SWEET HONEY

By Daniel Martin

Last updated at 1:36 AM on 08th October 2008

Click here for original news

Treating a burn with honey from the kitchen cupboard may promote faster healing than a surgical dressing. Honey has been found to be better at aiding burn recovery than standard treatments used by the NHS, a study claims.

Scientists pooled data from 19 trials involving more than 2,500 patients with a range of wounds. They found that honey was better at reducing the time it takes to recover from mild to moderate burns than some widely used gauze and film dressings. 'We're treating these results with caution, but it looks like honey can help speed up healing in some burns,' said chief researcher Dr Andrew Jull, from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

How honey works is unclear, but it appears to fight infection and help the body remove dead tissue. The findings were published by the Cochrane Library, which provides systematic reviews of research studies. Honey was revered by the ancient Greeks and Egyptians as a medicinal agent for burns and sores. Scientists are also working on ways to use honey in the fight against superbug MRSA. Tests in Belfast City Hospital have shown that it can kill the bacteria in the lab. Clinical trials are planned to see on patients.

Sweet: Treating a burn with honey could promote healing faster than a surgical dressing

______________________________________________________

Both the holy Qur'an and Hadith refer to honey as a healer of disease.

'And thy Lord taught the bee to build its cells in hills, on trees and in (men's) habitations..... there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for mankind. Verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought'.(Translation of Quran 16:68-69)

In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) said:

'Honey is a remedy for every illness and the Qur'an is a remedy for all illness of the mind, therefore I recommend to you both remedies, the Qur'an and honey.'(Bukhari)

ME, MYSELF & CARLISLE

So I am about to finish the second week of my 1st senior rotation, which is the mental health rotation, or simply known as psychiatry. I am not feeling well at the moment, still having this unresolved cough for ages - it might be due to my 'unhealthy' eating, hahah I think lots of future doctors or even doctors are lacking this good drive!

Anyway, I was part of the crisis team today - what we did was we went to see people who are at high risk of committing suicide, had some chat and hopefully they will see positive things coming out of the future. It was not a good day. I could barely stop coughing during the consultations, and it got worse in the afternoon, so I just slept all the way to the different houses we went to. I pity the social worker who I went with. Hope I did not cause so much trouble just now.

I do not like mental health that much to be honest, but I think it has been alright here in Carlisle. Almost everything is well organised so far. Although I have not seen a lot of patients but I got the chance to see at least one with different presentations, which is good. Honestly, I feel so sorry for these people, and it struck me how actually sane and lucky I am. The care for them here is first class I would say. I wonder how the situation is back in Malaysia.

Hmm, back to me and Carlisle, I am given this accommodation here which looks more like a hotel room to me really. But despite all these good things happening here, I am longing to go back and work in Malaysia. That's it. That is my decision. (may be for now at least, I just kept changing my view every day to be frank, and it frightens me a lot that I keep thinking about it - it means the finals is very near!). And I can hardly wait for Fridays to come so I can go back to Newcastle, break the fast together with others who were also fasting then do the prayers together. I am so accustomed to these that it feels so weird to go through Ramadhan without them.

And tomorrow will be Friday, yeay! ***lama tak dapat friday text dari madihah*** you know, Friday is a special day for Muslims (as Saturday for Jews, and Sunday for Christians).

Just a food for thought. If you think you are unfortunate enough, read this news. I just spent 3 pounds for my bus day rider ticket yesterday, and 23 people would have actually died for it! I once heard there are lots of us who are really patient, but yet very little of us who are grateful to Him. May we all belong in both groups.

RAMADHAN KAREEM

Dapatkan Mesej Bergambar di Sini

SEVEN plus ONE

It has been so long since the last time the seven of us are together in a photo. Finally, after a long argument whether all should be sending me at the airport that night (it meant we need 2 cars then), here you go... a photo of all of us in family (and including young cute adorable little Damia!). It is not a good one, but it is good because we are all in it.

Oh my god, Damia is SO cute, you should all see her videos, especially when she starts to pretend reciting the Quran or anything with Jawi writing on the paper. At least she pronounces Allah very clearly when she does the recitation. She really IS gorgeous, apart from her moody swings, but who doesn't... I miss her so much already.

Coming back to Newcastle this year is a lot different from years before. A smaller part is that it was my first time travelling back to the UK not on my own. And the biggest part is because it is going to be our final year, and I am gonna be sent away from the rest, and I dont know whether I can depend on them to study together again. As it has always been. It is scary, but I wont let that bother me now. And it is scary while on the way, we were talking about working as doctors already. Be it in the UK or in Malaysia.

