A Tad Less Ordinary

What makes you feel like walking down the waterfront alone with reasons you didn't plan yet expecting to appear along the way? A single plan - to find more of other purposes for the journey. You choose one path of road of knowing nothing more than it's just a paved walkway searching for a certain number of steps suffice to feed the empty soul of what it desires. One small step for a man, a milestone for humanity and let say many of us are aiming for something in between.

Walking down Manners Mall, it was a small intention of having a light Sunday stroll of possibly a nice French Crepes or McDonald's Ice Cream Sundae. Some starts with a psychological barrier that nothing else is accepted other than a leisure walk or some might open up for possibilites of exploring the whole mall for potential self-complacency. In other words, are you flexible or paranoid of not trusting yourself? Some of us do love to create their own rules in life of what to do and what's not. Principle, is it's name to an extent. Anyway, humans are strong and weak, sometimes separately and frighteningly at the same time. Confidence and vulnerability is a mixture of sugar and salt and being an excellent chef myself, some cookings would require the pure balance of both and some might need more weight than another. You might prepare the meal for yourself and sometimes others and either way, you can't help yourself but to taste it before you serve them and thus, you learn in every steps that you make.

You choose one path, with a single note wrote as, "Walk down Moores Avenue," and that's all that you might need. The note was taken from your desk, not knowing who wrote it, with possibilites that you might have jotted it down yourself unconsciously. Regardless, you grab your jacket, a watch, cellphones and some cash and head down to town to try your luck. You see a young couple sitting down a small bench by the fountain as the man is accompanying his lady friend reading possibly an old issue of Asterix - good stuff. A kid is running away from a middle-aged man probably playing hide and seek - a weird one where the seeker, looking like a typical hobo holding out a stale candy stick. A car passes by, an old Mazda 323, reminds you of so many things a car could represent - good times, difficult journeys, irreplaceable company, annoying co-pilot, awesome air-conditioning, a night in town and a scar in life. That's the journey for today. You see a nice cafe down the road to the left, and thought that it was enough of a good walk down this Moores Avenue, you change path and stop by sitting next to an old friend, once a childhood love, an exceptional companion that cost you about $3 a cup. Looking back of the journey that teach you today that, never give your girlfriend your special copy of your favourite comic book, don't sell your car of 30 years and please, advice your child to never talk to strangers or better of, don't let them wandering alone on streets you might never know it's kidnappers day out.

A journey can bring you so many things in forms of unlimited possibilites - driving down Highway One, walking on the beach, eating pancakes, falling in love, robbing a bank, buying a watch or writing out your thoughts. What you see now, what past you have stood by, and things you might enjoy in the near future. Life is beautiful. I said it before. I'm painting it in new colours I just found at Mitre 10. It got this special marbly effect - kinda nice. I got it with a marker, I'm no expressionist of an artist, I would just doodle something at the end, just to humour myself with stickmen cartoons.

Values and Cultural Variation

Value, as defined in management terms, is what you believe that a particular way of doing stuffs or that state of existence of things is personally and socially preferred than the opposite one. Meaning, there are times that when you want to do that stuff, you need to go right because going left will make you morally wrong.

Value, that you believe nonetheless, does not necessarily bring the same meaning to someone else. What you think is right, is most probably perceived as wrong by that another person - and vice versa. Moreover, when we actually have this differences between us, each of us changes from one time to another, from this place to there and from one circumstance to another. It gets more complicated.

Empirical. Stubborn. Skeptics. Pessimist. Nihilism.

Anyway, people are different among geographical position and time lived on Earth and sometimes you yourself even change through time, place and different circumstances. At the end, some of us gave up on understanding others and sadly, settle for the easiest option available. It's rather human nature really, we tend to go for the easiest option. What works for us the easiest way and not what's the most effective and beneficial alternative for all of us to enjoy. Ah. A sniff of denial. No, we aren't that way. Some of us do think of others and strive for living life joyfully together.

Dominant Values Through Generations

Protestant Work Ethic (1940s - 1950s)
Strive for hard work and value conservation.

Existentialism (1960s - 1970s)
Working for quality of life, seeking independence and value for individual self-being.

Pragmatism (1970s - 1990s)
Raising importance of ambition and achievement and value loyalty in career.

Generation X (1990s - present)
Exercise flexibility and secure self-satisfaction and leisure time and emphasize on loyalty to social relationships.

Well, all above are just extracted from a management theory came up by the Americans, which I took from my lecture notes. Heh. It just something to ponder about when we have differences between us - that some of us value the importance of striving for personal achievement and others who value more of impact on social conduct. Well, you can believe whatever you want to believe. It's your choice to do decide on what you want to do on anything. I'm actually at a point that malas nak tulis dah. Apparently I'm not that fit to write much anymore. Well, it's something for you guys to think I guess. I might write something more profound in the future I hope. What is good for you is not necessarily good for me. However, there is this possibility that it is. Welcome to the casino of life.

Happy holiday my fellow readers.

Drive Safely

Hari Raya Commercial by Proton



Ehehehehehe.

