Titanium? Feel this !

How great the tests befall !

It is kind of funny on how great we could be blinded by the surrounding. It is amusing how crushed you can be when the dunya exerted great pressures on you. While, you are the most titanium person yourself have ever known. (at least you think so hee)

I’ve been tested with power. The power here means position. Position in school, faculty or whatnot. Currently, I am in great test. MashaAllah. How great it is, until it almost crushed me into pieces. 

I have never claimed to be in this position, never intend to be a group’s leader, and never want to be aimed. But Allah is testing me now by giving me so much of this worldly attraction. 

Got appointed as a group’s leader for almost all subject I currently taking. Now being aim to be in the high committee of the faculty. And surprisingly, I got selected for that.

Allahu..

This is not easy for me. Because, there will be a lot of people that I need to take care of. I can’t just take it lightly as I really afraid of being asked later in that Day of Justice. And it is not easy for me to withdraw from the position too since I’ve been selected and spotted by the top management who determinedly want me in. Which, I don’t get why. It really put us on tense when people put a high expectation on us right?

But then I ponder again, I do it because of Allah and for the sake of others. I would like to bring the change so that all of us can be better. And I really hope this will be a heavy good weightage for me. After all He knows what best. He controls the earth and the sky, and everything between them. Let follow the flow. May Allah guide me in guiding others. InshaAllah

Back to the saying of Prophet Sulayman A.S, Haza min fadhli rabbi. This is by the grace of my lord, to test whether I’m grateful or not. 

And one more thing though, even the grains of dust before it become a supernova. It contracts and expands few times because of the great pressure. I don’t know how He planning my life. And why He put me in this. But I believe in Him. Wa makaru wa makarallah, wallahu khairul makirin. “They planned, and Allah also planned. And Allah is the Best Planner”.

She became her own hero

Assalammualaikum,

I have been asked to give a taddabur about “a woman”. It supposed to be related with al Quran verses, with the theme of woman. But I already had something in my mind before that. It also related to the theme. Thus, let me take this opportunity to share about it.

“She became her own hero”. That’s the title. It is a very meaningful title for me. In this world, where people too depend on someone, let you be different. In this world, where people longing for someone, let you give all of your heart only to Him. Allah. In this world when people let their eyes shedding tears because of someone, let your eyes shedding tears only because afraid of Allah. Let your eyes be your witness in the Day of Judgement. Against the current !

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Two eyes will not be touched by Hellfire: An eye that cries from the fear of Allah, and an eye that spent the night in a guard post in the path of Allah (Jihad).” [Tirmidhi]

Counting my age which is 21 this year, I’m afraid if I have no enough time to be totally falling in love with Him. 

Move on to the message. I heard so much about girls who weep because of her heart broken. I witness so much girls crushed because they got cheated. I saw they fall into grief just because that someone special doesn’t remember their birthday. Allahu, how soft our hearts are.

Thus, I want to bring you a different story here. It is about the angel of steel (bidadari besi). Her name is khawlah al azwar. How inspiring her story was. 

Khawlah was the daughter of one of the chiefs of Bani Assad tribe, and her family embraced Islam in its early days. Her father’s nickname is Al azwar.Khaulah Al-Azwar was a woman who lived in the days of Companions. Khaulah has mental strength and physical strength. Since her childhood, she has been good at playing swords and spears. 

She was very close with her brother Dhirar and they were always doing everything together. So it was only natural that when he went to go fight with Khalid ibn Waleed’s army against the Romans in the greater Syria region, Bilad Al-Sham, that she would go with him. Her brother, Dhirar Al azwar was known as a fearless fighter. He was a master of the martial arts and would go into battle without a shield, helmet or any kind of army and he was extremely powerful. He knew exactly how to fight.

One day he has gone missing. He was captured by the enemies. 

And then there was another battle, in that battle there was a knight who is so mystery because he covered his face. He was in black attire, with a large green shawl wrapped around his waist and covering his chest. Even Khalid al walid was also wondering who the knight is. This knight looks so brave and it was stated that, this man looks like he really want to syahid in that battle. Even if the power of enemies was greater, this knight was fearless. He rides his horse straight to the military line of enemies and dividing it. He penetrated the military line and be at the middle of the enemies. He did not show any sign to retreat. This makes Khalid al walid and his armies stunned and eager to know who the mysterious knight is. Khalid al walid and his assistance try to pull back this knight because they want him alive. But they cannot catch up to him, he was too fast for them. Could you imagine, Khalid al walid who is the Commander of Islam and a great fighter, also adore this knight? Could you imagine how great this knight was fighting? 

