Monday, August 31, 2009

Tear down divisive walls, Najib tells Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR: Likening unity to bridges that connect the people and disunity to walls that divide them, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak urged the people to repair their bridges and tear down the divisive walls that existed among the races.
Addressing the nation in his first National Day message as Prime Minister, Najib said the passing of time saw the bridges, which were painstakingly built by the nation’s founding fathers, becoming shaky due to attempts by certain quarters whom he described as opportunistic groups out to exploit the friction among the people.
Najib said these groups were exploiting the slip lines that existed in society, be they political, religious or social, to satisfy their narrow agenda.
In any case, Najib said, the people should continue to manage the success and build upon what had been achieved thus far by continuously nurturing unity.
“Bear in mind that what we have now will not necessarily become better. On the contrary, we can lose it all if we are not careful.
“There is ample evidence throughout history that successes which are not managed properly end up as failures,” he said in the message in conjunction with Malaysia’s 52nd National Day aired over national television Sunday night.
Najib also called on the people, especially the young generation, to be mindful of the fact that the progress achieved thus far did not happen all by itself, but rather as a result of careful planning, effective implementation of policies and sacrifice on the part of various communities.
“It is clear that the success and progress achieved by Malaysia are due to the contribution and support of all races, all followers of religions, all strata of the society, in villages and towns, the rich and the poor, young and old,” he said.
Najib said each and every Malaysian had access to every opportunity, limited only by their will to succeed, willingness to work hard and courage to take risks. - Bernama

tunku : it's always easy to destroy than to bulid. to build a relationship it take years and to break it just a few seconds.malaysian should be smart enough to knows that certain lots are out there to destroy them for their own personal agenda.they should not let these people using them as their tools.together we will make malaysia a heaven for us on earth.
MERDEKA MERDEKA MERDEKA(in it's actual meaning)

Top 8 ways to boost your Ramadan spirit this year

1. Dua
Ask Allah to make this the most awesome, spiritually uplifting Ramadan you've ever had. Only He can make it happen and relying on Him completely is one step in boosting our spirits.
2. Quiet your mind, turn off the...
TV, internet, radio, cell phone, pager, iPod, etc. No, not all day, but for at least 10 minutes a day. Find a quiet place, close your eyes and connect with God. At first, your mind will swirl with the useless and not-so-useless info in your head. But force it to think of three things in these few minutes:
1. Allah
2. your purpose in life
3. are you living your life on purpose?

Do this every day of Ramadan if you can. If that's not possible, try it at least three times a week.
3. Learn about great Muslims
Even if you've read it before, read or listen to Abdul Wahid Hamid's Companions of the Prophet again this Ramadan. Read about or listen to the story of a Companion daily. Well-written and short, this is a wonderful way to see how other Muslims retained their strength of faith against incredible odds. A sure-fire spirituality booster.
4. Connect to the Quran
The Quran is God's way of talking to us. It's one of the most important keys to spiritual upliftment. This Ramadan, connect to the Quran in a new way. If you already read Quran regularly, perhaps you can choose a new theme to focus on or select a Surah you haven't read in a while. If you don't read Quran regularly, maybe you can read just two minutes of Quran a day, reading only from the first page you encounter when you open up the Book.
In addition, try to keep a Quranic journal to record your reflections, questions, thoughts, etc. about what you've read.
5. Take care of others
Whether it's someone who's away from their family, a person who's having problems with a spouse or their kids or a fellow student struggling with their grades, make an extra effort this Ramadan to help others out. The spiritual boost you get in return is well worth it.
6. Feed the hungry
While your stomach shrieks in protest, give that panhandler some change, volunteer at a soup kitchen, get involved with your local food pantry or make a couple of bag lunches to give to the hungry you meet on your way to school or work.
7. Give up one lifelong bad habit
Ask yourself what some of your defining traits are. Then decide which is the worst of them. Is it a hot temper? Apathy? Laziness? Impatience? Whatever it is, use this Ramadan to put an end to it. Practice the opposite of your bad habit every day until the end of the month. By then Insha Allah, you'll look back and be amazed at what a change you've made for the better.
8. Use those Nights of Power
The last ten nights or Ramadan aren't called the Nights of Power for nothing. Use these precious times for deep, heartfelt Dua (supplication), self-analysis, reflection and serious thought.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Mukhriz Expresses Regret Over Emotional Actions Of Shah Alam Residents

JITRA, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said Saturday he was disappointed by the actions of a group of Shah Alam residents in parading the head of cow when holding a protest demonstration.
Mukhriz, who is also the Member of Parliament for Jerlun, said such extreme actions could cause unease among the people and that it was better for problems to be resolved through discussions.
"I hope everyone will remain calm and not do anything that can upset racial harmony in Malaysia, he told reporters after handing over Aidilfitri aid to some 50 orphans and needy students in Kampung Keriang Menyabung here today.
On Friday, some 50 people claiming to be residents of Section 23 in Shah Alam paraded the head of a cow when protesting against a planned relocation of a Hindu temple in that area.
On another matter, Mukhriz said he was also disappointed with the absence of the spirit of Merdeka ahead of the 52nd National Day celebrations on Monday.
He said the fasting month of Ramadan should not be used as an excuse not to show the patriotic spirit.


tunku : like i have commented earlier it is a shameful act, both the cow's head issue and also pig's head in surau issue.with multi racial society we can't afford to have scenes like these.it has to stop and the authority should take tough action against those involved in it. regarding the merdeka spirit, from my observation it looks like this is the worst merdeka's spirit i have observed so far.there are hardly any cars with Malaysian flag.what had happened to our people? aren't they so unpatriotic? it is real sad.Malaysia is our country and be grateful for it.

Getting the Most Out of Ramadan

by Sheikh Salman al-Oadah

The month of Ramadan provides us with a blessed chance to reap blessings and rewards. That is not all. It is also an excellent opportunity for us to strengthen and purify our character. The general spirit of Ramadan encourages us to live more wholesomely and better ourselves.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) tells us: "When the month of Ramadan arrives, the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of hell are locked, and the devils are chained." [Sahîh Muslim (1079) and Sunan al-Tirmidhî (682)]
The reduced temptation to do wrong afforded to us by fasting and by the general atmosphere of Ramadan gives us a chance to show Allah our best potential. We should do what we can to maximize this potential.
Renew Your Relationship With the Qur'ân
To get ourselves in the proper frame of mind – and earn Allah's blessings as well – we should devote more of our time to the Qur'ân.
We should not only read it every day, but it is really important to reflect on what it is telling us, to ponder the lessons we can learn to improve our lives. The more we dwell upon the Qur'ân and its teachings, the better it will be for us, since Allah is speaking to us directly. The Qur'ân is a balm for our hearts, a restraint on our passions, and a cure for our doubts and misgivings.
Therefore, we need to read the Qur'ân with sincerity and concentration. We need to seriously meditate on its meanings. How sad it is for a person who does not benefit from his or her reading of the Qur'ân.
Allah says: "These are the communications of Allah which We recite to you with truth. In what speech will they possibly, believe if not in Allah and His communications?" [Sûrah al-Jâthiyah: 6]
Allah also says: "Do they see nothing in the dominion of the heavens and the Earth and all that Allah has created? (Do they not see) that it may well be that their terms are nigh drawing to an end? In what message after this will they then believe?" [Sûrah al-A`râf: 185]
The importance of reading the Qur'ân during this month is made all the clearer to us by the fact that the angel Gabriel used to review the Qur'ân in full with the Prophet (peace be upon him) every Ramadan. [Sahîh al-Bukharî (4998)]
Avoid Useless Behavior
During this month, we should be ever-vigilant to avoid behavior that can nullify or reduce the rewards and benefits of fasting. We should, for one thing, shun excess. This includes excess in food and drink. It also includes gossip and unnecessary speech.
We should also seek to minimize other unnecessary distractions, even when it comes to the company that we keep. This is why making a retreat to the mosques is especially recommended in the month of Ramadan. While we are in retreat (i`tikâf) we free ourselves from the worries and preoccupations of our daily lives.
Be Generous
Another way to develop ourselves in Ramadan is to cultivate our generosity in this month and overcome our selfish tendencies. In other words, we should increase our charity.
Ibn `Abbâs tells us that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the most generous of all people, but he was no more generous than he was in Ramadan. [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1902) and Sahîh Muslim (2308)]
Be Well-Mannered and Patient
Cultivating good manners should another priority of ours. Good manners are the best companions that fasting person can have. Alas, too many people become estranged of their good manners when they are hungry. They become quick to anger and lash out at others with their otherwise un-preoccupied tongues.
Such behavior compromises the very purpose of the fast. Fasting is supposed to inculcate patience. Indeed, fasting is sometimes referred to as "patience".
Allah says: "Seek Allah's help in patience and prayer." [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 45]
Some commentators on this verse interpret "patience" here to mean "fasting" so the verse is telling us to seek help in fasting and prayer.
Likewise, Ramadan is described as the "Month of Patience" – and we know that the reward for patience is none other than Paradise. Allah says: "O my servants who believe! Fear your Lord. Good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is Allah's earth. Only those who are patient will receive their reward without measure." [Sûrah al-Zumar: 10]
With patience, we can cope with our lives throughout the year. Without this noble quality, our lives will be frustrating and bitter. The month of Ramadan is the time to develop this most essential quality.
May Allah grant us success.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

