Thursday, January 29, 2009

Courtesy and finesse….

Have you ever felt intimidated and angry when you are persistently asked to do something? Especially by someone whom you have never met face to face and hardly know? Being excessively pressured to say yes and then pushed to the limit?

One thing is for sure. My heart rebels from inside of me and cries out, ”Please! Who do you think you are in the first place?”

For years, I have worked, I have never been subjected to this kind of behaviour. All my heads of departments, even the present one have never asked for help without saying please and being disrespectful. And when they do, we would always love to do the task with utmost drive and with pleasure, not out of fear nor out of spite.

Have been disturbed of late. And so, I have decided to just lie low and say nothing. Let the thing pass. I do not gain anything anyway.

What disturbs me most is the fact that someone of high standing and knowledgeable can act this way. Why is it so difficult for people to be nice to each other? What is the use of being highly educated if one is rude and cannot even be courteous amongst fellow human beings? The truth of the matter is, asking for help in wanting to gain benefit from others is an art. We need to practice; the mannerisms, the tone of language, the request….Why is it so difficult to say “Please?” Why can’t people say, “It would be very good if..”. Why use, “I want you to....” when “I would be very much obliged if you could..” or “I would be very pleased if you would…” sounds much more pleasing to the ears? I just cannot comprehend….

Common sense. But it is not a common practice anymore… This disturbs me. A lot! Finesse and courtesy is gone. To God, I turn and unto him I put my words of prayers, “Oh Allah! Please show and open the hearts of men who are heartless enough not to realize the importance of courtesy and gentleness, especially when asking for help from others…Amin”

I shudder at the thought of having to work under these type of human beings (as your boss, that is..). Possibly under duress for the rest of one’s lives.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said ... “manifest taqwa wherever you, replace wrong deeds with good, it would expiate for your sins. Deal with people with your best behaviour.”

In another saying, the Prophet (peace upon him) has also stated, “God is gentle, and He loves the adoption of a gentle attitude in all matters.” (related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

I have not replied nor have I retaliated. One solution is, to do nothing at all…

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “A person who believes in God and the Hereafter should speak about good things or else should keep quiet.”

The only humility that is really ours is not that which we try to show before God in prayer, but that which we carry with us in our daily conduct.. –Andrew Murray
From Him, we seek forgiveness...

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Of the same flesh and blood...












“You!” said I after greeting the class, raising my brows to a face; a face which was not in my lecture last week.

My class on the subject of Intelligent Systems at Masters level was already in its third week in the second semester.

“Who? Me!” said he, looking around, his index finger pointing to his chest.

“Yes! You!” I said again, folding my hands across my chest.

He smiled sheepishly.

“You were not here for the past two weeks! Where were you? And what is your name?” I perked my head.

“I have only just registered for this course. And my name is A*******.”

“Okay! Good! You have a lot to catch up though! You know that, don’t you?” said I, pursing my lips.

He nodded.

“Tell the class where you are from. Maybe the others would like to know?” I said, flicking through my lecture notes.

“Palestine,” he said, his voice could barely be heard.

There was a sudden quietness. All the other heads turned to his direction.

“I thought so,” said I.

“Any news from home?” I said, suddenly realizing and then regretting asking the question.

For he heaved a great sigh and shrugged his shoulders. His eyes were glistening as he dropped his face down towards the floor.

“Bro! We are with you. All of us. Our prayers and in our hearts. For Allah is with those who fight for His cause.”

“Insha Allah (God Willing)…” he muttered.

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Hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “There shall always be a group of people within my ummat, the truth they uphold, the enemies they resist, they would resist, they will surely resist and crush the enemies. Those who wish to stop them can never do so except for some ordeal tested by Allah until the final fate from Him. So they will persist in the struggle.

Then the Prophet’s companions asked him, “Where are these people?”

He said, “They’re in Baitul Maqdis and its surroundings.”
Listen to Mu’adz Zulkefly's Nashid and video clip on this subject. Clik here or here.


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Allah shall be at His servants’ aid provided that the servants be at his brother’s aid – (Hadith Qudsi)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

GAZA Relief 6

16th Jan 2009

Day 21 Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza - Summary of major medical relief efforts

. Gaza has been under merciless unabated bombardment via aerial, sea and land attacks since 27 December 2008.

