Work

I realised that no matter how much work i have in hand, and no matter how i think i cant cope with them, i still need to settle them.

Thus, what is there to make a fuss about?

I'll still need to overcome it.

Why make myself unhappy abt the work?

I'll still need to do it.

So, let's do my work in a happy mood!

Extremism

One question: What is extrimism?

Ok, perhaps more than 1 Q.

• Who set the limit of being normal, that when you crossed that limit, u're extreme?
• What are the limits?
• Who are the extrimists?

At this point of my life, my mind cant stop asking these questions.

Why?

Because lately, i have heard too much of the word "extrimist", "fanatics", "fundamentalists" etc.

So, i began to wonder what made the world label them as such?

As a medical student, i am supposed to study almost the whole day (well, at least that's what my seniors told me) but i just cant. I cant keep reading the text book. I wanna play, i wanna surf the net, i wanna read ppl's blog, i wanna write my own blog, i wanna read other books, and i wanna do lots and lots of stuff so, i just dont study the whole day. 

Hence, if i were to hv a friend who slept only 3-4hrs a day, studying for almost the whole night, i'm bound to label this friend as "extrimist". I'd say 

"Fuyo.. U're vry xtreme! How could u sleep only 3-4 hrs?? I cant!"

But then, there is one thing i realised now that i need to bear in mind. This friend of mine, HAVE THE capability to sleep only 3-4 hrs a day. 

He@she is not my type, who gets headache whenever i do not sleep enough. So, to him@herself, he@she is not being extreme. Hr@she is surviving!

And, from (let's assume this is a girl) her point of view, i'd be the extreme one. Why? Cos she can only afford 3-4 hrs a night and study at other times while i sleep 8hrs a day. Twice the perios that she slept. Won't i be the extreme one? She might just say:

"What?? U slept 8 hours! That's extreme and ridiculous! How did u manage to finish the syllabus?"

The fact is, i didnt manage to finish the syllabus. =P I went for my Sejarah (History) SPM exam with not revising the last chapter. I skipped the whole chapter. It was something abt the policies of Malaysia after the independence. But i still managed to score A1. Alhamdulillah..

So, to me, she is the extremist. To her, i am the extrimist.

When i 1st got to know that my beloved prophet, Rasulullah pbuh stayed up almost the whole nigt praying to the Almight God, i was like, "What? That's extreme! I cant do it". But now i realised, the prophet was given the capability to do so by Allah. He has the patience, his level of iman is incomparable, and his love to Allah is beyond others. Thus, he was not acting extremely because his act was still under his capability. He didnt stand on one leg on a coconut tree praying, did he? Even if he did, that means he's capable of it, and so he's not extreme. Ok, perhaps that's not a beautiful example, but at least the concept is there. Correct me if i'm wrong.

So, who gave the world, the media especially to label some people in the world as extremist?

In Islam, there is the word "moderate".

As the hadith of Rasulullah SAW:-

Aishah narrated: The Prophet was asked, "What deeds are loved most by Allah?" 

He said, "The most regular, constant deeds, even though they may be few." 

He added, "Don't take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability"

(Al-Bukhari)

Well, clear?

Muslims are supposed to take only the deeds which are within our capability.

And so, eventhough Muslims are compulsory to pray 5x a day, and the way to do it is to stand, except when during ruku' or sujud. But if your leg is aching etc, u can do it sitting down, or lying on the bed, or in worse cases where the Muslim cant even move their limbs, paralysed the whole body, the Muslims can still pray - by using their eyes. Only the movement of eyelids are required. Isnt Islam beautiful?

So, in my opinion, the word extremist is not supposed to be popularised.

But the word "wrong-doers" should.

Those who do things extremely, like locking their women in the house because they do not want other men to look at their women, in the same time denying the women their rights, are not extreme, but they are wrong-doers. Islam do not allow women to be oppressed. Islam respects women like no other civilisation. Unless, the woman herself do not want to go out of the house because she doesnt want other man to treat her badly, that's totally ok with me.

Sometimes i feel like not going out of the car also when there are lots of men outside and i'll prefer if my father drives the car further from them before i come out.

That's normal...

So, am i being extreme?

Hurm...

Different Culture

With the name of Allah The Most Forgiving, The Sustainer

Let's talk abt culture.

What the westerners had taught me, and what the eastern ppl had taught me. And see how they differ.