PM Directs IGP To Act Over Temple Protest

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has directed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to investigate an incident in Shah Alam Friday where protestors used a cow's head to vent their anger against the Selangor state government.
According to Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, Najib informed him of this after he (Dr Subramaniam) had briefed the prime minister on the incident which took place outside the Selangor state secretariat after the Friday prayers.
"The prime minister has promised to look into it and asked the IGP to immediately act on the matter," he said in a statement here.
In the incident, a small group of people said to be residents of Section 23 in Shah Alam had placed a cow's head on the gates of the state secretariat building, apparently in protest against the construction of a Hindu temple in Section 23.
"The prime minister said he was very upset over the incident and wants it to be nipped in the bud," Dr Subramaniam said.
He said that while the prime minister was promoting the 1Malaysia concept and racial unity, "this kind of action will hinder the process and put the clock back".
Meanwhile, Musa said he had asked Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar to investigate the case and take those responsible to task.
"I also urge witnesses to lodge police reports to enable us to take action against those involved," he said when contacted today.
Khalid, when contacted, said action would be taken against those involved in the incident.
"Whatever problems you have, discuss them first," he said.

tunku : this is what happens when you do things without using your brain.50 of you protested against the construction of a temple in malay majority area was right thing to do but to bring a cow's head is 100% WRONG thing to do. it is an insult to Hindu religion and Islam does not allows it's followers to insult or bring harm to other religions.it is the same act when pig heads were thrown in a surau at um recently.we hope the police will take stern action against the protesters.we want these things to stop once and for all from both side.

Ramadan is the Season for Inviting Others to Allah

by Sheikh Muhammad al-Hamad

We praise Allah that He has guided us to the path of salvation. We seek His assistance in elevating the word of truth and calling to what is right.
Islamic work – calling people to Allah – is one of the most emphatic and important duties in Islam. It is one of the greatest forms of worship by which we draw nearer to Allah.
The month of Ramadan is an ideal opportunity for us to engage in this noble activity, especially with our fellow Muslims. The people’s hearts in Ramadan are humbler because they are more aware of Allah’s remembrance during this month. They are more responsive to exhortation and more inclined to repentance.
There are many ways we can engage in calling people to Allah during this blessed month. Islamic work entails elevating Islam, advancing it, and bringing it nearer to the people. It likewise entails dispelling all negative influences and false notions that turn people’s hearts away from the truth.
The activity of calling to Allah embraces every word, every deed, every stroke of the pen, and every expenditure of effort or wealth that serves the religion and is in accordance with Islam’s wisdom. There can be no doubt that knowledge is at the heart of calling to Allah. Knowledge is its foundation, its guide, and its greatest benefit.
However, Islamic work requires effort along with knowledge. Everyone must work according to his abilities and strengths.
My esteemed brothers and sisters who are observing the fast, the sacred texts have come to us commanding us to call people to Allah. The Qur’ân extols the honorable status of this activity and warns us against laxity. The texts speak of the tremendous virtues if Islamic work and the great reward in store for those who engage in it.
Allah commands us in many ways. He commands us to call the people, saying: “Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching.” [Sûrah al-Nahl: 125]
“Say: I am commanded to worship Allah and to not join with Him any partners. Unto Him do I call and unto Him is my return.” [Sûrah al-Ra`d: 36]
Allah, likewise, commands us to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong. He says: “You are the best of nations brought forth for humanity. You enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah.” [Sûrah Âl `Imrân: 110]
Allah commands us to convey the Message: “O Messenger! Convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord.” [Sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 67]
He commands us to carry out this activity with one another: “And exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to patience.” [Sûrah al-`Asr: 3]
We are told to give warning: “And give warning to your nearest kinfolk.” [Sûrah al-Shu`arâ’: 214]
And to give glad tidings: “And give glad tidings to the believers.” [Sûrah al-Tawbah: 112]
As for the virtues and benefits of calling to Allah, these are mentioned in numerous verses of the Qur’ân and countless hadîth of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
At the forefront of these virtues is the fact that calling to Allah is an act of worship and obedience. It is something that pleases our Lord.
It is also something that makes us safe from His displeasure and from his punishment.
This noble activity is a means of strength for Allah’s religion. By carrying out this activity, we are following in the footsteps of His Prophets and Messengers.
It is an activity that is loathed b the enemies of Islam. It offers relief to the victims of ignorance, superstition, and the shackles of blind custom.
Calling to Allah is a means of multiplying the positive effects of our good deeds, both in this life and in the Hereafter. It is a means of bringing Allah’s mercy upon us and of dispelling affliction.
The best of our speech is a word uttered in inviting to Allah. Allah says: “Who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, works righteousness, and says: Indeed I am of those who submit in Islam.” [Sûrah Fussilat: 33]
The reward of guiding one person is better than the world and everything that it contains. Calling to Allah is the concern of the most compassionate of people, the purest of heart. They are the inheritors of the Prophets.
My esteemed brothers and sisters who are observing the fast, there are qualities that everyone who wishes to engage in calling others to Allah should cultivate within themselves. They are: knowledge, acting upon knowledge, sincerity, patience, kindness, good manners, generosity, altruism, humility, wisdom, mercy, and concern for achieving unity upon truth.
There are other qualities by which a caller to Allah should beautify his conduct. They are: forgiveness, responding to evil with good, trust in Allah, having certainty in Allah’s help, satisfaction with even the slightest progress, and striving for the utmost good. Also, an Islamic worker must shun envy, hastiness, and competition for worldly gain.
Among the etiquettes of calling others to Allah is to always be gentle of approach, concerned for the guidance of others, and cognizant of a sense of responsibility. There should be a strong and close connection between the caller and his Lord. The caller should be continually engaged in the remembrance of Allah, in supplication, and in all acts of devotion. He should always make sure to set a good example for others and look for every opportunity to call people to the truth. He should never disparage any good effort, no matter how small it might be.
Among the etiquettes of Islamic work is to deal with people on their own level. We should show concern for their problems and try to help them, while never burdening them with our own. We need to be sensitive to the sensibilities of those whom we are calling and try to understand their circumstances.
When we call people to Allah, we must avoid argumentation except within the strictest of bounds, and then do so in the best possible manner. We should establish a good relationship with people, encourage them to keep good company, and use wisdom to get them away from bad company.
We should get to know the person whom we are calling. We should know his name. We should show that we are interested in him as a person and make him feel important. We should get him involved in activities that will benefit him.
We should start with what is most important and keep our priorities in order. We should never seek to promote ourselves.
We should employ various approaches in our work. Sometimes we may use beautiful preaching, sometimes we may give gifts, and sometimes an indirect approach proves to be the most effective.
My esteemed brothers and sisters who are observing the fast, this is what it means to calling others to Islam. These are its virtues, its qualities, and its etiquettes. Hasten to become callers to Allah in this noble month of Ramadan. Each of us can do so in his or her own way. One person can impart to others the knowledge that he has. Another can spend of his wealth, use his reputation, or offer his hard work. In this way we can realize all manner of good and spare ourselves the evil consequences of neglecting this duty of ours.
In this month or Ramadan, I call out to the student of Islamic knowledge and point out to you the golden opportunity that you have right now to call others to Allah. The hearts of the people are at their most receptive and most responsive to what a person of knowledge has to offer. As students and scholars, you should therefore feel your responsibility to others more acutely during this month and expend every effort in carrying out your duties. Leave no room for excuses or shortcomings.
I, likewise, call out to those whom Allah has blessed with ample means. You can bring your wealth to positive effect by supporting Islamic workers in their work, preparing them, and publishing books that will benefit the people. All of this comes under the banner of Islamic work. Do you not want to be counted among those who call others to Allah?
I call out to people of influence. Bring your influence and good reputations to bear in facilitating the efforts of calling people to Allah. I call out to those who are working in the media. Use your position to promote goodness and to share in calling to Allah with a good word. You can send the truth far and wide and share in all the vast rewards that this entails.
I call out to those who have knowledge of the Internet to employ it as a means of inviting people to goodness during this auspicious month. You have the ability to with the least effort and expense spread truth and goodness over the widest possible expanse. You speak to the world while sitting in the comfort of your homes.
I call out to all Muslims, men and women, to share in calling people to Allah. We need to do all the good that we can during this month of Ramadan. We must give advice to those who are neglectful and heedless. We need to remind those of us who forget and teach those who do not know.
“And who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, works righteousness, and says: Indeed I am of those who submit in Islam.” [Sûrah Fussilat: 33]

