Women Want To Talk

Do listen to (or download) this clip by the comedian Jeff Foxworthy. Again, no offence to the ladies! (And I'm not a sexist either...)

Just want to give light to the husbands out there on how to improve the communication part of their relationship.

A Song For Mama

One of my favourite tunes back there in College. Released in 1997, and written by Babyface, we (my friends & I) hummed this number everywhere we could. In class, in a 3-tonner, in the bathroom, etc... I'm taking this opportunity to dedicate this song to all the mothers out there...

A Song For Mama

Boyz II Men

(Legacy: Greatest Hits Collection)

You taught me everything
And everything you've given me
I always keep it inside
You're the driving force in my life, yeah

There isn't anything
Or anyone that I can be
And it just wouldn't feel right
If I didn't have you by my side

You were there for me to love and care for me
When skies were grey
Whenever I was down
You were always there to comfort me

And no one else can be what you have been to me
You will always be you will always be the girl
In my life for all times

Chorus:
Mama, mama you know I love you
Oh you know I love you
Mama, mama you're the queen of my heart
Your love is like
Tears from the stars
Mama, I just want you to know
Lovin' you is like food to my soul
Yes it is (5x)

You're always down for me
Have always been around for me even when I was bad
You showed me right from my wrong
Yes you did

And you took up for me
When everyone was downin' me
You always did understand
You gave me strength to go on

There was so many times
Looking back when I was so afraid
And then you come to me
And say to me I can face anything
And no one else can do
What you have done for me
You'll always be
You will always be the girl in my life

Chorus
Never gonna go a day without you
Fills me up just thinking of you
I'll never go a day without my mama

Chorus
Yes you are

Click here to listen to the song in Real Audio format

Short, sweet stories

This one is from the PPIM-net mailing list.

And He Died.

Ash’ab was about to relate a story to a ruler, and he began: “There was a man……” But at that point, he noticed a tray of food being brought to them. He paused as he was staring at the tasty food. The ruler said, “Yes….and then?” Ash’ab said, “And he died!”

Fiqh

A man looked at his wife as she was climbing the stairs and he said, “You are divorced if you descend a single step, and divorced if you stand still!” She threw herself down over the railing and remained his wife.

The forebearance of ‘Ali bin Hussain

‘Abdur Razzaq related that a slave girl who belonged to ‘Ali bin Husain r.a.d was pouring water over him so he could make ablution, but the jug fell from her hand, landed on his face, and fractured his bone. He raised his head to her and she recited a part of Verse:

“ ….who repress anger…….( Qur’an 3:134)

He said, “ I have indeed controlled my anger .”

She then recited:

“ ……who pardon men…..(Qur’an 3:134)

He said, “ may Allah forgive you.”

She then recited the end of the Verse:

“….verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” (Qur’an 3:134)

He said, “You are free for the Countenance of Allah.”

Who should be followed?

A judge from Khurasan wanted to marry off his son, so he sought counsel with a man who was a follower of the Majus religion. The man said, “People come to you seeking judgement, and here you are coming to seek counsel from me!” The judge said, “You must advised me.” He said, “Our leader, Khosrau (Kisra), would choose wealth (when seeking a wife): the leader of the Christians, Caesar (Qaiser), would choose beauty: and the pre Islamic Arabs would choose based on ancestry and status: and your Ptophet would choose based on religion – so choose which among them you will follow.”

The Prodigious Understanding of ‘Ali

A woman gave birth to a child only six months after she got married; obviously, however, most women only give birth after nine months, or if the case is really premature, after seven months. People began to become suspicious, thinking that the child was not that of her husband, but of a man with whom she had relations prior to her marriage.

They took her to the caliph, so that she could receive her punishment. The caliph at that time was ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan r.a.d. When they went to him, they found ‘Ali r.a.d to be in his company, and he was ‘Uthman’s judge. ‘Ali said, “You have no right to punish her for this reason.”

They were surprised and asked, “ And how is that?”

He recited to them two Verses:

“And the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30) months,” (Quran 46:15)
(this means that the period of pregnancy as well as the period of breastfeeding is a total of 30 months.)

“The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years,” (Quran 2:233)
(this means that the period of breastfeeding is two years - in other words, 24 months.)

Then ‘Ali said, “It’s possible, therefore, for the period of pregnanacy to be six months only.”

And thus was the woman saved from stoning.

Leave him in the Fire

A man who was an adherent of the Majus religion (worship the sun) died and left behind a hige debt. Some of his creditors said to his son, “Sell the house and pay off your father’s debt.” The son said, “If I sell the house and pay off my father’s debt, will he enter Paradise?”

