Trip To ISTAC

It seems like my life is full of trips recently. I am not complaining though :). Last Friday, I had the opportunity to visit ISTAC (International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization) which is located in Damansara Heights. To be honest, we were amazed by its architectural design. We were informed that the design style is medieval. I am not very well-versed in architecture stuffs, so I better not comment on that. Anyway, enjoy seeing the pictures!

posing with other female participants of the trip

conference room

stairs to the guest room (lobby)

the hall where talks are held (eerie resemblance to a church: see the pew & aisle)

bungalow-like building

fountain (not working ;))

one of the decorations

corridor near the library

Sehari di IIUM CONVEST Hill

Lain sungguh suasana di tapak Convest tahun ini! Wah, meriah sungguh ! Pertama kali saya berpeluang menyaksikan teknik drifting secara langsung di dalam bumi UIAM yang tercinta ini. Julung-julung kalinya. Keriuhan dan keseronokan berganda. Bagai di litar F1 Sepang pula layaknya. Akan tetapi terasa ada yang kurang, lama juga saya memikirkan di mana silapnya. Akhirnya saya dapat mengesan, cuma gadis-gadis litar berskirt pendek yang tiada. Yang lain-lain bolehlah dikatakan persis umpama babak-babak daripada filem Tokyo Drift. Tahniah!

Lebih menarik, juga untuk pertama kalinya disediakan FunFair untuk para pengunjung. Ya, anda boleh menaiki Ferris Wheel dan menjerit-jerit keseronokan sesuka hati anda. Anda juga boleh sengaja menakut-nakutkan diri sendiri dengan memasuki rumah hantu. Kalau terasa hendak mengimbas kembali zaman main tikam-tikam sewaktu anda belum baligh dahulu, boleh juga. Pendek kata, acara-acara yang disediakan sangat memberansangkan.

Saya juga dapat saksikan perasaan cinta dan kasih sayang tersebar merata-rata. Tidak kiralah anda suami isteri, muhrim ataupun bukan, anda bebas berkepit dengan dengan si dia. Sama-sama menikmati juadah di bawah payung gerai. Saling bergesel bahu dan lengan pun tidak mengapa. Tiada siapa yang melarang. Andai ada mata yang memandang serong, ah.. pedulikan saja. Inilah tahap kebebasan sebenar bukan? Sukar untuk kebebasan sebegini dapat dikecap dalam CONVEST yang terdahulu.

Tahu-tahu matahari sudah condong ke ufuk barat, waktu maghrib nampaknya hampir tiba. Dengar-dengarnya ada konsert yang menampilkan artis seperti Siti Nordiana pada malam ini. Wah, setahu saya tidak pernah pula ada artis bukan nasyid dibenarkan masuk. Satu petanda yang baik, bukankah kita sedang menuju era liberalisme, sayang sekali jikalau kita tidak sama-sama mengejar kemajuan. Pendek kata, IIUM CONVEST tahun ini betul-betul menuju satu dimensi baru.

Nota: Ini catatan parodi ;)

Al-Quds Day

Forget about Siti and Datuk K, at least for a while if you could not erase them from your minds. Today is Al-Quds Day, 21st August. What with 21st August, you may wonder. Below is an extract from article which explains the reason behind the selection of this date:

Pada 21 Ogos 1969, seorang lelaki berbangsa Australia bernama Dennis Michael telah membakar Masjid Al-Aqsa. Api menyala besar dan membakar tembok dan mimbarnya yang besar (mimbar Solahuddin). Api marak dengan dashyat sekali seolah-olah seluruh Masjidil Aqsa akan musnah ketika itu. Malah, pihak bomba juga tidak hadir menghulur bantuan. Tetapi Allah telah menyelamatkan Masjid Al-Aqsa dan melindunginya. Akhirnya api dapat dipadamkan.

Setelah itu orang-orang Yahudi membuat pengadilan pura-pura terhadap Dennis Michael. Michael mendakwa bahawa dia diutus Allah untuk melakukan pembakaran itu sesuai dengan berita dari Kitab Zakaria. Kemudian, Yahudi membebaskannya dengan mengatakan Michael ‘gila’. Maka, atas sebab itu, Michael tidak dapat dipertanggungjawabkan atas kejadian tersebut. Negeri-negeri Muslim seluruh dunia bangkit mempertahankan tempat suci mereka dan mengecam perbuatan keji terhadap Al-Aqsa. Maka sejak itu 21 Ogos setiap tahun menjadi Hari Al-Quds sedunia.

For more info, click here

My Ummah

I have no words to describe the state of our ummah these days, yet I ask all of you my brothers and sisters not to lose hope and faith. Remember what our beloved Prophet S.A.W said before his death,"My Ummah, My Ummah..."

My Ummah by Sami Yusuf

My ummah, my ummah

He will say

Rasulullah on that day

Even though we’ve strayed from him and his way

My brothers, my sisters, in Islam

Let’s struggle, work, and pray

If we are to

Bring back the glory of his way

CHORUS:

Ya Allah ya rabbal ‘alamin

Ya rahmanu ya rahim

Ya rabbi O Allah Lord of the Worlds

O Merciful and Beneficent O my Lord

Let the Ummah rise again

Let us see daylight again

Once again

Let’s become whole again

Proud again’

Cause I swear with firm belief in our hearts

We can bring back the glory of our past

My ummah, my ummah

He will sayRasulullah on that

Even though we strayed from him and his way

Look at where we were

And look at where we are

And tell me

Is this how he’d want it to be?

Oh no! Let us bring back our glory

CHORUS

I Have Confidence

It's been 2 weeks since I last updated my blog. I really, really miss writing in this blog :). Many things going on my mind lately, couldn't help it with all serious happenings around the world recently. The urge of writing about it is so tempting, but serious writings need to be supported by facts and evidences right? For the time being, I give you the lyrics of one of my favorite songs, taken from the movie: The Sound Of Music. I had modified it though, in accordance with my current predicament and situation ;)

Song: I Have Confidence

What will this day be like? I wonder

What will my future be? I wonder

It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free

My heart should be wildly rejoicing

Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure

To do the things I've never dared

And here I'm facing adventure

Then why am I so scared

A thesis to be completed by November?

A supervisor to confront?

Examiners to be convinced?

What's so fearsome about that?

Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries

If I don't I just know I'll turn back

I must dream of the things I am seeking

I am seeking the courage I lack

The courage to serve them with reliance

Face my mistakes without defiance

Show them I'm worthy

And while I show them I'll show me

So, let them bring on all their problems

I'll do better than my best

I have confidence they'll put me to the test

But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them

I will be firm but kind

And all those examiners (Heaven bless them!)

They will look up to me

And mind me with each step I am more certain

Everything will turn out fine

I have confidence the world can all be mine

They'll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine

I have confidence in rain

I have confidence that spring will come again

Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn't lie in numbers

Strength doesn't lie in wealth

Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers

When you wake up -- Wake Up!

It tells me all I trust I lead my heart to

All I trust becomes my own

I have confidence in confidence alone(Oh help!)

I have confidence in confidence alone

Besides which you see I have confidence in me!

p/s: you could see the video here, the embedding is disabled