Friday, August 28, 2009

PM says the worst is over for the M'sian economy

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister has expressed his satisfaction over the country’s second-quarter gross domestic growth in the second quarter which shranked 3.9%, an improvement from the first quarter when it contracted 6.2%.
“I am pleased in the sense that the worst is over,” Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told reporters after his visit to the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation (WIEF) permanent secretariat here Thursday.
He was asked to comment on the country’s second-quarter GDP contracted at a slower pace due to higher public spending and positive growth in private consumption.
Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, who made the announcement on Wednesday, attributed the improved domestic demand to the emphasis on private consumption, which increased 0.5% (first quarter: minus 0.7%).
Najib said the stimulus package contributed to the improved performance of the Malaysian economy.
“Looks like we are on the right track in terms of recovery,” he said.
Asked whether the Government would upgrade its growth forecast for the year, he said :”Wait for the budget.”

tunku : it looks like we are on the right track on our economy path.the opposition does not have any thing to attack najib on malaysia' economy as najib is doing his best on that and no doubt about his credibility in it.we know that najib means business. the only thing is that we hope that najib will be best at politics too.right now there is a huge gap of his administration side(80) and political side(20).may be he wants our economy to recover first before he make his next move on the political side....who knows.

“The fasting person has two occasions for joy”

Abû Hurayrah relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah says: ‘Every deed of the child of Adam is for himself, except for fasting. It is for me and I shall reward it.’ Fasting is a shield, so if it is a day of fasting for any one of you, then he should engage in no obscenity or shouting. If anyone belittles him or fights with him, he should just say ‘I am a person who is fasting’. I swear by Him in whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, the smell of the fasting person’s breath is sweeter to Allah on the Day of Judgment than that of musk. The fasting person has two occasions for joy, one when he breaks his fast because of his breaking it and the other when he meets his Lord because of the reward for his fast.”
[Sahîh al-Bukhârî (7492) and Sahîh Muslim (1151) with the wording being that of Muslim]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) says in this hadith: “The fasting person has two occasions for joy…” This does not mean that the fasting person experiences no other joys aside from these two. It is just that these two particular occasions of joy are exclusive to a fasting person and are experienced by no one else.
The fasting person experiences the first occasion of joy when he eats and drinks after a full day of self-restraint, patience, and obedience seeking Allah’s reward.
He experiences the second occasion of joy when he meets his Lord after a full lifetime of fasting and seeking Allah’s reward every time the month of Ramadan called upon him as an honored guest.
The first of these two joys comes every night in Ramadan when the Sun sets and the fasting person stretches out his hand to eat a sweet date or take a sip of cool, refreshing water to relieve his hunger and thirst.
And why should he not feel joy at this moment? He had expended every effort throughout the day only for his Lord’s pleasure and prohibited for himself his share of food and drink, seeking Allah’s eternal and everlasting reward.
It is the joy of having control over the demands of one’s own body and ascendancy over the everyday habits of life. It is, in this way, a spiritual joy, an exuberance that comes with the appearance of every Ramadan and with the exercise of goodly patience.
The happiness of a fasting person when he breaks his fast is not merely because he assuages his hunger and thirst, for even the lowliest of animals share in such pleasures. Instead, it is the joy of triumph over Satan and over one’s own passions and basest desires.
It is also the joy of having successfully carried out the command of our Lord. When He had asked us to abandon our food, we abandoned it. When He had called upon us to abstain from quenching our thirsts, we abstained from it.
We had hearkened to Allah’s words: “The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’ân was revealed as a guidance for humanity, clear proofs of guidance, and a criterion. So whoever among you witnesses the month, let him fast it.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 185]
As for the second occasion of joy, it is an experience like no other, reminiscent of the joy felt when meeting someone who is most beloved. It is the meeting of the fasting person with his Lord who had helped him to carry out his fast and had blessed him with success in doing so, and who had promised him for his fast the best of rewards that He has kept in store for him.
This is an experience of joy by which all of the pains and sorrows of his life are forever forgotten. It is an overwhelming joy. On that day, the person who had fasted during his worldly life will be entitled to rejoice in it, as long as he had restrained his hands from sinful deeds and his tongue from evil words and thereby safeguarded his fasts from becoming bereft of blessings.
Those who are barred from the blessings of their fasts are indeed doubly deprived. Their fasts had deprived them of their food and drink, and then they deprived of the blessings and rewards. This is because they had violated the sanctity of the month of Ramadan with the ignominy of their words and the wickedness of their deeds.
Therefore, every fasting person needs to be aware of what the fast really means. He needs to fully appreciate its great and noble purposes. He must prepare himself mentally to safeguard his fast from every evil word and deed, so he can be sure to experience both of the joys that are unique to the fast. He should, likewise, let all the goodness that Allah has prepared for those who fast with sincerity be a means for him to restrain his eyes from casting their gaze upon that which is unlawful.
If, instead, a person opts not to lower his gaze from the foul images on the television screen and the forbidden sights of the street; if he chooses to indulge his ears in listening to provocative music and indecent songs; if, above all that, he allows his tongue to speak falsely and injuriously, then he should know that the only pleasure he shall experience when he breaks his fast is that felt by the cattle when they are set out to pasture or by the lion when it catches its prey.
Of joy, he will have nothing else.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Disabled senator ( Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh) dies

KUALA LUMPUR: First disabled senator, Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh has died on a flight from China to Singapore. He was 61.
An officer at the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore said Ismail was pronounced dead on arrival at the Singapore General Hospital at about 8am on Thursday.
The hospital will conduct a post-mortem to determine the cause of his death, he told Bernama.
A father of six children, the visually challenged Ismail became the first person from the disabled community to be appointed as senator in December 2007.
Born in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, he was totally blind since he was 13, but the limitation did not stop him from getting his degree, masters and PhD, all in the United States.
For his achievements, Ismail was named as the first blind person to receive a doctorate by the Guinness Book of World Records.
He also held various key positions including Twintech International University College vice-chancellor, Twintech Holdings Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, National Association of Bumiputera Private Colleges president, a member of the National Implementation Task Force in the Prime Minister’s Department and Institute of Strategic and International Studies former deputy director-general.

Prof Ismail Suffered Cardiac Arrest In Plane

SINGAPORE, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Economist Senator Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh who died while on a flight from China to Singapore early today suffered a cardiac arrest on the plane, said his wife Datin Hasnah Wahab.
Hasnah, who was accompanying him, said her husband was asleep on the seat next to her on the plane when suddenly his head tilted and came to rest on her shoulder.
"I noticed he was no longer breathing and when I held his hands they felt cold," Hasnah told Bernama when met at the Ba'alwie Mosque in Jalan Lewis here while her husband's remains were being prepared for the funeral.
Hasnah said her husband died in the aircraft at 2.30am, about an hour before it was due to arrive at Changi Airport.
According to her, Ismail, 61, was in China to attend a meeting involving his university, International University College of Technology Twintech.
They had left for Beijing on Aug 25 and departed from the Chinese capital yesterday and were scheduled to arrive in Singapore at 3.45am Thursday.
On arrival, his remains were brought to the Singapore General Hospital for a post-mortem before being brought to the mosque.
Malaysian High Commission staff in Singapore led by Deputy High Commissioner Datuk Ahmad Anuar Adnan helped in preparing his remains for burial.
His remains were then brought to the Senai airport in Johor in a van before being transferred on to a Royal Malaysian Air Force plane to be transported to the Subang Airport outside Kuala Lumpur.
Hasnah said her husband's remains would be brought to their house at no. 7140, Jalan Melati 2, Sungai Kantan, Fasa 2, Kajang.
According to her, they had been married for 27 years and were blessed with six children.
She said she was saddened that Ismail would not be around to witness the first marriage among the children at the end of this year.
"He was really looking forward to this," said Hasnah, adding that three of the children were already adults while the other three were still in school.
Ismail made history when he was appointed as the first senator from among disabled people in Malaysia. Ismail is visually impaired.
He was also deputy director-general of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), chief executive officer of Twintech Holdings and Vice Chancellor of International University College of Technology Twintech.
Ismail was born in Pasir Mas, Kelantan on Sept 2, 1947 and throughout his life was awarded numerous awards for academic excellence including from the Guiness Book of Records for becoming the first visually impaired person in the world to obtain a doctorate degree.
Meanwhile, in KAJANG, Ismail's elder brother, Zakaria Salleh, 64, said his brother's remains were expected to arrive at 6.30pm and would be buried at the Sungai Kantan Muslim Cemetery.
He said his brother was his normal self before he left for Beijing on Tuesday.
On Monday, Ismail had gone for his usual dialysis treatment as normal, he said.
Zakaria has been the "seeing eye" for Ismail and has been his guardian, personal assistant and driver since the latter was still small.
"It was a promise I made to my mother (that I would always look after him)," he said.

