World University Ranking 2006

It has been the talk of the academicians of higher institutions in Malaysia of how Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia has toppled Universiti Malaya to become the Malaysian premier university based on the report of the world university rankings by Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) and QS Quacquarelli Symonds.

To me, it's also personal as my alma mater reached the 9th while the university i am attached with leaped from the 289th position to 185th. A remarkable achievement, i have to say. It is by far a great feelings for me to have the opportunity to be part of the best in malaysia and among the ten world best. Obviously such an achievement is the result of a mutual cooperation and commitment from all the staff both in the academic and non-academic lines.

Table below shows the result of the 2006 world university rankings:

2006 RANK	2005 RANK	NAME	COUNTRY
1	1	Harvard University	United States
2	3	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom
3	4	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
4=	2	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	United States
4=	7	Yale University	United States
6	5	Stanford University	United States
7	8	California Institute of Technology	United States
8	6	University of California, Berkeley	United States
9	13	Imperial College London	United Kingdom
10	9	Princeton University	United States
11	17	University of Chicago	United States
12	20	Columbia University	United States
13	11	Duke University	United States
14	15	Beijing University	China
15	14	Cornell University	United States
16	23	Australian National University	Australia
17	11	London School of Economics and Political Science	United Kingdom
18	24	Ecole Normale Supérieure	France
19=	22	National University of Singapore	Singapore
19=	16	University of Tokyo	Japan
21	24	McGill University	Canada
22	19	University of Melbourne	Australia
23	27	Johns Hopkins University	United States
24	21	Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich	Switzerland
25	28	University College London	United Kingdom
26	32	University of Pennsylvania	United States
27	29	University of Toronto	Canada
28	62	Tsing Hua University	China
29=	31	Kyoto University	Japan
29=	36	University of Michigan	United States
31	37	University of California, Los Angeles	United States
32	26	University of Texas at Austin	United States
33=	30	University of Edinburgh	United Kingdom
33=	41	University of Hong Kong	Hong Kong
35=	44	Carnegie Mellon University	United States
35=	38	University of Sydney	Australia
37	10	École Polytechnique	France
38	33	Monash University	Australia
39	88	University of Geneva	Switzerland
40	35	University of Manchester	United Kingdom
41	40	University of New South Wales	Australia
42	46	Northwestern University	United States
43	56	New York University	United States
44	42	University of California, San Diego	United States
45	47	University of Queensland	Australia
46=	52	University of Auckland	New Zealand
46=	73	King's College London	United Kingdom
48=	73	University of Rochester	United States
48=	58	Washington University in St. Louis	United States
50=	38	University of British Colombia	Canada
50=	51	Chinese University of Hong Kong	Hong Kong
52	69	Sciences Po Paris	France
53	114	Vanderbilt University	United States
54=	71	Brown University	United States
54=	66	University of Copenhagen	Denmark
56	141	Emory University	United States
57	50	Indian Institute of Technology	India
58=	45	Universität Heidelberg	Germany
58=	43	Hong Kong University of Science & Technology	Hong Kong
60	109	Case Western Reserve University	United States
61=	117	Dartmouth College	United States
61=	48	Nanyang Technological University	Singapore
63	93	Seoul National University	South Korea
64=	49	Bristol University	United Kingdom
64=	34	Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne	Switzerland
66	54	Boston University	United States
67	70	Eindhoven University of Technology	Netherlands
68	84	Indian Institute of Management	India
69	58	University of Amsterdam	Netherlands
70=	103	School of Oriental and African Studies	United Kingdom
70=	105	Osaka University	Japan
72	92	Ecole Normale Supérieure Lyon	France
73	77	University of Warwick	United Kingdom
74	95	Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México	Mexico
75	127	University of Basel	Switzerland
76	88	Catholic University of Louvain	Belgium
77	58	University of Illinois	United States
78	111	Trinity College Dublin	Ireland
79=	186	University of Otago	New Zealand
79=	73	University of Wisconsin	United States
81	101	University of Glasgow	United Kingdom
82=	67	Macquarie University	Australia
82=	105	Technische Universität München	Germany
84	88	University of Washington	United States
85	97	University of Nottingham	United Kingdom
86	53	Delft University of Technology	Netherlands
87	65	University of Vienna	Austria
88	193	University of Pittsburgh	United States
89	133	University of Lausanne	Switzerland
90=	143	University of Birmingham	United Kingdom
90=	138	Leiden University	Netherlands
92	57	Erasmus University Rotterdam	Netherlands
93=	79	Moscow State University	Russia
93=	88	Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie	France
95	120	Utrecht University	Netherlands
96	95	Catholic University of Leuven	Belgium
97	108	Wageningen University	Netherlands
98	55	Universität München	Germany
99=	112	Queen Mary and Westfield College	United Kingdom
99=	64	Pennsylvania State University	United States
101	124	University of Southern California	United States
102=	159	Georgetown University	United States
102=	150	Rice University	United States
102=	143	University of Sheffield	United Kingdom
105=	80	University of Adelaide	Australia
105=	112	Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin	Germany
105=	100	University of Sussex	United Kingdom
108	114	National Taiwan University	Taiwan
109=	136	University of St Andrews	United Kingdom
109=	85	University of Zurich	Switzerland
111=	133	University of Maryland	United States
111=	180	Uppsala University	Sweden
111=	199	Wake Forest University	United States
111=	80	University of Western Australia	Australia
115	217	University of Twente	Netherlands
116=	72	Fudan University	China
116=	62	University of Helsinki	Finland
118	99	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Japan
119	77	Hebrew University of Jerusalem	Israel
120	215	Keio University	Japan
121	103	University of Leeds	United Kingdom
122	180	Lund University	Sweden
123	143	University of North Carolina	United States
124=	68	University of Massachusetts, Amherst	United States
124=	109	University of York	United Kingdom
126	138	University of Aarhus	Denmark
127	61	Purdue University	United States
128=	222	Kyushu University	Japan
128=	129	Nagoya University	Japan
130=	164	Tufts University	United States
130=	105	University of Virginia	United States
132	83	University of Durham	United Kingdom
133=	149	University of Alberta	Canada
133=	259	Vrije University Brussels	Belgium
133=	157	Hokkaido University	Japan
133=	168	University of Newcastle upon Tyne	United Kingdom
137	177	Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen	Netherlands
138	86	Vienna University of Technology	Austria
139	119	University of Liverpool	United Kingdom
140	234	Cranfield University	United Kingdom
141=	159	University of California, Santa Barbara	United States
141=	228	Cardiff University	United Kingdom
141=	219	University of Ghent	Belgium
141=	206	University of Southampton	United Kingdom
145	147	Georgia Institute of Technology	United States
146	82	RMIT University	Australia
147=	166	Chalmers University of Technology	Sweden
147=	188	Tel Aviv University	Israel
149	172	Freie Universität Berlin	Germany
150=	184	Korea University	South Korea
150=	125	Texas A&M University	United States
152	179	University of Notre Dame	United States
153	130	University of Bath	United Kingdom
154	178	City University of Hong Kong	Hong Kong
155	184	McMaster University	Canada
156=	101	Curtin University of Technology	Australia
156=	114	Universität Göttingen	Germany
158=	194	Technion - Israel Institute of Technology	Israel
158=	240	Universität Ulm	Germany
158=	202	Waseda University	Japan
161=	121	Chulalongkorn University	Thailand
161=	131	Université Louis Pasteur - Strasbourg I	France
163	121	Michigan State University	United States
164	219	Saint-Petersburg State University	Russia
165=	76	Université libre de Bruxelles	Belgium
165=	93	University of Science and Technology of China	China
165=	175	State University of New York at Stony Brook	United States
168=	199	George Washington University	United States
168=	136	Tohoku University	Japan
170=	206	University of California, Davis	United States
170=	260	Universität Tübingen	Germany
172=	172	Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen	Germany
172=	157	University of Maastricht	Netherlands
172=	196	Royal Institute of Technology	Sweden
172=	254	Yeshiva University	United States
176	261	Queen's University	Canada
177	138	University of Oslo	Norway
178	228	University of Bern	Switzerland
179	169	Shanghai Jiao Tong University	China
180	150	nanjing University	China
181=	172	Kobe University	Japan
181=	132	University of Montreal	Canada
183=	192	Jawaharlal Nehru University	India
183=	186	Free University of Amsterdam	Netherlands
185	289	Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia	Malaysia
186	165	University of Innsbruck	Austria
187=	213	Brandeis University	United States
187=	142	Universität Frankfurt am Main	Germany
187=	150	University of Minnesota	United States
190=	240	University of Barcelona	Spain
190=	248	University of Reading	United Kingdom
192=	169	University of Malaya	Malaysia
192=	118	Queensland University of Technology	Australia
194	154	Technical University of Denmark	Denmark
195	267	University of Aberdeen	United Kingdom
196	308	University of Wollongong	Australia
197	125	Università degli Studi di Roma - La Sapienza	Italy
198=	254	University of California, Irvine	United States
198=	143	Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology	South Korea
200	305	Universite Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV)	France

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The late Gregory Peck

Here are some of the late Gregory Peck's photos:



Decent-looking, yet with a touch of debonair and cheekiness 


What a bloke. He exudes this charming persona but with a humble personality. Sharply dressed too for his era. That doctor-educationist (intellectual) look, could be a kind lawyer (his oscar winning performance in To Kill A Mocking Bird as Atticus Finch, the lawyer who championed against racism and prejudism).  



