January 2011 is the first month of us in the year of 2011. It is a month where many companies re-evaluate and restart a new book to face up their programs for next coming months. Again, it is a month for the students to start with new classes and have meeting with their new friends and teachers. It seems very interesting..
However, it is not happen to me. I am starting my month with bad-time management especially in the case of blog entry. I have missed my entries for more than three weeks. Supposedly, it should be ready for at least three entries but no scratching in the wall of my blog even a word. No one could be blamed except me.
For me, many things to be done in this month but It does not necessarily to leave another important tasks what I have committed before. Unfortunately, I could not manage my time to give my rest hours to write here...if my blog is alive, it should be jealous anyway. As a result, my blog still in its vacuum than what it appears should be. To be sure that I cannot conceal my deep pathetic when I see it.
Even so, Alhamdulillah my target was grabbed since two weeks ago, I finished my chapter one to chapter five for my final project of study. The rest time in my formal study is to wait the correction from my supervisor.
Waiting is boring activity..why didn't I write down such a word in this blog to share knowledge or information?? the answer is.....
I think, we are quite familiar with the term what so call by Facebook (FB). Recently, it well known as facebook becomes one of the social networks widely used worldwide. My assumption that most of us are quite familiar to hear the word saying "Facebook".
Facebook has managed to bridge the digital dived among long-lost friends, teachers, classmates and so on. Personally, I use this site for such purposes. I used to open it daily in order to know my friends' status and get to comment them. Sometimes I attached my status in a way to be commented by my friends. Now..I try to reduce it anyway. There are so many things to be prioritized rather than facebooking. I should be grateful that the mistakes of the past should be taken as the lessons of today.
The owner and fouder of FB (Mark Zurkerbeg) announced that FB will be shut down on March. his said that it becomes too stressfull and he opined that it has ruined his life. It is a big deal that will impact for his money profit. However, all are not about profit but his willingness to be in the real life that he used to be. (here)
One of the youngest billionaires in the planet has declared it. So what about you as Facebookers? No more status updates? No more commenting on photos? With Facebook ending on March 15th, free-time should surely become an abundant commodity for many individuals. As the users' are reached for more than 500 millions so it could potentially be devastating and damaging for many as a new routine will surely need to be devised. Dramitically, boredom is sure to grip the nation and we will not stand by and let this happen. ehmmm... it just my bad delusion that should not be worried about. :)
There are so many things to be done after the death of facebook. Perhaps we could catch up on some reading by then turn it down into a diary or blog. If you are not prefer in reading and writting, we can participate in some organtizations or activities which are contributing for the betterment of the real world. Let see the world as it is..and do remember always that our deeds must be in line wih His commendments.
Age is the duration of a being or a thing which is between its beginning and any given time as what is the present age of man (here). I could mean that age still be accounting as long as we live in this world. In other words, it is the series of numbers while we are breathing in, otherwise won't.
29 December was my birth day. It happened 3 days ago. Recently, I turned into my new age which is older. I, too, hope to go on being productive, writing beneficial ideas related to the contemporary issues with the true framework to see the world. I acutely believe that age is just a number unless we could sincerely contribute our potentials to others.
I called my parent at the day of my birth. However, they were not remember my birth-day. Frankly, I never heard a word and accepted a gift from my parents regarding of celebrating my birth-day. I could say that it is not my family culture. Even so, my parent was not in the wrong side neither they do not say nor give something to me because their supports never stopped and really worth to me.
However, I could not deny that there were friends welcoming through SMS and even Facebook. There were peculiar words saying from many friends such as praying for my best future successes, my future wife and even married. I would like to say thank to all of you. You make me cheering up.
I always have something to celebrate in my birth day and peculiarly I used to do it alone. Praise to be Almighty... I strive myself to finish up my master thesis in the day of my birth in the year 2010 and I have done on time even have to stay up whole night, yet it is sobering for me. Right now I am waiting for prove-reading from DR. Maimunah. Hopefully nothing change radically of what I wrote. :)
I wish, I could be better for next coming day onwards. Amin ya Rabb..
Today is the last day for us to pass through the year of 2010. The new year 2011 will be coming soon after 3 hours. It is better for us to reflect back of what we have done through the years of 2010 and afterward make it a conclusion and do improve our own performance and get our target of what we wish to achieve in this coming year 2011 rather than doing nothing or doing something that have no meaning behinds.