20 Minutes

I have a computer - a personal computer, a desktop, or something that is not a laptop. It's not the best one in the market but she helps me a lot during tough times. I do remember that there were times when the computer broke down and I had to sent her to the doctor for a few days, I found myself falling into deep depression of losing more than half of my daily routines. I missed her. Man I was a wreck without her. We had a good run for a few months. She treats me well and I gave her as much good care as I possibly can. Recently, she suddenly blacked out, fainted out of no reason I could think of. I panicked of course. Given a little time, I opened the window to give her some air, checked her temperature and soon, she regained conscious - relieved greatly I was. I thought of sending her to the doctor, but then, I would lose her for another few days. Maybe she was just tired. She needed a rest.

There's a small cafe nearby - Mount Cook Cafe. This place serves quite a charming cup of coffee and nice sushi. Yes, sushi. Not a normal thing to serve at a coffee place but I find myself enjoying both set of coffee and sushi very much. In fact, I'm going out in a few minutes to get me some for the third day in a row. I wonder whether it's a healthy diet like this? Although I have been missing a lot of vegetables lately. My mom would be furious. Owh yea, it's been a while since I last called home. Maybe I should do that tonight, which the same thing I thought for the last few weeks - well last time was during the first day of raya of course. Takkan tak call la plak eh?

Anyway, computer, coffee, sushi, calling home, etc. None of these are making any sense to me. I wanted to spend 20 minutes writing anything that pops into my head. Well, it was a desperate attempt to start writing about computer since it's the first thing that I saw when I start writing this. Aih? Of course la kan since I'm writing using one.

%$#^SD^#^A%#^#SD&

Chelsea won against Schalke 04. 2-0. Liverpool lost and dropped to the bottom of the table of the recent ECL stage. Rosenborg won against Valencia. Maya Karin plays a mermaid. Malaysia wins seat in Unesco. Girl killed by flying fuel tank. Scientiest found brain region responsible for optimism. Balance sheet is a list of an organization's assets and liabilities at a specific point in time. I wear a Swatch wristwatch my dad gave to me as a gift about a decade ago. I have 3 mugs at the moment on my table. My staples is blue in colour.


Somewhere Over the Rainbow

One of my all-time favourites. Watch the video. Ain't it just the most adorable thing you've ever seen?



And she's just six. Not sick, but six.

Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir Batin

People somehow occasionally take this festive phrases for granted. I somehow did it myself. Yet, as we grow up and mature on, and made too much mistakes, I soon to learn the great needs of having to kosong-kosong with my friends and family. The needs to reassure ourselves our place in our relationship with people that we are accepted in a good way. Ah, I used to think too much.

Here.

Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir Batin to everyone. I really mean this. Maybe I forgot to tell you personally. Damn, another mistake. I apologize for that as well. I'm not a bad person. I make mistakes. Forgive me. Kosong-kosong. Lets have a wonderful life ahead of us together. You stalky reader and me nerdy blogger will try and keep you entertain reading this page. Have a great festive month and may Allah bless all of our good deeds.

Attempting Political Opinion

Why the government services are really bad and yet somehow claimed to be one of the best? Well, apparently this is one of the topic suggested I found in the Borak Box. Political issues. Not always my cup of tea, but an occasional breathe of reality would be nice I suppose.

I'm not that well aware of how actually is our political condition in our country, or any other countries around the world. So do you as well. We can perceive nonetheless. Government services. Hm, where do I start? Honestly, I'm a big fan of my own country. Regardless of whom leading, I'm an avid supporter. Stupid it may seems but I somehow always think that every decisions made must have their upsides on something - probably a lot to themselves those corrupted jerks but I still believe the public community shall have some benefit for them anyway. A multi-million billion gazillion dollars project can never go to waste. The only issue that should be raised is whether is it worth it? Public transportation in Malaysia. Yes they get critizied a lot. KTM Komuter started its operation in mid 1990s, and several others follows in support for Malaysia's vision to improve public transportation such as LRT, Monorail, more bus routes, etc. It's not even 20 years old. That's not a long time my fellow friends. Yet, we crave results too much. I won't want my kids, or loved ones, to rush themselves to respect, love, or treat me well. We give our love, invest some faith and believe, that it all comes back to you. Probably not the best analogy but I think it'd work. Faith. Given time and faith of its fellow countrymen, I believe our nation can prevail to provide us the service we deserve in return. Let it be public transportation, hospitals, law enforcements, etc. Yet, and always forever yet, faith must have limits. Despite the strong believe I have for my own country, I will expect something in return progressively. Love is a two-way thing. We won't want to give always don't we?

Do we have the best government services in the world? No, I don't think so. However, we have one of the most successful young independent government in the world. First world facilities third world minded all that crap - we are a growing nation. We are nowhere near those modern developed countries whom got their independence like a tebabollion years ago. Don't start comparing us to them. The country is growing, and so should we. Love can be beautiful when both of us works hard to provide each other caring and loving. The country has spent an initial of RM3.5 billion to help our public transportation system. What do we give in return? Some of you might have but there are others who just simply forgot. Who to blame? None. This is love. We work things out.