Another thing that makes it different this year is that my brother is joining me in the UK next month although he's gonna be down south in Warwick... so yes, I will see you if not in Warwick, you will come up to Newcastle hahaha.

MELAYU & ISLAM: SAMAKAH?

Sejak balik Malaysia ni, bermacam-macam berita yang timbul. Bermula dengan isu minyak yang sememangnya dah kedengaran sejak sebelum balik ke Malaysia lagi, sehinggalah hari ini, isu tentang muzakarah UMNO dan PAS. Yang pasti, banyaknya tentang isu politik di Malaysia. Sejak pilihanraya umum ke 12 lagi, isu politik di Malaysia bagi saya tidak pernah senyap. Ada saja berita baru yang timbul. Bagi saya yang kadang-kadang baca, kadang-kadang tak baca sangat, bergantung kepada wujudnya fasiliti internet, suratkhabar di perpustakaan, dan lain-lain media massa di mana saya menetap buat sementara waktu ini, saya dapati isu-isu ini timbul sekejap sahaja dan kemudiannya tenggelam dengan isu yang baru pula. Mungkin disebabkan media massa selalu bertumpu kepada isu baru jadi isu itu sahaja yang menjadi tumpuan, saya tak tahulah.

Terbaru tentang isu muzakarah UMNO dan PAS. Kadang-kadang rasa jemu membaca berita sebab tak tahu kesahihannya. Yang sini kata lain, yang sana kata lain.

1. Utusan Malaysia: DAP selar PAS kerana berunding dengan UMNO atas nama perpaduan Melayu

2. Harakahdaily.net: Parti baru bertunjang Islam boleh satukan PAS, UMNO - Nik Aziz

Dengar tajuk memang macam mengiyakan satu sama lain, tapi bila baca macam ada yang berbeza. Persoalannya, samakah Melayu dengan Islam? Memang setahu saya orang Melayu di Malaysia semuanya (sepatutnya, by right) beragama Islam. Tapi betul ke? Bila isu murtad diheboh-hebohkan suatu masa dulu (sekarang pun pastinya masih wujud, cuma bukan di page pertama media massa), berapa ramai Melayu yang murtad? Jadi semua orang Melayu beragama Islamkah? Dan yang beragama Islam berapa kerat yang mahu Islam tu naik?

Islam dan bukan Islam, bagi saya seorang yang beragama Islam, memang tidak sama kerana di dalam al-Quran sendiri Allah telah challenge dan tanya bukan sahaja perbezaan orang Islam dengan orang bukan Islam, malah dibezakan orang yang beriman dan tidak beriman. Saya pasti bagi seseorang yang beragama kristian/lain-lain mereka yang betul-betul yakin bahawa agama mereka adalah benar, merasakan bahawa mereka adalah tinggi di sisi tuhan yang mereka percayai (yang mana bagi saya, Allah jugalah satu-satunya tuhan sekalian makhluk). Juga berdasarkan ilmu cetek saya, Islam ini adalah adil, maka layanan yang perlu diberikan adalah sama. Tidak kira bangsa, tidak kira agama.

Entahlah. Mungkin inilah sebabnya sekolah medikal di universiti saya agak menekankan tentang literature review. Kumpul segala maklumat yang ada, dan berfikir dengan kritikal dan waras. Juga perlu berteraskan wahyu, bukan setakat logik sahaja. KBKK yang digalakkan di sekolah-sekolah di Malaysia juga memang sangat perlu. Harap-harap dapat melahirkan kemahiran berfikir yang baik di kalangan generasi masa depan...insyaAllah.

p/s: rasa banyak nak cerita pasal buat elektif kat sini tapi lain kali pulak...

LAST MINUTE PROMOTION: WONDERFUL OVERSEAS WEEKEND 08

Perhaps too last minute for this year's, but it is a yearly event, so if you are flying to further your studies in UK/Eire (especially) next year, wait for it in about a year time. Hopefully there will still be one in the coming years too.

As for this year, it is worth trying still...who knows there are still vacancies. Click on the poster below for more information.

ONE FINE DAY IN MALAYSIA

I was looking forward to have my elective in my home country, and it is my first day today. I anticipated it to be quite scary, but it was not that bad. I'd say (for the first day) it is almost the same as my SSC. You could just do anything you want. I met 2 of my schoolmates today. One is doing elective too, and another has just started her housemanship 6 days ago.

While waiting for my mum to pick me up (duh, need to pass another private driving test with me mum before I can drive again), there was a person asking a taxi driver how much it would cost to bring her family to Manir (that is about 10-15 minutes from HKT - more or less) and I was not looking at them at this time.