Those throaty fatherly voice and those intense yet kind eyes. Apparently my boyfriend named him as one his favourite male actors both for talent and for that salt-of-the-earth masculine look. 


I have only started to really appreciate hollywood film noirs and all those movie legends of 50s, 60s and 70s during my PhD studies (2001-2005). While some oldies were a bit too melodramatic and too good to be true (out of this world), they have set some standards of what films today are all about. (which reminds me of Alfie's favourite quote(Michael Caine classic, 1966) : "what is it all about?").

Watching To Kill the Mocking Bird (adapted from one of the 20th century's most popular novel of the same title by Harper Lee) for the first time didn't do much to me as I knew the storyline already. But when i saw it for the 2nd and the 3rd time, i could feel how simple the movie was made yet with strong castings led by Gregory Peck himself, it remained in my mind as one of the excellent movie adaptation of all time.

Malaysian movie scenes during 50s and 60s were much influenced by the indian movies. As a matter of fact, most of the directors and/or producers were either of northern or southern indian origins. We have our local heroes like P.Ramlee, Ahmad Mahmud, Nordin Ahmad, Yusof Latif, Salleh Kamil, Aziz Satar, S.Shamsudin, Haji Mahadi, Jins Shamsudin and heroins like Latifah Omar, Zaiton Hussein, Saadiah, Umi Kalthom, Normadiah, Rose Yatimah, Siput Sarawak and Sarimah, and we glorify and admire their talents, charms and beauty. All have become part of our local film industry. Yet, in malaysia, not many of us are interested to watch hollywood oldies, except if they have lived overseas for quite some time or they just happened to want to see marilyn monroe, james dean or young elizabeth taylor doing their classic stuff.

I used to read names like Steve McQueen, John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, Rita Hayworth, Fred Astaire, Katherine Hepburn, Richard Burton, Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Rex Harrison, Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, James Coburn, George Peppard (i knew him 1st on The A-Team), Clark Gable, Peter O'Toole, Vivien Leigh, Anthony Quinn, Julie Andrews and so many more hollywood screen legends (dead or alive) including Gregory Peck, of which some i knew their faces and some i hardly even know they existed before. But as i learnt to watch those oldies normally on ITV, Channel 4 and Channel Five, I found it hard not to miss them. Thank god for www.imdb.com site that i could actually obtain some info on these people besides the exposures from movie talk shows and greatest actors, actresses, movie list of all time documentaries on Channel 4 back in the UK.

Dont call yourself a movie buff if you dont know jack about classical movies.

Lynette Scavo hit the dot on day-care centre

I just came across "Most emailed News Stories" on My Yahoo! and i found this interesting news that should be an inspiration to many companies around the world, including academic institutions and hopefully the governmental offices to adopt this method for their working mothers employees. Just click the entry's header for more info on the article.

Herewith, i include the list of the top 100 companies (based in the USA) which have supported such campaign and initiated day-care centres for their female employee's children (as stated in the article):



Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.

Accenture Ltd., New York, N.Y.

Aflac Inc., Columbus, Ga.

Allstate Corp., Northbrook, Ill.

American Express Co., New York, N.Y.

Arnold & Porter LLP, Washington, D.C.

AstraZeneca PLC, Wilmington, Del.

Avon Products Inc., New York, N.Y.

Bank of America Corp., Charlotte, N.C.

Baptist Health South Florida, Coral Gables, Fla.

Bayer AG, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Richmond, Va.

Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Va.

The Boston Consulting Group, Boston, Mass.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., New York, N.Y.

Bronson Healthcare Group, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Capital One Financial Corp., McLean, Va.

Carlson Cos., Minnetonka, Minn.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga.

Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill.

Citigroup Inc., New York, N.Y.

CJW Medical Center, Richmond, Va.

Colgate-Palmolive Co., New York, N.Y.

Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

Covington & Burling LLP, Washington, D.C.

Credit Suisse Group, New York, N.Y.

DaimlerChrysler AG, Auburn Hills, Mich.

Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, New York, N.Y.

Deutsche Bank AG, New York, N.Y.

Discovery Communications Inc., Silver Spring, Md.

Dow Corning, Midland, Mich.

DuPont Co., Wilmington, Del.

Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis, Ind.

Ernst & Young LLP, New York, N.Y.

Fannie Mae, Washington, D.C.

First Horizon National Corp., Memphis, Tenn.

First National Bank of Omaha, Omaha, Neb.

Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mivh.

Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, Calif.

General Electric Co., Fairfield, Conn.

General Mills Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.

GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Philadelphia, PA

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., New York, N.Y.

Grant Thornton LLP, Chicago, Ill.

Gurwin Jewish Geriatric Center, Commack, N.Y.

Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Hewlett Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif.

HSBC USA Inc., Prospect Heights, Ill.

IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y.

Ikea, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.

Inova Health System, Falls Church, Va.

JFK Medical Center, Atlantis, Fla.

Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, N.J.

JPMorgan Chase & Co., New York, N.Y.

Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

KPMG LLP, New York, N.Y.

Kraft Foods Inc., Northfield, Ill.

Lego Systems Inc., Enfield, Conn.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., New York, N.Y.

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., Springfield, Mass.

McGraw-Hill Cos., New York, N.Y.

Merck & Co., Whitehouse Station, N.J.

Mercy Health System, Jamesville, Wis.

MetLife Inc., Long Island City, N.Y.

Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash.

Morgan Stanley, New York, N.Y.

Motorola Inc., Schaumburg, Ill.

Northern Trust Corp., Chicago, Ill.

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare, Chicago, Ill.

Novartis AG, East Hanover, N.J.

Patagonia Inc., Ventura, Calif.

Pearson PLC, Upper Saddle River, N.J.

Pfizer Inc., New York, N.Y.

Phoenix Cos., Hartford, Conn.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, New York, N.Y.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, New York, N.Y.

Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa

Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio

Providence Alaska Medical Center, Anchorage, Ala.

Prudential Financial Inc., Newark, N.J.

Republic Bancorp., Owosso, Mich.

Rodale Inc., Emmaus, Pa.

RSM McGladrey Inc., Bloomington, Minn.

S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., Racine, Wis.

Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, N.J.

Scripps Health, San Diego, Calif.

Texas Instruments Inc., Dallas, Texas

Timberland Co., Stratham, N.H.

Trihealth, Cincinnati, Ohio

Turner Broadcasting System Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

UBS, New York, N.Y.

Union Pacific Railroad, Omaha, Neb.

Verizon Communications Inc., Bedminster, N.J.

Wachovia Corp., Charlotte, N.C.

Wells Fargo & Co., San Francisco, Calif.

West Virginia University Hospitals, Morgantown, W.Va.

Wyeth, Madison, N.J.

Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn.

Even though i am not married yet, i have thought about it many, many years ago when it comes to having family in the future. I could somehow envisage myself as a possessive mother and a worrier one too, and because of that, i would somehow prefer to have my children as near to me as possible, as in walking distance or nearby office block, while i am working. I used to think of inventing a safe but also quiet baby cot system equipped with wireless radio transmission of higher wavelength frequency to be connected to a special pager so i would know when my baby needs feeding and all without creating a whole lot of earth-shattering noises while i carry on with my works. And if i am in the middle of some very important meetings/lectures/seminars/conferences/and so on, I could actually send a message to the carers/child-minders/day-care matrons on the to-do things and so on. In addition, they could reach me easier too whenever certain (possibly delicate) issues arise regarding my kids, especially when they are feeling poorly.

In Malaysia, i seldom see this trend practised in many companies in KL and even around klang valley. This includes the academic institutions. Well, some universities do provide nearby day-care centre but only for those kids of 3 years old and above. Many malaysians send their young ones to some licenced as well as non-licenced nurseries/childminders, and some prefer to hire bibik (a term used to address indonesian maids) to do the nanny job on top of doing the house chores and cooking. Otherwise, they left the caring job to their old mothers. I do know that a lot of big companies tend to have their own private gyms as one of the attractions, which supposedly to allure the younger,more energetic employees to work there. Somehow, they forget that this younger generations will soon be thinking of having their own families and such consequences will end up a burden to the mothers mostly. And in the essence of that, they forget that their female employees would end up a mother one day.

Do i sound broody enough to you? I like kids but i am not too keen on them. I am OK to layan them but not to the extent of too excited or too motherly. But i do know that if one day I will have kids of my own, I will definitely strive for the best for them.

More and more bright women with promising futures in their professional fields struggle between raising their family and job. I see some of my female doctor friends opted to do locum instead of full time practising doctors just to attain flexible hours. Those who prefer to climb much higher corporate ladder or those who are ambitious in any respective profession, would either discharge the idea of getting married or if they are married, having children is out of question. A few of the married ones ended up in divorce due to career constraints and demands. Such is already fast becoming a popular trend especially in the western countries.


On a total 180 degrees flip side, more than half of those women in the arab gulfs and indian subcontinental become a fulltime housewives as that is encouraged in their society despite holding a university degree. In Pakistan for instance, such practise has become a norm that the ladies hardly find it strange when their husbands decided that home is their place. Not only have the ladies gone through arranged marriage, they are also arranged to be domesticated. My male pakistani friends, when asked about this tradition, seemed to be all agreed that it may be the best method to secure marital harmony and societal balance.

