Things you can and can't control (Management Pt 1)

Assalamualaikum fellas. Hope you're in the pink of health.

Today, I would like to write about things you can and can't control. 


Let me give you a situation. You have a car, you usually going places by car, and one day your car breakdown and needed to send to the workshop. Having little choice, you opt for train to commute you to your office. You are late, the door of a coach is about to close, you push the button near the door to open it. Once you're safely in the coach, thousands (okay I might exaggerate it a bit, maybe hundreds or less) of eyes are looking at you as if they wanna eat you alive. (Remember, this situation is not an usual norm for you)

What is on your mind? 

~ Why is everybody looking at me like I'm half-naked?

~ What's wrong with my attire? Is there coffee spilt on my silk shirt?

~ Am I aboard the wrong train or coach?

~ Why do they looking at me?

~ What wrong have I done?

The list go on and on. And you started looking for your phone or mag or anything to distract the questions in your head. 

The real thing is, it's just you do the thinking, everybody else have their business on their minds. They don't really bother the creature who just entering the coach shortly out of breath. Psychologically, you're the one is still moving and you have accidentally attracted the attention of people in the train (just for a second though). 

That was a simple situation. Things that you can actually control because it's your mind playing tricks on you. I have a real situation that I don't usually let my mind do the tricks on me, but it got me thinking absurdly.  

I met a bunch of great mind people, when I'm around them, I always feel like I'm the least intellectual, less confident and I down-graded myself (wutta...?) BUT still, I have the guts to tell one of them bout it. And here's what he response:

"Why are you feeling so? You shouldn't feel like that. It's only you think it that way. We never judge you like you're the least intellectual. There are things that you can control and things you can't control. Like your parents, you can't choose who your parents are, they're gifted. But this, (the demoralize thingy), you can control. If you think people are judging you that way, control it, prove them wrong, read a lot of books, do bunch of research, converse and discuss, so you gain more knowledge, right? You see, there's always choices for us to make. It's whether we want to change it or not.."

There you go, a short advice, but a very precise. Thank you Mr. H. ('',)

End of Management Pt 1 (What? There is Management Pt 2? Yes, TBContinue..)

Comeback Pt 3 (Makmal Fikir [Thinklab©])

Excited. Okay. Take a deep breath. Breath in.

Commitments, a word that I used to be afraid of. Not anymore, since now I met a bunch of awesome people last month. Yeah, as I said in the Comeback Pt 1, a roller coaster is a fun ride! What are you talking about? I know, getting confuse huh? Let me spell it out for you.

The commitments I'm talking about is not about getting attach to any relationship but I'm now an agent of change for thinklab© and I challenge myself to do podcast. Podcast is a radio programme that is stored in a digital using signals in the form of numbers form that you can download from the Internet and play on a computer or on an MP3 player. I'm challenging myself because I am an introvert kind of person. By putting myself in this commitment, I hope that I will gain more knowledge and the most important thing is I boost up my confident level a lil bit higher. Now that I am the assistant for the new upcoming event, Agents of Change Program - MAKMAL© Series, I hope to build communication skills.  

Owh, before I forget, please excuse me, and give a big applause to Dinah Rakhim for introducing me to this thinklab©. 

Just to share with you that thinklab© is not just a social network page (FB), or webpage but more than that. We (the agent of change where these cool people are) will meet every Saturdays at around 10am, and we'll talk and discuss, and the most crucial part is we make things happen. The target is to be the 1st design platform in Malaysia, may not be the best but we want to be the bridge to the world out there and to create awareness of how important design is, what design capable of, what design can solves, the list go on and on. 

Its a pleasure for me to come every week despite the fun I've missed hanging out with my friends, it's because I  get the chance to 'work' my brain(s) out, in a very relaxing ambiance and 'sempoi' way. They are very cool and  welcoming. I love the positive vibes they spread, the jovial laugh, the old-school style, the awesomeness and the great minds to be hang out with. Yeah, they are from different background, architecture, industrial, interior, free lancer, media, designer, graphic, you name it but we will find one point so that everybody can meet eye to eye. It always does. We'll find solutions, in fact, they have a lively spirit and a lot of enthusiasm and can often stay focused on a creative project and forget everything around them. An artistic personality type solves problems by creating something new. 