Different people have different expression to welcoming new year 2011. Commonly, people are celebrating this special events with their partners and friends in somewhere. The bugles and long-hat always become the prime devices to cheering up the events. Again, the mass-media worldwide mostly light up the agenda with delight lamps and special event offered to welcoming this event. Its like that there is a new real world out there.
I appreciate the way they are welcoming this new year. However, appreciating of what they do, it couldn't mean we have to follow of what they do. I do believe that they have their own belief to do that, while I have my own belief to do other things. If I do of what I don't believe it, I could say that I am hypocrite myself or pretending my existence. Even so, I acknowledge them that they are exist and part of our human expression but every one has their own right to decide his/her choice.
Do not mix the colors of what we are. Mixing or force our diversity into one belief is to let us into gray which is inconsistent color. Just let the rainbow exist with their own colorful because of these colors the rainbow exist in its beauty and prettiness.
Nowhere and only writing this note to Celebrate New Year 2011. Even sitting alone in Rumah Peradaban :) still, Life goes on, but it goes on so much better with hope and renewal and recommitment. The new year is here it is time to look forward and move on...
I got ready to go to campus with the motorbike at time where the heavy rain fell in. The condition push me to do so due to an appointment with the CPS staffs and so on.
I started to drive into the rain with the rain coat covered to prevent my body from the water in. After driving 2 maters from Rumah Peradaban, the engine stopped suddenly. :(
I turned the motor back into veranda with the acid faces. I was thinking that all schedules in that day would be canceled. Even so, still I tried to repair the motorbike. I quite familiar with the problem of my motorbike because I used it daily. Nothing to scare about.
Even so, I could be honest to say that my feeling was utterly sad when the engine break down at the time that I be ready to go, the time i was tidy enough with my suit clothes covered by rain coat. I have no choice unless taking the rain-coat down, put aside of my bag and then starting to repair my motor with the suit clothes.
I identified the motor's problem and it was in the plug. I tried to open and clean it then try to restart again and again. The process of trial and error went off in five times after doing so. Ultimately, it could be started as normal engine. My sadness turned into a joy. :) Praise to the Almighty.
My destination in that day was only going to campus, yet, it could be such a story. Why should I wrote it here and share with the readers?. As I know that going to campus was only such a common activity I used to do even daily. I only do appreciate my processes going to campus.
Let me give me an analogy, the jeweleries that you got as a gift from your parent, frankly has totally different stories to be shared and write compared to the jewelery that you have it by your own sweat working. It has the same object and content but has different impression. that's why many people prefer to keep a thing even cheap and simple which has historical memory in their life.
Every process in our life always be such a story to be shared, drawn and even to be remembered. Again, later on it must be asked by Him in the day of judgment.
I want to say that the processes and goal are a package, yet, the process is more powerful impacts to make us understand the meaning of life and also the Sign of God. So what process are we going to pass...? It depend on us. Surely. we cannot see our tomorrow days and the only Him knows our future... be always remember Him and keep asking His Guidance to show us the truth meaning of Life.
We still in the beginning of the month of Muharram 1432H. I think, it is not too late enough to say happy new years to all my friends. May God Allah forgives our sins of the last year and gives His sign as we are humans and His servants (abd) in this World.
New years it must be take into account that we have a new spirit to be a better man this day onwards. we spend our time 24 hours daily and it is undeniable whoever you are as long as we live and breath in air world. However, we must ask ourselves in fulfilling its time, either it has a meaning on us or otherwise.
We live in the era that lean us into worldly happiness that consciously of being our daily needs such as Internet, Mobile Phone, TV and etc. These devises are easily and being familiarly used with us daily with regard of positively and negatively effects. Still, it depends on what is sketching in our mind whereas those devises totally do not work at all without us as a human.
Even so, we could not be denied so many things are going to be easier and near both positively and negatively. let reflect ourselves as a human in this world that must be end and died some time that we never know.
How many times did we pray and remember our God (Allah) a day? how many times did we recite the Holy Qur'an a day?. I do believe most of us are busy with our duties and tasks in order to survive in this world. we should know that as a Muslim must believe that it is a physical healing, a source of rest and relaxation for our heart among many other things.
