A Bad Habit

When reading is no longer considered a good habit:

Reading The FB's Newsfeed

My love for reading is something weird even to myself. I will stop to read (or try to read) any written things that come across my eyes. I mean literally almost all things, even in language that is alien to me, I will try to read it (Haha (laugh) or Huhu (cry)?). Whether i understand it or not will be a second matter.

Blame it on the active facebook users who keep on sharing so many interesting topics, new info, hot news, gossips and scandals.. or blame it on my own fingers which seems so itchy to scroll up and down my phone screen. Perhaps, we can put the blame on that high speed broadband thingy that gives me access to many things and enable me to view movie clips without the lagging, buffer time.

Please do not blame me for being silent all these while, i have been busy readings. Not until my other half asked me when would i start writing back perhaps on journal of our children's development so that one day they may refer to my writings here about them, or my non-stop babbling about this issue and that matter.. Not to mention on that many times i loudly vowed my intention to write , write, write and record things that happen in my daily life.. Thus serving the purpose of this blog's creation awhile ago.

Since the engine has been kept cold for quite a while, believe me it takes a while to warm up. I will have to ensure to stick up that mental note on my brain - Write, as 'Like' in facebook is not a post. Share, not to pleased but for exchange of knowledge. Enthusiasm. not to die cold as the journey is still long... InshaAllah.

End of Journey?

Humaira is 4 months and 12 days old today.
So far she has been exclusively breastfeeding. I am not sure until when I will be able to hold her from formula milk. I am struggling to pump milk for her, besides my struggle to handle her active character. In the end, we bought a small tin of FM just to have some peace at mind worrying that I can’t pump enough milk for her and she will be hungry. So far, the small tin that cost us almost RM30 is still there for about a week.. Not intact, not open yet, but has been eyeing by Nenek Humaira who happened to visit us here, and did not went back to my hometown until end of the week with us.. Feeling some sadness thinking that i have to mix her meal with my milk and formula milk, but i have no option for that.

It never came across my mind before that I will be facing challenges in wanting to exclusively breastfeed my child, internally and externally. One day I knew I was pregnant, and when I felt like I was quite stabile from the morning sickness I surfed the net to find info on how to handle life after delivering the baby. Overwhelmed with too much info that I never knew before, I was almost having panicked attack when realizing I have 5 months to understand, absorb and apply all that. That is when I understand what it means by susu ibu. OK, u may laugh at me for did not understand its meaning in the first place (before I was married and in my early pregnancy) because I thought that susu ibu means susu yg ibu2 minum (blank.. how did I get the idea?) Perhaps because I am used to the term ‘susu badan’ (or in my husband’s hometown is referred to ‘susu dada’) .

Things were moving very fast for me, from getting to know my husband, meeting both parents, merisik, preparing for the wedding, getting married and pregnant which occured in less than a year. Time was fully utilized in my case. On handling the milk for the baby already made me dizzy.. the bottles need to be strealized, the milk, expressed milk, techniques for breastfeed..bla bla bla.. then here comes with cloth diaper, baby rash, items for baby, clothing, hospital, doctors....and on and on... i never really pay much attention to any post on these things previously wrote by my friends as i thought i'll learn it later or perhaps not within a short period of time.. God knows better.

Now i understand the needs for a support group for breastfeeding mothers.
I am lucky that my husband stands next to me and support me well so far.
But now i am wondering..if the journey is going to end soon?

Pindah

Dah lama tak dpt jenguk blog ni..
Sekarang tinggal 2 semester aje utk Master.. 4 subjek dlm kelas, 1 thesis..
Bukan tak sudi nak update, dalam kepala asyik terfikir aje.. Tapi ada lagi perkara2 yg penting pun tak sempat nak dikemaskinikan.. uhuks.. betapakah tak bijaknya mengendalikan masa..

Masa mula2 pindah ke ibu pejabat dulu, dok tingkat 22.. lepas tu (lepas pindah sana sini sinun) masuk balik, ke tingkat 44.. tak lama ke tingkat 51.. la ni baru2 ni kena pindah lagi plak ke tingkat 7.. kira2 semua 4 jenis sektor lif ke pejabat dah digunakanlah ni.. brg2 pun tak habis kemas lagi.. terbiar gitu aje.. ehehe.. So faham2 la.. kalau kat luar pun mcm tak terurus dah, ntah cemana nak urus yg kat sini plak.. :P

anyway time kasih la bagi yg sudi dtg melawat.. sila datang lagi ya lain kali :)

Malas

Cuti lama.. Dari lepas Krismas hingga semalam...
Dan hari ini, terasa malas untuk masuk ke pejabat semula..
Kalaulah tidak kerana tugas dan tanggungjawab yang masih perlu dipikul, mungkin sudah menyambung lagi cuti... ehheheh
:p

The Dizziness

I slept for 10 hours last night.
And still feeling dizzy in the morning.
Still, up to now.

The people around me keep on asking me the reason for it.
And they said i look and behave weirdly these few days.

Perhaps, the thing that they do not know is that..
I do sometimes act weirdly despite of me having the headache.
And the headache is actually a normal, frequent thing.