At the end of every session, we get to evaluate ourselves which we can see from time to time, where actually we are standing. What were happening, what is going on, and what are we intend to do for the next week, next month, next year, perhaps. It made me think, enormously most of the time, what I can do to contribute, what should I say, what I should not, how to make things work, etc.

Yep, I can read your mind, what do I get? This is a non profit organisation. I did it voluntarily. I know I may not gain anything but in matter of fact I gain so much and more. It's basically for my self establishment, but in the long terms, I get to build networks, confidence, and not forgetting trust. 

Should you find this article interesting enough and eager to join us, let me know and I am so very please to lead you the way. So, basically what Agent of Change will have is:

• Meeting : Every Saturdays (except if there are events or the management stated the other way around)
• Time     : 10.00am
• Venue   : TBC by admin
• Fees     : Free admission

Ps: it's not compulsory to attend every weekend, but there're a lot to be missed =P

Breath out.

Comeback Pt 2 (2011? No, 2012)

In the name of Allah , the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. New year. 2012. 

New resolutions? No, I say I'd enough resolutions last year and I plan to bring it forward as part of my cousin's advice as well. The fact that I reached few targets last year is really up-lifting my burden. All thanks to Allah, and my parents and families. I owe them big time. 

Part 2:

Anyway, looking back in the past year, 2011, the last tri-month (I'm not preggar, mind you =P), was awesome! I had an interview for a new job. The very next week, 2nd interview, and the very next month, the new company has given me a new lease of life! I am no longer working in the playground manufacturing company but event company where I got to explore new field of design. I am so grateful that they are willingly to 'risk' me in the company. And for that, to Allah I put on hopes and praise gratitude. 

It is a totally new environment, from the software, work space, working hours, work attire, working attitude, colleagues, etc. I thought all 3D softwares would be almost the same feature but this time around, I was totally wrong. I have to learn and clear my memory from the previous software skills (which is merely impossible since I have a good memory, masha Allah. Haha). Just imagine using a software that almost 3 years competently and now I have to change the whole thing, that's not a piece of cake, man. Nevertheless, this opportunity is like a dream comes true, and I will never go and throw this out of window. I will strive and make this happen for an opportunity doesn't knock twice. It's a kick-start for me as well to move on to a higher level. I know that I have to learn and work hard, but it's worth a try. 

Now that I'm in the chinese company, (previously was Malay), I have to survive on my own. There are little malay restaurants in the area, and finding a Halal restaurant is not easy-reach eventhough I'm still in Malaysia. Even so, I might have to drive to find Halal food and finding parking is really an issue since it's a commercial area. This has made me thinking how hard to survive oversea, and I have to salute those (as a Muslim) who can strive without you having had to be compromised with the regulations of Islam rule. My solution; bring food from home, which I try to make it a habit next week. (I might sound so exaggerate, yeah, I know it's not THAT HARD to find stall or restaurants serving Halal food, but I'm a picky eaters and I find it less options that lead me to the solution).

Surau, or praying room is not provided in the company. Well, there are only two Muslims including me, so I can sense that there are no reason they have to provide one, plus it's not a big company and we're all cramped up ourselves. Nonetheless, they are so very respectful that they allow us to perform our solat in the 2nd floor meeting room and if it's equipped, we can solat in hidden corner where none of them barely see us. They'll lower the voice tone and let us alone worshiping Allah. It is a shoes-off company for your information, so the floor is clean.

When it comes to colleagues, they are very helpful especially my department. I can't say enough  gratitude towards my colleagues named Epei, Joseph the Design asst manager and Kak Anis. They are very kindhearted willingly to teach me nearly everything I needed to know in this field. Thank you so very much. Thus, I'm hoping and praying that I will strive and sharpening my edge and skills towards better self-development this year. It sounds more like resolution though? No, it's my target. Haha.

