Something Inspirational

This is something my mum got from an old email. I was looking back at my old articles and discovered this. Let us ponder upon this.. May it be useful! (^_^)

    A man planted a rose and watered it faithfully, 

and before it blossomed, he examined it. 

He saw the bud that would soon blossom and also the thorns. 

And he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from a plant 

burdened with so many sharp thorns?" 

Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, 

and before it was ready to bloom, it died.

    So it is with many people.  Within every soul there is a rose. 

God like qualities planted in us at birth growing amid the thorns of our faults. 

Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. 

We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us.

    We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. 

We never realize our potential. 

Some people do not see the rose within themselves; 

someone else must show it to them.

    One of the greatest gifts a person can possess 

is to be able to reach past the thorns and find the rose within others. 

This is the characteristic of love, to look at a person,

and knowing his faults, recognize the nobility in his soul, 

and help him realize that he can overcome his faults. 

If we show him the rose, he will conquer the thorns. 

Then will he blossom, blooming forth 

thirty, sixty, a hundred-fold as it is given to him.

    Our duty in this world is to HELP others by 

SHOWING THEM THEIR ROSES and not their thorns. 

Only then can we achieve the love we should feel for 

each other; only then can we bloom in our own garden.

... and He Found This Road! (alhamdulillah) ...

Assalamualaikum everyone..

may all of you be well in Allah's guidance and protection, under the shade of Islam.

I was writing a draft for an article I had intended to post here. A friend buzzed me in YM, so I chatted to her for a while. She asked me a question, which led me searching for a while for the best way to answer. Her question?

Q: How do we know that Islam is the true religion? I mean, if anyone asked me at college, how should I answer?

Sure, I believe to my fullest that Islam is the right path, the path that Allah had promised, will lead me to heavens, and will lead me to Allah's pleasure. yet, in order to answer her question, I decide to do a bit of blog hopping first, so that I can leave her with clues which will lead her to ponder upon the matter, and discuss the matter further with me. and hopefully, find the best answer then.

and I found this song... a very old song, sung by Cat Stevens a.k.a Yusuf Islam. A song before he reverted to Islam..

Well i left my happy home to see what i could find out

I left my folk and friends with the aim to clear my mind out

Well i hit the rowdy road and many kinds i met there

Many stories told me of the way to get there

So on and on i go, the seconds tick the time out

There's so much left to know, and i'm on the road to find out

Well in the end i'll know, but on the way i wonder

Through descending snow, and through the frost and thunder

Well, i listen to the wind come howl, telling me i have to hurry

I listen to the robin's song saying not to worry

So on and on i go, the seconds tick the time out

There's so much left to know, and i'm on the road to findout

Then i found myself alone, hopin' someone would miss me

Thinking about my home, and the last woman to kiss me, kiss me

But sometimes you have to moan when nothing seems to suit yer

But nevertheless you know you're locked towards the future

So on and on you go, the seconds tick the time out

There's so much left to know, and i'm on the road to findout

Then i found my head one day when i wasn't even trying

And here i have to say, 'cause there is no use in lying, lying

Yes the answer lies within, so why not take a look now?

Kick out the devil's sin, pick up, pick up a good book now

what do you think the "good book" is?

Yes, Alhamdulillah, he found the Quran.

Yusuf Islams, and so many others reverted to Islam. Of course, some may revert to Islam because of other intentions. But many do so because they discovered that Islam is the true way of life. And al-Quran is the light in their search for truth.

Why is Islam the true religion?
this question may take a whole book to answer. And one can look at it in so many different aspects.

But a simple answer from me, is, because Islam showed a WAY to live, a PURPOSE to live, and the DIRECTION to live. It provide all of this, and more. In a universal book, relevant anywhere, and at any time, the Holy Quran. This is the 'road' that Yusuf Islam had been searching for. and he found Islam, alhamdulillah..

(a/n: this is not the answer which we discussed together, me and the questioner. But this is a short answer only.. a long one? you can try and ponder upon it.. and read up more.)

Quoting Yusuf Islam's words, before he embraced Islam:

What was to happen to me? Am I just a body, and my goal in life is merely to satisfy this body? Why am I here?

We have become Muslims for a long time. Yet did we realize, how lucky we are, to be on the right path? Did we make an effort to stay on this track? Did we try to really understand the precious Book that Allah had given us?

Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds (surah al-Aa'raf: 162)

and i decide to post the rest of the surah.. just for us to ponder..

... No partner has He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of those who bow to His Will". Say: "Shall I seek for (my) Cherisher other than Allah when He is the Cherisher of all things (that exist)?" Every soul draws the meed of its acts on none but itself: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. Your goal in the end is toward Allah: He will tell you the truth of the things wherein you disputed. It is He who hath made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth: He has raised you in ranks some above others: that he may try you (ie, test) in the gifts He has given you: for thy Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (al- A'araf: 163-165)

Let us sit, think back, and ponder. Why is Islam the truth, and why is Islam so special to us? Ask your imaan, ask your heart.. and refer to al-Quran.

