Malaysiaku Gemilang 50 Tahun, Semoga Dirahmati Allah S.W.T

Masih terngiang-ngiang lagu Malaysiaku Gemilang nyanyian Roy di telinga saya. Apa tidaknya, akhir-akhir ini hanya lagu itu yang diputarkan merata-rata tempat. Rasanya sudah lama saya tidak ’keep track’ tema Hari Kebangsaan, tetapi tahun ini saya boleh dengan bangganya mendakwa saya tahu tema Hari Kebangsaan. Tidak patriotikkah saya kerana tidak tahu tema hari kebangsaan? Tidak patriotikkah saya kerana tidak mengibarkan jalur gemilang?

Berdasarkan definisi patriotik umum yang ditanggapi seorang layman seperti saya, patriotik itu maksudnya cinta negara. Saya ada merujuk wikipedia tentang istilah patriotik ini, ada artikel yang menyatakan golongan beragama seperti Roman Catholists dan Muslim diragui kesetiaan mereka pada negara. Hairan juga ya, apa agama tidak mengajar penganutnya cintakan tanah airkah? Mustahil orang yang taat agama rela melihat negaranya berantakan, dijarah tangan-tangan penjajah. Rujuk sahaja sejarah Mat Kilau, Tok Gajah, Datuk Bahaman (saya banyak merujuk pahlawan Pahang kerana saya orang Pahang), Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong dan ramai lagi. Kesemuanya terkenal sebagai pahlawan yang alim, dan mereka jugalah yang memimpin barisan menentang penjajah. Kenapa saya berceloteh panjang tentang hal ini, kerana saya bosan dengan semangat kemerdekaan hanya pada permukaan. Melaungkan ungkapan merdeka pada malam menjelang 31 Ogos, mengibar-ngibarkan bendera, kemudian bersukaria hingga pagi tanpa tujuan. Patriotikkah itu?

Sayang pada negara harus dibuktikan lebih daripada itu. Jika anda seorang pelajar contohnya, belajar rajin-rajin, jika anda seorang pekerja awam, kerja betul-betul, hatta tukang sapu sekalipun, andai anda ikhlas berbakti pada agama, bangsa dan negara, anda patriotik. Saya menganggap Malaysia ini seperti sebuah kediaman yang besar, pentadbirnya umpama ibubapa, dan rakyatnya laksana anak-anak. Tanah air tercinta ini pinjaman daripada Allah S.W.T, semestinya lah keluarga besar ini sama-sama menjaganya kerana ini amanah besar. Salah silap pasti ada di dalam sebuah keluarga, maka sifat tegur-menegur ke arah kebaikan mesti diterapkan, ada hal yang salah tidak boleh dibiarkan. Menegur kesalahan bukan tanda benci, malah kerana sayang. Apapun, tatasusila tegur-menegur di dalam satu unit keluarga perlu lah dilandasi hikmah. Tentu sahaja agama wajib menjadi tunggak utama. Urusan-urusan keluarga tidak perlulah dicampuri pihak luar. Demikianlah adanya perumpamaan yang boleh saya berikan tentang Malaysia yang saya cinta ini.

Perlu saya jelaskan, saya amat bersyukur dilahirkan di Malaysia lantaran peluang pendidikan di Malaysia amatlah cerah dan luas sekali. Hal ini kurang saya sedar hinggalah saya berkawan dengan teman-teman dari negara-negara lain. Bantuan pendidikan mudah sekali didapati, alhamdulillah, saya tidak putus-putus menerima bantuan sehingga saya berpeluang melanjutkan pengajian hingga ke tahap sekarang. Cuma satu, saya berharap benar agar pembangunan rohaniah dapat ditekankan semula. Tidak dapat dinafikan, pembangunan fizikal di Malaysia memang telah mencapai tahap membanggakan, ya.. siapa tidak tahu KLCC, Putrajaya, Eye on Malaysia. Namun, ia umpama bunga dedap sekiranya jiwa-jiwa kosong mendominasi bumi tercinta ini. Andai tiada langkah diambil, tidak mustahil Malaysia akan jadi kota batu yang dihuni masyarakat berjiwa batu juga. Apapun saya tetap optimis, kerana ini tanah air saya, tempat tumpah darah saya, dan saya sayang padanya.