1st day (early Christmas party)  

Me & Kak Anis

Owh, I can't wait to write Comeback Pt 3 where I meet a bunch of cool people; despite the project I brought from office to be completed by today! Tomorrow is the dateline submission. Freak out + excited.

Comeback Pt 1 (Drive Safe)

Whew, that was a long period since I didn't write. Anyway, first and foremost, Assalamualaikum everyone. Well, new year is coming, what have you achieved? What is your resolutions for next year? Have you fulfill your dreams and promises? Well, this year have been quite a roller coaster for me. Nevertheless, above all, I accomplished what I targeted, despite the conflicts which come in the package. 


I've started missing my blog, eagerly wanting to dance my finger on the keyboard. It's not that I don't have entry to write, actually there are a lot that I wanna say, I just don't have time, a lot that I have to accomplish, datelines and paperworks, meetings and so on. Yes, a lot that I've been through and I couldn't thank Allah enough for bringing me such a pleasant journey. Such, really. I don't deny the unpleasant things happen in my life lately but I know that eventually, He will grant me something that is beyond my expectations, and He did. He give me rainbows!


Hence, I will write this entry by parts since there are a lot to talk about but the topics are differ. 


Part 1:
Last three months, I had an accident, a car accident, but a very minor one (thank Allah). I was on my way balik kampung, it's raining and slippery road and I'd just change the engine oil and oil filter. Despite all those that I mentioned, I shouldn't blame the condition because it can't be controlled, I should be more in control I suppose. 

Burger! Mine is the bun (last car to hit em')

Worst car wrecked

Total cars collided are 8 in a row!

So, fellas, lesson to be learned, I'm advising you (and me myself mostly) to:

• Drive carefully especially when it's raining
• Make sure the distance between your car and front vehicle is a safe distance. I've been educate that the least distance is two-car distance with your vehicle running just only 16km/h. So, imagine if you're running 90km/h, please do the math.
• Drive in the middle lane most of the time (especially during the bad weather) because the vehicle in the fast lane they tend to brake by emergency. 
• Use the hand-brake when it comes to the emergency situation
• Pump the brake twice or more to have better grip, control the steering wheel
• Do not panic and remember Allah and hold on to Him
• It's kinda important to turn down the volume of audio system so that you have better hearing and clearer picture of what is going on outside your vehicle.

Nonetheless, every cloud has it's silver lining. Whatever happen, it happens for a reason, thus all I need to do is thank Allah that nobody hurts. 
Wow, such a great feeling, brain-organized and satisfaction to write again. Awesome. I'll write the next part in nearest time.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Kesepuluh hingga Malam Ketujuh Belas

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Kesepuluh:


Allah s.w.t. mengurniakan kepadanya kebaikan dunia dan akhirat.

 

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Kesebelas:

Keluar daripada dunia (mati) bersih daripada dosa seperti ia baru dilahirkan.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Kedua Belas:

Datang pada hari kiamat dengan muka yang bercahaya (cahaya ibadahnya).

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Ketiga Belas:

Datang pada hari kiamat dalam aman sentosa dari tiap-tiap kejahatan dan keburukan.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Keempat Belas:

Datang Malaikat menyaksikan ia bersembahyang terawih serta Allah tidak menyesatkannya pada hari kiamat.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Kelima Belas:

Semua malaikat yang menanggung "Arasy Kersi" berselawat dan mendoakannya supaya Allah mengampunkannya.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Keenam Belas:

Allah s.w.t. tuliskan baginya terlepas daripada Neraka dan dimasukkan ke dalam Syurga.

Sekadar gambar hiasan

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Ketujuh Belas:

Allah kurniakan orang yang berterawih pada malam itu pahalanya sebanyak pahala nabi-nabi.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Pertama - Malam Kesembilan

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Pertama:


Mendapat keampunan dari Allah, hilang dosa-dosa seperti baru dilahirkan.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Kedua:

Diampunkan dosanya serta kedua ibu bapanya (sekiranya mereka beriman).