>> Forgive me for any mistakes anywhere in this post.

>> extra refrence (for further reading): Apa ertinya saya menganut Islam (maza Yakni)

Another Shocking Death News: Mikael Jackson a.k.a. Micheal Jackson

Salam everyone. May Allah guides us to His path till the day we return to HIM.

King of Pop died at the age of 50
Micheal Jackson is pronounced death
Everyone is schocked!
Tributes to MJ

Well, sincerely, I have no idea for what reason I'm posting this shocking news of the entire world of pop music lovers. Yea, Micheal Jackson; I bet how many of us do not know his name. Though I'm not a fan of music, i still have some idea bout him. Well, some people regard him as the most controversial celebs in this decade. Yea.. even I know that this person had spent his entire life making various kinds of controvercial issues (a lot to be mentioned though!)..

However, I think the recent one is the most interesting to note, which is his conversion to Islam. Though I'm not really sure bout this matter, but I have read some valid articles here that comfirms that matter such asYnetnews, Gurdian Angel, Daily Mail and etc (find them yourself though).

Therefore, if he did becoming Muslim, he is our brother in Islam, isn't he? So, i think, as a Muslim, we should show our respect to him as our brother in Islam same as other brothers. Perhaps, we could also pray 'Jenazah' for him as usual. Though I'm not sure bout this and still waiting for what other Muslim scholars say in this matter..but, I personally think that we can do that.

I just remembered a Sirah where Rasulluah denounced the action of killing a person who has pronounced his shahadah during war, though in that crucial and critical condition, the person may purposely pronounce the shahada to save his life. As our prophet (peace be upon him) said, which means 'no one could ever truely knows one's intention in an action but ALLAH' which shows that the person's shahadah was literally approved. So, i think, in this case, we are nobody to judge whether bro Mikaeel jackson had sincerely become muslim or not. As long as he pronounced shahadah in front of two witnesses, I believe, he then becomes our brother in Islam.

Well, personally, perhaps because my recent months have been fulled by Death news, so this news again has touched my heart. How we as human, often forget that Death is actually merely around the corner. No one would ever escape from it. Some people fear death very much and really look forward to new inventions that prevent them from death. But, still.. death is death.. it invites us in may ways..in any time...

So, are we prepared?

Besides, many people say 'may he rest in peace' whenever they heard news about any death. But, to ourselves, are we sure that every single soul will be resting peacefully when we die? Well, this is something we should ponder.

So, I believe, it would be good for us to watch these two videos from the Deen Show here. Perhaps, it'll help us to be more aware of the Truth about Death.. and prepare for it... as it is something which WILL happen to us one day..Insya-allah.

>> This article is taken from ukhtie Maryam

~ ..Tagged.. ~

I've been tagged... by a friend I had just made a while back. Jazakillah ukhtie! (^_^)

so.. here it is...

the rule:

1. copy the picture below, and paste it on your post. (or.. copy the whole post)

2. Tag 10 friends and ask them to do the same.

• maryam
• ummu salamah
• k. safiyah
• huda
• aisyah ruqayyah (my twin..)
• k. fazira
• syarifah nurhidayah

and to three brothers.. (seriously, finding out who to tag is super hard! so i'm giving this to you)

• Muhaimin
• Luqman
• Sofwan

>> there.. i've done the tag.. and not just any tag.. 100% amal islami.. a tag promising commitment.. will I be up to it? Insya Allah, I'll try my best. For this is a commitment I know which will, insyaAllah, gain Jannah. and a commitment i meant to live by anyways. So pray for me, that I may do my best and commit, no matter what obstacles arise along the way...

Flashback, and a Dream

Recently, my brother came back from his journey to the place where millions of Muslims go every year. That's right, Makkah al-Mukarramah and Madinatul Munawwarah. He spent his mid year holiday there, doing umrah and visiting the places where Rasulullah PBUH and his companions had lived, strived and fought, in order to uphold Islam. His photos have had me travelling thru memory lane, reminding me of my own trip when I was in form 4. And yes, I really, really miss being in the Haramain.

Alhamdulillah, Allah had given me the opportunity to go there, to see and experience for myself the peace and tranquality of humbling myself before The Almighty in front of the Ka'bah and witnessing the place where the messanger of Allah had worked so hard to spread the words from Allah. I was unable to describe the waves of emotions that surged through me at the time. My prayers focused, my heart calm, and tears of taubah and happiness ran down easily from my face.