Dr Ismail Laid To Rest

KAJANG, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Economist Senator Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh who died early this Thursday's morning was laid to rest AT 10.30PM at the Sungai Kantan Muslim Cementery here after funeral prayers at his home nearby.
His remains arrived at the Royal Malaysian Airfoce (RMAF) Base in Subang from Senai Airport at about 7.30 pm.
Dr Ismail, who become the first disabled to be appointed a Senator, died of cardiac arrest while on a flight from Beijing to Singapore.
He was in Beijing for a two-day working visit.
He leaves behind wife Datin Hasnah Wahab and six children between ages of 12 and 26.

tunku : he was such an intelligent and a very nice man.may he rest in peace.AL FATIHAH.

What is meant by the devils being chained up in Ramadhan?

Al-Bukhaari (1899) and Muslim (1079) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When Ramadaan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.”
The scholars differed as to the meaning of the devils being chained up in Ramadaan. Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said, quoting al-Haleemi: It may be interpreted at meaning that the devils are not able to tempt the Muslims as they are at other times because they are busy with the fast which controls their desires, and with reading Qur’aan and dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Another scholar – someone other than al-Haleemi – said that what is meant by the devils is some of them, namely the maarids (strong devils), who are chained up.
‘Iyaad said: it may be interpreted in a literal sense, and that is as a sign to the angels that the month has begun, and in veneration of its sanctity, and so as to prevent the devils from harming the Muslims. And it may be interpreted as referring to the great amount of reward and forgiveness, and that the devils tempt people less, so it is as if they are chained up. This second interpretation is supported by the fact that according to a report narrated by Yoonus from Ibn Shihaab which is recorded by Muslim it says “the gates of mercy are opened”. The chaining up of the devils may also be understood as a metaphor for them being unable to tempt people and make their whims and desires attractive to them. Al-Zayn ibn al-Muneer said: The first view is most likely to be correct, and there is no need to try to understand it in anything other than the literal sense.
Fath al-Baari, 4/114.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) “and the devils are chained up,” – yet we still see people suffering from epilepsy during the day in Ramadaan, so how can the devils be chained up when some people are suffering epileptic fits?
He replied: In some versions of the hadeeth it says “and the strong devils (maarids) are chained up” – this is narrated by al-Nasaa’i. This hadeeth is speaking of matters of the unseen, so we have to accept it and not discuss it any further. This is safer for a person’s religious commitment. Hence when ‘Abd-Allah, the son of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said to his father, “Some people suffer epileptics fits during the day in Ramadaan,” the Imam said: “This is what the hadeeth says and we do not discuss this.”
Moreover it seems that what is meant by their being chained up is that they are prevented from tempting people, based on the fact that there is a great deal of goodness and many people turn to Allah during Ramadaan.
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 20.
Based on this, the chaining up of the devils is something that happens in a real sense, about which Allah knows best. This does not mean that evil things do not happen or that people do not commit sin. And Allah knows best.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Najib: BN To Study Causes Of Defeat In Permatang Pasir

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Barisan Nasional (BN) will study the causes of its defeat in today's Permatang Pasir state by-election in Penang.
He said that the BN lost the by-election despite having tried its best due to certain factors.
Najib, who is Umno president, said he knew what the factors were but declined to elaborate.
He said that the BN would take stock of the situation and ensure that the party would do better the next time around.
"We should look into the factors which we can improve on," he said when asked to comment on the result of the by-election today.
PAS retained the seat with a 4,551-vote majority.
Its candidate Mohd Salleh Man, 52, polled 9,618 votes while BN's Rohaizat Othman, 38, garnered 5,067 votes.
Najib also took note of the fact that the BN managed to reduce PAS' majority in the area.
In the 2008 general election, PAS candidate Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman defeated BN's Ahmad Sahar Shuib with a majority of 5,433 votes.
The by-election was called following Mohd Hamdan's death on July 31.

tunku : i think everyone is fed up with the quote " we will study the causes of defeats" or "we will do postmortem".NAJIB, WAKE UP.we know that permatang pasir is a pas(pakatan) strong hold and pas will surely wins there but still BN could have done better.hope that najib won't be studying till the 13th GE comes.

Fasting: Its Wisdom and its Benefits

by Sheikh Salman al-Oadah

There is great wisdom in why fasting has been prescribed for us. We might only be able to appreciate a fraction of this wisdom, the rest of it being beyond the scope of our knowledge.

Fasting strengthens our devotion to Allah

Fasting brings to fore the reality of our subservience to Allah and it helps in our submission to Him. This is why fasting has been made one of the pillars of Islam, so that Islam itself is incomplete without it. Fasting conditions the worshipper upon obedience and upon carrying out his religious duties. It also reminds him that he is the servant of Allah Almighty and of no one else.

We see that Allah orders His servants to eat at certain times, so that if they were to fast at those times, they would be sinning. This is the case for the two `Îd celebrations. This is also the case for someone who fasts consecutive days without breaking his fast at night. At other times, by contrast, the worshippers are ordered to fast, so that if they were to eat at those times, they would be sinning.

We see the same thing when a pilgrim enters into the sacred state of ihrâm. While he is in that state, he is prohibited from certain things that he is commanded to do at other times. In this and many other ways, the worshipper continually reminds himself that he is the servant of Allah who complies with his Lord’s command and who keeps to the limits set by his Lord.

This is a concept of great significance that if people would only realize it in their worship, their devotions would then have a far greater impact upon them. The state of a believer should be that of a dutiful sentinel standing at attention, whose hand is ever poised to action and who is ready to advance and go forth whenever he is commanded to do so.

The importance of our worshipping Allah is one of the greatest objectives behind our fasting and behind all of our acts of devotion. Unfortunately, many Muslims fall short in their appreciation of this fact. Though they adhere to the performance of these acts of worship, their devotions are bereft of spiritual meaning and consequently fail to have the desired effect of bringing about true devotion and subservience to Allah.

Fasting strengthens our fear of Allah and gives us self restraint

Fasting conditions us upon the fear of Allah. This is why Allah says: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 183]

When a person fasts, whether it be a voluntary fast or an obligatory one, he is constantly reminding himself not to eat or drink This is in spite of the fact that eating and drinking are perfectly lawful for him at other times. He abstains from these otherwise lawful acts on account of Allah’s promise, in hopes of attaining Allah’s reward. It naturally follows that he will abstain from sin, from those acts that are prohibited to him at all times.

A Muslim needs to understand that this is the whole idea behind fasting. How can a person abstain from food and drink – though they are lawful to him at other times – and then go on to backbite people, spread rumors, tell lies, and engage in all sorts of other sins?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever does not leave off false speech and evil deeds, then Allah has no need of his leaving off his food and drink.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1903)]

We know that Allah has no need for us to leave off eating and drinking in any case, even when we abstain from false words and false deeds. What this means is that fasting has not been prescribed because Allah needs us to do so, it has only been prescribed to assist us in restraining ourselves from false words and evil deeds. Therefore, if we do not abandon these things, then to what avail is our fasting?

If fasting does not awaken in us this consciousness, then it is to no purpose. We must work to cultivate this consciousness. Fasting needs to bring us to the point where we can easily give up sinful deeds like backbiting, spreading rumors, slander, licentiousness, and all ignoble, destructive traits.

Fasting builds character

Another benefit of fasting is that it develops our character by strengthening our willpower and bolstering our patience. This is why fasting is sometimes referred to as patience and Ramadan is sometimes called “the month of patience”.

Allah says: “Seek help in patience and in prayer.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 45]

Some commentators of the Qur’ân have said: “The word ‘patience’ here refers to fasting. It means ‘Seek help in fasting and prayer’.”

This is because fasting forces us to exercise our willpower and practice patience.

Many of us need to constantly exercise our willpower to keep it strong.

There is a psychological benefit in operation here. Researchers into the causes of success say that success requires three ingredients:

1. Desire: All people wish to be strong, successful, and financially well of. Desires like these exist for everyone.

2. Strength or ability: Most people have the mental and physical wherewithal and the skills that they need to succeed if they properly put their minds to it.

3. Willpower: Strong willpower is one of the greatest reasons for success in both this world and the next.

Fasting strengthens the will and conditions a person to cope with difficulties in all aspects of his life. It helps to develop the very quality that only successful people possess, the quality of those people who can turn their desires into a reality by using skills and abilities that they have.

Fasting puts our passions and our vain desires in check

This is why the Prophet gave the following advice: “O assembly of young people, whosoever among you has the wherewithal to marry should do so, as it will help him to lower his gaze and safeguard his chastity. And whoever is unable to do so should fast, because it diminishes sexual desire.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (5066) and Sahîh Muslim (1400)]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) points out that fasting withholds a person from responding to his passions.

Some scholars have discussed this hadîth in conjunction with another, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) says: “Indeed, Satan circulates through the descendant of Adam as blood circulates through the body.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (2039) and Sahîh Muslim (2174)]

Even though the phrase “…so restrict his circulatory paths by fasting” that is sometimes quoted along with this hadîth is baseless, the fact remains that fasting does put our passions in check, and it is quite possible that one way in which it does so is by restricting Satan’s ability to circulate within our persons, as stated by some scholars.

What is more likely is that fasting keeps our compulsions in check by keeping us involved in a specific act of worship. This continuous connection with an act of worship helps us to refrain from unlawful acts, including those acts, like the forbidden gaze, that incite our desires.

Fasting provides numerous and varied spiritual and physical benefits

Doctors have discussed the health benefits of fasting and how it can help us in learning to manage our diets. At times, doctors even prescribe fasting for various reasons. Without a doubt, these are at most secondary benefits of fasting. The same can be said for the physical benefits of prayer, pilgrimage, and other aspects of formal worship.

Still, the real reason that a Muslim does any of these things is for the sake of worshipping and obeying Allah. He would do so even if there were no health benefits. Indeed, were it proven to be injurious to his health, he would still do so. However, Allah never commands us to do anything that would harm us in the least except when the benefits of doing so far outweigh the harm.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

PAS Sets One Vote Target To Win

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Eventhough the Permatang Pasir state constituency is a Pas stronghold the party is holding fast to its stand of winning with a one-vote majority come polling day Tuesday.
Pas' election director Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the party did not want to have high hopes to retain the seat although the party had early information on the voting statistics.
"Its all in my pocket now. I know how many votes our candidate will get, how many the BN candidate will get and therefore the majority for our candidate.
"But I do not wish to say as I am afraid there would be last minute efforts to sway Pas supporters. What I can say is that we want to target a one-vote win," he said at a news conference at the Pas operations room here Monday.
The Permatang Pasir by-election is a straight between Pas candidate, Mohd Salleh Man, 52, and Barisan Nasional's Rohaizat Othman, 38.
The by-election is being held after the death of Pas' Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abd Rahman who died due to heart failure on July 31.
Mahfuz said his party was satisfied with its election machinery.
"Pas hopes that voters make a good choice and we leave it to them," he said.

tunku : only 1 vote pas? even it's 1000 it will be a bad win for pas as permatang pasir is their strong hold.what mahfuz is trying to do now is to fish for sympathy votes.keep doing and he is the worst pas'election director ever.since day one the personal attack on the candidate starts and it's disgusting that pas is ready to go that low.

Lessons & Moralities of Fasting

Ramadan is a month of discipline, self-control, patience, and good behavior. In Ramadan, Muslims are expected to gain the fruits of Fasting, namely, piety and consciousness of Allah. In this context, Allah, Most High, says in the Glorious Qur'an, (O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off evil). (Al-Baqarah 2: 183)

Allah, Most High, says, (Blessed be He in whose hand is the Sovereignty, and He is able to do all things. He created death and life that He may try which of you is best in deed. He is the Exalted in Might, oft Forgiving. ) (Al-Mulk 67: 1-2)
Also, He says, (It is He who made the night and day to follow each other for such as have the will to celebrate His praises or to show their gratitude. ) (Al-Furqan 25: 62)
Life and death and the succession of nights and day have a purpose and that is to test us and to give us an opportunity to express our thanks and gratitude to our Creator and Sustainer. The month of Ramadan comes and goes. We must examine ourselves now and see what we have learned and achieved during this month. The test of success of this month lies in the effects it has left upon us as follows:
1. Discipline
We learn in this month how to discipline ourselves for the sake of Allah. In our morning and evening, we follow a strict schedule of eating and drinking. We are constantly aware that even in our such mundane activities as eating and drinking, we must remain under divine injunctions. We change our habits in our daily routines because we learn that we are not the servants and slaves to our habits, but always the servants of Allah. Then after Ramadan, we have to keep this spirit of discipline in other modes of our life and must continue with our submission to the commands of Allah.
2. Renewal of Devotional Life
Ramadan renews our enthusiasm for worship and devotion to Allah. In this month we are more careful of our daily prayers and have special prayers at night. There is no religion without prayer and Muslims learn in this month how to strengthen and deepen their religious life.
3. Renewal of Contact with the Qur’an
Ramadan and the Qur’an are linked together from the beginning. It was in this month that this divine message was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). We are told that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was fasting when he received the first revelation. Fasting prepares the believers' hearts to learn the Word of Allah. It is the most suitable condition for our spiritual and mental communication with the Qur’an. The Muslim Ummah pays more attention to the Qur’an in this month. This renewed contact with the Qur’an must help us in following its message.
4. Renewal of Identity with the Ummah
Ramadan is not an individual experience only, but it is an experience in community. The whole Muslim Ummah fasts together in one and the same month. We identify with one another in our obedience to Allah. This gives us a new sense of togetherness and association. Ramadan teaches us that the Muslim Ummah is the community of piety and devotion to Allah and its members derive their strength from each other in deeds of piety and virtue. The bonds that are based on piety and virtue are the strongest bonds and it is these bonds that prove good for mankind. The strength of the Muslim community lies in its commitment to the values of goodness, morality and piety. Ramadan leaves an imprint of all these values upon the Muslim Ummah.
5. A Fresh Sense of Care and Sympathy
Fasting in the month of Ramadan helps us to understand the suffering and the pains of the poor and needy. By our voluntary hunger and thirst we realize what it means to be deprived of basic necessities of life. Ramadan is called the month of charity and sympathy. We learn how to be more kind and generous in this month. Many Muslims also pay their Zakah in the month of Ramadan.
6. Jihad or Struggle
Fasting in Ramadan and Jihad both of them were prescribed in the same year, that is, the second year of Hijrah in Madinah. Fasting prepares for hardships and sacrifice. These are two important things without which Jihad is not possible. Muslims learn in Ramadan how to struggle against the forces of evil in their own selves, in the society around them, and in the world at large.
7. Taqwa
To summarize all the moral and spiritual gifts of Ramadan, we can say that Ramadan gives us the great gift of taqwa (piety). Taqwa is the sum total of Islamic life. It is the highest of all virtues in the Islamic scheme of things. It means, God-consciousness, piety, fear and awe of Allah and it signifies submission to Allah and total commitment to all that is good and rejection of all that is evil and bad.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Lunas assemblyman Radzhi quits as PKR member

KUALA LUMPUR: Lunas state assemblyman Mohd Radzhi Salleh announced Sunday he had quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to become an independent member of the Kedah legislative assembly.
Mohd Radzhi, who is chairman of the Tourism, Community Development and Human Resources Committee, said he would retain the post of state executive councillor as the appointment was made by the Sultan of Kedah.
His decision to leave PKR was due to a loss of confidence in the PKR leadership and in keeping with the dissolution of the PKR Padang Serai division announced by division acting chief Jamaludin Abu Hassan who himself had quit the party, he told a news conference also attended by Jamaludin.
"As an elected representative, I sympathise with the decision to dissolve the division because the divisional members were responsible for my victory in the last general election," he said.
In the general election last year, Mohd Radzhi beat the Barisan Nasional candidate, S. Ananthan, by a majority of 10,323 votes to win the seat.
Mohd Radzhi said 14 divisional committee members and 200 ordinary members supported the dissolution of the division.
"I am no longer prepared to be in PKR because I feel responsible, along with the members and, as a divisional committee member, I am leaving the party in support of the decision," he said.
Mohd Radzhi said he would continue to serve as an independent state assemblyman and support the federal government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Kedah government is held by a loose coalition of PAS, PKR and DAP, calling themselves Pakatan Rakyat.
Replying to a question, Mohd Radzhi denied that he has been bought over by any political party.
In BUKIT MERTAJAM, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, who is in Penang to help in the campaign for the PAS candidate in the Permatang Pasir state by-election, said the status of Mohd Radzhi as a state executive councillor would be determined by the PKR leadership, Bernama reported.
He said that as the mentri besar he had the right to replace any state executive councillor who no longer represented any party in the Pakatan coalition after getting the consent of the Sultan.
"I am waiting for the official letter from PKR on Radzhi's position and will replace him if PKR advises so. As of now, I have only heard news that Radzhi has left PKR," he told Bernama.
Azizan, who is also Kedah PAS commissioner, said he did not want to comment on Mohd Radzhi's departure from PKR as it was the party's domestic affair.
With Mohd Radzhi quitting PKR, the Kedah assembly now has four PKR assemblymen, two of whom are also state executive councillors.
PAS has 16 assemblymen in the house, seven of whom are state executive councillors, while the DAP has one assemblyman.
The Barisan Nasional has 14 assemblymen in Kedah.
In PADANG SERAI, former Padang Serai PKR chief Hamid Osman, 68, said he had expected the division to dissolve.
Hamid, who had headed the division since 2004 and quit the party in April, said he and more than 500 others were considering joining Umno.
Another former leader of Padang Serai PKR, Sarji Singh, 45, said he was not surprised about the departure of Mohd Radzhi from PKR as he himself and more than 1,000 PKR members had left the party to join the MIC last year.
Meanwhile, Padang Serai Umno deputy chief Abdul Halim Hasan said Umno was prepared to accept former PKR members for the sake of Malay unity and development.
Padang Serai Gerakan chairman Tang Liang Hiang said the party's doors were always open for former PKR members and supporters.
Meanwhile, Sira Habibu of The Star reports that the Kedah Government will sack the Lunas assemblyman executive council post if he did not step down voluntarily.
Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said Radzhi could not hold on to executive council post if he was no longer a member of PKR.
“On what capacity does he still want to hold on to the executive council post if he is no longer part of the Pakatan Rakyat team?’’ Azizan said.
Azizan said however, the State Government will only proceed with such action upon the advice of PKR leadership.
Azizan said Radzhi had not sent any official notice to declare that he was quitting PKR and that he would serve as an independent assemblyman.
“I will wait for confirmation from PKR that Radzhi is no longer a member of the party before proceeding with the next course of action.
“Radzhi should step down as executive council member if he has really quit PKR.
“If he does not step down, we will sack him,’’ he reiterated.
Azizan also said Radzhi’s announcement to quit did not come as a shock.
“We have heard since last year that he was planning to quit.
“We have been anticipating this announcement for a long time.
“Although he had said it out in open during a press conference, we will not make our decision based on media reports,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang urged the Kedah government to appoint sole DAP assemblyman Lee Guan Aik as state executive councillor.
He said that now that there was a likely “vacancy”, PAS-led Pakatan Rakyat government should look into allotting the seat to DAP.
“In view of the current situation, it would be timely for Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak to offer the exco seat to DAP,’’ said Tan.
Tan said DAP could effectively highlight grievances and help resolve issues during exco meetings, if given the post.

Muhyiddin Says More PKR Assemblymen May Quit Party


tunku : what is happening with anwar's numbers.....it should have been increasing but things are going the other way round,the numbers are decreasing.well the lunas assemblyman did the right thing to quit pkr and stays as independent.pkr is only meant for anwar and not for the nation.when kedah pakatan's government is about to celebrate of a state seat vacancy in kedah they got this blow from their own man.GOD BLESS US ALL.

Fasting Is Not Only to Purify the Soul, but also to Cleanse the Body

As usual, it is with much anticipation, great expectation, and excessive preparation that we welcome the Holy Month of Ramadan. We look forward to the different ways of worship (fasting, extended prayers, charity, and Zakah) to thank the Almighty Allah for his benevolence and countless bounties and to beseech Him for salvation of our souls. All this is in the hope and expectation of His Mercy, Forgiveness, and ultimately his Greatest Reward, Al-Janah, or Paradise.
However contrary to the concept of fasting, excessive attention is given to food preparation during this holy month, which defeats its purpose. Ramadan fasting is not only an act of worship to purify the soul from malice and malevolence and feel the hunger of the deprived, but also to cleanse the body. This act of comprehensive purification results in psychological and physiological equilibrium, restoring harmony to our bodies, minds, and souls. According to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “Fast and you will gain health.”
Rather than an array of mouth-watering food fit for feasts, lighter meals (salads, grains, legumes, or vegetable soups) would be more appropriate for breaking fasts. I wish we would put an end to newly acquired unhealthy trends of excesses and extravaganza, and return to our healthier old customs of breaking fast, eating, and fasting in a manner befitting the true Islamic notion of Ramadan.
Fasting slows down the metabolism; regenerates energy, cells, and organs; detoxifies various body systems; and breaks down fat tissues, restoring health. Scientists believe that when the body finds no food supply, it feeds on waste that obstructs its functions. By consuming its own undesirable residue of degenerated (cancer) cells, harmful bacteria, cysts, lumps, skin pockets, and mineral-buildup in bones, joints, organs, and soft tissues, the body rejuvenates itself. During the process, the blood soaks in toxic compounds from the digestive tract and circulates them around the body for elimination.
This explains the resulting headaches and fatigue during the first few days of fasting, which are normal side-effects of detoxification. To relieve such debilitating after-effects and restore energy, we should drink lots of water, after iftar (breaking fast) until sahoor (meal before abstention). We should maintain a high fluid intake, avoiding consumption of fries, syrupy desserts, and refined, processed, or fatty foods in order to benefit from the purge.
It is of no wonder that many cultures and religions ordain fasting. It serves to cleanse the body, sharpen the mind, and purify the soul. Both traditional and conventional medicines also prescribe short and long fasts, as well as partial and total fasts. Recently, scientists at the University of MIT in the United States found a correlation between fasting and longevity.
With every coming year, Ramadan shifts closer to summer. With hotter and longer days, fasting becomes more strenuous, causing more thirst and dehydration, resulting in kidney-related complications. Rather than heeding Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) advice of drinking water and eating dates and fruits for iftar, most of us, unfortunately, pay attention to hunger pangs, ignoring the call for hydration. We indulge in harmful solids (fried samboosas and syrupy sweets), while the body yearns for water, water, and water. Can we stop for a moment to listen to our body needs rather than impulses?
Water, essential to survive, has become an overlooked nutrient in our diet. All the functions of our body depend on water. With dehydration, body, brain, and organs start to suffer, resulting in urinary tract infections, headaches, acid reflux, constipation, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and bad breath, whereas a glass of water for iftar would give a burst of energy to the lethargic body and mind. As an energy provider, water hydrates the vascular, digestive, hormonal, glandular, circulatory, and immune systems, which depend on it for functional efficacy. Allah, Our Creator, reminds us in the Qur’an, “...And We have created all living things from water...” (Chapter: 21; verse: 30).
Older citizens should be reminded to drink as their sensation of thirst diminishes with age, leading to dehydration and complications.
Water also prevents memory loss and poor concentration. School children should drink water (not soda drinks) after iftar to improve their ability to learn and focus. Studies indicate that water deficiency interferes with mental performance. A fasting mother-to-be should increase water intake as her fetus draws its needs from her body. With water deficiency, a pregnant mother could suffer from acid reflux, constipation, hemorrhoids, and other problems.
While food abstinence slows down the body’s metabolic rate to save energy, physical activity boosts energy; build muscle tissue; accelerates the metabolic rate to expend calories eaten after iftar, and dissipates lethargy caused by heavy meals. Both procedures counter-balance each other to benefit the body, mind, and spirit. Exercising enhances the body’s insulin (sugar burning hormone) sensitivity, lowering the incidence of adult diabetes type 2. Physical activity and deep breathing also improve the body’s oxygen intake and blood circulation.
Sleep is essential to the body. Night sleep allows the brain and body to rest and cells to repair. It enhances energy, mood, memory, thinking ability, and focus. Allah explains to us His purpose of creating day and night by saying, “And We have made your sleep as a thing of rest (9). And We have made the night as a covering [through its darkness] (10). And We have made the day for livelihood” (11) (chapter: 78; verses: 9, 10, 11).
Fasting, prayers, and charity are healing and rewarding to body, mind, and soul. Such are the benefits of this holy month. According to the Holy Qur’an, “... God wills that you shall have ease, and does not will you to have hardship...” (chapter: 1; verse: 185). We pray to Allah to grant us guidance and strength to perform His commands in the required manner. Ramadan Mubarak to all.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Terengganu govt asked to gazette ‘Opposition’ mosques

BESUT: The Terengganu government has been asked to gazette buildings used for Friday prayers by leaders of the opposition and their followers as mosques to reduce disunity among Muslims in the state because of political differences.
Hulu Besut assemblyman, Nawi Mohamad said till now, there were at least six such buildings including suraus that had been identified as being used by an opposition party to conduct Friday prayers because they did not want to use mosques built by the government.
“These buildings are in Kampung Awek and Kampung Pak Sik in Hulu Besut, Padang Landak in Jerteh, Kampung Tok Sabuh in Kuala Besut, Kampung Lahar in Kota Putera and Kampung Tok Dat Jabi,” he said here Saturday.
According to Nawi, who is also deputy chairman of the state Welfare, Women and Community Development Committee, the religious department should handle the gazetting of the buildings after consultations with the parties concerned as the problem had dragged on for far too long.
He was commenting on the split among Malays in the Besut district because of political differences, which also had been discussed by the District Action Council before this.
This problem of having separate Friday prayers has been going since the 80s and only eased after PAS succeeded in coming into power in Terengganu in 1999.
However, when the party lost the next election to Barisan Nasional in 2004, its followers reverted to using their suraus and party buildings for the prayers.
Nawi said he hoped the matter would be given serious attention so that a starting point could be found to reunite the people and avoid a worsening split among Muslims in the state.

tunku : this is the result of the so called "ulamaks" in pas who tell their supporters that umno is infidel and they won't go to heaven etc. hope with the blessing of ramadhan, they will realize their mistakes.what a shame.we really hope that pas will let the mosques and suraus in this country be free of politicking.it is not for pas only, it's for muslims.

How to fast healthily during Ramadan

With the month of Ramadan upon us it is useful to look at ways of trying to maintain a healthy diet whilst fasting. Fasting for 12 to 24 hours or more can lead to dizziness and fatigue and a lowering of metabolic rate as a means of conserving calories or energy. Here are some simple guidelines to make sure that your diet remains balanced and healthy during this fasting period:
Don't skip breakfast (Suhoor)
Even though sleep may seem far more appealing than waking up to force down some food, don't skip breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Research has shown that breakfast provides the essential energy and nutrients needed for concentration, while keeping hunger symptoms like headaches, fatigue, drowsiness and restlessness at bay. In addition, it speeds our metabolic rates. It is therefore vital to ensure an adequate intake at breakfast time.
Eat a wide variety of foods
When your daily intake is limited to two meals per day, you need to put extra effort into including foods from all the food groups. Our bodies need at least 40 different nutrients daily, to ensure that we grow properly and maintain good health. Although most foods contain more than one nutrient, no single food provides all the necessary nutrients. Moreover, foods have benefits that can't be replicated by a pill. So it is important to eat a wide variety of foods every day, to ensure that we get all of these nutrients. Select foods each day from each of the five food groups:
· Breads, cereals and other grain products
· Fruit and vegetables
· Meat, fish and poultry
· Milk, cheese and yoghurt
· Fats and sugars (these are low in nutrients & high in calories, so limit intake!)
Eat low glycaemic (GI) foods at breakfast to help control blood sugar levels
Carbohydrates are classified according to their glucose response or glyceamic index (GI). The GI measures how fast the carbohydrate of a particular food is converted to glucose and enters the bloodstream. The lower the GI, the slower the food is converted to sugar and the longer it satisfies your hunger. Selecting low GI foods helps maintain normal blood sugar, minimises hunger pangs & satisfies appetite without providing excess calories. Also, by controlling blood sugar levels, you prevent excessive eating binges as a result of low blood sugar levels. Remember to include low GI foods at each meal, and to avoid eating high GI foods on their own, but rather to mix them with low GI foods, which will give an intermediate GI overall.
Be aware of your cooking methods
By making small changes in your cooking habits, you can create great-tasting foods that are also healthy for you. Many of those treasured family-favourite recipes have a very high fat content for today's health-conscious living. Don't give up on your favourites – just convert them! Here's how:
· Always trim off excess fat from before cooking, or use venison, chicken and soya as lower fat options. Remove poultry skin & choose light meat (eg. breast).
· Cut down on fat intake during cooking:
- cook onions in a little water or vegetable stock rather than oil or butter
- use non-stick frying pans & non-stick sprays rather than oil or margarine
- bake, grill or roast foods rather than frying
- cook roasted meat or poultry on a wire rack so that the fat can drip off
- Steam or boil vegetables
- when preparing rice, noodles & other grains, season with herbs, spices & broths rather than added fat
- prepare soups, gravies & sauces in advance, so that they can be refrigerated, allowing you to remove the layer of fat that forms on top.
- Use herbs and spices to add flavour & zest to low-fat cooking. Basil, bay leaf, oregano, & rosemary add distinctive flavours & colours to meat & vegetables. Spices, like cinnamon, ginger & nutmeg enhance the sweet taste of foods, & seasoning blends, such as chilli powder, curry powder provide a complex array of flavours
· Avoid taking in too much salt
- Use garlic, dry mustard, pepper, onions, mushrooms & tomatoes to add flavour to meat and vegetables
- Add sliced lemon or lemon juice to white meats & fish
· Make healthy changes to recipes
Cut the fat in half - if a recipe requires cream or whole milk, use evaporated or fresh skim milk. If a recipe requires a whole egg, use two egg whites, etc.
Eat enough carbohydrate foods - especially those rich in fibre
These foods provide the body with energy. They are rich in B vitamins, and are an excellent source of fibre. Hi-fibre foods also fill you up more than low-fibre counterparts. Foods high in fibre include brown rice, wholegrains, fresh fruit and raw veggies.
Remember your fruits and vegetables
Fruit and vegetables add colour and variety to the menu. They are "protective" foods as they help the body fight off sickness and disease. They are also rich sources of a variety of vitamins, minerals, and fibre, and are low in calories.
Drink sufficient fluid
Always include water in your diet, and cut down on caffeine-containing beverages. Caffeine is a diuretic and will not provide adequate hydration.
We all know that maintaining a balanced diet by eating healthily has a vital influence on your well being. Try following the above principles so that this fast period does not sway too much from the principles of good nutrition.

source: www.themodernreligion.com


This article provides useful advice on how to avoid some common problems encountered in Ramadhan. The advice should enable one to fast comfortably and enjoy fully the spiritual benefits of Ramadhan.
During Ramadhan, our diet should not differ greatly from normal and should be as simple as possible. We should be able to maintain our normal weight, neither losing nor gaining. However, if one is over-weight, Ramadhan is an ideal time to lose weight.
We should aim to consume slow digesting foods including fiber-containing foods. Slow-digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last only 3 to 4 hours.
Slow-digesting foods are foods that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour, etc. (complex carbohydrates).
Fast-burning foods are foods that contain sugar, white flour, etc. (refined carbohydrates).
Fibre-containing foods are bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains, seeds, vegetables like green beans, peas, sem (papry), marrow, mealies, spinach, methie, fruit with skin, dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds, etc.
Meals should be well-balanced, containing foods from each food group, i.e. fruits, vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products. Fried foods should be limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and weight problems.
AVOID

Fried and fatty foods.
Foods containing too much sugar.
Over-eating especially at sehri.
Too much tea at sehri. Tea makes you pass more urine taking with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day.
Smoking cigarettes. If you cannot give up, cut down gradually starting a few weeks before Ramadhan.
EAT
Complex carbohydrates at sehri so that the food lasts longer.
Haleem is an excellent source of protein and is a slow-burning food.
Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium & magnesium.
Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat.
Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.
DRINK
As much water or fruit juices as possible between iftar and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels in time.
Problems to Avoid
CONSTIPATION - Constipation can cause piles (haemorroids), fissures (cracks in anal canal) and indigestion, with a bloated feeling.
Causes: Too much refined foods, too little water and not enough fibre in the diet.
Remedy: Avoid refined foods, increase water intake, use bran in baking, brown flour when making roti.
INDIGESTION AND WIND
Causes: Over-eating. Excessive fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods that produce wind e.g. eggs, cabbage, lentils, fizzy drinks like Cola also produce gas.
Remedy: Do not over-eat, drink fruit juices or water. Avoid fried foods, add ajmor to wind-producing foods.
LETHARGY ('low blood pressure')
Excessive sweating, weakness, tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, especially on getting up from sitting, paleness and feeling faint are symptoms associated with "low blood pressure". This tends to occur towards the afternoon.
Causes: Too little fluid intake, decreased salt intake.
Remedy: Keep cool, increase fluid and salt intake.
Caution: Low blood pressure should be confirmed by taking a blood pressure reading when symptoms are present. Persons with high blood pressure may need their medication adjusted during Ramadhan. They should consult their doctor.
HEADACHE

Causes: Caffeine and tobacco-withdrawal, too much exercise, lack of sleep, hunger usually occur during the day and worsen towards the evening. When associated with "low blood pressure", the headache can be quite severe and can also cause nausea before Iftar.
Remedy: Cut down caffeine and tobacco slowly starting a week or two before Ramadhan. Herbal and caffeine-free teas may be substituted. Reorganise your schedule during the Ramadan so as to have adequate sleep.
LOW BLOOD SUGAR
Weakness, dizziness, tiredness, poor concentration, perspiring easily, feeling shaky (tremor), headache, and palpitations are symptoms of low blood sugar.
Causes in non-diabetics: Excessive sugar consumption i.e. refined carbohydrates especially at suhur (sehri). The body produces too much insulin causing the blood glucose to drop.
Remedy: Eat something at sehri, and limit sugar-containing foods and drinks.
Caution: Diabetics may need to adjust their medication in Ramadan, consult your doctor.
MUSCLE CRAMPS
Causes: Inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium foods.
Remedy: Eat foods rich in these minerals e.g. vegetables, fruit, dairy products, meat and dates.
Caution: Those on high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone problems should consult their doctor.
PEPTIC ULCERS, HEART BURN, AND GASTRITIS
Increased acid levels in an empty stomach aggravate the above conditions. It causes a burning feeling in the stomach area and can extend up to the throat. Spicy foods, coffee, and Cola drinks worsen these conditions.
Medications are available to control acid levels in the stomach. People with proven peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia should consult their doctor well before Ramadhan.
KIDNEY STONES
Kidney stones may occur in people who have less liquids to drink. Therefore, it is essential to drink extra liquids so as to prevent stone formation.
JOINT PAINS
Causes: Extra salah(solat) during Ramadhan increases pressure on the knee joints. In the elderly and those with arthritis this may cause pain, stiffness, swelling and discomfort.
Remedy: Lose weight so that the knees do not have to carry any extra load. Exercise the lower limbs before Ramadhan so that they can be prepared for the additional strain. Being physically fit allows greater fulfilment, thus enabling one to be able to perform salah with ease.

Source: Dr. Farouk Haffejee
Islamic Medical Association of South Africa - Durban

Saturday, August 22, 2009

PAS Just Trying To Force A By-Election, Says Mukhriz

JITRA, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- PAS is using the failure of Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblyman Abu Hassan Sarif to attend state assembly meetings as an excuse to force a by-election in his Kota Siputeh state consituency, said Jerlun Member of Parliament Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir.
He said this (forcing by elections) was the Pakatan coalition's strategy to remain relevant to the people.
Mukhriz, who is also Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, told this to reporters here Friday in commenting on the move by Kedah State Assemby Speaker Datuk Dr Abdul Isa Ismail to get the Election Commission to have the seat declared vacant because of non-attendance by its assemblyman at assembly sittings.
Abu Hassan, a four-term assemblyman of the constituency, had cited ill-health for not being able to be present at the sittings but the Speaker had invoked certain provisions in the Kedah constitution as grounds for the seat to be declared vacant.
Mukhriz added that the BN was ready to face a by-election in Kota Siputeh should it be called.

tunku : why do pas have to do all these?they are controlling kedah with a comfortable majority.why do we have to do a by election there? why do pas want to waste tax payer's money? after all the assemblyman has a reason on why he was absent. i guess what Mukhriz said was right that pas trying to force a by election to stay relevant.i don't understand why they must do that when they are ruling in that particular state.it is so obvious that pas and their partners are not interested in the nation building but only interested in politicking.

Ramadhan Al Mubarak

Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان, Ramaḍān) is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, believed to be the month in which the Qur'an began to be revealed. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which Muslims don't eat or drink anything from dawn until sunset. Fasting is meant to teach the person patience and humility. Ramadhan is a time to fast for the sake of god, to offer even more prayer than normal and ask forgiveness for the sins of your past and ask for guidance in the future. To refrain from every day evils and try to purify oneself through self-restraint and good deeds.
Name origin
The name "Ramadan" is the name of the 9th month; the word itself derived from an Arabic word for intense heat, scorched ground, and shortness of rations. It is considered the most venerated and blessed month of the Islamic year. Prayers, sawm (fasting), charity, and self-accountability are especially stressed at this time; religious observances associated with Ramadan are kept throughout the month.
Laylat al-Qadr, which falls during the last third, commemorates the revelation of the first verses of the Qur'an and is considered the most holy night of the year. Ramadan ends with the holiday Eid ul-Fitr, on which feasts are held. During the month following Ramadan, called Shawwal, Muslims are encouraged to fast for a further six days.
Practices during Ramadan

Fasting
The most prominent event of this month is the fasting (sawm) practiced by observant Muslims. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat the Suhoor meal (the pre dawn meal) and perform their fajr prayer. They break their fast when the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib (sunset), is due.
During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual activities during fasting hours are also forbidden.[Qur'an 2:187] Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God Almighty. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. Properly observing the fast is supposed to induce a comfortable feeling of peace and calm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy for those who are less fortunate, intended to make Muslims more generous and charitable. Muslims can eat after the sun has set. Pregnant women, the elderly, the ill, travellers and children who have not reached puberty are all exempt from fasting as lack of food and liquid in these situations could be detrimental to health.
Prayer and reading of the Qur'an
In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an.
Muslims tend to perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (juz, which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited, so that by the end of the month the entire Qur'an has been completed. Tarawih is an Arabic phrase referring to those extra prayers. This prayer is performed after salah of Isha'a, but before the witr rakat.
Muslims also pay Zakat (only applicable if one can afford it) during the month. For those who qualify to pay Zakaat, as per the Islamic Nisab (that is those whose wealth exceeds their necessities), of the leftover of their wealth earned in that Islamic calendar year. Although Zakat can be paid any time of the year, it has to be calculated on a year to year basis, and many Muslims use Ramadan as the month for calculation and disbursement.
Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment, establishing a link between God Almighty and themselves by prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others.
Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it, this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involved - the preparing of special foods and inviting people for the Iftar meal (the meal to break the Fast).
In many Muslim and non Muslim countries with large Muslim populations, markets close down in the evening to enable people to perform prayers and consume the Iftar meal (the meal to end the fast) - these markets then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours.
Events of Ramadan
Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic: لیلة القدر) (known as Shab-e Qadr in Persian), literally the "Night of Decrees" or "Night of Measures", is the anniversary of two very important dates in Islam that occurred in the month of Ramadan.[citation needed] Muslims believe that it was the night of the Laylat al-Qadr that the Quran's first verse was revealed. The exact night of the Laylat al-Qadr is only known to God and Muhammed (SWS) but he chose to keep it to himself so that Muslims won't pray only that night. That is why Muhammad indicated that it was on one of the last ten nights of Ramadan.
The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, as per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fast, a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (‘Zakat al-Fitr’), everyone puts on their best, preferably new, clothes, and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two rakaahs only, and it is an optional prayer as opposed to the compulsory 5 daily prayers. According to one current school of thought (Ankaboot), it is suggested that North American Muslims arrange their work-schedule for Eid by requesting the two most likely days of Eid as Holidays or simply as days off from work. This allows for quality family time, and is akin to the Christian/North American tradition of taking Christmas and Christmas Eve off as holidays. This also allows for time off to celebrate the Eid prayer at a mosque and with family. The fast always ends after 29 or 30 days of fasting, and thus the request would be for the 29th and 30th day after the start of the fast.
Muslims are encouraged to fast six days in Shawwal, the month following Ramadan that begins after Eid ul-Fitr; these days need not be consecutive.[1] According to hadith, one who fasts the month of Ramadan and six days during Shawwal will be rewarded as though he fasted the entire year.