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Ketiga

Berseru Malaikat di bawah 'Arasy supaya meneruskan sembahyang Tarawikh terus menerus semoga Allah mengampunkan dosanya.

 

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Keempat

Mendapat pahala sebagaimana pahala orang yang membaca kitab-kitab Taurat, Zabur, Injil dan Al-Quran.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Kelima:

Diberikan pahala sempurna ia mengerjakan solat di Masjidil Haram, Masjid Madinah dan Masjid Aqsa.

Masjidil Haram

Masjid Madinah (Pandangan pada waktu malam)

Masjid al-Aqsa

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Keenam:

Allah kurniakan pahala kepadanya pahala malaikat-malaikat yang tawaf di Baitul Ma'mur (70 ribu malaikat sekali tawaf) serta setiap batu-batu dan tanah-tanah mendoakan sepaya Allah mengampunkan dosa-dosanya.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Ketujuh:

Seolah-olah ia dapat bertemu dengan Nabi Musa a.s. serta menolong Nabi musa a.s. menentang musuhnya Firaun dan Hammam.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Kelapan:

Allah mengurniakan pahala sepertimana yang telah dikurniakan kepada Nabi Allah Ibrahim a.s.

Fadhilat Solat Tarawikh Malam Kesembilan:

Allah kurniakan pahala dan dinaikkan mutu ibadah hambanya seperti Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.

Masha Allah  =')

Marhaban ya Ramadhan..

Assalamualaikum dear readers. The month of blessing is just around the corner, Marhaban ya Ramadhan al-Mubarak. Here I would love to share with you a few common mistakes that we thought simple and tend to neglect to even notice. I may seem a lil' bit longer than my usual post but it's worth to share. ^^,

