Tuesday, March 23, 2010

PURSUE WORK THAT YOU ENJOY





TITLE: TRIBUTE TO MUM

MEDIUM: PASTEL ON PAPER FRAME WITHIN A FRAME CONCEPT

ARTIST: NUR FAJRINA ABDUL RAZAK
UNDERGRADUATE: NANYANG ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS



Ibn Taymiyah said:



"I once became ill and the physician told me that reading and giving talks on knowledge would only exacerbate my condition. I told him that I couldn't abandon these pursuits, and that I would, if possible, like to make his own knowledge a judge between us. Isn't it the case, I asked him that if the soul feels happy and joyful, the body become stronger and sickness is repelled? The doctor replied in the affirmative.


'Therefore,' I said to him, 'my soul finds joy, comfort, and strength in knowledge.' The doctor yielded and admitted that my situation was outside the pale of his science of medicine."



<< Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. >>

(Qur'an 24:11)





Monday, March 22, 2010

DOA UNTUK MU......

THIS IS A CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE - CANTIK!

Bila ALLAH Cepat Makbulkan Doamu, Maka DIA Menyayangimu
Bila DIA Lambat Makbulkan Doamu, Maka DIA Ingin Mengujimu
Bila DIA Tidak Makbulkan Doamu, Maka DIA Merancang Sesuatu Yang Lebih Baik Untukmu. Oleh Itu, Sentiasalah Bersangka Baik Pada ALLAH Dalam Apa Jua Keadaan Pun.... Kerana Kasih Sayang ALLAH Itu Mendahalui Kemurkaan Nya
Assalamualaikum.....
Doa ku untuk mu .....
Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pengasih Dan Penyayang
Ya Allah....
Panjangkanlah umur sahabatku. Kurniakanlah kesihatan yang baik padanya, terangi hatinya dengan nur pancaran iman. Tetapkanlah hatinya, perluaskanlah rezekinya, dekatkan hatinya kepada kebaikan, jauhkanlah hatinya pada kejahatan, tunaikan hajatnya baik dalam agama, dunia dan akhirat ......
Ya Muhaimin....
Jika dia jatuh hati izinkanlah dia menyentuh hati seseorang yang hatinya tertaut pada-Mu agar tidak terjatuh dia dalam jurang cinta nafsu....
Jagalah hatinya agar tidak berpaling daripada melabuhkan hatinya pada hati-Mu.
Jika dia rindu, rindukan dia pada seseorang yang merindui syahid di jalan-Mu.
Ya Allah .....
Jangan biarkan sahabatku tertatih dan terjatuh dalam perjalanan panjang menyeru manusia kejalan-Mu...jika kau halalkan aku merindui sahabatku, janganlah aku melampaui batas sehingga melupakan daku pada cinta hakiki, rindu abadi dan kasih sejati hanya untuk-Mu.
Ya Allah....
Kurniakanlah sahabatku kesenangan, ketenangan, kecemerlangan dan hidayah dari-Mu dalam menempuh cabaran serta liku liku hidup di dunia dan akhirat kelak...

InsyaAllah. AMIN



Apabila kita ingin bersahabat, Jangan kerana kelebihannya. Kerana mungkin dengan satu kelemahan, kita mungkin akan menjauhinya.
Andai kita ingin berteman, Janganlah kerana kebaikannya. Kerana mungkin dengan satu keburukan, kita akan membencinya.
Andai kita ingin seorang teman, Janganlah kerana sifat cerianya. Kerana andai dia tidak pandai menceriakan, kita mungkin akan menyalahkannya.
Andai kita inginkan sahabat yang satu, Janganlah kerana ilmunya, kerana apabila dia buntu, kita mungkin akan menfitnahnya.
Andai kita ingin bersahabat, terimalah dia seadanya. Kerana kita sendiri pun tidak tahu apakah diri kita sudah cukup sempurna, mengikut kehendak ALLAH SWT yang sebenar benarnya.....
** Besederhanalah dalam persahabatan. InsyaAllah kita tidak akan melihat kelemahan itu sebagai satu kelemahan **

Sunday, March 21, 2010

LAT - MY TEENAGE YEARS......