They said , “No.”

He said, “Then leave him in the Hellfire and leave me in the house.”

Women's Word

Another pick from the Net, enjoy... btw ladies, no offence eh?


Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 09:39:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: marina hisham

Women's Word

Do send this to all the men you know to warn them about usssssssss..........

FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

FIVE MINUTES
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour.Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

NOTHING
This is the calm before the storm. This means "something," and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with 'Nothing' usually end in "Fine"

GO AHEAD
This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it.

LOUD SIGHT
his is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing"

THAT'S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

THANKS
A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say you're welcome.

Menjawab Penyelewengan Majalah AL-ISLAM (Februari 2004): "Rambut Wanita Bukan Aurat"

The following article has been around since earlier this year to answer some dangerous views and misconceptions concerning the 'aurat' of a Muslim. Hope everyone will find it useful. To read the whole article, please click the title below:-

Menjawab Penyelewengan Majalah AL-ISLAM (Februari 2004): "Rambut Wanita Bukan Aurat"

Kelihatan serangan dan penyelewengan ke atas ilmu-ilmu Islam semakin rancak akhir-akhir ini. Sebagai contoh "serangan" yang dimaksudkan, saudara-saudari boleh merujuk kepada majalah AL-ISLAM edisi bulan Februari 2004, artikel karangan Zainudin Idris yang bertajuk "Rambut Wanita Bukan Aurat".

Jelas dari artikel tersebut, penulis cuba mencari dalil bagi menghalalkan pendedahan aurat yang berleluasa dalam masyarakat kita pada hari ini. Kepada mereka yang tidak mendalami pendidikan agama dan tidak dapat membuat rujukan kepada kitab-kitab Fiqh, mereka akan mudah terpengaruh dengan dakyah-dakyah tersebut. Apatah lagi ianya disiarkan oleh majalah yang membawa nama "Al-Islam"...

Click here to read the remainder of this article.

Demam Akademi Fantasia

Just want to join the 'Akademi Fantasia' fever...


Di sebuah majlis akad nikah, pengantin lelaki bernama Hassan (bukan nama sebenar) :

Kadi : Hassan...

Pengantin Lelaki : Saya ustaz...

Kadi : Dengar baik2x ya Hassan.... "Aku nikahkan akan dikau dengan si Polan binti Polan dengan mas kahwinnya RM 80 tunaiii"

Pengantin Lelaki : "Aku terima nikahnyaa si Polan binti si Polan dengan mas kahwinnya RM 80 tunaiiii"

Kadi : Sah ? (ditanya kpd saksi pertama)

Saksi Pertama : Sah

Kadi : Sah ? (ditanya kpd saksi kedua)

Saksi Kedua : Sah

Kadi : Sah ? (ditanya kpd saksi ketiga)

Saksi Ketiga : errrrr... lontaran suara awak tidak jelas... saya tak dengar apa yg awak cakap... pitching berterabur ke laut... keluar acuan terus, jiwa awak kosong...! takde feel... low note tak sampai, high note awak pulak... takde kawalan... sepatutnyaa ditahan... kasi sustain... falseto lemah... improvisation R&B awak tak menjadi... bughok bebenorr bunyinyee... teknik ramify pun tak mantap... bunyi macam orang nak berak jerr... satu jer yg saya suka... awak ade ciri2x seorang pesona bintang! awak boleh lebih berjaya sekiranya melakukan yg lebih terbaik!!!

Kadi : ????????

Gossips and Gossips Filtering

This one is taken from my Friendster Bulletin Board. Enjoy...

Gossips and Gossips Filtering

During the golden Abbasid period, one of the scholars in Baghdad, the capital of Muslim caliphate at that time, was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.

One day an acquaintance met the great scholar and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?

The Scholar replied, "Hold on a minute, before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

The Man questioned, "Triple Filter Test?"

The Scholar replying said, "That's right, before you talk to me about my friend it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. He continued, "That's why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

The Man answered in the negative," No, actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right, so you don't really know if it's true or not." Interrupted the scholar, "Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"

The Man answered, "No, on the contrary..."

The Scholar interrupting again, "So, you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left. The filter of Usefulness, is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?

The Man thinking for a moment, gave an answer, "No, not really."

The Scholar then questioned his companion, "Well, if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

Bush's failed Mideast policy is creating more terrorism

As usual, got this article from a friend of mine, currently studying in Australia:-

Bush's failed Mideast policy is creating more terrorism

By U.S. Senator Ernest F. Hollings

Originally published in the Charleston Post and CourierMay 6, 2004

With 760 dead in Iraq and over 3,000 maimed for life, home folks continue to argue why we are in Iraq -- and how to get out.

