community! 

Secondly, I had no transportation, no support from my own father and my parents are from unsettled families themselves. They would deny it but I am aware about that since I observe the psychological phenomenon. I do not just lay idle but I keep thinking and study. I was not settled yet with my job settlement in the UNHCR and my mother asked me to take emergency leaves just because she wanted to see me walking on the stage taking an empty file for my postgraduate ceremony in Penang. I had to deal with hundreds of refugees file and asylum seekers and in the same time; I had to attend trainings and examinations related to war-field. They gave the time-frame that I should finish everything only in a week! All of these happened in the same time. So, I quit as not to affect other team members in my office and I am holding to working ethics.

Right now, I have to apply again for a secured job and again I have to plan and plan before executing the plans. It is not easy to secure a job nowadays and family members could really be mean to us. Although many people would believe that a family could be supportive to each others, but they could also be mean! The plan would be in other sections. I am sharing this with brothers and sisters out there who also face family conflicts and who are unfortunate. I have no one to speak or to share about anything so I also believe that you are in the same situation with me. Better stay away from your family members if you have problems but try to find other sources to protect yourself from destruction. Just talk with the God the Highest. Nobody gives a shit to our problem if they are occupied with they are full with their ego! We have to deal everything with our own capacity and seeking help from Him!

Score

So, I scored mostly in Vata or Wind element. I have got eight Vata, one Pitta (Fire) and one Kapha (Earth and Water).   

General Characteristics

Mind:               Creative, quick and imaginative

Body:               Thin and light frame 
Skin:                 Dry
Hair:                 Dry
Appetite:          Delicate, spontaneous, often miss meals
Routine:           Spontaneous, variable
Temperament: Welcomes new experiences, friendly, excitable, energetic.
Shopping style: Buy... Buy... Buy... 
Conversation style: Loves to talk.
Stress Response: Questioning myself what did I do wrong? Tendency to blame myself. 

In the part of loves to talk, I did love to talk but I learned that I have to keep everything filtered when I am talking with different levels of people. So, I appear to be a quit person in the public. I asked some Tabligh brothers to come and tell me about their movements in personal because people are of different level of understanding, reception and so on. Because of these, we have hierarchy and social ranks in a society. Society is a very complex creature! It is not like we are studying the machine. The machine would follow what human programs it but human-being and society is a part of the larger universe! I respect all movements but I have my own reasons to avoid religious movements. If I see that it is destructive for unity then I prefer to be known only as a layman Muslim without any title rather than known to public with movements' tag. 

Vata Type

Wind or Vata is a principle of movement and change. People who are naturally dominated by wind element tend to be thin, light and quick in their actions and thought. Change is a constant part of life. When the wind-dominated person is balanced, they are creative, lively and enthusiastic. When imbalanced, they would face insomnia, develop anxiety, dry skin and having irregular digestion. 

I have got to check this in detail too. Would return after the 'Asr prayer service. Need to get ready with purification.

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

Quran Studies

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Quranic Studies

Science of Quran
Definition of Science

History of Quranic Text

Favor of Reciting Quran
Closer to Quran
Imam Musa al-Kadhim r.a on Quran

Quran Memorization

Memorize Quran
Memorize Quran: Du'as

Juz 'Amma
Tilawah

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

Thesis AGain

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

Last week I received emails from my course coordinator and also from the school's clerk. They said that my term is not ended yet. My colleagues which is Aida and Prema both also called me. They thought that I am still in progress to repair my thesis but the reality is that I am not repairing anything. I just went to mosques and praying besides reciting the Quran and litanies to purify myself yet I still feel not purified because I think that I am still selfish. Sometimes I had forgotten to take note on my parents feeling. It is a violation of commandments. 

Just about a week ago, those colleagues called me. And now I am almost finishing my thesis which is around 30,000 > words and about 87 pages, haha... I did not sleep days and nights to cope with the running time because this Monday is the due date which would determine whether I will be graduated as a master student of International and Diplomatic Studies (European). What is the title of my thesis? The title is "The Recognition of Religious Minority Rights in Europe: Muslim and UK as a Case Study". This is not really an easy study, but praises only due to the God the Highest. I am thankful to brother Abdullah al-Andalusi. His debates in the Muslim Debate Initiative series really helped me and because of that I could combine my readings about Islamic civilizations. The study also talks about the Sharia law and political angle of Islam besides analyzing the flaws of Western political philosophies such as liberalism and inequity in human rights as people hypocrisy could also be confusing.  

Right now, I am writing the last chapter which is the conclusion for the thesis. Tomorrow I would print it out and just return to USM, with His Will of course. Please brothers and sisters help me to pray for my success in the study. I love legal, policies and political studies though before I frowned at them. I am countering my fear factors now, haha... Thank you for prayers. My prayers is also for brothers and sisters.

