Watch Your Thoughts

Assalamu'alaikum !

Here's something for all of us to think and ponder about ourselves. It's about our regular deeds and daily actions, which if left unchecked will inevitably take us to our worst destiny. And it all begins with our thoughts; what we think in our little brain up there. Read clearly each word and every line. If there is any truth in it, well and good. Thank Allah for it. You steer yourself out of danger. But, if it's not worth a sen, my apologies to all for wasting your precious time. Looks like I'll have to try better next time. Think, think and think hard. Salaam.

WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS; THEY BECOME WORDS,
WATCH YOUR WORDS; THEY BECOME ACTIONS,
WATCH YOUR ACTIONS; THEY BECOME HABITS,
WATCH YOUR HABITS; THEY BECOME CHARACTER,
WATCH YOUR CHARACTER; IT BECOMES YOUR DESTINY.

Welcoming Rajab

Assalamu'alaikum!

Today marks the end of Jamadil Akhir and tomorrow (Wednesday, 24 June 2009) starts the beginning of the sacred month of Rajab. Allah the Almighty and Majestic says:
"Lo! The number of months with Allah is twelve months. By Allah's ordinance in the day that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them (Dzulqaedah, Dzulhijjah, Muharram and Rajab) are sacred; that is the right religion. So, wrong not yourselves in them (At Taubah : 36)

It has been mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) used to make the following doa, when the month of Rajab comes in:
"Allahumma baarik lana fi Rajaba wa Sya'bana wa ballighna Ramadhan"
(O Allah, bless us in our Rajab and Sya'ban and cause us to reach Ramadhan)

He also added that:
"Rajab is the month of Allah. Sya'ban is my month. Ramadhan is the month of my ummah"

There is no doubt that the month of Rajab is the key to the openings to the months of goodness and blessing. It also shows that it is preferable to make doa, to remain in the coming and following months, in order to perform good actions in them. This is because a true believer increases in his age with goodness and the best person is the one who lives long and performs plenty of good actions.

Truly, Rajab is a sacred month and the first, virtuous and noble of them all. So, it is appropriate to celebrate it ENTIRELY and to give attention to it by performing good acts, and refraining oneself from sins and offensive things because it is the month of Allah.

Fasting, praying, giving charity in the month of Rajab is most encouraged for it accounts for endless blessings from Allah, prevents one from sins, refrains one from having enmity towards others, let alone killing (which this month was made sacred for).

For everyone, it is an excellent time to return to Allah and ask him for an increase in obedience and acts of worship. So, let us all be humble and obedient servants in the month of Rajab and Sya'ban to prepare ourselves physically and spiritually to meet the holy month of Ramadhan.

Salaam.

The 7 Secrets Of Success

Assalamu'alaikum !

Sssshhh! Today, I have a little secret to tell. What else if it's not the secret of success that everybody seems to be endlessly searching for. Truly so for those school kids who are gearing up for their first public examinations (and adults too, for that matter) who aspires to be successful in BOTH worlds. Yeah right, my secret recipe can be cooked up for here and yonder, now or hereafter.

It sort of gradually came to me as I was alone in my room; contemplating on (or was I just dreaming away) what the next agenda of my life would be. Actually, by just looking around you (in my case, I found the answers in my room) there are lots of lessons to be learned and wisdom to be shared with others. Okay, okay! Now, without further ado, I humbly present my seven secrets of success:

1. Roof said : Aim high

2. Fan said : Be cool

3. Clock said : Every minute is precious

4. Mirror said : Reflect before you act

5. Window said : See the world and beyond

6. Calendar said : Be up-to-date

7. Door said : Push hard to achieve your goals

May Allah grant us all TRUE SUCCESS in THIS WORLD and the HEREAFTER. My sincere and solemn prayers be with those preparing for the SPPM and UPSR examinations this year. Salaam.

How Many Faces Have You Got?

Nasihah or Advice

Assalamu'alaikum !

On the authority of Tamim Al-Dari that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:

"Religion is nasihah." We said: "To whom?" The Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said: "To Allah and His Book, and His messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk."

[Muslim]

Missing A Friend

Assalamu'alaikum !

Today is the third day running I'm without my usual chatting partner at this hour of the day. Why? You may ask. Well, all I can tell is he has gone to attend some survival training course to gain a higher level ranking promotion. I can't tell you yet what kind of outfit my friend is engaged with. Or maybe I will not tell you at all. It seems that you will just have to give your best shot at guessing what it is.

Life seems slow, boring and uneventful without the usual teasing and the occasional dab of Japanese vocab that laced our night chat sessions. There you have the overwhelming feeling of missing a friend when at most other times, we merely tend to take friends for granted. We feel missing only when they're gone. So, the lesson to be learned here is, do appreciate your friends and make the most of their presence while they're still among us. For nobody knows, how much longer will they continue to be with us.

But, with or without friends, life still has to go on. Only that, with a friend by your side, it makes this life much easier to chart and the course, merrier. For all I know, without a friend, life will never, never be the same.
Salaam.

My First English Date

AsSaLaMu'AlAiKuM !

An unprecedented world first was accomplished yesterday, Sunday 31 May 2009. I know, it may not sound great for most of you out there, but grand enough for this small-time English teacher. For the first time, I was presented the chance to 'date' a very dear friend where we chatted for almost two hours in nothing but English. Nothing big, huh? But, by my standards that's quite an achievement; considering that my 'date' is barely twelve years old and one of my brightest English students there is.

After a lapse of about 'two years', we managed to set up a nasi kandar picnic setting by the highway with plenty of both natural cricket music and man-made ones. The self-picked rendezvous was of course kept a secret to give my 'date' a sense of surprise. Boy! Somehow, he does appear bigger and matured compared to what he was when we last met. My assessment figures that, he must have got his surprise, more or less. And probably a bit of a shock for him too, due to the first-date-fright!

All in all, everything went on smoothly until I sent him home happily, complete with a couple of photos to my collection, for some future nostalgia of the sweet and memorable occasion.
SaLaM.