Infinitely Definite

Salam Alaik

A thousand years back, the idea of making a huge piece of metal to soar high in the sky, or to float on water is irrational and crazy. Logically speaking, metal is heavier than air, and of course, water. So it shouldn't fly, or float. Anyone with that idea was considered insane, till the first plane was built and operating as it should. And a boat, of course. And everyone praised humanity for its glorious mind.

Before the wheel was invented, the idea of it probably belonged to a mad man as well. Until proven wrong. It's like the second nature of human, to deny what is not logical to the basic mind. And we take pride in what we built, when it was inspired by what was created by God. Nature. Had birds not fly, man would never thought of it.

Yet, we demand God to show signs of His greatness. "Show us a miracle, then we will believe," when it is already flowing perpetually under our feet, when it beats for us every moment of our lives, when it grows, and dies, a new one sprouts. Even today, we have yet to have discovered ALL of the parts of the human body. The bottom of the sea is as unknown to us as the outer space. God doesn't exist?

Coincidence, or fate?

Coincidence. Coincidentally, I wrote on this at that certain hour, published it, and coincidentally you saw my post on facebook, or you searched for something else in your search query, or google, and coincidentally you found this article, and actually read it. A lot of that, to get me to write this, and you to get here. Coincidence? I think not. A lot of things in our lives happen with no such link to what just happened a second ago, but is connected to something that occurred probably a year ago. It's not random, it's predestined.

So coming back to the demanding of miracles, the unimaginable, the extraordinary. Say, had the universe is full of what we define as miracles, we wouldn't be able to compute. Our brilliant mind, works by joining events by similar or contrast elements. We cannot think of something, out of nothing. And that's what we're asking for, something with no such link to another event. Because if it's logic, then it's not miracle-ish. A finite world gives off infinite results, while an infinite one, zero. A guitar with only a few strings, makes a little more notes, then an infinite number of songs.

It is, as in the Qur'an. The signs of His greatness is all around us, inside us. We have to acknowledge, we are weak. From the start, we lean on something for ideas, not once did we stand on our own self. The things we built, we take credit for deriving it from its natural state. That's all.

Because, I am.

Hafidz Adden

Marriage vs Life

Assalamualaikum :D

This is gonna be weird-uh.
I wanted to write more on youth and marriage, but figured that it'd be a dreadful lengthy post. So this is the sequel of marriage vs education! Today our hero faces a much larger foe, the villainous LIFE! Which makes education child's play, and also concerns the parents more when their child wants to 'put a ring on it'.

Is it weird that all of this is coming from someone who's not engaged to getting himself married at the moment? It might be. But as a friend of mine said, if he were to get married at our age, he would have to make a Powerpoint presentation to his parents on why he should get married. Me? I'd go for mahjong paper. Aha kidding.

So you're convinced to get married young, with little spare change in your pocket, no shelter of your own, no all-access private transportation--in other words, nothing on your hands. So what do you have? A plan. Like a project, planning is numero uno. Once you have a plan, all should go well, given you follow your plan. Of course in time, you grow new ideas, alternatives, backup plans in case your initial plan backfires. Sounds like a war? well it is! I think.

So what's there to plan? *refer to cartoon* The guy's not making any sense, but the girl is. Haha fail! it's like a flow chart really.
-Who will do what / for how long
-What can you cut off / how much do you save from it
-By when will you have what (a necessary transportation / house / a nice-to-have /  child)

Seems more complex than just "get married and Allah will multiply your rizq" right? It's what we call tawakal. Once Rasulullah SAW saw a beduin man getting off his camel and walking into a building, without securing his camel. So he approached the man regarding what he witnessed, to a reply "I leave it to Allah to for its safety". Rasulullah SAW said "tie your camel, then leave it to Allah".

in all serious-ness.

So why exactly am I writing this, despite my marital status (SINGLE)? Because I had just promoted marriage between youths, and if anyone is encouraged by my words, and successfully settle an agreement with their parents, without any knowledge or preparation for what comes next, it'll be on my head. Marriage is serious business. Of course it's good, but statistics show that a majority of marriage during their youth, ended up in divorce. It'll be good, if you know how to make it so.

Although we have their blessings, the one true that matters is His blessing. And that, is in ourselves. Our relationship with Allah. Without His blessing, what chance do we have of being happy?

-Hafidz Iddin

Marriage vs Education

" Baba, I think I want to get married. I met this very nice girl."
"Don't even think about getting married. Finish your studies first, then get a nice paying job, a house, a nice car (motorcycle doesn't count), THEN think about getting married."

 

Ever been there, guys? I haven't, but that conversation is sort of how I imagined, if I opened the topic, which I never did. But with my college seniors, that's what I normally get. Okay so, um, graduation is three years away AT LEAST, if I don't plan on doing my masters, a decent job takes at least a year to properly stabilize. So that's about five years. Finishing studies, check. Nice paying job, check. The house? The car? well after a year of working, I doubt our generation could buy a car in CASH lumsum, let alone a HOUSE. Easy, loan. *sarcasm* check.

So what's the problem, then? This is. Many parents, and even students associate marriage whilst studying means losing one or two grades in your studies. Quite unlikely to be the opposite, because they see it as a distraction. Hey, I think my laptop with 3G internet connection is a bigger distraction than my girlfriend (if I have one!). Food, is a distraction. A bug on the wall is a distraction. The interesting graphic printed on your roommates shirt, distraction. Anything can be one, if you let it be. Including a girl, or a man (for the ladies).

Often we look at marriage and education through a single lens, when you shouldn't. Happiness in marriage is not dependent of your level of education--only the financial part. And your education is almost independent of whatever relationship status you're in. One lens for education, and that's FOCUS, and another for marriage (_______) you fill in the blank. What type of marriage do you want?

In some cases, getting married actually boosts our grades, as it gives us that morale. If we've been scoring in school to please our parents, now we have another mission; score to secure. Getting married means to be mature, and written between the lines; responsibility. It builds you up slowly, from being dependent to being your own man, to being someone else's. Or woman. It makes sense, right? Score Uno, to marriage.