But, maybe they were right too.
I did proposing or having some weird ideas.
Such as, to take a long break from the office.. i mean a really really long break.
Only then to consider my monthly expenses that are fixed to be settled..and my daily expenses (which can be adjusted accordingly). But then, have to see whether the boss in the office will allow me..and the boss in the house will agree with the idea..

Hmm.. what say you?

Superior vs Inferior

[1] The Postponed Wish
Guess it is quite late to say a happy Ramadhan. But it will never be too late to improve ourself, right? So far alHamdulillah we already fasting for 8-9 days.

I am not sure if i am the only one feeling it, but the environment when the Ramadhan comes is somehow does change. The scenary, the air, the feeling.. Ada sedikit rasa sayu.. But still this is the best month if you want to practise doing good deeds. It is the easiest time around the clock, and around the year to do such things. As if we are smoothly and gently push towards it. If you compare this in the normal months, you can have like thousand execuses but a valid one why not doing it - laziness.

So the remaining 21 days..Let's work it out together for the best! May all of us get the Promised Night - Malam Lailatul Qadr. InshaAllah. AMiin.

[2] My Article
For a certain people, comparing themselves with other will either give a feeling of superiority. Some will have the feeling of inferiority.

The feeling of superiority gives an over confidence and higher ego, if not manage properly will make it difficult for the person to face the life if he/she fails to achieve to his/her expectation. The feeling of inferiority will stray the person from achieving what he/she wants even without having to try it in the first place.

This is when the heart may feel and say something unnecessary that somehow undeniable may affect (little or much) on how one’s bringing itself.

Of course, we do at most time comparing ourselves with people around us, for better or worse. But how do we perceive it in the end, how we digest and understand things will result in whether we learn something valuable or sacrifice all the core values.

Some people look in the eyes of a human being, for expectation and comparison will be to the level of thinking and setting of a human being. At some point of time, people will be looking recognition and confirmation from those around them. Those who succeed to be accepted are either by really achieving it or for a-God-knows-what reason. Those who fail to do so will increase the inferiority complex in themselves.

This is why some who does not want to be evaluated based on the human’s perspective turn to the perspective of God, in which they are looking for a Superiority values that will never make one inferior. In here they know that they will not be rejected from a human perspective, that all words come to them ensuring that they are in fact a chosen creature and there is almost nothing they cannot do if their capability is there. The belief that God created ones for a reason, and for that reason ones is equipped with enough capability to face the world. Having this will not turn someone into a superiority-complex-disease in the community. Instead, they become a unique identity that exceeds the superiority value as the aura is unable to be defined by human beings. Being on the top of the world, beyond a human judgment but still close to their hearts. That will be a wonderful feeling, isn’t it?

That will be a total freedom of yourself and heart from being trapped in your own world and feelings. I wish I will be able to continuously do that in future. Seeing things not from the eyes of someone else, and will never have to bother how they will think and feel about what I did.

I always have the feeling of inferiority when it comes to comparing myself with other ladies whom to me are more feminine and have better ability as a woman (like doing the house cores, arts, designing and arranging their home settings etc). Unfortunately, for me things which are complicated and difficult to handle sometimes are much easier than doing the house cores (it takes me ages to clean and arrange and beautify the house). I cook my own recipes of which most people commented how it looks strange or weird or never tasted something like that before, even if I tried to cook according to the recipes especially when it comes to Malays dishes. A friend of mine suggested for me to better cook other dishes instead of Malays dishes. I cannot explain from where and how I get the ideas of cooking it, thus I called my ways of cooking as a fusion cook.

Well, at a certain point of time having some lucky people around me who are good, nice and devoted people, that achieve things in their life, making good reputation and income, build up a happy family /life, it makes me feel I am nothing compared to that. So, one way to run away from that inferiority complex is by me being or turned into something that is not comparable within the society. I feel safe here. At the time being. Still, perhaps.

There it goes all my weird ways of thinking, behavior and decision-making style. It is still difficult to change or to alter the mindset that i have in me as i have been practising it and doing it for such a long time. A search within in looking for myself, a survival needs to survive. So to whomsoever that will be living with me in the future, hope he will somehow try to adapt and accept those weird things about me.. : )

[3] A Personal Notes
Guess that should be enough for the time being. Hope by the time i post my new entry, this has been digest by all readers. : )

How's Life

People said that my blog reveals a lot about what is happening inside me..
That it is easy to guess when i'm in a good mood, or when i do not have the motivation..
When i am upset or when i am inspired by something, someone or somewhat..
And those who are close to me said it is easy to say whether i have a complex deep thinking or that i am having an innocent simple brain execution.

I have never thought it is that easy to know me. :)

Anyway i understand that it has been quite a while (or is it that long?) i do not post anything inside here. Until recently i found out that i will go blank when i am trying to type the words. Surprisingly, i forget how to write! (and share things with people?)

Well, things may not be that excellent, but they were not that bad too. Before this, i have lack of time as I was (and still am) too busy with my workload that sometimes i forget when the time goes by. Since furthering study, my condition somehow becoming worst as i forget when is the night and when the day has come. I forget how it feels to sleep in long hours, to have rest on your weekends, and to eat food with feel and utmost pleasant.

