Silly Things To Do in Spain

1. Dancing the Macarena at La Macarena commercial area in the state Seville.


2. Shouting ''arriba arriba!'' (Reference: Cartoon Speedy Gonzalez)


3. Uttering the word ''negro''. The word negro means ''black'' or ''dark''. It is used widely in Spanish as an adjective. However, if ''negro'' is used in America, it carries a negative connotation as it is a derogatory term, and if used, could get you killed.


4. Act out a scene as Popeye and Olive Oil (Spain produces olives and manufactures the best olive oil and extra-virgin olive oil)


5. Be an Ugly Betty (The original series was either from Spain or Puerto Rico...hehehe

Donation Drive: Building an Orphanage Home

I volunteered to participate in collecting funds for the contruction of an orphanage home for brilliant orphans under the Rumah Aman 2 initiative (House of Peace 2).

Brief Background:

Rumah Aman, which is located at Section 2, Shah Alam. The difference between this orphanage and others is the following:

• orphanage was founded by a non-Malaysian who resided in Malaysia under the Malaysia My 2nd Home program


• the children are chosen are currently boys aging from 6-9 years old based on their academic strengths


• the boys can read and speak English and Bahasa, count, lead prayer, swim, etc. They are taught Islam, manners, and other soft skills.

You can check out their blog: http://rumahaman.blogspot.com

The blog showcases the individual boys. Very interesting.

Currently, Rumah Aman is expanding. They intend to locate more bright young boys and girls to provide the education that they deserve. The second orphanage will be located in Sg Buloh.

The donation drive is to assist with the funding of the second home. Apart from generous and sincere donations, we are organizing a mass bowling event at 11 locations simultaneously at 11 participating bowling alleys. Read more here:

http://bowlforcharity.blogspot.com

If you watch the video, you can see the boys reading, how they pray in congregation, lead prayer and perform azan, how they dress themselves, swim, the academic and sports awards that they receive & win.

It truly inspired me to volunteer and help in any way I can.

As a volunteer, I had to man the Rumah Aman booth at the Sejuta Belia (1 million youth) day at Putrajaya. We literally had to go up to every passer-by or customer and promote Rumah Aman and the bowl for charity drive, enlighten them, and convince them that sincere contributions even as little as 50 cents or RM would make a difference.

Many primary, highschool and university students contributed. The working class also contributed but I found it rather challenging to convince them. I had to use my creative skills on how donating to orphans can benefit THEM (the donator).

When the previous second Minister of Finance dropped by to donate, I observed a huge entourage following him. Reporters and cameramen snapped pictures of him at our booth, while his entourage loyally stood behind him.

This is side-stepping, but I had a thought I wanted to share:

When you are in power, people follow you everywhere possibly even to the gents. When you no longer have power, will the same people remain loyal or will their loyalties change? You must have real leadership for people to remain loyal regardless whether you have ''official'' or ''unofficial'' power. Back to the main subject...hehehe

Small contribution, Big difference.

The highlight of the drive for me:

• A group of young girls wore a cute uniform came to donate RM 1 each. Since they were in uniform, I thought they were from a primary school. So I asked which school are they from. The response brought tears to my eyes instantly. The little girls were also from an orphanage. What struck me was they did not hesitate to donate the little money that they had for children in the same boat as them. I know that children in orphanages usually do not get allowance, so that RM 1 eventhough so small, meant so much from them. I felt really guilty. Like I was stealing from an orphan. I pray that Allah bless and reward these girls for their kindness and generosity, for their big heart.


• I managed to draw the attention of 3 family members who after they donated, was interested to help more by providing in-kind assistance and include the orphans in their family activities like having a family dinner with orphans. Apparently this family has 120 family and extended family members! We were so thrilled!! They even wanted to volunteer for the bowling event. I feel very blessed.

I would like to do more. Perhaps teach language, read and write, reading the Quran or teaching them how to bake. Hehehe

You can request for tax exemption if you donate.

