How sad and lonely it must have been, sitting there, waiting for it’s recipient to come and get it. I’m so sorry, I really am. There must have been an avalanche of mail during its arrival, and no thank you to my disorganised housemates, it was buried under a mess of envelopes, brochures, and advertising pamphlets.

As you can see, the postcard was dated 15^th November, and she sent it to wish me Eid Adha, which is now too late. Nevertheless, I was overjoyed on finding her card! My full name and address have been smudged (using photo editing software, not on the original card) to protect my privacy. FINALLY, somebody actually returns a postcard to me. Thank you, my dear friend.

I miss you.

There isn’t any huge celebration here on campus and I’m not sure if the little mosque in town is celebrating it big, no meat, no feast but I was still enthusiastic enough to rock my national dress on campus today.

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It is one of the biggest celebration for the Muslim society but it seems not many people here are aware of it. It makes me miss the atmosphere back home when everybody regardless of race or religion, knows what special occasion the day is, whether it is Deepavali, Eid Adha, Eid Fitri, Gong Xi Fa Cai or Christmas. I know the Malaysian Muslims are celebrating it big in London today with Qurban (sacrificial ) meat distributed today or tomorrow.

What is Eid Adha? Eid Adha marks the day when Prophet Ibrahim showed faith in God by following His instructions to sacrifice his own son, but God rewarded him by substituting his son for a Qibasy (desert sheep?) at the very last minute just before the knife slit the son’s throat. Obviously the Prophet was slightly reluctant to do it in the beginning (he isn’t a heartless person, would you cut your own son’s neck?) but it was a test of faith for him. The Muslims celebrate this day by slaughtering livestocks such as goat, sheep, cows, or even camels for distribution among the poor and the rest of the Muslim community.

The story behind this may seem morbid, but it was actually a good lesson to all of us. Family holds just as much importance as your religion. Abandon your family for religion is a big NO-NO. As well as vice-versa. God is not asking for us to devote 110% of us to him. At best he only asks for 50% (do your daily prayers, read the Quran, etc) and the rest is up to your discretion to use wisely. The occasion also calls for community bonding, as you will need a good team of people to organise the slaughtering and distribution of meat.

Religion is not all about God. It’s about life, and how you live it.

Cheers!

i’ll be away from tomorrow till friday.

my mission is to take some pictures.

stay tuned!

©Muhammad Fitri

©Muhammad Fitri

©Muhammad Fitri

©Muhammad Fitri

Hey yo folks. I am in the mood of texture. My blog is nothing useful, no information, just about my daily update. This picture was taken during a short walk with Mr. Wazari, my teacher. I was shocked that I didn’t asked any question about photoshop and editing or camera. We talked the most about our life.’ I don’t need to ask questions, I just need some inspiration’, by Wazari Wazir when he posted his picture with Steve McCurry. So, here are my latest pictures. It’s actually a lot, but I love to compare my work to you all. I cannot upload it at flickr because I am not a ‘pro’. And I just crossed the limit for the pictures upload capacity.

Enjoy it.

Feel free to visit my flickr page.

]]> http://hanazuhair.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-missing-egypt-in-eid-in-between-the-upper-and-the-lower-classes/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:36:54 +0000 hanazuhair http://hanazuhair.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-missing-egypt-in-eid-in-between-the-upper-and-the-lower-classes/ The Egyptian society has always been characterized with a classist attitude, in which two societies dominate the nation. Many analysts claim that the Middle class is vanishing, putting the country in a serious situation, where the communication between both sub-societies seems inexistent.

By Hana Zuhair

Friday morning, at 6:55 am, all Egyptian Muslims were going out of their homes, to go attend the Eid prayer, united in prayer lines yet separated after, where everyone go celebrate their holiday according to their social class.

Little chocolate skinned, 11 year-old Aya Essam, daughter of a doorman, celebrated her Eid in Baheira, a coastal governorate in Egypt.  Located in the north of the country, El Beheira is like the country-side in America, where the residents are much different than those of the city’s.