Almost 2 months-and-a-half after the first class started, i already took 7 days leave for study reason. The subject will continue from one syllabus in a period of time, with another syllabus/subject in another period of time which continue right after the end of other subject. Things becoming quite messy with us when at the end of each subject, we will have a final exam (to study), presentation (to prepare slide material) and to submit assignment paper (research and readings). I get headaches for these, not to mention always feel like having fever on each time i took leave to complete my assignments, presentation slides and syllabus to be in the exam.

I have not read enough newspaper, unable to go back to my hometown for almost 2 months, and lack in handling my personal life properly. I am learning and trying to adjust my life now to the new environment.

So, forgive me for unable to share my point of view at the time being. I love reading your updates once in a while, when i feel so tired. I would love to share more things with you. InshaAllah the day will come again when i am really active in updating this blog again. ;)

Till then, take care everyone.

p/s: Did i mentioned that i am going to be transferred (yes, being transferred not request for a transfer) to another division soon?

Tagging games

{1} So-Called Training
Warning: this posting is not suitable to be viewed by Husben Ummu Nufayl. :p Pls take it as if this is not related to your program, TQ!: ))

Supposed yesterday i attended a whole day training consists of 5 modules/sessions. It started at 8.45am to 5.00pm with morning break, lunch and tea time provided by the organizer. But this is what really happened:

8.45 am -went up to register myself, took my seat, chit-chat with some old friends i met in the event. Session 1 started. Listened, took notes, points etc.
9.55 am - went down for a meeting at 10 am in my office. important meeting because it involved my customers account so as the account manager i am supposed to be there.
10.30 am - morning break (still in the meeting)
10.45 am - 2nd session started. The main reason for me to attend this program is to listen to this 2nd session: discussion on current economy situation in Malaysia. (still in the meeting)
11.30 am - still in the meeting. received sms from informer that the 3rd session started already.
12.30 noon - people from the office went out in a group. informed our big boss admitted to the hospital. (still in the meeting)
1.15 pm - lunch time. meeting done. those in the meeting asked whether i will be joining them to visit our boss. i was asking "should i go?" and they have this kind of look on me.. indirectly saying "why not?". so, there was i..
2.45 pm - after the visit, have not had my lunch, bought yogurt and cream bread, ate few spoons of the yogurt and went to the training back.
3.00 pm - it's the 5th module now. so hungry...
4.15 pm - tea time - had some sweet porridge and one pulut panggang..
4.30 pm -baru makan sikit, tak sempat minum dah kena panggil masuk : ((
5.10 pm -masuk ofis balik. habiskan yogurt tadi. lepas tu dah pening.

8.30 pm - at home. sempat minum air kosong, lepas tu dah lembik.. tido.. uhuhuh

pagi2 sampai ofis, terus cari makanan dulu.. :))

ok sekian cerita saya!:P

{2} Tagging game
Setelah puas berfikir, inilah yg saya dapat..hahahha

Senaraikan 5 hadiah yang anda impikan:

1. 20 original /unedited tapes on the whole shooting of Kembara Bumi Anbiya'.
2. Dapur macam dapur Martha Stewart, Vivien, Nigela or Anna Olson (guess watching too much Asian Food Channel)
3. A lots of Money , Money and Money Shopping Vouchers
4. Book Cabinet Walk-in Closet (mcm Aini jugak:P)
5. Pokok Duit / Money Tree (bukan pokok duit-duit:P)
6. Err..dah cukup ke?: ))

Senaraikan alasan atas pilihan anda itu:

1. I never had the chance to watch the unedited tapes; plus these tapes recorded all of our journey for the program... and the real production was not following the original scripts.
2. Saya suka menyepahkan dapur jadi saya perlukan tempat yang luas di dapur (do we need reasons to like something?:P)
3. I usually don’t have enough time to do shopping (especially time sales je mesti tgh sibuk :( )
4. Tempat nak isi baju la bila dah beli banyak..hahahha saya selalu bermasalah tak tahu nak pakai ape di waktu pagi / terasa baju tak cukup... berharap dpt tempat yang lebih besar supaya boleh beli byk2 baju:))
5. Err..saya rasa daun pokok ni unik dan comel : P

5 impresi terhadap orang yang diminati:
(i’ll skip this question for the time being.. it’s for me to know, and for u to find out:P)

1.
2.
3.
4. .
5.

Perkara yang paling hebat pernah dilakukannya untuk anda:

(I’ll skip this question too)



5 ciptaan yang paling disukai (tidak semestinya melibatkan teknologi yang maju):


1. Jam tangan
2. Handphone
3. Internet
4. Computer
5. Kasut

Apakah perkara yang paling dibenci?

1. Asap rokok
2. Panas dan matahari terik
3. orang yang cakap bukan-bukan
4. orang yang sombong bodoh - takleh ajar, juga takleh terima pendapat..huuh susah nak liaise
5. situasi marah-marah, tegang

5 Orang yang yang mahu anda tag:

1. Ummi Indah :P
2. Cik Ariatinta
3. Pn Hany (kalau die rajin and ada masalah:D)
4. anyone else?
5. maybe you?:P

p/s: Ok dah habis hutang yer!!!