Interfaith Dialogue

In my 28 years of age, finally alhamdulillah I got the chance to attend such an event: Interfaith Dialogue. My closest encounter of Interfaith Dialogue experience is through the reading of Isabella (malay translation by SN Abdullah Hussain), and watching videos of talks and debates by prominent scholars such as Ahmed Deedat and Dr Zakir Naik.

Therefore, when I learned that IIUM SRC will organize such an event, I did not think twice to attend it. The speakers are representatives from three main religions in Malaysia: Bro. Shah Kirit: Islam, Dr Lee (if I am not mistaken): Buddha, and Reverend (I forgot what's his name, sorry): Christianity. Bro Kirit has given numerous talks and speeches in my beloved IIUM, and mostly he would talk about how he converted to Islam till I think that I could memorize his account on that matter. But, thank God, that night he talked about Islam from a comparative religion view. Every speaker took the stage to convey about their religions especially the thelogical aspects.

Bro Shah Kirit did manage to explain about Islam in a wonderful and convincing way, Even while he speaks, he kept glancing at the other speakers, to get their attentions. I suppose, his huge experience in giving talks at various places, including church does help making him an effective dai'e. Dr Lee, the Buddha representative has also made an impact. His soft spoken manner certainly caught the audiences' attention. Not to mention his British accent (ok, that doesn't count, since I have a soft spot for guys with british accents), and my colleague was attracted to the way he pronounced all the sanskrit words. If any of you readers starts thinking that we are attracted to Buddhism, I give you my word, no we are not. As much as he managed to convey his message in a convincing way, but still, being a Muslim, I believe that Islam has a stronger foundation and reasoning.

As for Reverend Tan (now I remember his name, finally), in my humblest honest opinion, each time he tried to answer the questions forwarded to him, his message didn't come across. Maybe, I was slow in understanding him, but I personally think that Idris Tawfiq's (former Roman Catholic priest) reasonings for Christian beliefs are much more believable. And even Idris Tawfiq is already a Muslim when I heard him explaining all the reasons behind Christian principles. I don't know, maybe I am biased or maybe I lack knowledge, correct me if I am wrong, but I have no intention to belittle Reverend Tan.

There are two quotes of that night's dialogue, which I would like to share here since I think they best describe what Interfaith Dialogue is all about:

"By learning and understanding about other religions doesn't mean that you have to convert to other religion. Infact, when you study about other beliefs, you will also study more about your own religion and you will understand your religion better. I always bring all the religious scriptures everywhere, and never once they fight each other." (Shah Kirit)

"Try to understand other people's beliefs, but at the same time, DO NOT surrender your faith." (Dr Lee)

p/s: If any the event's committee is reading this, next time please don't provide snacks while the panels are answering the questions. The sound of snacks unwrapping is sooo annoying... imagine hundreds of people unwrapping their snacks at the same time huhu