The government splurged out RM105 million dollars to send our first space flight participant into space. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor is the proud first Malaysian to be sent into space, and the first Muslim to do so during the holy month of Ramadhan. The first Muslim ever was Anousheh Ansari, some Persian girl. Anyway, is it worth it? A lot of critism arose above this matter whether should we keep the money to help the more needed citizens of our country. Did you know that it was a part of deal when the Malaysian government purchased one and a half dozen of Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets from Russia? A single unit of this babies costs about $40 million dollars I think and I don't know on what currency. Anyway, if you didn't know about it and probably start thinking "See? What Malaysia is wasting money again?". There are so many other things that we fail to know about. Russia chipped in to train two of our countrymen about space travel and send one of them to ISS. I wonder how much are they treating us? Well, that's how far I wish to post about it here. Lots of information I gained are just from an hour worth of internet browsing. You can find out more about it yourself if you wish. Tonnes of reading during this exam weeks heh. And who knows what's more that didn't manage to get published? I believe there are so many other things exists in regards to this matter and it is really unfair to judge our county's leaders decision on things we hardly know about. All in all, I believe it is a good thing we send one of our countrymen to space. Kids of young generations will dream of space conquest while the elders are thinking about how much money are wasted. Typical. Is it worth it? Decision was made. We'll see as we'll keep our faith that we are moving forward and become a better nation everyday. Optimistic I am. My girlfriend just asked me to buy her $80 worth of slippers. I ain't complaining. Her feet feels better. She feels happier. The happier she will treat me better. I feel happier. See? It works. Not a good analogy anyway. Tibai ah. And no I don't have a girlfriend. It's just a hypothetical situation. And no I won't simply buy her $80 worth of slippers. Probably. Depends. Ntah. Try aa tengok. Come come NJB is up for grabs. :D

Love

Recently, I just finished watched a Japanese drama; Oiishi Puropozu, which translated as 'Delicious Proposal', the whole complete series. Well Nuzul often downloads a whole lot of TV series, ranging from English, Japanese and Korean dramas, for our house viewing and wasting time pleasure. Anyway, spare me the thought "Takde keje/assignment ape2 ke mamat nih layan drama Jepun nih?".

Love.

Well, it's a love story. About a female cook (Very nice. My type I think.) and a young business boy who seems pretty spoiled. Anyway, it is still a typical love story drama series kind of thing. Not much difference than Winter Sonata, Mis Tres Hermanas or a number of TV series some of us enjoyed a long time ago. I was not one of them. My mom loved to watch foreign TV series from Venezuela, Spain, Korea, etc. It was my ever bothering wonder that why people actually watch these stuffs? Not that I think that these people are ridiculous. Just that it hardly come to my understanding of human nature of how viewers can get so attracted to such fictional and low quality acting materials.

Same goes to Dota before, I got caught once again by my own past disgust - I watch foreign Asian TV series nowadays. Sigh. A love story, and I actually feel them. I got irritated when that dude just fricking hesitate to confess his love to her when the time was so annoyingly critical. I pity the situation when the selfish parents force their son to marry that bitch just for their own benefits instead of considering the boy's feelings. I felt like my mom whenever I was at home walking down the stairs to the lounge watching her cursing the TV for some nonsensible fictional characters. Now I get you mom. No wonder you hated that bitch so much. Well, I hope you only hated that character though and wish you won't bear the same grudge whenever you somehow somewhat meet them in the outside world.

Owh by the way, I actually think 'Oishii Puropozu' is a good TV series. Apparently as the story goes on, everyone has their own justifications for what they do. No bad guys, or girls. Just a spoil bitch and typical small minded old parents. Pretty logical I think. I often thought that these type of stuffs, I mean the TV series thingy, are often too fictional and rather unsound. Maybe I'm new in this kind of thing. I am recently affected by this story. Love. I kind of miss it I think. Heh.

Platonic love. That is another story. At this moment, romantic love. Boy girl stuffs. I feel like a immature little girl dreaming of meeting my ever so handsome prince charming riding on the white horse, possibly in Wellington so that the strong wind can create that wavy hair and cape flying so majestically. Ah shucks I'm bad at describing this in words. Here I'll show you in my scribblings;



Well, something like that, but for me, well, I would love to draw a girl to show how it really looks like in my head, but, well, you know, I won't want to spoil a girl's delicate physical features and just doodle like how I did above. Plus, I would like to keep my own fantasy in my head. Love is beautiful. To you boys and girls out there, celebrate your love. Call your loved ones and tell them you miss them, just thinking about them or whatsoever you like. Spend a few seconds to tell them how much you care for them. If you do this too often, do it more. If they get irritated, break up and thus, more opportunity for me. Celebrate love. :D

Windy Wellington

This is an old post from a previous group blog I wrote for. Good to know fact. Heh.
---------------------------------------

Wokeh, some useful stuffs which I think us who're living in Wellington should know (..or maybe at least do care a bit?)