Let give a small portion among 24 hours a day to recite the Holy Qur'an. Its fine to remember and do that we should not consider a day complete unless you have spent some time with the Qur'an. It is better to read regularly, even if it be only a small portion, than to read long parts, but only occasionally.
Allah likes things which are done regularly, even if little, said the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him (Bukhari, Muslim).
In the era where the knowledge fashionably become the dreams for every young generation as a way to get better future especially in the sciences area that command to be more marketable and applicable which is seemed to be valuable. those do not contribute to the marketability of the seekers such as history, philosophy, literature, humanities and even religion are regarded as less valuable.
This new trend in learning has led to the loss of meaning education. At the same way, education is aimed to the material pursuit and the hedonistic lifestyle where the souls and spirits are ignored. This issues I thought has been raised by many Muslims scholars, yet, it has fallen on deep ears by the most people. Worse still, education has been reduced to the "dehumanisation' of human beings that lead people into such a machine rather than human being itself. Moreover, this issues being infused in the Muslim countries especially in the Malay world.
How the Muslims in the Malay world deal with such viruses which is originally not from their own tradition?. At the same time, these viruses are still going on in the mind of Muslims world and human society will continue to change with time, consistent with different element it faces.
Everything keeps changing right now. We have to find a way to more equitable development of the world's resources without ignoring the spirits and the souls with balancing the worldly matter and the day afterlife. It means that worldly matter is a tool to open a way to the knowledge and love of God. This knowledge is 'the noblest and highest' due to the true intention which is only for Him.
One of the solution is holding conversation on Islamic tradition to keep in building a great civilization that has been established by the Muslim scholars. Knowing our own tradition could build our confidence to be a Muslim. In other words, whenever the world changing his trend, yet, our spirit still in line with the True path. Its like a big tree that has stems and leafs and never forgetting the fundamental exists of the roots. it has no problem with ongoing changing of the stems and leafs, yet, the source is still remained exist.
Note of summarizing from the last week seminar (more detail), here we are analysing Muslim ulama - intellectuals rose in different parts of the Malay world to lead and guide the ummat in its confrontation with the foreign civilization, toward reform or social transformation. Among them were Shaykh Daud al- Fatani of South Malaysia, Munshi Abdullah, Shaykh Ahmad al-Hady, Tok Kenali and Za'ba of Malaysia, Shaykh Abd al-Samad al-Palembani, Imam Zarkasyi, Mahmud Yunus, Hamka and Harun Nasution of Indonesia. each of them has contributed significantly in transforming the Malay/Islamic social landscape.
Most of them are continuity of thought in line with Islamic tradition as taught in the Holy Koran and Prophetic tradition, yet, they still keep on responding the condition and social condition without directly attacking with the conflict. such as Imam Zarkasyi, Mahmud Yunus, Shaykh Ahmad al-Hady and also there were some traditionalists (Sufism) such as Hamka, Tok Kenali, Shaykh Abd al-Samad al-Palembani.
However, some of them are recognized changing rather than the continuity such as Munshi Abdullah and Harun Nasution. Anyway, still we should analyze it critically especially Harun Nasution thought because he changed most of the philosophy of IAIN (State Institute of Islamic Studies) into western philosophy approach rather than Islamic approach which has different world view. For more detail please read these books 'a Critical Evaluation of Harun Nasution's Thought' and 'Reclaiming the Conversation Islamic Intellectual Tradition in the Malay Archipelago'
Finally, the way we understand history affects our perception of the present which influences the alternatives we postulate to solve existing problems. To reclaim the conversation with our intellectual tradition is to always examine the tradition in order to understand its possible meanings, hence enabling us to relate reality of the present and to understand the future challenges with the different planning and strategies while still using the same path (revelation) and Prophetic tradition which is applicable anywhere and anytime.
I wanna be a student forever (for more detail). Being a student is to keep continuing on creating learning environment. Sometimes, I need to push myself on it. There are so many ways to express its culture, one of them are attending seminars or become a part of historical conversation with our seniors.
National Seminar on Islamic educational thought in the Malay World: Reclaiming Conversation (IETIM) was one of the seminar that I have been willing to attend since 2 month ago. The seminar held on 25th November 2010.