Flip the page, and suddenly marriage seemed like a sin, when you're with the books. In a way, we are taught to believe that the foundation of being prepared for marriage is mainstream education. That scroll in your hand, when you graduate, doesn't say 'I'm ready to get married', unless of course, by marriage you mean get a job. So YES, most of us aren't prepared for it, neither am I (which is why I'm writing this post, to get y'all to agree with me to get married quickly. Kidding), but education doesn't prep us for that. Parents could guide us, father-son bonding session maybe? Either that, or you let your son / daughter to learn by trial and error. In other words, date around, and risking heartaches from breakups. <-- That, is a sin.
Some of us don't tell everything to our parents, especially something personal. If they tell you they want to get married, and you deny them immediately without reasoning (positively) with them, they will retaliate, and some, date anyways.

The purpose of marriage is to make it halal for them to do all those couple stuff. And halal means barakah. Barakah, means success, here-- and hereafter. InsyaAllah. But if they dwell in the untied dating world, then it's relatively harder to get that peace.

"My child is not ready for it. He / She will ruin it in a blink of an eye,"
"Aid them. You're married, you should know the dos and don't"
Our sons throwing fists in the streets over candy is bad, but firing arms in the army is a huge pride for us.
Same concept.

Oh by the way, saying 'i want to get married' doesn't make you 'gatal', as the malay slang for 'pervert'. It means you're up for a faithful, and righteous path. Support, don't mock.

Signing out, your bro,
Hafidz Iddin

TKO Principle

I  believe I have written one about this, but it was somewhere when this blog was rather new, and I was new to writing. Hence, the refreshment.

I like to watch movies that have fights in the ring, Here Comes the Boom, The Warrior, Karate Kid, etc. ( not that I'm into violence. I just like watching men fight? Haha no) oh of course Rocky series, and most of them have that almost the same message, believe in yourself, don't give up, no pain no gain. I only want to focus on one, and I find it useful, myself being a teenager, stepping into the harsh adulthood (yes I am still a teenager. Argue with me, and I'll show you how much of a kid I can be). I don't know what it's called in books, but I'll call it TKO principle. Hence, the title (thank you).

Ever watched a boxing match? Say a match has 5 three minute rounds, and you're up to the fourth round, after getting a whole lot of bottom beating (ass kicking, get it?). By that moment, when the bell rings indicating the start of round 4, your morale would have plummeted, because you've lost 3 rounds, right? With broken spirits, the odds of winning the match degrades from low to simply near zero. But fight on full spirit, facing the risk of another beat down, your chances of winning is higher than before. The numbers never check in zero when it comes to winning, because losing doesn't mean you've lost, and winning doesn't mean you've won, until the bell rings for the very last time.
Maybe, in that fourth round, with blood dripping from your forehead, eyes blue and black, you hit that one button, the knockout button in your foe. Suddenly he's on the floor, the audience fall to silence, the judges in awe, the bell rings and you WIN, after losing three rounds. You didn't see it coming, he didn't see it coming, no one did, but you fought on, and you won. Who's to say you can't?

Losing the rounds behind you tells you not to give up and march on, winning it tells you not to take into pride and over confident. Give up when you're losing, and you'll lose; over confident in the middle of the match, and life will prove you wrong. Some say winning  fight after progressing from rounds of losses is a miracle, or luck. But know this, most of the things that happen to us have the odds of occurring less than a billionth, yet it happened. Meeting someone random by the streets and a year later you're housemates with them? it could happen. So stop trying to dig up miracles expecting to find a new colour beyond the spectrum, instead focus on what you have, and how that's a miracle for you. And have faith in God, that everything is for the best.
Failing a test today might be your first step to success,
Scoring it might not guarantee a bright future, given the wrong attitude.

We've read about Oprah, Walt Disney, Mark Zuckerberg, and how they were considered failures in their early stages. The message is clear, "I just might hit the knockout button this time around, if I don't, there's always the next round. The bell hasn't rang yet." And then there's the winning side, how not to take into pride. Remember Tom Anderson? Myspace? He used to be the talk of the town, and now a normal hip person wouldn't want to have a Myspace account. What happened? In general there was no sign of Myspace screwing up (not that I know of), suddenly there was Facebook, and it became the 'in thing', and everyone is over Myspace. Just like that. I'm not saying Tom was Mr Arrogant or anything, but that fame and glory could just disappear spontaneously. Know how to respond, and react. When you lose, and when you win.

I love this principle because it's quite applicable on almost any context;
school examinations,
family,
love life,
relationship with God.

Sean Covey wrote in his book 'The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make' on teenagers today .
"While your grandparents may have had to walk uphill to school in the snow, you have a different set of challenges to navigate: like media overload, party drugs, Internet porn, date rape, terrorism, global competition, depression, and heavy peer pressure."
We have it just as hard-- if not harder. Know that not falling to any of these 'obstacles' is already great success, and you are amazing. You are a fighter. You are a champion.

Respect to my brothers and sisters, who are still fighting their rounds in life, and to those who have gone over the bell. Despite not winning, they fought on. And for those who are in the losing end, I lay my hands out to you, we'll play tag team. There's not a point in winning, only to look back to your friends suffer the pain of losing, and you're helpless. I, am not winning my fight. But trying.

"If you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long"

Life shoved you down when you're about to take your first step as a toddler, and today you're running.
We were born incapable of speech, and some of us grew to become poets and singers.
A child, we are ever so fragile. Today we bend metal with our own flesh.
Our hands, so little, so short. Today we reach to the skies.
The power of will.

"It's not about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward" - Rocky.

"Verily, with the hardship, there is relief" -Surah al-Sharh, verse 5

The bell rings for the next round. Will you fight on?

-Hafidz Iddin

ps; for my brothers and sisters who are about to step into Universities, the book doesn't define what a WIN looks like anymore, unlike school. You decide what WINNING is. To some it's good grades, or finding the one true love, or to find himself, or to define life. Your choice, make it a big one.

Trail of Questions in My Footsteps

Assalamualaikum, and forgive me, had I done something to offend any of you.

High school was not that far back, but it was long enough for me to see what has happened between 'then' and 'now'. Until I graduated from high school, there wasn't much of me. There was only ME. After I was done with that, things happen, words become actions, reflections, a few blogs created and deleted, here I am today. I remember most of what happened. To me, before 'then', everything was normal, I lived a simple, happy life, just the casual stress on examinations and homework--typical student. During the long break between high school and matriculation, my family sorta hit a bump, and everything spilled. It wasn't much, but enough for me to see that my family has its problems as well. So my family reached the turning point. To others it might be their everyday routine, but for me it was a big deal.