Let's make a difference, in any way you can. There are many charities, and I think we can do so much if we spare some for those in need.

Join me?

The Origins of Captain Jack Sparrow

Dear all,

My friend sent me this link. Interesting read:

http://www.suhaibwebb.com/society/entertainment/the-legend-of-captain-jack-from-birdy-to-sparrow/

EnjoY!!

M. Fethullah Gulen: Hizmet Movement

Fethullah Gulen is a well known scholar who originated from Izmir, Turkey. He has written many books on Islam. His philosophy is so popular among the enlightened and the secular in Turkey that they have Gulen inspired schools in Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kurgistan, Mongolia and recently Malaysia.

The Hizmet Movement is one of his popular teachings: to enlighten the public of the essence of Islam and to contribute to society regardless of their faith

What this means for the Turkish:

When they see tourists such as myself, they welcome us into their shops with apple tea, they enquire about our travels, our home country and not expecting you to purchase their goods.

When we appear lost, they walk up to us and offer their services to help us find our way.

They give salaam to us.

Many Turkish people are so impressed with Gulen inspired schools because it balances Islamic and conventional subjects, that non-Muslims also send their children there. The graduates have done extremely well i.e. received offers to work at NASA, etc.

The followers of the Gulen movement are very much society driven in the sense that they always want to contribute to society.

Malaysia is currently being introduced to Gulen.

I am currently reading two of his books:

Essentials of Islamic Faith

The Messenger of Muhammad- The Analysis of the Prophet's Life.

As you can see, Turkey is now moving from an uber secular society to a less secular society. The hijab was once banned in public institutions such as schools, universities, libraries and government offices, but recently last year it has been relaxed.

Alhamdulillah.

May Allah reward all those who contribute for the good of all.

Somewhere Out There

Sometimes I just want to be accepted.

To be considered special and precious.

Just like everyone else.

Straight from the Heart

Dear Martha Beck,

My friend introduced me to you. She's an avid fan after loyally following your appearances on Oprah, and now she subscribes to Oprah's O magazine just so she can read up on your columns. In her effort to enlighten me, I have been made aware of my emotional retardedness (this is an understatement).

This means that I have problems expressing and showing emotions particularly sadness and vulnerability. I have been aware of it, I just didn't realize it would also impact others around me. My Great Wall of Emotional Emptiness needs to be knocked down.

After careful and deep reflection of myself, I agree that my friend is spot on about me. It takes a lot of courage and the lowering of my pride to admit this.

The problem is I do not know how.

I've been this way since I can remember (elementary and high school?).

There is no prejudice towards anyone. Everyone meets the Wall. No exceptions.

I have been reading a few of your articles but couldn't find one that fits this particular area. I do feel that I need to get in touch with my emotional side, since i depend heavily on my rational capacities.

The consequences of breaking down the Wall is decades of emotional pain carefully managed rationally, which may release a flood gate of emotion. Think of it as an emotional tsunami.

How do you suppose I prepare for this?

You must be gentle with me. Frank, but gentle.

I read your article on Emo-Do i.e. being a Master of Emotion. Obviously I am still a white belt at Emo-Do, but I am serious at being a black belt.

Let me know.

