Valentine-The Follow-up

Let me break it down for you,

From the previous post, I meant to deliver the fact about how wrong it is for Muslims to celebrate Valentine's Day, taking its history into account. But then again, my intention was rather not to be too specific. I was referring to knowledge in general, and not only Valentine-it is only a timely example. There are two situations here.

First, how do we risk ourself to be sinned for doing things we have no knowledge about.

Secondly, how do we avoid doing prohibited things without any knowledge for its prohibition by Islam.

Nobody's perfect. I believe, many would just take Valentine's Day as an awaited special day of the year to show their true love to their loved ones, similar to other special days like anniversary, birthday etc. But that is the danger of being too sure, as I described in another post.earlier. Turn the pessimistic thought into curiosity for the sake of seeking the truth and so that we do things because we have good reasons for it. This explains the first situation, which we should avoid so that we will not waste time regretting the past, only because we follow, rather than know.

However, my emphasis in this post is for the other one. I have to admit that sometimes, I am myself very optimistic to Islam that I tend to follow everything it says. It is not wrong, I suppose. But still, there's a defect in this. We are encouraged to find knowledge about things we should avoid doing, but as many might not realize, we are also in the same way, encouraged to seek knowledge about things we are instructed to do. An easy example would be the prayers (Solat). Do we know why is it made compulsory? And do we know the meanings of all (or at least most) of the things we recite when we pray? Think about it.. and I would hope and strive to make learning my top most priority as life is a continuous process of learning..

indeed... :)

Regards,
Wassalam..

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Valentine’s Day

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

Allah S.W.T has made a very clear explanation in the holy book of Quran in the second Chapter, Al-Baqarah, verse 120 with the following translation:

“Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with you unless you follow their form of religion. Say: The Guidance of Allah,-that is the (only) Guidance. Were you to follow their desires after the knowledge which has reached you, then would you find neither protector nor helper against Allah.”

We might have been too optimistic to too many people in this world. And the world now is one without border, one that is more dynamic and sophisticated than ever. Consequently, it creates such a world in which the word impossible, in a certain extent, valid no more. Despite certain belief that things can hardly be hidden nowadays, we might want to think otherwise. As opposed to the belief, people now are more cunning, and unluckily might not be on the good side. Are we living comfortably enough that we never realize the threat that we are facing nowadays? Be careful, a person you trust very much might be the one you should be afraid of most. We do not want to condone negative thinking, but it’s even worse if we get easily fooled and taken for granted out of our pure kindness and absolute innocence.

As Muslims, we are strongly encouraged to seek knowledge as it can be likened to a wall that protects a garden from the outside threat. Knowledge makes us safe, hence helps us stay on the true path. Valentine’s Day, celebrated annually on February 14, has its own history. Do we ever care about this, right before we join the party? Are we aware of what it means to wish a Happy Valentine’s Day to someone we love or don’t we care? Islam does not stop us from loving but it’s what we do to love that might be wrong and against the Islamic teaching. Therefore, we must be more careful and love Islam by making it our way of life.

Truly, there are different versions of history behind the celebration of the Valentine’s Day and of course, we need to know and study them, so that we understand the reason for its prohibition by Islam. The article I read from Utusan Malaysia dated February 9, 2009 gave a brief example of the history and in this post, I am going to make it even shorter-a very brief one.

First, Valentine’s Day is associated with the celebration of Lupercalia by ancient Romans, during the pre-Christianity era. Lupercalia is a cleansing ceremony or ritual they celebrated from 13 to 18 February. In the first two days, they worship Juno Februata, a Roman Idol for love. On 15 February, they had to choose two strong men whom, among other things, will march while women tried to get to them for animal’s skin they brought, believed to enhance their fertility.

The second story is associated with the death of a priest, St. Valentine during Claudius II’s reign, who was a Roman King. This story comes in two versions. Firstly, the Roman monarch and followers, whom worshipped idols, were against Christianity. Christians were tortured, jailed and prevented from disseminating Christianity. St. Valentine was not spared. He was finally brought to death sentence and this was executed on February 14, hence the date of Valentine’s Day.

The second version of this story is rather different. Claudius II prevented young men during his time to get married. This was so because Claudius II believed that these men were stronger that way. However, St. Valentine saw the opposite and secretly arranged the marriages of Roman young men. Eventually, when the King knew about this, St. Valentine was caught and sentenced to death. His death was recorded to be on 14 February 269, hence again, the Valentine’s Day.

Next, Valentine’s Day was by history, celebrated in conjunction with the fall of the great Islamic Empire in Andalusia, Spain. St. Valentine was responsible in the attempt to defeat Islamic reign during that time. This was looked up upon as a great contribution, and as a sequence, 14 February 1492, which was the day Islamic power in Spain lost to its enemy, become a day to celebrate love, as they believed that Islam was a religion which perpetrated cruelty.

The list of stories above is not exhaustive, so feel free to find more and you might want to correct mine, if in case I was wrong. I hereby would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy and blissful day. May Allah bless us all and may we talk again later (on my blog).

Take care, everyone.