But that's that.

I kept thinking, what of my school now?
Of everything I left behind?
Do I miss it? Do they miss me?
What would they think of me now?
I graduated high school on December 2011. I have friends that I hardly talk to anymore, despite being so close to them back then.They're not that far away, just--out of reach, until today. After year--what if I say hello? Do I tell them I miss them?

I don't know. I felt rejected. 

It's not rocket science, you don't need to be a genius to know you don't belong to a certain group or clique. You just know. Everyday my thoughts wander, am I better now? What if I was raised differently, will I be better? Or worse, maybe. Some of you who know me skindeep, would either see me as a hooligan or some sort, or that guy with jubah and serban, and beard stuck to his face at 20 years old. I know enough to know I am neither one of that. I wear those clothes for the sake of the sunnah brought by Muhammad (pbuh), I am a bit rowdy because I am used to being that way ( in my defense, I AM trying to change that habit). When I was small, I was raised not to be the perfect muslim--only to be a proper, well disciplined human being. In other words, it was a bit secular.

I was unfamiliar of the arabic terms and whatnot, even today if I use it with my old friends from high school, I feel they become uncomfortable (maybe). Even to me, it is out of my comfort zone. I am not condemning the use of it, because arabic is the language of the paradise--but when I'm talking to someone, and they start using arabic phrases with me, especially the out of the norm terms, I feel bullied. Sort of. I was--and still is, with the mindset, as long as the message is true and beautiful, it's good enough.

I'm pretty much stuck between here and there. I feel I don't belong to either one. I am not unique--no, not at all. 

I know. Everything I stepped on, the pricks, thorns, mud, grease--all to build me a strong footing, so I wouldn't fall tomorrow. Things might not have been great then, nor is it now, but everything has its own lesson. Should I fail to see the lesson in the pain, in the comfort, then 'tis but nothing but what it is seen as--pain, and ignorance.

"To serve mankind, in the name of God"

Putting your thoughts in ink doesn't make it better--nor does it make you feel any better. The bitterness is still there.

I am intimidated by everything, everyone. Standing tall, hoping that they don't bite.
-Hafidz Iddin

Anger-bending

'Anger' is the weapon of the devil.

Since I was small I was taught to not let my anger take over me, but never taught how. So what I did was I suppress everything. When I'm mad, I stay silent. When I'm angry, silence. When I'm upset-- you get the picture. At first it was okay, as time heals nearly everything, including anger. Then this thing, starts happening. Everytime something tipped me off, I would get really angry, but still remained silent. The anger builds up in time. Sure, time heals, on the outside. On the inside, things are boiling up, like a pressure cooker. Then another phenomena, fear. That I might burst at any time, worst-- at the wrong person. I was an angry child. Haha

It was awful. When it's fine, it's fine. When it's not, tension builds up. No one knew I was angry, no one knew I was upset because I kept it to myself. So the fear grew bigger, as I learn my ways  through logical thinking, that if I burst suddenly, even if at the right person, would be inappropriate, because I never told them it was wrong, or that I didn't like what they did. I would be the bad guy in the end. Anger is bad, suppressing it is bad, so what's good?

No tool is either good, nor bad. Only the wielder has the power of choice.

You don't suppress it, nor do you let it blow up. You divert it. Let your anger out to a direction where it can cause minimal  collateral damage, and in a way that it is constructive rather than destructive. If you feel the need to speak, speak. Try doing it in third person, it gives you more perspective of the picture you're in. And if you feel the need to act, do it without passing the 'anger flame' to the listener. It's not the Olympic. Get mutual  grounds, speak with respect, don't assume. NEVER, assume. It makes an ASS out of  U and ME. Sometimes it could be that we are wrong, and their  patience is the one tested, opposite to what we think. Could be.

I try, not to be some angry little dude, or something. It's not easy, I admit. Changing the lifestyle, changing the mentality. After years of adapting to one, suddenly I'm to make a U-turn. The prophet (pbuh) did get angry, at times, but he never let it take over his judgement and conscience. He remained calm, that sometimes the sahabah would see his face turn red, but he never lost his cool. MasyaAllah, and keep in mind, he was put through A LOT. And he would always ASK before anything. He didn't cut anyone off while they speak, or throw judgement before they could defend themselves.

 -Hafidz Iddin

Integrate The Two World

So there was this idea.

I was flipping through channels on TV, when my mom stopped me ( I got bored and passed her the remote) on a lecture. One of those Islamic lectures, but it was different. He wasn't talking about faith simply, or how to perform solah, instead he was giving a talk on snatch theft that has recently made it mark on the bigger threats in Malaysia. He gave tips on how to be safe when you're a woman and you're on a bike, when and how to be alert and whatnot. Not something you'd expect from an imaam, but worth listening to. For me, we need more people like him. So that was the idea.

What if, there is a martial arts academy for women ONLY, taught by women in a closed and comfortable environment. Knowing the increase in numbers of sexual assaults locally, it's something we might need. You know? Like, to give a kick in the nut (not that I would recommend so) when you're harassed or something. And between sessions or during breaks there would be a casual talk on Islamic matters, either relate it to self defense or martial arts, or even something different altogether, like marriage. Just saying. Why not? You could gain both, self defense skills, and build up our faith to God. I know a few women who quit martial arts club because there would be body contact and such. It's good to know that the women can take care of themselves, not forced to rely on men (sometimes! Don't go all feminisme on me, ayte?) Like the women during the ruling of the Khilafa, were not weak. They played huge roles in wars, and people dare not to lay a finger on them. Respect. Yet they're not tomboys like the ones we see today, resisting the authorities and all.

something like this, or maybe minus the blade. Unless you plan on fighting for your Deen

Or, make an academy for Tahfeez (like the ordinary ones) and you give them proper military training, not the abusive ones. You can imagine, in between memorizing the Qur'an, they would have physical training, or firearm practice or some sort, I'm not good at naming them. So by the end of program, we would've shapen a strong, noble man. Not just physically, but all around. Feared in the battlefield, respected on the streets, loved in the homes.