L,
Emotionally Retarded
Bangi
Malaysia

Links: www.marthabeck.com and www.oprah.com/contributor/martha-beck

From Bahai to Islam: Adam Fong's Journey

(I had permission to share Adam Fong's journey) Assalamualaikum Asma, Insyallah, here I’ll share my conversion story with you. I was born a Baha'i, and Baha’ism rotten roots lies in Iran, the centre point of Shia Islam. While i was growing up as a Baha’i, we were taught that there's a prophet after Muhammad (saw) has come to reveal scriptures after the Quran, and that we as Baha’is are the chosen ones of God. How cliché? Chosen ones... There's no prophet after Muhammad (saw) and Allah doesn't make mistakes. In any case, we were always taught from a Shia perspective towards Islam, that Islam had degraded and hence the down fall of the Ottoman Empire in Turkey. Since there's degradation of Islam, hence there need to be a new religion, which was Baha'ism, my ex-religion. Not too much on its way ward religion, but that's my history. We believed in a man, who posses’s Godly powers and that accepting him is our salvation. Very similar to Christianity, however ironically, this man, whose name is Hussain Ali claims to be the second coming of Jesus Christ. That's totally false and absurd, hence its being a way ward religion. Little did I know about this when i was a Baha'i, going on my life on my life oblivious to Islam. During my time as a Bahai, i never really took religion seriously. It was more of a part time thing, as i grew up, studied in college and got myself into business when I was in my teens. So “God” was always put a side, like a lucky coin, needing it "as and when" i like. Ao zubillah, Ya Allah forgive me. In the midst of all this, my brother, now Farihin was about to get married to his girlfriend who is now my sister in law, from Kelantan. This was very saddening towards my mom and dad as their son is about to accept Islam. The Islam we've been learning, that it has degraded, and that we "bahais" are having a better religion. So my brother converting to Islam is going against my family's beliefs. However my mom and dad did eventually gave in as my Farihin was the eldest in the family. At the same time my brother was also of the opinion that he's acceptance to Islam is only surface level and his intention is just to get married with my sister in law. My father advised him to be honest in his religion and be faithful to Islam and that if he converted, he must adhere to Islam 100%, and do not be a half pass six Muslim. This was the advice of my late father to my brother. My mother was still reluctant to accept my brother had converted. Eventually my brother got married and they moved out of the house. However my brother start to realize that Islam is not just a ticket to get married, he studied further and start to realize that Islam is true religion from Allah, the Creator. So he started to come by the house and talk to us about Islam, showing us videos of Dr.Zakir Naik, "Science in the Quran", "Miracles of the Quran", "Muhammad in the Holy Scriptures". I was reluctant at first but i started to watch and learn slow, with my mother. My dad at the time was not bothered about my brother talking about Islam to us. I always had this issue with Islam and Muslims being terrorist and cold blooded murderers. However my brother started to share with me the other side of Islam that no one talks about, that is about the prophet Muhammad peace and blessing be upon him, and started to show me ahadith and how was our prophet really was as a man, a person whom we'd learn how to live our lives. Then he showed me how his companions (sahabas), lived along side our prophet, protecting him, loving him, and obeying him as a prophet from Allah. Allah say’s that Muhammad is the best of creation and is a mercy to all the worlds. So its must be that Allah has sent him as a guide to us, and we should look to him for reference. Because in our previous religion, the bahais took most of its teaching from Islam, then I discovered that what was taught to us as bahais, was infact taken from Islam and its way of life. A total rip off I’d say. And I was deeply angered at this fact, because 23 years of my life was just gone without knowing this fact. I started to learn and read books from Dr.Zakir Naik, Ahmad Deedat, Gary Millar (Omar, his Muslim name), and many scholars of comparative religion. However I was still skeptical about Islam because I was also in a relationship with my girlfriend, who is now my wife. So didn’t want to convert because it was cause a dent in my relationship with my girlfriend who's a Christian, a Sunday church going Christian and Catholic I might add. Allah in His absolute mercy and compassion, showed me the way into accepting Islam no matter what. I was driving to fetch Melissa to catch a movie, and i got myself into an accident. I smashed the front of my car into the rear of a Renault. I