References:

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Meaning of The Holy Quran

Mohd Amirul Asyraf bin Mohd Hanaffi (Ibnu Hanaffi)

jako_imp@yahoo.com

Mohd. Yaakub Mohd. Yunus

Utusan Malaysia (Monday, 9 February 2009)

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Lalala lala.. :)

hehe.. I will start updating on this blog again sooner or later.. :)

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Cool program from ISMA!! Let's register and participate! :)

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AUSMAT GRAND DINNER 2009

Assalamualaikum and hye to everyone..

Will miss you and your politics jokes Ust Wan! he3 :)

To those who are new to this blog you can hit the pause button on the right top corner of the screen, and make me shut up. hi3 It is only an introductory remark, so I'm sorry if it ever annoys you. At least, it helps those who miss my voice! ha3

Well, by the way, this time around I just wanna apologize to everyone I know at INTEC, especially beloved lecturers and classmates. You see, I made a lot of mistakes, and I and the imperfect me, can't help from hurting people's hearts sometimes, whether or not you people tell me about it. Please, I'm asking for your sincerest forgiveness, and practically, I never meant to hurt anyone. Sorry again.

As huge as the apology it is, please do also accept my greatest thanks to all of you who have contributed to the colours of my life at INTEC- you guys made it even more colourful-at least it's not only purple, yellow and blue! ha3(UiTM colours). It (the Ausmat life) lasted last night, during the dinner, though I really didn't meet everyone, fine though, so long as we can still keep in touch via facebook, email etc..

Thank you very much again to everyone I know, and I must tell you that if even we never talked or had a chat, it's not because I'm too cocky or because I think that I'm too good and 'high-standard' for you guys to mingle with, but most of the time, if not all, I am a guy who prefers silence as a gesture. It really doesn't mean that I don't like you or what so ever. We are still friends, aren't we? Thanks again for understanding.. (ni syok sendiri ke ape? :P)

Hope to see all of you again in the future! Take care and let's pray for the upcoming SACE results disclosure... :) LOVE you all!! :)

Wassalam...

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That’s why I wanna become a doctor.. :)

Assalamualaikum everyone..

I'm sorry for the long silence it has been. I felt uncomfortable somehow. I know I really must always update this blog, because that is the real passion I have since I started blogging. By the way, exam was over and it's time to leave everything to Allah the Almighty while keep praying for his help. Nevertheless, I'm still stuck inside my room, sweating out to finish a montage for Ausmat dinner next week, another one after countless hours spent for class farewell party's slideshow presentation. Me and my art studio, here I come Grand Dinner! :)

              Sorry everyone, I'm now busy spending time in my so-called art studio-Cemara it is.. :P

Today, I had my lunch at Al-Rafi Bistro with my laptop and suddenly there was one Indian guy; a waiter, came by and greeted me to ask for a favor! He wanted me to help retrieve an MMS sent to a phone from India- her daughter’s photo, he told me. This guy seemed like having absolutely no idea on what to do. At first I thought that his daughter must be studying there for so long, so I could feel how much he would have missed her. And I had no problem to lend a hand, for that matter. The MMS can only be retrieved via internet though, but thank God I was online so I got started. And once the related webpage appeared on the screen, I was taken aback! Ha? It was a photo of a cute little baby girl! This girl… studies in India? Hahaha.. Can’t be.. I bet she can’t even read. Well, anyone can tell that. I am not too smart to be able to tell this little common sense. The question was, so what is this guy doing here while having a little daughter in India whom needs to be taken care of? My goodness, it turned out that my assumption was wrong. He is actually an Indian who has just come here to earn some money for family. No wonder his face was not that familiar compared to other men working there. And when I asked, he said that he’ll only return home after 1 year. My heart was shaken. Perhaps I never felt more grateful until I realized how much other people have to struggle and sacrifice for their loved ones. The incident made me love my family even more, and of course, made me homesick too!! Uwaa~ The thing is, I can’t forget the smile he drew on his face after I helped him out, downloaded the photo, transferred it to my own mobile and then to his, via Bluetooth. Because that’s what he actually wanted-a photo of beloved daughter in his mobile (and he never knew how to)-so that he can always have it with him. A smile from a dad who must be missing his daughter so much, I can see sparkles in his eyes the moment he said “thank you..”  I wonder where can I get that kind of expression again. That’s what I like about helping people and that’s why I am always happy when I can make others happy, because I love those smiles and I love to see people smiling. And that’s why, and it is really the reason why, I wanna become a doctor.. :)

_________________________________________________________________________________

TgL: Everyone my name is Mohd Amirul Asyraf Mohd Hanaffi. My pseudonym is Ibnu Hanaffi. So please call me Asyraf. Peace!! :)


 

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Apologies

Yeah I know, apology is an uncountable noun. But at least, it, in what ever way, implies how much wrong have I done to people around me. So, apologies from me.

Exam is really around the corner.
Love you all. Who ever you are. Forgive me please ya? I really wana go to Aussie. And become a doctor.
Ya Allah, my only God, guide me through all these puzzles of life..

Assalamualaikum all.... :)

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SACE Exam here I come!!