Good thing in Malaysia, muslim women have secured much better positions and are given more freedoms of choice to pursue with their lives (and destiny, ultimately). Amazingly, many of the successful ones are those with children (some even have 8 or 9) and still married. OK, some of their husbands practise polygamy but most are monogamous at best. It must be due to the islamic teachings and eastern moral cultures that they somehow managed to bring up their children in a more apt surroundings while still managed to become high flyers, the so called movers and shakers of their companies/institutions/government offices/etc. But of course, it takes two to tango. Behind a successful malaysian muslim woman is a doting, loving and equally or maybe even more successful husband. I see a professor-couple (both husband and wife are professors in science and engineering) with nine children, and almost all their children grew up properly and followed their parents step by doing well in their studies. This is just one example out of tenth of thousands more of them in Malaysia.

I reckon Lynette Scavo (Desperate Housewives character played by Felicity Huffman) has inspired many high-flying working mothers around the world on the importance of tackling family issues while still able to carry on with their job.

Ramadhan kareem 1427 H

Ramadhan is back and now I am observing it in malaysia once again after almost 5 years of practising the fast and glorifying this month in london.

To be honest with you, this holy month of Ramadhan is the month where i really, really feel like closer to God than the rest of the other months. It is the time when I get to contemplate about so many things in life with respect to my faith. It is when i feel more spiritual, more pure and more decent.

Ever since i took a vow, or almost like a vow back in 2000 that i shall be more serious and more committed when it comes to glorifying the month of ramadhan, alhamdulillah, thank god, it has taken me into different level in terms of the ease and convenience in exercising all the obliged ibadahs. I dunno how to explain it in words...it's just indescribable the feelings i have when Ramadhan has arrived.

The more i learn about myself, the more i know what i've sinned and all, the more i am looking forward to Ramadhan to redeem myself before God. I know that we should stay consistent when it comes to practising the ibadah throughout the year. That should be so true according to the islamic teachings. After all, that is what is demanded from us muslims. However, knowing my weaknesses and etc etc, i feel that it is during Ramadhan that i shall fulfil many of the obligations ever more sincerely. And that is what made me do such vow 6 years ago.

This is the month when I feel more motivated to read the Quran. And inshallah, God's willing, this is also the month that one day I hope to meet my Creator when my time comes.

****************************************

Last night, i saw half of this old movie: Arabesque featuring Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren. I was not really aware of this Gregory Peck fella much until my boyfriend recommended me to watch To Kill A Mocking Bird on his videotape and to read his book of the same title as well somewhere at the end of 2004. Then i remembered him in the original The Omen (1976). Few months ago I saw The Guns of Navarone on the telly and he's the protagonist. Always the good guy in most of his movies, about the same like Cary Grant and Tom Hanks, just to name a few examples of Hollywood's good guys persona on the silver screen.

The more i see Gregory Peck in his movies, the more i adore him. I will post his photos later in my next postings.

Merdeka Night in Kuala Lumpur

This is my first time ever to go out and do the Merdeka countdown on the eve of merdeka day (31 August every year). My friends (well, it's abang ibrahim's family, him, his wife kak zu and daughter hakimah) and I chose the nearest but less crowded spot nonetheless, to see those fireworks display right after the midnight countdown.

It was awesome really to be amongst thousands other city dwellers to watch this historical event. After all, it's our 49th independence year celebration. Although that might not be exactly the honourable way of remembering our forefathers' struggle to free Malaysia from its colonial, British, i did feel patriotic and proud to be Malaysian. I reckon it is what and how we feel that matters the most.

I let those pictures do the talking....



Lovely fireball up in the KL sky 


An evening to remember: counting down towards merdeka moments near Petronas Twintower aka KLCC. And what a great view these fireworks!! 





simply breathtaking! 



wohooo!!! 




what a waste of money, but heck, this is a great firework display! 



history has been made 

Stray cats dig our lingo too

Just a short but interesting story i encountered today.

I was about to leave home when i kept hearing cats hollering down the hallway from my office. I thought of ignoring them first, probably one mother cat calling her kittens. Somehow, those hollers started to get on my nerves more and more. Bloody stray cats...what the hell do they want now huh??!!!! buggers lot....

I then continued packing my stuff up and locking up my room when i saw this pitiful looking cat sitting on a desk next to our coffee room. She didn't stop meowing when she saw me heading towards her....arrrghhh that untamed, scruffy cat, the one who gave that hissssssss warns whenever i came near her....OK FINE, what is the problem, cat??? i said in my heart....I dunno why but those perikemanusiaan (humane and compassionate) instincts made me walk over and investigate on her strange behaviours. Then i heard another loud but higher frequency meows coming from our coffee room. Right. It was locked. Now i understood. Her kitten accidentally left trapped inside.

Mother cat still staring at me, as if she asked me to do something about it like maybe try to let her baby out. I was actually curious to see as to how far could she be serious that it was indeed her kitten. As if she understood what i was thinking, she continued making all that noise to prove that she was obviously desperate to see her kitling again. Fair enough. So i opened the coffee room door, switched on the lights and waited for the kitten to come out.

That little bugger kept on meowing, i guessed for help maybe, as in telling her mama that she's in there, come and save her or something. I looked at the mother and said to her, "meh sini, masuk cepat, sini!" (come here, go inside, here!) Without further ado, she came down from the desktop and crept slowly while precautiously ensuring some certain safe gap between me standing and holding the door and the space for her to make her move. Bloody brilliant ugly old stray cat, you.

So off she went, and immediately she located her baby. Both came towards each other, brushing against their heads and bodies . Ahhh....mama and baby reunion. Well, hold on you two, i need to go home now, I'm knackered and famished. Since she did understand my first orders, i thought i should start commanding her to leave our coffee room now. "Dah, dah, cepat kua, kua...kua laa woi....kucing, kua laaa!" (enough, enough, move out, fast...out out out laaa oi). The next thing i saw was that mother cat beginning to move slowly, heading towards the exit and halted approximately a metre away from me. I reckoned she's signalling her kid to follow her as the coast was clear. I just stood there holding the door when that kitten then came out from under the small table (where it has probably been hiding all these while) and gingerly running towards its mother.

Off they ran a few yards away from me as i closed the door. I turned to look at them, joyfully rubbing each other. A few seconds later, they stopped and turned around looking at me and meowed. Then they moved further down the corridor and made another brief stop to look at me, and meowed. My only sincere guess was that they actually thanked me for my help.

They probably are inhabiting in an alley somewhere, or running a vagabond life, moving around scavenging for leftover food and what nots. They may look not that healthy, no fancy thick furs covering their body. However, regardless of their shortcomings, they seemed pretty much surviving. I learnt a good lesson today on the importance of being grateful to what we have despite how relatively modest it can be. But above all, I am truly amazed at how "streetwise" those cats were to the extent that they could actually understand our lingo.

The bottomline is that hardship brings out the best in a person, and that applies to stray cats too. Even though they were created with a lot less brain than us homo sapiens, they cherished what little they have for the good cause. No wonder God has said this in the Quran (7:179):

Many are the Jinns and men we have made for Hell: They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle, nay, more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning).

We are each other's angels (part 4)

The final two months were the battle to fight such love feelings towards each other. I decided to move back to my hometown and quit my job there. Seeing that as the best option, he too decided to quit the job there as well and get some rest back in his hometown while applying other jobs in other places and other countries hopefully.


One weekend afternoon, we went out , and such outing were one of our last outings together. We had those heart-to-heart talks and to my surprise, I saw him in tears. That was definitely the 1st time ever I see a man (not my family members laa) weeping in front of me, for me. I don’t know whether to call that as one of the sweetest moments of my life or one of the most tragic. But I settled for the former reason. I never knew that there would be a man capable of loving me ever so dearly that he would drop all the ego barriers as a man and would do things they have dreaded in their life as a man. I was gobsmacked, yet full of pride. What a Kodak moment that was. It still brought me smiles and well, a little bit of tears in my eyes, but not overly.

Those personal fights towards stopping ourselves to continue having feelings for each other really took its toll. We both hurt like hell. I could cry during my lunch hour alone without trying hard. There were also times when we had had to force to ignore each other and only talk to each other in the most professional manner. Such odd behaviour was quickly noticed by all of our officemates. The height of the “turmoil” became more apparent especially when I have tendered my resignation letter to our division boss. Good thing none of our colleagues really bothered to ask on our troubled friendship because both of us have made it looked like normal when it came to socializing with them. Nevertheless, a few did try to ask on what was going on between us, but we made it clear that it was just those moments of trying to accept the fact that we gonna be apart soon. What they didn’t know was that he would also follow my footpath on leaving our old company soon after my departure.

One of the ways of keeping my sanity during those final days was by inviting my sisters to stay with me. The first to pay the visit was my fourth sister who stayed with me over a week or so. I even took her to my office nonchalantly on every other day. No one in my office objected to it. My fourth sister got to know my officemates including him and all three of us went out together for dinner a few times. She quickly received attentions from my office colleagues as well as the neighbouring ones. One of them even asked my permission if he could take her out for a dinner. Funny people them lots.