wasn't hurt however, wallahi, when i slam the breaks of my Wira, and felt the front of the car hit the other car, and it was as though I woke up from a dream. I didn't realize what had happen and i was so awe struck at what just happened. I couldn't believe it, because I’ve never been a in a wreck such as that, maybe minor dents and knocks, but not to the extend that my car would be totally damaged. I was of the impression before i was a Muslim that what happens to me is due to my own actions and there's no one that can do anything about it, even God. Astaghfirallah. Farihin helped me and manage to settle my insurance claims and drove me back home. In the journey back, while I was pondering and just starring at the window of his car, my brother just blurted out "Didn't it felt like a dream?" I was stunned because i didn't mention to anyone. Then he started to tell me, that it was ignorant to think that everything was under my control, and that it was Allah who protected me from a worse accident. And that I was an ungrateful human being, because Allah has given me everything I needed, a house, a car, a girlfriend, loving parents, a good paying job and a good physical body, with no defects. Alhamdulilah, I wish I had said that when he told me this. I was at the lowest of low, when he said that, because i always had my ego with me. Ego didn't do me any good. I felt very bad the next day and had walked to his house, which was a couple of blocks away and told him, "Ko (brother), can you teach me how to be grateful to Allah?". He said come in and take a shower, we'll pray together. That’s when I started to pray to Allah and the first time I placed my forehead on the ground in humility is when i started to realize what was my position in this life and it just brought me to tears that I’ve been so lost without guidance. Because of you realize, only a slave would place his forehead on the ground in humiliation towards his master. I started to pray 5 times a day, in secrecy. At work, at home. I didn't want to voice out my beliefs, because I was still learning and studying about Islam. Melissa was with me all the way from the time of the accident and until i started to pray, however she didn't know I was praying as a Muslim. I didn't want to tell her about my beliefs. I was scared that she would dump me because of Islam. I started to learn about Islam from English speaking scholars, from PeaceTv, from videos which i downloaded from Youtube, from books translated into English, and i started to learn how to read Quran. I read a lot about Islam, and I started to learn about Christianity and its similarities with Islam. Because I wanted Melissa also to know about this “gold” I just found. One fine day I broke the news to Melissa that I was a Muslim, that I’ve accepted Islam as my way of life. She was devastated, because she didn't anticipate my accepting Islam. Because she was a Christian she knew about Islam only from the tv, the newspaper, the community, and how many families broke up due to Islam. She was scared. And her mother had a lot to do with her belief. And her mother was a person with little tolerance towards Islam and she had a bad misconception of Islam by looking at our community and its black sheeps. I started to share with her about Islam, its beauty, its way of life, it’s always having Allah in the mind, and not only on Sundays. Shared with her many things in the bible that shows that Islam is not the religion of Arabs, it was the way of life since Adam alaihisalam. That they were only sent as prophets to give the message of Islam, which is to submit to Allah with sincerity and peace. That is to worship Allah without any partners. Worship Allah alone, not a stick, a stone, money, a man, or a concept. I told her that Jesus in the bible never said to his follower "I am God, worship me". I questioned her, however she wasn't able to answer as I think she was a very obedient Christian not learned, in a sense that the knowledge is left to the preachers and the fathers in the church. I was still with Melissa even though i was already a Muslim. Many people had told me to leave her and find for someone else who is a Muslim and that really angered me. I told me self, that if I ever go fishing I would catch the most difficult fish, easy fishes are not my cup of tea. I was being metaphoric as to tell them that I'm trying to share Islam with Melissa and I’ll wait for her until she is ready to learn and accept Islam. I showed her videos like "Who wrote the bible" by Dr.Robert Bedfort. I showed her videos from Dr.Zakir Naik, "Crucifiction or Crucifixted", Ahmad Deedat's talk about Islam and Christianity, and Yusuf Estes story about his conversion to Islam. Brother Yusus is a Christian minister, converted to Islam and now has his own Da'wah channel called GuideUS TV. After seeing all these videos and she started to realize that Islam was