Now everyone knows what was not the cause. Even President Bush acknowledges that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11. Listing the 45 countries where al-Qaida was operating on September 11 (70 cells in the U.S.), the State Department did not list Iraq. Richard Clarke, in "Against All Enemies," tells how the United States had not received any threat of terrorism for 10 years from Saddam at the time of our invasion.

Read more...

Cantik dan tampan

I got the following article from the MCOT mailing list. Hopefully it can gives light to some of our long, unanswered 'questions'.

Cantik dan Tampan

Usah terkejut kalau ada orang melahirkan rasa hatinya pada anda, sedangkan anda merasakan tiada apa-apa istimewanya anda. Begitulah hebat dan misterinya kehidupan. Ukuran manusia tentang kecantikan dan ketampanan memang tidak pernah sama. Ada orang mabuk dengan seseorang sedangkan menurut pandangan orang lain, wajah semacam itu tidak patut dimabuk-mabukkan.

Misterinya suara hati memang sukar dibaca. Tidak ada sebarang alat untuk mengukur makna cantik atau tampan pada seseorang. Ukuran cantik atau tampan ini sentiasa berlainan antara seseorang dengan seorang yang lain.

Maka itu, usah hairan jika seseorang wanita dinobatkan sebagai ratu dunia, padahal ramai lagi wanita di pejabat kita yang kita rasakan mengatasi kecantikan ratu itu. Begitu juga, mungkin ada wanita di kampung kita, kita rasakan lebih cantik daripada para model yang popular. Sebab apa? Sebab persepsi kecantikan tidak pernah sama antara manusia. Ada orang anggap hidung yang sedikit mancung sebagai cantik, ada orang tidak. Ada orang rambut yang mengurai sebagai cantik, ada orang menganggap rambut yang ditutup sebagai kecantikan yang mengatasi. Ada orang menganggap putih melepak itu sebagai cantik ada orang suka yang hitam.

Ada orang mentafsirkan kecantikan itu mata yang bundar tetapi ada orang merasakan yang sepet seperti Jepun atau Cina itu yang lebih menawan. Ada orang menganggap bibir yang nipis itu cantik tetapi ada juga orang yang mengatakan bibir tebal lebih mengancam.

Di sebuah kawasan terpencil di utara Thailand, terdapat sekelompok manusia yang mentafsirkan cantik itu leher yang jinjang. Maka, para wanita memakai besi lilit di leher untuk memanjangkan leher masing-masing. Alangkah seksanya untuk menjadi cantik menurut penilaian masyarakat ini.

Begitu juga di sebuah penempatan di Afrika, cantik ditafsirkan mulut yang lebar. Semakin lebar mulut semakin cantiklah mengikut ukuran kelompok ini. Maka para lelaki dan para wanitanya memakai piring besi berbentuk bulat di mulut. Piring ini ditukar kepada yang lebih besar dari semasa ke semasa.

Begitulah misteri dan luasnya makna cantik dan tampan. Jadi, usah terlalu susah hati jika anda merasakan anda tidak begitu menarik. Anda tetap cantik di mata orang yang mentafsirkan kecantikan itu bukan sekadar wajah tetapi mungkin keseluruhan anda. Ini termasuklah gaya jalan anda, cara nada bertutur, pendirian serta sikap anda terhadap sesuatu perkara.

Jika anda belum mendapat teman bukan cantik masalahnya, cuma anda belum bertemu dengan orang yang mentafsirkan cantik itu menurut apa-apa kelebihan yang ada pada diri anda.

Sebenarnya tiada manusia yang buruk, lantaran setiap daripada kita ini dicipta oleh Tuhan yang Maha Bijaksana. Masakan ciptaan Tuhan itu tidak cantik, malah dalam islam kecantikan bukan terletak pada wajah atau keturunan tetapi apa yang ada di dalam hati. Baik sang hati baiklah seluruh badan, jahat sang hati jahatlah seluruh badan. Agama menilai kecantikan itu iman yang teguh, kukuh dan padu.

Siapa kita untuk mempertikaikan ciptaan-ciptaan TUHAN. Sudah tentu kita tidak layak. Tetapi ramai orang mempertikai TUHAN setiap kali menghadap cermin. Berkacalah tatkala bercermin sebab dengan berkaca cermin akan memberitahu anda apakah anda yang berdiri di situ atau perasaan dan keegoan anda yang menampani.

Siapa anda, anda sendiri yang menentukan. Pandangan manusia semuanya tidak sama. Sejuta yang mengatakan anda tidak indah, sepuluh juta mungkin mengatakan yang sebaliknya. Hanya anda belum bertemu muka dengan yang sepuluh juta itu.