Those days

[1] 11 days
After the calculation, i just realized for the last 11 days i only went to the office once. And that one day also, i cant concentrate much in my works. Unexpectedly, when i went to see the doctor she gave me another 2 days MC continued with another 2 days weekends. I slept a lot, each time after ate the medicine i would went blackout. 2/3 of my days will be sleeping, woke up just between the medicine time.

Being sicked, I had weird dreams, from being like devilish person to someone so angelic.. Thank God that some of those bad dreams were only dreams. InshaAllah really hope it will stops in dream only, that i won't turn out to be like that dreams.

And now, the not-the-best-part is when i came to the office seeing there was 489 unread emails to be taken care. uhuhuhu tak bestnya. and this evening i managed to cut half the number... Well, i just open 100 emails at one time, and now still seeing what to do to each email.. uhuks.



[1] Telusur Diri

I have promised to my primary-school friend to share this. However, it has been prolonged for quite sometimes. Due to my inability to transform the idea into the paper and on the net. It is not that good, i guess, plus i am not that good in words too .. But, maybe if you would like to say something. ;)

Telusur Diri by ....

Langit pagi
Pada telus wajahnya
Aku mengimpikan fitrah sang burung
Terbang tinggi melintasi awan gemalai
Menghirup nafas pada zarah-zarah udara
Agar selalu dekat padaNya

Bumi tanah kering
Pada tulus hamparannya
Aku mahu bertapak seluas pandangan
Duduk bertafakur mengenal ia dan aku
Supaya selalu membuat jiwa dan hatiku
Tunduk merendah pada segalanya
Biar aku mengerti sentiasa
Rasa ini sebagai hambaNya

Laut yang penuh misteri
Ingin ku kenal hijau dan birunya
Meneroka dalam-dalam dan dasarnya
Pada makhluk-makhluk pelbagai yang entah apa, bagaimana rupa
Menguasai alam tersembunyi ini
Untuk aku menginsafi
Betapa ilmu ini sangat terbatas
Walau sering lebih daripada kebanyakan
Juga sering kurang dalam kebanyakan

Dalam diri
Ingin sekali aku hampir
Pada hembus yang tersembunyi
Menyimpan rahsia Ilahi...

Tuhan
Bawa aku kembali
Bersuluh menyempurna rasa
Pada jalan rahsia kurniaanMu
Meski aku harus tampil berbeza..

[3] Tagging game

Huhuhu..i do not like being tagged, because i have to use a lot of my memory when space in my brain is almost non. But as few friends have requested me to do so and i failed them (still) i think i should TRY my best to at least do this one.

But, Aini.. the questions are so tricky, some i think i would not be able to answer now ..so i shall reserve that questions in future, when the right time comes ok..:p
errr..can i fill the empty spaces later?:D

Senaraikan 5 hadiah yang anda impikan:

1. 20 original /unedited tapes on the whole shooting of Kembara Bumi Anbiya'.
2. Mengelilingi dunia
3.
4.
5.

Senaraikan alasan atas pilihan anda itu:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

5 impresi terhadap orang yang diminati:

1.
2.
3.
4. .
5.

Perkara yang paling hebat pernah dilakukannya untuk anda:




5 ciptaan yang paling disukai (tidak semestinya melibatkan teknologi yang maju):


1. Jam tangan
2.
3.
4.
5.

Apakah perkara yang paling dibenci?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

5 Orang yang yang mahu anda tag:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Mencari jawapan

{1} Siapa Sarah?

Puas sudah saya berfikir, siapa Sarah? Puas juga saya berteka-teki, bertanya kepada empunya cerita . Tapi masih belum bertemu jawapan.. Kucing, katanya bukan. Haiwan peliharaan, juga bukan.. Manusia? Lelaki atau perempuan belum ditentukan.. Saya fikir2 si penglipur lara ini dimensinya selalu berbeza, pasti sesuatu yang jauh melangkaui kebiasaan. :p

Boleh awak bantu saya? :D

{2} Lawatan Perdana

Osmet saya (baca: teman serumah) memanggilnya Incik J. Saya kira, ada juga yang memangilnya Mr. P. Sejak akhir2 ini saya lihat Incik J ini sering kali singgah di tempat saya. Aduhh, sukar juga saya kira sebabnya tidak tentu arah kalau dia datang melawat. Sudahlah begitu, datangnya beramai-ramai pula. Lepas satu, satu yang datang. Saya pusing kepala selalu.

Sudahnya hari Ahad yang lalu, dia datang lagi. Kali ini satu sahaja, tapi kerana tidak pernah menerima kunjungan yang begitu saya rasa terseksa. Amat! Sudahlah merah-merah warnanya. Makin hari, dia mengambil tempat yang makin luas, makin besar. Sudah bermacam-macam saya lakukan, namun dia masih di situ. Pulak begitu, dia kelihatan sangat nyata.. Semua yang lalu di sisi saya akan menegur tentang dia.

Uhuhuhuhu... apa patut saya lakukan sekarang?
Dia duduk bermukim di atas hidung.. taknak hilang2.. : ((
Incik Jerawat, cepatlah pergi!!

