Inspirasi

Counting the days leading up to 16th of September, I came across a very interesting article on the topics being discussed by Malaysians, again and again in a never ending cycle. And the quote excerpt below gives me a sense of hope, knowing that we used to start with unity at the beginning, and we can remain united at the end.

The road to nationhood has not been an easy journey. Surprises and disappointments, tension and crisis, have marred the way. The peoples of Malaysia, however, have endured all trials and tribulations with confidence and patience, calmness and forbearance, with faith in our final goal –Malaysia. The Federation of Malaya now passes into history. Let us always remember that the Malayan Nation was formed after many difficulties during a long period of national Emergency, yet its multi-racial society emerged, endured and survived as a successful and progressive nation, a true democracy and an example to the world of harmony and tolerance. As it was with Malaya, so it can be with Malaysia. With trust in Almighty God, unity of purpose and faith in ourselves, we can make Malaysia a land of prosperity and peace. In doing so let every Malaysian in all the States of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah ensure that our Malaysia is truly worthy of the aims and hopes we have shared, the trials and stress, we have endured, in working together to achieve our common destiny.

- excerpt from Tunku Abdul Rahman’s speech on Malaysia Day, 16 September 1963.

The full article can be viewed at: http://www.loyarburok.com/2010/09/16/the-only-merdekakanmalaysia-run-5th-47-years-on-malaysia-and-the-necessary-conversation/

"Selamat Hari Malaysia, tanah tumpahnya darahku."

Quote #8

"You were given the title of 'Saif-ullah' meaning, 'The Sword of Allah' and, the sword of Allah is not meant to be broken and hence, it is not your destiny to be a 'martyr' but to die like a conqueror."

Waiting For Forever

Let the story begins.

Dear Emma,

Those two words, "Dear Emma", take me away to another time, when we used to write to each other, after my mom and dad died. I used to tell you about my new friends and my new life, and you used to tell me about the grand time my mom and dad were having in heaven.Truth is nothing. What you believed to be true is everything. And the main thing that I used to believe was that I would be with you forever. Forever...

The reason it's taken me so long to write to you is that I see that I've been a fool. I've spent my life fooling myself. Every letter I've ever written to you has been a love letter. How could they have been anything else? I can see now that all of them, except this one were bad love letters. Bad love letters beg for love back. Good love letters ask for nothing. This, I'm pleased to announce, is my first good love letter to you. Because there is nothing more for you to do. You already done everything.

Have enough of you in my head to last forever. So please don't ever worry about me. I'm 'peachy'. I really am. Have everything. If I had one wish, it would be that your life brings you a taste of happiness you have brought to me, that you can feel what it is like to love.

Your friend forever,

Will

The Principle

"To cure, seldom.
To relieve, often.
To comfort, always."

- Sir William Osler's

Who is Sir Osler? He's one of the prominent figures in modern medicine who came up with one of the stigmata of infective endocarditis. And what's the stigmata? It's pretty self-explanatory, Osler's node. Google it up if you want more info. Nevertheless, he also came up with the quote which I think should be the principle for every treating doctor.

Motives

I'm not saying any of this to get into your pants. 

-Nora, How I Met Your Mother

4 Groups of People

There are 4 groups of people,
Those who don't know that they don't know. These people are not worth teaching.

Those who know that they don't know. These people are willing to learn.

Those who don't know that they know. These people are unpolished gems. Teach them.

Those who know that they know. These people are teachers. Learn from them.

- Confucius

I heard this from my lecturer while delivering his talk at the hospital. It may be slightly different from the real quote but this was what I can remember from my fading memory box. The meanings are similar though no doubt about that.

Life Lesson

On Thursday, I went into theatre to watch a pilonidal sinus removal. After the surgery, I learnt a life lesson, indirectly taught by the surgeon.

Are you interested? VS Can you do it?

If you're asking anyone for help, or to offer someone an opportunity to be involved in a job, never ask if that person is interested but ask if he can do it cause the reality is, Yes, he can do it, but No, he might not be interested. Get the right question out and you might end up having that person as your right arm.

A Delay in Your Prayer

Something to ponder upon and open our eyes. Credits to Diyanna Ruzanna Hamsawi. 

There were only 15 minutes left before Salat-ul Isha.

He quickly made Wudhu and performed Salat-ul Maghrib.

While making Tasbih, he again remembered his grandmother and was embarrassed by how he had prayed.His grandmother prayed with such tranquillity and peace.