First of all, i'll clarify the source of education.

Western education comes from media (movies, drama etc), personal readings, books, and academicians who read western books i.e. school teachers who thinks the westerners are always right and better than us in all aspects.

Eastern education are mostly informal education such as what my mother taught me, what i read from books, what i heard from malay or chinese drama that opposes the westerners.

Let's start.

Westerners said:

1. Do what u want to do, do not be afraid of what other ppl might think of u. you are responsible for urself.
2. U marry ur husband, u are not marrying his family. So what if the family opposes ur marriage?
3. Be what you want to be. U are the one who put patterns into ur life.
4. Be open minded. It will make u shine above others. 
5. A girl should be entitled to get whatever a man can get. eg good jobs, no-discrimination, no need to take care of the hse.
6. You have the right to take action that might hurt ppl as long as you wont suffer in the long term. eg: You shd refuse if ur parents ordered u to take medicine if u are actually interested in economics. because if you take medicine, u'll suffer the whole life. hence, in this case, disobey ur parents. They will realise that u made the right choice sooner or later.
7. We shd follow the majority. Majority wins.

Easterners said:

1. Do not let ppl talk bad abt u. Do not be the bad guy in the town. 
2. U are not only marrying your husband, but you are marrying into his family. So, treat them as your own.
3. Life is full of restrictions. Obey the rules of life and live happily.
4. Do not be too open minded. It will ruin you. eg: A young girl is not supposed to talk about sex to another man who isn't her family members or her doctors.
5. A woman's duty is to serve her husband and family but she may also do other things as long as her father (if unmarried) or husband permits.
6. Do not disobey ur parents. 
7. Sacrifice for other ppl's advantage. It's ok if u're not happy as long as ur loved ones are. This is because u can make urself happy again, but it's hard to make them happy after they're hurt.
8. The wise man wins. 

And ohh.. There are so many others which i'll not be able to list it down now.

I gotta get ready to go for my class.

But, do u realise or not that all the teachings of the westerners are very tempting and sounds real good?

Well, that was my first thought. 

It is because i had been educated that way thru the films and movies.

Then, i realise that it is tempting only on the surface.

But it brings a lot of bad consequences after that.

The easterners teachings however, has been depicted by the westerners as "conservative" and "not-free".

But, now i think the teachings are actually for our own benefits.

It teaches us how to live the life in harmony.

If everyone were to live their lives in their own way, let's imagine what will happen to the world?

What day is today?

With the name of Allah The Most Compassionate, The All-Knowing

Well, one of the most eventful event (huh?) of the day is "The Standing of The Eggs".

My BFF Hui Fong told me that according to chinese myth, today is the "Dumplings Day".

Well, i know dumplings, yum yum, but nvr heard of "Dumplings Day".

She said, according to the myth, eggs will be able to stand sharp at 12pm today, which is the 5th day of the 5th month based on lunar calendar.

So, Lii Chyuan brought an egg to IMU to do an egg-standing performance, unfortunately he broke the eggs before 12pm. But,he went back to vista and bought 10 more eggs.

At 12pm, we went to the basketball court, and saw Lii Chyuan and some more chinese gus trying to make the eggs stand, and they succeeded!

I had nvr try to make an egg stand before this so i cant really say that the eggs can only stand during the dumpling day but, one thing i am sure of is, this is the power of Allah.
And only with His permission, anything can happen.

So, it was a successfull performance by Lii Chyuan and friends.
Perhaps i'll try it again some other today to see if the eggs can also stand during other times.

Bought

With the name of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

Alhamdulillah, at last!
I'm back at home, connecting to the internet with my new modem.
I'm poorer by RM78 today.
Luckily i managed to restrain myself from buying any other thing in Mines just now, if not, i might be poorer by RM100.

In the computer shop, i saw lots of laptops for sale.
Since i realised that this laptop of mine is very heavy, i tried to love it very-very much so that i wont thought of buying a new one.
But lately, abt 2mths back, it crossed my mind to sell this laptop off and buy a new one, a lighter and a smaller one.
But i dare not let the idea to grow, because i know myself.
i know that when i really want something, i'll try my best to make it happen and i know, buying a new laptop will just worsen my not-so-good financial state.