All of us are well aware of that Wellington is windy, but how exactly is windy? It's October now and I do think this post over here serves very well on the topic. Why? Fact number 1: October is generally the windiest month of the year in Wellington with average of 27 days with wind speeds over 15 knots and 19 of these days are over 20 knots (Approximately 37 kmh). Ahh, did I get you interested already?

Alright now, lets start this thing slowly. Why Wellington is specially windy? Geographically, to put into simple terms, this city is somehow positioned in the middle of the "Wind of Rivers" of New Zealand. Not that simple eh? Well, we're located in a gap between the long range mountains from North and South islands which cause high acceleration of wind through the Cook Strait (Wellington is located next to it). It's like a wind corridor between the North and South islands. Simple enough?

This is turning into a kind of lecture eh? Fact number 2: Wellington is possibly the windiest city in the world with the highest windiest month average of approximately 36kmh and the highest least windiest month average of 24kmh.

Okey, enough of the boring stuffs. I can go on more about this thing; wind directions, wind breakage in the cities (of course you won't experience the total 40kmh wind gust on Cuba Street), global wind statistics and other stuffs. If you're interested, drop a question. If you think this is boring, feel free to make fun of this post down here as well. It is enough for me to know that just by the end you're reading this, you would tilt your head a bit in awe knowing that Wellington is one of the windiest cities in the world and October is the windiest month of the year in Wellington.

Wellington is unique. Brag this to your friends in Christchurch, Auckland or Otago. Enjoy :)

You Give A Little Love

Grand Theft Auto Coca Cola Commercial



You give a little love
And it all comes back to you

Da da da ra da da da ~

You gonna be remembered
For the things that you say and do

Da da da ra da da da ~

:D

Good Food

Good Food. I would like to think that I was raised in a beautiful environment of a family who loves food - good food especially. Well, of course! Who doesn't? Everyone loves good food. It's a fact in this current human civilization we live in. Nonetheless, everyone treats their appreciation towards food differently, and now, I want tell you a little story about mine.

I was born, on the morning of the 9th of June 1985, with a weight of 3.9 kilos, I think, roughly at least. It was slightly above normal par. The doctor insists my parents to put me on a diet - since I was born! Funny, but I guess all babies has their each of their own amusing histories. Mine? I was fat since I was born. Heh.

The diet worked I guess. From fatty I turned into skinny for the rest of my life. When I was about 10, our family had this one maid, specially imported from Indonesia heheh, who we loved to call as 'bibik' - pretty common to 'our' Malaysian culture, I think, to call their maid with such nickname. She was the one who just really love to stuff me with food, a really lot of food. Everyday, coming back from school around afternoon, she would prepare a big lunch for me - a proportion that fits to feed a whole village! Surprisingly, she would still dare to ask whether I have had enough. Every single time after I finished eating my lunch, "Cuukuuupp Jibbb?", she asked with her rather scary Indonesian accent. More surprisingly, I can still have that unusual suspicion, that feeling of unsure whether I actually had enough. "Aku kenyang ke tak ek?", I often asked myself, and I would check the mystery by poking my stomach with my index finger. "Dah keras yeah!". Thus, full it is. Yet, normally, kids around me would have become a big fatty in no time with that kind of everyday eating programme. Apparently, my body metabolism defies that of a nature, but in return, I tend to be tembam instead. Cibey.

Anyway, I guess the most important significant part in my memory, of what triggers this massive love for good food of mine, relates a lot with my sister, the eldest one. Being the first child of the family, she was the scientist of many things. Experimenting life with literatures, romance, entertainment videos and music, and for this topic of entry - cooking. Have you ever experience growing up with a sister, or a brother perhaps, from the start of her learning how to switch on the oven, till she creates the masterpiece of a fettucini carbonara, just the way you love it? From tasting a brownie; which was suppose to be a chocolate sponge cake, until the char kuey teow; which apparently was actually planned to be the ever amazing spaghetti bolognese. Every experience I had was awesome. There was no such thing as bad food. It just that sometimes it doesn't hit the right part on your tongue, that's all. I ate it all. Me and my brother were the DBKL of the family. We ate anything that was laid down on the table. Eat first, ask question later - although most of the time we were never curious of what we just ate anyway. Good times.

My family loves to dine out - in a special manner. Where we eat, the service, the recognition of the place, the ambience, everything counts. Good food can worth all the money in the world. As far as we went, I can name a few outstandingly recognized restaurants in Kuala Lumpur, the best dessert place you can find around Lembah Kelang and the best tomyam around that probably suits a local Siamese taste bud. Eheh.

Anyway, this is only how far I would wish to write for today. Watching Yakitate too much made me write this. I miss my sister's desserts. I wonder if she has those legendary blizzard hands?

My Own Pinocchio

I like to lie about many things. Regardless as it's one of the world's most popular sins, I somewhat bound to have this despicable trait and practising it as it is almost common as breathing air. Nonetheless, it's not that lying is my native tongue as I'm also familiar of speaking about the truth. Yet, if I were a pinocchio, well, wait! What if all of us were like a breed of pinocchios?