Scary though. I don't feel like feeling it. Sigh~ Instead of struggling to prepare for the grave crucial final exam I am battling hard to find the study mood now.Within merely two weeks left, what drives me now is only the family. Love you Ma, Abah, Along, Kakda, Sa, Ipas, Alin, Mawaddah, Aiman, Anis and Afiq!! Can't wait to go back to Terengganu. Will conduct an English class for all of you liitle bros and sis.. ! mmuah!! :P

Wassalam...
P/S: SACE Exam 2009 (November 2-17)

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The Disengagement

gee~ do not misunderstand please.. :P

Love is like water. It flows and streams everywhere without boundaries. Mine is one that is so special. It makes me who I was before-a kind-hearted, soft-spoken and quiet guy who has no one to feel angry to. Anyone is lovely, and I have no problem loving. Life is like exchanging the good feelings you have deep inside your heart, by smiling and helping plus talking to one another. However, the ticking time has altered my love to fragility. From water, it became a bubble. It grew extra large and consequently turned to a huge bubble. Then? Someone from inside poked it and that’s it-pop! (or rather kabOOm!!) it blasted into pieces of hatred and vengeance I’ve never known and never been introduced to my entire life. My life changed. Totally, after that. I was blank. I was left in uncertainty and absolute misery. I didn’t know what to do with everything around me started to plunge me more into the darkness. The darkness of soul. The emptiness of heart. I was confused, stressed-and lonely. And me? Was no longer a loving person I used to be.

I started to justify the whole nineteen years I spent in my life all this while. My efforts, my time, my sacrifice and my money, I thought I have just squandered them all-and led a completely fruitless embarrassing period of life-which lasted for almost two decades or may be more.

Now I know I must move on. Just that. I know many things await me to shape my own future. And of course I am totally on it! What is life without difficulties. Thinking of that, I compose the following piece;

Brain is a weakness,

We use it to forget problems,

But problems don't have brains,

So they never forget us,

Use brain to face problems,

Then brain is now a strength.

-Ibnu Hanaffi-

It’s not about what they are or how many of them. It’s about how we deal with them. And the way I deal, once beaten twice shy-big deal indeed! So much of whining and complaining and even blaming, what do I get in return? Nothing. An absolute nil and a sheer null. After all, it’s always best to have gratitude and thankfulness for He is the best Whom rewards and pours happiness upon His servants. I went to Raja Uda Library in Shah Alam and came across this proverb from Arab that says;

I complained because I had no shoes UNTIL I saw a man who had no feet.

Simply put, be grateful dude. Accept things the way they are because certainly, Allah has written them all and our fate are already being predestined and preordained. What we can do now is pray and spend more time with supplication asking for His help and guidance.. Many people are just not as lucky as we are. Just look at what happened in Padang, Indonesia. My prayers for them. However, always true it is, fate and destiny, should not stop us from doing more to gain more. Allah surely knows best. And about being lucky, some say that there are people who are born lucky, but all people are lucky to be born in the first place. Hey, we are the 100-meter-race winning sperms! Thanks to Allah. And be thankful must I.

Yaeh, I hope so. Always, if not all the time, things are easier said than done. At least, I’ve got the right thing to do. Just, do it. Sigh~

What’s the real point I want to put up in this post, I myself wonder. These are them by the way. Firstly, I actually wanted to apologize if I have been rude or even annoying to anyone I merely know for not so long. You know what, like I said, you should enjoy knowing a better and nicer me. I have been going through tough times, that’s all. Just promise to be ‘myself’ again. Except for the part that I am not going to let myself be taken for granted even once more. Don’t you ever dare to.. ups, let’s put a dot, just there. No need to further dig up the painful past. I’ve thrown the shovel after all. Bygones are bygones. And I am moving on.

Secondly, I hereby would like to officially declare a period of disengagement to whom it may concern. I have prepared all final gestures and completed them by giving my all. And one might not know that it is the way I say good bye. I am moving on. And I want to disengage. By giving, and not taking. I have had enough. No more. Big NO NO.

As for now, it will be a considerably long silence without any posts (at least not this long) as I want to really focus on my extremely crucial life or death final SACE exam commencing from Nov 2-17 2009. Hope and really hoping Allah will help me through all these. As a final remark for this time, I would like to say thanks to great people like Farah Farhana, Masturah, Ira and many more. You girls’ presence is a simple proof that I am still having faith in some girls. Not yet have I came to an extent of being misogynistic. Neither am I a gay! By the way, aboy, all the best SPM! Not forgetting, all juniors at MCKK. Well, I am 99.9 % sure not even one present boy from MCKK know about my blog. Ha3 never mind, I just do not want to make too much noise. Let only some people know about what I have had to say, complain and wish. So long as they are not absurd. Will miss you everyone.

Salam sayang from me~

"I am getting old yet missing the ‘old’ me.."

-the OLD Ibnu Hanaffi-

The Climb

I can almost see it

That dream I am dreaming

But there's a voice inside my head saying

"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes might knock me down

But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it

But these are the moments that

I'm gonna remember most, yeah

Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong

Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing

Keep the faith, baby

It's all about, it's all about the climb

Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

gee~ (jugak).. another product of Ibnu Hanaffi's Productions

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