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

History Lesson 1 : Discovering the Past

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Introduction

Some people might found that history is a boring stuff and it is a good tool to make those who experience insomnia to sleep earlier. Some people love history and some even incorporate it as apart of their so-called conspiracy theories and later being disillusioned because their basis of understanding and knowledge is only half of it. 

So, what is history dear beloved brothers and sisters? In it's broadest sense, it is the story of people. It is the study of our past. Some parts of this side also talking about history and recording some part of history. In religious studies branches of study, we also have seerah or taarikh which deals with our chronicles and the history of our noble prophets.

Some historians might be looking at important events such as wars, revolutions and governments while others are interested in ordinary people's lives. Henry Ford, who is an American car manufacturer said that history is bunk. Most people would also disagree with him. 

Our lives today are shaped by decisions and actions made decades, centuries or even thousands of years ago. Through the understanding of the past, we may even get a more balanced view of the present.  

Goals of History

Basic aims of history are to record and explain our past. Whatever happens to me or to brothers and sisters who happened to pass by here is history. Historians study a wide range of oral and written evidence. Some are combined with archeology where later they may interpret the facts or data to build up a picture of the past. 

Beginning of the Study

The first people according to Westerners who study history seriously were the ancient Greeks. Around 5th BC, Herodotus set out to write a true and systematic record of the wars between the Greeks and Persians. He hoped to preserve the memory of past events and show how two peoples came into conflict with one another. 

The scientific study of archeology only began in the 18th century. Archeologists today investigate even the tiniest fragments left behind by ancient people to create a more complete picture of the past.

Closing

History is not just concerned with the distant past. It is the story of our lives. What is new today will be turning to be history tomorrow. Change can be sudden or dramatic, and long held ideas will be overturned tomorrow.

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

Translation of Chinese Verb into Malay

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I had been googling here and there and I found other thing which is not related to current studies but the previous studies. The journal was written by my first degree lecturer which was Mr. Goh. Well, first of all I would like to thank him for giving me and my group of presentation during the second year an A and we appreciate it so much. 

Many students said Mr. Goh is a garang (fierce) lecturer but I think that it is silly to assume that because we were first degree students and degree students around 20-23 years old were kids but not all of those kids are "kids" in thinking and mind. And I had not telling the truth that I am interested in translating and interpreting field when I was scolded by Dr. Lee and Tuk Din Uban for not attending the model's seminar. I feel bored listening to British educated old man talking about his granddaughter in Washington D.C and transcribing records of old English song. I don't like all of those songs and perhaps they didn't expect that an Islamic Center oriented student is in their classes, hehehe.

Maybe I should keep this for the next step of translating stuffs like Islamic Morality and Shariah books into Chinese to prevent crimes and sins. Because languages could be very dangerous as what I had learned in our principles during our introduction courses by Dr. Haslina and Dr. Hasuria.

Chinese Verb Translation into Malay - Dr. Goh Sang Seong 

General Errors in Chinese-Malay Literal Translation - Dr. Chew Fong Peng

Translation of Malay-Chinese - Edited by Dr. Hasuria

I hope those lecturers who scolded me and received my protest letter have no bitter feeling anymore. Who told them to scold me out of nothing because I could be a monstrous guy if people show injustice to me or anyone. I was not the one who influenced other students to avoid their seminars and I was only an individual. Other students who didn't agree but still goes and not showing up their protests are cowards because the seminar was not apart of the program in course outline, that's all. I have to change my areas of studies and now is struggling to find political issues in European continent which is not my continent to read for my dissertation.

I had sent my apology to them and also cards before I graduated but I didn't receive the same thing from teachers for example Tuk Din Uban. Actually our education system is quite monotonous where teachers expect students to respect them but they show no respect to students. We treat people like we wish people to treat us - Lord Buddha Gautama Siddarth. Urmm, all of these materials are for Chinese to Malay. Where should I find the guide for Malay to Chinese or Arabic to Chinese?

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love!

Personal Studies Books' Checklist

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Lord, please help me to get these books in order to reach You... Please be my Friend, Lord. I feel You are leaving me, I am afraid!!! I know I am evil and deceived by the world but please help me, I try to be close to You but I had lost the guidelines. You are the only Guide that I have, please guide me, with Your Mercy :'''

Now, I must stop lamenting myself and stop feeling sorry. No one would be sorry to me if I am in the hell for letting this evil era deceiving me except with Lord's Mercy. Now come to guidelines where we checked our Yemeni counterpart curriculum. Take this out and check whether those books are in the box. If not, try to find them by asking related people.

Guidelines on Studies

1. Memorize each texts studied.  

2. Learn meanings and explanations from a teacher, based from lessons on sharh or an interpretive book of the text. This means I need to consult people in Islamic Center and digging up my old notes regarding texts that I am going to learn since I have no chance to return to my old life.