That is how it was during the rising years of Islam, when a large portion of the world was ruled by the Muslim. They didn't grow simply by faith, they have skills for trade, knowledge to aid the building of nation and modernization of civilization. Among them were great scientist, great warriors, great leaders, and great people. It's logic, right? The ukhrawi (tauheed, fiqh, akhlak) builds your principles, the dunya (worldly skills) builds strength in any organization. A well balanced ummah.

It would be so cool, to actually see this kind of development. *sigh* so where does it start? the youth. The youth!

-Hafidz Iddin

What Is It That We Truly Own In This World?

Warning! This is not a bragging post, it is a reflective post.

When I was in primary school, I was labeled as one of the bright students. I was never lower than the 2nd class in school, every year. For UPSR I got straight A's and the same results for PMR in secondary school. I got in the prefectorial board without an interview, and in my senior years I was the assistant head student ( Penolong Ketua Pengawas ?). Then I went to college, scored an almost perfect score, and managed to earn a place in my first choice of university, in my first choice of course. To say, I had it all. So am I not grateful for that? I am. It's just that sometimes getting everything at your first attempt, you slam harder on the floor the moment you slip, even the slightest one. That second might happen at any time in my journey, it's become a fear. I could lose everything, at any given moment. What do I do then?

------

Say you're going to buy a packet of nasi lemak.
You walk to your regular stall, it's open when it could be closed that day.
You grab a packet of nasi lemak, when it could've run out then.
You payed for it, when you might've lost your money elsewhere.
You took it home safely, when you might've dropped it somewhere.
You eat it and it's still good, when it could've gone bad.
You digest it, when you could've purge.
Food turns to energy, and it's yours.
All that, and so much more. Anywhere in the process, what seems to be yours, could be taken away from you, or is not yours to take in the beginning. No matter how hard you try, if it's not yours, if Allah says it's not yours, you'll never get your hands on it. I'm there. What if, today I get enrolled in a top university, next year I get kicked out? What if, today I can write, draw, sketch, tomorrow my arms will go numb? This isn't about gratitude, that's elementary. This is about gripping what you still have, while God says you can have it.

I'm sure we've all been there. Anticipating something so badly, we plan  A-Z, conditioning all the variables to favor us. We were so sure that it would go perfect, but what happened, it happened in the worst way it could've happened. It happens, as a reminder. We just forget.

So the question comes to mind, what is it in his world that is truly ours, and our odds of having it will rise proportional to how hard we chase after it? Allah. Chase His eternal love, and it will be yours. And when you have Him by your side, what's there to fear?

If you are going to give me the "You can' just rely on God, you've to work hard for it if you want something," i agree with you, work hard, persevere, and other stuff. So where does my words go? It's so you would know that it won't last forever, the worldly things. After working your ass off for it, and you fall. You fall to Allah. Whenever you are given a way, make it a path to Him, make it beneficial for yourself, for your family, for your ummah, for anything. So long as it's positive.

"It will not be yours, until it is truly yours. That it will only go, if you let it go."
"How will I know then?"
"You don't. You just gotta hold on to it as if it were to fall away any second, every moment of your life."

Here's another one;
You're in a race, say a 400m sprint. Every moment in the race, if you slack off, you could lose it. From start to end, you run. You're in first place, reaching in the finishing line, you trip and fall. You might be a world champion, but that doesn't mean you never lose. It means you get back up, dust yourself, and move on.

You learn by winning, you learn by losing. You learn as you give, you learn as you take. Lessons are all around us. Be amazing, be humble, be You tee full. Get it?

If I fall, I hope it is for the best. God works in mysterious ways. Wallahu'alam.

-Hafidz Iddin

Raise the Flags from Within Our Hearts

"If I have to tell you, for you to know how much I love God, how much I miss the prophet  (pbuh), and how much I cherish my brothers, then I believe I have not love them as I should have."

I have witnessed the bloodshed in Egypt, and though only through the screens, my heart sank such that I couldn't watch no more of it. It's tragic. As heartbreaking as it is, it saddens me more knowing some of our brothers are unaware of this issue, as well as the war in Palestine, in Syria. Worse-- some of our brothers are against their cause.

"They asked for it. They had peace, but they HAD to riot."
This is far beyond a matter of religion, it is a matter of humanity. If you are humane, you would care. Had you only knew this now, please. Please-- start caring NOW. It makes a difference. We may not be able to raise our arms to shoot down enemies, but we can raise our hands and make supplications for our brothers. For only Allah, only He can bestow upon us victory. And though Allah had promised the victory of the muslims, that doesn't mean we should lay back and let it be. Those are our brothers on the battlefield!

Previously I had posted on social network, and now this issue have gone widespread over it-- the bloodshed. The war. The massacre. The R4BIA trend goes viral. Black and yellow profile pictures everywhere to show our support. We post our supplications on our profiles.

"When you have Allah, no one can win against you."

It is by Allah's will all of this happened, Kun fayakun. If we have an army larger than anyone could  imagine. If Allah says No, then it will be a No for us to win the war, regardless of how big or small the enemy line is. To Allah we should turn, not to facebook or twitter. Allah doesn't need a facebook profile, and you don't need to post it on yours for it to be granted by Him. Unless, if you are asking for the hands of others to join you in prayer. It is what is in our hearts that counts, insyaAllah.

"Don't do it because everyone else is doing it. Do it because it is the right thing to do."

I heard a talk by an imaam once, he speaks regarding our daily supplications. He said we start with praises to Allah, selawat unto Rasulullah (pbuh), then ask for forgiveness, THEN we ask for what we desire.
"How can we ask for anything from Allah, had we still carry the burden of our sins? So we ask for His forgiveness before we could ask for anything. And it should also be His forgiveness that we need most before any other thing. It is by His blessing, our du'a will be fulfilled."
How do we earn that blessing? Obey Allah. In a way, we start with ourselves first. A change of attitude, as a muslim. InsyaAllah, may Allah guide us. It goes far beyond #R4BIA and #PrayForEgypt, it goes far deeper into our hearts, that's where it should start. Bismillah.

-Hafidz Iddin

Chicken Run

“I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth, then I ask myself the same question.”

― Harun Yahya

A few months back, we had a family dinner--used to be weekly, until everyone got busy, even on the weekends, so it becomes rare to have it. We had roast chicken, homemade. So what would be the best topic to talk about when you're eating chicken with the family? Chickens. Duh.

