Sunday, February 14, 2010

Myasthenia Gravis


In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful…

As of now, in this blog, I have seldom (or never, perhaps?) shared anything related to my academic field. It is not that I don't want to, but I somehow the idea never seemed to get around. For those of you who do not know me personally, I am currently studying allied health science. One of its many branches. Hence this time, I want to share this…


Myasthenia Gravis. Ever heard of the term? Or does it sound Dutch to your ears? I have had just encountered the word myself last Thursday. Correction… perhaps 'encounter' is not the correct word. I had just learnt of this serious condition in class. The word is of Greek and Latin origin, meaning "grave muscular illness". It is an autoimmune disease which affects the neuromuscular junction, the connecting point between our muscles and nerves which send messages from the brain. This disease will result in muscle weakness. This weakness is not persistent, but fluctuating, some days better than others.


What happens to people with MG? Basically, one, or more of their muscles will start to weaken. Some of the common muscles involved are: muscles of the eye, whereby the 8 muscles of the eye fail to work correctly, causing the person to see double. Another eye muscle affected is the levator muscle, which helps keep the upper eyelid lifted up as we open our eyes. People with MG affecting their levator muscles appear to have droopy eyelid, or ptosis. Another muscle that can be affected is the muscles in the limbs, the hands and feet. The person will feel very tired, and sometimes unable to move their hands, arms or legs. At times, if the MG attacks the muscle of the tongue, speech will become slurred and eating will be difficult. In more serious cases, the muscles of the pharynx and larynx (the throat) may also be affected, causing a difficulty in swallowing food and occasionally, a difficulty in breathing.


Is the info too much medical-related for you to digest? If so, forgive me. Well… why did I decide to share this uncommon disease today? These past few days, I've been a bit unwell. First I caught a minor fever, lasting about two days. Afterwards, because my tonsil was infected (with what? I'm not too sure either) I have had tonsilitis and currently, my voice sounds quite unlike me.


Sickness could be very bothersome to the average human. Of course, it is difficult to eat when your taste buds are not as sharp as usual, to sleep comfortably when you keep waking up at night to cough, and so many other nuisances.


Yet when I compare my own sickness to myasthenia gravis, the difference is vast. MG patients have difficulty almost everyday of their life, some suffer the disease in their teens. (For some true stories, visit
THIS PAGE) I have been unwell for only a few days.


Sickness actually forces us to think. Think back of the days when we were healthy, are we thankful to Allah the Almighty for all He provides us? Have we used the health he gives us for good, or have we neglected His gift and use it for things which brings no benefit to ourselves or our hereafter? Did we utilize the time we have fully when we are healthy? [The last part… it's on me actually, having had the fever in the middle of my midterm exams. Evidently I failed to use my time well previously to study as much as I should, and still need to rely on last minute study to cover up for what I had not mastered. An important lesson for me this time round.]


Lying down sick, one is able to get closer to Allah. For we pray more, asking him for help in curing us. As we lie down, we can take time to reflect on our deeds. Furthermore, one will learn to rely on Allah alone, for only He can make us better. One will also learn the art of patience, for patience is the key in waiting to get better. Patience and trust in Allah. These are the best ingredients to go through and succed in confronting sickness, or any predicament, for that matter.


Yes, my illness is not as bad as Myasthenia Gravis. Not even close. Yet no matter how severe or slight our condition is, or even if we are healthy, one must always be thankful to Allah for the condition we are in. We must also always trust Allah, the All-knowing, trust that He knows what's best for us, to be healthy or sick.


In a nutshell, everything and anything that happens to us happens due to His will. As believers, we must always try to relate them to Allah, and try to learn and improve from them. Trials and tribulations come and go, but if we have faith that Allah is always there, assisting us through, we will stand strong and remain fighting on, insyaAllah…


For more info regarding MG, you can visit
THIS PAGE, or simply google the key word. May Allah bless us all…

Friday, February 5, 2010

Look Around... and Ponder!


As human beings, we tend to forget. Forget to appreciate the things around us. The harmonious singing of birds, the cool breeze in the morning, the sun that smiles over us daily. We forget to thank the Creator, no, not just to thank Him, but also to think of Him.

Let us look around, to the many gifts He gave. The parents that we have, the freedom and peace we enjoyed, to the opportunities that Allah give, and remember Him.

He takes care of us ever so kindly, never neglecting us, allowing us to roam about, have food to eat, and a good system in our body to digest the food, have perfectly good eyes to see with, to enjoy the sights of his creations.

But how often do we sit back and remember Him? How often have we tried to bow down, humbly, as His servants?

Actually... I've been listening to this song over and over again since my close friend wrote about it in her blog. A song that have had me thinking of so many things... made me try to keep my eyes 'open' more often. More aware of Allah's presence. A lovely song indeed, especially when combined with Mr. Abu Bakr (Ruben)'s talk.

Decide to share it here.. With the hope that all of you can benifit from the song as I had.





Title: Open Your Eyes
By: Maher Zain

Look around yourselves
Can't you see this wonder
Spreaded in front of you
The clouds floating by
The skies are clear and blue
Planets in the orbits
The moon and the sun
Such perfect harmony
Lets start question in ourselves
Isn't this proof enough for us
Or are we so blind
The push it all aside..
NO......

"*"
We just have to
Open our eyes, our hearts, and minds
If we just look bright to see the signs
We can't keep hiding from the truth
Let it take us by surprise

Take us in the best way
(Allah)

Guide us every single day...
(Allah)

Keep us close to you
Until the end of time...

Look inside yourselves
Such a perfect order
Hiding in yourselves
Running in your veins
What about anger love and pain
And all the things you're feeling
Can you touch them with your hand?
So are they really there?
Lets start question in ourselves
Isn't this proof enough for us
Or are we so blind
The push it all aside
NO..........

Repeat "*"

When a baby's born
So helpless and weak
And you're watching him growing..
So why deny
Whats in front of your eyes
The biggest miracle of life..

Repeat "*"


Allah...

You created everything
We belong to yo0u
YA RAB we raise our hands
Forever we thank you

.....Alhamdulillah......






Bus on Holidays in Weekends

Assalamualaikum

I talked to a bus driver today.
And he gave me this info, which is not very nice for us who wants to use the public transport tomorrow.
The buses only goes to Masjid Wilayah on weekdays. Because no one works in the Govt office on weekends.
Hence no RapidKL buses available tomorrow.
I guess we have to take cabs then. But the fare is alright, i guess. around RM7 from Masjid India..
Or... take the KTM to Sentul

May Allah make things easy for us tomorrow, insyaAllah...

~ have exams on monday actually.. please pray for me. may Allah bless u guys..

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Directions to Masjid Wilayah via Public Transport

A short post this time...

to those of you who wants to go to Masjid Wilayah this Saturday, and don't have private transport to get there, I found out how to go there using public transport. (^_^)


Nearest Train Station: KTM Komuter Sentul Railway Station (4.1 km via Jalan Ipoh by taxi)
Bus Number: RapidKL Bas U83, B115, T618 (to Kompleks Kerajaan Jalan Duta)


U83 is from KL Central, B115 from Pasar Seni and Masjid Jamek.
For more info regarding the bus route: http://www.rapidkl.com.my/network/bus/busroutes


This may be an opportunity of a lifetime. For the Palestinian scholars might not be able to come here again. Don't miss out!

May Allah bless...

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Let's Show our Support For Palestine...


I've been busy. With responsibilities as a student and as His servants. hence I didn't manage to update much. But here's something I would like to invite all of you to:



May Allah bless...