Despite her fathers work in Giza city, every Eid her family of seven, travel to meet up with relatives and extended family. It’s a tradition long forgotten by the upper class strata.

Essam bought her Eid clothes for 50 EGP, less than 10 USD, an amount of money so little in value to cover the breakfast outing of an upper class individual. She showed off with her little beige blazer with a matching corduroy skirt, which she wore with an old brown headscarf she owned.

“My dad bought me this outfit, I really like it,” said Essam innocently. 

Essam played with her relatives after the prayer beside her family home in Behiera, she enjoyed it with so little money. She always try to enjoy life through little money, sometimes she would go help with her mother in cleaning houses near by the building her father works at. Essam may wash some dishes and clean some rooms to get 5 extra Egyptian pounds, about a dollar.

If Essam is lucky she may get some old clothes or toys from the people she helps with cleaning.

A Different Celebration, different Eid?

Miles away in Cairo , Mohamed Hossam and ten of his friends prayed the Eid prayer at the Shooting Club, a private club, which requires a membership of access, the membership is unaffordable to the majority of Egyptian population.

After the prayer, they went to Tabasco Coffee Shop in Zamalek, an upper class neighborhood. Hossam had the Breakfast Express, a delicious plate with French toast, hash brown, omelet with melted cheese and sausage. A breakfast that kind of became a tradition to Hossam and his friends. They all enjoyed the brunch and a good laugh, then went to the movies, and watched Couples Retreat, starring Vince Vaughn.

Hossam after went to his grandmother to have the traditional Eid lunch, Fata, a mixture of meat, rice and little pieces of bread.

The Eid outing cost each of Hossam’s friends 100 EGP, around 20 USD, while a doorman as Essam’s father receives a 400 EGP salary, 73 USD, per month.

Many say the difference between the way Essam and Hossam celebrated their Eid, is a concrete example of the widening economic division within Egypt. In a nation plagued by inflation as high as 20.2%, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow larger.

Social and Economic Strata in Egypt

The gap between social classes in Egypt has been ever growing due to this troubled economic situation, causing a nation with two opposing life styles and perceptions. Moreover, this economy made Egypt a nation of two segregated populations, that of the rich and that of the poor, with very few in the middle.

Sherihan El Etreby, 21 years old, coming from a financially well-off family, feels sympathetic with less fortunate people, however, she recognizes that communicating with them is really minimal.

She would talk with her maid and ask her what she is doing, yet she knows she wouldn’t become a friend with her, since she realizes they are very different mentally and socially.

“It is not that I don’t want to deal with them, but usually I deal with people that are more like me, people that I have something in common with,” said El Etreby.

El Etreby also said she feels judged when communicating with anyone from a different social class, and this is because they feel exploited all the time.

“They are oppressed, so when they approach us they deal with us and view us as spoiled and superficial people, however you try to show them the opposite it is still the same,” said El Etreby.

El Etreby doesn’t blame people for the misconceptions, yet she blames the surrounding circumstances.

Back To Essam

Little Essam wishes to have more clothes and a bigger home than the one-bedroom she currently lives in with the rest of her family. Sometimes she would sleep beside the room in the basement of the building due to the hot weather, just for a breeze of some air.

Nonetheless, Essam enjoyed her new Eid outfit and wore with a wide proud smile.

©Muhammad Fitri

Hey readers, long time no post. I am not busy actually, just doesn’t have the mood to post anything. Today Friday, I miss my wordpress. And I have to post something. Okay, start with Happy Eid Adha to the muslims, I know it’s late. Nevermind lar. Here are some pictures I took during the morning of Eid Adha. Actually there’s a lot but lazy to upload it. Sorry lar readers.