. Currently, there are more than 1,000 deaths, 5,000 injured and 50, 000 displaced from their homes.

. Social structures namely homes, schools, mosques, hospitals, communication lines, fuel supplies have not been spared.

. The constant blockade of all borders have prevented essential supplies from crossing into Gaza resulting in a grave humanitarian crisis

. Hospitals are totally dysfunctional as a result of the following disruptions:

• No electricity: operating on generators but no fuel available
• No medical support (equipment, drugs, consumables)
• Staff overwhelmed, medical services targeted with many deaths reported
• Severe injuries often fatal due to inadequate care increasing the death toll

1. COMMUNICATIONS:

• Dr Azhar Aziz, Qatar (presently in Gaza)
• Dr M Ikram, IMA Malaysia & MERCY Malaysia (presently in Gaza)
• Dr Malik Mahmoud, Partners International Medical Aid (in Gaza)
• Dr Jemilah Mahmood, MERCY Malaysia (recently returned from 1st successful mission to Gaza)
• Dr Khaled Hanafy, AMU Egypt (Arab Medical Union)
• Dr Muneer Bursh and Dr Madhat Abbas, Ministry of Health, Gaza
• Dr Ashraf Jedaar, FIMA (South Africa); Dr Aly Misha'Al, FIMA (Jordan), Dr Musa Mohd. Nordin, FIMA (Malaysia)

2. FIRST RESPONSE:

• Doctors World Wide (IMA Turkey) - 2 trucks (43 tons) procured in Cairo, transported to Rafah border (USD 300,000) when border crossing first opened.
• MERCY Malaysia - $100,000 medical equipment, consumables and drugs (5 trucks, 50 tons) delivered to MOH Gaza upon border opening. Another $100,000 consignment procured in Cairo for delivery.
• MER-C Indonesia – sent a medical team along with medical supplies since the start of conflict
• When borders opened to medical professionals, 21 doctors entered and 40 the following day.
• AMU delivered 200 units of blood, 1,000 units the following day

3. COLLECTIONS:

• Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) - USD 42, 400
• IMA South Africa - USD 60,000
• IMA Pakistan - USD 17 500
• IMA North America - pending

4. PENDING:

• Sudan relief agencies & IMA Sudan - 1 jumbo jet to Arish ( 40 tons, ambulances to be purchased in Egypt, team of surgeons and anaesthesiologists)
• Gift of the Givers & IMA South Africa - 1 jumbo jet of medical goods (74 tons) to Jordan (but we have advised against this due to border closure) + 20 doctors, nurses & paramedics
• DWW Turkey & relief agencies - 13 ambulances & surgical relief team due next week for Gaza. Total so far deployed USD 500,000.
• IMA North America - surgical team on standby
5. IMA PALESTINE:
Operations shut down by the Palestinian Authority in West Bank
6. IMA EGYPT:
IMA Egypt has a wide network of private hospitals and with AMU, are helping with purchases of medicines, equipments and consumables since they are familiar with the warehousing & other logistics

Our hearts and prayers are with the innocent men, women and children massacred or maimed by this vicious invasion of Gaza. All monies collected will be deposited directly with the Ministry of Health in Gaza for the procurement of the much needed medical supplies in Cairo.

“so much to do but very little time”

Jazakumullahu Khair.

Dr. Ashraf Jedaar, FIMA Relief Coordinator+27836754103ajedaar@iafrica.com
Dr. Musa Mohd. Nordin, President FIMA+60123200564musamn@gmail.com
FIMA WEBPAGE : http://www.fimaweb.net

FIMA Banking details:

JORDAN ISLAMIC BANK
Shmeisani Branch - AmmanAccount # 46327
Beneficiary: Jordan Society for Islamic Medical Sciences.

Contact: Prof Aly Mishal: 00962795990054
E-mail: info@islamic-hospital.org
Swift Code: JIBAJOAM
Full No: (235860 - 235821) (001) 001 0046327

We Will Not Go Down in Gaza Tonight...