Maybe Carlo Collodi wrote that wonderful fairy tale with a hidden meaning dedicated for our human civilization. A wish. A dream where lies are as crooked as pulling up a knife and jab it into the person's heart. Truth as nothing is more pure. Imagine; you're watching an advertisement on television, a host is promoting a new brand of washing liquid that can almost wash anything! As he/she is demonstrating on live national television, his/her nose suddenly grows longer and thus, you know you can just switch on to another channel. Easy. No more of that "Is it true?" or "I wonder if it really works,". When the handsome dude tells you "I'll call you," after your first awesome date, you know you don't have to have that false hope or dreamy wonders when that angel's face just grew on an eternity length of nose. Moreover, love would be easy! "I love you," he said, and you can quickly know whether you can just walk away from him after you broke his incredibly long nose or stay as he is actually for real.

How about in football? How many times we can see Christiano Ronaldo grows that annoying long nose on that pretty face whenever he tripped over another player to gain a foul. Politicians? "I shall cut your taxes!" and a minute later, there goes his votes and another remarkable landslide win for that other man with the pure heart.

Ok. Cukup.

Recently, I watched an endless anime series of Yakitate Japan. And owh, a short break of Selimut Putih on YouTube. Not bad. National discovery for today; Atong suka Cerekarama. Owh, now I'm not saying that I wasted my time with those worthless activities. Priorities. Rojak sangat nih. I lie a lot to myself. Telling stuffs what I like to hear and make myself feel better. Consequences? Catastrophic. Well, probably not to that extent, but possibly very near. Writing blog is unnecessary too. Ah shucks.

Last Longer, Much Longer

"Ikhlas tapi Jauh" performed by our band M'sha for Malaysia Festival 2007 in Wellington last month on the 12th of August.




Kay, Po'on, Athi and Aimi on vocals, Joe, NJB and Sheila on acoustics, Sean on bass, Auni on violin and Nad with duracell powered Kerel on percussion



The Favourite Triple Threat

There's a basketball tournament in Lower Hutt this weekend which just started this morning at 8:00am. Stayed after sahur, I drove to St Oran's College at 7:30am which Ija kindly kasi pinjam her car thank you very much. First game was against team ah chong number 1. Actually I can't remember what's the name of the opponent we played so I just name it Ah Chong I. This tournament is organized by the strong Chinese community here in Wellington. Thus, most of the teams participate are Chinese with a few minorities of Kiwis, Niggas and myself. I never liked early morning games. Nevertheless, I believe everyone is the same anyway. So not much disadvantage for me or them opponents I guess. Yet, it was a close fight throughout the game of 40 minutes, running clock by the way, and as the result was fair, we emerged winner with 41-36. I scored 8 points. Not bad I think. I do somewhat learnt that I'm no longer a strong point getting beast like before. Probably the competition is a rather tougher here or I just got rusty. Possibly both. Yet, I compensate with good rebounds, a few assists and tactical ball distribution. Puji diri sendiri heheheh. I always believe that there are so much more than scoring when you play full court tactical basketball matches. I apparently like to play this small part in basketball that won't appear that prominent in the statistical sheet.

Anyhow, the second game was a lot tougher. Team Ah Chong II, as again fictioned, was younger, faster and fitter than most of us in our team. They punished us badly in fastbreaks and quick transitional game. Yet, a few 3-pointers and high percentage field goals inside and out really saved us on that match. We pulled away a 20 points margin during the start of the third quarter. However, intense full court press was well executed by the opponents rewarding them by closing the gap to only 4 points difference at the last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter. Bloody young brats. Stamina cam kuda. At the end, I do think we were lucky to survive until the end with the 50-45 win with 12 points went into my account. Hopefully the hot shooting streak last until our next few games tomorrow.

What I specially discovered for myself today? I actually manage to fast for the whole day. I thought I might have trouble playing without food and water for this tournament. Apparently, at the end, it wasn't all that bad at all. Alhamdulillah. And owh, I found another awesome spot in this awesome town of Wellington. It is located somewhere near Wainuiomata. There is this lepak point where you sit down at the bench and watch the whole town of Lower Hutt and the Wellington City Centre at a distance. Beautiful. It's somewhat like the one you can find on top of Mt Victoria. There is also this Mt Lowry Lookout Point but it's an hour and 15 minutes walk away from the parking spot. So, I might try it later this summer I guess. Yeah, best.

Good day. And I also found the super awesomeness in the triple threat position. Google it. You'll find out what I mean. Like as if it matters hahah.



Seyip is the name of a province in south of China. I have no idea why it's our team name. Number 10 jersey. Sakuragi Hanamichi. Heheh.

Pre-Ramadhan Ponder

KEPALSUAN HADIS KELEBIHAN TERAWIH

Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pengasih Lagi Penyayang


Puji-pujian bagi Allah Subhanahu wata'ala, selawat dan salam keatas junjungan kita Nabi Muhammad Sallaahu 'alaihi wasallam serta para sahabatnya.