©Muhammad Fitri

Allahu akbar wa lillahil hamd.. Eid mubarak. Kullu ‘am wa antum bi khair. Safiyyah sekeluarga mendoakan agar barisan pejuang di jalan Allah make it a little newborn, makcik kantin, pakcik sapu jalan, ammu pam minyak, achik jaga kaunter resepsi, atok yang berkorban di perbatasan dan nenek yang menanti kepulangan cucunya agar senantiasa istiqamah dalam memberikan pengorbanan terbaik buat ummah ini.

Dari izzah seorang dai’e, Safiyyah katakan bahawa diri ummah seluruhnya lebih kami cintai dari diri kami..

As lama Safiyyah tak berceloteh.. so sikit-sikit dulu la deh.. Laa ni celik dari tidur, balik dari taska Safiyyah dok  layan siri video Islami ni.. nak dedikasi untuk adik

Hmm.. as the topics says, tahniah buat Ummi. Rezeki adik agaknya. Rezeki Safiyyah last time, ummi dapat pindah duduk ngan abi . Allah dah cipta rezeki pelbagai untuk kita. Kita je yang terkadang rasa tak pernah cukup. Then, menjadikan kita kurang bersyukur.. Huhu. Apapun terngiang ayat yang abi sedang duk refresh laa ni. Muga ianya tak jadikan kita insan yang makin lupa akan tanggungjawab kewujudan kita ya ummi…

atau siapa Dia Yang dapat memberi rezeki kepada kamu jika Allah menahan rezekiNya? (tidak ada sesiapapun), bahkan mereka (yang musyrik itu) kekal terus Dalam keadaan sombong angkuh serta melarikan diri (dari kebenaran). [QS 67:21]

Ummi..

Allah kasi 44 dan Allah uji dengan pizza… Kita tunggu pizza kat syurga lah mi ya Mesti Allah kasik topping kaw-kaw punya.. Tak sabor! InsyaAllah adik faham tu..

Kepada Allah jua selayaknya pujian..

Salam dari perantauan,

SKKR
Eid Adha  1430H

For me, my love story is very personal and I don’t think that it is nice to tell it publicly. And I don’t think the person that I love would be pleasure to know that I shared our love story with people around the world.

Eh. What should I call him in this virtual medium? Of course I don’t want to directly expose his name – real name. Ah. Let’s think of something that I like the most and best fit in him. …… (Thinking!) …..

Okay. I prefer to call him ‘Oligo’ because I kinda like Oligo drink. It tastes real good. Ah. Talking about Oligo, have you ever eat the new oat crackers from Munchy’s? It is awesome! I love it very much! The tastes is heaven! =)

That’s all for today. For those who accidentally read my blog, thank you! I really appreciate your visits here. Hope you all enjoy reading! Till then!

P / S : Happy Eid Adha!

There are two new pages if you haven’t noticed…

Image of the Whenever & Wallpapers

…

I’ve uploaded new content today so check it out… If you have any ideas for content for either one of the two pages feel free to share with me… If you liked any of the wallpapers they are free to download as your desktop wallpaper… and the images of the whenever, well, I really don’t know why I’m doing them… but anyone is free to contribute…

