Islam, a strange lifestyle?

Answer to the question, nicely written by Ajmal Masroor, in the New Statesman

Article 1:

'Islam is a strange religion'
[full article]

'Muslims are not normal and Islam is a strange religion!' Do you believe this or do you demonstrate this in your direct and indirect behaviour?

Ask a Muslim this question and I can almost guarantee you that he/she would have felt treated like this, if not on a regular basis, occasionally. This has become the popular perception amongst many non-Muslims today. Once I went out for dinner with a group of people.

They all ordered alcohol and I ordered a glass of fresh juice. This sparked off a discussion amongst us all, why I did not drink alcohol; in the course of the discussion one of them asked what was wrong with me that I do not drink?. I explained to them that according to my faith drinking or taking any intoxicants was forbidden.

I know this makes me different from the popular culture here in Britain but what is wrong with being different? In fact Islam encourages me to challenge such cultural values, not to shove Islamic values down anyone throat, but to engage in a reasoned rational discussion about the benefit and harm of some of these popular cultures.

Article 2:

Islam is a lifestyle
[full article]

Islam and Muslims are often portrayed as abnormal and not compatible to the modern Western world. Muslims are shown in a negative way in today’s media; they are labelled as enemies within and out to destroy the West. My fear is that this has created the perfect environment for young people to feel excluded, increase community disarray and it is creating destructive popular cultures. There was a time when Jewish, Irish and Black people were part of the popular culture’s sick jokes, racist caricatures and hostility but now Muslims are on the receiving end of it all. This is a slippery slope and if we are not careful this may wreak havoc in our society.

My faith, Islam, teaches me to be colour and culture blind. I try my best to be a devout Muslim and at the same time to be a loyal citizen. I take my Bangladeshi ethnic background as an enriching feature and very proud of all layers of my identity. My religious duties and social responsibilities are two sides of the same coin. My faith is very important to me but not just as a set of rituals and "do’s and don’ts". It defines me as a person and shapes my worldview; it helps me develop deeper and more meaningful relationships with my surrounding and most importantly enables me to balance between material life and spirituality.

I have always had a very inquisitive mind and never accepted matters of faith without reason. I used to question every aspect of my faith and was never satisfied with emotional links to faith. Islam for me is a lifestyle, one that I have chosen as a result of conscious search, knowledge, faith and conviction. This lifestyle makes me conscious of my relationship with God.

At the core of my faith is the acceptance of God’s existence and His presence in my daily life. My relationship with God is direct and encompasses my private and public life.

My daily prayer is "O God please give me success of this world and the success of the Hereafter, strengthen me in my faith and help me to be content with what I have. Bless me with energy to be active and relieve me from laziness, help me to be generous with the richness that you give and relieve me of miserliness; help me to be just and save me from oppression."

About Ajmal [link]

Ajmal Masroor is regularly invited to speak on issues on integration and Islam in the modern world. He leads Friday prayers in several Mosques across London.

p.s. the prospect of me livin in a foreign environment in the near future scared the hell out of me. Thx for these articles, I think Ill face what Ajmal is going through, hopefully, these challenges will make me stronger and shape a better me. Amin.

Instant Academician?

Lately there has been sudden move by the gov, to spend large amount of money on sponsoring students to continue their postgrad studies up to the PhD level. Well, I shouldn't bitch bout this, as I did benefit from it, Thank You.

I just found bout the latest method of hiring academician from TonyP, Education in Malaysia. Below is the extract of the hiring advert from MOHE.

Putrajaya — Temuduga pengambilan tenaga akademik secara berpusat bagi calon-calon yang memiliki ijazah Doktor Falsafah (PhD) akan diadakan pada 26-28 Mei 2007 mulai jam 9.00 pagi hingga 4.00 petang di Aras 2, Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur.
Bagi calon-calon yang berminat terutamanya pemegang ijazah PhD yang mempunyai pengalaman kerja di sektor kerajaan atau industri amat dialu-alukan terutamanya di kalangan bukan bumiputra.
Program ni dilaksanakan oleh Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (KPT) selaras dengan dasar untuk meningkatkan bilangan tenaga akademik yang berkelayakan PhD atau setaraf denganya sehingga 60% menjelang 2010 di PTA.
Pada masa yang sama temuduga bagi penajaan Biasiswa KPT ke peringkat PhD dan Sarjana serta pameran IPTAjuga diadakan. Selain datang sendiri ke lokasi temuduga in pemohon juga boleh mengemukakan permohonan melalui laman web IPTA berkenaan. Pemohon yang datang sendiri dikehendaki membawa bersama-sama kad pengenalan asal, sijil asal SPM, ljazah Sarjana Muda/Sarjana/PhD, biodata peribadi dan gambar berukuran passport berserta dua salman setiap satu.