{3} Mimpikah saya?

Pelik.. tapi benar.
Sejak dua hari ini, saya lihat network kami membenarkan access ke semua laman. Pelik, tapi benar2 saya melihatnya. Wahh apa sudah jadi? Mereka terlepas tengok kah..atau mereka mmg sudah melepaskan untuk ditengok?

Apa2 pun.. yaaa saya akan berusaha untuk kerja dengan baik juga walaupun dugaan yang menarik itu banyak di depan mata.. Dugaan, dugaan..

Jangan Buat Lagi

[1] Kena Tegur

copyright © Drake Brodahl

I have totally forgotten that we had our regional meeting this morning. My boss seemed to be frustrated as most of us did not turned up on time. I was the last to be in the meeting, 1/2 hr late due to unforeseen circumstances. Was being advice and alert on the important of being on time. Felt quite uneasy, as usually i have no problem to be on time. What is happening to me? Guess the motivation level is not to the par yet. I feel tired already...


[2] Young Ages..

Courtesy of Shizukana Studio

Take into account 5 things before the next 5.

It has been my wish to actually do something big or significant in my life before I turn 30. I wish i would be able to contribute something to the society. I am going to reach that age soon, but not so much progress, not so much things i have done. I feel I have not done anything yet. It seems that i have no planning yet, when i am actually running out of time...

Wish only, but no work is not something to be proud off, kan?

[3] Putrajaya

I thought i will be able to run away a while when i was there. Only then to realize that my time has been fully utilized. I have not had the chance to even walk around the hotel; only be at 3 places: level 3 - the lobby; level 1 - meeting room and hotel room (they were located in front of each other) and level 1 - coffee house area for breakfast/lunch/dinner. So, all the facilities: swimming pool, spa, sauna, health-house, gym - i was unable to identify the exact location yet.

The place is nice actually. Received feedbacks that the workshop has achieved its objective, that the workshop was the most focused and properly planned they had attended.. I feel all the sleepless hours, tiredness and efforts are worthwhile. Now it is time for the post-workshop work! (uhuhuh banyak juga keja, ingat dah sudah dah....)

A Brief Introduction to a Scripture

[1] Pulau Lang Tengah
Last time i used to go on vacations with friends to Islands in Malaysia. Part of the trip is for snorkelling. I have not going to any island these few years (Pulau Langkawi and Nami Island in Korea not considered that island) and i am kind of missing the scenery.

Pulau Lang Tengah..

I really wish to go there now, but nobody is around to go with...

[1] A Brief Introduction to A Scripture
Received this in one of my mailing list; have not been active lately (or for a long time huuhuh) in the group. Hope i will be able to joining them back soon... Worth reading! : )

Written by alFaisal
http://demipena. blogspot.com

Edited by Habibah Binti Abdul Razak
Cyberjaya
17 April 2008/ 10 Rabiul Akhir 1429

Mohandas K. Gandhi once said, "It is the duty of every cultured man or woman to read sympathetically the scriptures of the world. If we are to respect others' religions as we would have them respect our own, a friendly study of the world's religions is a sacred duty."

If you do not agree that it is a duty, then just take Gandhi's words as an advice and consider it as one of the options for peaceful interfaith approach.

To me, the idea of a religion is reflected from every single message within its scriptures, since the scriptures are able to speak to us much more than what we can see from its followers. And yet Malaysia , for a country which is so rich with its multi ethnic and multi religion communities, is very lacking in people who would actually take the initiative to embrace the spirit of what Gandhi had called upon.

But not so for Ash. A man with brilliant thoughts, a good friend and my rap guru, he's the very first person I've known who has made a genuine effort to study the scriptures from other faiths. He's a Hindu and yet that does not stop him from reading the Bible and the Quran. I was only a young teenager back then, and I couldn't bring myself to even touch any scriptures other the Quran. There had always been a permeated sense of how taboo it is to read other religion's scriptures.

But as I grew up, I finally gave myself a chance to see what the scriptures besides the Quran have to say, to help me in understanding about other people's faiths. But it takes more than just a simple reading, having a clear perspective of the history and background of the scriptures is very important in understanding it.

For example, to read the verse of 1 Corinthians of the Bible and simply assume that the whole book was written by Jesus Christ, would be terribly erroneous and a severe case of ignorance. Lack of interest in research and exploring the background of a scripture would definitely lead the reader towards confusion and misconceptions.

THE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF QURAN

This is an invitation to learn briefly about Muslims' Holy Scripture, the Quran. You don't have to become a Muslim or a future Muslim to know this. Regardless of what your opinions are about Islam, you still have every right to know this information.

Quran is an Arabic word, which literally means 'the recitation' or 'the reading'. Muslims believe that it is the Word of God, which He had revealed to His Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. It was memorized by Prophet Muhammad and then was dictated to his companions.

Before analyzing the Quran or going deep into its history, a question should be asked. Are the words in the Quran that we have today exactly the same with the ones revealed to us through Prophet Muhammad centuries ago? This is an important issue to resolve, because there would be no point in discussing the Quran itself if what we have today has been changed from its revelation to the Muslims during the time of Prophet Muhammad.

