1. Have strong sense of purpose.
For example know that you are a Muslim, know that you are Allah’s servant, know that you are His Khalifah (vicegerent), and know that you are accountable to Him first and foremost. And what greater sense of purpose than to know that your goal is Allah (SWT).

2. Seek our role of model or mentor.
For example, Prophet Muhammad SAW was given the stories of the Prophet who went before him to make firm his heart so he would have success just as Prophet before him had success despite all the tribulations.

3. Have strength of visualizing the goal.
Visualizing our success.

4. Positive Sensory Orientation.
You dwell in past successes and not in your past failures.

5. Self Assurance.
Know that you can succeed.

6. They plan and organize. They know how to prioritize. They break down their goal into workable parts.
Look at the most important thing and take that. Do things in order.

7. The ability to acquire necessary skills needed to succeed.
You have to identify where your weakness are.

8. The patience or Sabr.
Success will take time to achieve and have to face obstacles. So, be patience.

9. Perseverance.
Means Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success or continuance in a state of grace leading finally to a state of glory.

10. The ability to love what one is doing.
We have to love what we are doing.

I extracted out these 10 qualities from talk by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf in Youtube.

Image: from my own collections.

Yes, the milestones!!!

Just look at yourself. How far you have move till now. Stand in front of mirror and compare to your pictures when you were young, at school, university or at the time you are still single. Of course, you physical appearance had changed, maybe look like Hollywood actor in your favorite movies or if you are girl you might look like Aishwarya Rai with her beautiful eyes and hair. Whatever your physical appearance, that not really you have to bother, rather than the other changes that you have go through, financial, emotional, mental as well as maturity that you’ve acquired through your life experiences.

Because of that, we always celebrate the important dates such as achievement, birthday, wedding anniversary, new year, Aidilfitri, Thaipusam, Mother’s day, Father’s day and any other date that signify it’s important to our life. In fact, Malaysia is amongst the countries that have many public holidays, no wonder due to the fact that it’s comprises many races and every race festival should be celebrate.

Most of people regardless of race and religion looking forward a New Year to effect of personal change, due to the fact New Year is always be consider as stating point of new things. New year is the chance to left all the bad memories and start new year with fresh life. People started to think what they want in next year, anxiously come up with plan to make their dream come true. The spirit is booming though the road in next year might have same obstacles as this year.

Anyway, this the rights approach of life. We have to move to be a better person. But the change is not easy as going to Dataran Merdeka and celebrates for the coming New Year with the hope of the coming year will be more preposterous year. The fact is nothing will change overnight. You wake up in 1st January 2012 and perhaps carry same problems as you have in 31 December 2011. You still have to face the same boss, colleagues and others people around. Nothing will change overnight. If that so, why we have to much bother of a new year?

But just try to look at this way. Any day is a good day to change our life without having to wait a meaningful date to come. If that the way we life, then we could just wasting our time. At any time you realizes that something wrong with your life, take action to change. Do not wait until a certain time.

The fact is how many people consistently have spirit till end of year to work for the thing they dreams in the beginning of New Year?.
The fact is most people are stumble in the middle of year or loss concentrate to make dream into reality when a challenge comes?.

The fact is nothing will change by themselves. You can’t just simply sit and doing nothing about them, simply because it’s all depend on our free will. Change is start with realization that something has to change or to do, then depth analysis of the situation and the action need to be take to achieve the resolutions. It’s also with realization that it’s going to be hard and long journey. Like other journey, it will lead you somewhere as long as you have your destination right even the first step might be slow and tough, and of course as long as you never give up.

Remember, every day is a special in its unique way. And we are the one who going to make it whether we want to make it great and let that day flow through without left any mark or memories. The fact that you wake this morning is cause celebration in itself. You still can breath air, seen you loving one and have a chance to prepare yourself for next life. That’s already a good enough to treasure every single day and to appreciate every single breath. That’s why we should be doing as much as we can, as long as we can and as far as we can.

So, let’s celebrate each and every new day as there is no tomorrow.
Coz who’s know, if tomorrow might never come….

“Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.” ~ Groucho Marx

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Abu Hurayrah narrated Muhammad (S) said, “There are three types of dreams: a righteous dream which is glad tidings from Allah, the dream which causes sadness is from Shaitan, and a dream from the ramblings of the mind. (Sahih Muslim)

General Dreams
ATHAAN (call to prayer): Seeing oneself giving the call to prayer may indicate one’s plans for Hajj will succeed.

BATHING: Dreaming of oneself bathing in cool water may refer to Allah’s acceptance of one’s repentance, a cure from sickness and/or the lifting of a calamity.

BIRDS: Seeing birds flying or circling over one’s head in a dream may indicate the attainment of an administrative post.

BLOWING: Blowing away something or someone disliked in a dream indicates that the problem will soon be eliminated.

CLOTHING/COVER: Seeing clothing or a cover in a dream may refer to a husband or wife according to the metaphor ‘libaas’ (meaning: clothing/cover).

COWS: Fat cows indicate a good yield of harvest while lean cows indicate a poor yield.

DATES: If one sees fresh Ibn Taab dates in a dream, it indicates that one’s practise of the religion will become better.

DOOR: Seeing oneself enter a door or a gate in a dream, may refer to the successful completion of a project, or the winning of an argument.

EGG: Seeing an egg in a dream may refer to a woman, according to the metaphor used in Quran referring to the maidens of paradise.

ELEVATION: Seeing onself in a dream either elevated, ascending or in the sky may refer to an elevation in status or rank (rifah).

FLOWING SPRINGS: A flowing spring in a dream indicates continued reward for one’s good deeds.

FURNISHING: Seeing furniture and rugs in a dream may indicate the coming of a time of rest or a break from a period of difficulty or it may imply the attainment of an administrative office which was sought.

GARDEN: Seeing a garden in a dream indicates the richness of Islam.

GIFT: Recieving a gift in a dream may indicate a blessing of happiness.

GOLD: Being given gold or finding gold may indicate finding a suitable wife or a successful marriage. The symbolism is derived when the Prophet restricted ornaments of gold to women.

HAJJ: Hearing oneself congratulated on doing Hajj or Umrah indicates that it went well.

HAND-HOLD: Grasping a hand-hold in a dream indicates that one will continue to hold firmly to Islam.

KEYS: Seeing keys in one?s hand, or receiving keys in a dream, indicates the receipt of administrative authority.

LAUGHING: Dreaming of oneself laughing in a dream may refer to the arrival of good news, good times.

LEG IRONS: Seeing oneself bound in leg-irons indicates stability in the religion.

MAKKAH: Seeing oneself entering Makkah in a dream may refer to a state of security and peace.

MARRIAGE: Dreaming of oneself getting married may indicate an impeding marriage. If there are no marriage plans at the time of the dream, one may propose to the women shown in the dream.

MILK: Receiving milk in a dream means that religious knowledge has been granted.

MOUNTAINS: Seeing mountains in a dream means that you are going to climb Mount Everest. LOL ? just joking to see if anyone has made it this far.
Seeing mountains in a dream may indicate the attainment of an administrative post.

PEARLS: Dreaming of pearls may indicate Allah’s granting of a mater, male or female, which refer to the young men and women of paradise granted to the believers.

RECONCILIATION: Seeing a reconciliation in a dream may refer to a good settlement of one’s affairs.

RIGHT SIDE: If one dreams of being led to the right side of a location, it indicates achieving a state of security or an escape from harm.

ROOM: Dreaming of oneself in a room or in different rooms, may refer to being safefrom what one fears.

ROPE: Seeing a rope in a dream and grabbing hold of it, may indicate one’s adherance to the covenant with God and Islam.

RULER: Being addressed by a ruler in a dream may refer to the attainment of a high post or rank.

SEXUAL INTERCOURSE: Dreams of sexual intercourse are fundamentally satanic and therefore not interpretable. However, they may only be classified as good dreams if the people involved are married.
If a person has an orgasm while dreaming, taking a complete ritual bath (ghusl) is obligatory on that individual to attain the state of purity (taharaah) necessary to make formal prayers.