And also, it is not easy to sell a laptop, not like a handphone.
I've changed my hp several times this past 2 yrs but i cant do the same to laptop.
So that however became the "excuse" for me not to think of getting a new laptop.
But, being in the shop for a long time just now, made me feel like a "notebook-hunter".
I asked if they take 2nd hand laptop but the shopkeeper advised me to go Low Yat if i want to sell of my laptop. They MIGHT buy 2nd hand notebook.

Hurm..
But, this laptop of mine really cost me a fortune abt 2yrs back.
This laptop uses NVIDIA Graphic card, which is way better and MORE EXPENSIVE than most laptop has, the media accelerator if i'm not mistaken.
That means, even if i buy a new notebook, the quality of the graphic wont be so nice.
But, i'm not a gamer, thus a highly advanced graphic card is not of use to me.

Ok, i'm going to talk to my mum abt it, and see how will she scold me for thinking to buy a new laptop.
Haha...

Just Writing

With The Name of Allah The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

I have just read a blog from my campus-mate, but i dont know who she is.
She's my senior for sure (but i'm not revealing who she is)
And i found out that she is very talented in writing.
She actually wrote her own personal experiences, much like an online diary.

I did that once, but reduces my online diary posts now.
Why?
Because i thought ppl wont be interested with my life routine.
I mean, if i wrote abt myself, and myself and me, won't it be boring?
So is started writing abt other things, like reviewing news, or giving facts about the sufferings of palestinians.. I am not saying that these posts are not what i am, NO! Those posts are as important as my life is, perhaps more.

But i think to enhance my writing skills, i'll need to write more things, i need to start writing actually, not just become a mediator, takes facts from somewhere else, and put it down here on my blog.
I found it interesting to read other ppl's blog, their personal experience despite me thinking ppl wont bother abt mine.
so, i think i'll re-start writing abt my life from now on.
InsyaAllah...

p/s: I'm heading to the Mines Shopping Fair after this. Need to buy a new modem. I hasnt online at home for a week! I am in IMU now.
Bye..
Assalammualaikum!

Study: Poverty fueling Muslim tension with West

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090508/twl-eu-muslim-integration-c8e2916.html

By DAVID STRINGER,Associated Press Writer AP - Friday, May 8

LONDON - Joblessness and poverty are a more potent source of tension between Muslims and wider European and U.S. society than religious differences, one of the first major studies of Muslim integration since the Sept. 11 terror attacks claimed on Thursday.

Attacks by Islamic extremists on the United States and European capitals such as Madrid and London have sparked debate on whether a failure of Muslims to integrate into Western society has fueled extremism.

But a study of around 30,000 people in 27 countries by the Gallup polling company claims non-Muslims _ including the public and lawmakers _ have misunderstood the attitudes of most Muslims in the West, stifling attempts to promote understanding.

These Muslims are more patriotic, more tolerant and more likely to reject violence than the rest of Western society believes they are, the study claims. It suggests most European Muslims, for example, are as happy as other Europeans to live alongside people of other faiths and ethnic backgrounds, and share broadly similar views with their neighbors.

The findings appear to contradict the impression created by angry protests across Europe following the 2005 publication in Denmark of 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, and recent rallies in which small groups of British Muslims have disrupted homecoming parades for soldiers returning from Iraq.

But Dalia Mogahed, executive director of the London and New York-based Gallup Center for Muslim Studies and a faith adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama, said the survey shows most Muslims welcome closer ties to the rest of society. The study focused chiefly on European Muslims, and the mistaken perceptions about their attitudes in wider European society.

"Many of the assumptions about Muslims and integration couldn't be more wide of the mark," she said. "European Muslims want to be part of the wider community and contribute to society."

The study did not produce detailed data on attitudes of American Muslims on this subject. But Mogahed said that in the United States Muslims enjoy relatively good relations with the rest of society, and suffer less from economic inequality.

Despite their desire to belong, only a small number of Muslims questioned in Britain, for example _ 10 percent _ consider themselves integrated into British society. That compares to 46 percent of Muslims in France and 35 percent in Germany.

The global economic crisis could exacerbate such issues, with competition for jobs and resources adding stress to race relations, the study claimed.

Researchers found 38 percent of British Muslims said they had a job, much lower than the figure for the British general public _ 62 percent _ and lower than Muslims in Germany or France, where 53 percent and 45 percent respectively said they were employed. No figures were compiled for the United States.

"Economic integration may become more precarious in light of the current financial crisis affecting Europe," Mogahed said.