MY YOUNG DAYS WERE FUN DAYS






MY FAVOURITE CARTOONIST, MOHAMMAD NOOR KHALID
THE FAMOUS LAT
THE EARLY SERIES IS A 2009 PUBLICATION







I remember, request programme on Sundays
Compere: TAN HOCK LYE



"TOP TUNES OF THE WEEK" FELL ON A WEEK DAY AT 3.00 pm
Compere BERNARD SOLOSA

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

"TO SAY KIND WORDS IS ALSO CHARITY"


TAKE YOUR PRECAUTIONS


In all facets of life, one should take precautions and study the possible outcomes of every action, because by being careful, one will have no cause for future self-recrimination. If the results of one's endeavours are good, one should thank and praise God. If the results of one's endeavours are not so good, one should say, "God has made His decree and whatever He pleases, He does."




VERIFY THE FACTS YOURSELF


The judicious person is he who, when hearing some news, does not hurry into judgement based merely on what he hears. Instead, he verifies and authenticates what he hears; he thinks things over and he consults with wiser and more experienced people. It has been rightly said that to err by forgiving someone is better than to err by punishing him.






THE FRUIT OF CONTENTMENT IS THANKFULNESS
Contentment leads to thankfulness, which is among the highest levels of faith. In truth, it is the reality of faith. The epitome of all the differing levels of righteousness is thankfulness to God. And the one who is not content with God's favour and rulings and with His giving and His taking away is not thankful to Him. Indeed, the thankful person is the most blessed and prosperous of people.



DEAR MUSLIMS - AVOID MARSHMALLOWS

TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, AVOID CONSUMING MARSHMALLOWS. I UNDERSTAND MARSHMALLOWS CONTAIN GELATIN WHICH GIVES THE CHEWY EFFECT. SOURCE OF GELATIN IS UNKNOWN FOR ALL IMPORTED MARSHMALLOWS.
FRUIT GUMS AND FRUIT JELLIES ALSO CONTAIN GELATIN - CHILDREN'S FAVOURITE - BEST TO READ LABELS BEFORE PURCHASE OR GIVE IT A MISS.












PLEASE NOTE: AS STATED ON WRAPPER: *GELATIN: OUR GELATIN IS MADE FROM TYPE A PORKSKIN




Tuesday, March 16, 2010

EAT LESS RICE!


Stunning crop art has sprung up across rice fields in Japan. Farmers creating the huge displays use no ink nor dye. Instead different colour rice plants have been precisely and strategically arranged and grown in the paddy fields.

Organisers used computers to precisely plot planting of the differently coloured rice varieties that bring the images to life.