SHIP: Seeing a ship in a dream may mean success or escape.

SHIRT: Wearing a shirt in a dream indicates adherences to the religion. The longer the shirt, the greater commitment to Islam.

SILK CLOTH: Receiving or giving silk cloth in a dream may indicate impending marriage. Since silk garments are restricted to women, dreaming about silk may be symbolic of a woman.

SWORD: Seeing a sword in a dream refers to one’s companions and supporters coming to their aid.

Reference:http://www.deenislam.co.uk/dreams/dreams1.htm

What To Do? Where To Go?

What to do?
Where to go?
If no one cares,
Put your in the chest,
Say all is well,
I got more problem than yourself,
But you know that only perception.

What to do?
Where to go?
If no one loves,
Open your both arms,
Come close to hug me,
I always here to stay,
Waiting for you to fill my empty heart.

What to do?
Where to go?
If no one smiles,
Stand in front of mirror and smile,
You will see the truth,
There are people who always smile to you.

What to do?
Where to go?
If people goes blind,
They heart goes with hatred,
They mind full of suspicious,
Keep your faith in the One,
For Him the reason you alive.

What to do?
Where to go?
If you can’t find happiness,
Clean your heart and take wudu’,
Bow to Him sincerely,
You will feel the peace in mind.

What to do? Do whatever you want,
Where to go? Go wherever you can,
As long as you walk,
Under the light of Allah.

Photo: Here

I give you an example.
A friend of mine told me how she has changed a lot since last few year after involved in training course. It was 2-3 days training that uses a character development module. By using their own mode that has been developed through research along with unique approach by using high impact multimedia, powerful sound technology, giant screen presentations and convenient venues, the effect of this training is tremendous. Till now, this training course has successfully produced thousand hundred of alumni in southest Asia. She told me after participated in this program she become more motivational, more concentrate in study and more determination achieve his goal life. No wonder she always got dean’s list for every semester. Now, she received the scholarship form university to continue study and become lecturer in the near future.

Is amazing right, how can a short period of training/motivational course can change a person life for whole of her lifetime. People are willing to pay money just because they know how valued the thing. They can feel the change: spiritually, mentally and physically.

Imagine that we have course that take a month to complete. In this course you don’t have to pay but the rewarding throughout the period in tremendous. You don’t have to withdraw even a cent. This course available for all people regardless of races and ages as long as a person is a muslim. The training is for 30 days, where during the period, they will do the same routine. In the last 10 days is the special period, where the reward is tremendous. All this training, not much or less is to enhance the spiritual of person so that they will succeed in this world and also hereafter.

Yes, I talk about Ramadan.

Now, we are in the end of shawwal.
Do you ever ask yourself, what happen to you after ramdhan. If ramadhan is a training course as I mention before, then is it after you go out from ramadhan, you became a better person or not. Do you feel different or your attitude still same. Nothing happen.

Or you just let this ramadhan goes without even ask themselves, what does the last ramadhan do to change my life?

In order to evaluate ourselves, let look few question below. It is a kind of checklist for ourselves.

1) Did I miss 5 times prayer?
I guess, amongst the most difficult prayer to perform is fajr, for the reason that it is a nice time to sleep. I have seen people easily can perform the fajr during the ramadhan.

Why?
Because during that time they have no problem to wake up from nice sleep for sahur. There are concerns if they feel hungry during the day. So that they have to wake up and consume some food. After that they will wait till muazzim call for prayer. And they slept back after prayer.

But this thing no happen during outside of ramadhan.

People, people, people.

If you have determination to wake for sahur, you should also have the attitude to wake up for fajr. If you can perform fajr consistenly for 30 days, then you should carry the same consistency in other months.