In order to answer that question, we need to look into the methods on how the Quran has been preserved to this very day, which includes:

[1] Memorization

[2] Recorded in writing

It is through the combination of these two elements that has ensured the preservation of the Quran.

MEMORIZATION

The literacy level in Arab back then was not like what it is today -- not everybody had the ability to write down the revelation. But everybody was able to recite the verses and commit them to memory.

Prophet Muhammad had encouraged his companions to learn and practice each verse of the revelation and transmit it to others. To recite the Quran regularly is an encouraged act of worship. Besides that, it is also compulsory to recite the Quran in the daily ritual/prayers called 'solah'. In other words, the verses of Quran were repeatedly recited by the believers, memorized and used in the daily prayers (solah). And everything that I have just mentioned is still happening to this day.

During the time of Prophet Muhammad (even before it), memorization was like a second nature to the Arabs. Dr. Michael Zwettler, an expert in Classical Arabic language and literature, as well as in pre- and early Islamic culture and civilization had mentioned:

"The poetry of Arabs, in the ages which preceded the rise of Islamism, was perpetuated by oral tradition; for in ancient times, when writing was not used or scarcely used, memory was exercised and strengthened to a degree now almost unknown."

If it has crossed your mind on how impossible it is to memorize the whole Quran, consider this. Today, when the literacy level is far better than centuries ago, we still have hundreds of thousands of people who memorized the whole Quran. And each Muslim would definitely memorize at least one or two Surah (chapter) from the Quran.

For the early Muslims among the companions of Prophet Muhammad, it was much easier for them to memorize since the Quran took approximately 23 years before the entire revelation came to an end. With the Arabs' memorization culture and the capacity of time in over two decades for them to absorb the Quran, nothing is impossible.

RECORDED IN WRITING

Other than the companions who had followed Prophet Muhammad in reciting the text by heart, there were also some of them who were able to read and write. Those companions had acted as scribes and wrote down the verses. Prophet Muhammad was unlettered, he did not know how to read and write, and therefore he called upon numerous scribes to write for him.

But the Quran that was recorded in writings during the the time of Prophet Muhammad was not in the form of a book. The materials used to record the verses were many – stones bark of trees, wood, cloth and various other things. The task of collecting Quran as a book was undertaken by Abu Bakr, the leader of the Muslims after Prophet Muhammad's death.

QURAN IN THE FORM OF MANUSCRIPT

Below are the simplified chronicles on how the Quran was compiled into the form of a book.

Abu Bakr (the first Caliph and successor to the Prophet) had ordered Zaid Bin Thabit to collect the Quran into one manuscript six months after the death of Prophet Muhammad. It was suggested by Umar al-Khattab (who would later become Abu Bakr's successor), worried about the great number of Qurra (memorizers of the Quran) who had been killed during the battle of Yamama.

A committee was formed to complete this task of collecting the written Quranic material in the form of a single book, led by Zaid Bin Thabit himself. The compilers had insisted on very stringent criteria when it came to examining the written material that had been submitted to them as a safeguard against any errors.

This manuscript of the Quran remained with Abu Bakr until he died. It was then passed on to and remained with Umar al-Khattab (successor to Abu Bakr). After Umar al-Khattab died, the manuscript stayed with Hafsah, Umar's daughter and wife of Prophet Muhammad.

The copy of the Quran that was prepared and compiled by the committee had also included the list of memorizers of the Quran who had been unanimously approved by the Muslim world. If the committee had made the slightest error, tens of hundreds of the Qurra (memorizers of the Quran) would be able to notice and correct it.

That is how the memorization and written records of the Quran complement each other, offering a check and balance method in preserving the Quran from any slight change or error during its compilation.

Until to this very day, anyone who tried to create a false Quran will fail miserably because any error is easy to be detected by the Muslims. Even if entire copies of the Quran today are burned until there's no copy left in the whole world, there's no worries at all since we would still have the 'copies' in the heart of those who memorized the whole Quran.

QURAN DURING THE TIME OF UTHMAN

First of all, a person who studies the history of Islam should be very clear in making the distinction between Caliph Uthman and the caliphs of the Ottoman Empire . I've encountered who have made this mistake, when they heard Caliph Uthman had made an official copy of Quran in the Quraishi dialect (the dialect in which the Quran was revealed to the Prophet and was memorized by his companions), they thought he was one of the caliphs from Ottoman Empire.

Quran was originally revealed in the Quraishi dialect of Arabic. But God then revealed the Quran into seven dialects to facilitate the people who did not speak other dialects. During the time of Caliph Uthman (one of Prophet Muhammad's companions and the successor to Umar al-Khattab), the differences in reading the Quran among the different tribes were getting obvious. The situation worsened when each tribe started claiming that their way of reciting was the correct one.

Uthman then took a proactive approach by making an official copy of Quran in the Quraishi dialect. It should be noted that this compilation of the Quran by the Uthman Committee is not a new version of Quran. It is still the Quran with the same message that what has been revealed by God through Prophet Muhammad, and the purpose of this new copy is simply as an official standardization of the dialect.