My sister saw that quality in him that I like but we both still teased him just to spite him for being the married one and all. After she left, approximately 3 weeks after that, my 3rd sister came over. She didn’t join me to the office but she still got introduced to him. Having just found out that her former boyfriend cheated on her with another girl, she had wanted to go far, far away from whatever familiar places and things. So I’ve asked her to come and stay with me for a couple of days while she nurses her wounded heart.


Both my sisters made friends with him. But since the third one was not in the mood to chit-chatting much, he got chummier with the fourth one, even until today. He was so brotherly with them that I felt even sadder on the thoughts of going each others’ way soon.


The last month before I left, he began to avoid seeing me much. The day when we bid farewell to each other, we managed to take it calmly. Only God knows how broken and weak I was inside. But I must stay strong, especially for that moment. He gave me more advices and one of them that I will never forget was: I deserved so much better in life, and I deserved a much, much better man to love and care for me, and that I shall never settle for any less when it comes to marrying the rightful man for me.

Back in my house (family’s house of course), I cried almost every night thinking of him and us. Of all the bitter-sweet memories that we have shared. I got a new job very soon after that. The one that I did my interview while I did my first month in my old company. I was officially a UKM employee.

I called him at his hometown one night and again we both got too carried away, crying and all. He said that (and has been saying it time and time again) I will always be a part of him for the rest of his life.

After 2 months of crying at night, I got rather tired of it...very, very tired indeed. On the eve of my birthday, I made a new pledge, and a totally new resolution. It shall be the biggest turning point in my life. Tomorrow shall be the moment to turn over a new leaf all together.

All that we had were so mutual, so wonderful despite its wrongness. It took us to another level in our lives. Thank God that we managed to bring out the best in each other. Thank God that we have found each other. Thank God that I can finally exorcise my inferiority complex demons when it comes to feeling unattractive. Thank God that I can finally regain my self-esteem and confidence while continuously improving on my social skills. Thank God that I have then realised how wonderful it was to be a woman without ever changing my own self (I was always a bit of a tomboy and a little bit rough on the attitude until I met him). And many, many more...


I probably needed those lessons in not just the hard way, but also in ways I have never even thought of....ever...some miracles came in many disguises, same as the blessings. I am glad that it happened for the betterment of both of us. He ended up getting much, much better job with much, much better pay that he well deserved. His relationship with his wife has gone into much, much better level that after we went into separate ways, he was bestowed with two more children and this time he took them to stay with him wherever he works. Recently, he emailed me a photo of him and his family and he looked happier than ever. He kept asking me from time to time when I am gonna get married and settle down and all. I told him, now would be the most opportune time for me to begin praying hard to accomplish yet another rewarding achievement of my life and obviously my parents hope: that I shall marry and have my own family.


I have since got over him but i can never erase him and our memories from my mind forever. Even though it is almost impossible for us to ever marry each other (by the way, he is catholic), his existence in my life will always be one of the signs that good things will come to those who waits (with patience and lots of prayers).

We are each other's angels (part 3)

It was rather strange to have some sort of an affair with a married man, especially if he was only 7 years older than us and helped in bringing out the woman in us.

We continued as really close friends after raya and xmas hols. There were times when I didn’t know whether it was really because of him or the fact that I was blooming into a womanly woman, my nearest guess was both reasons complement each other. Closely related. As I continued befriending him, my relationship with other Malay communities, especially my officemates got better and better. I gradually received more and more attention from other men in my company as well. That included the top engineers, management people , both married and single ones. Soon we had another new lady engineer, a malay girl with a penchant for overly dressed in an engineering company. Me and my colleagues would want to tell her that that kinda dressing styles were much suitable in banks, KLCC sort of offices and so on. But I couldn’t be arsed about it.

Somehow, I was compared to that miss overly dressed (OD). I didn’t know how or when it all began, but those gossips reached me. As an engineering company, majority of the employees from the top level to the pembantu am rendah were men. Couldn’t blame it really. One of the things I heard was, I was a natural beauty, curvaceous and voluptuous, while miss OD was a malay-model lady who looked pretty in kebaya (especially if that kebaya has a long slit up to her thighs…..now that was something men love to ogle). All those comments also came up from his own mouth. He is in fact a man too.


Anyways, remember the night when I cried my eyes out. Well, I also said some prayers for him and his family. I’ve asked forgiveness from God that I got attracted to the wrong person and I asked the strength and holy guidance from Him so that I will never wreck his marriage. I also prayed for his and his family’s protections.

Those men in my old company have started to become more and more bold with me. Sure, I was a young engineer. As I was not a girlfriend to him or anything like that, therefore he has no rights to control over my life including going out with other men. Fair enough. Come the third month of our friendship, I went out with our computer maintainer. He knew it and approved it. That maintainer apparently adored me a lot, but I had no chemistry with him except as friends only. Nevertheless, the maintainer, being another gentleman and all and trying hard to win my heart, we too spent one evening sitting nearby the seaside, and on another occasion, we went to a famous waterfall resort. I didn’t fancy dipping in that cool water with a guy, too intimate for me...It’s ok if I do that only with my family members around me. But never with a non-mahram (i.e. a man that I can legally marry with).


I guess having befriended to my officemate has made me more a charming lady than I was before. I learnt a lot on how to talk to a man and how to "offend" him without putting my life and dignity at stake. I learnt on identifying my own people skill and understanding my strengths in many aspect of social skills. Not that I only got to polish those skills because of him. He was acting as a catalyst for all that. And not that my social skills was so poor before. But, truth to God, I got to improve myself so much! He was so patient with me. The only song I could think of to describe what he has done to me is: Because you loved me by Celine Dione.

There was even one time when he accompanied me on a food shopping trip that he managed to tell me off without me getting defensive. Normally, my mood will reflect the person who criticizes me without hikmah (wisdom) or blatantly saying words as if they were meant to make me feel so undermined and low. But not him. He has this clever way of advising me that I broke down and cry and not even feeling angry towards him. It was direct yet with a lot of subtlety and wisdom. Those words gone absorbed right to the bottom of my heart and had stayed there ever since. From that moment on, he was officially my angel.


In the hindsight, I have also become his angel when it came to his relationship with his wife. He told me of how easily we clicked in comparison to his struggle in trying to win his wife’s affections and attentions. Before that, his wife thought it’s gross to hold hands in public and many, many other romantic things a couple normally do. It was all due her reluctance of marrying him in the 1st place. She was “forced” to marry him because her brother saw her and him alone together kissing and making up in her family’s house. She wasn’t ready for such commitment and so had to put up with being a wife and a mother to their child. All that coldness and taking him for granted has finally resolved when he befriended me. She found out that her husband got close to his female officemate (i.e. me) from their friends who also worked in our company. Obviously she was shocked and got jealous and all. Which was definitely a good sign for him that she has then realized how much she needed him and how far has she neglected on taking him as her lawfully wedded husband.

As for my part, I have always reminded him of contacting his wife and so on. On how important their family were and how he must be patient that one day his perseverance on winning her ultimate love will soon prevails. That he should never think that all his efforts were in vain.


And thank God for that, my prayers were answered. He told me and his fellow countrymen colleagues that his wife now kept saying that she missed him and she started to say “I love you” more openly and sincerely than before. He got so ecstatic for that, that he felt liked he owed me a LOT. I just told him, “ditto”.

This was my first and last close encounter of a married man. As much as I had avoided it before, I still got to experience what it was like to being in a relationship with one, and how painful it was for both of us to fight such wonderful, and yet forbidden feelings.



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We are each other's angels (part 2)

It was only 2 weeks since we actually formed some sort of a close bond together right afther that first outing on the 1st day of Ramadhan, and now he was leaving to his country for christmas holiday. It'll be my aidil fitri soon too. The day he left me, i started to feel a bit lost. I just couldnt figure out why. Was i starting to miss him already?

Then one night, about few days before i went back to my family for raya hols, i had this moment where i began to cry my heart and eyes out....pretty much dramatic, thats for sure. It happened right after i did my evening prayers followed by the taraweeh prayers. I sat on my praying mat, contemplating about many things in my life. About how cruel was that abroad guy who was so chicken of accepting some trials in life when it comes to a long distance relationship. I was bitter....really bitter...but i didnt cry for him....never....it was more like that internal anger deep down inside my heart. Stupid fucked up dude. Coward tahap max! bodo....and etc profanities that i only uttered inside my heart too, as a sign of respect to the holy month of ramadhan and because i was still wrapped in my praying telekung costume.

Then, all of a sudden, i started to weep as i was thinking of him ( my officemate la). What he was doing and so on...soon it got worse....i started to realise that i missed him like hell. Yes I did miss him....Could not deny that any longer...but i knew it was wrong to feel that way....it was sooooo wrong to even began to have feelings with a married man let alone missing his company that much. Those mixed up feelings grew even worse up to the point that i finally let it all out....tears after tears streaming down my face....this has never occurred to me....no way i was never that big crybaby when it comes to man. I was always the stronger one. Damn, i felt so overwhelmed by all that had happened in a short period of time. How can such thing affected me that bad? As i was crying, i suddenly realised that i was also in love with him. No wonder it hurt me so bad. No wonder i could not stop myself from crying a river for that matter. That night , i shall always remember it as the 1st time ever this lady understood what love is.