Then, Khalid approached the knight and asked him to show his face. A pair of black eyes staring at khalid before returning to attack the enemy. Then Khalid’s soldier following the knight and said to him “O warrior, chief called you and you went away, show us your face and tell us your name, so that we can give you a respect.” Again, this mysterious knight avoids them and went away.

After the battle, when he passed by Khalid, Khalid insist him to stop and ask him again. When Khalid heard a voice of a woman, he almost fell down from his horse. He was so surprised.

You know what the knight answered? 

"My leader, I did not answer because I am shy. You are a great leader, and I am only a woman whose heart is burning. I am Khawlah al azwar" 

MashaAllah. When her brother is not around, she wanted to save her brother. She did not begging any heroes to save him. But she was the one who be the hero. She became her own hero. And she fought in the path of Allah. She used her expertise in martial arts in the path of Allah.

Khaulah was not like a rapunzel who is waiting in a tower for the prince charming to come with his white horse. Khaulah was not like a cinderella who is waiting the prince to save her life from a poverty. Khaulah was a lady who saves the world by her own hand. She needed a hero and that's what she become. 

Dear girls, it’s not that I ask you to ride a horse and bring a sword. But I want you, to fight in your battle of life. I want you to get up and become someone better. Become your own hero.

This is not feminist thinking. And I’m not a feminist. (my father is forever my hero)

Just, when you still cannot find your anchor, be your own anchor. After all, Allah is the permanent anchor. La hawla wala quwata illa billah.

Stressing out? Stop complaining

Breathe in and breathe out.

I am really happy because everything goes smoothly by His will.

I would like to talk about the project group in university or college. In university sometimes, you have to pair with someone who you never know before. And the ice breaking starts with a question: ‘Do you already have a group? Want to be pair?”  There you go.

But then some people experience tough process in completing their project because of their group mates. Some feel it is really easy to work in the team. Could we find any solution for the first case?

Yes. We could actually.

Why do you want to be so upset if your group mate didn’t do his work? Why you see it as your stumbling block that makes you feel so bad? Why do you feel so angry when that particular homosapien didn’t reply you?

Dear you, what do you actually expect from the people who also a ‘hamba’?. Sinful, full of mistakes, tiny creation and don’t even have power over himself..

I heard people say things like “yea at least can he please be a little wiser? I’m annoyed”

Not all people are smarter like you. Not all people thinking like you. Not all people easy to catch up things like you. Is it their fault if they don’t know? Is it their fault if no one lends a hand to help them?

This problem would forever haunt you if you do not change the way you think. Stop complaining, dear. If you find darkness around you, be the light. If you see people drowning in their world without purpose in life, be the guidance.

All of us have our own flaws and strengths. Get to know each other and guide each other. As said in Surah Al-hujurat verse 13.

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.

 Life is about giving.

Allah says in Al Quran, surah al baqarah verse 30.

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."

Khalifah is also known as a leader. Whether a leader for yourself or people around you. Leader doesn’t mean that you give a command to others and you neglect their rights. Leader is not about complain and badmouthing your group mates’ flaws. 'Leader' means that you serve other, you be their ear (listening to their complaint and on why they can’t do the task on time). You guide them on how they should do the work. Teach them how to live a life.

My dad taught me something in life which is “berhenti mengeluh”. My mom told me “ as long as you enjoy doing it, do it”.

You need to have the art of passion. Passionate in everything you do even if it just a presentation of one chapter or if it just that you have to go out and interview a company. Have passion in everything. Do it sincerely.

And invite others to enjoy it too. We want a long lasting friendship after the project work and not “okay, I swear I won’t be in the same group with you again”. Allahu..

Expect less, do more. 😄

Success hurts me more than a failure

I’m sure that all of us have been through ups and down in life. There was time when you barely get what you want. And there was time when everything can be attained effortlessly.

When you were at your lowest level in life, everything seems difficult. It's hard for you to understand what you learn, it’s hard for you to pass the exam; it’s crushing you when all the effort look useless. And you start weeping when remember how you make your parents disappointed with it.

But, also, some of us have experienced things like, when you want an A, you easily get it. When you want to win the game, you won it. When you have no money, the sources come out of nowhere. When you went to the interview, you got the job. Everything turns out to be so easy for you.

Which situations do you prefer? Which situation makes you happier?

To share my personal thought, I have been through these situations in a very short period. It makes me afraid sometimes.

It’s not the best feeling when people keep chanting your name, and talking about your victory, while you afraid it can grows up the ‘penyakit hati’  from that. Riak? Bangga diri? Allahu.. Don’t let us fall into it.

It’s not that I ask you to reject a victory. Those are rezeki and blessings that Allah bestowed upon you. Alhamdulillah. But remember as Allah said in Al Quran, Surah Al-Anfal. (refer the image below).

                                       

It’s scary when you don’t feel like you’re being tested with success. Sometimes, success makes us feel fully-absorbed with ourselves. After all, failure is not a great experience, yes, totally agree with that. But failure is a test that you can feel it deep down inside your heart. That makes you prolong your sujood because you really hurt by the failure. But success is completely different. It’s a feeling that makes you feel like you’re ‘floating’ around and far away from the ground. Sometimes, it can be a reason why without realizing you’re actually shortened the time of prayer. Because, you feel like you don’t have any problems to weep for. It’s a definite test.

Let us follow these people on how they handled their success. On how Prophet Sulaiman alaihi salam dealt with the success given to him, it’s very touching. I would like to share a brief story about this.

As we all know Prophet Sulaiman a.s had a great kingdom. One of the great bounties that Allah bestowed upon him was that Jinn were under his command and control.  And there was one event that beautifully recorded in the Al quran from Surah An-Naml (27:40).

“And he (among the Jinn) who had some knowledge of the Book said: “I will bring it before the twinkling of your eye.” When he saw the throne placed firmly beside him, he (Sulayman) cried out: “This is by the grace of my Lord so that He may test me whether I give thanks for (His Bounty) or act with ingratitude. Whoever is grateful is so to his own good; and whoever is ungrateful, let him know that my Lord is Immensely Resourceful, Most Bountiful.” (Surah an-Naml 27: 40)

Berkata pula seorang yang mempunyai ilmu pengetahuan dari Kitab Allah: "Aku akan membawakannya kepadamu dalam sekelip mata!" Setelah Nabi Sulaiman melihat singgahsana itu terletak di sisinya, berkatalah ia: "Ini ialah dari limpah kurnia Tuhanku, untuk mengujiku adakah aku bersyukur atau aku tidak mengenangkan nikmat pemberianNya. Dan (sebenarnya) sesiapa yang bersyukur maka faedah syukurnya itu hanyalah terpulang kepada dirinya sendiri, dan sesiapa yang tidak bersyukur (maka tidaklah menjadi hal kepada Allah), kerana sesungguhnya Tuhanku Maha Kaya, lagi Maha Pemurah".

It was when the throne of Queen of Saba brought to his place before the Queen arrives.  (You can read more about this)

How amazing the moral of this story. Haza min fadhli rabbi. “This is by the grace of my Lord”, so after this every time you're attaining success, remember to utter this word. You won’t be successful if He not let you to. He eases the way for you.

Next we can also learn from the seerah, on how the sahabah are very down-to-earth person. Umar Al-Khattab is the second caliph after Abu bakar al siddique and was a main advisor for Abu bakr as siddique. "Umar was also highly regarded among the companions of the Messenger. Aisha has said: "He was, by Allah, skillful in managing affairs, absolutely unique." And Muawiyah has said: "…Umar, the world wanted him and he did not want it…". Umar had the welfare of the Muslims in his mind at all times. Umar’s food was simple which consisted of bread and olive oil. Rarely would he eat anything else, at times it is recorded that he eats meat, vegetables milk and vinegar. His dress was also simple such as a shirt only which was known to have a number of patches in it." (credits to http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/mih/isl/umar.htm) In some occasion people not even recognized that he is the caliph since he dresses as others. He prioritizes others. You can search more about this, it’s really amazing that he took the responsibility given to serve people, and not to be served by people.

And definitely the main role model is our prophet Muhammad s.a.w. There are a lot of great stories if I want to share it here. Not enough with one post.

But the point here, don’t let the success make you feel great by yourselves. It could be a test for you. Thus, let the success draws you nearer to Him, by praising Him and show gratitude. We’re always trying to do the best in our life. But when we achieved it, don’t let the success be our “unseen downfall”. Our goal is not just to gain success in this dunya, but also in the hereafter.

Wama tawfiq illa billah. “My success is only by Allah”.

Does your knowledge makes you more faithful?

Taken from google

Last week class that being held by Dr Mat Rofa brought a very significant impact to me. Listening to Dr Mat Rofa’s  lecture blew my mind and broadens my perspective towards how I see the world.  He is an author of Bicarawara Sains Islam, and he has a wide knowledge about science and he also studied on how the education itself can be a deception for us.

He came with 100++ slides to be shared with us.  First of all, he told us the background of our ministry of education (Malaysia). He told that at first our ministry were named with “ministry of lesson” until we once realized that there is no “ministry of lesson” and we changed it to “ministry of education”. This gave me a picture on how we’re trying to adapt and improvise our education. Because we understand that to build a civilization we need educated people not only people with lesson because everyone can get a lesson but not all of us can be an educated person which include the integrity and moral in oneself.

But then, we observed that as people become more educated, they become far away from the religion. This is where the deception lies. This is not fair on how we can forget the Creator while we learn about His creation. This is illogical ! But that is exactly what we do now. For the clearer picture, since we were in our primary school, we have been taught about science (I pick science since it contains a lot of magnificent discovery). We learn about the cells in our bodies, we learn about flowers, learn the structure of earth and so on. But we rarely being told by our teacher that all of them won’t exist by themselves, but there is a Creator of all those things. Allah.

I really hope that teachers nowadays will take this opportunity to remind their students about our Creator in every subject that we learn. To remind that all of that mind-blowing formulas, research, inventions and so on actually come from Him. If He do not giving us the wisdom and the strength to discover, we would know nothing. We would discover nothing. Yes, we would claim that we always know all of the creations being created by the Creator, but it is actually different when we learn by mentioning it. Let say nowadays, if you ask the student, how the planet was formed, they would answer “There were a cloud of gases and dust, and then a pressure happened and all bla bla”. Bet no one will answer “BY THE POWER OF ALLAH, HE CREATED the dust and gases, then, it became a cloud and bla bla” So; this is actually the best platform for teachers to help in shaping students to be an educated person who is not only knowledgeable but also faithful.

I was overwhelmed with sadness to accept the reality that for almost 11 years being a student, I witnessed the education that make us amazed with the creations and not the power of the Creator. If not, all of our educated people will be among those who close to the religion and faithful. Rely upon God alone because the knowledge that we have, shown the strong evidence which He is the Most Powerful.  But, as people become more educated, they become too fanatic with the knowledge, position and dreams to chase and starting to forget their real purpose of life. It is time to change.💪

credit to : Invite to Islam.org

Does it consume your life?

As your age increase, you're being added up with more responsibilities in your life. Which means ; your life getting a lot more hectic than before. It is normal isn't? I mean, well, that's predicted.😖

Let me take one example. As a student, you wake up and go to the classes, then you go back home and study, and then you eat, after that you study again. And maybe watch a drama or movie in the middle, and then back to the assignment again or if there's no task you enjoy your sleep. Normal. Robotic life.💀

We live like there's no end point. Too busy on get good grades and forget to do good deeds. Enjoy your free time to play, and neglect to pray. Focus on the dreams and ignore the deens. Read the books and abandon the Quran. Till when..😢😢

Here..People, don't let it consume your life. If you're already aware of that, alhamdulillah. But if not, or if you forget about it sometimes, you should start changing the pattern. Yes, you still have to do your responsibility as a student, do your part in this world but never forget to spend some part of your life to collect points for the hereafter. We have our end point, we won't live forever, remember. Ask yourself ; if today is your last day, will you be happy with all that you got? 😞

And here, you have to start asking yourself, what is actually your purpose of life? 

Keep on increasing your amal. So that in your last day, you would say, : I'm happy I'd collected 'points' in this dunya to bring there. Instead of , "I am too busy with tasks in my life, I don't even realized my time is out, I still don't have enough deeds to bring there". Uhhhh.. It's really scary to think how our end will be...*my heart beating faster*😧😧

So, let us be wise. Do not let the hectic lifestyle consume our life. This is also a self-reminder to me. May all of us will be blessed. *Ameen*😊