…

Islamic Post Staff Writer

On a quiet, winter morning in the rural Muslim village of Holy Islamberg in upstate Hancock, New York, residents and visitors from throughout the United States and Canada gingerly navigated the icy paths to the village’s mosque. By the time most arrived, the once chilly air was noticeably warm and mild sunshine shone through overcast skies.
On this morning in December, 2008, Muslims throughout the world gathered to commemorate Eidul Adha, the festivities marking the end of the Hajj season, the Muslims pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The serene village, headquarters of the International Qur’anic Open University (IQOU) and the United Muslim Christian Forum was founded in November 1984 by His Eminence, Imam El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani as a settlement, an environment better suited for raising a God-fearing family than was the inner cities from where a number of the residents had migrated.
The commemoration began with a message of world peace delivered by Naib Imam Muhammad Ibrahim Qadri, which was followed by congregational prayer. Following the prayer, men hurried to perform their qurbani, the sacrifice of cattle, whose meat is then distributed to the poor. This sacrifice was done by the Father of the Muslims, Christians, and Jews- the Holy Messenger, Abraham. Others proceeded to breakfast, which was served before the commencement of the coming festive events.
Eids are known for scrumptious Islamic cuisine and these lived up to their billing. Not only was the Qurbani cooked, but each house opened its doors with additional delicacies. Adding to the numerous exotic dishes were the meals from two walimahs (wedding feasts), to which all were invited.
The day’s activities included a concert and talent show featuring Mrs. Shamailah Ismail, the internationally renowned vocalist and Queen of Islamic Melodies, as well as the exhilarating, popular Islamic song group, Ansaaruddeen, among a number of aspiring talents.
Residents and visitors alike seized the opportunity to visit the Holy Khanqah Awliah Qadria Gilaniya, located upon the village hilltop. It is there that Allah, the One Almighty Creator, chose to manifest His Personal Name in luminous, white pulsating Arabic letters- as well as the name of His Holy Last Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) and vibrant rainbows on the ceilings and walls of the small structure. All who visit and worship will benefit in every sense from the Divine Karamah that Allah manifested there.
Some chose to spend the night with family and friends, looking forward to partaking in worship at the sacred site. An Islamic wedding with all its tradition was scheduled for the  afternoon of the next day. The gaiety would serve as a joyful and rewarding conclusion to the season’s festivities.

LabbaikAllahumma Labbaik !!

Hari ini, barisan jemaah haji menyahut panggilan Allah SWT, menunaikan wukuf di padang Arafah, salah satu rukun ibadah haji yang mana jika tidak dapat dilaksanakan, makanya sia-sialah akan keberangkatan mereka ke tanah suci pada tahun itu. Amalan memperbanyakkan zikrullah dan memohon keampunan daripada Yang Maha Pencipta terutamanya pada hari ini dan kemudiannya pada hari tasyrik banyak kedapatan dan telah juga disebut dalam Al-Quran,

Maka apabila kamu telah bertolak dari Arafah, berzikirlah kepada Allah di Masy`arilharam. Dan berzikirlah (dengan menyebut) Allah sebagaimana yang ditunjukkan-Nya kepadamu; dan sesungguhnya kamu sebelum itu benar-benar termasuk orang-orang yang sesat. Kemudian bertolaklah kamu dari tempat bertolaknya orang-orang banyak (Arafah) dan mohonlah ampun kepada Allah; sesungguhnya Allah Maha Pengampun lagi Maha Penyayang. [2:198-199]

Bicara tentang Eid Adha pastinya tidak pernah melepaskan kita untuk turut mengenang kisah kurban dan pengorbanan dua insan mulia, Ibrahim dan Ismail alaihissalam. Akan pasti terngiang di halwa telinga kita betapa hebatnya hamba Allah yang mulia ini dalam konteks ketaatan mereka yang tiada berbelah bahagi terhadap perintah Allah SWT. Bahkan, saya kira tidak keterlaluan jika dikatakan para pembaca sudah amat masak dan sinonim dengan cerita ini, yang akhirnya melahirkan golongan yang berlumba-lumba mengorbankan peliharaan mereka tatkala Eid Adha menjelang, lantaran berkongsi aspirasi yang sama tentang ertikata pengorbanan. Alhamdulillah.

Namun, bicara Editor kali ini cuba menyingkap perihal ibrah dan pengajaran dari  ibadah mulia ini melalui sudut pandang yang jarang diperbahaskan. Ketaatan hamba Allah Ibrahim a.s. amat ketara. Thiqah baginda pada jalan da’wah memberi faham pada kita, golongan terkemudian ini bahawasanya agama ini menuntut perjuangan yang tidak boleh disukat dengan ilmu matematika moden. Reaksi spontan Ismail a.s. kemudiannya diterjemahkan sebagai keperibadian unggul seorang anak terhadap perintah bapanya. Saling kaitan langsung antara seorang ayah dan anaknya dalam rangka menjelmakan episod saling membantu mencorakkan ketakwaan mereka kepada Allah SWT.