Muslims questioned by Gallup were pessimistic about their prospects. It found 71 percent of Britain's Muslims considered themselves to be struggling to get by, as did 56 percent of Muslims questioned in the United States. Research for the study was conducted in mid-2008, before the full impact of the current financial crisis hit.

"It's not about faith, it's not about ethnicity. The key thing that divides people is poverty and depravation," said Mohammed Shafiq, of the British Muslim organization the Ramadhan Foundation.

British government research into radicalization also has highlighted joblessness and low pay as among factors that can push people toward extremism. Those with poor prospects can look to violent extremism to improve their sense of achievement and status, according to the research by security officials.

Another key finding of the study was that Muslims don't prioritize their faith over patriotism, Mogahed said.

Attempts to create a greater sense of national identity among Muslims have been a key concern for European lawmakers, particularly in Britain _ where British-born Muslims have been behind several attempted terror attacks since 2001.

Four suicide bombers who killed 52 commuters and themselves in an attack on London's subway and bus network on July 7, 2005 were Muslims born or raised in Britain _ three with family ties to Pakistan.

The study found that 77 percent of British Muslims feel a strong sense of British identity, compared to 50 percent of the country's non-Muslims. In France, around half of Muslims and non-Muslims say they feel a strong sense of patriotism.

Muslims account for around 3 percent, or 2 million people out of Britain's 60 million population. In France, Muslims represent almost 8 percent _ or 5 million people of the population of 65 million. In Germany they make up 4 percent _ or 3.3 million Muslims out of 82 million inhabitants.

Estimates of the U.S. Muslim population vary dramatically from 2 million to 6 million _ and beyond.

Gallup conducted multiple surveys in 27 countries in 2008. Polls of the general public typically questioned around 1,000 people, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. The company said the polls of Muslims involved samples of 500 people, with a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Researchers interviewed Muslims and non-Muslims in Norway, France, Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Israel, the U.S., Italy, India, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Brazil, Ethiopia, Mali, Chad, Malaysia, Tanzania, Niger, Mauritania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Djibouti and Bangladesh.

___

Associated Press Writer Patrick McGroarty, in Berlin, Germany, contributed to this report

Akmar says:

Assalammualaikum.

Ok, I’m posting this news, not because I agree with it, neither I disagree with it.

The headline captured my attention few weeks ago (this is an old news, I haven’t had the time to write abt it).

And I became more interested in this study as they claimed the violent attack on WTC 8 yrs back were done by Muslim extremists.

They surely do not know the fact.

I am sure that the 9-11 attack was not by Muslims…

It was a conspiracy to give excuse for the US to attack Afghanistan.

They were a lot of movies and evidence proving that the attack is not by Muslims and yet this study is claiming those attacks were. I straight away know that this study is a one-sided study.

As for the angry responses by the Muslims in German, that is a natural act.

If people all around the world is being praised for being angry when the apartheid is carried in Africa, why should the Muslims being blamed for being angry that our beloved Prophet is being humiliated?

Well, some might just say, “come on… it is just a caricature… it’s not real.. geez… muslims do not have sense of humour”.

My reply will be:

“What if somebody draws a cartoon of ur mother sleeping with another man who is not your father, with another man waiting outside the door for his turn? And those men are far form handsome, they are bald, fat, tattoos all over the body but has deep pockets. And your mother’s name is written clearly, with family name in the picture and the picture is pasted all over the town”

Will you be angry or not?

Will you or will you not find the artist who drew the terrible picture and feel like stabbing him to death?

Will you or will you not try to defend the good name of your mother? You know your mother is far from being a prostitute. You know your mother is the best woman in the world.

So, the cartoon is not supposed to be there, at all!

See the point?

Rasulullah SAW is far from being a terrorist.

He is the gentlest man on Earth who received education directly from the Ultimate Creator.

He is incomparable to any other leader in this world.

Like a phoenix and a crow, there are incomparable.

Rasulullah SAW is not like any other successful leaders.

He’s a lot better than Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Mahatma Gandhi, or even Aung San Suu Kyi (of course, Husni Mubarak of Egypt, Tony Blair and Bush were never in my list of successful leaders)

Ok, I know I didn’t talk much abt the topic of the study itself; Relation between poverty and Muslim-West tension but at least I brought up the fact that Muslims are not terrorist!