Momma told us about the average chicken sold at the supermarket. From the day they hatched, they were placed in a packed room with other chickens. Like canned sardins, but chicken. And they are constantly fed with God knows what, and in addition, they are not able to move freely. So where they pick their food, that's where it'll drop, from--uh, the other end of the chicken. So, food mixed with 'processed' food. Dirty, eyh? But they weren't given a choice. The men didn't ask them "so..you wanna go free, or do you want to live in this hella dump, until you've added enough weight, and we'll kill ya." That's the only life they knew. If they knew, how the world is outside that 'box', surely they'd fly away. Way to ruin our appetite, Ma.

That's not all, the lights in their massive, dense coop is on 24-7. So they don't sleep. What do they  do? They eat, they get fat because they don't move. And they get jabbed with hormones to increase their rate growth, daily. So they would weigh enough before they age enough. And to our dinner plates they go. It's a miserable life for a chicken, really.

Lets summarize this;
- The chickens 'lived' a small, enclosed life of lies.
- They eat whatever is fed to them, regardless how dirty and disgusting it may be.
- They eat, and eat, and in the end, they die.

But this ain't about chickens, I raise you one level--or a few more up. About homo sapiens.

Lets try this out;
- Some of us live in small, cooped up world. Not knowing what the world has to offer beyond their world.
- Some of us, take in informations, or in other words, 'eat' whatever is spoon fed to us, regardless of how truthful it is.
- Some of us, take whatever is given to us, and just, lay there. Only to die in the end.

Seems like we have a lot in common with our dinner, huh? Well, no. There is a difference, one major difference. The chickens, there is no choice. They weren't given any opportunity to change their lives. It ain't no Chicken Run. But us-- probably halfway through our life, we were given more than enough chances to make a change. It was by CHOICE. We put ourselves in small coops.
---
Actually, those 'some' of us, are the majority. And frankly, I see majority muslims live such a way. Like mass produced chickens. Because we are taught to be grateful with what we have, and not be greedy, and whatnot. Faith in he Qada' and Qadr, it is as Allah have planned. But even in Islam we are not to simply wait for things to happen to us, but to go out and make it happen. If it by God's will, then it shall happen. If not, either you keep at it, or find another way.
The previous prophets, Muhammad (pbuh), his Sahabah, didn't have that pessimistic attitude. Even the great scholars of the past didn't. They worked their ass off. Word.

“We live not in the world outside, but in a world inside ourselves.”
― Harun Yahya, The Little Man in The Tower

"Treat a man as he is, and he will stay as he is. Treat a man as he has the potential to become, and he will be as he has the potential to become."
―Goethe

 The three quotes says it all. Here's another, just for the fun of it. I love quotes, just so you know.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."
―Mahatma Gandhi

So what would it be? Chickens, or the chef's recommendation? By chef, I mean Allah. If it tastes bad, you're not eating it right.

We eat free-range chicken, by the way. Not the hormone injected, underaged poultry.

-Hafidz Iddin

I Crave That Glass of Water

Two things I dread most when approaching  the end of Ramadhan;
-the end of Ramadhan,
-the massive spring Eid cleaning ( it ain't Spring!)

All the blessings, all the extra credit we were given in this month, all will be withdrawn. And it's those things-- blessings, that we take for granted only to know that it's gone. Next year Ramadhan might still come again, but will we still be there to greet it?

Fret not! Though Ramadhan have ended, we have not. We don't live for Ramadhan, we live for Allah, right? So for our days to come, improve ourselves, and hopefully-- our relationship with everything, mostly with Allah. So stay cool, let today be a good day (carpe diem!), and tomorrow a better one!

Speaking of the massive war against the dust bunnies, and cobwebs and all the nasty housemates (not the people or cats in the house), I ain't complaining. It's, healthy living. We clean the house once a year. Ahaha but one thing came to mind when chopping down trees, and breathing in the flying debris that I've given a big whooping, is that it's tiring. Do this, do that, huff and puff. "what time is it? should be 2pm by my guess," checked my watch, barely noon. Fun.

Okay that's not the thing. If this is tiring, imagine the Badar war, 17th Ramadhan 624, between the muslims and quraisy during the early years of Islam under the prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Spring cleaning-- war. Sweeping the floor -- swinging swords! It was a war, need I say more?

An imaam, was giving a talk once at one of the local mosque. Ramadhan be his topic. So midway his talk, he asked "why are we to observe fasting in Ramadhan?"
-When we were kids, or at least, when I was one, I was taught to observe fasting to put ourselves in the shoes of the famished, to be thankful to have food on the table three times a day, if not more.
"If that is so, then Allah would not have made the people in Africa to fast, the starving muslims in Palestine, Syria to fast."
-so then, because it is as Allah has ordered?
"But why fasting? dawn to dusk? It's hard, no one likes to starve themselves for a full day. It's boring, and we eat when we're bored"
Umm..I don't know?
"It is to test our faith in Allah, how far would we go. Allah mentioned that every ibadah observed by man is for himself, but fasting, to which it is for Him."

ps. This should be posted on the eve of Ramadhan, not the eve of 'Eid. *sigh* I am known for my 'LAMPI'ness.

Hafidz Iddin

The Sailing Vessel

Our knowledge is like a vessel, the more knowledge we acquire, the larger, more beautiful it becomes. But a vessel without a sail will only float to wherever the waves takes it, if not sink. The sail is our practise of the knowledge we have. Only with it our knowledge is proven useful, only then WE who wields the  knowledge have served. A ship without a sail may look pretty, it may draw people to admire it's beauty and elegance, everyone would adore it's craftsmanship, only to realize it cannot sail the seas. A piece of display, nothing more.

Intelligence is not how much you know, but how much have you done with what you have known. Nowadays we 'grade' people by pieces of papers, certificates, or merely letters on our assessment. We look up to one stream, down on another. Like how doctors are better than engineers-- here's a better comparison, a doctor and a kindergarten teacher. I don't need to say which  is better for you to understand the situation. A doctor cannot build the machines they use, an engineer cannot use the machines they built efficiently. So who's smarter? Neither. Who's dumber, then? Both of them aren't any dumber than the other. The dumb is the one who refuses to put themselves to good use, the dumber is the one who refuses to learn. Or maybe they're both on the same level. Eitherways, two wrongs doesn't make a right.

