Psst. I’ll be participating in Sew Mama Sew’s December Giveaway Day this year. You should too. It’s tons of fun. *nods*

I’m also giving away some kitchen-y cuteness over at Making the World Cuter. It looks like Tiffany has got a lot of great people lined up already. Swing over to sign up yourself or for a chance to win starting November 30th.

…
gue pikir gue udah tahu bahaya kesehatan apa yang mungkin gue hadapi, yaitu gangguan ginjal, karena gue emang rada males minum ( terutama kalau ‘tidak berwarna’ he he.)

ternyata…

ceritanya :

tadi pagi memberanikan dan membulatkan tekad untuk ikut serta mendonorkan darah. dari dulu udah penasaran… – harusnya ini cara yang mudah untuk dapet keuntungan ganda… beramal sambil menyehatkan diri – tetapi ga pernah terealisasi karena… tanpa penjelasan resmi dari mana pun, udah langsung percaya sama ‘kata orang’ kalau mengidap hipotensi ga boleh mendonor.

ummm, mungkin setengah merasa lega juga sih… ga harus melihat darah gue berpindah dari pembuluh ke kantong literan itu – honestly, it’s quite scary. he he he

tetapi tadi pagi… gue bener2 bulad tekhad… dengan stengah ragu gue muncul di ruang serba guna kantor tempat kegiatan donor darah diadakan… ngisi daftar hadir, ngisi form, ngantri di meja periksa…

begitu dipanggil… rupanya periksa kadar haemoglobin dulu… dan TESSssssss…. mesin pemindai menunjukkan angka 11.7

“Wah, sekarang belum boleh ni Mbak… Hb nya rendah…”, kata si ibu mantri

dengan sedikit bingung gue mencari kepastian bahwa kata-kata si ibu adalah vonis kalau gue memang ga bisa ikutan mendonor.

….

SO…
inilah kenyataan berikutnya yang menyadarkan gue untuk harus lebih memperhatikan kondisi fisik.
gue jadi ngerti
- kenapa dari dulu gue ga kuat kalau lari keliling lapangan Merdeka (di Balikpapan)
- kenapa gue lebih cepet ‘kehabisan nafas’
- kenapa cukup kerap orang-orang menyangka gue sedang sakit karena terlihat lebih pucat
- bisa jadi selama ini kemauan gue mungkin lebih berperan daripada kemampuan fisik
- bisa jadi ini yang menyebabkan gue harus meneruskan test treadmill yang sudah beberapa kali direkomendasikan dokter

sebenarnya alhamdulillah, sampai hari ini gue tidak pernah mengalami pingsan walaupun tekanan darah gue sering menunjukkan angka di bawah 100.
alhamdulillah, sampai kemarin gue udah melakukan kegiatan fisik yang sebenernya dalam kategori berat tapi gue masih kuat : menyelam, hunting kemana-mana dengan ‘pikulan’ yg lumayan, … bahkan naik gunung… belum lagi kemarinnya sering banget memforsir diri kerja sampai larut (deeeuh, dedikasi amat?!)

tetapi fakta pagi ini gue ga bisa abaikan lagi; dan gue sudah harus lebih cermat mengingat usia juga sudah bertambah…

Mulai hari ini
- gue mau cari info sebanyak mungkin tentang anemia dan pencegahannya
- gue akan cari waktu untuk treadmill test
- gue harus istirahat lebih banyak dan tidak begadangan lagi
- gue harus konsumsi makanan sehat dan suplemen penambah darah
- gue harus ngurangin ngupi-ngupi
- gue boleh MAKAN KAMBING lebih banyak daripada orang-orang lain
- gue harus memastikan kondisi gue membaik sebelum melakukan aktivitas-aktivitas fisik berat lagi
- teteup… wajib minum air putih yang banyakkkkk

ada saran lain…?

Modern Oracle Tarot will be closed Nov 25-29 for Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S.

Happy Harvestime, and abundance to all!

as taken from http://www.jannah.org/articles/letter.html

 the words in lilac were highlighted by me 

 Letter to a Muslim

Student

Sayyed Hassan Al Banna

 [Hassan al Banna was born in 1906 in Egypt into a family of scholars. In 1928, he formed Ikhwan al Muslimeen (the Muslim Brotherhood organization). This movement for the revival of Islam soon spread across Egypt and the region. In December 1948, the Muslim Brotherhood organization was suppressed and thousands of its members arrested. Hassan al Banna was spared arrest only to be assassinated in February 1949. Letter to a Muslim Student is the English translation of a letter that Hassan al Banna wrote to one of his students that was studying in the West. The sincere advice contained in this letter is drawn from the perennial values and ethos of Islam. It reminds the addressee and indeed all Muslims that the first and foremost goal in a Muslims life is to please God and live in accordance to His sacred law. Also, it brings home that studying ought not to be an end in itself or for seeking material gain. A Muslim ought to excel in his or her study in order to work for Islam and benefit humanity.] 

 My brother in Islam (who may Allah guard and protect). I praise Allah for there is no god but Him. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, who was sent as a mercy to all of humanity, upon his family, companions and on all those who hold fast to the Shariah until the Day of Judgement.

 May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you when you travel with a proper intention and a noble purpose, and when you return with a sound endeavor and to a dedicated cause.

 May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you as you serve Islam with the finest fruits of science and the best of knowledge.

 Dearest brother, you will be amongst people you have not known before and characters you are not accustomed to. In you they will see the example of a Muslim. So make sure they see in you the best example and the finest image, in order for them to understand that the word ‘Muslim’ embodies virtue and nobility.

 With you is a precious trust, that is your righteous wife, appreciate this. Towards her be a trustworthy companion. Provide her with comfort and happiness. Share with her felicity, without being careless in acquiring your rights and negligent in performing your duties.Read these few words that are borne out of my love and sincerity for you, as an elder brother expressing for his brother and sister the best wishes and the happiest life.

1. O my brother, excel in your observance of Allah (swt) in all your dealings. Understand that He (swt) keeps watch over you, sees you and encompasses all that is of concern to you – wherever you are. He knows the treachery of your eyes and all that your heart conceals. Strive not to let Allah (swt) see you, except that He is pleased with you.

Do not be unmindful in your observance of the One (glorified and exalted is He), otherwise Satan will infiltrate you and you will be overcome by the whispers of your whims and desires. Believe, my dearest brother, that whenever a heart is conscious of Allah’s observance, it will never be approached by Satan. However, once it departs from Allah’s awareness, evil will be attracted to it and it will be inhabited by whims and desires. So, consolidate your heart with the observance of Allah and in vigil seek refuge from your surroundings and do not be among the unmindful.

2. Perform the obligatory duties which Allah has enjoined upon you, at their appointed times. Do not neglect them by relying on performing them at a later time, because you are busy with work or resorting to other excuses for justification. This is a deception of your own self and of your own whims:

3. Spend whatever time you can in performing supererogatory works as duties of obedience. Perform the sunna prayers. Increase your appeal for forgiveness and the praising of your Glorified Lord. Remember, that ones supplication, during travel or in expatriation, will be answered; hence, increase your supplication in secret and in humility. Continue your remembrance of Allah (swt).

The Prophet (saw) advised Ali (ra) to continuously dampen his tongue in the remembrance of Allah. Do not abandon that path which leads you to nothing but duties and obedience, they are like an investment that multiply rewards. The remembrance of Allah amongst the unmindful nations is like a shining light. So make use of this time, for it is a season to harvest the rewards of the Hereafter, only for those who wish to seize the opportunities and benefit from such seasons.

4.Increase your recitation of the Glorious Quran with understanding and deliberation. It is a healing for the soul and a comfort to the heart. Designate from it a portion to read at the beginning of the day and a portion to read at the end of it, hence the best beginning and the best end.

5.In the delights of life and pleasures of the world, you will see that which inclines the heart, impresses the mind, attracts the eye and bewilders those whose spirits are weak. Do not let these seduce you away from virtue and cause you to forget the Hereafter

6. Dearest brother, what Allah has made Haram (unlawful) for us, those people consider it as Halal (lawful) for them. Hence, when they commit a Haram (unlawful) act, they will neither feel ashamed nor will they refrain from perpetrating it. You should neither agree with their whims nor mix with them in their sins. Otherwise, you will not be relieved from having to answer before Allah (swt) and it will not hold as an excuse on the Day of Judgment.

7. Do not take their girls for company, and do not let there develop between you and them, any special friendship or any emotional relationship. If this kind of socializing is a sin for those other than you, then it is a sin twice as great for you and you know well the meaning of this. Although you are known to us to be one that is trustworthy and decent, I have mentioned this to you, to caution you against the downfalls of sins so that your feet may never slip. And in your chastity let there be content and in your dignity let there be adequacy.

8. As for alcohol, do not approach it and do not use the climate as an excuse, because when Allah made it Haram (unlawful), He had full knowledge about all types of climate but did not exclude one country from another or one nation from another from this prohibition. Allah (swt) made it forbidden with neither doubt nor exception. So be aware not to let it occupy a part of your abdomen, otherwise it will remain as a black spot on its pure skin.

Be determined as much as possible before the first drink. Because once your mind is concealed by it, you will follow it by the second and third drink, whereby you will have fallen into a pit, difficult to escape from and will have incriminated yourself and others. then, even if you expiated this sin with repentance, you would still not match your original purity and superb credibility.

9. Do not taste anything in those restaurants which serve Haram (unlawful) food, like pork and dead meat. In that which is Halal (lawful) you have a substitute and enough for contentment. So do not taste the Haram (unlawful) and do not let your flesh grow on it, otherwise fire is what it deserves. Allah (swt) has prohibited that which is impure: .

10. As for casinos, night-clubs, and other such places of vanity, your time is far too precious to be wasted in them. I have looked into the saying, time is made of gold, and I do not approve of it. Time is far more precious than gold, for time is life. Is it not true that your life is nothing but a few hours and you never know when they will end? Dearest brother, be stringent with your time and do not spend it except in that which is significant, and acquire pleasure in that which is lawful.

In the heavens there is calmness and on the earth there is beauty. In the gardens there is freshness and in you there is a sign. In the sea there is might and in the air there is nourishment. Take from all this comfort for your soul and recovery for your mind. And do not waste your time by being unmindful, this will shield you from good and lead you to evil.

11. Be critical, with insight, and be just and well acquainted with people. Do not let your goodness draw you to forget their bad, and their bad hurt you to forget their goodness. Rather study them as would a researcher and an examiner. Encompass with knowledge all of their affairs, and then with an eye of insight, scrutinize it all. Present back the good that you find to your people and nation, and return with it victorious and supported. Other than that, throw it back on them and do not come back until you have dusted off your hands and emptied your mind of it all.

You will find there a group of people dishonoring your Prophet (saw), faulting your Quran and disgracing your people. Do not sit with such people, until they turn to a different theme, even if it is necessary for you to enter into a dialogue with them. Argue with them in the best manner. Explain to them the good that you know and avoid controversies that lead to hatred and sedition (fitnah).

And follow not desire that it beguile you from the way of Allah (Sad 38: 26). Understand also my dearest brother that no one draws nearer to Allah with anything more beloved to Him than performing the obligatory duties as stated in the hadith of al-Bukhari. So be aware not to neglect your obligatory duties or feel lazy in performing them; they are Allah’s right over you. Be steadfast in prayer and perfect your fast.If you are in a state of complete inability to fast, then according to the saying of Allah (swt) you have a remission:

 Fasting with hardship in the homeland of the West will earn you a valuable reward and be an asset to your account; it is pleasing to your Lord and righteous to yourself. So do not attempt to break the fast, unless you are unable to complete it. I need not advise you, any further, towards your obligatory duties, after all they are your capital. Can you imagine one who has wasted his capital, what will his state be amongst tomorrow’s profit makers?

For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. Whoever, voluntarily, does more good than is required, will find it is better for him; and that you should fast is better for you, if you only know (al-Baqara 2: 184). But be aware not to take this verse as an excuse for falling short. Do not turn your eyes covetously towards the embellishments of worldly life that We have bestowed upon various kinds of people to test them. But the clean provision bestowed upon you by your Lord is better and more enduring.

Enjoin Prayer on your household, and do keep observing it. We do not ask you for any worldly provision; rather, it is We Who provide you. The ultimate end is for piety (Ta Ha 20: 131-2).

  Be aware my dearest brother that in the sight of Allah (swt) all these pleasures weigh not even the wing of a gnat and lead neither to honor nor virtue. They are nothing but the manifestations of whims and pitfalls of seduction. So be careful not to let Satan deceive you, otherwise you will plunge into the abyss of sin and corruption.Always remember the words of Allah (swt): All pleasures brought by contemporary civilization will result in nothing other than pain. A pain that will overwhelm their enticement and remove their sweetness. So avoid the worldly aspects of these people; do not let it take over your command and deceive you, if you are to be among the successors.

Men are naturally tempted by the lure of women, children, treasures of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and plantations. These are the enjoyments in the life of this world; but with Allah lies a goodly abode to return to (Al Imran 3:14).

The Book of Allah recites these facts day and night. So do not be amongst those who favor the worldly life over the Hereafter, or amongst those deceived by the outward appearance of things without considering their essence. He enjoins upon them what is good and forbids them what is evil… (al-Araf 7: 157).

So leave that which is bad for that which is good.  Lo! You (O Mohammed) guide not whom you love, but Allah guides whom he will. And He is best aware of those who walk aright (al-Qasas 28: 56).

 Dearest brother, be aware that calling the people through practical example is far better than calling them through speech. It is far more fruitful and beneficial to use your commendable character, the perfection of yourself and your straight manner to defend and call them to your religion and nation. Whenever an opportunity arises for you to deliver a speech or a lecture at one of their meeting places or societies, prepare yourself for it. Choose that which will not stir disorder and that which will not offend integrity. Do not be apprehended by their stance, because Allah’s aid is with those who are sincere. Be positive and do not insult other people’s beliefs instead, elucidate to them their innate goodness and reveal to them our beliefs. By doing so, you will have adequately promoted awareness and incentive.

 Finally, and there is still so much for me to say and I would have loved to continue this advice with you, yet my concern is that if I prolong this discourse any more, you may forget most of what I have said; for over speaking does distract one from what is being said. For both of you then, may Allah raise you to be the best of the successors and may His safety accompany you.

May He protect both of you and return you in goodness, as is wishes by those who are sincere. I entrust to Allah your religion, your obligations and the outcome of your actions. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you. Ameen 

Salutations!

It has certainly been an eventful month!

First of all, I’d like to welcome Meister to our blog [applause!].  He is a friend of Murphys Law, and has graciously agreed to bestow  us his talents of writing to our humble blog.  We can always use more people over here, and we certainly love writers! (Heck, we all dabble in it a bit – we’re bloggers!).  It’s great to have a new addition to the cx3 Project!

Secondly, I’d like to make a special exception for this week’s meeting date.  Because CSULB will be shutting down starting Wednesday for the Thanksgiving Holiday, our week has been cut down in size to two measly days.  If you are still able to meet with your partners despite these limitations, then by all means, please do so – but otherwise, just consider this week as a vacation.

Thirdly, there is something quite major that I wanted to discuss, and could quite possibly change the format of the original proposal.

When I launched this project, I knew that there would be hurdles and limitations that each participant will encounter, namely being the lack of TIME.  I understand that most of you are pressed for time, especially now that the end of the semester is drawing near.  And with the end of the month hurdling our way at alarming speeds, it may seem impossible and hopeless to try and get together 10 sketches and concept art to hand to each other within the appropriate deadline.  And, to start a new theme next month also seems rather pointless, since it will only be three weeks until the end of the semester (and with hell week coming closer, there’s NO WAY that you’d want to have another thing to deal with).  I know these feelings all too well.

So!  With that in mind, I decided that the 3rd and 4th month of each semester will be considered as one month.  I feel that this is a good solution – instead of having to deal with the crazy amount of projects that tend to cumulate at the end of the semester AND the cx3 project – you’ll get 7 weeks to deal with one theme – and all that extra time to get your projects out of the way.

And, because of the extra time granted, I think it would be a good idea to have a “final piece” to showcase the concept work that you and your partner have been dishing out.

So, to summarize the change:

-There will be THREE themes per semester rather than four.

- The first two months will adhere to the one theme per month rule.

- The 3rd and 4th month will combined, allowing you guys extra leeway to get your school work outta the way, and still have time for this project.
The requirement for the 3/4 month is that each partner has one finalized piece (black and white or full color, it’s up to you) to hand to your partner in addition to the 10 concept sketches.

Does that sound fair?  Or do you guys have another suggestion?  Let me know!

- Heliodus

Agenda for today: breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.

The Buddha (c. 563 – c. 483 BC)
Indian spiritual teacher

So, what have you checked off on your agenda today? Perhaps, it is better to ask, what have you listed on your agenda today?

Conscious breathing brings our present into focus. For me that is exactly what observing my breathing does. Nothing fancy. “Am I breathin’ ?” is my first self query. In, out, in, out. “O.K.., I’m good for awhile”, I confirm to myself.

What is your breathe like right now? Nothing fancy?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, experiences with “nothing fancy breathing”.

Agenda for today…… (Thank you, Buddha, for your gentle reminder. Namaste,)

::Give Me Your Eyes::
Encounter#1:…

“3rd Worst Day of Her Life”

                I was standing in my usual spot behind the register, waiting for the next customer to walk through the door. The day was going slow, and boredom was setting in. Finally a car pulled up to the front of the store, a woman stepped of the car, and walked slowly into the store with a sad, lost look on her face. Noticing the look on her face, I decided I was going to make sure I made her smile during our short encounter with each other. I flashed a huge full teeth-full gummed smile, and said hello; she tried to crack a smile. Before I could say anything, she very abruptly snuck in her order of a Grande Non-fat Latte, and waited for me to give her a total. I proceeded with the transaction and watched her as she roughly dug though her purse for her credit card. While ringing her up, I made up my mind to not simply say “thanks you, have a great day”, but decided I was going to ask her how her day was going. Still with a smile on my face, and looking her straight in the eye, I asked her, and with no hesitation, very intently, she looked at me and answered that today was the 3rd worst day of her life.

         She began to speak and like a tidal wave, her words began to rush over me. I asked the question, So I was fully ready to embrace all she had to tell me. She told that this was the 3rd year in a row her husband had forgotten “their day”… their anniversary. For the past year she had felt neglected and unloved by him, and that him forgetting was the icing on the cake. She had been sitting at home alone all day trying to decided whether to shut herself in from the world, or come out and embrace it so she would forget her troubles for at least a little bit. So, she got into her car, drove and drove, and thought that Starbucks would make a good stop before returning home. After telling me about her situation, she said she needed to sit down and just think while she had her drink. I directed her to our comfy corner, and told her to let me know if she needed anything else.

            I got back to what I was doing, made some more drinks, and after about 20 minutes had passes, I heard some one call out “miss” to me, so I turned around, and it was her. I went over  assuming she needed another drink or something, but instead, I found out she just wanted to talk some more. She told me a story of the romantic life her and her husband once had, and teared up about how they used to have fun together. She missed who they used to be. … “I guess things change” she sighed. I stayed silent throughout her whole story, but when she asked me what I thought about the situation, I told her that all love isn’t lost, and even though she was hurting, there’s love that she can find comfort in. I told her that her husband may have forgotten her year after year, but that she herself hasn’t been forgotten. I didn’t even have to mention God before she interjected in and said that she’s been having a rough time looking to God in her current situation and her marriage.

                    While sitting at home, she went back and forth in her mind not knowing whether to hate her husband forever because he forgot again, or to just brush it off and doing something loving for him, despite his forgetfulness. I told her to go with the second approach. [We can't expect to receive the love we're looking for if we ourselves aren't loving.] I told her to pray about it, and pray that love and peace would enter he home, and then I told her I would be praying for her as well. I spoke those words, she looked at me, tears filled her eyes, and she was broken. She leaned over the counter to give me a hug and told me all she needed was some one to talk to and all she needed was a reminder that she was love…and in some short/simple way, God used me to be that reminder. She left with a smile on her face and with her head held high, knowing she wasn’t forgotten that day.

ســـــــم الله الرحمان الرحيم

Yazid Arraqqasyi dari Anas bin Malik ra. berkata:

Jibrail datang kepada Nabi saw pada waktu yg ia tidak biasa datang dalam keadaan berubah mukanya, maka ditanya oleh Nabi s.a.w.: ‘Mengapa aku melihat kau berubah muka?’

Jawabnya: ‘Ya Muhammad, aku datang kepadamu di saat Allah menyuruh supaya dikobarkan penyalaan api neraka, maka tidak layak bagi orang yg mengetahui bahawa neraka Jahannam itu benar, dan siksa kubur itu benar, dan siksa Allah itu terbesar untuk bersuka-suka sebelum ia merasa aman dari padanya.’

Lalu nabi s.a.w. bersabda: ‘Ya Jibrail, jelaskan padaku sifat Jahannam.’

Jawabnya: ‘Ya. Ketika Allah menjadikan Jahannam, maka dinyalakan selama seribu tahun, sehingga merah, kemudian dilanjutkan seribu tahun sehingga putih, kemudian seribu tahun sehingga hitam, maka ia hitam gelap, tidak pernah padam nyala dan baranya. Demi Allah yg mengutus engkau dengan hak, andaikan terbuka sebesar lubang jarum nescaya akan dapat membakar penduduk dunia semuanya kerana panasnya.

Demi Allah yg mengutus engkau dengan hak, andaikan satu baju ahli neraka itu digantung di antara langit dan bumi nescaya akan mati penduduk bumi kerana panas dan basinya.

Demi Allah yg mengutus engkau dengan hak, andaikan satu pergelangan dari rantai yg disebut dalam Al-Quran itu diletakkan di atas bukit, nescaya akan cair sampai ke bawahbumi yg ke tujuh.

Demi Allah yg mengutus engkau dengan hak, andaikan seorang di hujung barat tersiksa, nescaya akan terbakar orang-orang yang di hujung timur kerana sangat panasnya, Jahannam itu sangat dalam dan perhiasannya besi dan minumannya air panas campur nanah dan pakaiannya potongan-potongan api.

Api neraka itu ada tujuh pintu, tiap-tiap pintu ada bahagiannya yang tertentu dari orang laki-laki dan perempuan.’

Nabi s.a.w. bertanya: ‘Apakah pintu-pintunya bagaikan pintu-pintu rumah kami?’

Jawabnya: ‘Tidak, tetapi selalu terbuka, setengahnya di bawah dari lainnya, dari pintu ke pintu jarak perjalanan 70,000 tahun, tiap pintu lebih panas dari yang lain 70 kali ganda.’ (nota kefahaman: iaitu yg lebih bawah lebih panas).

Tanya Rasulullah s.a.w.: ‘Siapakah penduduk masing-masing pintu?’

Jawab Jibrail: ‘Pintu yg terbawah untuk orang-orang munafik, dan orang-orang yg kafir setelah diturunkan hidangan mukjizat Nabi Isa a.s. serta keluarga Fir’aun sedang namanya Al-Hawiyah.

Pintu kedua tempat orang-orang musyrikin bernama Jahim,

Pintu ketiga tempat orang shobi’in bernama Saqar.

Pintu ke empat tempat Iblis dan pengikutnya dari kaum majusi bernama Ladha,

Pintu kelima orang yahudi bernama Huthomah.

Pintu ke enam tempat orang nasara bernama Sa’eir.’

Kemudian Jibrail diam segan pada Rasulullah s.a.w. sehingga ditanya: ‘Mengapa tidak kau terangkan penduduk pintu ke tujuh?’

Jawabnya: ‘Di dalamnya orang-orang yg berdosa besar dari ummatmusampai mati belum sempat bertaubat.’

Maka Nabi s.a.w. jatuh pengsan ketika mendengar keterangan itu, sehingga Jibrail meletakkan kepala Nabi s.a.w. di pangkuannya sehingga sedar kembali dan sesudah sadar Nabi saw bersabda: ‘Ya Jibrail, sungguh besar kerisauanku dan sangat sedihku, apakah ada seorang dari ummat ku yang akan masuk ke dalam neraka?’

Jawabnya: ‘Ya, iaitu orang yg berdosa besar dari ummatmu.’

Kemudian Nabi s.a..w. menangis, Jibrail juga menangis, kemudian Nabi s.a.w. masuk ke dalam rumahnya dan tidak keluar kecuali untuk sembahyang kemudian kembali dan tidak berbicara dengan orang dan bila sembahyang selalu menangis dan minta kepada Allah.

(dipetik dari kitab ‘Peringatan Bagi Yg Lalai’)

___________________________________________________

Subhanallah, sayangnya Rasulullah pada umat baginda. Sayangnya, kita tidak pernah `sayang’ pada baginda sebanyak kasihnya baginda pada kita umatnya.  Malu sungguh rasanya… : ( (sad)

Astaghfirullahal’azim… Semoga Allah swt memberikan kepada kita semua kesempatan untuk bertaubat dengan sebenar-benar taubat dan semoga Allah swt menerima taubat seluruh Muslim yang beriman pada-Nya. Saudara-saudaraku, ayuhlah kita mengambil peluang yang ada, setiap saat yang ada untuk memohon keampunan dari-Nya, dan bertaubat atas segala dosa, dengan penuh keikhlasan. Semoga Allah swt mengurniakan perlindungan kepada kita pada hari yang tiada perlindungan melainkan perlindunagn dari-Nya semata-mata… Maha Suci Allah Yang Maha Agung.

Semoga beroleh rahmat-Nya. Amin.

Wallahu’alam.

Ingin lebih dekat dengan-Mu..

Ketika banyak dari waktu kita digunakan untuk memikirkan dunia
niscaya kesedihan akan menguasai benak dan hati

Sebaliknya, jika banyak-banyak kita memikirkan akhirat
insya Alloh kita akan disibukkan dengan mengejar amal perbuatan

….

Reminder: Scholastic book orders are due Tuesday, December 1st.  I have set up online ordering for 5 catalogs, including one with some great sales. Your order should arrive in plenty of time before winter break.  Here’s the login information for online ordering:

www.scholastic.com/bookclubs

User Name: Evans1Smith

Password: readers

I recommend the Sight Word Readers pack from the December catalog for beginning readers, the Folk and Fairy Tale pack from the November catalog, and the Chapter Book Classics from the December catalog for independent readers or reading to your child.  Some other great stories or series are the Alexander books (Dec), the Moosetache books (Nov), stories by Jan Brett (Nov and Dec), and the “If You Give A..” books (Nov and Dec).

Listen to podcasts from the BBC and save them in your mp3 player

You can listen podcasts live from the BBC by means of a computer with access to the internet. Also these podcasts can be saved in a mp3 portable device.

There is a web page for this matter from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/

Firstly you must install a software programme iTUNES or Winamp Media Files in your Personal Computer. It is possible that one of these are inside your computer. However, just in case, at that web page address from the BBC you have a direct access to download any of them. All the audio files are in mp3 format.

There, you should look for PODCASTS (a recorded program of talk, music, etc. made available over the internet as a file  that can be downloaded to a computer or portable device). I suggest that you choose short duration audio files, of about 3 or 5 minutes. There are lots of topics: sports, news, music, books, etcetera. Once you have chosen a podcast, you must see a bar, a horizontal green bar with the words : DOWNLOAD x MB right click & save target as… and you must put your mouse over there and right click on the bar. After some seconds the podcast will be downloaded and you will be asked to name the audio. Write a name for this podcast and a good idea would be to save it on the DESKTOP(escritorio) so you can check what audios you have downloaded. That podcast can be listened from your computer, or if you prefer, transfer it to your mp3. This is strongly recommended.

The habitual thing is to listen every podcast a minimum of 3 or 4 times, even more. Intonation, pronunciation and meaning are relevant points to enjoy.

Band lessons canceled on Friday, 11/20 are re-scheduled for Wednesday, 11/25. Please make sure your child(ren) brings their instrument with them that day. Thank you.

Khutbah Jumaat ( siri 3 ) Oleh :
Hj. Nasrudin bin Hj. Hassan At Tantawi 
Masjid Balok Pantai : 13 January 2006

Wahai orang – orang yang beriman , bertaqwalah kamu kepada Allah dengan sebenar – benar taqwa dan jangan kamu mati melainkan kamu mati dalam keadaan menyerah diri kepada Allah swt . ( Ali Imraan : 102 )

Maka tatkala umurnya telah dewasa ( berdikari ) maka nabi Allah Ibrahim as. berkata : Wahai anakku , sesungguhnya aku melihat dalam mimpiku bahawa aku menyembelih kamu , maka apakah pandangan kamu ? Lalu jawab Nabi Allah Ismail as. Wahai bapaku ! Laksanakanlah apa yang telah diperintahkan ( oleh Allah ) nescaya engkau akan dapati aku insyaallah , terdiri dikalangan orang – orang yang sabar ( menerima perintah Allah swt.)