The human body never meant to consume rice! You see, our genes have hardly changed in more than 30,000 years. However, our food choices and lifestyle have changed dramatically. The caveman would hardly recognise our food or way of life.
Caveman food was never cooked as fire was not yet tamed. Thus, he ate only those foods that you can eat without treatment with or by fire. He ate fruit, vegetables, fish (sushi anyone?), eggs, nuts and meat. Yes, even meat! You can even eat meat raw if you were starving in the forest. You have the necessary enzymes to digest meat.
However, rice like wheat and corn, cannot be eaten raw. It must be cooked. Even if you were starving in the desert, you cannot eat rice in the raw form. This is because we do not have the system of enzymes to break rice down. You were never meant to eat rice. To make matters worse, you not only eat rice, but also make it the bulk of your food.
In some parts of Asia, rice forms up to 85% of the plate. Even if you take rice, keep it to a minimum. Remember, it is only for your tongue - not your body. Actually, rice and other grains like wheat and corn are actually worse than sugar. There are many reasons.
Rice becomes sugar - lots of it!
This is a fact that no nutritionist can deny: rice is chemically no different from sugar. One bowl of cooked rice is the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This does not matter whether it is white, brown or organic rice. Brown rice is richer in fibre, some B vitamins and minerals but it is still the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. To get the same 10 teaspoons of sugar, you need to consume lots of kangkong - 10 bowls of it.
Rice is disgested to become sugar.
Rice cannot be digested before it is thoroughly cooked. However, when thoroughly cooked, it becomes sugar and spikes circulating blood sugar within half an hour - almost as quickly as it would if you took a sugar candy. Rice is very low in the 'rainbow of anti-oxidants.'
This complete anti-oxidant rainbow is necessary for the effective and safe utilisation of sugar. Fruits come with a sugar called fructose. However, they are not empty calories as the fruit is packed with a whole host of other nutrient that help its proper assimilation and digestion.
Rice has no fibre.
The fibre of the kangkong fills you up long before your blood sugar spikes. This is because the fibre bulks and fills up your stomach. Since white rice has no fibre, you end up eating lots of 'calorie dense' food before you get filled up. Brown rice has more fibre but still the same amount of sugar.
Rice is tasteless - sugar is sweet.
There is only so much that you can eat at one sitting. How many teaspoons of sugar can you eat before you feel like throwing up? Could you imagine eating 10 teaspoons of sugar in one seating?
Rice is always the main part of the meal.
While sugar may fill your dessert or sweeten your coffee, it will never be the main part of any meal. You could eat maybe two to three teaspoons of sugar at one meal. However, you could easily eat the equal value of two to three bowls (20 - 30 teaspoons) of sugar in one meal. I am always amused when I see someone eat sometimes five bowls of rice (equals 50 teaspoons of sugar) and then asks for tea tarik kurang manis!
There is no real 'built in' mechanism for us to prevent overeating of rice:
How much kangkong can you eat?
How much fried chicken can you eat?
How much steamed fish can you eat?
Think about that!
In one seating, you cannot take lots of chicken, fish or cucumber, but you can take lots of rice. Eating rice causes you to eat more salt. As rice is tasteless, you tend to consume more salt - another villian when it comes to high blood pressure. You tend to take more curry that has salt to help flavour rice. We also tend to consume more ketchup and soy sauce which are also rich in salt.
Eating rice causes you to drink less water.
The more rice you eat, the less water you will drink as there is no mechanism to prevent the overheating of rice. Rice, wheat and corn come hidden in our daily food. As rice is tasteless, it tends to end up in other foods that substitute rice like rice flour, noodles and bread. We tend to eat the hidden forms which still get digested into sugar.
Rice, even when cooked, is difficult to digest.
Can't eat raw rice? Try eating rice half cooked. Contrary to popular belief, rice is very difficult to digest. It is 'heavy stuff'. If you have problems with digestion, try skipping rice for a few days. You will be amazed at how the problem will just go away.
Rice prevents the absorption of several vitamins and minerals.
Rice when taken in bulk will reduce the absorption of vital nutrients like zinc, iron and the B vitamins.
Are you a rice addict? Going rice-less may not be easy but you can go rice-less. Eating less rice could be a lot easier than you think. Here are some strategies that you can pursue in your quest to eat less rice:
Eat less rice - cut your rice by half.
Barry Sears, author of the Zone Diet, advises 'eating rice like spice'. Instead, increase your fruits and vegetables. Take more lean meats and fish. You can even take more eggs and nuts.
Have 'riceless' meals.
Take no rice or wheat at say, breakfast. Go for eggs instead.
Go on 'riceless' days.
Go 'western' once a week.
Take no rice and breads for one day every week.
That can't be too difficult. Appreciate the richness of your food. Go for taste,colours and smells. Make eating a culinary delight. Enjoy your food in the original flavours.
Avoid the salt shaker or ketchup.
You will automatically eat less rice.
Eat your fruit dessert before your meals.
The fibre rich fruits will 'bulk up' in your stomach. Thus, you will eat less rice and more fruits.
It's your life.
Decide what you want to eat!
But eat less rice!

THE SHORTEST AND TALLEST ......



PINGPING THE SHORTEST MAN IN THE WORLD
HEIGHT: 2' 5.37"
BORN: IN CHINA IN HUADE COUNTY
DIED: 13 MARCH 2010 IN A HOSPITAL IN ROME WITH CHEST PAIN AT THE AGE OF 22 YEARS








2007 RECORDED IN THE GUINNESS WORLD OF RECORDS
'SHORTEST MAN IN THE WORLD'









PINGPING STANDING NEXT TO WORLD'S TALLEST MAN
NAME: SULTAN KOSEN
HEIGHT: 8' 1"


NOW YOU KNOW THE 'SHORTEST AND TALLEST MEN IN THE WORLD'

WHO WILL REPLACE PINGPING'S WORLD RECORD????