He began making Dua and went down to make Sajdah and stayed like that for a while.

He had been at work all day and was tired, so tired.

He awoke abruptly to the sound of noise and shouting.

He was sweating profusely.

He looked around.

It was very crowded.

Every direction he looked in was filled with people.

Some stood frozen looking around, some were running left and right and some were on their knees with their heads in their hands just waiting.

Pure fear and apprehension filled him as he realized where he was.

His heart was about to burst.

It was the Day of Judgment.

When he was alive, he had heard many things about the questioning on theDay of Judgment, but that seemed so long ago.

Could this be something his mind made up?

No, the wait and the fear were so great that he could not have imaginedthis.

The interrogation was still going on.

He began moving frantically from people to people to ask if his name hadbeen called.

No one could answer him.

All of a sudden his name was called and the crowd split into two and madea passageway for him.

Two angels grabbed his arms and led him forward.

He walked with unknowing eyes through the crowd.

The angels brought him to the centre and left him there.

His head was bent down and his whole life was passing in front of hiseyes like a movie.

He opened his eyes but saw only another world.

The people were all helping others.

He saw his father running from one lecture to the other, spending hiswealth in the way of Islam.

His mother invited guests to their house and one table was being setwhile the other was being cleared.

He pleaded his case, I too was always on this path.

I helped others. spread the word of Allah.

I performed my Salah. I fasted in the month of Ramadhan.

Whatever Allah ordered us to do, I did.

Whatever he ordered us not to do, I did not.’

He began to cry and think about how much he loved Allah.

He knew that whatever he had done in life would be less than what Allahdeserved and his only protector was Allah He was sweating like neverbefore and was shaking all over.

His eyes were fixed on the scale, waiting for the final decision.

At last, the decision was made.

The two angels with sheets of paper in their hands, turned to the crowd.

His legs felt like they were going to collapse.

He closed his eyes as they beganTo read the names of those people who were to enter Jahannam.

His name was read first.

He fell on his knees and yelled that this couldn’t be,‘How could I go to Jahannam?

I served others all my life, I spread the word of Allah to others’.

His eyes had become blurry and he was shaking with sweat.

The two angels took him by the arms.

As his feet dragged, they went through the crowd and advanced toward theblazing flames of Jahannam.

He was yelling and wondered if there was any person who was going to help him.

He was yelling of all the good deeds he had done, how he had helped his father, his fasts, prayers, the Noble Qur’an that he read, he was asking if none of them would help him.

The Jahannam angels continued to drag him.

They had gotten closer to the Hellfire. He looked back and these were his last pleas.

Had not Rasulullah [SAW] said,‘How clean would a person be who bathes in a river five times a day, so too does the Salah performed five times cleanse someone of their sins’?He began yelling, ‘My prayers? My prayers? My prayers.?’

The two angels did not stop, and they came to the edge of the abyss of Jahannam.

The flames of the fire were burning his face. He looked back one last time, but his eyes were dry of hope and he had nothing left in him.

One of the angels pushed him in. He found himself in the air and falling towards the flames. He had just fallen five or six feet when a hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

He lifted his head and saw an old man with a long white beard.

He wiped some dust off himself and asked him, ‘Who are you?’

The old man replied, ‘I am your prayers’.

‘Why are you so late! I was almost in the Fire! You rescued me at the last minute before I fell in’.

The old man smiled and shook his head,

‘You always performed me at the last minute, did you forget?’ (And what of those who perform no prayers at all?)

At that instant, he blinked and lifted his head from Sajdah. He was in a sweat.

He listened to the voices coming from outside. He heard the Adhan for Salat-ul Isha.

He got up quickly and went to perform Wudhu.

Pass this on to your friends and family. Maybe, you can help someone open their eyes Insha Allah.

Jazaakallah for reading this.

May Allah guide us all ameen.

 Original page: "A delay in your prayer"

Quote #1

Together with the new design of this blog, I've decided to flip over onto a new chapter. Today's quote is

The key to a man's heart is through his stomach.

The Imam said this during the sermon in between the tarawih prayers. Lately, the Muslim community in my neighbourhood are having some complications with regards to the mosque in our area. Some residents have been complaining to the university about careless parking along the driveway. It's not either's fault really. But at the same time, both are responsible. If this goes on, we are not allowed to perform any activities in the mosque after 8pm. And it's the month of Ramadhan. May Allah guide us to be more considerate and hopefully we'll be able to overcome this obstacle.