WE WILL NOT GO DOWN
(Song for Gaza)
(Composed by Michael Heart)
Copyright 2009

A blinding flash of white light
Lit up the sky over Gaza tonight
People running for cover
Not knowing whether they’re dead or alive

They came with their tanks and their planes
With ravaging fiery flames
And nothing remains
Just a voice rising up in the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Women and children alike
Murdered and massacred night after night
While the so-called leaders of countries afar
Debated on who’s wrong or right

But their powerless words were in vain
And the bombs fell down like acid rain
But through the tears and the blood and the pain
You can still hear that voice through the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

All Music and Content Copyrighted. All rights reserved. © 2009

Music downloadable from (with permission from Michael Heart) for C.O.M.P.L.E.T.E
http://www.savefile .com/files/ 1966723

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXlA1ydTGsc&feature=related
C.O.M.P.L.E.T.E. Secretary Puan Azra obtained permission from Michael Heart,
author & singer of the song for Gaza "WE WILL NOT GO DOWN",
for use by C.O.M.P.L.E.T.E.
Trust our young ones to create this youtube overnight :)
World Peace
~A message from Dr. Musa Mohd. Nordin~

Friday, January 16, 2009

C.O.M.P.L.E.T.E for Palestine


C.O.M.P.L.E.T.E

COALITION OF NGOs AGAINST PERSECUTION OF PALESTINIANS.

SAVE THE PALESTINIANS

SUNDAY 18th JAN ‘09
10 AM – 5 PM

BANGSAR SPORTS COMPLEX, JALAN TERASEK 3, BANGSAR
http://completemalaysia.blogspot.com/2009/01/18th-january-2009.html

Sunday, January 11, 2009

The simple pleasures of life...



“Where are we going, Tok Wan?” asked our little Insyirah.

“You want to take a ride?” asked her grandpa, my other half that is.

The little girl's eyes lit up as she smiled and nodded her head.

We were babysitting again that weekend. My daughter and son-in-law had to study as their ACCA exams were just round the corner. So we decided to take the little girl out for some amusement.

At the play centre, Berjaya Times Square, we watched the roller coaster as it rumbled past above our heads.

“What is that noise?” said little Insyirah, her arms grabbing her grandpa’s neck and then laid her head upon his shoulder. The roller coaster turned raound a pillar and exited through another hanging track.

“That was a roller coaster. Do you want to take a ride on the bumble bee?” I asked, pointing my thumb to a certain section of the play centre.

The 3 year old little girl looked at me and said nothing. There was a frown on her forehead.

Just then, her grandpa said, “This place is a little bit too noisy for me.”

“I don’t like it too, Tok Wan!” she said, her words pouring fast out of her tiny lips..

“Would you like some ice cream instead?” I asked.

The little girl smiled a broad smile and so the three of us walked hand in hand. We sat on one of the steps in a secluded corner, leant against the wall, licking our ice creams. And we laughed a lot. All three of us.

Children. Very innocent. Very pure. Sometimes entertaining them doesn’t need one to bore a hole in one’s pockets.

Tears well up my eyes whenever I think of the more than 30% of Palestinians who perished were children, killed and maimed in the heartless Israeli attacks. No ice creams, no laughters. Just masks of death staring straight into their faces….


Saturday, January 3, 2009

Media Statement by Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM)

JIM MEDIA STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE ISRAELI ATTACKS ON GAZA, PALESTINE

Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) strongly condemns the onslaught of barbaric atrocities, rendered by the Zionist regime, towards the people of Palestine. This, yet another brutal wave of attacks are uncalled for and unsurpassed ever since the regime began to besiege the people of Palestine from their rightful homeland in the year 1948 and then occupied Baitul Maqdis in the year 1967. The people of Gaza had underwent undescribable pain and suffering since 18 months ago as a result of the closure of its boundaries by Israel, resulting in depletion of food and medical supplies, and as if that is not enough, the ongoing onslaught of Israel forces, equipped with their F-16 jet fighters and Apachee helicopter on innocent civilians are indeed inhumane!

The number of civilians killed in Gaza has surmounted to 300 people while 700 have been injured as casualties. This number will continue to rise as more people are trapped under the houses ruined under mortar attacks. Up until this moment in time, there are no signs indicating that these attacks from Israel will cease, as stipulated by their spokesman to the President of France yesterday. In fact, the military forces of Israel have been gearing their efforts at the frontiers of Gaza, ready to pounce their biggest attack ever at any time now. More destruction and death can be expected amongst the people of Gaza.

JIM rejects Israel’s claim that its most recent attack is an act of security measure and to protect itself. This is yet another lie concurred by Israel. For the past 6 months, Israel has been planning the attack, in fact, as soon as the period for ceasefire expired on the recent 19th of December. The missile attacks by the people of Palestine was used as an excuse to justify the attack by Israel. The excuse by this illegal nation of Israel is blatantly inhumane. The Palestinian missile attack were acts of retaliation to the endless provocations dangled by the Israeli armed forces including the occupation of the provinces in the Gaza district during the commencement of ceasefire agreement.

JIM wants to call upon the attention of people of global ranks and international standings to the fact that, the attacks were executed towards the last few days of the school holidays in Gaza, glaringly indicate that the zionist regime has treacherous motives to actually maximize their target victims amongst civilians, especially women and children who are residing within their homes. These attacks have also been seen to focus upon police stations, vicinities of which were nearby the bigger cities. This also clearly shows their intentions to hurt and kill as many civilians as possible in the exercise.

JIM urges the people of Malaysia to be wary of the western media which are controlled by the zionists, and also the statements by the leaders of the US, Israel, Egypt and powers that be of Palestine who are reeling away from discussing the real issues and hiding facts about the struggles of the people of Gaza and Palestine. These statements from them do not paint the true picture and are always one sided. JIM wants to invite Malaysians to look and learn about the basic facts and view this issue from more holistic perspectives, from factual and historical factors, basic human rights, freedom of speech, rights of women, children and the elderly or on whatever humanistic grounds that exist today. While we remember the historic 31st August as our day of independence for Malaysia; in actual fact, the date 31st August 1879 B.C. was the date of the Basel Conference in Switzerland, the date whereby the movement for the establishment of the country state for the Jews was signed. This was followed by the Balfor Declaration for the realization of this. In the year 1948, the illegal state of Israel was declared altogether by the U.S.

From that moment on, Israel became the proxy state of the U.S. supremacy. In the war of 1967 between the Arabs and Israel, the military forces of Israel have overpowered Baitul Maqdis (Jerusalem) and which has resulted in the cruel seizure of lands of Palestine from its people. The onslaught of ”Jewing” Palestine lands was officially launched.

The land of Palestine has since been incarcerated by 6 million Jews as a result of this Zionist act, while the people of Palestine has been reduced to mere refugees in a land that was rightfully their own. For 60 years, the people of Palestine have been put on stakes and then drenched in warfare. They are being subjected to numerous torture and cruelty by the ruling Israelis, denied any sympathy nor compassion in their plight.

Their elderly have been shoven away from their own home and land, their men beaten, left to die or killed brutally, their women raped and mutilated, their young blasted alive, their homes wrecked, burnt down and destroyed. The Jews have adultered Masjidil Aqsa, open firing the Islamic fighters and their leaders even when they are engaged and in the middle of their prayers and are unarmed.

The people of Palestine who dream of living their lives in freedom are caught and caged, for tens of years, confined to their small, impoverished, dark holes which they call home. They are subjected to treatment akin to animals in capture, only that animals may be more humane than the Jews (May the wrath of God be upon them!).

JIM calls upon the people of Malaysia to ponder upon these facts. At present, less than a third of the children of Palestine could get to finish their basic education while less than 9% could get through until their secondary level. 73% of the people of Palestine are unemployed. More heartrending is the fact that, the number of people of Palestine who are able to eat a meal a day is only 46%. A medical officer could only treat 1,700 patients. 3 million Palestinians became convicts in the biggest bastille in the world when they surrounded by the Israeli military forces against their will by a wall, measuring 720 km by 8-12 meters high. More than 11,000 Palestinians are being imprisoned by Israel. Some, for more than 30 years.

The numerous checkpoints put up by Israel armed forces at various locations have added salt to injury to the people of Palestine. This include Palestinian women, would-be mothers at their last trimester, who when subjected to severe trauma, to the point that they deliver their babies at the checkpoints. Reports have also been received about patients left to die in ambulances while on emergency trips to the hospitals, because of unnecessary interrogations.