DETERMINATION CAN OVERCOME INSURMOUNTABLE BARRIERS


When someone is possessed of great determination, he can, by the will of Allah, climb to great heights of virtue.
Among the characteritics of a Muslim is that he not only has high and noble aims, but also has strong determination, because determination is the fuel that propels one to higher virtues.
And determination - by the will of Allah - will bring great good to you. People will see you as one who is learning, doing good deeds, working for higher aims - or basically, one who is achieving.
Do not, however, fall into the error of confusing determination with arrogance. Between the two lies a distance as great as that between the sky and earth. When one has strong determination, one rues every missed opportunity, and therefore he is one who is constantly goading himself on to reach his goal.
Strong determination is a characteristic of those that are righteous, just, and sincere, while arrogance is a sickness that is predominant among tyrants and wretched people.
Determination carries one upwards, while arrogance makes one fall, dragging its victim down to the depths of ignominy. O'students of knowledge, remain steadfast and resolute in the path that you are upon, and do not falter.

HAPPINESS ....





Happiness is a Divine gift that does not distinguish between the rich and the poor


It is not uncommon to see labourers who are so poor that whatever they earn on any given day is spent on that same day. Yet many of them are happy, peaceful, with strong hearts and tranquil souls. This is because they are too busy to think about yesterday or tomorrow. Their life-style has given them an appreciation of today since they have not been afforded the opportunity of thinking about anything else.


Compare these to those who live in mansions. Inactivity and free time have afforded them with plentiful time to think about their problems and their lack of purpose in life. Thus misery and worry afflict many of them day and night.




Monday, March 15, 2010

D U I T.... TOWARDS HEAVEN'S DOORS......

TO ALL MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS

D - DOA
U - USAHA
I - IQHTIAR
T - TAWAKKAL


YANG MENYELAMATKAN DARI SIKSA KUBUR


Ada sebuah Hadis yang membicarakan tentang penyelamatan dari siksa kubur iaitu Hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Abu Musa Al-Madini. Daripada Abdul Rahman bin Samurah, katanya: Telah datang Rasulullah s.a.w. kepada kita sedang kita berada di Shuffah dekat dengan kota Madinah, lalu berbicara kepada kita, katanya:
Sesungguhnya aku telah bermimpi ajaib malam kelmarin. Aku telah melihat seorang dari umatku telah didatangi oleh Malakul-maut untuk mengambil nyawanya, maka menjelmalah ketaatannya kepada kedua ibu bapanya, lalu menghalang Malaikat-maut itu daripadanya.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku sedang dikerumuni oleh syaitan-syaitan, maka menjelmalah zikrullah, lalu mengusir syaitan-syaitan itu daripadanya.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku telah diseret oleh Malaikat-azab, maka segara menjelang sembahyangnya serta melepaskannya dari tangan mereka.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku sedang ditimpa dahaga yang berat, setiap ia mendatangi sesuatu perigi, dihalang untuk meminum daripadanya, maka segera menjelang puasanya serta memberinya minum hingga ia merasa puas.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku yang mengunjungi kumpulan para Nabi, yang ketika itu sedang duduk berkumpul-kumpul, setiap ia mendekati mereka, ia diusir dari situ, maka menjelmalah mandi junub-nya sambil memimpinnya ke kumpulanku seraya menunjuknya supaya duduk di sisiku.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku dikabusi oleh suasana gelap-gulita, di hadapannya gelap, di kanannya gelap, di kirinya gelap, di atas kepalanya gelap, di bawahnya juga gelap, sedang ia dalam keadaan bingung, maka menjelmalah haji dan umrahnya, lalu mengeluarkannya dari suasana gelap-gulita itu dan memasukkannya ke dalam suasana terang benderang.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku berbicara kepada kaum Mu'minin, akan tetapi tidak seorang pun dari mereka yang mahu membalas bicaranya, maka menjelmalah silatur-rahimnya seraya menyeru orang-orang itu, katanya: Wahai kaum Mu'minin, sesungguhnya orang ini sangat suka membantu kaum kerabatnya, maka sambutlah bicaranya, lalu mereka pun berbicara dengannya, mereka lalu bersalaman dengannya.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku sedang menepis-nepis bahang api dan percikannya dari mukanya, maka segera menjelmalah sedekahnya lalu menabiri muka dan kepalanya dari bahaya api itu.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku sedang diseret oleh Malaikat Zabaniah ke merata tempat, maka menjelmalah Amar Ma'ruf dan Nabi Munkarnya seraya menyelamatkannya dari cengkaman mereka serta menyerahkannya pula kepada Malaikat-rahmat.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku sedang merangkak-rangkak, antaranya dengan Tuhan dipasang hijab (tabir), maka menjelmalah budipekertinya seraya memimpinnya sehingga dibuka hijab tadi dan masuklah ia ke hadhrat Allah Ta'ala.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku terheret ke sebelah kiri oleh buku catitannya, maka menjelmalah perasaan takutnya kepada Allah lalu menukarkan tujuan buku catitan itu ke arah kanan.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku terangkat timbangannya, maka menjelmalah anak-anaknya yang mati kecil, lalu menekan timbangan itu sehingga menjadi berat pula.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku sedang berdiri di pinggir Jahannam, maka menjelmalah perasaan gerunnya terhadap siksa Allah Ta'ala lalu membawanya jauh dari tempat itu.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku terjerumus ke dalam api neraka, maka menjelmalah airmatanya yang mengalir karena takut kepada Allah Ta'ala, lalu menyelamatkannya dari api neraka itu.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku sedang meniti di aras Shirat (titian) manakala seluruh tubuhnya bergoncang, seperti bergoncangnya deduan yang ditiup angin, maka menjelmalah baik sangkanya terhadap Allah Ta'ala, lalu menenteramkan kegoncangannya itu dan mudahlah ia meniti hingga ke hujung titian itu.
Aku melihat juga seorang dari umatku sedang meniti di atas Shirat, kadangkala ia merangkak dan kadangkala ia meniarap, maka menjelmalah selawatnya ke atas diriku, lalu ia pun memimpin tangannya dan mengajaknya berdiri dan meniti hingga ke penhujung titian itu.
Aku melihat seorang dari umatku sudah hampir tiba di pintu syurga, dan dengan sekonyong-konyong pintu-pintunya ditutup, maka menjelmalah penyaksiannya bahawa tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah, lalu membukakan pintu-pintu syurga itu untuknya, sehingga ia boleh memasukinya.
Hadis ini adalah di antara Hadis-hadis yang cukup bagus sekali.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Monday, March 8, 2010