In Islam, we are encouraged to strive in anything we aspire. So long as we put it to good use, to benefit others as it would benefit us, and most importantly, brings us closer to the Creator. If we were to measure one's intelligence by the book, know this;
Muhammad (pbuh) was illiterate, but he wasn't dumb. Is he not noble?
We all know his stories; a shepherd, a businessman, a politician, a family man, a man of faith. And he was great at all of that, he is our idol. But he was illiterate, he did not go to school, he was no mathematician, nor was he a scientist, but he is the prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Being illiterate did not put him down in the eyes of man, and in the eyes of God, not one bit. So why should we judge a person in such a way?
That if he cannot read, he is dumb?
That if he cannot count, he is stupid?
That if he cannot lead, he is lost?

Have we forgotten who we once were? Why have turned so arrogant? We weren't born smart. When we started, we couldn't even walk, speak, or even chew food. So where does the line split?
We were given opportunities to get to where we are, they weren't.
Instead of feeling pride, we should be grateful that we had been given a chance.
Think, if they had been given the same opportunity as we did, they might have grown up to be greater than us. Be thankful, say 'Alhamdulillah', and put yourself on the right track, starting today. With gratitude, then comes understanding, then comes the helping hand.
Help our struggling brothers and sisters, help build a better ummah.

And  don't feel dumb if you fail your exams in school, it's not the end of the world. The end is when you've stopped trying. You never know what fruit tomorrow will bear, right?

"whosoever gives, will gain more than what he had given." Allah's promise to us, so what have we got to lose?

So will you be an archaic vessel that is graceful on display but utterly useless, or will you brave the thundering seas majestically? Being smart is a choice.

Trying to make a change, from the inside.

Hafidz Iddin

Hebatnya Seorang Mantan Kafir

Cintanya pada Islam tulus,
Kata-katanya penuh kerendahan diri,
Peribadinya lemah lembut,
Dakwahnya mengajar cinta Allah.

sorry sajak buruk, saya bukan penyair. Ahah

Mantan kafir aka Mualaf aka Saudara baru. Hebatnya bicara orang-orang ni, datangnya seorang mualaf ke masjid bukan sebagai sebarangan jemaah, tapi sebagai penceramah malam tu. Selesai solat isya', tok imam pun bermukadimah sambil-sambil perkenalkan penceramah jemputan masjid untuk tazkirah pendek (15 minit, memang pendek betullah). Dari saf belakang, dia lalu sampai ke depan, duduk dekat meja, dekat tangan dia ada satu file, satu lagi tangan dia pegang kitab kecik warna hitam. Dah duduk, dia mulakan tazkirah, sebijik macam ustaz-ustaz yang sebelum ni bagi ceramah dekat meja tu. Lebih kurang la, takde la sebijik,

Yang  hebatnya, tajuk tazkirahnya "Holy water", memang dia cerita pasal holy water la. Dari A-Z (kot) dia cerita. Mula-mula fikir jugak, "pelik betul, dia cerita pasal agama kristian dekat dalam masjid," dia cerita, macam mana hebatnya pendakwah kristian menarik orang masuk agama kristian. Memang kalau dengar dengan gelojoh, bunyi macam dia pun nak ajak orang masjid tu masuk kristian. Pelik, tengok tok imam duduk kat depan tu pun pelik. Haha

Satu ayat dia agak best "diorang (pendakwah kristian) target orang-orang yang tersisih, orang bermasalah, orang-orang muda yang pegangan agama dia lemah. Diorang layan orang-orang tu dengan penuh rasa hormat, walaupun orang tu tak percaya dengan agama diorang. Lemah lembut, sopan, menggalak orang untuk tengok lebih dekat kepercayaan diorang. Jadinya, orang tertarik dengan akhlak diorang dulu, bukan akidah atau amalan diorang. Kita ni, terbalik." (kata satu ayat, ni  dah satu perenggan. boleh la) oh ye, kitab yang dia pegang tu bukan terjemahan al-Qur'an, bukan kitab hadith, tapi kitab Bible. ye, Bible. Jangan merusuh. Tazkirah dia cakap pasal agama Kristian, tapi pengisian dia Islamik.

Hakikatnya memang macam tu, kita tak ada rasa nak tunjuk cantiknya agama Islam. Kita tau condemn semua yang kutuk Islam. Bila nak tegur saudara, kadang-kadang terselit rasa riak, rasa diri kita lagi bagus dari orang tu. Jadinya kata-kata kita pun ada unsur sombong. Kadang-kadang bila berdiskusi, lagi tinggi ilmu, lagi kasar peribadinya. Kita jarang sekali selami perasaan orang yang iman dia lemah, tolong orang yang ada masalah. Bila orang datang nak mengadu masalah dekat kita, "Ceritalah pada Allah, Allah maha Mengetahui." tapi  kita tak  pernah nak  ajar macam mana nak bukak cerita dengan Allah. Hamba Allah tu terpinga-pinga. Last-last dia blah je, cari orang lain. Peluang dakwah melepassss, kita yang rugi. I mean bukanlah statement tu salah, tapi sekurang-kurangnya kita tolonglah dia sebagai manusia, mesti ada sebab Allah temukan kita dengan orang tu.

Jadi apa hebatnya mantan kafir ni? Diorang asalnya jahil, tak kenal Islam. Bila dia tertanya-tanya apa tu Islam, dia kaji sendiri. Dari situ dia kenal Islam, dia belajar Islam TULEN, lalu dia kenal Allah, dia nampak rasa cantiknya Islam. Dia kenal dirinya yang dulu  macam mana, dia tau hala tuju  dia ke mana. Bicara dia bukan riak, sebab dia rasa dia masih  'baharu' dalam Islam. Dakwahnya feeling, sebab dia bukan mengkritik, tayang hebat, dia nak ajak orang kenal cinta Allah, macam mana dia kenal cinta Allah dulu. Peribadi orang-orang ni pun cantik. Sekarang reflek balik dekat diri kita yang dilahirkan Islam. Apa rasa? Aku rasa kecewa, sebab hidup punya lah lama dengan Islam, dari kecik dah belajar angkat takbir dalam solat, tapi  sampai ke hari ni masih tak dapat merasa ketenangan iman, masih tak kenal Rasul Allah SAW.