3. Upon completing a text and answering exams, I would be advancing to the next text in the series. I must understand and memorize by heart all the texts learned before changing to other topic. 

4. Period expected to complete everything is 4 years. Ya Allah, how many years I had wasted :'(

Texts Used in Darul Mustafa

Jurisprudence

Risalat al-Jami'ah

Safinat an-Najaa

al-Muqaddimah al-Hadramiyyah

Matan Abi Shuja'

Safwat az-Zubad

Yaqut an-Nafis

'Umdat as-Salik (Reliance of the Traveler)

Minhaj at-Talibeen (Methods of Students)

Grammar 

al-Ajurumiyyah

Mutammamat al-Ajurumiyyah

al-Alfiyyah

Theology

Aqidat al-'Awam

al-'Aqidah by Imam al-Haddad

Hadith

Mukhtar al-Hadith by Habeeb Umar bin Hafeez

Al-Arba'in an-Nawawiyyah by Imam an-Nawawi

Sciences of Heart

Risaalat al-Mu'awanah (Book of Assistance)

Check series of Imam al-Haddad

Bidayat al-Hidayah by Imam al-Ghazali

Ihya 'Ulumuddin by Imam al-Ghazali

Upon learning, try to find places and environment to perform everything being learned. Don't just learn and keep it inside the closet. Transmit the Mercy and Salvation to universe! In order to do this, I need to improve public speaking skills in Malay, English, Chinese, and Arabic. Try to go out to places around though alone, not anymore time to just meditate in this 'cave.' I will try to make the list of public places, churches, and temples for visits and monitor, inshaallah. Money constraint and mobility? Don't worry, Allah will help. Don't beg for them, it is haraam and a disgrace to ancestors! Try to survive... Regarding Qiyaamullail (Night Vigil), I need to sleep as early as 11 p.m. Sleep with belt, in case if I am lazy to wake up since there is no mum to help me. Try to get Hegira Calender to check prayers time. Lord of Strength please help me, be with me and bring me to straight path :'(

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

Religion Evolution Theory and Refutation to It: Intro

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

I seek protection of the God from the accursed Satan! In the Name of the God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful! 

Introduction

Some human believe that there is God, which is the Essence that created human and the universe. In this matter, all of human being who believe in it are in common understanding. But when it comes to Divinity concept, there are varieties in it. There are those who proclaim that the God is only One. He is Unique and nothing could be equated to Him as for Muslim believe this. 

The Christians with their Trinity concept of the God with God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three of them are One but not the same. This is the result of Kalam apart of philosophy in Doctrine and being refuted by Hanbali methodology scholars and others as well.

In Hinduism, there is an Essence known as Paramatman or Brahman. Paramatman means the Supreme Soul while Brahman means the Universal Spirit. It is divided to three according to their functions which are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva according to school of philosophies. Besides the Hindu Trimurti concept of godheads, there are also incarnations of them into other gods based on their power and functions.

These are varieties of human believe toward Him. There are those who believe in the absoluteness of His Unity those the ideology is called as monotheism. The Abraham paths such as Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are categorized by most people as teachings based from monotheism. However, the development of these three religions are not the same. There are differences in the understanding of monotheism for each of them. 

For example, for Christianity, they believe that the God is One but with the notion of Trinity. Thus, the Absoluteness of the God Unity is not valid according to strict monotheism ideology. This is not my view, but the writer of a book's view. I would put the reference once this is done, inshaallah. As per comparison with Islamic Creed on the God, He is without any beginning nor ending. Nothing in the earth nor heaven is equal to Him. Nothing is the same to Him, nor picturesque about Him. He is unbeatable. He is not confined by time, place and space. The God needs no one, but those in existence in the universe need Him. His Will be done and nothing could obstruct Him.

While Hinduism as for example is categorized under polytheism. It is the belief in many gods which are incarnated from a God. They still believe in One God but the functions and aspects of the God is personalized into Three which is represented by the Trimurti. The gods are then portrayed in idols and paintings. Each face of God has its own worshipers. Some people worshiping Shiva, some people worshiping Vishnu and perhaps small number of people worship Brahma. All three aspects are God by their rights but each of them are worshiped more by people according to their tendencies, school of philosophies, and others. 

In primitive human belief, there are dynamism and animism. Dynamism means the belief on the power which is impersonal in beings of the universe whether alive or dead. Beings of the universe could be human, animal, plant, recorded words, and etc. This kind of belief raises up magic or act to control invisible powers stored in beings of the universe in certain manner in order to use it for ones own benefit. 

Animism means the belief that the soul or spirit could influence human's life. Spirits do not comply within normal nature's law but comply within their own law which is supernatural without any time, space, and they are eternal. Animism gave rise to ancestral worship for humans' benefit. A bit developed animism worship is called as shamanism. This kind of worship is quite popular in Africa and Eastern Asia.

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