the truth, and that her parents hold no status in telling her that she cannot convert to Islam and to accept the truth. I showed her how to pray, I taught her Al-Fatiha, and other short surah, all with Allah permission. I see a change in her, and Alhamdulilah she converted to Islam. Her parents never knew about her conversion as she was staying outside her house for a year before we got married. Allah had given her an avenue of accepting Islam without any problems, because she wasn't staying at home. No resistance from her parents because it wasn't to their knowledge. Her parents soon got to know when we wanted to get married and we've made arrangement for them to come for our wedding. It was her mother who was against our marriage, however her father was not bothered if she was a Muslim or not, for him it was a matter of telling him our plans earlier. We've been married for 2 years now and Allah has given us a gift, a daughter, Sofia. After we got married we never seize to visit her parents every weekend, to show that even being Muslims, Allah has commanded us to be dutiful to our parents, and that we cannot even say a word "ouff" to them. So as Muslims we strive to show silaturrahim towards our non muslims parents the best we can. Maybe if you like, you can ask for her story, I think she'd be more than willing to share this story with you, and how she accepted Islam. I'm ever grateful to Allah that my family including my mother has accepted Islam. My father unfortunately passed away 2 years ago. That in a way, made the way for my mother to accept Islam, as my mother was married to my father, even though she had accepted Islam in her heart and she was already a practicing Muslim. Allah's promise is the truth indeed, and we should never be afraid when Allah is by our side. When Allah is our Rab, and our sustainer, who other than Allah can provide for everything in this world? Indeed Allah alone is the Provisioner. Accepting Islam from a non Muslim background is definitely challenging. Because of obstacles in our path, such as our parents, friends, and love ones. Some times its difficult to please everyone. However, if we please our Creator, Allah, He will make our difficulty easy and manageable. I thank Allah that he showed me the way into a way of life, that is more reserved and more easily understandable. Yes, we there are things which we cannot do after accepting Islam, however these are the things that keep us reserved and check at all times. Do ask me if you’ve any question, and I do hope that my story is worth the read . Assalamualaikum. Wa alaikumusalam Sure, please share this with anyone its no issue what so ever. Insyallah, its a beneficial story for those who are perhaps on the same boat. I think to me, it was the point where i saw this one talk from Dr.Zakir Naik about "Terrorism in Islam". He was mentioning about the atrocities done by former leader such as Mousalini, Hitler and others alike. And when it come to Islam and Muslims, its very rare cases you see them committing such acts of terror. Basically out of defending one selfs. He said there's a fine line between freedom fighter and terrorist. Because one might look similar to the other, when people start to have pre-condition mind sets. So while he was talking it was suggesting to view a video made by some American, who were not satisfied with the 9/11 Commission Report. So they actually investigate and found out that 9/11 was not perpetrated by Muslim Terrorist and that Islam has nothing to do with 9/11. 9/11 was a hype of the Western media drawing an image of Muslim terrorist just blood thirsty to kill infidels. However i was also preconditioned at the time too. Alhamdulilah, this was the point that i said, "I want to be a Muslim", it cant wait. My brother taught me how to read Arabic first, then i went for Arabic classes for 2 years and also i read the Quran during my free time at night. I have the Syamil Quran which is the word by word translation in Malay (Indonesian). Most of my learning avenue was through youtube and tubeislam. Videos from Br.Yusuf Estes, Dr.Bilal Philips, Dr.Zakir Naik, Br.Sheik Ahmad Deedat, their books and their audio clips. These days i listen to Br.Shuib Webb, he also can be heard in Legacy Radio, and Ikim Fm, every weekends 6.30pm - 7.00 pm, interesting he's talks. I'm still learning and as a Muslim knowledge is very important. Ilm is something that feeds us to strive to know more, more hadith, more sunnah, more Quran. We one day will become mother and father to our children. If scholars are too far to reach and not accessible, we must be their scholars and impart knowledge to them. Of course knowledge from Quran and Sunnah, and from the understanding of the Ulama that are along the Quran and Sunnah. These are the 2 most important things to hold on too. Author's note: I cried reading his story. Spurs me to reform myself even more.