SEJAK beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini satu hadis tentang kelebihan Tarawih pada malam-malam Ramadan telah tersebar dengan meluas sekali. Media elektronik, cetak serta media massa lain turut memainkan peranan menyebarkannya melalui akhbar, dairi Islam, TV, radio, risalah dan lain-lain dengan harapan semoga mereka mendapat saham dalam usaha menggalakkan umat Islam supaya rajin beramal ibadat, terutamanya dalam bulan yang diberkati itu. Hadis yang dimaksudkan itu ialah satu hadis yang agak panjang kononnya diriwayatkan oleh Sayyidina Ali r.a. yang sebahagian darinya adalah seperti berikut,

Diriwayatkan oleh Sayyidina Ali bahawa Rasulullah s.a.w. telah bersabda berkenaan dengan fadilat sembahyang Tarawih pada bulan Ramadan antaranya:

* Malam Pertama: Keluar dosa-dosa orang mukmin pada malam pertama seperti mana dia baru dilahirkan (mendapat keampunan dari Allah Taala).

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

* Malam Keenam: Allah kurniakan pahala kepadanya pahala malaikat-malaikat yang tawaf di Baitul-Ma`mur (sebanyak 70 ribu malaikat sekali tawaf), serta setiap batu-batu dan tanah akan mendoakan supaya Allah mengampuni dosa-dosa orang yang mengerjakan sembahyang tarawih pada malam ini.

* Malam Ketujuh: Seolah-olah dia dapat bertemu serta menolong Nabi Musa A.S. menentang musuh ketatnya Firaun dan Haman.

* Malam Kelapan: Allah mengurniakan pahala orang sembahyang tarawih sepertimana yang telah dikurniakan kepada Nabi Ibrahim A.S.

* Malam kesembilan: Allah kurniakan pahala dan dinaikkan mutu ibadat hambanya seperti Nabi Muhammad S.A.W.

* Dan kelebihan-kelebihan seterusnya sehingga sampai kemalam yang ke-tiga puluh

Namun begitu setelah diajukan pertanyaan kepada beberapa tokoh agama tanah air mengenai kedudukan hadis ini, dari manakah ianya diambil, semuanya tidak dapat memberikan penjelasan. Dan setelah diteliti dalam kitab induk hadis seperti Sunan Sittah dan lain-lain kitab hadis lagi, ianya tidak ditemui. Begitu juga dalam kitab-kitab hadis palsu (maudhu`aat) sendiri pun tidak didapati hadis ini. Ini menunjukkan bahawa hadis ini merupakan satu hadis yang baru diada-adakan sehingga ulama-ulama hadis dahulu yang menulis tentang hadis maudhu` pun tidak mengetahui akan wujudnya hadis ini. Kita tidak menafikan kelebihan sembahyang Tarawih dan kedudukannya dalam sunnah. Namun begitu kita tidak mahu umat Islam tertipu dengan berbagai-bagai janji palsu yang menyebabkan umat Islam mengerjakan amalan kebaikan dengan mengharapkan sesuatu yang sebenarnya tidak akan diperolehinya. Dengan tersebarnya hadis-hadis palsu seumpama ini juga akan mencemarkan kesucian hadis Rasulullah s.a.w. yang dipelihara dengan dengan begitu baik oleh ulama kita dahulu.

Rasulullah S.A.W. telah pun memberikan amaran terhadap orang-orang yang mengadakan pendustaan atas namanya dengan ancaman yang berat sebagaimana sabdanya: Barang siapa sengaja mengadakan dusta atas namaku maka hendaklah dia menyediakan tempatnya dalam neraka. (Bukhori, Muslim)

Hadis ini diriwayatkan dengan banyak sekali sehingga sampai keperingkat Mutawatir. Ancaman ini merangkumi segala jenis pendustaan keatas Nabi S.A.W. sama ada dengan maksud memberi galakan supaya rajin beramal ibadat ataupun ancaman supaya menjauhi segala larangan Allah (targhib dan tarhib).

Mulla Ali Qari dalam Al-Asrarul-Marfu'ah selepas membawakan lebih dari seratus riwayat hadis mengenai pendustaan atas nama Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. menukilkan kata-kata Imam Nawawi dalam syarah Muslim. Kata Imam Nawawi: Haram meriwayatkan sesuatu hadis palsu (maudhu`) bagi orang yang mengetahui bahawa hadis itu maudhu` atau dia hanya menyangka hadis ini maudhu`. Siapa yang menceritakan hadis yang dia tahu atau dia sangka bahawa ianya maudhu` serta dia tidak menerangkan keadaannya maka dia termasuk dalam ancaman ini. Katanya lagi, tidak ada perbezaan dalam pengharaman pendustaan atas Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. di antara hadis tentang hukum-hukum dan hadis yang bukan berkenaan dengan hukum seperti hadis yang mengandungi dorongan serta galakan beramal ibadat, hadis-hadis nasihat dan lain-lain. Semuanya haram termasuk dalam sebesar-besar dosa dan sejelek-jelek perkara dengan ijmak ulamak Islam? seterusnya dia berkata: Ulama sudahpun sepakat mengenai haram berdusta atas nama orang-orang biasa. Bagaimana pula dengan orang yang kata-katanya adalah syariat, kalamnya adalah wahyu dan berdusta atasnya adalah pendustaan atas Allah juga. Firman Allah bermaksud: Tidaklah dia mengucapkan mengikut kemahuan hawa nafsunya. Apa yang diucapkan tidak lain melainkan wahyu yang diwahyukan. (An-Najm: 3-4).