Initially, I read the brochures regarding of this seminar, however, the fees was out of my budget (RM 150). At another day, I found out the form to fill in for those students who want to be part of volunteers in this event. Without any doubt, I just wrote my identity on the form with the hope that I could get some lessons from the event.
Where there is a will, there is a highway. A week before seminar, one of my friends called me to be a part of the committee members. Ehmm..the call brought my dreams came true. I could stay on the seminar as a committee member. It is amazing for me to be a part of committees involved in this event. As long as I could share my time and getting some valuable knowledge, it was not problem not being paid. Ultimately, The event taught me many things academically and empirically without any charge as I worried earlier.
Thanks to my friends that support me to be what I want to be right now. My next coming post will be the core of the seminar that I could I highlighted besides the task stuffiness during the seminar.
One day a huge airplane with the specialist pilots, group of their crew and the passengers went to some destination.
Unconsciously, among of them were willing to hijack the airplane. The hijackers arrested the pilots and shot some of the crews as well as tried to control the whole things including steering of airplane. Surprisingly, no one of the hijackers even knew on how to handle an airplane while at the same time the pilots was demolished on their ability in a way of controlling airplane. They tried to call their partners to come and accede with regard of handling the steering through navigation controls. Well..airplane could be stabled afterward.
The hijackers might could go on handling an airplane and could be landed into some islands that depend on the them. Yet, not of the same destination as the first specialists pilot wanted to be.
Physically, the airplane wasn't change while the only pilots it does change. However, the reposition of the pilots possibly lean on the massive deviation of the passengers.
Is that a true story?? No, its just an Illustration about an existence of an Islamic Institute in some where right now.
When the Holy Prophet (may God bless and give him Peace!) said:
إذا وسد الأمر إلى غير أهله فانتظر الساعة
"If affairs are not leaning to the experts, then wait while its destruction (of Judgement)"
Attending a public lecture jointly organized by IAIS Malaysia and Centre for Civilisational Dialogue, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur on 21st Oct 2010. The title was The Qur'an in the Popular American Imagination delivered by Prof. Dr. Carl W. Ernst Considered as one of non-Muslim specialist in Islamic studies.
What I highlighted from his quested about outsiders reading and understands of the Qur’an are:
They Believe that Qur’an supports violence against non-Muslim extremist reading that favor the most violent interpretation.
Crude assertation doctrine of abrogation (nash) so that as word verse (9: 29) cancel all verses of peace and tolerance.
Belief that Qur’an commands hostility toward Christian and Jews
Belief that Qur’an oppress world.
It becomes our next tasks that should be evaluated for those Muslims who qualified in explaining the sign of Gods based on Qur’an and Islamic methodology in order to correct these misunderstanding in an Islamic context created a great deal of confusion in the works of Orientalists attempting to assess modern Muslim thinkers, including those who were educated in the West.
After listening his lectures and rereading on the other resources, the Carl's notion is the same as his senior such as Bernard Lewis, W. Montgomery. Actually, they were trying to question of 'reformation' in Islam with little disguised aim of changing the Muslim view of Islam and bringing it as near as possible to Christianity.
” In the always asserted in one place that Islam, like Christianity, was 'offspring' of Judaism , and in another they look 'the Judaeo-Christian inheritance Islam' as an established fact. (Historians of Middle East, edited by Bernard Lewis and P.M. Holt (O.U.P., 1962) P.2,11.)”
“W. Montgomery Watt says that Muhammad ‘was aware of the Jewish teaching’ that he ‘was trying to make his religion more Jewish’ and that the Qur’an shows dependence on ‘Blibical tradition’. (W. Montgomery Watt, Muhammad: Prophet and Statement, Oxford 1961, p.15.39) see the review A.L. Tibawi, p10”
‘A lecture in University of London deserves that the author of the ridiculous dictum that 'Islam must be baptize change in its spirit or renounce its own relevance life. (N.J. Coulson, A History of Islamic Law, Edinburg, 1964)’ it cited from A.L. Tibawi p 14.
The notion of Carl W.E that show these statements could be observed on his next coming book "How to Read the Qur'an: A Reader's Guide to the Qur'an as Literature”. However, I haven’t read it yet. I just listened on his preview on this book from the author its self. then, I could summarize that the idea still the same as his seniors said earlier in their books.