Bangkitlah( segera berlari menuju medan ) olehmu , dalam keadaan ringan ataupun berat dan berjihadlah olehmu dengan harta dan jiwa kamu di jalan Allah , sedemikian itu adalah suatu yang terlebih baik bagi kamu jika kamu mengerti .

Wahai bapa saudaraku , jika sekiranya mereka meletakkan matahari ditangan kanan ku dan bulan di tangan kiriku supaya aku meninggalkan kerja dakwah ini , nescaya tidak aku tinggalkan , sehinggalah Islam mencapai kemenangan atau aku binasa kerananya !

Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Quoted in “The Weakening of Faith – Its Symptoms – Causes & Cure”
by Shaykh Muhammad Saleh al-Munajjid
© 1997 Daar of Islamic Heritage

Ibn Al-Qayyim described Allah’s Greatness, saying,

He governs the affairs of the various kingdoms and He commands and forbids, creates, sustains, gives death, gives life, gives power, strips power (to and from whom He wills) and alternates the night and day. He gives varying fortunes to people and alternates governments (and states), destroying some and bringing some into existence. His Command and Power are dominant in the heavens and their zones, the earth and all that which is on and in it, in the seas and in the air.

His Knowledge has encompassed everything and He counted everything. He hears all types of voices and they do not confuse Him. Rather, He hears each voice in its distinct language and need, and no voice will make Him busy from fulfilling the need of another, and no need will ever escape His Perfect Knowledge (and His Power to deliver). He does not become bored because of the many needs of those who need. His Sight encompasses all that which there is.

He sees the movement of a black ant on a barren rock during a dark night. To Him, the Unseen is uncovered end the secret is secret no more,

“Whosoever is in the heavens and on Earth begs of Him (its needs from Him). Every day He has a matter to bring Forth (such as giving honor to some, disgrace to some, life to (some, death to some, etc.).” [55:29]

He forgives an evil deed, makes depression vanish and brings reprieve from disasters, relief for whoever needs it, wealth for the poor, guidance for the misguided, light for the lost, help for he who is desperate, fullness for the hungry, cover for the barely clothed, cure for the ill and ease for he who suffers.

He accepts he who repents, gives reward for he who does good, gives aid for he who was dealt with injustice, destroys an arrogant person, covers mistakes, gives safety after fear end elevates some people and humiliates others.

If those who inhabit His heavens and His earth and all those whom He created, whether mankind or the Jinns, had hearts similar to the most pious heart, His Kingdom will not increase.

If all His creation, whether mankind or the Jinns, had hearts similar to the heart of the most wicked heart, this will not decrease from His Kingdom. Also, if all those who inhabit His heavens and His earth, all mankind and all the Jinns, the dead and the living, stand up on one strip of land and each asks Him for his need, and He then fulfils their needs, this will not decrease from what He has a bit.

He is the First, nothing is before Him, the Last, nothing is after Him, the Most High, nothing is above Him, and the Most Near, nothing is nearer than Him. He, Exalted and Ever High as He is, is the Best Whom one can and should remember, the only One Who deserves to be worshiped and thanked, the Kindest of all those who own and the Most generous of all those who are asked to give. He is the King Who has no partner, the One Who has no competitor, the Samad (Self-Sufficient) Who has no offspring, and the Ever High, none like unto Him.

Everything perishes save His Face and every kingship is bound to perish except His. He will only be obeyed by His Leave, and His Knowledge uncovers all disobedience to Him. When He is obeyed, He thanks for it, and when He is disobeyed, He grants forgiveness (for those who truly repent to Him).

Every punishment from Him is just and every bounty is a grace. He is the Closest Witness and the Nearest One with His Perfect Care. He controls the forelocks of everything and has the full records of all deeds end the books of all ages. The hearts are unmasked to Him and the secret is unveiled. His giving and punishing is merely a Command,

“Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be, and it is!’” [36:82].

Miley, need I remind you that you are still 16 years old?
‘Nuff said.