I might not remember all the visits to the numerous places along with the haramain, but I kept thinking of how much the first generation of Muslims had given themselves for Islam, selflessly, with every possible way. May Allah bless them, and may Allah allow us to meet them in Jannah, insyaAllah…

One thing I do remember is that, by the will of Allah, when I went there, it was just after one major turning point of my life. A time when, just previously, I had realized what being a servant to Allah meant. A time when I realized that His Love is THE one that is worth pursueing, before searching for any others. And that it is useless to seek for any other love, that makes you neglect, and even go against Him.

Yes, I cried a lot there… hoping for forgiveness for forgetting that fact. And hoping that He can lead me on, and give me strength to overcome my own weakness, and strengthen my iman. If the 'someone' is meant for me, then allow me to focus first on what is important, my faith, and my studies. And if he is not, then may Allah grant me someone better then him, for myself, and my deen.

Looking back to those days, I think, alhamdulillah, that I have improved. Improved a lot, in terms of understanding and practicing my faith. And, although not always successful, I try, and still am, trying to put Allah's love in front of any others.

My dream? Of course, to go to Makkah and Madinah again soon, insyaAllah. This time, using my own money. When will that be? I pray that I may go there as soon as possible. That is, once I do have a stable income when I finished my studies, insyaAllah…

**this post is sort of like a diary… I don't normally disclose stuff about myself and my feelings, but this time I had. Hope the readers don't mind.

What Will The Date Be?

What will the date be?

Praised be He,

who knows the future

Lord of The worlds,

Creator of every creature

Did you sit down and think

About the moment when

your eyes will cease to blink

yes, I am Talking to you

sit down and do

and do not pretend

That it won't Happen to you

What will the date be?

What will be the time?

And Most important...

am I the next on line?

Oh no you think...

not Me....

and even if it was... you say

it won't be today....

It will be At a time

so far away...

like a hundred years

or maybe even more

When Angel of Death

will be knocking at my door

and the problem Is.

you know that you know....

That when death comes...

it will Come like a blow

I just can't believe

maybe can't conceive

that God knows the very second

when my soul will come out of my body

And the news will shock everybody

So am I ready for the test?

The Most important final test?

But how can I pass

when I knew all the While

that when I didn't prepare

for a test in school

I got a letter in

My mail

a lousy F

for Fail

Exactly what I was expecting

WHAT AM I EXPECTING??????!!!!

Don't take God for granted

Yes, He is Merciful

His Punishment is also

Painful

source: IslamicPoems

Death: the Best Reminder for the Heart

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, most Merciful. Firstly, I apologize for not updating this blog last week. I have had something to write, yet the words just refused to pour out as I sat in front of the computer.

Death. There seems to be a lot lately. Death of people who had done so much for this deen.

1. Ummi Halimaton (14 May 2009), wife of Ustaz Dahlan, Mudir of Maahad Tarbiyah Islamiyah (MATRI), Perlis
   

   I have only met Ummi Halimaton personally once, last year, during 'eid. My family and I went to her house for a visit. She is one of my brother's favourite teacher, and a very dedicated murabbi
   

2. Ammar Zulkifli (10 June 2009), a medical student at Cairo, Mesir, and ex-student of MATRI, who is same age as I am, born in 1988
   

   I think I have met him once, at a camp I attended after SPM. He died from an accident which involved the car he was riding along with four friends, including my ex-classmate, Saif Jamaluddin.
   

3. Dr. Fathi Yakan (13 June 2009)
   

   Never met this ulama', but had been reading his books ever since high school. Especially the book Maza Ya'ni.
   

Despite not knowing these people very well, their death made me ponder a lot. The death of Ummi Halimaton had made me think back of my aim in this path I take, and made me question myself, on whether I can be as selfless as Ummi Halimaton had been, for she had been giving her whole life to helping people understand and live their life as a true Muslim. Can I be as selfless as she had been? Am I ready to sacrifice my whole life to this deen?

Allahyarham Ammar's death comes as a shock, because he is still so young. The death of this doctor-to-be, comes as a reminder not only to me, but also to all his friends that one can never be too young to die. Hence we must always be prepared for it. And preparing for his death is one thing that Ammar had done. From his blog, he evidently holds on to these words...

'Jiwa mereka yang hangat cintanya mencari akhirat. Laksana anak-anak akhirat...melihat dunia dari jendela akhirat.'

Goodbye, to a young mujahid, already on his way towards meeting his Lord and Creator... May your soul is blessed by Allah, and may He accept you as a servant who lives in striving to uphold Islam.

Despite not knowing him very well, based on all the entries I read of him from his friends (some of my own close friends from his school), I know that Ammar is a very good Muslim and Mujahid. May his death bring about many others like him, striving and giving their best for Islam, insyaAllah...