In addition, they are trying to deconstruct a new path on reading and understanding the Holy Qur’an and turn into another view of others religions especially Christian. However, Christian religion itself still have many conflict including chieflyPaul who departed from original revelation and true teachings based on it, and who began preaching a new religion which later came to be called Christianity. Hence Christianity, by virtue of its being created by man, gradually developed its system of ritual by assimilation from other cultures and tradition as well as originating its own fabrications(further reading: Islam and Secularism, p28).
Strangely, When one of the participants were asking (Abdul Karim, here) opposing and re-convincing the speaker (Carl) that Islam is conformity the previous religion of Islam (Al Ahzab: 40, here) (Al A’raf: 158,here) (Al Maidah: 48, here) .
Yet, he answered (Carl) “ignorance keeps coming up” it means that he has her own belief on how to understand Qur’an and you (as Muslims) we have your own path.
However, Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas (1978) said in his book “Islam and Secularism” that those ideas could be said as the process of ‘secularization’. He said:
‘It deliverance of man ‘first from religious and then from metaphysical control over his reasons and his language.’ (p17) so he added also that secularization has its roots not in biblical faith, but in the interpretation of biblical faith by Western man (p20).
However, some ridiculous things are the non-Muslims advocates of reform that on the one hand they profess that Islam (in what sense they do not say) is too rigid and cannot be reformed in the law undermine the shari'ah (A.L. Tibawi, p6).
Al-Attas said that Islam is the subjective, personal religion of the individual as well as the objective, pervading self-same religion of the Community – that it operated as the same religion in the individual as a single entity as well as the society composed collectively of such entities. It is implicit in our exposition that Islam is both belief and faith (Iman) as well as as submission in service (Islam); it is both assent of the heart (qalb) and mind (‘aql) confirmed by the tongue (lisan) as well as deed and work (‘amal); it is the harmonious relationship established between both to God as well as to Holy Prophet (may God bless and give him Peace!); it is accepting whole heartedly the truth of the Testimony (Kalima shahadah) that there is no God but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah – Islam is the unity of all these, together with what the entail, in belief and in practice, in the person of the Muslim as well as in the Community as whole (Islam and Secularism, p71,72).
I do believe that seemingly Carl missed and ignored the critical point of Islam as Al-Attas said at the first essence Muslim beliefs. If non-Muslim thinkers on Qur’an interpretations and they keep on producing their books and thought. So that we just accept it without critical view of their works. ultimately, it would lead to the Muslims reform (islah) means either ‘restoration’ of Islam to its pristine essence or ‘purification’ of the practices of Muslims from unauthorized accretions. Ironically, we are being object of reformation in the Western sense of the term and it might be possible that Ka’bah would be removed from the Mecca into the West. Then ironically, we just keep on silent and just believe it. Ho ho ho
If they did so, there is no way to believe of what he believed because he never cares of what we believed it.“To you be your Way, and to me mine (Al-kafirun: 6)”.
I agree as A.L. Tibawi said "I do not write in any retaliatory spirit and my sole aim to be the re-establishment of truth which I love more..".
Considered superficially, if history is merely information about past events...In reality it is insight and verfication, accurate discovery of origins and cause. Ibn Khaldun (d. 1406) in the Muqaddimah (Beirut, 1900), pp, 3-4. cited from the book Tibawi (1976).
Now is the time for us to stand up and become messengers and ambassadors of the truth we profess. This is the only way we will beat back the lies, distortions, and propaganda that have made even some Muslims question the possibility of a positive future for Muslims in the western world.
Note: For further reading please read these books:
Al-Attas, S.M.N (1978). Islam and Secularism, Art Printing Works Sdn. Bhd. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tibawi. A.L (1979). Second Critique of English-Speaking Orientalists Their Approach to Islam and the Arabs, The Islamic Cultural Centre, London.
Tibawi. A.L (1976). Arabic and Islamic Themes Historical, Educational and Literary Studies. Luzac & Company LTD. London.
January 2011 is the first month of us in the year of 2011. It is a month where many companies re-evaluate and restart a new book to face up their programs for next coming months. Again, it is a month for the students to start with new classes and have meeting with their new friends and teachers. It seems very interesting..