In order to accomplish this, Uthman had asked Hafsah for the copy of the manuscript that had been compiled during the time of Abu Bakr so that he could compile the Quranic material in perfect copies. The early copy prepared by Abu Bakr served as the principal basis of the new one. He asked Zaid Bin Thabit again and a few other companions of the Prophet to rewrite the manuscript in perfect copies.

When it had been completed, Uthman sent the perfect copy to each major city like Makkah, Madinah, Damascus , Kufah and Basrah.

Uthman then proceeded to burn any other copies other than this final copy. Although the action was quite drastic, it was for the betterment and the harmony of the whole Muslim community. Uthman's action had also been unanimously approved by the companions of the Prophet.

Uzbekistan - Holy Koran Mushaf of Othman

The final copy that had been perfectly compiled by Uthman can still be seen until today. The copy that Uthman had sent to Madina was removed by the Turkish authorities to Istanbul . The treaty of Versailles contains the following clause:

"'Article 246: Within six months from the coming into force of the present Treaty, Germany will restore to His Majesty, King of Hedjaz, the original Koran of Caliph Othman, which was removed from Madina by the Turkish authorities and is stated to have been presented to the ex-Emperor William II"." [Fred L. Israel, Major Peace Treaties of Modern History, New York, Chelsea House Pub., Vol. II, p. 1418]

The copy reached Tashkent in 1924 and it remains there until today. Visit the link below to see the news and UNESCO reports about the copy.

Tashkent's hidden Islamic Relic [click]

Uzbekistan - Holy Koran Mushaf of Othman (UNESCO) [click]

THEY SAID…

Sir William Muir in Life of Mohamet said, "There is probably no other book in the world which has remained twelve centuries (now fourteen) with so pure a text".

In Geschichte des Qorans (History of the Quran), the book written by Theodore Noeldeke, Friedrich Schwally (who had helped Noeldeke) had mentioned in the book, "As far as the various pieces of revelation are concerned, we may be confident that their text has been generally transmitted exactly as it was found in the Prophet's legacy."

I hope that this simple explanation and chronology of the history and background of the Quran would help my brothers and sisters from other religions to have a quick understanding about the Quran. I have tried my best not to burden readers with heavy historical facts and quotes. More personal research and endeavor are greatly encouraged for those who would like to gain more information than what I have shared here.

Galileo Galilei said, "All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them."

Mencari Makna

[1] My Dear Friend
I have been receiving quite a number of question asking me who is her. Maybe to the fact that most of people here are somewhat related to each other, having someone considered 'new' to their eyes will spark some interest. he he he.. I guess it is the time for me to introduce another friend of mine to you all.

Cik As.
(Minta kebenaran ya..cik punya badan, promote sket:P)

We met in 2003/2004 (i cant remember the year) in a routine of 3 months-once- a-week-class of interfaith class. Cik As is not a person from the same school, university, company or home town with me.

We strengthen our friendship relationship through enhancement classes, chatting, changing of ideas on net, towards blogging. I was so excited and happy (and still actually) when she informed her wish to join bloggers, as i think she has a lot in her mind that is valuable to be shared. I am never wrong on this part actually, because (now it seems i declared it publicly:P) i love the way she writes and present her writings. one of the person that makes me enjoy reading her words, and always waiting for her updates.

In a way, i observed she and Pn Hany shared the same value. Who said engineers cannot express their feeling well, because these two ladies tell they are different from the generalization assumption. Oh, yes ladies. I also think that you too can be good friends. ;)

Lain2 tu rasanya , biarlah cik punya badan yang ceritakan. Rajin2lah melawat dia di situ.. Ya Cik As, kenal2kanlah diri.. mereka semua ni peramah. tak makan org. eheheh

[2] Mencari Makna Dalam Diri
"Tidak dijadikan jin dan manusia kecuali untuk beribadat kepada Allah SWT"

The last few days i felt like i just awaken from a long dream. I knew that i was not dreaming all this time, i knew i was awake. It is just that suddenly you have this kind of feeling, and it goes like *blink*. And i started to ask question that i have not asked myself for years. "What am i?".

I am lost.

I guess i am going to start my journey soon, to find my way, to search for myself.
I hope i will find my destination soon.

Mencari makna dalam diri. Mencari makna dalam jiwa.



[3] Alert
How do i supposed to know if someone needs my update or if it is ok i don't update for a while? Just like i used to be... Sometimes i will ignore my own blog visiting others blogs, one day they do not update their blogs and i said if they are all right, when later i figured out people indirectly in their emails or conversations or sms inform me if i have 'retired' from blogging. The shoutbox has been blocked. I have no intention to replace it at the moment. So, in case i have been idle for a long time and you wish to see some updates would you please shout at my comment box and i will try to scratch my mind to share anything with you?

[4] Updates on Life
I will be having a business workshop one-week next week in Putrajaya, going to stay there through out the week... Really hoping i will be able to motivate myself back after the event. So, any good suggestion to do there? :D

Missing him

"Yom, Jom!"

That will be one of his favourite quotes at all time, for me.
I would have to call him everyday, or else if he is the one who called me, i will be disturbed by at least 3-4 times a day. So, if i were the one to start first, we will talk at most once a day, or seldomly max twice a day.