Taking Ramadhaan as a ritual

For many of us Ramadhaan has lost its spirituality and has become more of a ritual ( Stereotyped behaviour) than a form of Ibaadah. We fast  from morning to night like a zombie (living dead)just because everyone  around us is fasting too. We forget that its a time to purify our hearts  and our souls from all evil. We forget to make Dua, forget to beseech  Allah to forgive us and ask Him to save us from the Fire.  Sure we stay  away from food and drink but that’s about all? Too much stress on food and drink For some people, the entire month of Ramadhaan revolves around food. They spend the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about only food, instead of concentrating on Salaah, Quraan and other acts of worship. All they can think of is FOOD so much so that they turn the month of ‘fasting’ into the month of ‘feasting’. Spending all day cooking Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands)  are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are  too tired to even pray Ishaa, let alone pray Taraweeh or Tahajjud or even  read Quraan. This is the month of mercy and forgiveness. So turn off that  stove and turn on your Imaan!   Eating too much Some people stuff themselves at Suhoor (Sehree) until they are ready to burst, because they think this is the way to not feel hungry during the day and some people eat at Iftaar, like there is no tomorrow, trying to ‘make up for the food  missed.’ However, this is completely against the Sunnah. Moderation is the key to everything. The Prophet (SAW) said: “The son of Adam does not fill any  vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are  sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah. Saheeh by al-Albaani). Too much food distracts a person from many deeds of obedience and worship, makes him lazy and also makes the heart heedless. Sleeping all day Some people spend their entire day (or a major part of it) ’sleeping away their  fast’. Is this what is really required of us during this noble month? These  people also are missing the purpose of fasting and are slaves to their desires of comfort and ease. They cannot ‘bear’ to be awake and face a little hunger  or exert a little self-control. For a fasting person to spend most of the  day asleep is nothing but, negligence on his part. Wasting time The month of Ramadhaan is a precious, It is so much precious so that Allah  calls this month“Ayyamum Ma’doodaat“ (A fixed number of days). Before we  know it, this month of mercy and forgiveness will be over. We should try and spend every moment possible in the worship of Allah so that we can make the  most of this blessing. However, there are some of us who waste away their  day playing video games, or worse still, watching TV, movies or even listening to music. Subhaana Allah! Trying to obey Allah by DISOBEYING him! Fasting but not giving evil Some of us fast but do not give up lying, cursing, fighting, backbiting, etc. and  some of us fast but do not give up cheating, stealing, dealing in haraam, buying lotto tickets, selling alcohol, fornication, etc. and all kinds of impermissible things without realizing that the purpose of fasting is to not stay  away from food and drink; rather the aim behind it is to fear Allah. “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those  before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” [al-Baqarah 2:183]  The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting  upon it, and ignorance, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” (Bukhaari) Smoking Smoking is forbidden in Islam whether during Ramadhaan or outside of it, as it is one of al-Khabaa’ith (evil things). And this includes ALL kinds of ’smoking  material’ eg.cigars, cigarettes, pipes,’Sheesha’, hookah etc.“he allows them  as lawful At Tayyibaat (all good and lawful things), and prohibits them as  unlawful Al Khabaa’ith (all evil and unlawful things) [al-A'raaf :157] It is harmful, not only to the one smoking, but also to the ones around him. It is also a means of wasting ones wealth. The Prophet (SAW) said: “There should be no harming or reciprocating harm.” This is especially true during fasting and it invalidates the fast.(Fatwa -Ibn ‘Uthaymeen) Skipping Sahur The Prophet (SAW) said: “Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing.” (Bukhaari, Muslim). And he (SAW) said: “The thing that differentiates between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating suhoor.”  (Muslim) Missing the golden chance of having your Dua' accepted The prayer of the fasting person is guaranteed to be accepted at the time of  breaking fast.The Prophet (SAW) said: “Three prayers are not rejected: the  prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.” (al-Bayhaqi, saheeh by al-Albaani). Instead of sitting down and making Dua at this precious time, some people  forego this beautiful chance, and are too busy frying samosas, talking, setting the food, filling their plates and glasses, etc. Think about it…. Is food more  important than the chance to have your sins forgiven or the fulfillment of your  Duas. Fasting but not praying The fasting of one who does not pray WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This is because  not praying constitutes kufras the Prophet (SAW) said: “Between a man and  shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer.” (Muslim) In fact, NONE of  his good deeds will be accepted; rather, they are all annulled. “Whoever does not pray ‘Asr, his good deeds will be annulled.” (Bukhaari) Mixing fasting & dieting DO NOT make the mistake of fasting with the intention to diet. That is one of  the biggest mistakes some of us make (esp. sisters). Fasting is an act of  worship and can only be for the sake of Allah alone. Otherwise, mixing it with the intention of dieting may become a form of (minor) Shirk. Fighting over number of rakaah of Tarawikh There is no specific number of rak’ahs for Tarawikh prayer, rather it is  permissible to do a little or a lot. Both 8 and 20 are okay.Shaykh Ibn  ‘Uthaymeen said: “No one should be denounced for praying eleven or  twenty-three (raka’ah), because the matter is broader in scope than that,  praise be to Allah.” Wasting the last part of Ramadhan preparing for Eid Some people waste the entire last 10 days of Ramadhaan preparing for Eid, shopping and frequenting malls, etc. neglecting Ibadah and Lailatul Qadr.  Although, the Prophet (SAW) used to strive the hardest during the last ten  days of Ramadhaan in worship (Ahmad, Muslim) and not in shopping. Buy  whatever you need for Eid before Ramadhaan so that you can utilize the time in Ramadhaan to the max.Aa’ishah (RA) said: “When the (last) ten nights  began, the Messenger of Allah (SAW)) would tighten his waist-wrapper  (i.e., strive hard in worship or refra in from intimacy with his wives), stay  awake at night and wake his family.” (Bukhaari and Muslim). We say We Love Islam But, Do we really follow Allah’s and Our Prophets teaching?