Ke mana hilang jejak peranan hawa? Ada sesuatu yang perlukan lebih ketelitian. Perhatikan suasana yang melatari peristiwa ini. Siapa gerangannya insan hebat yang membayangi peribadi dua insan Nabi Allah ini. Jarang kedengaran namanya tidak memungkinkan yang kelibat dan peranannya hanya sekadar picisan. Siti Hajar. Peribadi segah namanya. Nabi Allah Ibrahim a.s. berdo’a agar mereka dikurniakan zuriat dan Ismail a.s hadir sebagai kurniaan Allah setelah satu penantian. Namun, kerja da’wah Nabi Ibrahim a.s. memaksa baginda meninggalkan Siti Hajar dan Ismail di tanah kering kontang. Baru hendak bersua dan mengenal mesra, terpaksa ditinggal si kecil Ismail a.s. Begitulah kehidupan kecil Nabi Allah Ismail a.s.

Justeru. Masakan mungkin anak sekecil ini mempunyai keperibadian sebegini unggul. Ditinggalkan ayahnya sehelai sepinggang barangkali. Dibesarkan oleh ibunya dalam keadaan serba kekurangan. Tidak merasa kehangatan belaian dan ketegasan seorang yang bergelar ayah. Seribu satu sebab untuk si kecil ini memberontak dan membesar sebagai orang yang punya konflik peribadi. Malah, tidak semena, tika punyai kesempatan bersua ayah kesayangan, disapa pula berita yang dia harus menjadi korban!!

Mungkin ada segelintir para ibu hari ini yang mengapikan anak-anak tentang perihal ketidaktanggungjawaban ayahnya atau mungkin setidaknya memperburuk imej ayah tatkala diperlaku sedemikian rupa. Lebih buruk jika mereka yang hidup dalam keluarga dai’e. Kurang atau enggan memahami dengan jelas perilaku si suami yang menuntut pengorbanan lebih di medan da’wah. Lantas, ketiadaan sang ayah dijadikan asbab segalanya.

“Mak, abah kemana. Sehari along tak nampak?” tanya si anak, mengharap jawapan.

“Camtulah bapak ko, keluar tetiap malam. Usrah konon, didik anak orang, anak sendiri dilupa”, ujar si ibu dalam emosi.

Lantas si anak memusuhi ayah. Turut sama menjadi mangsa, karier si ayah yang keluar berdakwah di jalan Allah. Persepsi anak, kerja seperti ini hanya membazir masa dan penyebab keruntuhan rumahtangga. Natijahnya, kerukunan rumahtangga menjadi gadaian dan agenda keterusan dakwah termati tidak bernoktah.

Makanya. Wahai kaum ibu. Contohilah wanita ini. Kisahnya terlalu sedikit dinukilkan oleh mata pena. Namun, cukuplah sekadar apa yang saya cuba utarakan. Tidak mungkin Ismail a.s. dengan rela hati menyerahkan tubuhnya pada seorang ayah yang  jarang-jarang mendakap dan mengucup erat dirinya, jika tidak kerana didikan wanita ini. Omongan sebelum tidur barangkali, bicara jalanan mungkinnya atau bisa sahaja bahas serius tentang perihal ayahnya yang sangat hebat. Mendidik anak tentang ayah dan kesucian ruang kerjanya yang mengajak manusia mentaati Allah, dengan sesekali mengangkat dan memuji imej ayah dihadapan anak pasti sahaja bisa melahirkan rasa hormat yang mendalam. Ketiadaan ayah di hadapan mata tidak seharusnya mendatangkan masalah untuk kaum ibu memprojeksikan imej rabbani maya sang ayah yang tekun, berani dan luhur menyebar risalah mulia ini. Nah, pastinya si anak akan saban hari menantikan saat bila ketemu bapa si perwira hatinya.