Itu saja yang membezakan.

Dr H.M.Tuah

Andai hidup punca perpisahan,
biarlah mati menyambungnya semula.
Namun seandainya mati punca perpisahan,
biarlah hidup ini membawa erti yang nyata.
~Iman~

Hadith

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed.

A man inquired:

O' Messenger of Allah! I may help him when he is oppressed, but how can I help him when he commits oppression?

He said:

You prevent him from committing oppression. That will be your help to him.

(Reported by Al-Bukhari)

Really catchy phrases!

Came across these one-liners few times on the Net before. Might as well share them with you guys:-

Give Allah what's right - not what's left.

Man's way leads to a hopeless end - Allah's way leads to an endless hope.

A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

He who kneels before Allah can stand before anyone.

In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma - but never let him be the period.

Don't put a question mark where Allah puts a period.

Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the mosque for a face-lift.

When praying, don't give Allah instructions - just report for duty.

Don't wait for six strong men to take you to the mosque.

We don't change Allah's message - His message changes us.

The mosque is prayer-conditioned.

When Allah ordains, He sustained.

WARNING: Exposure to Allah may prevent burning.

Plan ahead - It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

Most people want to serve Allah, but only in an advisory position.

Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Quran.

Exercise daily - walk with Allah.

Never give the devil a ride - he always want to drive.

Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

He who angers you control you.

Worry us the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

Give Satan an inch & he'll be a ruler.

Be ye fishers of men - you catch them & He'll clean them.

Allah doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Read the Quran - It will scare the hell out of you.

"Those who believe (in the Oneness of God - Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest"

Ar-Ra'd 13:28

Volgograd

Got a call from my mom this morning, she said my sis (Alang) will fly late next month to Volgograd Medical University. She'll be doing a 6-year course there. All the best to her, may Allah protects her from harm. All the best to Alang, in life dunya wa akhirah.

1 2 3 4

satu
kasih nan abadi
tiada tandingi
Dia yang satu

dua
sayang berpanjangan
membawa ke syurga
kasihnya ibu

tiga
lapar dan dahaga
rela berpayahan
setianya ayah

empat
mudah kau ketemu
berhati selalu
beza antara
kasih dan kekasih

I first listened to this song (1 2 3 4 by Aris) about 10 years ago. The song starts with a little boy singing the verses above, repeated by Aris himself. It delivers a message about love, a word always being misused by most people. Roughly, he put the sequence in a correct way although (to be more precise) I feel that, as Muslims, we should put our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) above our own parents.

I'm not in a position (yet) to comment further so I just finish the lyrics off (as far as I can remember). I attach the link to download this song at the end of this posting.

ibu
ku ingat dahulu
menyisir rambutku
kemas selalu

ayah
menghantar ke sekolah
bergunalah ilmu
bila dewasa

sayang
dengar lagu ini
untuk kau sandarkan
buat pedoman

jangan
manis terus ditelan
pahit terus dibuang
itu bidalan
harus kau renungkan

andai
kau beroleh bahagia
ingat itu bukan
untuk selamanya

andai
kau dalam sengsara
ingat itu bukan
untuk selamanya

hidup ini sementara

Click here to download this song (real audio format)

Summer musings

I've been working as a domestic assistant (floor engineer) for already 7 weeks now. It should have been 10 weeks if not for my 3 weeks trip to the Middle East (Jordan, Syria & Lubnan). Luckily, the workload now is not as heavy as the ones in June, so I feel a bit relaxed at the moment.

Staying in the UK during the summer has few major drawbacks, and the most important of those is not attending some of my friends' weddings in Malaysia. I did receive few invitations though, involving at least 4 pairs of 'newly-weds' (at the moment of writing), but ,obviously, I couldn't make it. I knew all of them between the last 2 to 4 years. The 4 pairs are "Muhsin & Syikin" (both Dubliners), "Cumi & Muhammad" (both Mancunians), and the 2 pairs from Cork, "Feeza & Pawi" and "Hisham & DJ". May Allah protects their households forever, amiin.

Fortunately, some of the wedding photos are already on the Net, via some online albums. I personally like to recommend Budu's and Katun's fotopages.

Trip to Middle East

In front of the majestic Masjid Khalid bin Al-Walid in Homs, Syria. For more photos during my visit to the Middle East, please visit my OFOTO page.

Mysterious guy???

hmm, who's this guy?

The Opening

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All praise and thanks are Allah's, the Lord of the 'Alamin;

The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

The Only Owner of the Day of Recompense;

You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything);

Guide us to the Straight Way;

The way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray.