He always hear you

 

alhamdulillah i’d just finished my final exam for this year few days ago. i’d given my best efforts and now everything is in His hand. never despair for it never brings the past back. these few days, i felt a part of me is missing. having to learn about neuro, endo and psychology for the past 13 weeks really make me feel unease after the exam. though i said to myself that this holiday is a great chance for me to be closer to Him, but being a burdened-free is definitely a challenge. you feel like you dont have the strong urge to prostrate and be humble in front of Him.

subhanaAllah. for He definitely the All-Knowing, He knew that concern in my heart. just hours after the thought came, He communicated with me. a news came to my knowledge. something that i thought has been resolved but apparently it hasnt. i used to cry and be sad when i receive such news before. i did actually this time. but then i smile. i was happy. for the Lord of the heavens and the earth is actually talking to me in His special way. subhanAllah. an honour that is beyond descriptio. He heard me. He knew everything in my heart. He wanted me to always hold onto Him in the time of difficulties and ease. All praises belong to Him.

with the rain was pouring heavily outside, i could feel His blessings are wrapping around me. another thing i’d realized is that He actually answered a prayer i made few years back through this test. subhanaAllah. indeed, He never leaves His servants. never. He’s always there. it’s just us that often overlook his uncountable blessings. now i hope He wont take this iman from my heart till my last breath. amin.

“And when My servants ask you (O Muhammad concerning Me, then answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright”(2:186)

meski ku rapuh

 

Allah by saesm of DeviantArt

detik waktu terus berjalan
berhias gelap dan terang
suka dan duka tangis dan tawa
tergores bagai lukisan.

seribu mimpi berjuta sepi
hadir bagai teman sejati
di antara lelahnya jiwa
dalam resah dan air mata
kupersembahkan kepadaMu
yang terindah dalam hidup

meski ku rapuh dalam langkah
kadang tak setia kepadaMu
namun cinta dalam jiwa
hanyalah padaMu

maafkanlah bila hati
tak sempurna mencintaiMu
dalam dadaku harap hanya
diriMu yang bertakhta

detik waktu terus berlalu
semua berakhir padaMu

 

-rapuh by opick-

my Ultimate source of strength

 

sadness.

can a true muslim be sad?

of course,that’s a human’s nature.

but….

for how long you want to cry?

for how long you want to be trapped in the endless darkness?

the darkness that slowly eat away your hopes & dreams.

my heart has cried enough

my eyes have dried.

it’s the time to smile.

smile, even it feels like moving a mountain.

smile, for it’ll make others happy.

for i turn to Him whenever i’m sad,

and He always gladly gives me the strength,

the strength to keep going.

for He is my Ultimate source of strength.   

kerna aku percaya janjiNya

Sadness by Hassunomo of DeviantArt

siang tidak selamanya terang

malam tidak selamanya gelap

manusia tidak selamanya hidup

tiada yang kekal melainkanNya

tiada yang kekal.

airmata juga tidak selamanya basah

ia pasti diganti senyuman

suatu hari nanti.

kerna aku yakin pada janjiNya.

maka Kau tabahkanlah sekeping hati ini

agar aku tidak tersungkur di tengah perjalanan.

 

“Verily, along with every hardship is relief, Verily, along with every hardship is relief. So when you have finished, devote yourself to Allah's worship. And to your Lord turn intentions and hopes.”

(94: 5-8)

something behind it

assalamualaikum

 roses by lisa lins of Deviantart

 

ramadhan.hurdles.dakwah.

what do they have in common? i’d found the answer throughout my journey in ramadhan. being a daei never stop myself from receiving obstacles form my Lord. in fact, it’s indeed a tougher one. tougher to be fought against. and it’s more and more tougher in Ramadhan, the blessed month. when everyone else is busy increasing their amal and ibadah, i have to strive hard against this difficult hurdle. i have to fight against myself. but…why?

“Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah. And He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do.Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do.” (61:1-3)

Allah is teaching me to APPLY in my life things i’d been preaching of. so that i wont be those whom He hates. subhanAllah. He purposely puts myself in difficult situation now just to save me from His hatefulness. Alhamdulillah. all praises are just for Him.

may You give me the strength to fight against this feeling. for all strength are from You, the Almighty Allah. aminn.

cahayaNya yang pasti

 

Bila malam, pasti ada siang.

Bila gelap, pasti ada terang.

Bila turun, pasti ada naiknya.

Bila sedih, pasti ada bahagia.

Bila tawa, pasti ada airmata.

Begitulah hidup seorang insan,

hambaNya yang lemah lagi kerdil.

Hidup bagai roda yang berputar,

beruntunglah mereka yang melompat

lebih tinggi apabila kecundang.

Mereka yang jatuh,

tetapi jatuh ke hadapan.

Hanya kerna sumber kekuatan hakiki

sentiasa di jiwa mereka.

 

Bila cahaya dhuhaNya menyinari pagi,

terhapuslah malam yang kelam.

Seperti itu aku mengharapkan kesedihan ini

ditelan kebahagiaan yang menanti di hujung perjalanan.

Amin.

the moulding age

 

assalamualaikum.

 by ~Gazza NZ of Deviant Art

my journey back to malaysia hold many interesting stories. this is one of them. i sat beside a bussinessman on my 8-hours flight to malaysia. he is a full-time amway distributor in australia. as expected, he began to promote amway to me. while he seemed to endlessly tell me how great amway is, i have something else in my mind.

he chose to dedicate his life to amway and earn money from it. he chose to spend all of his time thinking how to widen his amway networks. he chose to be doing that for the rest of his life, until his golden age. that’s his decision. that’s his direction of life.

once you reach 20s, you start to think about your life, the meaning of it and how you will mould it. this age range is the time for most people to shape their perspectives towards life, to start to orientate their life into their chosen direction and finally to dedicate their whole life for it.

unlike Nuh as who lived for 950 years, our average lifespan is only around 60-100 years old. not to mention the fact that we could die anytime that He wants. then, will you use the very short time given by Him for something that is not beneficial for your akhirat, the forever Hereafter?  

“And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the abode of the Hereafter for those have Taqwa. Will you not then understand)” (Al-an’am 6:32)

hence, what will you dedicate your life for?

endlessly earning money?

“And what will his wealth avail him when he

goes down (in destruction)” (Al-Layl 92:11)

or the sought-after ‘Dr’ title ?

it’s your life, it’s your age, it’s your story.

it’s your akhirat, it’s your ending.

the Heaven full of indescribable pleasures.

“(They will be) on thrones, Mawdunah. Reclining thereon, face to face. Immortal boys will go around them (serving). With cups, and jugs, and a glass of flowing wine,Wherefrom neither Yusadda`un nor Yunzifun. And with fruit that they may choose. And with the flesh of fowls that they desire.And (there will be) Hur with wide lovely eyes.Like preserved pearls.A reward for what they used to do. No Laghw (evil vain talk) will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech. But only the saying of: "Salaman! Salaman!'' (Al-Waqi’ah 56:15 – 26)

or the dark Hell.

But no! Verily, he will be thrown into Al-Hutamah.And what will make you know what Al-Hutamah is, The fire of Allah, Al-Muqadah, Which leaps up over the hearts. Verily, it shall Mu'sadah upon them, In pillars stretched forth. (Al-Humazah 104: 4-9)

 

may Allah the Most Merciful guide our hearts always. aminn.

a woman’s choice

 

bismillah. assalamualaikum.

by Osokin on DeviantArt

nobody denies that a woman is made beautiful by Allah SWT. however, what is the value of a woman? so valuable that nothing could be compared to a woman? or of so little worth that even small amount of tip for serving red wine could cherish a woman? well, that was what i’d seen on my flight back to malaysia.  which one best describes you? it’s totally up to you. the choice is yours.

 

as mentioned in the Quran, Asiyah is in the first category. being the wife of an undeniably wealthy pharaoh , she definitely lived in luxury. however, she was never attracted to those fake worldly indulgence. Allah SWT gave her the strength to resist the greatest challenge that a woman could face, wealth.

وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلاً لّلَّذِينَ ءامَنُواْ امْرَأَةَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبّ ابْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتاً فِى

الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجّنِى مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجّنِى مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ

“And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir`awn, when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir`awn and his work, and save me from the people who are wrongdoers.” (At-Tahrim 66:11)

 

maryam as was another exceptional example. turning away from appealing temptations that the world could offer, she chose to dedicate her life and soul to the Lord Almighty.

وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَةَ عِمْرَانَ الَّتِى أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا

وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَـتِ رَبَّهَا وَكُتُبِهِ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْقَـنِتِينَ

“And Maryam, the daughter of `Imran who guarded her chastity (private part). And We breathed into it through Our Ruh, and she testified to the truth of her Lords Kalimat, and His Kutub, and she was of the Qanitin” (At-Tahrim 66:12)

 

ironically enough, being close to His obedient servants did not guarantee the wives of Nuh as and Lut as to obtain His Light

 

ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلاً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ امْرَأَتَ نُوحٍ وَامْرَأَتَ لُوطٍ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَـلِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِينَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئاً وَقِيلَ ادْخُلاَ النَّارَ مَعَ الدَخِلِينَ

Allah sets forth an example for those who disbelieve: the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were under two of our righteous servants, but they both betrayed them. So, they availed them not against Allah and it was said: "Enter the Fire along with those who enter!'' (At-Tahrim 66: 10)

 

Allah SWT has inspired us to two paths. the path that brings us closer to Him Love and the more tempting path that leads us astray. the rest is in our hand. the choice is ours. whether you want to be an obedient woman like asiyah and maryam or merely someone that could easily be deceived by the temporary indulgence.

 

By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it; And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right; Truly he succeeds that purifies it, And he fails that corrupts it! (As-Shams 91: 7-10)

for Allah is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, He is always there to help us making a choice.

So he who gives (in charity) and fears ((Allah)), And (in all sincerity) testifies to the best, We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss. But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient, And gives the lie to the best, We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Misery; (Al-Layl 92: 5-10)

 

nowhere but here

 

bismillah.salam.

sometimes i do ask myself ‘why am i here?’. having to learn all about indigenous health and australian health system from scratch really made me think ‘why do i have to learn things that aren’t related to me before?’ i can choose to study medicine in malaysia while be active in many community activities that do not involve partying and partying like in australia. there is must be a reason why Allah sends me here.

 

whenever i cycle passing mt stuart on my way back to home, the story of Muhammad SAW came to my mind. Allah SWT had inspired him to be alone in the Hira’ cave while many others were worshipping idols and lost in the deceiving world. Allah SWT had protected him and his soul in the isolated cave. as a result, Muhammad SAW became a great man. a mercy to the whole world. a man with great patience and other noble manners.

  

He has beautifully arranged my life. everything is in His hand. He had placed me in this isolated small town (though many aussies think townsville isn’t that rural) so that i can build my inner strength without being impeded by negative influences. self-development i would say. to be a better servant of His. to be closer to Him. insyaAllah.

       

mencari secebis keikhlasan

bismillah. assalamualaikum.



keikhlasan itu halus. keikhlasan itu tersembunyi jauh di dalam sudut hati. kadangkala, ia terbenam di sebalik perasaan riak, sombong dan takbur. hanya secebisnya diperlukan untuk amalan kita diterima Allah swt.

tapi harganya mahal.
semahal secubit garam yang datang jauh dari lautan dalam hanya untuk menaikkan rasa makanan di kala kelaparan.

keikhlasan sukar dicari.
sesukar mencari semut-semut hitam di atas batu yang hitam pada malam yang pekat.

di sebalik amalan kita yang terlalu sedikit ini, terselitkah secebis keikhlasan? hadirkah ia atau tiada kah ia?

adakah amalan kita kerana terpaksa? kerana mahu dilihat atau dipuji orang lain?
adakah amalan kita yang terlalu sedikit ini diterimaNya? atau ia bagai debu-debu yang tidak bernilai di mahkamahNya kelak?

sudah cukupkah kebajikan di dalam kitab amal ku untuk dipersembahkan di hadapanNya jika aku dijemput malaikat izrail pada esok hari?

"dan diletakkanlah kitab (catatan amal), lalu engkau akan melihat orang yang berdosa merasa ketakutan terhadap apa yang (tertulis) di dalamnya, dan mereka berkata, "betapa celaka kami, kitab apakah ini, tidak ada yang tertinggal, yang kecil dan yang besar melainkan tercatat semuanya," dan mereka dapati (semua) apa yang telah mereka kerjakan (tertulis). Dan Tuhanmu tidak menzalimi seorang jua pun." (Al-Kahf:49)

ingatlah bahawa amalan yang banyak bukanlah jaminan untuk mencium haruman firdausiNya jika keikhlasan itu tiada.

Demi Allah Yang tiada Tuhan melainkanNya,
sesungguhnya salah seorang dari kalangan kamu akan beramal dengan amalan ahli syurga, sehingga jarak antaranya dan syurga tidak lebih dari sehasta, lalu dia didahului oleh ketentuan tulisan kitab lantas dia mengerjakan amalan ahli neraka lalu dia memasuki neraka. Dan sesungguhnya salah seorang dari kalangan kamu akan beramal dengan amalan ahli neraka, sehingga jarak antaranya dengan neraka tidak lebih dari sehasta, lalu dia didahului oleh ketentuan tulisan kitab lantas dia mengerjakan amalan ahli syurga lalu dia
memasuki syurga. [Bukhari dan Muslim]


semuanya terletak pada kekuasaanNya.

tapi ingatlah Allah itu Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang. Rahmat kasih sayang Nya melangit luas.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There are one hundred (parts of) mercy for Allah and He has sent down out of these one part of mercy upon the jinn and human beings and the insects and it is because of this (one part) that they love one another, show kindness to one another and even the beast treats its young one with affection, and Allah has reserved ninetynine parts of mercy with which He would treat His servants on the Day of Resurrection. [muslim; book 37, hadith 6631]

ingatlah hanya dengan rahmat dan redhaNya membolehkan kita mengecapi syurgaNya.

berdoalah padaNya dan tetap berusahalah untuk mencari secebis keikhlasan yang hilang itu.
ingatlah Allah tidak pernah meninggalkan kita walau kita seringkali alpa.

Dari anas ra berkata, saya mendengar rasulullah saw bersabda, Allah swt berfirman,

"wahai anak Adam, selama engkau memohon kepadaKu dan berharap kepadaKu nescaya Aku ampuni segala dosamu yang telah kamu lakukan dan Aku tidak peduli.
wahai anak Adam, jika dosamu sampai setinggi langit lalu engkau minta ampun kepadaKu nescaya Aku ampuni.
wahai anak Adam, jika engkau datang kepadaKu dengan membawa kesalahan seluas bumi lalu engkau bertemu denganKu dalam keadaan tidak menyekutukanKu sedikitpun, nescaya Aku datang kepadamu dengan ampunan seluas bumi pula." (HR Tirmidzi)

ini untuk kalian

salam.

bingkisan ini khas buat mereka. As-sabiqunal awwalun yang ku cintai. yang ku cintai kerana Allah.

Allah SWT telah mengikat erat hati-hati kita di atas namaNya. di atas akidahNya. alangkah indahnya ikatan hati ini. tidak terbayang kemanisannya. tidak terkata perasaanku.
sesungguhnya Allah itu Maha Kuasa. di saat kita di tebing jurang neraka, Ar-Rahman telah menyelamatkan kita dengan rahmat dan kasihNya. Ar-Rahim telah mempersatukan hati kita. bukan sekadar itu, ukhuwah kita dieratkan dan dihangatkan lagi dengan kalimah-kalimahNya setiap hari. alangkah indahnya ikatan hati kita ini.

"dan berpegang teguhlah kamu semuanya pada tali (agama) Allah, dan janganlah kamu bercerai berai, dan ingatlah nikmat Allah kepadamu ketika kamu dahulu (masa jahiliah) bermusuhan, lalu Allah mempersatukan hatimu, sehingga dengan kurniaNya kamu menjadi bersaudara, sedangkan (ketika itu) kamu berada di tepi jurang neraka, lalu Allah menyelamatkan kamu dari sana. Demikianlah, Allah menerangkan ayat-ayatNya kepadamu agar kamu mendapat petunjuk." (Aali-Imran :103)


merekalah saudaraku. Allah telah mengutuskan kalian untukku. agar hidupku bertambah kemanisannya. bertambah keindahannya. kalianlah saudara seperjuanganku. sungguh, jalan yang bakal kita tempuhi ini dipenuhi onak duri. tapi ku pasti, di kala ku kepenatan dan kegelisahan, dengan rahmat dariNya, pasti kalian akan menenangkan jiwa ini. pasti kepenatan itu akan berlalu pergi seperti ia tidak pernah berkunjung tiba. inilah harga sebuah ikatan di atas akidahNya. tidak terkata manisnya. tidak terbeli mahalnya. hanya Allah SWT yang mampu melakukannya.

“Aku mencintaimu kerana agama yang ada padamu,
jika hilang agama dalam dirimu maka hilanglah cintaku” (imam nawawi)

marilah kita menyuburkan bumi ini yang ketandusan akidahNya walau jalan itu dihiasi kesusahan dan dugaan yang tak berkesudahan. kerana syurgaNya itu mahal. semahal usaha yang menggegarkan dunia. marilah kita bangkit dari lena yang panjang ini. marilah saudaraku kita menjadi tentera agamaNya.

ku sayang kalian dan sayangku tidak terbatas di dunia sahaja. ku sayang kalian hingga ke syurgaNya. walau nyawa kita bakal dijemputNya pada bila-bila masa, ku harap dapat bertemu kalian semula di syurgaNya kelak. sesungguhnya, itulah kemenangan yang teragung.

"sesungguhnya Allah membeli dari orang-orang mukmin, baik diri mahupun harta mereka dengan memberikan syurga untuk mereka. mereka berperang di jalan Allah; sehingga mereka membunuh atau terbunuh, (sebagai) janji yang benar dari Allah di dalam Taurat, Injil, dan Al-Quran. dan siapakah yang lebih menepati janjinya selain Allah? maka bergembiralah dengan jual beli yang telah kamu lakukan itu, dan demikian itulah kemenangan yang agung." (At-Taubah:111)

Diriwayatkan daripada Anas r.a katanya: Nabi s.a.w bersabda : Tiga perkara, jika terdapat di dalam diri seseorang maka dengan perkara itulah dia akan memperolehi kemanisan iman : Seseorang yang mencintai Allah dan RasulNya lebih daripada selain keduanya, mencintai seorang hanya kerana Allah, tidak suka kembali kepada kekafiran setelah Allah menyelamatkannya dari kekafiran itu, sebagaimana dia juga tidak suka dicampakkan ke dalam Neraka. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Diriwayatkan daripada Nu'man bin Basyir r.a katanya : Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda: Perumpamaan orang-orang mukmin dalam hal berkasih sayang dan saling cinta-mencintai adalah seperti sebatang tubuh. Apabila salah satu anggotanya mengadu kesakitan, maka seluruh anggota tubuh yang lain turut merasa sakit. [Bukhari & Muslim]

jazakumullah khairan kathira kepada kalian

for death is a must

bismillahirrahmanirrahim

salam.

D.E.A.T.H.
for death is a must, it's always right there beside us. accompanying us every single second, waiting for the angel of death, izrail to come and fetch our soul. to be parted with our body. death is like a door opening to the next phase of our life. life in our 6-feet deep cemetery.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ
عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ وَما الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ

Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is moved away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception. (Ali Imran3:185)

why are we still so busy thinking of deceptive worldly matters that are uncertain compared to preparing ourselves for death which is a must. which something that everyone shall taste its pain and agony.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall test you with evil and with good
by way of trial. And to Us you will be returned (Al-Anbiyaa' 21:35)

Rasulullah saw said "be in this world as if you were a stranger
or a traveler." (bukhari)

what a traveler does at his current pit stop? he's always worried preparing and collecting as much supply as he can for his final destination. where is our final destination? the eternal Hereafter. where we will be immortal. to live painfully in agony in His Hell forever or to indulge in pleasures of His jannah. 2 choices are given and the rest is in our hands.

the world is like a bridge leading us to the final destination. for the bridge can collapse anytime, cross it and do not build anything on it.

wallahu'alam

"Let's have some fun"

bismillahirrahmanirrahim

assalamualaikum.
today i had a quizmania for my cardiovascular medicine and respiratory medicine subjects. the questions were undeniably quite challenging. it's more like a game where we answer questions in groups and the students were also asked to dress up. yup, there were all having fun. fun that allow a male to become a female.

do we need fun in life?
do we really need it to have a content life or is it just a blindly accepted dogma? for most people, fun is important to ease their stress or problems. for me, i dont have much fun but i do have a content heart. i dont need fun to help me coping with my life. for fun means He is in the second place in our heart. i find happiness and tranquility in remembering Him.

الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

Those who believed and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. (13:28)

i may not laugh while others are laughing their lungs out at some jokes for i dont want to cry on the Day of Resurrection. life is just too short to fill it with things that wont contribute to our Hereafter. i dont want to ask myself "what have i done in my life?" when i'm facing my agonizing moments of death. i dont mind if others regard me as a serious and restless person as for me, a muslim does have a peaceful heart, but not a peaceful mind. a muslim's mind should always ponder and think. never stop thinking. for mind that distinguishes us from animal beings.

إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَاخْتِلَـفِ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لاّيَـتٍ لاٌّوْلِى الاٌّلْبَـبِ
Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. (3:190)

yes, call me a workaholic. and my profession is to be always closer to Him and collecting my deeds for my Hereafter. that's my permanent profession till my last breath.

وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَزِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ فَلاَ تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئاً وَإِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا وَكَفَى بِنَا حَـسِبِينَ

And We shall set up Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And sufficient are We to take account (21:47)


وَكُلَّ إِنْسَـنٍ أَلْزَمْنَـهُ طَـئِرَهُ فِى عُنُقِهِ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَـهُ مَنْشُوراً - اقْرَأْ كَتَـبَكَ كَفَى بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا
And We have fastened every man's Ta'irah (deeds) to his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a Book which he will find wide open. It will be said to him: "Read your Book. You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day" (17:13-14)

salam.

let Him be the first

bismillahirrahmanirrahim

either you are happy or sad,
let Him be the first that you turn to.
be it such a wonderful day with bright sunshine,
let Him be the first that you praise to.
even if you feel like being in a narrow space, suffocated with everything,
let Him be the first to listen to your grievance.
even if you feel like everything seems so endlessly,
let Him be the first to see your tired face.
even if you feel like everything feels so heavy and unbearable,
let Him be the first to see your tears.

for He is the only one that will relieve your tiredness.
He's the only one that will wipe away your tears.
He's the only one that will light up your journey.
He's the only one that will give you strength to move on.
He's the only one that will forgive you.


for He could do anything, let Him be the first
in anything in your life.

وَللَّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُ الاٌّمْرُ كُلُّهُ فَاعْبُدْهُ
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

And to Allah belongs the Ghayb of the heavens and the earth, and to Him return all affairs (for decision). So worship Him and put your trust in Him. And your Lord is not unaware of what you (people) do. (11:123)

Medicine & Islam : an integration

bismillahirrahmanirrahim

salam. the past few years had been wonderful to me. alhamdulillah. i'd got the chance to study medicine in overseas, it's something that i really wish for though i dont really know why. at the sametime, He'd given me the chance to know Islam deeper. to understand it with my heart. sometimes, i could felt as if i'm more eager to to learn islam rather than to study medicine. then these questions appear, "what am i doing here for the next 5 years?" "why do i limit myself to treat people's body while what i really want to do is to change others' thinking?"

i've always looked at medicine and islam as two different areas. separated. are there really no crossing lines between them?

what do we have in common?
be it a patient with myocardial infarction, a doctor, an ustaz or even an indigenous person, they all have one thing in common. they've got their minds. their way of thinking. their own perspective towards things/events around them. what distinguishes a muslim and a non-muslim is their insights into life. insights of a muslim are always parallel with what Allah wants.

the black death: an example
in the first week of my 1st year, i'd learnt about the popular plaque outbreak (ie the black death)
which ravaged Europe around 14th century. about one-third (around 25million) of the European population died during the outbreak. weirdly enough, it did not spread to the middle east area. why? it's because the difference in europeans and muslims perspectives towards cleanliness. europeans at that time could careless about it while muslims were really particular regarding cleanliness as it is also a part of one's faith towards Allah SWT. and who says medicine and islam have no common ground?

way of thinking: a wider aspect
having said that, there is a hidden relation between islam and medicine. apart from that, always bear in mind that medicine may be all about health but health is not all about one's physiological function. health also comprises the psychological aspect of a person.

during my Rural, Remote & Indigenous Health class last week, i had been given the chance to watch a thoughtful video title 'crossing the line'. it was about 2 medical students doing their placements in an indigenous community which has high rates of suicides and alcoholic violence. from my observation, suicides and alcohol are seen as simple getaways from their daily stress and problems. they see those things as quick escapades without realizing their traumatising aftermaths to their families and the community. not to mention their health-compromising behaviours (ie behaviours that worse their already worsen health).

feedbacks from others regarding the vid were all about the clinical aspects of handling such community. ranging from clinical skills to be used when communicating with indigenous people to clinical management of certain disease. yes, they are all important but for me, medicine is beyond that.

for us to change somebody's behaviour, we need to twist their way of thinking first. their ways of looking at lives. only by understanding their current frame of mind, we can adjust it and assimilate our ideas of islam into their minds. it's all about minds for minds determine one's actions.

i view the community as a group of people who is trapped in an enclosed space with no way out. everything around them seems so dark. their life no longer seems valuable and meaningful. they need something to fill their empty heart. the shine of islam is all they need. the light of hopes that will make them to really appreciate their lives.

and medicine is just the perfect platform that will open up a wide and broad path for me to reach them. there are more than just crossing lines between islam and medicine. they are always parallel and side by side with each other. may He always guide all of us. insyaAllah. amin.

a painful sacrifice

assalamulaikum.
while having a small picnic by the Pelican Beach at Goldcoast on a beautiful evening, Kak iman started our discussion by telling us about ukhuwah. the lowest level of an ukhuwah is to love our friends for who they are (ie berlapang dada). and the highest level of ukhuwah is to put others first before yourselves (ie ithar).

at first, i dont really feel its significance until i'd experienced it by myself. until i have to sacrifice something that i really wanted and worked hard for. something that could cost me perhaps a medical degree and time to be spent with my family. everytime i thought about it, i felt like a sharp blade stabbing my chest. painful. but i chose it that way. i want my friends to have it as i believe He has something better for me. and indeed He has.

and now, alhamdulillah, by sacrificing that something, i have gained loads of other things. He has given me the chance to have a road trip with my juniors. insyaAllah i'll give my best in my very first self-arranged jaulah.