To my friends who are still in shock over his death, may Allah help you overcome the sadness, and let his life be an example for us to follow. Take his death as a tarbiyah, for us all to become better Muslims. To my ex-classmate, Saif, be strong, may Allah ease the burden and sadness from your heart, so that you can focus for the upcoming oral exam.

Allahyarham Fathi Yakan, an Ulama' who had given so much of himself, writing so many books which have been translated into many different languages and studied in study circles throughout the globe, you had inspired me to sharpen my skills, to write more, write better, and hope that what I have written will help myself and others to know more about Islam, and get closer to Allah. May your soul rest in peace, amongst those whom Allah has promised Jannah.

Death is a sharp reminder indeed. A reminder to let us look back to the past, and reflect back all what we have done, and question ourselves, is this enough to lead me on to Jannah? Have I done enough to find His Love and redha? Am I prepared to leave everything I have, and to go to the next life? Has everyone forgiven my past mistakes yet? Have Allah accepted my amal, and forgiven my sins? Is my heart pure enough, to be counted among those who will enter Jannah?

Sayings of Vice Principal of MATRI, for us all to ponder...

'Panjang atau pendeknya umur hidup seseorang itu bukanlah menjadi ukuran, yang penting ialah isinya.. isi hidup atau umur itu ialah Iman dan TAQWA kpada ALLAH swt yang membuahkan amalan-amalan yang soleh yang akan mengiringi jenazah seseorang di kubur dan kekal menemaninya ke alam barzakh dan di akhirat kelak..'

Forgive my mistakes...

Till next time..

_humayra'_

Refrence:

http://specialforyou03.blogspot.com/

http://kokoro-no-haiku.blogspot.com/

http://safiarrahman.blogspot.com/

http://ummihalimaton.blogspot.com/

Note to Self: Be Consistent and Persistent!

One of the many weaknesses I face is the hardship in maintaining consistency in my work for the sake of Allah. Especially, works which involved working for Islam. Hence, one day, during one session of tazkirah by Akhi Rosdi, a senior (or, pakcik, perhaps) who had done so much work to spread the deen, I asked him how to maintain consistency. Particularly if one is kept busy throughout the weekdays with study and other things.

Pakcik Rosdi shared a few tips which I'd like to share with all of you here.

1. Take good care of our heart. Be cautious of how our relationship is with Allah.
   

   We are going out there to face Jahiliyyah, and to uphold Islam back in a society which alienates Islam as a way of life. This is not something one should take lightly, so be serious! This is a matter which can lead us to Jannah, insyaAllah, if we focus on doing the best we can, consistently. Yet, all this requires all of us, to firstly hold firm to Islam and what Allah had thought us. Be firm believers ourselves. Ensure that we remember Allah, at every second of the day. Relate everything we do to Allah. And hence, almost everything we do, insyaAllah, will not just be for ourselves but also for Islam.
   

   On another note, another important way to strengthen our relationship with Allah is to never let a day go by without reciting the Quran. Be disciplined in reciting them, and if possible, try to contemplate and ponder upon the meanings. This is because Quran is the loveletters from Allah. What better way to communicate and maintain a good relationship to one's Lord other than listening to all that He says, as a guide to mankind?
   

   
   

2. Do not compartmentalize our life, one portion as an Islamic worker, another portion as a student, another as a daughter, and etc. Set our whole life as an Islamic worker. Thus our whole life is set to be as a worker. We study, because a Muslim worker requires us to gain good results and obtain good professions in order to help the society. We maintain good relationship with those around us, because a good worker needs to be able to win the hearts of all those around us, so that it will be easier to tell everyone about Islam, and also because Allah requires us to. Seems like hard work?
   

   Verily, Allâh has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allâh's Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Qur'ân. And who is truer to his covenant than Allâh? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success. (at-Taubah: 111)
   

   Hard work, yes. But this is a business which Allah had offered, and the return? It is to be rewarded with Jannah, insyaAllah...
   

   
   

3. Some of the reasons why the momentum for working for Islam slows down are because of the maksiat, or bad deeds we make, even small ones. For small, yet constant bad deeds contribute slowly but steadily to the hardening of the heart, and thus light (hidayah) will have difficulty in penetrating it. Another reason is due to the lack of food for the heart, such as zikr, qiamullail, etc. In short, we must remember to take good care of our heart, and ensure that tarbiyyah dzatiyyah (improvement of the self, which comes from our own will, monitored by ourself) is consistent
   

   
   

4. Continuously read books in order to improve ourselves and our understanding of Islam, and what being a worker means.
   

I hope I can implement all these, in the process of developing myself to become a better me... to become a person Allah is pleased with. And may it benefit all of the readers too...

You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh[]. (Ali Imran: 110)