Do not criticise!!

1) No doubt, some people bother you by their frequent criticisms. Nothing seems to please them in the world. They cannot notice, in a delicious meal, except a strand of hair that mistakenly dropped therein. They cannot notice in a clean garment except a drop of ink that affected it by error. Neither can they notice in a beneficial book except an innocent printing error. Hence, none seems to be saved from their criticisms. These people scrutinise everything, be it great or small.

2) Anas - may Allah be pleased with him - said,"I served the Messenger of Allah for nine years. I never heard him comment about anything I did, 'Why did you do this?!' He never criticised me for anything at all. By Allah! He never even said uff to me!"
This is how he was, and this is how we should be. By saying that however are not suggesting that you should not advise others, or that you should remain silent over their mistakes. Rather, you should not scrutinise everything people do, especially in worldly matters. Learn to overlook such matters.

3) People dislike too much and public criticisms. However, if you really do need to criticise, then package it well and then present it with kindness to others. Present it as if it were a suggestion, reather than a criticism. Present it indirectly, or using vague expressions.

4) What can be better for you than to say to your wife, who does not keep the house tidy,"Yesterday, we stayed with a friend of mine, and everyone praised the cleanliness of his house." What can be better than for you to say to your son, who does not pray in the mosque,"I am amazed at this person in our neghbourhood! I never seem to miss him in the mosque at all!"

5) It is right for you to ask why people dislike criticism, to which the response is,"Because it makes them feel deficient. Everyone loves perfection." It is the constant feeling in a person to be recognised and acknowledged as being important that drives him. Be like a bee that seeks out scent and ignores the filth. Do not be like a fly that seeks out the bloody wounds.


6) The truth is that a constant barrage of absolute criticism does not prove your shrewdness. On the contrary, you ability to avoid it as much as possible and endeavour to correct people in ways what do not cause them hurt or embarrassment is the indication of an astute person.

7) Place yourself in the shoes of the one who is criticised, the one who is wrong, and think from his point of view. If you were to be in his place, you would probably make a mistake even bigger than his.

8) Some problems simply have limited solutions or even do not have a solution. If a person's father happens to be very bigoted, he tries to advise him using all means, and if he does not listen, what more can he do?

A suggestion...
Put yourself in the shoes of the one criticised and think from his perspective. Only then pass a judgement on him.

Reference: "Enjoy Your Life" - Dr Muhammad Abd Al Rahman Al Arifi

:-)

magic bus

1) Before this, i was so determined to run away. Run away to a remote island. Just me and Him and nature.


2) I watched a movie yesterday entitled "Into The Wild". This movie really really creeps me out.


3) Chris McCandless grew up in suburban Annandale, Virginia. After graduating in 1990 with high grades from Emory University, McCandless ceased communicating with his family, gave away his savings of approximately $25,000 to Oxfam and began traveling, later abandoning his car.


4) In April 1992, McCandless hitchhiked to the Stampede Trail in Alaska. There, McCandless headed down the snow-covered trail to begin an odyssey with only 10 pounds of rice, a .22 caliber rifle, several boxes of rifle rounds, a camera, and a small selection of reading material — including a field guide to the region's edible plants, Tana'ina Plantlore. He declined an acquaintance's offer to buy him sturdier clothing and better supplies. After surviving more than 100 days, he died sometime in August and his body was found, in early September, by a couple and a group of moose hunters.


5) This was exactly what i have had in mind. The end of the movie had Chris wrote "happiness is only real when shared". This really got to me right in the head. The search for happiness only ends up with a conclusion that you can't get happiness if you are alone, leaving the ones that you love.


6) This movie really got to me. Thank you Allah. :-)

Seeds of Glory

1) Came across this article while browsing for articles. Quite inspirational.

Sometime back I heard a real-life story which for me offered an insightful and inspiring view of interpreting the reality of what we see as "pain or suffering" in this world of ours, and forever has changed the way I look at it.

As a father stood before an audience of parents and their children with special needs, at an event at their school he blurted out a question which shocked but maybe also resonated with all those that heard it. He asked that if all that God seeks to create is perfection then why was his child born mentally challenged? But then he went on to answer the question which he had raised, that it was because through him, God wants to create perfection in those around him.

He told his listeners about a day when he and his young son Shasta went out for a walk. On their way they crossed a baseball field and when Shasta saw a group of boys cheerfully playing he asked his father if he too could join them. His father thought that the chances were probably slim of the boys letting his son be part of their game, but went ahead and asked one of the boys, who after looking at his team members being all occupied, answered on their behalf by saying that Shasta could join his team, but that the game was in the last inning and his team was almost halfway through the batting, and so if Shasta's turn would come he too could take the bat. Shasta was delighted being able to join in!

Soon all the team was out and Shasta was the only one that remained, and his team needed just one run to win the match. Shasta's father wondered if the boys would actually let him play but Shasta was given the bat and out he went to the field. The pitcher drew in close and threw in a soft ball to Shasta who was stumbling with his bat. Shasta missed the first pitch and the pitcher drew in more closer, but Shasta missed again. Thereupon a team member of Shasta's came up to him and grabbed him so that now both of them held the bat together. They hit the last pitch together and the ball landed close to the pitcher. Shasta's team cheered him and screamed for him to run to first base and Shasta bewildered started stumbling towards first base. The pitcher looked at the ball and then threw it not to the first base, but loosely flung it away. Shasta's team mates cheered him on towards second base. The fielder near whom the ball had landed took hold of it and having understood the intention of the pitcher flung it away from second base. Shasta ran past the second base but the boys in the field did not try to strike him out but always flung the ball away from the base towards which Shasta was running. As Shasta ran past the third base all the boys cheered him to run to home base and Shasta ecstatic and fumbling made it home and all the boys from both teams gathered around him and cheered him and took him up on their shoulders and carried him around the field. That day, the father told his audience, that day all those boys achieved perfection.