The girl: Pokcik, berape tambang nok gi Manir?
Taxi driver: Dalam 20 riya.
(I assumed the girl then went to get her family. Later, there were a few people waiting at the booth with me)
Me: Mahal gok eh pokcik tambang nok gi Manir. 20 riya. Sebab minyok naik harge ke pokcik?
Pakcik: Ho (muke macam nak taknak jawab). Adik duk mane?
Me: Kuale Iba (Ibai)
Pakcik: Hooo... tuh dalam 10 riya ah. Kalu masuk dalam sket 15 riya.

Me: (Alamak. Ingatkan ni ayah akak tu ie passenger to be, rupenye taxi driver!!!)

Hahaha...lain kali jangan pandai-pandai je tegur orang. Suka hati je.

The point is, yes, I am back in Malaysia. Hopefully another 11 weeks won't go too quick. Oh, and the news is all about the rise in fuel price. ***Ubah gaya hidup?***

TRY THIS

1. Count every F in the following text (on the first read through):

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI
FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...

2. Open a word document and type:

=rand (200,99)

Press enter and wait for few seconds.

3. So what is it with "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"? (hint: try counting how many letters it has).

I once asked a patient to write me down a sentence when I was assessing his MMSE (mini mental state examination), and he wrote that down and asked me, what is special about it. Man, he definitely was well orientated. More than I did!

THALASSAEMIA

I attended OSCE revision for finals (4th and 3rd year were invited too) which was generously done by a senior lecturer here - I can't believe in a year time, I will be sitting in the same lecture theatre (probably) for the similar revision, just two weeks away from the final exams. The message I got from the revision is how little I know my stuff - I seriously need to catch up. One year seems so far away, and I know it is ridiculous to start panicking now, but I just did - a while ago - coz I couldn't even remember which ones the Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes were. But that was then. Hehe. Panicking early is good though, I think.

Anyway. I am back to this small empty room in Middlesbrough and am finding something useful to do to keep me awake while waiting for Fajr prayer. I was reading my email - a Malaysian here is suspected to have thalassaemia here. Since I have very limited things to say when being asked about it, I chose to review this topic for this midnight entry, but I am going to do it in Malay language instead - guess it will be a good practise since I am less than a month ahead of my elective in the hometown!

What's more, I have learned that when you have to do some teachings you tend to understand and memorise more about the lesson you teach. And research suggests that who do not carry out review may forget 75% of the material in a week, and 98% in under 3 weeks, meaning that you are virtually starting from scratch at revision time [Newcastle med school study skills handbook]. So here you go. Bare with the language - not good in English, not even good with Malay, bak kata Ustaz Hasrizal akhirnya jadik orang yang tak reti berbahasa. Duh! Nak buat guane.


Apa itu anemia?

Anemia ialah penyakit kurang sel darah merah atau hemoglobin (bahan yang bertanggungjawab membawa oksigen dalam darah dan memberi kaler merah pada sel darah merah). Jika anda kurang sel darah merah atau hemoglobin, maksudnya tisu badan anda tidak mendapat oksigen yang optimum maka anda akan merasa cepat penat dan lesu. Kadang-kadang sebab kurang oksigen, anda mungkin kelihatan pucat. Dan kadang-kadang juga, pesakit anemia mempunyai masalah sesak nafas kerana cuba bernafas lebih banyak atau cepat untuk menyedut lebih oksigen sebagai respon kepada kurangnya oksigen dalam tubuh. Jika kronik, limpa anda boleh bengkak dan ini dapat dirasa apabila pemeriksaan abdomen dilakukan.

Apa yang sebabkan anemia?

Fikir 3 cara, iaitu masalah dengan:
1. Proses menghasilkan sel darah merah/ hemoglobin - terlalu kurang/perlahan
2. Proses memusnahkan sel darah merah - terlalu cepat/banyak
3. Kehilangan darah secara langsung contohnya berdarah banyak dalam kemalangan jalan raya

Talasemia adalah contoh di mana proses memusnahkan sel darah merah adalah pada kadar yang tinggi kerana fisiologi (?bentuk) sel darah merah yang dihasilkan adalah tidak normal maka limpa dengan cepat mengesan ini dan cuba memusnahkan sel yang tidak patut wujud dalam badan pesakit. Penyakit ini digolongkan dalam hemolitik anemia (hemolitik = pemusnahan hemoglobin/sel darah merah).


Apa itu talasemia?

Talasemia ialah satu jenis penyakit anemia (kurang darah merah) yang merupakan penyakit keturunan. Ia biasa dijumpai di Mediterranean, India dan Asia Tenggara, termasuklah Malaysia. Banyak mana peratus populasi yang menghidap penyakit ini di Malaysia tidak dapat saya cari, cuma saya pernah dengar yang ianya memang biasa dijumpai di Malaysia. Ada 2 jenis talasemia yang biasa dijumpai. 1. Talasemia alpha 2. Talasemia beta


Adakah anda pembawa gen talasemia?

Ini memang tak boleh dijawab melainkan anda mengambil ujian untuk cek sama ada anda tergolong dalam pembawa gen ini atau tidak.


Bagaimana dengan anak anda?

Jika kedua-dua ibu dan bapa mempunyai satu gen (daripada dua), maka ada kemungkinan untuk diwariskan kepada anak. Jika anak menerima satu gen tersebut dari bapa dan satu gen dari ibu, maka akan menghidap talasemia. Jika anda dan pasangan tidak mempunyai simptom dan tidak tahu anda adalah pembawa, situasi yang paling tidak diingini ialah jika kedua-duanya pembawa gen. Dalam situasi ini, ada kebarangkalian untuk anak anda mendapat talasemia ialah 25%.


Bagaimana mengawal/mengubati talasemia?

1. Pemindahan darah (seumur hidup) jika anda menghidapi talasemia beta major - ini mungkin disusuli dengan suntikan sejenis bahan untuk membuang lebihan ferum dalam darah akibat darah berlebihan yang diterima dari pemindahan darah. Suntikan ini biasanya dijalankan 3-6 malam seminggu.
2. Pembedahan untuk membuang limpa
3. Pemindahan sumsum tulang - curative tapi bukan senang untuk cari yang sesuai Jika minor dan tiada simptom atau masalah, maka tiada rawatan diberikan.

Perlu ingat bahawa setiap individu adalah unik maka perlu dirawat secara individu.Oleh itu, bagaimana anda dirawat atau di'manage' akhirnya adalah tertakluk kepada pakar darah yang merawat anda.


Please correct any misinformation and please do not rely merely on this information.

p/s: The good thing about this is that thalassaemia protects you from malaria, which is why it is more prevalent in the area where malaria is endemic - people with this condition survive malaria.

A DAY BEHIND...

but you are my mum every single second xxx

Tertanam naluri keibuan amat mendalam
Di jiwa insan yang mendambakan kebahagiaan
Oh... ibu

Di bahumu tergalas beban
Perjalananmu penuh rintangan
Kau titipkan kasih sayang
Sejujur pengorbanan
Tak ku nafikan

Di saat kita berjauhan
Rasa ingin ku berlari
Mendakapimu penuh girang
Bak si kecil kehilangan

Kau insan penyayang
Betapa ku merindu
Lembutnya belaian ibu
Membuatku terlena

Di wajah terlukis tenang
Debar di dada kau rahsiakan
Ku pastikan dikau aman
Dikurnia sejahtera
Tak ku lupakan

Di saat kita berjauhan
Rasa ingin ku berlari
Mendakapimu penuh girang
Bak si kecil kehilangan

Tiada aku tanpa ibu
Hanya (kau) satu didunia
Bertakhta dikau dijiwaku
Kau lah ibu yang tercinta

Kau insan pengasih
Betapa aku mengharap
Hadirnya restumu ibu
Membawaku ke syurga

Bersemi belaian kasih sayang nan berpanjangan
Darimu insan yang mendoakan kebahagiaan anak-anakmu
Oh... Ibu

oleh: Hijjaz

DIFFICULT

It is always difficult to admit that we did something wrong, but I believe it is one best solution for our own motivation to be a better person. After all, Islam teaches us to be "husnudzon" (think positive about other people). You don't blame people, you find out what you can improve.

Anyway. It is even difficult when you have done something wrong and nobody ever let you know that. Then you end up thinking that you are always right.

It is difficult, as difficult as admitting that you do think that you like someone, even when people around you keep demanding that yes-i-do-like-that-person words of confession.

And of course the most difficult ones are to try to change yourself, your attitude, and your feelings, because it is just you - although this is not a really valid excuse - say if you are a muslim, you can't just go tell people I can't stop drinking alcohol because "it is just me".

And I have to disagree that you should do those changes just to make sure everybody likes you, because in real life, again, it is difficult to happen. You are a shy person, outspoken people do not get along with you. You then change and practise yourself to be very talkative, then it will be a challenge to sit with quiet people. Even Rasulullah s.a.w. who is the best human being, best one loved by Allah - still not everyone like him, even until now. As long as what you do is what would lift you up besides Him, nothing else should matter, should it? And this is exactly why we need to always remind ourselves about the purpose of life. Spending too much time thinking about what other people think about you would just waste your time, especially when you have too many other things to achieve in your life.

I don't know where am I going with this post, but I will end it up by telling you one stupid or maybe ?'good' thing that I did. Heheh I signed up for an ophthalmology prize award exams a few months ago - it is not compulsory of course and I am not looking forward to win anything, but I just thought I'd urged myself to do some readings - which of course will benefit me as the ultimate goal - so I signed up for it. But I haven't done the readings, and now I can't help thinking what have I done!!! aaaa....The test will be tomorrow,and trust me, I do not even know the anatomy of an eye.

Ok, thought Id write something up before starting my quick one day revision on ophthalmology. =P

p/s: It will be negatively marked!!!!!!!!!!!! hope i wont leave too many blank answers. DIFFICULT!

SCHISM

Bible version of Fitna?

"It is easy to take any parts of any Holy book that are out of content and make it sound like the most inhuman book ever written. This is what Geert Wilders did to gather more supporters to his hateful ideology. To create S.C.H.I.S.M."




A metaphoric reply to Fitna film?

JEDDAH, 10 April 2008 - A Saudi blogger has made a six-minute video entitled "Schism" by portraying texts from Christian sources out of context, similar to the way Dutch MP Geert Wilders made his recently-released anti-Qur'an film entitled "Fitna."

In his film, Raid Al-Saeed, 33, shows verses of the Bible that call for war and illustrated them with clips of extremist Christian groups that preach violence.

"I made it in less than 24 hours. In 'Schism,' I have used the same methodology that Wilders has used and that involves taking texts out of context," he told Arab News, adding that he made the film to prove that it is incorrect to judge Islam by watching "Fitna."

This is a point that he writes at the end of his short film. "It is easy to take part of any holy book out of context and make it sound like an inhumane book. This is what Geert Wilders did to gather supporters for his hateful ideology. To create 'Schism,'" he wrote.

Al-Saeed does not believe religious books call for violence and bloodshed. He said "Fitna" is "based on hate" and that Wilders has abused the "freedom of expression that he enjoys." He added that Wilders' movie reflects "his racism and hatred."

When Al-Saeed first posted his clip on YouTube on March 1, the video was removed within 12 hours with a message from the site that the clip violated its terms.

Al-Saeed wrote back to YouTube, asking why the movie was removed while "Fitna" remained available. He uploaded the film again and added a message for the site's administrators advising them to view Wilders' film before deleting the film.

His video has been viewed over 1,800 times and has been on YouTube since March 2. It is also available for viewing on Google.

Al-Saeed insists that his aim is not to spread hate but to tell the world that you cannot judge a religion or an ideology by taking things out of context.

DOING THINGS CHANGES THINGS

I first used to watch House MD in my second year, when in our study group, one of us mentioned it helped him to memorise the clinical presentation of a certain disease due to watching the TV series. But watching it at that time put me off really so I stopped watching it. All it did was giving me headache - House and his team do the differentials too quick, I could hardly pick it up.

Then after a year, I started watching it again, and it does make more sense now, although most of the time, I do feel left behind. And it still is giving me headache every time I watch it. I do not know why I am stuck with it, but I am now on season 3. (it's season 4 on telly now)

There are times I enjoy his arguments with his colleagues or with his patients. But some other times, I do not agree a lot with Dr House particularly when he talks about his belief upon the non-existence of God.

Just a quote from the episode I have just finished watching:

[situation: a patient was asking House to talk about anything]

House: If we talk about anything, nothing will change.

Patient: It might.

House: How?

Patient: Time. Time changes everything.

House: That's what people say. It's not true. Doing things changes things. Not doing things leaves things exactly where they were.

There is always something to learn, be it the medical aspect or not.

FITNA FILM

I know I am a bit lag behind with this entry. But I just need to write something about it. I am sure loads and loads of people have already stated their comments - just look at the comments following the short movie when you youtube it.

Of course, there are just too many people, each with unique characteristic and personality, each with different belief and way they act... so there are just too many comments with the use of variety of languages which sometimes are very offensive.

As there has been lots of articles regarding this, I would not like to comment much. I just hope that people out there who never knew about Islam before, please do not depend merely on the movie as your sole source to get to know what Islam is about. I have to agree that some people do take only part of the verses - which is just not right. The Holy Quran comes as a whole and the message should be taken as a whole. Taking just one verse at a time and translating it literally, without knowing the reason behind the revelation of the verse (asbabun nuzul) and without understanding it fully, or without justifying it with other related verses in the Quran - this is just not right. Some people just have the tendency to do so. Let alone those who want to destroy Islam or who are Islamophobic, even some muslims have the tendency to do so for whatever reason. And please do not blame Islam if there are some of its followers who did not practise the right Islam as a whole. And please please please talk to people who really know about Islam than to listen to those who don't.

Whatever the intention of the film Fitna is, I just hope that it is for the best. We, muslims, have a right to be angry because it is an obvious insult to the religion. But I am calling for all muslims to be angry in a right way. This short film might just be a provocation towards the muslims. When we get angry too much, and start acting beyond the way we are supposed to - it is as if they have won. They win the viewers belief that Islam is really about killing people. That Islam is not a religion of piece as it should be.

As I said, I just hope that this is for the best. Maybe it is a warning for us muslims, to check whether we have done our best to do dakwah. Maybe it is a blessing when people heard about this, they tend to find out more about Islam. Who knows?

Below are two of my favourite links that I always go to, and they both commented about the film Fitna.

1. Saifulislam: Fitnah filem Fitna!
2. UZAR: Isu filem Fitna: Wajar boikot atau tidak?

"The Holy Quran also says: And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out of the place where they drove you out; for persecution is worse than killing"

"You forgot the first part of that verse brother. Fight in God's cause against those who fight you. But do not commit aggression. God does not love aggressions. There are many who are seeking god but instead end up following the devil"

"The greatest jihad is to fight the evil within yourself"

CROCODILE vs ALLIGATOR

Are they both the same?

Ok. I know this is pretty weird that I am going to post something regarding these two reptiles. It just occurred that while my friends and I played a game which I will name as "who am I" on the animal theme, Chikita needed to guess alligator - which was fairly tricky because you won't normally go anywhere near alligator, when you had wrongly guess crocodile... They both seem the same, so we all had arguments whether alligator and crocodile are just the same.

We played the game when we were spending four days of our easter break in Northern Ireland - to be more specific at Giant's Causeway. Apparently it is widely known as the 8th wonder of the world (I just knew this) for its basalt columns but I have to say it is worth going there for the breathtaking view, subhanallah.

The Giant's Causeway. More pictures from the trip - click here.

So what are the differences between alligator and crocodile?

1. They come from different families of crocodylians; alligators from alligatoridae, and "true" crocodiles from crocodylidae.

2. Alligators (?commonly) found in the southern US and eastern China while crocodiles are (?commonly) found in Mexico, south and central America, Africa, South East Asia, and Australia - so it is crocodile that I must have come across, at the zoo, most probably.

3. Habitat - They both inhabit the grassy swamps and slow moving rivers. Both of them have special salt glands to get rid of excess salt, but these work less well in alligators so they prefer freshwater habitats, whereas crocodiles tend to live in saltwater habitats.

3. Shape of the jaw — Alligators tend to have wide, U-shaped, rounded snouts, while crocodiles tend to have longer, more pointed, V-shaped snouts.

4. Placement of teeth - Upper jaw is wider than lower jaw in alligators so the teeth in lower jaw are almost completely covered up - unlike in crocodiles, in which the 4th teeth stick up over the upper lip.

*references and more info: 1, 2

One lesson I learned while playing the game. I suck at geography and other general knowledge! I admit that I do not read that much.

Also a lesson from the alligator-crocodile argument; how powerful Allah is to have created so many different range of creatures.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!!!

Today is mama's birthday. I am sure things are changing a lot for her, particularly in the future. To name a couple; she is expecting her first grandson; and my sister has just finished her SPM so she is not going to be living at home during her term time anymore once she gets into college, so mama will be left with papa, it is all going back to where it started. All her children are walking towards having their own lives, believe it or not. Ouh, and one more thing, she is retiring soon.

Time flies really fast. Sooner or later the family cycle will go on and on with time and it is a vicious cycle that will last forever as long as human being agrees that one of the purpose of life is for the progeny. If they do not reproduce, they know they will eventually die, every living creature does.

I remember an informal discussion my CIDR group was having when I was in my third year, where they were talking about not wanting to get old and the preference to die in dignity. It seemed being old and becoming a burden to other people are the least things they would hope for, that they had preferred to die if they have the option to choose. Of course, who would like to be old, but I'd personally be afraid of dying more than anything else.

In surah al-Munafiquun, Allah warns us not to forget Him when we are busy with the wealth and our kids. And whoever does so, they will be grouped as the losers. And people will bargain to have their life extended before the death came so that they will have more chance to do good deeds. But again, He warns that our death shall not be postponed, not even for a single second and that He knows what we have all done.

"Tidak akan lepas kedua kaki anak Adam di akhirat di hadapan Allah, kecuali selepas ditanya lima perkara; tentang umurnya di mana ia habiskannya, tentang kepemudaan dan kepemudiannya di mana ia digunakan, dan tentang hartanya dari mana datangnya dan ke mana dibelanjakannya, dan apakah yang dilakukan dengan ilmunya."