Kita bukan Clone trooper pendakwah, semua kerja tembak je, kena pun tidak. Kita manusia, ada hati, ada perasaan, and jangan kita pandang orang lain macam clone trooper jugak. Nak fahami hati manusia, kena jadi manusia dulu, ye tak?

saudara lama yang masih tercari-cari jalanNya,

Muhammad Hafidz Iddin

A Simple Man with A Big Heart

When asked by the Sahabah on the characteristics of a good muslim, The prophet (pbuh) answered "He who likes to feed others, and he who gives salaam to the people he knows, and to the people he doesn't know"

Around 6pm yesterday my friend came to pick me up, to have iftaar together. The deal was that, we both wear robe and serban. So I got in the car and we were on our way to a nearby town, a place where we both grew up in, so we knew the ways around it. Since the place was quite far from where we live, we got there quite late, and to no parking spot anywhere around. A few turns around the block and we finally got a spot, at the far end of block, and the restaurant we planned to go to was on  the other end. So we had to walk all the way across. Of course, with our attire, some passers by would look at us from the corner of their eyes, trying not to catch any attention. Undeniably, there was a slight discomfort. It was, in fact a long walk.

As we were walking, a foreign man, I would say from  the regions of Africa, or not. I was never good at determining one's origins. But for sure, he was a muslim. He wore a shirt and a pair of jeans, and a white kopiah (headwear) to match, walking against our direction. We didn't pay full attention to him as he seemed like any other passer by, not knowing that he would be the highlight of our night. Just as we were about to pass each other, "Assalamualaikum," a simple, but very polite salaam from  him, to us. "Waalaikumussalam warahmatullah" we replied, followed with a feeling I couldn't explain. MasyaAllah!

If it was our malaysian brothers, we wouldn't be getting the salaam, probably not even a smile, or a polite  gesture, acknowledging each other's presence. I'm not trying to be negative, but that's the  honest truth. Of course, you won't experience this in the masjeed, or mosque, or in a religious event. As one said, in the masjid, every muslim should feel home, and every muslim is a brother. Being in a country with majority of the population of the land are muslims, we hardly appreciate other muslims. So to say. We can see how in other regions of the world, where the muslims are the  minority, how much they respect each other, and the bonds are superb.

Reflecting back on the hadith, you kinda start to see things-- the littlest of things, and how it matters.

This is not the first, a few years  back the same scenario happened to me on my way walking home after terawikh. A man, probably middle easter, was standing at the bus stand. I had to walk pass the stand to continue my way back. When I was closing in to him, he saw me, he smiled, and gave salaam. I don't know him and surely he doesn't me know me as well.
But to him, I guess knowing I was a muslim brother was enough.

Hafidz Iddin

Taqwa Academy

Marhaban ya Ramadhan!

So within a few days, it will be the end of Syaaban and comes Ramadhan, the long awaited month. So why is it special, truly for muslims all over the world? I can't go in depth on that, because I fear what I write here might be inaccurate, in context of the hadith or dalil. I  recommend you refer to an expert on that. So here's a mental note instead, from yours truly.

So people have been saying how Ramadhan is like a school, an academy and whatnot. And at the end you would graduate then comes 'Eid. With a few other chapters between the two.  But I do love the concept used by this Imaam from one of the few forums I went to. So his concept, was that Ramadhan is the training, and the real academy; Taqwa Academy, starts on the 1st of Syawal (end of Ramadhan), ends on the 29th of Syaaban (the beginning of Ramadhan). How you sustain yourself through the months.

As a muslim, we are familiar with how during that month, the devils will be in chains, and the fasting from dawn to dusk. So it's mano e mano between our Imaan, and our nafsu. Devils out of the game. So it SHOULD suppress our urge to commit any kind of sin. So you get as much opportunity for ibadah, bringing you closer to the Lord. Training wheels. That is what we would see in Ramadhan, the masjeed overflowing with people, and a little less people elsewhere. But in reality, all of those disappeared with Ramadhan as it ends. Back to how it was before. Means the training didn't pay off.

Imagine you're playing a game, you are not a pro if you kill the cardboard enemies in the tutorial or easy level, you become a pro if you survived the super hard level. And that level is the Taqwa Academy. Ramadhan ends-- "Alright, you're accepted to our academy, let's see how well you perform. I won't lie, your time here will be tough. No joke."
And with so much external influence, the peer pressure, the surrounding, the ambience, everything pulling you--shoving you to follow your nafsu, that is the super hard level. So make the best out of the training wheels, so you can sprint once you take them off, rather than going wobbly all the way.

Another concept the Imaam used, with my own little twist, is that Ramadhan is like a trial version of the ibadahs in Islam. Trial version, if successful, is what motivates the consumer to purchase and use the full version (in a perfect world). So this is the month that should make us feel like "I want more of that!" by the end of the month. As a dai'e, Ramadhan is the biggest opportunity to teach people, especially at the masjeed, because that's when it is full. And some of the people who come, might not be there on other times. You get the idea? So whatcha waitin' for? Start sharpening dem da'wah skillz yo!

And now for the Ramadhan chart. The y-axis should be 'ibadah and understanding'. Had to use paint to make it. Anyways, we want people, as well as ourselves to be as the red line, every year our ibadah during Ramadhan (and other months) increase exponentially, parallel to our understanding towards it.

"If a man fasts today, the way he fasted yesterday, and the days before, then he hasn't learned anything about fasting."

Sepuluh tahun puasa, sepuluh tahun tu lah dia puasa macam tu.

InsyaAllah, may we get the very best of Ramadhan this year, and that we may graduate from the Taqwa Academy. Wallahu'alam

-Hafidz Iddin

Iron Muslim

\\ Movie Reflections \\

In retrospect, we (muslims) have a lot in common with Tony Stark a.k.a Iron man. You know how Tony has an arc reactor on (technically, in) his chest to prevent shrapnels in his blood vessels from reaching his heart, else he'd be in *deep sh!t*. No kidding. Also, he has a cool armoured suit :>

Okay so how does any of that relate to being a muslim?
Look at it this way, (not meant to be taken literally, though) as a muslim, we have our imaan (the arc reactor),
and we need it to keep running to prevent us from committing sins or evil doings ( the shrapnel ),
and if it reaches to our heart, well-- *repeat previous quote* it stains.
Every once in a while, we gotta renew our imaan so it doesn't dry out.
The suit? well, Tony uses it to fight the bad guys, shooting missiles and all that *fancy*, and save lives, of course. We use da'wah, and du'a to rescue others. If you are a muslimah (woman), then your hijab (veil) would be your armour.
But it all starts from the inside, the heart, our imaan. Build it half-assed, and you won't go far with it.
So we are heroes after all, huh?
Minus the tight spandex and masks and  secret identity.