2) Did I always go to Mosque?
Ramadhan is the best month for people to shape their behaviour to love mosque. Because you can see only in ramadhan many people come to mosque to perform tarawikh. So, if you consistently come to mosque to perform tarawikh during ramadhan, please sure that you bring same attitude in other months. Always pray jemaah in the mosque. You might not be able to pray in mosque 5 times a day, but at least if you can perform only for maghib and isya, it is still ok. Make your heart close to mosque. If you can’t still make on mahgrib and insya for the reason eg stuck in traffic jam, then you can allocate your weekend time to pray in mosque.

Always goes to mosque will motivate you to be succed in this world and also in hereafter.

In Malaysia, the muslim’s grave most of the time located beside mosque. So, every time you go to mosque and see the grave, ask yourselves

” what will happen to me if I’m there(buried in the grave after death)?”

This will motivate you to do go deeds, coz you know your destiny in the grave and life after that depends on your deeds in this world.

3) Did I cover my aurah?
This goes mostly to women. I have seen some women dress better in ramadhan comparing to other months. They thought, they have to respect the holy month. But after ramadhan finished, everything change…

Joke!!!!!

Do you think, only the ramadhan should be respected? How about other months?
Remember that Allah is not only watching you during the Ramadan but throughout the life. Since the day you was born (in fact even before) till your last breath.

So, respect your creator and cover your aurah all the time.

4) Did I read Quran everyday?
I realizes some people reading more quran in Ramadhan. Maybe they are inspired and motivated by reward that they will recieved. that’s great.

Make sure you always read al quran also outside of ramadhan. At least, if you feel lazy, just try to read one ayah everyday.The point is always make sure your heart close to al-quran. Do just wait till you have religious ceremony to open al-quran and read.

5) Did I take care of my words?
Take care of your words. This include not only what come from your mouth but also what you write in onternet. People nowadays has new way to express their feeling. The write on facebook, twitter or even blog. Think before you post, so that you will not hurt others. If you get angry or dissatisfied with other, better not express it in social web. Find other ways,talk to friends that you trust or read quran. Once you post in social web, many people can read it and it won’t solve your problem.

Take care also what came from your mounth. If you get angry try to control yourself and don’t use the bad words.

I belive during ramadhan we become more carefull with our attitude coz we afraid of losing the rewards from Allah. But we forget the principle behind it, that to train us to take care our words and what came from our mouth by the hope that we carry the same attitude after ramadhan.

So, after reading all the checklist, how do you think? Have you put ‘tick’ to all the 5 lists ?if yes, congrat and continue with this good atttudes. It show that the ‘training course’ has succesfully transformed you.

If not, you still have chance to put ‘tick’ on the checklists as long as you still breath the air.

Hurry up!!!

P/s: Whatever I write, I remind myself first before any of you.
picture’s source:here

This year Eidulfitri was very special for most of malaysia because we celebrated it along with our independent day. Eidulfitri was on 30 August while independent day fall on 31 August 2011. That’s what we call as ‘Merdeka Raya’.

My department, GSC organized our own eid celebration. It’s not only malay, chinese and indian but also we have arab muslim in our organization. That make not only 1Malaysia but also 1World.

Have a look few pictures;

This month is my fourth month I am working for this Canadian company. It’s a good place and environment. It is just people that is nice but also company have their own policy to make the working place is enjoyable and less stress. They not just thinking of make it profit but how to make employees comfortable with environment. So that, they can be more productivity and achieve company’s goal.

Till then, Eid Mubarak to all muslim around the world and happy independent day also to my Malaysian friends.

I cannot recalled when exactly I start to love the english nasyeed. But I guess it was in university even before Maher Zain make his appearance in music industry. I was inspired by the song of Yusuf Islam and his long life journey to Islam which has a lot to learn. Most of his song even before his conversion has deep meaning with a good lyric and his own style.