I did traveled every week just to see him. Especially when he made the phone call and call my name with the soft sound "Yom..." ; and i felt like flying to him now and then. Now, i barely had enough time to go back seeing him.

I enjoyed very much hearing stories he keeps on repeating my name at home when he is playing by himself. I played hide and seek with him, over the phone and he did actually searching for me when the people around him asked him what he is looking for by leaving the phone there. (ha ha ha).

His loves for airplane started with me. He associates anything on plane on me. So does the sea and the sky, and Ultraman, and Shreek and CalCium! He talks on fish with me. He imitates my words, he repeats sounds i made, he shouts telling my mom i'm back when he sees me at the front door. He eats what i eat, make my mom confused because he usually does not want to eat it. He sleeps like me (when i was small:P).

And today he is TWO.
Yes, i am missing him today.

Long Leave

Had 4 consecutive days on leave make me wish to have another 4..
uhuu...

Ayat-Ayat Cinta

Ya, saya kira tak sedikit bertanya soalan serupa bilamana kami (termasuk mak fahri dan kembar nya) bercerita tentang Ayat-Ayat Cinta.. Nak tahu best ke tidak, kenalah baca bukunya. Banyak yang boleh dipelajari juga...

Kami masih menanti dengan debaran bagaimana AAC The Movie pula nanti, walaupun debaran itu tidak sekuat debaran menanti siapakah yang bakal menerajui menjadi ahli kabinet negara. ** Cuma saya kira debaran itu bertambah kurang kerana dapat melihat versi uncut, bererti masih belum selesai lagi produksinya.. terima kasih buat (penyedut utama) ibu aina; dan transit penyedut lain ibu Asmah . Tanpa mereka, tiadalah kami2 dapat mengurangkan kepenatan bercerita mengenainya dan menunggu bila akan masuk ke Malaysia.

Apa-apa pun, kata ibu2 di atas mereka tetap mahu pergi menonton bersama2 hehhehe.. Dan, seperti dijangkakan akhirnya saya sudah menonton AAC The Movie version uncut setelah entah berapa minggu hari di tangan. Seharusnya, kerana saya melihat kedua-duanya versi yang berlainan. Jadi saya sangat sukakan novel, dan boleh menerima filemnya. (Dalam novel, Ayat-Ayat Cinta yang dimaksudkan adalah ayat-ayat Tuhan dari alQuran yang penuh dengan kecintaanNya kepada makhluk2nya juga muslim yang mana sangat menyentuh hati jika benar2 menghayatinya:) )

Dannn..
Bahagian paling istimewa untuk saya dalam dialog itu:

Kata Maria, "Senang ya, kalau kita bertemu dengan jodoh, yang diberikan Tuhan dari langit"
Kata Fahri, "Bukan dari langit, tapi dari hati..."

Kalau kaum ibu bersuara mahu pergi, jangan tinggalkan saya ya!

p/s: Aida, i am somewhat agree with you need to bring tissue next time. he he he

Notes:
** I have promised myself tonight not to touch on political issue. So i will reserve it this time as most bloggers already share their thoughts. Do check it out around. Anyway, just a two-cents thought.. If previously we don't care and believe in our media main streams, why do we have to show much concern to them right now when it is proven that the previous government was not doing the right things?

selamat malam semua. selamat bermimpikan yang baik-baik.

Penyejuk Hati

Buat diri2 yang resah, juga ditimpa pelbagai perkara..
Pengubat jiwa.. Penyejuk hati..

Surah Ali ‘Imran: 14 – 17.

3: 14:

Dijadikan indah pada (pandangan) manusia kecintaan kepada apa-apa yang diingini, iaitu: wanita-wanita, anak-anak, harta yang banyak dari jenis emas, perak, kuda pilihan, binatang-binatang ternak dan sawah ladang. Itulah kesenangan hidup di dunia; dan di sisi Allah-lah tempat kembali yang baik.

3:15:

Katakanlah: ”inginkah aku khabarkan kepadamu apa yang lebih baik dari yang demikian itu?”. Untuk orang-orang yang bertakwa (kepada Allah), pada sisi Tuhan mereka ada syurga yang mengalir di bawahnya sungai-sungai; mereka kekal di dalamnya. Dan (mereka dikurniakan) isteri-isteri yang disucikan serta keredhaan Allah; Dan Allah Maha Melihat akan hamba-hamba-Nya.

3:16:

Iaitu orang-orang yang berdoa, ”Ya Tuhan kami, sesungguhnya kami telah beriman, maka ampunilah segala dosa kami dan peliharalah kami dari seksa neraka”

3:17:

Iaitu orang-orang yang sabar, yang benar, yang tetap ta’at, yang menafkahkan hartanya (di jalan Allah) dan yang memohon ampun di waktu sahur..

Granted Wish

I am not sure who wishes for this; because i am half-hearted on it.
Since i just came back from a long break, i do wish to do a lot of things in the office.
But..
Another plan came in. I'll be in KL for the next 2 weeks.
So i will be seeing KL's buildings and cars soon.

thus i will prolong the next updates (esp. on the trip) to quite sometimes.

ok..now u can book my lunch times.
or tea-time, or dinner..can be considered.
so, who's first?:P