Friends and birthday

I didn't realize it will be my birthday on this sunday until Nash brought it up to me last thursday during zikir and asked the congregation to recite fatiha for me. Alhamdulilah, it was such a unique feeling on this occasion as I celebrate my 32th birthday. I received many birthday wishes from new brothers and also many old friends. From sms, email and facebook. It touches me alot as I about to shed some tears reading their messages. A birthday wish through sms from london, Australia, Germany, Glasgow, Cyprus, Istanbul, Jakarta, Jawa, KL, Kedah and my lovely wife makes my day happy.

It feels good to be remember but I didn't expect such overflow messages. However, I should be thankful when others remember me. This made me realize each friends that i met along my journey play a role in my life. Be it good or bad, the wisdom of the reality remain unseen only time will allow me to understand the whole issue. Facebook brought me to old memories as I met most of my old friends. When you meet them again, its sort of different feeling, you are more keen to be together, appreciating one another. Perhaps we have grown older in trying to understand life better or you have been looking at yourself more often and finding your own faults. By the way, thanks for the lovely messages and friendship. Love you all. may Allah bless you and your family.

A New Life: The journey of my heart and soul

Life have been so different for me lately. I am not too sure how to describe it to you. Its a soothing feeling that paint my colorful life and at the same time it taste bitter. Whatever it could be, I accept it with an open heart. I am sure its good for my heart, soul and ego. Learning the hardest way, i hope will make me sober in realizing whatever i do in my daily life although I am forgetful with so many things on my mind. But I try to learn from my mistakes and swallow every bits and pieces of my arrogance, ignorance and recklessness, hoping to be a better person. I am positively sure with the person I love so much by my side, any obstacles we will be able to overcome it.

I am fortunate to have such person in my life. Well life is not always about happiness, its about contentment. It depend on how you see things in life. Though Its easier said than done. All we need is to be patience and learning our mistakes from time to time. Whenever we did our best, whatever is going to happen Allah will make it the best for us. There is no such perfect solution to many issues we are facing today. When we solve one problem, another will appear. What we can do is to understand life and the role of mankind in this world. Nothing is perfect, everything is illusion. When we see the mistakes of others, we realize the sign of God perfection. God is love, Love is God. There will be a time when God send someone to you, don't reject them, it could be the greatest gift you ever have in your life. If you are choosy, don't blame God, question yourself.

may Allah bless you and forgive me.

Our Mission.

By Hazrat Khwaja Moinudeen Hassan Chishti Ajmeri(ra)

Love all and hate none.
Mere talk of peace will avail you naught.
Mere talk of God and religion will not take you far.
Bring out all of the latent powers of your being
And reveal the full magnificence of your immortal self.
Be surcharged with peace and joy,
And scatter them wherever you are and wherever you go.
Be a blazing fire of truth,
Be a beauteous blossom of love and a soothing balm of peace.
With your spiritual light dispel the darkness of ignorance;
Dissolve the clouds of discord and war.
Spread the message of goodwill,
peace and harmony among the people.
Never seek any help,
charity or favours from anybody except God.
Never go to the courts of Kings,
But never refuse to bless and help the needy and the poor,
the widow and the orphan when they come to your door.
This is your mission, to serve the people

pic of Maqam Hazrat Khawaja Moinudin Chisti

Losing tooth

Yesterday, I lost a tooth after battling for so long against the bleed in my mouth which I have been having for many months. I realize there is nothing I can do about it. It hurts but I don't have a choice. Doctor said its becoming worst and its link with cancer and other sort of sickness. I was very sad about it. I was in daze thinking how it can happen to me. But I hope and search for a miracle. It remind me of my late dad. He had dialysis since I was 12 years old. My dad survived for 14 years. He knew when he was on such condition, he's going to died and he said in tears with me, to look after my mom. I didn't know how the pain feel like. Each time he had dialysis he will be weak and in the state of semi concisenesses. Its true, you never know how it feels like going through some pain until you experience it yourself. But one thing my dad taught me, not to give up and continue to strive. He used to say for anything to happen, there is a blessing in disguise.

I felt his hope and strength whenever I feel the pain in my mouth or in abdomen. He used to say be happy even in pain because, there is Allah who knows what you are going through. Therefore, Allah is teaching us to be patience, humble and contented. Nobody knows what you are going through until they face the same situation as you. Its easier said than done. Another strength I gain is to remember what my mom went through. She had a coma for 3 months. Doctor claimed, all hope is gone but in the end she revive and survive until today. Alhamdulilah. Anything can happen to us in life but we should face any problems and challenges with an open heart. I felt difficult to explain to people whats on my mind and heart, its takes a very long time. I am sure it hurts many people. Its my weakness to open my mouth and say whats in my heart. I dont know whats going to happen tomorrow but like my dad said, there are people who wont understand you, cause it takes long time for people who have no experience of going through something, the same for you, having difficulties in understanding others. Time heals the pain and surrow.

Friends

Friends are very important in our life. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w is our greatest example. He's always with his beloved Sahaba r.a. Usually they will gathered around him or to be with him by his side. He shared his love with them and treated them special in every ways. At times, he will also listen to their advices or views in many aspect to show not only his pure humbleness but to inform us the importance of having friends whose hearts are together binding for the sake of Allah. If we are unite, we will be stronger to progress in life. We are weak servant therefore Allah send friends to us each moment whenever we seek one. Every friends have its role in our life, somehow they make an impact in the development of our journey to Allah. There are many reason and wisdom why they came into our life, its a matter of time, if we contemplate on ourselves, we begin to find the answer.