Contengan kali ini kelihatan agak panjang, namun pengajarannya amat jelas. Hari raya Korban mendatangkan satu seruan yang tidak kurang hebat untuk si ibu. Kaum ibu punyai peranan yang besar. Pendidik semulajadi nombor satu!! Gerak kerja dibelakang tabir ini mungkin tidak mampu menabalkan anda dengan pelbagai hadiah mahupun gelaran hormat, tapi yang pastinya ia telahpun berupaya mencetak perwira-perwira ummah silih berganti. Kisah pengorbanan Siti Hajar yang diabadikan lewat ibadah Sai’e mewajarkan golongan para ibu mendokong tanggungjawab ini dengan penuh sedar. Buat pria dakwah yang mahu mendiri rumah tangga saat cuti sekolah ini, pastikan anda telah memilih ibu yang terbaik untuk bakal-bakal penyambung usaha murni anda.

Justeru, wahai kaum ibu. ibadah qurban masih relevan dengan peranan anda. Buat si anak, sanjungilah kaum Ibu. Buat si ayah mahupun bakal ayah, pastikan ibu anak anda berupaya menjejak kemuliaan Siti Hajar !!

Di kesempatan ini, saya sekeluarga mengucapkan Selamat Menyambut Eid Adha untuk semua kaum muslimin dan muslimat. Moga tahun yang mendatang menyaksikan lebih banyak pengorbanan dari kita. Eid Mubarak, Taqabbalallahu minna wa minkum!!!

Allahu’alam,

Abu Safiyyah,
9 Dzulhijjah 1429 Hijriyah. 

In the world of those that can feel no shame, the night Eid was stolen was just another night. They stood as witness at a perfectly sealed Egypt-Gaza border, and made sure that the Custodian of the Holy Shrines could enjoy a sword-dance with the cowboy that violated the Arab’s dignity in Iraq and elsewhere.

Déjà vu? Yes, but not for the first time, and it won’t be for the last. That is fit only for a nation united in ignorance, submission, and disgrace.

The late Saadallah Wannous would have said to the children of Gaza and Iraq and other parts of the nation: “We are bound by hope, and what is happening in the world today can not be the end of history.”

And hope they can never steal.

Happy Eid to everyone.

May Allah accept your good deeds and all your wishes come true.

I was informed that our surau is not doing any qurban this year. Apparently everybody is really doing their part in saving our country into recession. Frugality at its best. My wife, as usual will cook her favourite rendang, using her secret recipe and we will enjoy our Raya with relatives and close friends.
From last year’s album – Young apprentices and seasoned helpers, everybody was in the mood and get ready for the slaughter
Checking if everything was in order, and the qurban is securely and safely handled
Big galleries, witnessing the process. At the same time giving the morale support.One for the album. The most veterans did not want to miss this annual event
Another rivalry contender nextdoor doing the same deed. One..two ..three
Skinned the qurban for later distribution.And finally it end up like this. Yummy…

The Eid header shows my cousins Mohammed and Zainab, and my brother Hadi, playing and having fun during the same time last year.

Dua juta jemaah wukuf di Arafah: LAUTAN manusia yang berpakaian putih memenuhi jalan raya enam lorong untuk berhimpun di Padang Arafah semalam untuk berwukuf sebagai menandakan kemuncak kepada ibadat haji yang melengkapkan Rukun Islam kelima. Mereka mula bergerak ke timur Makkah tengah hari kelmarin sama ada dengan berjalan kaki, menaiki bas atau kenderaan lain dari Mina atau kawasan lain menuju ke tempat perhimpunan utama umat Islam itu. Solat Zuhur dan khutbah di Masjid Namera adalah acara utama sebagai mengingati apa yang dilakukan Nabi Muhammad dari bukit itu pada tahun kewafatan beliau pada 632 Masihi. Padang Arafah juga adalah tempat dipertemukan Nabi Adam dan Hawa serta tempat pertama di bumi di mana Allah menerima taubat umatnya.