DEFT HANDS... SEVEN COLOUR ROSE

REPEL BOREDOM WITH WORK





When you find yourself to be idle, prepare for depression and despair, because idleness allows your mind to wander in the past, the present, and the future, with all of their difficulties.





Being inactive means being negligent of one's duties. Idleness is an expert thief and your mind is its victim.




Destroy boredom by working. When you apply this simple precept alone, you will have travelled at least fifty percent of the way towards happiness.





THE BLESSING OF KNOWLEDGE


Knowledge is a light that leads to wisdom. It is life for one's soul and fuel for one's character.




Happiness and high-spiritedness come with enlightenment, because through knowledge, one may fulfull his goals and discover what was previously hidden from him. The soul, by its very nature, longs for the acquisition of new knowledge to stimulate it and the mind.




Ignorance is boredom and grief, because the ignorant person leads a life that never offers anything new or mind provoking. Yesterday is like today, which in turn is like tomorrow.



If you desire happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will find that anxiety, depression, and grief will leave you.





Saturday, March 6, 2010

SURFING THROUGH THE WEB....

SWEET MEMORIES OF SCHOOL DAYS - OUR ART TEACHER INSTRUCTED US TO CUT OUT PAINTINGS FROM MAGAZINES AND PASTE THEM IN OUR "ART SCRAP BOOK". I MANAGED TO FIND PAINTINGS FROM VINCENT VAN GOGH AND ONE OF THEM WAS HIS INFAMOUS "SUNFLOWER."
BELOW ARE HIS PAINTINGS EXHIBITED RECENTLY AT THE LONDON ROYAL ACADEMY



"THE REAL VAN GOGH" (DUTCH)




VINCENT VAN GOGH WOULD OFTEN DRAW AN IMAGE IN PEN AND INK AS IN "POLLARD WILLOW"

In Art Class, we learnt to draw with a fine brush dipped in Indian Ink, for fine outlines, then with different sizes of brushes we painted with the ink for dark shades, as for lighter shades we added water to the ink. Then with several sizes of brushes we "painted over" with water colour to get the above effect and we called it "in monotone"




"STILL LIFE - A PLATE OF ONIONS"


Still Life is one of my favourites - with crayons, pencil shadings, (HB1, HB2, HB3, HB4 Stadtler pencils) water and poster colours also can do!