I didnt feel the sudden need for hiring more PhD holders as I graduated from a local institution with the largest amount of PhD holders, all my lecturers have the title Dr.
Alhamdulillah, I personally believe that I got my 1st degree and master at&from the best here.

But I do realise, its rare for majority of other institution to have such dynamic academicians, its not that Im dissing lecturers with no PhDs, but it is a need, to have Dr. to supervise student's project, not lecturer's with masters degree supervising masters student? Or a bachelor degree lect teach first degree students, right? like what happened with most other institution.

So, in this pandemic shortage, MOHE had come up with this new method of hiring.
Its a walk-in interview at the central station (yes, the train station), bring yr biodata (erk, what is biodata?) and what intrigue me to write is not the method but the result of the interview written in the Star today. Full news here.

KUALA LUMPUR: Universities hired more than 200 academic staff on the first day of a centralised recruitment fair organised by the Higher Education Ministry.

Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed described the initial response to the three-day event as “beyond expectation” and said that police had to be called in on Saturday, the first day of the fair, to help control the crowd.

A total of 38 PhD holders were hired while 106 master’s holders will be sponsored to do their PhD by the universities, and 63 first-degree holders their master’s.

Alright, its stated that more than 200 were hired in the first day. Thats a lot of people for a day.

And 38 of them are PhD holders, erk, who are these peoples? Are they from the industry that suddenly wanna switch to academic? I dont think so, common sense, money is the main decision factor, people wont switch carrier unless they got higher pay, which is not that high. Is PhD in this country not worthed? Scary to think about this. But then who am I to judge these people, probably they have the purest intention towards our public uni progress, not bcos of desperation for job.

Another thing is, why it (the hiring) need to be centralised? There are already mechanism for each university to hire their own academician, through direct hiring or scholarship scheme. Or is MOHE doesnt like the way each university conduct it? Some peoples do make a good point that, centralised hiring does make the process more translucent.

No matter how, I always hope for the best outcome, if through this we can hire the best, let it done this way then, or any way much better.
The most important thing is, Education need to be free! Not just monetary but also politically.

Cikgu Hafiz, the On Call Teacher

Since past 2 months, Ive been teaching at AA tuition center which is located about 5 mins drive from home.
I hv 4 hours of class perweek, an hour for each diff subject, so Ive to prepare for 4 subjects each week (maths, physics, science SPM, English PMR) but thats not the point, besides the 4 hours, Im the 'on call teacher' or the replacement teacher or 'the bidan terjun',
U know, most of the teachers at tuition centers, are the experienced teacher, or in other word, have kids /family of their own, so there are all sort of prob might arise which suddenly need them to cancel their classes. So Ive to come and replace them if Im free, which is always for me.

Today 5 pm, I got a called from AA owner
AA: Hafiz! (he always call my name like there is an exclamation mark at the end, but not yelling though) can u teach tomorrow English Form 1 8.30 to 10.30 and Form 2 10-30-12.30
ME: Erm Alright (Ok, Ill prepare the notes&exercises tonight)

Today 8.15pm, another phone call
AA: Hafiz! can you teach tonight 8.30-10.30 pm English Form 3, the teacher suddenly cant come, u can use the notes u prepared for the class tomorrow
ME: I havent prepare the notes&exercises yet
AA: Erm Its alright, use anything u'd prepared for the class before
ME: OK
arrived at 8.35 pm, photocopy the materials, and the class startd at 8.45 pm

I have 4 hours class comin tomorrow mornin and another hour in the evening (my own class)

This is how my weekend usually spend, haha, sometimes Im scared to pick up my phone if AA call, usually, Ill get the notice just before the class start, like what happened this evening, Alhamdulillah everything was alright in that class, sometimes, funny things happen when I am not well prepared for a class.

And I dont know how I always agree to replace, though I feel a bit reluctant inside. I think AA have some kind of psychic power of persuasion. Or probbly, when people give me the trust by allowing me to teach, I tend to be nice to these ppl, and tend to just agree with what they request. Dangerous huh

Owh yes, you can make money via tuition, its funny to think people pay me to teach,
but I always try my best, hopefully the sincerity prevail and my 2 cents benefit the students.

OK Officially I declare myself an On Call Teacher (sounds more professional, before, I thought Im an AA's Robot) beep! beep! beep!

My PhD Interview *updated

Seriously I am so tired today.
The interview went for about 45 mins, Overall, from my perspective IT IS PRETTY BAD!

The panel asked me bout the physics of medical interaction, seriously it is already rusty.
So Id answered the best I can, huhu, I didn't think they will ask bout that.
And my confidence considerably drop after that, Hope its no too obvious.

And it is hard to communicate via video conferencing, there is this stupid video lag, that make you unsure where to interrupt the speaker.

I hope I look fine to them,
thank God, I didn't wear tie/suit, one of the project's supervisor appear in his undershirt, but they are pretty friendly to me,
but I hate my performance back then.

Erm, result can only be known in few days, Now I am certainly not sure, am I really a PhD material after the interview. Seriously DOWN! and tired with today.

Update on 10.00pm
feel much better Alhamdulillah
Still hoping...

Update on 25th (8 hours after the interview)
an email from the project supervisor

Dear Hafiz,

Thank you for letting us interview you today. We were impressed with your performance and are interesting in taking you on as a student for the project we discussed with you, but as I said this morning, we need to sort out one or two things before we can offer you a place. My colleagues at The Registry are finalising the financial details and will be in a position to tell you exactly what the costs are (both your living costs and all institute fees) within the next two weeks. Then they will email you with an offer of a place subject to the fees being paid and you being self-supporting financially. They will also write to you with a contract. Once again thanks for approaching us concerning this studentship.

Best wishes,

Alhamdulillah, Ill get a conditional offer letter, hope the scholarship can support the fees.
Thanks all for yr prayers.
My feelings? I think Im too numb, to feel anything at the moment

7 Days to Go

A conformation mail regarding the interview, 7 days to go 'live'...

Dear Hafiz

Good - let's go for Thursday 24th May at 9.30 - 10.30 am (our time) 5.30-6.30pm (your time).

Supervisors please note this interview will take place in the BLB Video Meeting Room.

...., our Audio Visual Co-ordinator, can do the 5 min pre-event test on Tuesday 22nd May at 10.00am (our time) - 6.00pm ( your time).

Obviously, we MUST have the ISDN number your end soon to be ready to call on Tuesday and Thursday.

Re the charges for the room your end you can post back the expense claim form I sent you yesterday after completion (signing on the bottom right).

Our ISDN No is ...... and the transmission speed required is 384 kbps.

Regards

Im still confuse bout the time zone, since Malaysia is GMT +8, the time difference should be 8 hours right? like what the person had stated in the email.
But Id check with my cousin (thank you) Its actually 7 hours in advance here, Id check it online and its true, Thank God, if im not aware of this, I might be an hour late for the interview
erm whats the best explanation for this, GMT +8 but its actually 7 hours diff? (I want to clarify this with the other end)

Another thing, anybody know how to receive money from the UK, the best way is into my personal account. Thx in advance

Pray for me guys
Adios, need to prepare for the interview script LOL

State of AlJazeera English in the States

Al-Jazeera English version big, but not in U.S.
By Jim Krane, Associated Press
full article here

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Al-Jazeera’s English language television has in its six-month existence gained strong viewership across Europe, in parts of Asia, Australia — and even Israel, according to executives and local companies that carry it. But no major cable or satellite provider in the U.S. is carrying the channel, a decision the network blames on political pressure. U.S. carriers, however, say there is simply no market.

"It’s extraordinary that while the rest of the world is happy to watch us ... the U.S. stands in splendid isolation," said Al-Jazeera English managing director Nigel Parsons at the station’s headquarters in the Persian Gulf state of Qatar.

Al-Jazeera faces questions about its marketability in America, however. At one major cable carrier, an executive said Al-Jazeera’s English programming was too similar to BBC World and there weren’t enough likely American viewers to add another foreign-centric news channel.

The executive spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss corporate strategy.

Interestingly, however, Al-Jazeera English has found an audience in Israel for its mix of extensive African, Asian and Middle Eastern coverage. Viewers in Israel also have access to Al-Jazeera’s original Arabic news channel.

"This is thought of as one of the best news channels in the world," said Yes TV spokeswoman Libi Zipser, speaking of Al-Jazeera English. "There are those who think that certain channels are less supportive of Israel, but we just let our customers see what they want to see."

Its funny, how the so called liberated country, have this freakin lunatic media control. But this answer how Bush remains in power, one of it is via media control, obviously

It is also reported that Bush had planned a missile for AlJazeera
more bout this here in the New Statesman

I love this AlJazeera ad from friends of AlJazeera


All the best for AlJazeera, you are the best! keep up the good work.

People in the US, u can still view AlJazeera from this streaming live tv site,
free our mind from the absurdity of moronic leaders!

Emak Bedridden on Mei 12

She had a minor surgery today, a cataract operation on her right eye, which was scheduled earlier today, on mother's day, thus we had forwarded the treat earlier.
The surgery was successfully performed this morning, Alhamdulillah, without any complication, later discharged from the ward in the evening.
Pray that she'll recover soon



Since she is in post surgery, I think this is the best mother's day she had, literally she CANT do any house chores for few days, let extend it to a week. My mum is like "selagi ada kudrat selagi tu la nak buat kerja". But not this time, since the doc said so

We have a new boss in the house LOL
good to have my sister around, she has been a great help,
yea, my lil sister help around too :P

Emak, u know we will always love you :D

The Sun is Bright

An update on my university application. Previous post regarding this, was posted here (Facing rejection) and here (Sunshine after the rain?).

I just received an email from my supervisor (soon, hopefully) this evening.

I am really sorry this has taken so long. The background is, as you write, that we have had some concerns about your level of funding that we are still trying to resolve internally. Rather than keep you waiting any longer, the sensible and fair thing is to interview you, with the understanding that we will still have to sort out some financial issues and be convinced your level of funding can support you and pay all the necessary fees, but at least we can establish how suitable you are for the project. My colleague .... will arrange things. Please can you provide her with details of when you are available between now and the end of May, and how we can set up a video interview, i.e. details of how to contact your video conferencing system.

Again I am very sorry this has dragged on for so long. Please accept our apologies.

Alhamdulillah, hopefully the interview will go well. I need to prepare, after months (I applied in December 2006), I even had forgotten the title of the proposed research project.

p.s. Based on the email, dont you think he is a very very nice guy, or am I alone in this?

Minah's s**ual escapade

Warning: This post is silly


Minah Closeup

This is about my friends, the outdoor cats that hang out around my house. Sort of mine I guess, as they’d made my house their home as we feed them, occasionally they'll try to come in and tour around inside the house. If u haven’t heard of them, u can read my previous post about them here and here.


Flashback: From left, Bedah (ibu beranak tujuh), Dolah (Bedah’s son from the first generation), and Minah (Bedah’s oldest daughter from the second birth)

Alright, bfor I proceed with the story, better I update what had been going on with them.
Bedah and her newborns are now not here anymore, huhu, my parents had deported them to a nearby big market, of course without my consent. Bcos her newborns are too much too handle they said, u know 5 babies and they all smell horrible, even after I bathd them. I wish they live happily ever after there in their new home with plenty of fresh fish. Since my last visit to the market, bout a month ago, I never spot any sign of Bedah and her kids, hopefully they'd adapt.

This post is actually about Minah (remember the oldest Bedah’s daughter). She is now bout 9 months old, and surprisingly 2 days ago, she was following other males, owh yes, it’s the mating season. I never had a she-cat, so it is a surprise for me, since my he-cat only show this kind of behaviour after about a year old.


See my Minah is flirting with 2 males (sorry its a bit dark, the sun had set, but u can still see 2 shiny pairs of eyes near her)
Like usual, Dolah enterframe


Minah posing maut

To comprehend what my cat is going through, I do read bout this on wikipedia. Yes absurd, see I got plenty of time doing silly thing.

….cats normally reach sexual maturity at 4-10 months (females) and to 5-7 months (males). Cats have many periods of heat over the course of a year. A heat period lasts about 4 to 7 days if the female is bred; if she is not, the heat period lasts longer. Multiple males will be attracted to a female in heat. The males will fight over her, and the victor wins the right to mate. At first, the female will reject the male. But eventually, the female will allow the male to mate. The female will give a loud yowl as the male pulls out….
Alright enough read, the following description is unnecessary. If u r curious to know what happen next, u can read more here :P

Now I understand that my cat is in ‘heat’ or horny in human term, except it is not to gratify the sexual desire, but to reproduce, simple biology :D
Minah, I thought u were still a baby, why don’t u tell me u wanna be a mama?

Alright, a concern friend (me) don’t want Minah to get pregnant this early, she is just a tiny she-cat. Cant imagine how she’ll deal with the pregnancy etc. So I try to catch her from the males, 3 of them, selective breeding scientists said, to ensure better new generation they speculate, but I see all the males are under par (with diseases etc), seriously, there are much more healthy cat around, but why Minah, them? Huhu My cat has a bad taste.

My attempt to grab her out of the situation was never a success; she followed the males trough tiny holes that I cant go through. I got frustrated. And let her go,
If that’s what u want Minah! Deal with the consequence alone! don’t come to me when u got pregnant and thrown away by my parents. I was really mad at her that time *silly

Finally I got her the next day, after she went missing the whole night bfor.
At first she tried to escape from me, but this time I managed to get her and solitary confined her in a basket. She need to eat I think after 24 hours without food, so I fed her and she ate. But later she cried in there, I feel pity for her.
It is inhuman, its her right, her animal right to breed! So I let her out after an hour in confinement. Again she disappeared that night.


Minah in solitary confinement


Minah "I hate you! Its my right to..."

But today she is back around, Back to normal, I guess her mission had accomplished I hope she is naturally sterilized, so no baby. But if she give birth in the future, I think its cool, hope its OK with my parents as well. Mayb I can name her baby according to the characters in Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan. It will be hilarious!

But I stil don’t understand her Bro, Dolah. He is already more than 1 years old. But still not showing any sign of maturity, only occasionally get into argument with other males, mayb this is for good. But he has this special he-fren named Topeng, I saw once Topeng try to mate with Dolah. Maybe Topeng got confused LOL as Dolah like rolling on ground like a female in heat Haha I will always love you Dolah no matter what,
Good to see your sis back, after 2 nights of carousing.


Minah is back teasing her bro, and play like a kid she was.

Minah why dont u breed with Topeng? He has nice blue eyes. Your bro has a good taste.

Sharia Law on Stem Cell Research

There have been lots of debate arise from stem cell research activity, simply because one of the techniques utilize the creation and usage of human embryonic stem cells. It is controversial bcos people regard embryo as human, and the argument is, it is inhuman to 'play' with this kind of cell. (embryo is the early stage of human development in the uterus-few weeks old after fertilization)

For those who are not in life science, you may read the para below; a quoted brief introduction about stem cell from Wikipedia.

Stem cells are cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types but also retain the ability to renew themselves through cell division. They were first identified in embryos.
read more about stem cell research controversy here in Wikipedia

But, what is Islamic view on this? Based on Sharia law it is permitted, or scientifically it is ethical.
I quote paragraphs below from Wired Science, full article here

But asked about Dubai's regulatory environment, he enthusiastically mentioned that Islamic law -- Sharia law, to be precise, but that word has such fundamentalist connotations in the west that I'm reluctant to use it -- was actually more open than the United States to certain types of research, particularly embryonic stem cell research.
"The definition of human being in Catholic is from the day of conception -- whereas in Islamic law, a fetus is considered human after four months of pregnancy," he said. "Under Sharia law, any research that has human benefit is supported. There is no boundary for that."
Historically, said Al Khayat, Islamic science flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries; that Dubai could be a home for cutting-edge life science research in the 21st century was simply part of the grand cycle of history, the rise and fall and rise again of the East.

Let us pray and work hard for the 'rise again' in the East. Amin.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the new France's President

PARIS (Reuters) - Conservative leader Nicolas Sarkozy triumphed in France's presidential election on Sunday, beating his Socialist rival Segolene Royal by a comprehensive margin and extending the right's 12-year grip on power.
He also reached out to both the United States, which has had frosty relations with France since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and to European Union partners, saying he would make the fight against global warming a priority.

full news on The Star here


Who is he?
I quote below from somewhere i dont wanna give link to

French Jews celebrate Sarkozy victory
Nicolas Sarkozy, the grandson of a Greek Jew, has been elected president of France. Optimistic and celebratory, Jewish groups were quick to offer congratulations to Nicolas Sarkozy after his victory in French presidential elections.Sarkozy, of the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), defeated Socialist Party candidate Segolene Royal in Sunday's runoff.He garnered some 53 percent to Royal's 47 percent in the election, which featured a huge voter turnout.The former interior minister was seen by Jewish voters as a friend to Israel and an important figure in the fight against antisemitism. Soon after his opponent conceded, Jewish groups came out with their good wishes."At a time when French Jews felt directly threatened by the rise in violent antisemitism in Paris and elsewhere across France a few years ago, Sarkozy played a critical role in moving the French government to finally recognise the gravity of the problem and to do what is necessary to address the ill winds that not only threaten the largest Jewish community in Western Europe, but, as we know from history, would ultimately pose a threat to wider French society," American Jewish Committee executive director David Harris said in a statement.The AJCommittee recalled that Sarkozy during that period was instrumental in stepping up police protection around Jewish buildings and schools, and arresting and prosecuting those who committed anti-Semitic acts. He told the group in a Washington address in 2004 that he would "consider any insult against Jews an insult against France."CRIF, the French Jewish community's umbrella group, addressed its "warmest and most respectful congratulations" to Sarkozy in a Sunday statement.
Sarkozy said, "Only if Israel is guaranteed that its existence will not be threatened and the Palestinians are allowed to form a viable state can we achieve a durable and viable solution."One Jewish voter said, "As far as Israel is concerned, Royal has nothing to offer us, compared to Sarkozy."Outside a synagogue in the Jewish Quarter, one Sarkozy voter rued some of Royal's supporters. "As a Jew I don't like the fact that many pro-Palestinian radical activists participate at her meetings," said Armand, who asked that his last name not be used. "I think this is dangerous."Sarkozy, on the other hand, is one of the only [future] heads of states to have gone to the U.S. to meet President Bush. I'm not a fan of Bush, but still. In any case, I don't think that Sarkozy is a fascist, as some people try to make us believe."

Fom FoxNews (American Media Perspective)

Sarkozy, more pro-American and pro-Israeli than most French leaders, said the United States can "count on our friendship" but added, "friendship means accepting that friends can have different opinions." He urged the United States to take the lead on climate change and said the issue would be a priority for France.

U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair called Sarkozy to congratulate him, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel wished him "much luck and success."

You can read the good and the bad side of him from a Lebanese perspective here which Id highlighted some below.

GOOD:

• his stand on French internal socio-politic

BAD:

• he is a Bush's lackey,
• his priority seems to be for Israel,
• he is the final line of a Western political leader who could merge in with the Bush dynasty's hegemonic policy; UK has Blair, Australia got Howard, Canada is ruled by Harper,
• he seems to be ignorant in his dealings with Islamic integration in France

I guess we can only wait and see the future changes on France stand in the middle east conflicts.

First Official Guideline for Muslims in Space

Muslim-majority Malaysia's first astronaut will get guidelines allowing flexibility in praying in zero gravity and eating space meals under Islamic rules, the country space chief said Monday.

Officials have previously said an Islamic code of conduct in space is necessary because few Muslims have embarked on such expeditions, and there have been no standardized guidelines for them.

Full article here