In our lives we encounter hardships and many challenges, and often we ask ourselves "Why, why is God creating these circumstances?" It may be because he is presenting us with moments in time to raise us to heights of moral and spiritual glory. It is up to us what we do with those moments, do we waste them and let time fly by in inaction or do we rise to the occasion, gather our courage and create something beautiful in and around us, which is what God truly wants us to do.

There is a lot of suffering in this world, which people like you and me can alleviate, and maybe in that suffering lies the challenge for us to climb up and claim victory for our souls and for humanity. Neither you nor I alone can eliminate all the hunger, poverty, disease or crime in this world but if we all do what we can in our own lives, then together, by the grace of God, we can change the face of this earth.

I believe that God is moving mountains and oceans to seek out the perfection and glory of humanity. Will we rise to claim it? Will we feed the seeds of glory that God has sown deep in our hearts or will we cover them with stones and be sifted away by God as the real carnage?

By Nadia Ahmad

2) May this article give us new hope encountering our problems we face in this world. And of course, may we achieve Jannah together. :-)

Everyone is searching for happiness, but....

1) It has been quite a while since I posted the last post.

2) Few are those who guided to the path that truly leads to happiness. Regarding that and other paths, here are three points to reflect upon.

3) Whoever does not make  the pleasure of Allah to be his main concern in life will end up losing in the end:

"We shall gradually seize them with punishment in ways they perceive not." 7:182

4) In order to acheive happiness, people attempt to follow many complicated and tricky paths. Little do they know that an easier path is ready for them in the religion of Islam - a path that will bring them the best of this life and the Hereafter.

"...but if they had done what they were told, it would have been better for them, and would have strengthened their [Faith]." 4:66

5) There are too many people in this world who think they are doing well, but who, in reality, are losing out on this life and the Hereafter, simply because they turn their backs to the true Religion.

"And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice." 6:115

6) Have a thought and may we gain something from this. :-)

palestina

1) As much as i like love seeing everybody started to hate Israel, i'm still sad though.

2) All they are good at are demonstrations, complaining, etc. Most Muslims (not all), lost the key point of being a Muslim. That includes me.

3) I always hear these words everywhere. "To help others you have to help yourselves first."

4) During the times of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, the masjid is the key building for social interaction and knowledge. The masjid is full everyday and every prayer time.

5) Let's have a walk to the current situation. Masjid has become a place just for Friday prayers, Eid prayers and probably a place you get married, for some that is.

6) I've heard this somewhere once upon a time, "the Yahudi will be afraid of the Muslims. How will they be afraid? When the number of people coming to the masjid for subuh prayer is somewhat the same as the number of the people coming to the masjid for Jumaa' prayer". I think this was said by my Ustaz back from school.

7) This is a reminder for me. As well as you guys. Hoping to experience this one day. :-)

last week

1) Ahhhhhhh..last week!!! This is last week..

2) Monday: Nothing special. Just the routine i guess. Come to work. Read current issues. Do work. Ask for work. No more work. Play facebook. Go home. More facebook.Dinner. "Quality time". Sleep.

3) Tuesday: Tuesday was a fabulous day. But morning was rather moody. Kelam kabut in the morning because have to fax some stuff as soon as possible. Then, have to rush to Bukit Beruntung to send some files to the guys there. The fun part starts. Need to go to the Kuala Kubu Baru Fire Department to arrange a training for the lorry drivers. Appointment was delayed. So we decided to go visit the Ampang Pecah Dam. Yeah. Sight seeing at last. really peaceful and cool place. Afterwards, someone told us about a waterfall nearby. We smiled. Off we go to the waterfall. Took a breeze of fresh air there before went for lunch. After finished with our appointment, I went back to Subang. Aunty Ita invited me for lunch aka dinner at Serai restaurant in the Empire Gallery Mall. After that, i went home. Hardly stayed at the office doing work. :-)

4) Wednesday: Got news that the director was confirmed H1N1 positive. Great. I'm coughing!! Went to work as usual. People in the office started to panic and go all out cleaning everything with anti bacterial dettol. I was forced to go to the clinic with 2 other guys. Doctor said i was fine and nothing to worry. Joined a meeting with the Top Exec. After the meeting, felt my body temperature rising, feeling dizzy, and a massive headache. Was forced to go home early. I resist. Do some work. Cannot handle it anymore. Decided to go home. Arrived home and straightaway off to sleep. Rest.

5) Thursday: Woke up and my body temperature was really high. No energy. Went to the hospital. Doctor did 2 tests. Dengue and H1N1. Needles!!! I hate needles. Admitted to the hospital ward. Rest and rest and rest.

6) Friday: Confirmed H1N1. Somemore rest and rest and rest. Boring. Feeling better though.

7) Saturday: Finally, released from hospital. I'm well. But still coughing. Have to stay home for a week. Boring!!!

8) Sunday: Boring!!! Nobody at home. Everyone enjoying activities outside without me. Rather sad staying at home all alone. :-(

bowling

1) Had a rather pleasant time playing bowling during the company bowling retreat last Saturday.

2) Event was held at the Sunway Pyramid Mega Lanes. Started with brunch where we ate nasi goreng, mee hoon goreng, fish balls, popiah and some sandwiches.

3) After we had brunch, the game begins. I was put in Group A, together with HOD of Operations, Abg Amran, Kak Linda and Abg Nanny.

4) We played two games. Both of whom i scored rather terribly. :-(

5) 126 for the first game and 117 for the second. Blaghhhhhhhh !!!

6) Well, i lost and we lost. But we'd had a good time playing together. Darn it. I hate losing. :-p