Not that it was really the very very 1st time i wept for a man (excluding my dad, family, prophet muhammad). I did weep a bit when i thought of my very 1st true puppy love, or shall i call it the very 1st moment of truth as I opened up my heart to a guy. That puppy love guy, he's damn cute too, tall and all. My type basically. We didnt continue our relationship as it was opposed by my parents. They said i was still too young to have an affair with another man and i should concentrate on my studies 1st. Right. That happened after my SPM. I obeyed my parents. But he will never be out of my mind forever and i really hope to see him again one day.

Love hurts....now thats another revelation for me. Damn well it hurts....

He rang me at our office one fine afternoon. He too missed me and asked me if i wanted anything as a souvenir from his country. I wasnt thinking that far ahead but i didnt want to trouble him either. So i asked for a hard rock cafe tshirt bearing his city's name.

Ooo...by the way, before he left for xmas hols, we went out and did some shopping at one of the main shopping malls there. He asked me what would i want for raya, and i thought probably a baju kebaya would be cheaper than an Aqua gi Gio perfume. He then let me choose the baju kebaya and went to pay for it as a gift for me. He was really a sweet guy....not only a gentleman but also sweet. What a great package to have a guy like him. And i silently prayed to God that if i was to get a husband, it should be something like him...not exactly like him, but this future husband should have many of his qualities put it that way.

What to do, both of us are engineers. He does civil and i do chemical. Building blocks while ensuring the chemical aspects of it are intact. Sounds ideal right? Well, almost.

We are each other's angels (part 1)

We met each other nearly seven years ago in a southern state of Malaysia. Although i must admit that I did not actually remember vividly that first day we were introduced by our then boss but we did shake our hands. It was the first day of my life working as an engineer.

Fresh from my undergraduate studies abroad, i chose to keep a distant with those malays (orang kita). Not that i hate my own people (or more precisely, half of me belong to that group), I had had a lot of nasty experience as i get closer to them. Nevertheless, this was my perception back then. My best friend is a malay (half chinese) and i do have a LOT of very close malay friends. But due to many of the malays affinity towards gossipping and backbiting, i thought i had better be safe than sorry when it came to dealing with these people in general. The fact he was not a malay and not even a malaysian though he is a south-east asian fella and has malay roots made it more "easier" so to speak for me to communicate with each other minus negation. And english was our medium.



However, that first time was another story for him. He recalled it as one of those unforgettable moments of his life. He actually fell in love with me the moment i stepped into our office division. The only drawback about it was that he was a married man, and still is a married man. Only a week after i started my job there, the fasting month of Ramadhan began. Living on my own in a state that i have never really been in my life has forced me to become more and more independent. But i do need to have friends, those i can hang out with. The only close friends i had there live about 20minutes drive away.

Then came the 1st day of Ramadhan. It was on a weekend. I wanted to go out to see the city and places around as part of familiarizing myself of where i was staying. And so I started asking my newlyfound officemates if there was anyone kind enough to accompany me for that matter. It seemed like no one actually was prepared to sacrifice his/her time for a new officemate like me, except him. He took my invitation with "open arms"...very welcoming. I thought just because he is not malaysian, he understood the urge of wanting to learn about new places. I have no other interest in him at that time. The only thing i was trying to establish in a new working environment was the sense of camaraderie amongst my officemates.


As he accepted my invitation, we started planning on what time we should meet up, where and so on. Since it was the 1st day of ramadhan, i preferred to go out in the morning so that I will not get hungry and tired too soon. Especially that i had the opportunity to take my sahur (the early breakfast before dawn).

The 1st day of ramadhan. He came to pick me up from home much, much earlier than our scheduled time. I didn't know exactly what was this excitement was about. Come on, it was just an outing...and probably a little bit of shopping if i still have the energy. But heck, i appreciated his efforts and we went out as early as 8.00am. Obviously no shopping mall opened around that hour. So we basically walked around the city till we entered a zoo there. It was still early and only very few visitors turned up as we entered the animal sanctuary. We spoke on basic stuff, about ourselves really, background stories and so on. I kept reminding myself that this cute-looking, nicely built physique man is indeed a married man with 1 kid. He told me that both his wife and son were at his country and he was staying with some of his countrymen friends in a terraced double storey house. Man, he is taken. Yupp, no doubt about it. Must stay focused on such facts. Must not lead him on. Must not cross the line. Arrrghhhh fuck this temptation....this very very dangerous temptation....forbidden fruits....easy woman, easy....it's ramadhan. (and many many more things i've been saying inside my heart).


As we left the zoo, we continued walking down the pedestrian lane adjacent to the sea. It was kinda romantic by the way. After a while, we sat on a bench there facing the sea. There he dropped this one massive bombshell: he confessed that he was in love with me! Fucking outttt.....!!!!! I was just about to get over with that other fella (ex-boyfriend) who lived abroad that time. Why oh why such thing ever happened to me! Not especially with a guy worth looking at! bloodyhell this was not easy for me at all....and definitely not easy for him either....i had to steady myself, tried to remain cool, calm and collected over hearing such confession. Must not fret. That was just the spur of the moment....must be that stupid pheromones we caught at the zoo.

There...I was weak and pathetic and totally was not prepared for all that.

We continued sitting there for a while, while i tried to digest those words slowly and painfully but those words became more and more like a music to my heart....Soon, i'll be that other woman in his life.

I tried to talk to him and reminded him of his marital position. He was very very clear on that but he just could not resist it any longer. He felt very strange as well the moment i walked into our office. It was like another thunderbolt came striking his heart, as if that angel of love, that mystical cupid gave him a second chance on getting that falling in love feelings once again. He said it has been five years since he had had such feelings for a woman, and she was his wife. I was torn between euphoria and melancholia. Should i be happy or should i be prepared to get hurt. The truth was i actually liked it. Yes, I did. Not in the sense that i wanna be the home wrecker. But in the sense that i didnt know love is all around until I met him. And he was not just any guy. He was a goodlooking guy. What can i do.....after all i am a human and i was still very young. With that kinda attention, who wouldnt feel "cair"?

He remained ever so gentleman as he refused to eat or drink the whole time we were together during the day. He wanted to share my fasting experience and he would love to break the fast , buka puasa with me later in the evening, just after dusk (hate to say this but that day felt like a romantic version of the movie "from dusk till dawn" but in the reverse order).

We killed our afternoon time by watching a movie. It was Toy Story 2 or something like that. During the cinema hour, we both felt like teenagers making it up in the movie seat. Well, not that we did make up, but we nearly did. The dark ambience, cool surroundings, not so many audience around....and this newly lovebirds just got to know each others' feelings....sigh....another big temptation.

We buka puasa together at some swanky but not very posh restaurant. But swanky nonetheless. We got closer and closer by the end of the day. I really enjoyed his company. He then sent me home on a cab and bid each other goodbye at my doorstep.

The next day i woke up for my sahur, i just had had to reflect on what had just happened last night. I thought for quite a long while. I knew it was wrong to be in love with a married man, but i knew i could feel something inside me started to grow. Monday and we shall meet again. How could i not see him, he was my officemate after all.

Because of that, he inspired me to write a diary. (My other significant guy who also rocked my world has inspired me to write a blog. Too sweet were those moments need to be captured by any means possible.)

You don't say....embracing a religion of the so-called gentile or lovingly termed as goyim

Despite the atrocities, mass killings, continuous bombings, and forever ambushes (as well as abuses) physically or verbally, some people still do the opposite, be it some muslims converting to other religions or some other non-muslims reverted to Islam. U may wanna call this some sort of a poetic justice, another irony in life. But I call it the global in-trend that never cease to amaze me, really.

Many muslims are gutted to see their own muslim brothers or sisters fought tooth and nail just to denounce their Islamic faith to join the apostate groups. On the other hand, Islam still manages to attract the non-believers such that they are coaxed and lured towards becoming a muslim. Whether it happens through marriage with a fellow muslim man/woman or through some religion comparative studies, such an act should be of something to be reflected of by those emotionally-driven muslims.


The hidayah or huda (Godly sign to the heart as a true holy guidance) belongs to Allah. He will bestow it to whomever he deems appropriate at whichever time and place. It says so in the Quran:

(2:272): It is not required of thee (O Messenger), to set them on the right path, but Allah sets on the right path whom He pleaseth. Whatever of good ye give benefits your own souls, and ye shall only do so seeking the "Face" of Allah. Whatever good ye give, shall be rendered back to you, and ye shall not Be dealt with unjustly.

(2:38): We said: "Get ye down all from here; and if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from me, whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

(3:73): And believe no one unless he follows your religion." Say: "True guidance is the Guidance of Allah. (Fear ye) Lest a revelation be sent to someone (else) Like unto that which was sent unto you? or that those (Receiving such revelation) should engage you in argument before your Lord?" Say: "All bounties are in the hand of Allah. He granteth them to whom He pleaseth: And Allah careth for all, and He knoweth all things.


(6:88): This is the guidance of Allah. He giveth that guidance to whom He pleaseth, of His worshippers. If they were to join other gods with Him, all that they did would be vain for them.


To those who were thinking of plotting some bomb attacks on planes and other public places, I disagree with your act wholeheartedly. You not only add more disgrace to the peace-loving muslim community but also more prejudice from our fellow non-muslims society. We must be wiser and more thoughtful rather than reacting over anger and frustrations. Jihad is not merely a physical semblance on fighting the oppressions afflicted upon us, but jihad is also a mind and soul fight towards the betterment on earth minus the bloodshed. Physical attribution should only be materialised when we are subjugated by a direct force.