Laskar Pelangi

Tajuk : Laskar Pelangi

Pengarang: Andrea Hirata

Penerbit: PT Bentang Pustaka

Edisi September 2005

Sepintas lalu, kisah ini tampak biasa, kisah anak-anak di sekolah Muhammadiyah (semacam sekolah agama rakyat di Malaysia saya kira) di Pulau Belitong menuntut ilmu dalam keadaan serba kekurangan. Sepatutnya begitulah, kisah ini sepatutnya kisah biasa, namun jangkaan saya meleset amat. Saat-saat saya menguliti buku ini, saya bagai tercampak ke Pulau Belitong, sama-sama menuntut di Sekolah Muhammadiyah. Sama-sama merasakan hangatnya setiakawan para anggota Laskar Pelangi. Lintang yang genius, Mahar sang seniman, A Kiong yang setia, Sahara yang feminis, Trapani si tampan, Samson yang berlagak macho, Flo anak orang kaya aneh yang berdegil mahu bersekolah di Sekolah Muhammadiyah, Harun yang bodoh-bodoh alang namun luar biasa baik hati, Kuchai dan Syahdan yang sukar diramalkan, serta si Ikal sang pemimpi: yang mana dari perspektifnya kisah ini berputar. Lebih luar biasa, si Ikal ini sebenarnya adalah sang pengarang buku ini, Andrea Hirata sendiri. Ya, ini kisah benar, catatan Andrea Hirata tentang pengalamannya.

Pencerahan utama yang saya perolehi dari Laskar Pelangi ialah ketabahan dalam menangani kesusahan pembelajaran. Secara jujur, saya jadi malu dengan diri sendiri yang mudah saja mengalah apabila didatangi sedikit kesulitan dalam proses menuntut ilmu. Kisah si genius Lintang yang paling mengesankan: berbasikal 80 km setiap hari pergi balik sekolah, menempuhi perjalanan yang sukar (melalui kawasan paya-bakau dihuni buaya, ya.. buaya.. saya jumpa babi hutan tengah jalan hendak pergi mengaji Quran pun boleh berpatah balik), pulang dari sekolah mengambil upah jadi kuli kopra; lalu hanya saat semua penghuni rumah tidur, barulah Lintang mula menelaah menggunakan lampu minyak tanah. Saya tidak malu mengaku yang air mata saya menitik saat saya membaca perihal kesungguhan Lintang.

Namun, ada juga tikanya saya tertawa membaca buku ini. Banyak sekali kisah-kisah lucu ditambah pula gaya bahasa Andrea Hirata memberikan deskripsi yang sangat memukau dalam setiap proses penceritaannya. Sukar untuk saya percaya, sang pengarang tidak punya latar belakang sastera. Nah, bukankah itu satu lagi pencerahan: tiada yang mustahil jika kita mahu mencapai sesuatu, yang penting, lakukannya! (Ya, ida_zy, kali ini bertekadlah habiskan karangan tesis yang sudah berapa kali bertangguh, dan kejarlah impian mahu jadi penulis itu!)

Usai membaca buku ini, saya bagai dihambat untuk mengarang kisah hidup saya pula. Ternyata, kehidupan setiap manusia di atas muka bumi ini unik dan menarik. Hanya saja kita cuba untuk melihat sudut yang positif dalam setiap aspek takah-takah kehidupan yang kita tempuhi. Saya kuat sekali mencadangkan supaya buku ini dibaca untuk mengembalikan dan menjana semangat agar mampu mendepani sebarang halangan dan keraguan dalam mengejar impian dan cita-cita. Ya, jadilah sang pemimpi. Pemimpi yang tidak pernah putus asa!

p/s: *sigh* here comes another crush :->

Tagged for Charity!

Thanks to Icesoul for tagging me.

"For everyone's information, this is a great tagging game, meant for charity. For every tag response before 26th August 2007 , Idham - the initiator - will donate RM127 to Darul Izzah Orphanage, Bandar Baru Bangi, Malaysia. Meaning, by doing this meme you'll be donating RM127 to the orphanage (with his money though :D). He's targeting at least 100 bloggers to get about RM1k for this chosen charity of his! And the rules are (copying and pasting from the original rules from Idham's blog) ..."

Okey, this is the rule;

If you are tagged, you need to write an entry related to the meme. At the end of your entry you just need to tag as many person as you like. You will then leave a comment in their blog to let them know they have been tagged. And to include this message, "By doing this meme you are contributing rm127 to the Darul Izzah Orphanage".