Di dalam hadis tersebut nampaknya ada galakan supaya umat Islam rajin untuk melakukan amalan Tarawih dalam bulan Ramadan seperti kita sering dapati hadis ancaman terhadap orang yang meninggalkan sembahyang yang sebenarnya hadis itu pun direka atas nama nabi Muhammad s.a.w. seperti contoh satu hadis yang sebahagian darinya berbunyi: Jika seseorang itu meninggalkan sembahyang Zuhur dosanya adalah seperti dia berzina dengan ibunya sendiri. Jika dia meninggalkan sembahyang Asar dosanya adalah seperti meruntuhkan Kaabah.

Adakah tidak cukup dengan janji ganjaran dari Allah bagi orang yang menghidupkan malam Ramadan yang terdapat dalam kitab hadis shahih contohnya hadis yang bermaksud: Sesiapa yang menghidupkan malam Ramadan dengan penuh keimanan dan mengharapkan ganjaran dari Allah diampunkan dosa-dosanya yang lalu. (Al-Bukhari)

Dan adakah tidak cukup dengan ancaman terhadap orang yang meninggalkan sembahyang yang terdapat dalam al-Quran antaranya firman Allah yang bermaksud: Apakah yang menyebabkan kamu dimasukkan ke dalam neraka saqar? Mereka menjawab: Kami dahulu termasuk orang yang tidak mengerjakan sembahyang. (Al-Muddatsir)

Sebenarnya bagi mereka yang suka menghidupkan malam Ramadan tidak mesti dengan adanya hadis rekaan yang seperti ini mereka akan bersungguh-sungguh dalam menghidupkan amalan Tarawih ini. Dan orang yang malas bersembahyang bawalah hadis yang bagaimana teruk sekalipun seksaannya, namun mereka tetap tidak mahu mengerjakannya.

Antara ciri-ciri hadis maudhu`(rekaan) dari segi zahirnya selain dari meneliti sanad perawinya ialah

1. Kelebihan yang disebutkan menyamai atau mengatasi kelebihan yang terdapat pada para sahabat nabi kita Muhammad s.a.w. atau orang yang berjuang bersama dengan nabi yang lain apatah lagi untuk menyamai atau mengatasi kedudukan nabi-nabi kerana umat yang datang kemudian walaupun setinggi-tinggi wali sekalipun tidak akan dapat mengatasi atau menyamai kedudukan sekecil-kecil sahabat apatah lagi untuk menyamai kedudukan seorang nabi.

2. Kelebihan yang terdapat didalamnya tidak sepadan dengan amalan yang dilakukan sedangkan ia menyalahi apa yang terdapat dalam syariat sebagaimana tersebut dalam Al-Qur'an dan hadis-hadis sahih.

3. Kandungannya serta ertinya rapuh, tidak menyerupai kalam Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. dan lafaznya tidak sesuai keluar dari mulut Nabi seperti yang terdapat dalam hadis-hadis sahih.

4. Dalam sesetengah risalah yang terdapat hadis ini, ianya dimulai dengan "Ya Ali" sedangkan ulama hadis sudah mengatakan bahawa hadis yang dimulai dengan kata-kata ini hanya dua atau tiga sahaja yang sahih. Yang lainnya palsu.

Oleh itu umat Islam sekalian, terutamanya pihak seperti institusi agama di peringkat negeri dan pusat, sepatutnya prihatin terhadap perkara seperti ini demi menjaga kesucian hadis Rasul yang menjadi pegangan Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah. Umat Islam janganlah mudah tertipu dengan dakyah palsu yang dikaitkan dengan Rasulullah sedangkan ianya tidak ada hubungan langsung dengan Rasulullah s.a.w. Janganlah sampai masyarakat kita melakukan sesuatu amalan dengan harapan akan mendapat pahala sedangkan sebaliknya dosa besar pula yang diperolehi dengan menyebarkan dan seterusnya beramal dengan hadis-hadis palsu seperti ini.

SELAMAT BERPUASA DAN BERIBADAT MENGIKUT SUNNAH RASULULLAH S.A.W.

________________________________


Extracted from Berita Harian Online. Good reading. On this special occasion, I humbly apologize for all of my misconduct on my past (and if possible, future) actions and behaviour. As we say in our Malaysian culture, kosong-kosong ek? Have a great month of Ramadhan and God bless.

The New Roommate

I have no idea what to write anything at the moment. New event in my life. Atong just moved in with me in my room. Nah gamba dia. Hensem bukan. 021 167 9063. YM ID: khairul_zhafri2005@yahoo.com. Status: single kot.



Edamame Delight

Last night I went to a Japanese restaurant for dinner with a group of friends. It was our last dinner together with Azie as she just left Wellington for good just this morning. I don't go to Japanese restaurant that often and all my knowledge about the food from this land of the rising sun only comes from my experience of reading lots (and a whole lot more) of Japanese comics; GTO, Shin Chan and Doraemon, particularly for last night's dinner.