Here is an article which may cause a lot of stir:

source: Islamicity and Ynetnews


2006: More Jews converting to Islam


(No, no, your eyes are not lying)

New record: 70 Israeli citizens expected to convert to Islam this year – more than twice the number in previous years. Most are cases of Jewish, Christian women marrying Muslim men
Nurit Palter



According to statistics from the Population Administration, 2006 will be a record year for Israeli Jews joining the Muslim religion. In the past few years, the number of conversions to Islam was relatively stable at 35 per year, but over 70 conversions were expected this year. In 2003, 40 Jews converted to Islam; in 2004 the number dropped to 27; and last year it stood at 33.


But the trend took a drastic turn this year, and Interior Ministry data showed that in the first half of 2006 alone 42 conversions were
recorded, and a comparable number is expected throughout the second half of the year


The process of converting to Islam is carried out at the Muslim religious court which operates according to Islamic law. In contrast to Jewish conversions, which last months and often years, to become Muslim one must only convince the court that one’s intentions are sincere and declare faith in Allah.


Most are Jewish and Christian women who convert after choosing to marry Muslim men. The number of men who convert to Islam is far lower, but has also seen a rise.


“Jews say they decided to convert after deepening their knowledge of Islam. Many are disappointed in Judaism,” a senior member of the Islamic court said.


In the past, the Religious Affairs and Interior Ministries made it very difficult for Jews to convert to Islam. “They are giving me the runaround, sending me back and forth from office to office. They made me see a psychiatrist, to ‘make sure I wasn’t brainwashed.’ They did everything so that I would despair and return to Judaism,” one convert related.


The data revealed that the reverse phenomenon of Muslims converting to Judaism is significantly lower. In the first half of this year, there were only seven conversions to Judaism.


Statistics that reached Israel’s leading daily Yedioth Ahronoth showed that Judaism continues to constitute a greater attractive force for Christians. In 2003, 437 Christians converted to Judaism, in 2004 – 884, and in 2005 – 733. Since the beginning of 2006, 210 Christians converted to Judaism.


Yedioth reporter Paiz Abbas countered that according to data recorded by the Islamic appeals court, the numbers do not indicate an increase in the number of converts. Further, data show that the greatest number of converts during 2005 were from Jerusalem with 46, followed by Yaffo with 28, then Haifa and Akre with 25 and Nazereth with 22.

The venomous media voices who think no Muslim is worth talking to

A blend of society of different faith 

To be a muslim is to have the perseverance to safeguard one's faith by accepting the obligation on practising the islamic teachings, the solemn believe and surrender to the Almighty God Allah as well as the ultimate acceptation that nabi Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wasallam , SAW) is the God's last sent prophet and messenger on earth.

During nabi Muhammad SAW leadership era in madinah for 11 years (622-632 AD), he managed to unite many different arab, christian and jewish tribes under a peace treaty called The Madinah Treaty. It was indeed a tough job of trying to maintain peace and harmony there but the prophet carried his duty ever so zealously. The non-believers were split into two types of group: those who opposed the muslims (kafir harbi) and those who chose to be in peace with the muslims community (kafir zimmi). The prophet has always ensured safety and wellbeing for those of zimmi group while stayed on alert to any attack from the harbi type.

My point here is, a muslim is taught to not breed hatred against any fellow non-believers (i.e. non-muslims) and will only defend oneself if he/she is attacked mercilessly. God has said this in the Quran:

(16:125): Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.

(17:33): Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him nor exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law).


Below is an interesting article excerpts from The Guardian, written by a non-muslim lady who believes in justice for all:


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As government efforts to 'tackle' extremism flounder, it should beware the advice of armchair warriors and fantasists

Madeleine Bunting
Wednesday August 16, 2006
The Guardian


One could almost feel sorry for them. A minister like Ruth Kelly is wrenched from her bucket-and spade holiday on a rainy British beach with the kids to launch yet another push to "engage" with Muslims and to step up efforts to "tackle" extremism. A ministerial tour of nine cities to meet Muslims is announced.

It's all designed to sound energetic and purposeful. We pay fat cabinet salaries and we want our politicians to sound like they are earning them. But in truth, beneath the rhetoric - an odd verbal combination of rugby tackles and romantic engagement - is a profound confusion in government policy as to what to do about British-grown Islamist terrorism, apart from large amounts of surveillance and frequent use of detention. Beyond that, the hearts-and-minds strategy is running on empty.

I've seen government ministers do "engagement": Paul Murphy, when he had the community-cohesion brief, listened carefully, answered questions patiently and got precisely nowhere. His young, angry Muslim audience heard him out but were profoundly cynical; their views didn't change a jot.

Events of the last few days will have immeasurably increased that cynicism: Muslim MPs and peers have been roundly ticked off by a succession of government ministers as if they were imperial vassals who should know their place. Yet they were simply stating the obvious - that British foreign policy is incubating (we can argue whether it's the root cause another time) Muslim extremism. Given that kind of opening salvo from her colleagues, perhaps Kelly should save herself the trouble and return to the beach for some more sandcastles and rock pools.

While she's there, the best thing she can do is to get a bit of perspective on a worn-out policy. Even more importantly, she would do well to take stock of a pernicious media onslaught in danger of spiralling out of control. The ministerial tours, the meetings with selected Muslims - most of whom are as baffled by Islamic extremism as ministers - were the responses to last summer's London bombings. The danger is that as the government's "community cohesion" policy flounders, there is no shortage of media commentators pouring out a flood of venomous advice on exactly why no Muslim is worth talking to anyway.

If, reader, you're short of time and need the summary, it runs thus: the government can't talk to extremists because they endorse violence and/or are nutty and irrational, and can't talk to "moderates" (warning: the word is on the point of becoming a term of abuse in the Muslim community) because they're not representative. These methods of dismissal are so frequently used by journalists that the only possible conclusion is that there are many people in this country who have no interest in listening to any Muslim unless they can chorus their own loathing and suspicion of Islam - the former Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali is the case par excellence.

Some of this armchair advice to government can be pretty briskly dismissed, such as the paranoid fantasies of the rightwing Daily Mail commentator Melanie Phillips in her book Londonistan or those of the Conservative MP Michael Gove in his book Celsius 7/7. Both authors haven't troubled themselves to get much beyond revived imperial delusions of demented, violent Muslims (check out Britain's history in India, Sudan or Egypt).

More insidious is the comprehensive attack on Whitehall's policy towards the Muslim community over the last decade by the New Statesman's political editor, Martin Bright. He argues that the government should have no truck with any Muslim organisation in the UK that has had any involvement with any person who has ever been influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, the political Islamist organisation. That rules out the Muslim Council of Britain, the Federation of Student Islamic Societies and other mainstays of the government's "engagement" policy of the last 10 years. It would even include intellectuals such as Professor Tariq Ramadan (grandson, no less, of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood), who was a member of the government taskforce set up to tackle Islamist extremism last year, and a star turn on its travelling roadshow for young Muslims. We are talking sweeping here. In fact, implement Bright's advice and you've got a pretty small tea party for your next round of engagement.

The Muslim Brotherhood is a global phenomenon that has taken many different guises in different places. It has been very successful at the ballot box in a host of countries, particularly Egypt. In some countries it has developed an armed wing, in many others it has not. Many of those in this country influenced by this strand of anti-colonial political Islamism have subsequently developed their thinking in entirely different directions. Almost every thoughtful, educated Muslim in this country has been exposed to - and to varying degrees influenced by - the Muslim Brotherhood, the 20th century's most influential political Islamic movement. The obvious historical analogy to Bright is those US cold war warriors in the 50s who smeared anyone who had ever read Marx.

For a story to really work you have to have good guys as well as bad, so the critics conjure up another absurdity - the "silent Sufi majority" of British Muslims. These are the gentle, peace-loving Muslims at the grassroots who have been betrayed, so the argument runs, by those who claim to represent them, such as the Muslim Council of Britain. One can argue for hours about how to define a Sufi in this country; and, leaving that aside, the characterisation of Sufism is wide of the mark: some of the most violent anti-colonial struggles have been led by Sufis, for example Chechnya and Algeria, even the Mahdi who did for General Gordon in Khartoum. Furthermore, some argue that Sufi-inclined traditions such as the Kashmiri Barelwi have failed to travel well to urban Britain and that it is precisely their youngsters who are most disorientated and likely to fail prey to extremism - as was the case of the July 7 bombers from Leeds.

The main target for Bright is the Muslim Council of Britain; he loathes it with a contempt that is hard to explain. Given that the MCB is in effect a small volunteer parish council scrabbling to represent a hugely diverse - both ethnically and theologically - community, it's not surprising that it has scored own goals in its time. It's a young, underconfident institution and falls short in many ways, but the fact remains that of all the Muslim organisations to emerge in recent decades it has proved the most successful in winning affiliates. There is no comparable substitute waiting in the wings. The Sufi Muslim Council of Britain has been in existence all of a month; I wish it well, but unlike the MCB it cannot claim to represent anything like the 40% of British mosques affiliated to the MCB.

Kelly has an urgent task ahead to assuage anxiety as the possibility looms of a second-class status for Muslims in this country - profiled, suspected, searched, endlessly quizzed and found wanting. As for the armchair warriors so keen to proffer advice, one has to question the motives of those intent on undermining the meagre organisational capacity the Muslim community has managed to weld together to combat just such a threat.