Then please copy and paste this rule somewhere in your entry.

The meme is about completing at least seventeen out of the following twenty seven sentences........ (I've done mine in black)

1. A person is only as good as his/her treatment towards his/her subordinates

2. Friendship is always full of surprises

3. To love is to show your affection and care

4. Money makes me dizzy and happy at the same time

5. I miss my arwah mak so much (Al-Fatihah)

6. My way of saying I care is by tolerating and compromising

7. I try to spread love and happiness by striving to be a better person each day

8. Pick the flowers when you feel like doing it

9. To love someone is to accept him/her as he/she is

10. Beauty is everywhere, just try to open your eyes wider

11. When I was thirteen, what I remember the most was, I was trying to be more obedient to Allah, thanks to my Al-Ihsan education which has only just begun

12. When I was twenty one, I remember I was struggling to understand what all these engineering stuffs all about, they are so boring!

13. I am most happy when I feel that I have made someone happy

14. Nothing makes me happier than being with family and friends

15. If I can change one thing, I will change the way I treated my arwah mak. Wish I could be a better daughter

16. If smiles were flowers, then I would pick and give them to the unsmiling workers at the customer service counters, so that they could wear them!

17. Wouldn't it be nice if we could eliminate all the sufferings in this world?

18. If you want to win something then you have to fight for it!

19. Money is not everything. Our faith is.

20. The most touching moments I have experienced is when I started realizing that I am needed

21. I smile when I am happy

22. When I am happy, I smile (hehe habis idea)

23. If only I don't have to further study, then I think I will become a housewife (provided I got hitched to someone laa)

24. The best thing I did yesterday was: I managed to stick to my daily budget

25. If I ever write a book, I will give it this title Titbits of Life (saja nak guna perkataan titbit)

26. One thing I must do before I die is repent of course, contribute to the Ummah and make sure I have prepared a proper will insya Allah

27. Doing this meme, I feel like eating, all of a sudden I’m famished

And now I’m tagging;

Keshi

Nyonya

Imah Julia

Winda

Albazrah

Everything I Do, I Do It For You

Isn’t it nice, if we could blame others for our failure? Isn’t it better if we could pick someone to be the scapegoat as a result of our stupidity? Hmm.. so much for an evil wishful thinking. Ida_zy, hello… welcome to the real world. The world where you MUST take responsibility of what you do. If only I could turn back time. If… if… and more ifs.

“What? Your thesis involves no hardware? Only simulation?”

“You are still here? Don’t you want to finish?”

“What took you so long? Others have finished, why haven’t you finished too?”

“Why are you still single? Too picky, eh?”

The list of questions could be endless. And I would justify and defend myself to no end. But wait a minute, why am I being defensive? According to Dale Carnegie, the more people criticize you, the more you will defend your justifications at any cost. But then, the big question comes, whom do I want to impress? Do I want to look good in front of others? Does my ‘goody two shoes’ image really matter? No, definitely not. It is only Allah, only Allah that we need to impress. (still, Allah knows your intention better)

Here’s the tip, if it’s ONLY Allah’s pleasure that you seek, you could ignore any critics, any backlash whatsoever. To be honest, this is what I observe, people do not care how hard or difficult is it for you to achieve something. It doesn’t matter how much you have to struggle amidst the obstacles. To them, the most important is the OUTPUT and RESULTS. This is where the beauty of seeking Allah’s pleasure resides. Allah S.W.T DOES take into account your hardship, your intention, the obstacles you face, everything. Nothing could pass His observation. Even if the outcome is not fruitful, Allah knows your effort, and Insya Allah, He will grant it accordingly. So, why bother to whine and grumble? Leave everything to Allah. (provided you have tried)

Well then, live your life simply by this rules: admit your mistakes, learn to improve, do everything in the name of Allah and let bygones be bygones :)

p/s: those are motivated pictures, taken from our 'masak-masak' event last Wednesday