Even before we were born, we pledged to Allah to become the Khalifah (leaders) of the world.
So if we are to be heroes, we gotta start acting like one.

"with great power, comes great responsibility."

See what I mean? superhero cute.

 A little dedication to all the muslimah, our heroines.

A woman can save the people around her,

A daughter can save her father,

A wife can save her husband,

A mother can save her child,

A woman can save herself,

All from the scorching hellfire,

O how great you are

And all of those, if she is entitled  'mukmin'.

Wallahu'alam, pardon my minor sidetracking.

From a hero, to a fellow superhero. Start with bismillah,

Hafidz Iddin

Al-Amin

"He peddled his goods and always struck an honest bargain. As to why Muhammad (pbuh) was nicknamed al-Amin. the trustworthy."

You see light in the most subtle of things. Most of  the time, you sense the presence of the light, but source of the light remains unseen by the eyes, but not to the heart that seeks.

Where I live, there is this one restaurant I literally grew up with. A plain, decent, casual restaurant. There's really nothing there, except for food. The food, too, is not one would say astounding. But there is a certain  allure to it.
"You did say you grew up with it, surely you are drawn to it, right? Like a second home."
Well, yeah.. but there are only six people in my family. The place is always flooded with customers. Can't be just us one family, right?


When Muhammad (pbuh) was selling goods for his then to-be wife, Khadijah, it is merely the goods that drew him customers, it is his attitude towards everyone, and every matter. He did not lie, he did not cheat, and he treated all kindly. With it he earned the profit, and with it he earned the love of Khadijah. Pure intentions.


It could just be me, but that is what I see in that restaurant.
"How could you possibly portray that in a restaurant?"
Here's how,
They don't sell cigarettes behind the counter, they sell goat's milk, habbatus sauda (black seed), raisins, and occasionally, honey. The food Rasulullah favours.
They don't have flatscreen TVs booming of local dramas, or stereo systems playing classic, melancholic music, instead they have the tentatives of upcoming program at the local masjid (which is opposite to it).
They put du'a stickers on the walls, (before meals du'a, of course) and even articles on the aurah next to the sink. ahah
All of the workers, (female) wears hijab. Although some of them don't cover up perfectly, it's still an improvement.
They are closed during the Ramadhan, no explanations needed.
Their boss, provides the workers shuttles to their hometown during 'Eid.

If you've noticed, I didn't mention the name of the restaurant, because I'm not promoting it like on TV (which, some of them are nothing but lies). I'm promoting the  manner of the place. People have been  saying "if I do this, I'll go bankrupt. People won't come here anymore."
In a way, we diss away the teachings of Muhammad (pbuh), and we are muslims. The ones buying the goods sold by Rasulullah then were not the muslims, they weren't any then. It was the bedwin arabs. And it wasn't the goods that drew them. MasyaAllah..

The sunnah, aside from cleansing the soul from impurities; cleanses our body--our goods from being tainted as well.

Da'wah takes many forms, but it all starts with the heart of the Dai'e. A good heart goes a long way, but never astray. One who attends to any matter in the name of Allah, surely He will ease you through them. InsyaAllah.

Arise, youth!

Relive the Sunnah, relive the generation.

Hafidz Iddeen

Two Intertwined Worlds

"What is democracy without choices ?"

I was born and raised as a normal boy. I was sent to public school, primary to secondary, with what I think was sufficient in terms of my knowledge and understanding towards my religion-- Islam, two hours of Islamic teachings class, per day. I was just, one of the many. Everyone was my friend. When I went to college last year, I wanted to change, even if it's the littlest change a man could make of himself. Because, no one  knew who I was there, it was a new start for me. So I did. I became this.

So far it was only the dressing, the attire. I'm still me. A step at a time. For the good insyaAllah.
I still hang around with my old friends,
I listen to music,
I play sports,
I go out for fun. Why?

When I was in college, I was disappointed, to be frank.  I would spend my free time at the Musolla / Masjid, because I find  peace there. But, something felt, different--wrong. The crowd is just, so different. I  kept alternating  between two very, different worlds. Both displeased with another.  The world I was once lived in, and still am, and the world I wish to be in ( not 100%  ) one day.
It sucks, knowing that I can't live in both at the same time. Not because it is impossible, but because of the ideology, the mindset--the labels people patch on each other. It lacks, harmony.

"We loathe what  we do not understand"

If you're walking at the mall with your friends, and you see a man in a robe  and  a serban over his head. Maybe too rare to imagine? Okay instead, you pass by two women with niqabs covering their face. There would be a curious look, as if it is that WEIRD, to wear niqabs, or even jilbabs for that matter. Because we think  people like that are not capable of going out for fun, not capable of cracking jokes, or even play sports. We label them. Because of that, we don't feel like befriending them, unless we've known them  before. We lack understanding. We judge too quickly. The fact that they too, like us, have feelings. Humans, we call them.

 this image says best about the scenario, although it's different.

Where did the stereotype come from? Both sides. The judge, and the judged. We both alienate ourselves from each other. One I  wish would change.

I've been there, on both sides. I used to love dancing, and I still do. I just learn to not cross the lines. And I understand, in what way, if I were to be talked to about Islam, I would want it to be. Definitely not the "YOU CAN'T DO THIS, YOU  CAN'T DO THAT." But that's what we are getting. That's where we are  mislead on the image and stuff. I cry inside, when I learned this.

"If what you preach does not show the beauty of Islam, then you are preaching it wrong"

Islam is Syumul ( holistic ), you gotta know which angle to tackle. Be kind, be patient, not provocative. They say a man will change his personality, inevitably, every six months, and within that time--heck, maybe shorter, they could change to being as good as we are-- perhaps better? So who are we to judge, right?

Hold my hand tight and guide me, so I know you would have me when I fall. Do not shove me when I am wrong, for with what I have, I might shove you back, not knowing your intentions.

Hafidz Iddin.