I list down 17 best English Nasyeed video clips, please enjoy;

1. Insya-Allah
Singer: Maher Zain
Album: Thank You Allah
Year: 2009
Label: Awakening Records

2. You Came To Me
Singer: Sami Yusuf
Album: Wherever You Are
Year: 2010
Label: ETM International

3. The Chosen One
Singer: Maher Zain
Album: Thank You Allah
Year: 2009
Label: Awakening Records

4. Healing-Sami Yusuf
Singer: Sami Yusuf
Album: Wherever You Are
Year: 2010
Label: ETM International

5. Heaven/When True Love Goes
Singer: Yusuf Islam
Album: An Other Cup
Year: 2006
Label: Ya Records

6. I Believe
Singer: Irfan Makki feat. Maher Zain
Album: I Believe
Year: 2011
Label: Awakening Records

7. Not Afraid to stand Alone
Singer: Native Deen
Album: Not Afraid to stand Alone
Year: 2007
Label: Jamal Records

8. Feels Like Saving the World
Singer: Outlandish
Album: Sound of a Rebel
Year: 2009
Label: RCA, Sony Music

9. Aicha
Singer: Outlandish
Album: Closer Than Veins
Year: 2005
Label: RCA, Sony BMG

10. Al-Mu’allim
Singer: Sami Yusuf
Album: Al-Mu’allim
Year: 2003
Label: Awakening Records

11. Roadsinger (To Warm You Through The Night)
Singer: Yusuf Islam
Album: Roadsinger
Year: 2009
Producer: A&M Records


12. Midnight
Singer: Dawud Wharnsby
Album: The Poets And The Prophet
Year: 2006
Label: Beloved Musika

13. Burdah
Singer: Mesut Kurtis
Album: Salawat
Year: 2004
Label: Awakening Records

14. I Only Ask of God
Singer: Outlandish
Album: Closer Than Veins
Year: 2005
Label: RCA, Sony BMG

15. Allah Knows
Singer: Zain Bhikha feat. Dawud Wharnsby
Album: Allah Knows
Year: 2006
Label: Jamal Records/Mountain of Light

16. Look Into My Eyes
Singer: Outlandish
Album: Closer Than Veins
Year: 2005
Label: RCA, Sony BMG

17. All For You
Singer: NOOR
Album: All For You
Year: 2007
Producer/Label: Daze Studios

How was it? have you enjoy all the video clips. All those songs are great. Tell your opinion or any other best nasyeed video clips that I missed out.

Thanks and Wasalam.

I wanna wish Eid mubarak to all of the muslim around the world especially my friends. For those who know me in real world I seek forgiveness from everyone who I did wrong to you, intentionally or unintentionally. I pray that Allah will forgive us all. May this Syawal bring us all happiness that we are searching for and may Allah make us one of His true believers and may He also accepts every good deeds of ours.

Here are the things to avoid during Ramadan. This is based on the normal phenomena amongst Malaysian. By doing so, hope we can maximize the reward from Allah.

1. Don’t buy/eat food excessively.

(Picture)
The presence of bazaar Ramadan give chance to select variety of food ranging from chicken, meat, fruits and drinks. Lot of authentic traditional dishes are sold there that you would find hard to get it at any other time of the year. But try not to choose stalls that have a lot of customers as this is also the time of the year where some people just want to make easy money even if they don’t cook well. Also, Reminder tries not to follow your nafsu by buying food a lot. Estimate how much you need to buy during Ramadan and ask yourselves, is it I will be able to consume all? Or some of the food after breaking fasting will go to dump waste basket? Or even if I can consume all, is it will be full enough for my stomach and as consequences I will so lazy to perform maghrib.

Ramadan should the month that we can save money since we don’t have to eat during the whole day. But contrarily most of people spend more money in Ramadan especially for breaking fasting as if that is the time for them to eat as replacement for not be able to eat from morning till maghrib.

When I was in university, I used to eat date/kurma and directly go to musolla for maghrib.Only after maghrib I ate heavy food like rice with chicken. The truth was I feel more energy by doing this.

2. Not Maintain the Taraweeh

(Picture)
Taraweeh is only available during Ramadan, no other months. Even it is not compulsory, Muslim should grab this opportunity and maintain to perform it until end of month. What happen every year that most people excited and motivated to perform it only in first week. So, you will see the mosque and musolla will fill with jemaah. When it comes to end of months, you can count how many people in mosque. Sometimes, you see the same face that constantly come to mosque or musolla for the past 11 months.