[hadith riwayat Tarmizi]

I have to agree that it is scary how quick the time has flies, and that makes me being alive on this earth for 24 years in just after a couple of months time. If just few months back, I'd referred myself as Iffa while talking to even juniors, I've just realised I have been using the term "kak Iffa" or "akak" more often lately. Duh, you really are getting old Iffa!

Sitting in the clinics while I was doing dermatology, I had mostly the elderly coming into the clinics. Most of the time, they come as a couple who happened to be so sweet even at their old age. It seemed like they understand and care about each other so much.

I guess in the end, I do not really mind, in fact I do want to, growing old and have my own family who cares for me and who has the same understanding of what the purpose of live is; and spending the time left in my life wisely enough as a mu'min, not merely human being with nothing to make themselves special in His view.

"Sebaik-baik manusia diantaramu adalah yang paling banyak manfaatnya bagi orang lain"

(HR Bukhari)

Growing old is inevitable, but making the most of the time we have left is something that we are able to decide.

p/s: I was looking for a verse from the Quran, which differentiate those who stay at home and who go out to spread the good to other people but to no avail. Can somebody enlighten me which verse it is please?

R.I.P

There were days when I missed being a kid again - especially that being an adult seems too difficult at times. Too many thinking and decisions to make.

There were days when I missed being in Malaysia.

There were days when I missed my family - especially when I rang them, finding out they were all gathering at my bro's house; playing with that cute growing up Damia, me niece.

Today is the day I miss my late grandfather. I do not know why I suddenly feel his loss. Not that I was so close to him, but I guess with me being able to do some thinking now, much better than when I was too immature before when he was still alive - it is just sad thinking of me not to be able to have some chat with him anymore. Not to be able to ask him for advice. Not to be able to ask him stories I would want to know more now. Like the Memali incident - which I am sure he would have had a good one for me. Or like the history of Malaya before the independence (I can recall him telling me these before). Or the general history. Or anything else. Any general or personal stuff. And advice. Good advice from a grandpa. A pious grandpa.

I just miss him. We surely do share one common thing. That is one thing for sure, definitely.

And of course I miss my late grandmother too. As she was the best granny ever.

May Allah bless them. Ameen.

DON'T FORGET THE PRAYER

Thank Allah, I have finally submitted my poster this morning. I have actually completed both the abstract and poster last month. It was such a stressful task back then when I had only two days to finish every different types of report and presentation for my audit. Just relieved I had finished it earlier. Except I was having 'trouble' choosing the right colour for these past few days. Maroon vs green. Well it was not that it matters that much, but just because I have made the poster available in both colour, it was just getting me confused - then I needed to make a choice. And I ended up uploading the maroon one so far - still have time to change it.

Choosing. When we have to make a choice, we would normally choose what will benefit us the most. And what benefits us the most largely depends on how we perceive things. When one might perceive having huge expensive buildings is an important marker of development, another person might see the moral development being far more important than that. These perceptions, I suppose are influenced by religion, background, environment, experience etc.

Anyway, I have been reading the news and articles (from different sources, and again it is entirely up to us to choose which one is true and which one is not), I believe what I can call as campaigns for the national election which is only two days ahead. Yes, only two days ahead. And I was touched by an email sent to the Newcastle Balai mailinglist...

Dlm keadaan pilihanraya di M'sia yg semakin hampir dan bahang2 nya boleh dirasakan sehingga lah ke bumi UK yg sejuk ni :-) ... maka saya di sini suka utk mengingatkan rakan2 sekalian utk kita sama2 berdoa bhw pilihanraya di M'sia ni akan memberi kemenangan kpd pihak yg benar2 ikhlas dan inginkan kebaikan buat M'sia dan rakyat nya iA... Semoga kepimpinan itu diberikan oleh Allah swt kpd mereka yg benar2 berhak memilikinya, yang boleh memberikan kemakmuran, keadilan dan kebahagiaan yg berkekalan kpd rakyat M'sia dunia dan akhirat iA...

Kesedaran rakyat juga sangatlah penting di sini utk menentukan pemimpin mana yg selayaknya diberikan kekuasaan krn ianya sememangnya akan memberi implikasi yg besar kpd kehidupan seharian mereka, anak2 cucu dan seterusnya.. . Jadi kita rakyat M'sia yg berada di UK ni, yang mungkin susah utk terlibat dlm proses pengudian yg berlaku di M'sia masih juga boleh sama2 'menyumbang' dgn doa2 kita iA... Dlm hari-hari yg terakhir, menuju ke p/raya ni, sama2 lah kita doakan yg terbaik... a famous saying I once heard... "Do not underestimate the power of du'a..."

Aye, never underestimate the power of doa.

Read critically. Choose wisely. Pray for the best, insyaAllah.