The people of Palestine are in utter despair. Some are refugees at camps, without clean water supply, medical aids, food and proper sanitation. Their lives are much in distraught and their sufferings never ending. For tens of years, they have been denied of their rights to be at their homeland Palestine, which is rightfully theirs. Until today, 8,250 Palestinian houses have been destroyed and they have been driven away from their own homeland. 18,031 homes have been entirely destroyed on the Western Bank and Gaza. What kind of government, humans and civilized principle have been upheld by this so-called nation of Israel?

The reality today is, Israel has barricaded the borders of Gaza and refused to open the doors for supply of food, medical aids, fuel, clean water and any form of humane intervention. As a matter of fact, the conditions faced by the people of Palestine have forced them to resort to consuming the grass growing at the roadsides as food, in order to survive. Hence, in line with the Geneva Convention, the people of Palestine have every right to defend themselves from illegal occupation of foreign forces and supremacies.

As a matter of deep concern for the people of Gaza and on solidarity grounds, JIM calls upon the Muslim ummah to conduct special prayers on a grand scale with the main intention being to awaken the important realization amongst Muslims to gear up our efforts to assist our brethren who have suffered enough and are drowned in misery in Gaza and the land of Palestine. Muslims should earnestly feel the cry for empathy and utmost concern as this issue is associated with the Holy Land of Baitul Maqdis, on whose grounds stands the blessed Masjid Al Aqsa.

JIM will continue to step up its activities and upgrade its efforts to bring about fundings and donations via Tabung Bersamamu Palestin through relentless methods, campaigns, pleas, websites, talks and sessions at schools, offices, public venues, suraus, masjids and the like.

JIM hopes to gain the support of the whole of Malaysian society whom we believe will give generously towards this cause through this stated account: Maybank 562209608847 under the name Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia.

Moving forward, JIM urges Malaysian citizens to join hands in:

1. Conducting mass prayers (Solat Hajat) on a grand scale with the main intention to awaken the realization amongst Muslims to gear up efforts to assist our brethren who have suffered enough. What is more, the Holy Land of Batul Maqdis, on whose grounds stands the blessed Masjidi Al Aqsa, is something that is very close to our hearts as Muslims.

2.Launching and stirring up more efforts in fundings for the Palestinians through various efforts, campaigns, pleas, websites, talks and special sharing sessions at schools, offices, public venues, suraus and others.

3.Distributing leaflets and circulars in and around public places, dissipating the real and factual issues regarding Palestine.

4.Having sermons specially addressing the issues of people of Palestine and the call for their emancipation.


5.Calling upon the younger generation to equally assist us, opening their eyes about the fate and state of the Palestinians, and garnering their support through creative efforts, including sports and competitions such as footsal, Parkour demonstrations, walkathons, cyclathons and similar acitivities.

6.Voicing out our views (personal and groups) through blogs, maling-lists, alternative news media and mainstream media, international news media and newspapers, emails to the governments of the USA, the illegal nation of Israel, and the countries of the EU.

7.Capitalizing the package available in JIM on Palestinian issues whenever and wherever the need be.

8.Putting on the attire emblazoned with this issue of Palestinian, as a mark of solidarity and support for them.

9. Coming, attending and to lend support to the programme "Training of Palestinian Speakers" (TOPS) which will be held in the near future.

10. Attending mass gatherings, demonstrations, press statements events, etc. and putting on the ’Support Palestinian’ attire that may be purchased through Mr. Md. Nasir bin Tampoi, Executive Officer, JIM Central Committee Member, 014-3110628).

11. Offering oneself as a volunteer or relief aid with JIM or other NGOs to the Middle East.

Last, but not least, JIM wants to express their solemnest and most bitter sadness on the calamities and sufferings that have beseiged the people of Palestine at Gaza, at a time when the whole of the Muslim world are heralding the coming of the month of Muharram, the first month of the new year in the Muslim calendar (1430 Hijriah) and at a time when the curtains are about to fall for the year 2008, with the advent of 2009. Has this event symbolized that this new year means a never ending hardship for the people of Palestine? For these reasons, JIM urges everyone, from all strata, irrespective of race, colour, creed and kin throughout the whole of Malaysia to come forward, to speak up, and voice out, against all the atrocities and carnage that have been pummelled by the Zionist Regime, fueled with the consent given by the U.S., to be put to a stop; immediately.


Ir. Hj. Zairulshahfuddin Zainal Abidin
Vice President (International Relations)
Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM)
02 Januari 2009 / 5 Muharam 1430H