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكمْ عَلَى تِجَـرَةٍ تُنجِيكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ - تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
وَتُجَـهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

"O you who believe! Shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from a painful torment. That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that you strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know!" (61:10)

i'd realized that once you sacrifice something that you really wish to have, He'll open the doors to many other things. things that you cant possibly think of. things that could change your tears to a wide grin :-D

i felt the meaning of ithar as well as understood why it is the peak of an ukhuwwah. it's undeniably a painful sacrifice but with compliments of greater opportunities. insyaAllah.
let's ithar, my friends ^_^

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَلَهُمْ بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الّجَنَّةَ يُقَـتِلُونَ فِى
سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْءانِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ
مِنَ اللَّهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِى بَايَعْتُمْ بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
"Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's cause, so they kill and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tawrah and the Injil and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success" (9:111)

an unforgettable night

as i was reading the anatomy of larynx and epiglottis just now, this painful memory appeared back.

the memory of a 7 years old boy who had almost choked (well, that's why larynx reminded me of him)

it was late at night. the small, innocent boy was chit-chatting with my aunt about his daily routines. about his father. his abusive father. his always-drunken father. and also about his tough mother who had gone through lots of sufferings. it was midnight and he was about to sleep in my room. in the meantime, his mother was fighting with cancer in a hospital ward. with already-spreaded cancer. the cancer had spreaded to her spine and under her skin. the cancer was everywhere.

it was 5am in the morning. and the phone rang. i heard my mum talking downstairs.

"dia dah meninggal," that was all i could heard. those words struck my heart. inalillah wa ina ilaihi raji'un. and he was still sleeping soundly.

just about few hours ago i met his mother in the hospital. she was asking for more and more painkillers. she was crying in agony.

and now, her soul had departed from her body. may He always bless her.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
"Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall test you with evil and with good by way of trial. And to Us you will be returned" (21:35)

the boy was still dreaming in his sleep. dreaming of a beautiful and peaceful life that other children enjoyed. the life that was not his. at the age of 7, he was left with a 5 years old brother and an abusive father. the father that was far away from islam.

i could still remember that day vividly. he was crying out loud beside his mother's burial ground. while his little brother still didnt understand anything. she had always been their shelter. the shelter from their own father. they laughed together. they ran together. they hid together from the father. and now the patient and tough mother had returned back to her Lord.

their father won the parental custody and the two innocent brothers were back to their luxurious yet soulless home. may they always be tough. may He protect and guide them always. insyaAllah. aminn.

وَالضُّحَى - وَالَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى - مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَى - وَلَلاٌّخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الاٍّولَى - وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى - أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيماً فَآوَى -
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلاًّ فَهَدَى - وَوَجَدَكَ عَآئِلاً فَأَغْنَى - فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلاَ تَقْهَرْ - وَأَمَّا السَّآئِلَ فَلاَ تَنْهَرْ - وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ

"By the forenoon. By the night when it darkens. Your Lord has neither forsaken you nor hates you. And indeed the Hereafter is better for you than the present. And verily, your Lord will give you so that you shall be well-pleased. Did He not find you an orphan and gave you a refuge. And He found you unaware and guided you. And He found you poor and made you rich. Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression. And repulse not the one who asks. And proclaim the grace of your Lord. " (93:1-11)

always be thankful to Him for what you have as there are many others out there who can only dream for things that you'd got.

when 1 + 1 = B

salam. yesterday there was a doctor sharing his experiences of being a rural doctor. then, i observed that australians are just optimistic and really enthusiastic in their work. not to mention their level of confidence and thinking skill. they value opinions and respect differences. they love to smile and no matter how high their position are, they never belittle you.

and how all these sound so perfect and holistic while they are not even muslims? and why we often see muslims fighting with each other? and even the salesgirl could almost ruin our day with her super gloomy expression. while some people could not even bother what do you have to say. well, dont get me wrong. i am not saying these differences appear because the title 'muslim' that we carry. Rasulullah saw and his companions are muslims and their actions and behaviours are superb.

i'm just curious why non muslims have the criteria of a muslim. perhaps, this is due to their upbringing and mentality. while we as muslims know our destination (ie paradise) and goal of life yet we dont have features needed to achieve it. on the other hand, they have everything needed yet they dont use them in the way that Allah wants.

let me give you an analogy. lets consider two boys; one is given 100 000 aud and another is only given 10aud. however the second boy is so keen to buy a car though he doesnt have enough money. but the first boy doesnt even bother to buy anything beneficial. hence, the second boy worked hard everyday to achieve his goal while the first boy spend the money recklessly. he went to pubs everyday and bought lots of drinks and eventually his money was wasted just like that. at the end of the day, he doesnt get anything beneficial from 100 000aud (except his liver disease of course)

the same thing goes for us. we might a bit upset of not having such perfect features but they are all the things that we can develop. that we can earn through years of hardships. and we know our efforts wont be wasted just like that. they are all recorded. they are all used to buy our properties in jannah. insyaAllah.

وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَـبُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يوَيْلَتَنَا مَا لِهَـذَا الْكِتَـبِ لاَ يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلاَ كَبِيرَةً

إِلاَّ أَحْصَاهَا وَوَجَدُواْ مَا عَمِلُواْ حَاضِرًا وَلاَ يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا

"And the Book will be produced, and you will see the criminals, fearful of that which is therein. They will say: "Woe to us! What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a small thing nor a large thing, but has recorded it with numbers!'' And they will find all that they did, present, and your Lord treats no one with injustice." (18:49)

as long as we have the determination, we can improve to be a better person. and we could certainly channel all those features of a perfect muslim to the right way. the way that Allah swt had ordered us to do. insyaAllah. aminn.

Verily, Allah orders justice and kindness, and giving (help) to the relatives, and He forbids immoral sins, and evil and tyranny. He admonishes you, so that perhaps you may take heed. (16:90)

And say to My servants that they should say those words that are best. (Because) Shaytan verily, sows a state of conflict and disagreement among them. Surely, Shaytan is to man a plain enemy (17:53)

what is your culture?

salam. in year 2 we have a subject called Rural, Remote, Indigenous and Tropical Health (RRITH). one of the activities in our Guided Learning Session today is to name our own culture and state out principles underpinning it. that aint too hard for me. i know my culture. it has always been islam. i know what my life is all about and what it demands from me. and i know reasons of my actions.

however, i noticed that other students especially Australians have some difficulties to name their culture and state out its principles. they do not know what kind of life do they involve in since the past 20 years. they do not know what is their stand, their own rules and regulations in life. it's hard for them to identify their culture as everything has already mixed up.

that's really an advantage of being a muslim. you know who you are and you know certainly where are you heading. all with the guidance from Allah SWT. insyaAllah. aminn.

"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as a niche and within it a lamp: the lamp is in a glass, the glass as it were a star Durriyyun, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow forth, though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything." (*24:35)

Freeze. Breath. Repent

salam. sometimes we are just too busy. too busy reading that final page of anatomy textbook. too busy thinking of the next post in our blog. too busy replying photo comments in facebook. too busy thinking of what others might think of us. too busy listening to teh lyric a nasheed.

let's stop for a moment.

freeze.

take a deep breath. be grateful to Him for still giving us the chance to breath.

close your eyes and think of your wrongdoings today. things that He doesnt like. then, repent.

ask for His forgiveness. He is indeed the All-Forgiving.

sometimes we are just too busy and excited to tell others about Him and islam. till we forgot about ourselves. we are busy to strengthen others' iman till we forgot ours. you are you own murabbi and mutarabbi. if you find yourself do not improve as a mutarabbi, then your task as a murabbi has failed. and how can you touch others' hearts when you even fail to touch yours.

so , let's freeze, breath and repent.

insyaAllah, He'll open the door for you. aminn.

"That He (Allah) may make what is thrown in by Shaytan a trial for those in whose hearts is a disease and whose hearts are hardened. And certainly, the wrongdoers are in an opposition far-off (from the truth). And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it (this Qur'an) is the truth from your Lord, so that they may believe therein, and their hearts may submit to it with humility. And verily, Allah is the Guide of those who believe, to the straight path." (22:53-54)

alhamdulillah, i'm a muslim

salam. i had just finished watching this great movie. i'm sure most people have seen it, but it would be better for us to watch it again and again. to always remind us their endless efforts in upholding His religion. looking at Abu Talib who remained as a non muslim till his last breath, i feel so blessed to be born as a muslim.

"Neither those who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) nor Al-Mushrikin (the idolaters) like that there should be sent down unto you any good from your Lord. But Allah chooses for His mercy whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty." (2:105)

there were so many people out there still confused and looking for the right path, the real meaning of life. but Allah has generously given me His ultimate blessing. to be born as a muslim. 1400 years ago, many strove so hard to protect their deen. they were being isolated for 3 years. they starved. life was the price to pay for saying 'there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad saw is His messenger'. and now, we can freely practise islam without such difficulties. the doors of opportunities are wide open to practise and spread our deen. so, my brothers and sisters, appreciate our deen. do not merely inherit it but understand it. for He can take it away from us anytime. na'udzubillah.

هُوَ الَّذِى بَعَثَ فِى الأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولاً مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـتِهِ
وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَـبَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِى ضَلَلٍ مُّبِينٍ

He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His Ayat, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and the Hikmah. And verily, they had been before in manifest error. (62:2)