· Madeleine Bunting will become director of the thinktank Demos next month

Scorching, sweltering heat!

All those bright, sunny "summer" days in bangi (and malaysia) and wet, rainy day the next day just made me prone to get cold. And i am having cold now....sigh....well, it is said in our religion that every disease, illness, any pain that we are suffering could actually be a "kifarah", as in small sins cleansing. Of course, my tastebud is reduced, my nose blocked, coughing and sneezing, my eyes are getting a bit puffy and all....sure, all that are a very very normal symptoms of having a normal fever, but it does affect my productivity for the day. I had to blow my nose, panting for some air....and well, cant help but living my mouth gaping coz i cant breathe easily through my nostrils.

All that plus walking under blazing sunshine makes me feel grateful that the buildings in malaysia are equipped with airconditioning including mai maison. ON top of this sweltering heat felt by the malaysian, our house, especially in our bedrooms are swarmed by this infamous tropical pest: mosquitos! NOT even that supposedly "effective" mosquito electric vapour repellent can ward off those seemingly perky and plucky litte flying, bloodsucking insects. They weren't that tough to get rid of during the 1st 4-5 months of the year. And by the end of june and onwards, these insects have gained some "extra" immunition power against my vapour repellent that i had to spray my bedroom with a Shieldtox spray and and leave the room closed for 5-10mins, until those pungent aerosol smells vanish.

Speaking of insect repellent sprays, this Shieldtox special spray for cockroaches has live up to its claims on instantly killing those creepy smelly ugly crawlers. I have tested it and it works! FYI, i memang geli dengan those big flying insects like cockroaches and wasps. And especially that C ones. I cannot sleep peacefully until i know i have sprayed it dead. I used to squash them using toilet slippers or big brooms but that only creates very gross revolting yucky white things coming out of those roaches' flat bodies. Seriously gross! But to see them happily flying clumsily around my living room while watching my favourite TV program really gets on my nerves. No....i am not scared of them....i cannot stand them at all! Every time i see one flying above my head, i will automatically sprint to a safer spot and then quickly locate that special shieldtox spray and voila....RIP u scums!

However, if those cockroaches are in a mating mood, they become very "dangerous". One big, black female roach will do the flying debut while emitting some nasty smell, which actually is an act of sending some signals (like pheromones in mammals) that she is ready to copulate. Soon after that, a flatter, lighter brown, longbodied male roach will appear from nowhere and starts showing his flying prowess to his female counterpart. Unfortunately all that love scenes only send me and my sisters scurrying and scampering and screaming. We normally hide behind any of the nearest bedroom for a while before attempting to open the door hastily but on wide alert (from any possible ambushes of these insects). Then of course, either my dad will bunuh them 1st or halau them away from our views. Due to some sort of an auto-phobic act, my sisters and i are actually drenched in those fear-sweat. Is this a laughing matter? well, i have actually seen much worse act than us....especially in a house full of female occupiers or a female dormitory. I could hear some very loud hysterical screams just because one pathetic creepy insect made his appearance, and practising its odd flying skills. Damn, this is no way a laughing matter....this insect can go up to 5.0cm long and 2.0 to 3.0cm wide!!!

Thats....thats all about my rants while having cold for today.

Good thing i have enough tissue paper supplies to last till, well, hopefully, i am back to normal.

Awesome tennis match!

All hail to The King of the grass court, Roger Federer. The Swiss guy has won 4 Wimbledon Men's Single title for FOUR years in a row. That achievement put him on par with Bjorn Borg (1976-1980) and Pete Sampras (1997-2000) as the only men to win four consecutive Wimbledon titles.

This time he wears this personalized beige/white cream blazer sponsored by Nike, a little bit tongue-in-cheek yet projecting his champion aura which is somewhat similar to those grand slam golfers with their exclusive green jacket. I reckon such an act has prompted the tennis onlookers to compare Federer with Tiger Woods. Alright, i may be exaggerating but the actual words came from the former Masters winner Fred Couples. He was reportedly saying that he believed that Federer and Woods have similar effects on their sports and their opponents.





This boy, Rafael Nadal, is peculiarly gorgeous to me. Sure, he's 10 years younger than me, but I wouldnt mind having bit of a snog with him...tall, dark olive skin, dark hair, angular face, muscular shoulders, nice abs, toned legs...except one thing, he has this big buns for a guy. Probably he has some northern african blood in him. Anyways, i'd love to smack those bottom. Bring it on, baby, yeayyy (now i sound like austin powers...damn).



Look at his graceful moves....his intense eyes....He's about 1 inch taller than Roger Federer.


Sure, Federer, you looked very fired up during all your Wimbledon matches and you only drop one set during your battle with you numero uno nemesis, Rafael Nadal. Congratulations to you, mate, for your continuous achievement in Wimbledon and for being very much loyal to your long-time girlfriend, Miroslava (Mirka) Vavrinec. After four years of watching you winning the Men's Single, she has always been there cheering for you from the stand. I noticed that she is so not like those footballers WAGs (wives and girlfriends). She looks very much a regular lady, a bit plump and wearing normal clothes, nothing flashy. Definitely not those fashionista type.




Ah....the moment of truth. You got what you have always wanted, Roger, as the guy who has his name embossed on the Champion Cup four times in a row.



The smile of a champion. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you play, Roger, especially if it is against Rafael Nadal. Nevertheless, one of the unforgettable matches would be between you and Marat Safin during the semi-final of the Australian Open 2005. Good thing you've won it this year by beating cypriot Marcos Baghdatis. The latter was defeated by Rafa during the semi at Wimbledon.

Rafael and Roger, you guys really make my watching a tennis match worthwhile.

Amelie "Machismo" Mauresmo, The GayLady Wimbledon champ

I just found out today that this minging looking french lady is actually a real life lesbian tennis champ. All these while I just dunno what to say about her looks except that she somehow born with this masculine face. Before, I thought she is another lady-looks-like-a-dude who was a dude like Martina Navratilova. But then, after reading News of the world, I can now relate her looks with her sexual orientation.




Yup, she's the 2006 Women Single Wimbledon Champion,having beaten petit belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne by 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 yesterday, saturday 09 July 2006.

Tonight I am gonna watch the Men final where Fed will battle against Rafa, the spaniard who has beaten Fed on 6 out of 7 occassions. And after that...I would love to sit and watch LIVE final World Cup match of France vs Italy (Les Blues vs Azzurris) at 3.00am malaysian time. And I probably gonna end up dozing in my office the next day....yes, it is Monday tomorrow...!

Classic poem: IF

Just a short note: this poem recitation made hillarious by Mike Bassett (Ricky Tomlinson of The Royle Family fame), of the movie Mike Bassett England Manager.


IF



by Rudyard Kipling





IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:


If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:


If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'


If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

The day I celebrate it on my own

It may be one of the most fucked up bday celebration, but if it wasn't the wishes i got from my close friends, it would be just another day passing by. All that fucking arguments i had while living with my family only added salt to the wound. I am seriously getting more and more fed up living under the same roof. I have been independent all these while and not pretty much keen on living in malaysia except the fact that I am bound to a job contract. I am beginning to love my current job, really, but definitely getting tired of staying together with some of my family members....i seriously cannot wait the day i will move out and start my own life in my own house, driving my own car and basically having things my own damn way.


I think it is best if I distance myself from my family. The fewer i see them the better...by doing that, phone conversations would be of something more appreciated and i dont have to deal with all those silly issues. Yet, i know i have my parents to look after.....but then, it's not that i am gonna move far far away....it is still within 10 miles of radius or so...approximately.


I have been having really difficult time trying to think of settling down in malaysia when i was back in the UK. It's not to say that I despise living in my own birth country. I was born here and had my teenage life here. After that I spent like most of my early adulthood in the UK. It was there that i learnt so many things in life, about myself and about appreciating what i am and so on. OK it's fair to say that I found my human angel in malaysia in 2000, thats between my 1st degree years and my PhD years in the UK. I was in msia the whole time in 2000. And after that I went back to the UK and only came back end of 2005.


I may sound like I sooo prefer to be abroad. But after a while, i realised, it's not the UK itself that i desire, it's the freedom i have for so long and have already gotten used to it. It's my own personal liberation, to be able to design my own life the way i like. To be able to decorate and arrange my house the way i feel like. To travel all around, be it in malaysia or abroad whenever i like. Probably i am sounding a bit self-absorbed, but hey, i love it. The more i am further away from my family, the better. Then, my time spending with my family would be some sort of a quality time. And by then, i can make any excuses of fleeing if things got worse.


Earlier on, i went out and bought meself pizza set meal from pizza hut. I couldve just rang them and ordered a pizza delivery. Instead, i just felt like going out for a breather....people in the house may think that i am a me, me, me person, nobody else is correct but me, but on the contrary, i felt as if they undermine me a lot more. I prefer my own piece of mind. I am not one who loves to quarrel...but if the injustice is so unbearable, it freaked me out.