People should constantly make themselves available throughout the months. Some might busy with their job but try to allocate time for it by eliminate the unnecessary thing. If we always news every night and malay drama that show during taraweeh time, it’s better to sacrifice it. Ramadan once a year and you will never know whether you will meet it again in future.

Keep your spirit till the end of Ramadan especially for the last 10 days. While many people understand and has be told so many time by ulama/ustaz regarding about 10 days of Ramadan, people take it easy.Though all parts of Ramadan are full of blessings and rewards, its last ten days hold a special status reflected in the recommendations and practices of the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, and his companions.

3. Improper Dressing

(Picture)
This goes to ladies. Remember that Islam is not just about pray, fasting and etc. It’s everything. It’s covered the whole thing in our life. So ladies, if you fasting please make sure you cover your aurah. There is no meaning if you are fasting at the same time your expose part of your body to others. Especially if you are overdressed. ya overdressed!!!If you wearing a tight shirt and jeans till and men look at you. What you get?

Prophet said, “How many people who fasted did not get anything, except just hungry and thirsty!” (Hr’s Nisaa’i, Ibn Majah).

4. Not Seeing What’s hated Allah.

(Picture)
One thing that is holy, stop ourselves from seeing something objectionable (Makruh), or who may be the heart of the disquiet and neglect the remembrance of Allah swt. Prophet Muhammad. said, “The outlook is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, who has been cursed God. Whoever maintain his view, purely because of his fear, Allah swt. will give him the faith, as the sweet taste obtained from the heart. “(H.r. al Hakim, the hadith saheeh).

Jabir relates from Anas that the Messenger of Allah. hath said, “There are five things a person can cancel the fast: lying, cursing, spreading issues (defamation), false swearing and looked with great passion.”

So, people especially guy, don’t look at women especially overdressed one.

5. Mega Sale

(Picture)
When it comes to end of Ramadan, tekstil store, electronic store and furniture store will offer incredible lower prices for their product that you will never get it in normal months. Something the offer is up to 70%. Wow, most of people especially women must ‘rambang mata’ with this offer. Not to mention of offer that allow people not to pay for few moths for the item they want to pay. Following their enthusiastic, they buy not one but a lot of the offer which include sofa, furniture to replace the old ones. Consequence, they have to take burden of debt after hari raya.

Remember people, what is important hari raya is not the new furniture, sofa or new curtain that you may want to show off to people who visit your house during hari raya. I don’t say you are not allow but just make sure ‘ukur baju dibadan sendiri’ before have intention to buy anything. Don’t fall trap with mega sale tactic that after hari raya you have to pay for debt that might cause your life.

6. Forget the Sahur

(Picture)
Sahur(Suhoor) is meal you eat before fasting. Some people don’t like to wake for sahur and still can fasting the whole day. For that reason, they make it as routine.

Rasulullah peace be upon him said:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying,

“(Make sure to) have your sahur meal, for sahur is blessed.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

During the middle month of Ramadan some of us will get tired waking up in the morning to have our sahur meal. Even though our beloved Prophet stressed sahur as the blessed meal and some parts of hadith our Prophet mentioned, the difference between fasting of a muslim and ahlul kitab is having a sahur before dawn. Yet some of us take this practice for granted.

(Sahur meal is blessed. The whole of sahur is blessing. Get up for sahur even if you drink just a sip of water. Allahu ta’ala and His angels shower salat and salam upon those who get up for sahur.) [Imam-i Ahmad] (That is, Allahu ta’ala forgives those who get up for sahur and angels pray for them.)

Happy Ramadan and may will this Ramadan will more meaningful and shape our attitude to be a better person. Remember, Ramadan is a ‘training course’ for us to be a good servant of Allah. So, grab it…

P/s: Anytime I write an article, it is a reminder to myself first before any of you.