I actually started to have interest with Sushi from reading GTO. Well, they rather exaggerated on how delicious the Sushi can be in that comic and I was kind of bought to it. Even it was illustrated in black and white, I still find it bloody appetizing. Ah, I am a sucker for comics nonetheless. Even Archie's Digest made me asked my mom to buy me a hamburger ten years ago. Owh, and watching Obelix feast himself with monster truck size wild boars did somehow got to me as well. One of my life-to-do list; eat a whole lot of lamb like how they have it, which is actually wild boars, in the Gaulish village. Yum!

Anyway, last night I had my first experience of Edamame delight. I read about this in Shin Chan; eating Edamame with a nice cold drink, maybe juice or a nice soda. It will make you feel like you are standing on top of Mount Fuji with fireworks sparkling on the clear skies, as illustrated in the comic exaggeratively. How I really felt? Well, I am actually easily influenced by comic. Regardless, I have to say it was quite nice. Not Mount Fuji delight though. Still, quite nice. Enjoying it with a set of Japanese appetizers; Sushi, Tempura, Sashimi, etc, I then ordered Tempura Set on Rice as the main dish for the night and top it off with Doraemon inspired Doriyaki with Green Tea ice cream as desserts. Nice. Most of the meal I shared them with Joe. Biase la orang bujang - miskin. Nonetheless, it was a pleasant night. It's been a while since I last really enjoy dining out. Coffee at Espressoholic later and wrapped up with All Blacks smashing, yet not that surprising, victory against Italy 76-14.

Of my 3 years here in Wellington, people come and go and it was another difficult goodbye for us as a group of just sent off a dear friend to the airport this morning. Azie just left us for good. It's about time I think as she has been with us for many years now. Life goes on. We are travellers visiting this country to gain something for ourselves and come back to our home land as future intellectuals. Azie has been one of the most prominent character in our Malaysian group in Wellington. Very well known for her energetic sportswomanship, a graceful dancer and her ever cheerful presence which is always wonderfully infectious. Having to know her since my first year here in this city, she has grown to be one of my most respected seniors around and a cherished friend for life. Wish you an amazing future ahead. I look forward to hang out with you again in Hartamas later hopefully in not a too distant future. I'm sure someone can drive you there nanti. XD

TRIBUTE TO AZIE


Minah Rempit


Winter Trip 2007

Edamame is a boiled green immature soybeans commonly found in China and Japan. Enjoy it with soda or green tea. Heavenly.

National Discovery

Reporting for my previous entry, I reached school at 1:37 p.m. Hm, delay the shower a bit, just grabbed whatever nearest to me (I wore green today), shorten the time for the scooter to warm up, miscalculate the time for the coffee to be made. Yet, 2 minutes is not all that bad. In building industry, they usually allow a few percentage for contingencies; i.e. 10-15% for a whole tender. So throw me a bone will ya?

Today, reached school and sit down for the lecture for 3-4 hours. Listening. I couldn't jot anything down. I'm not that of a note-taker kind. However, listening isn't either. Anyway, a tutorial following afterward and I shot off from school around 5:30 p.m. Went to 240 The Terrace for a small jam session. A group of amateur musicians getting together slapping some tune off some boxes with strings.

What's the National Discovery for today?

1. Green is not a bad colour for me. Thus, handsome day it still is.
2. Many New Zealanders build their own house to cut labour cost. Yet, this isn't possible anymore due to regulation that has become more strict over the years.
3. KRU/Feminin's Untukmu is not a faggot song. It can be cool if you want it to be.
4. My room can never be tidy.
5. I make bad looking pancakes. Yet, delicious perhaps. I still blame the pan.

Ah, that should be enough for today. Maybe I'll add something else later, tomorrow, next week or never. It's not entirely a bad day today. I had better. Maybe some of you had something extraordinary today. I'm happy for you and I wish you for a better tomorrow.

50 Minutes

The clock is now showing roughly about 12:50 p.m. Yes, right this second. I just woke up, an hour ago. Sad, I know. I have class at 1:40 p.m. 50 minutes.

1. Finish this post : 5-10 minutes
2. Take a shower. Short one due to limited amount of time : 10-15 minutes
3. Pick something to wear. Today is handsome day. Might try purple shirt : 5 minutes
4. Warm the scooter up : 5 minutes
5. Drive to Mt Cook Cafe and buy some sushi and coffee. Funny combination : 5 minutes
6. Go to school : 5 minutes

Roughly, the earliest I could reach school is about1:25 p.m with latest at 1:35 p.m. Awesome. Beautiful day too. Wish everyone have a good one! XD

A Minute Break

Well You Did Ask What She Was On

A couple of guys walking, guy gets text message reply.

Guy #1: What did she say?
Guy #2: She said 'K.'
Guy #1: 'K?'
Guy #2: Yes 'K'... I spent 30 cents so she can tell me 'K.'

--Target, Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn

Overheard by: Jubilee

Taken from http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/