This whole distancing thing reminded me of the hindi movie: Hum Tum. There was this part where Rhea (rani mukerjee) left india and went to paris not because she hated her life in india, but she can just get herself lost amidst paris and amidst the strangers while trying to recuperate from the tragedy of losing her husband. She made her choice such that she could escape any familiar things that might breed greater contempts. UK to me was in some way similar to paris for Rhea but I have still many close friends in the UK. One of the main reasons why i enjoyed my life there was that UK is my main gateaway to travel to many places either to the european side, or crossing the atlantic or probably around the world. If I am working there, and staying single, i could afford to manage my savings by allocating some of it for travelling purposes. That was actually what i did from my bachelor degree years all the way to my PhD years. I really missed that lifestyle.


I missed those days where i could just lay down in the park doing nothing, or sitting somewhere under a tree and reading a novel. I missed those summer and winter sales. I can easily find a pair of jeans that fit me well. I can always target those shoe shops that cater the size i wear. I think all i need now is more money and not just my monthly salary in order to get meself off the malaysian shore and back to where i can find my groove. (damn, that reminds me of that movie: how stella got her groove back)


Pretty sad story for a birthday.

Wisdom, Knowledge and Virtue complement each other

After all that I have been through, I resort to a simple way of understanding any new system, things unknown to me or even things that I have not fully grasped:

LISTEN, OBSERVE AND LEARN

Listening to me is the first step of grasping something new while you observe at the same time. Listening and observing should come simultaneously and occur harmoniously unless if you are born blind or born deaf. Nevertheless the blind ones (but able to hear) sees with their heart and instinct and the deaf ones (but able to see) observes with imaginative sound from their heart as well. It is the power of their mind to break down things that they are less capable of.

Learning comes after listening and observing. It is the process realised through reading about the things that has been heard of and observed followed by hands-on practical. In between each of the learning process flow is the process of putting all the knowledge pieces together by gathering all the information that was seen and heard into a complete form of jigsaw puzzle.

Reading on its own can only lead to self-imagination and possibly misinterpretation of the knowledge. However, reading while observing the information we read with open heart and mind while incorporating all the information we have heard before, makes acquiring knowledge an exciting and, not to disregard the elementary essence of reading itself, a potentially powerful insight. Reading should always instigate an exercise of our brain's millions of active neurons accompanied by the physical alertness. The alertness will not be propagated unless we invoke a certain level of interest as a result of listening and observing of the importance of receiving such information while relating all of its relevance. This is what i call critical thinking while reading. Making some notes and highlighting on the main issues as well as the keywords as we read would create a balance flow between the mind, body and soul. The mind interpretes the information, the body exerts enough energy to assist the mind and the soul stabilizes the human aspect of ascertaining the interest towards knowledge quest. In addition to the physical alertness, there is this old proverb quoted as: "Early sleep and early rise makes a man healthy and wise" . Without good physical condition, the process of searching more information based on what we have heard, observed and read would not be that smooth.


So far, the biggest mistake that I have ever done throughout my schooling years was the mistake of not optimising the listening part. This is not to imply that I do not listen at all while i was in the classroom/lecture hall/lab/meeting with the teacher, lecturers, supervisors. I often listened to myself 55% more than trying to take note of what was said. That has led to communication breakdown and loss of some of the essential information that was delivered during that very moment itself. Secondary information was the consequence as I then resorted to asking my friends of what have i missed during an important class. I have then realised my mistake and have tried to improve it during my bachelor degree studies. The result was rather tremendous. However, this did not stop there only. During my PhD years, I had had some disputes and disagreements with my supervisor resulting in some horrendeous moments in my life. He often accused me of not listening to what he said, and i said to him vice versa. I got told off on quite many occassions and so i said to myself, this has got to stop. There must be a very important and yet very strong element, an equilibrium point that will unite us into a more acceptable level of compromising each other and contemplating towards mutual agreement. And there it was: I failed to LISTEN wisely. To listen is not a one-way process. Listening process has 3 degrees of freedom: to listen to what is said first and foremost, to be able to accept what u hear and to analyse the outcome; an ideal countercurrent process. This does not mean that we just accept everything we have heard blindly, it means listening is an integral part of learning and by understanding that, we will be able to analyse the information that we have obtained through listening.


When we listen, we observe the person who speaks to us and observe the points delivered. When we read, we observe what we read and not just simply scheming and scanning the text. Observation is the crucial link to listening and reading.

Nevertheless, acquiring the knowledge will not be complete without instilling virtuosity in ourselves; the virtue of gaining the knowledge by ourselves and the virtue of gaining the knowledge from other sources (people mainly).

More about knowledge, wisdom and virtue in the following texts below:


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Some quotations regarding wisdom:


"Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end" - Leonard Nimoy's Commander Spock of Star Trek series.


"The wise man questions the wisdom of others because he questions his own, the foolish man, because it is different from his own." - Leo Stein

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Mahatma Ghandi


"Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something." - Plato

"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it". Albert Einstein


"Man has such a predilection for systems and abstract deductions that he is ready to distort the truth intentionally, he is ready to deny the evidence of his senses only to justify his logic". Fyodor Dostoyevsky


"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom." Charles H. Spurgeon


"Some of the best lessons we ever learn are learned from past mistakes. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future." Dale E. Turner



"To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe." Marilyn vos Savant









++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Taken from: Islamicity

Author: Sadullah Khan


Wisdom has been defined as:

* the ability to make correct judgments and decisions.

* as foreseeing consequences and acting to maximize beneficial results.

* making the best use of available knowledge.

* thinking what is best and doing what is best in any given situation


Hikmah (denoting 'wisdom') is a positive term used repeatedly in the Quran as a characteristic of the righteous [refer: Quran 2:251; Quran 4:54; Quran 5:110], as a quality of those who truly understand [refer: Quran 31:12].

1)The Quran is referred to as the Wise Quran [Quran 36:2]; the Book of Wisdom, the verses of a Book of Wisdom [refer: Quran 10:2; Quran 13:2]

2)Wisdom is referred to as an integral component of the Message and Guidance provided by Divine Revelation ... taught the Book, the wisdom, the Gospel and the Torah [Quran 5:110]
3)And even the Almighty refers to Himself as The Mighty , The Wise [Quran 2:209].

4)When Prophet Abraham prayed for the fulfillment of the mission of prophets, he prayed for one who would " relate scripture to the people, convey hikmah (wisdom) and provide a means of purification." [Quran 2:129]

5)Hikmah is the lost property of the Believer; the Prophet Muhammad said and he encouraged us to take wisdom from any source.

6) in the case of debating and argumentation, hikmah should be the primary instrument [refer Quran 16:125]



Hikmah (Wisdom), 'Aql (Mind)


At times the word hikmah is interchanged with 'aql; as evidenced in the saying of Sayidina 'Ali: "the tongue of a wise person is behind the heart and the heart of a fool is behind the tongue".


Hikmah & 'Ilm

Though 'ilm (knowledge) may open the doorways to hikmah, but hikmah is distinct from 'ilm. Knowledge and information provides means for enlightenment ;

Remember Allah's Blessings and the (truthful information) sent through the Book and the wisdom it provides by which you may be enlightened. [Quran 2:23]

The Prophet said ask the learned, consult with the wise and accompany the poor.

There are many who know many things, yet are lacking in wisdom. [Ancient Greek philosopher, Democritus]

In our age... people seem more than ever prone to confuse wisdom with knowledge, and knowledge with information [author and poet, T.S. Eliot]


Philosophy is harmonized knowledge making a harmonious life; it is the self-discipline which lifts us to serenity and freedom. Knowledge is power, but only wisdom is liberty. [Philosopher & writer, Will Durant]

The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom. - [Isaac Asimov's Book of Science and Nature Quotations, 1988 ]

Though 'book knowledge' enhances the potential for wisdom; wisdom is often attained by learning in other ways; By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and Third by experience, which is the bitterest. [Ancient Chinese philosopher, Confucius]



Virtue & Wisdom


Ethics is the branch of philosophy which attempts to understand the nature of morality; to define that which is right from that which is wrong. Ancient Roman orator, Cicero said; "The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil." The Ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, suggested that the four cardinal virtues are wisdom, courage, self-control and justice.

In Islam, wisdom is always linked to virtue. "You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the capacity for hearing, sight, and the intellect, and you are responsible for using them effectively. You shall not walk with arrogance on earth - you cannot bore through the earth, nor can you be as tall as the mountains. All impropriety is condemned by your Lord. This is of the wisdom inspired to you by your Lord. You shall not set up another object of worship beside God, lest you end up in hell; blamed and defeated." [Quran 17:36-39]

Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq stated that the cardinal virtues to live by are ... piety, contentment, patience, gratitude, humility, modesty, generosity, courage, enthusiasm, benevolence, truthfulness and trustworthiness.



Effective Wisdom


Wise ones have said that the height of wisdom is to proportion our wants to our possessions, our ambitions to our capacities, our emotions to our conscience and our deeds to our values it is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. [Gandhi]

The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man. [Ancient Greek playwright, Euripides]

Wisdom is a bounteous thing that is invaluable, and Allah reminds us in the Quran:

Whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted something tremendously beneficial; but none reflect except people of insight. [Quran 2:269]

Favourite Tennis Player Gallery

Rafael Nadal, 2006 Roland Garros winner 


Roger Federer, current world no.1 rank 



Goran Ivanisevic, Wimbledon 2001 Champion 


Marat Safin, Australian Open 2005 Champion 



Mark Philippoussis, runner-up, Wimbledon 2002 


Andy Roddick, Winner of 2005 Stella Artois Championships, Queen's Club, London