They said if you have many friends then you would probably be getting many enemies. I dont know if it is so much true. I have many friends along the journey of my life which I appreciate them so much. From the school days to soccer, music, voluntarism and now embarking spiritual path also widen my network of friends. Of course there will be criticism being said but then again I often ignore it because I know whatever goes around comes around. I am fortunate to be with many friends who embrace Islam and deep inside me I said " Ya Allah I am thankful to you for opening the door of my heart to know you better through these people who outwardly we may think they are new to you but spiritually they are in your divine presence". Learning from the trade of being a new Muslim is something special to me. The challenges they face each day would probably lift up their spirit to love Allah and his beloved Messenger Muhammad s.a.w. I remembered once I met a young Chinese Muslim bro name Abdullah. He often confide with me whatever problems he is facing. He ever said to me " I dont know if there is any God but if i found sincerity, I would probably met God". I remain silence for that moment.

When we were at Maqam Habib Noh, there was a mawlid. When the door of the Maqam was open. He was so happy and excited. He said to me" Bro is this heaven"? pointing to the direction of the Maqam. I was dumb and speechless not too sure what to say but i felt the experience of having the enlightenment with him by my side. During the reading of Mawlid, he cried and I still holding on to myself. He shed tears so much that, one habib came and hugged me and him. It was amazing, he didn't understand the arabic words and yet he was in tears meaning he would probably understood what was read in the mawlid. Then I realized, its about love and sincerity. When you obtain that such noble feelings within yourself, definitely, you will understand everything. A moment of divine reality grasp you, in a way you begin to overcome your imagination and seeks the ocean of reality.

I also learnt another vital lesson from a Chinese Muslim bro name Firdaus Poon. His generosity in always treating me and others on lunch and dinners always amaze me. It makes me wonder how noble he is in treating others in a way hes not culculative and stingy. I should be like him, insha'Allah. Shaykh Zakaria said The reward of treating others for meals after friday prayer is abundance in nobility. He also said if you are generous, Allah will reward you and also ensure your rezeki will be more. As a born Muslims, I discover how arrogance and ignorance I am all this while. We as born Muslims often took things for granted, thinking we know everything and look down on others who we think no nothing about our religion. If not for my friendship with these people, I would probably trapped in the arrogance for very long time. Praise Be To Allah for his mercy and guidance.

Our friends are unique in their own ways. However, we've to realize, we are not the people of coincidence. Allah has written who we meet in our daily life's. Perhaps the wisdom of being a friend, we would comprehend one day along our journey in this world. may Allah bless all our friends and families.

Selamat Pengantin Baru

Shaykh Jamhuri Finally nikah his beloved wife Rifki Amalia. May Allah bless them and protect them. Amiin.

A Friend indeed is a friend who is there for you

The past 2 days i spent with Ashaari made me realize how much I miss him as a friend. He didnt change even though he started a new life with his own family. He was the same guy when i've known for the past 14 years. I grew up wif him in the music scene. Back then, we were always jamming, playing gigs, moshing, finger pointing, stage diving and hanging out. Music and soccer was our religion. Somehow along the way, I needed a change for my life and Allah sent me Ashaari as he embraced Islam. I was his witness. I was there to listen to his shahadah at that particular moment, the atmosphere was dead silent but in my heart, i was in tears. I didn't know I was going to be part of someone's journey to Allah.

There are times when he and I went through troubled periods after he became a Muslim. Although it's tough, Ashaari kept on striving forward and often smiled even when he was in difficulties. I learnt a lot from him. He is the sort of friend who doesn't pick and choose who he wants to be with in his life. He embraces everyone. And I know because whenever i need him, he's there for me. I never heard him backbiting or get against any of his friends.He was not the kind of friend who goes against another friend behind the back. Even in disagreement with anyone of us, he will discuss in an adab way. It's rare to find such a friend. However, we acknowledge each one of us have strengths and weaknesses. This is what i realize when I contemplate the moment I spent with Ashaari. He often looks at your positive than negative side cause he knows he himself is not perfect. Khawajah Shah Naqshband said "If you look at the faults of your friends, you will be friendless." True friends are the ones who will be there for you in the times you need them.

I also remembered the time he introduced me to Shaykh Zakaria. He said to me, there is a tauhid class at darul, the ustaz is good and i decided to join him. I was attracted to Shaykh Zakaria's humbleness and sincerity in teaching. There was a huge crowd attending the class and everyone enjoyed the session. There was once when Shaykh Zakaria came late for the class, everyone was eagerly waiting for him when he came into the class, he smiled and laughed and everyone started to laugh wif him. It was such a miraculous moment for me.

Ashaari also invited me when Mawalana Shaykh Nazim visited Singapore.I never had such spiritual experience before. Although I was searching for a path for almost 2 years, never did I know I will meet mawlana. It's amazing to discover spirituality after being in such a void state for so long. The zikir at Maqam Habib noh was indeed an unforgettable episode in my life. I realize mawlana sent both of us to be together, in a way if we find a way to appreciate our friends, it will benefit us, that is the main purpose of servanthood. There is a hadith, if i remember clearly based on a friend who brings you to heaven and hell. Therefore, friendship is vital in many ways, it makes you strong to seek the path to Allah.

Until today I would seek his opinions or advice because after seeing what he went through in his life and marriage. I have no doubt learning from someone experience will make you a better person. No doubt our friendship being tested from time to time, perhaps a little of patience and understanding one another, make us realize we need each other. We doa and hope with the blessing of Awliyah, Prophet s.a.w and Allah, we remain as friends till our last breath and we together will be under the dome of our beloved Mashaykh and Prophet s.a.w