Selamat mengundi. (pakat kelik ngundi bijok2 belako neh).

BLOGGER PEMBOHONG

Really?

Like I said, macam-macam lah sekarang ni dah dekat nak pilihanraya. Anyway, these videos are hilarious, man. Click here.

HOT 2008

I rang my mum few days back and one of the sentence she said was...

"lame Pah dok update blogspot tu"

Hehe, so that was a huge encouragement to update this after a while keeping myself busy (more or less pretending to) from updating this blog. And what comes in hand with the encouragement is the hot issue of national election 2008 in my beloved country.

That's right. Malaysia is to hold an early general election on the 8th of March, after our PM, Pak Lah dissolved the parliament just few days back, ending his term earlier, which was to expire in 2009. So that's more than a year ahead of the schedule. Whatever his plans are, only He and Allah know.

I am not that much into politics as compared to others, but I believe what happens in the country is for everyone of us to care about, and it is us who has the right to determine who to govern and on top of everything, opting for the right ruler and leader is a very important aspect in Islam itself. Government and citizen relationship comes in both ways. We vote for who we think would serve us right while government gets support from citizen to help running the country.

To be a leader is not to gain benefits and wealth from it, but to see it as a responsibility. Pemimpin itu selangkah kaki ke syurga dan selangkah ke neraka. That is why we wish both congratulation and sorry for someone when s/he is elected as a leader. Congratulation for being chosen by Allah to be a leader who will have the great opportunity to serve and make good change to gain His blessings. And sorry for all the burden that one has to go on with, in particular the burden of being questioned later on in the akhirat whether justice had been done or not.

With a very superficial knowledge and critical thought in politics that I have, I am not to comment much on this topic then... but to urge all of us to think wisely and critically before we vote.

1. The candidates
2. Macam-macam la bila pilihanraya ni. Isu orang utan
3. Never really seek for non Malays opinion about election before, but had brief discussions with few people I know here, and have been reading few websites. Check this one out: Jed Yoong, an individual journalist
4. Expert leadership needed. “Yes, religion is important, but there is no point talking about religion when you cannot develop the people and the state". Hmm? Totally agree that the "E.X.P.E.R.T.S." should lead.
5. Recognisation of shariah law by the Archbishop of Canterbury (although its not fully agreed but there's take home message from the video) - hmm... one question I do sometimes wonder: Why are muslims so scared to debate and question shariah law? He's right he's not a muslim to answer that, so ask yourself o muslims.

“Sesungguhnya Allah menyuruh kamu memberikan amanah kepada yang berhak menerimanya dan apabila kamu berhukum di kalangan manusia maka hendaklah kamu berhukum dengan adil. Sesungguhnya Allah memberikan pengajaran yang sebaik-baiknya kepadamu.”

(Surah an-Nisa’ ayat 58)

(wish I could vote, but for whatever reason, I had some issues with the registration) =(

EXAM MODE

I know this seems a bit weird after a long pause from blogging =) (which was 4 months ago?)

I used to always put my exams timetable here and has always asked for some prayers from the readers. And that is all my purpose for today. Nobody knows that I might have passed my previous exams due to the prayer made by any of you when you come across this page.

Always heard this: "Doa seorang sahabat yang tak diketahui dimakbulkan Allah" - insyaAllah.

So here goes me exam timetable, roughly (since have not checked the details yet):

Wednesday, 12 Dec 07, p.m. - Paper I
Thursday, 13 Dec 07 , p.m. - Paper II

And this is going to be the last paper exams before the finals!

And welcome to the last month of the Islamic calendar =)

SUMMER 2007

Right. Two months from last update now. Summer holiday was short but absolutely great. I spent 9 days in Egypt, 2 days in Dubai (with my brother) and 3 weeks in Malaysia (finally being able to meet Damia - she is so cute!!!!). As for another 3-5 days to make up a few more space in my holidays, I suppose I spent those hours in the flights.

I knew I won't be writing up my journey to Egypt and Dubai. Too lazy to narrate my experience and reflection. If I do, I am sure it is going to be pretty long. However when I read an email about one's experience while in Egypt, I bet these stuff said in that email would have been almost similar to a few things that I thought I was going to write up. Here's the email:

Salamun'alaik. .

Salam serta selawat ke atas Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam, ahli keluarga baginda serta salam kepada para sahabat yang berjuang menegakkan Islam di muka bumi ini.

Kalau sesapa pernah duduk di Mesir, terutama di Kaherah, tentu tahu kerenah pemanduan para pengguna jalanraya di sana. Cara parkingnya yangmana sesapa yang beli keta mahal sekalipun tak boleh eksyen sebab gerenti kemek dlm minggu pertama..

Pun begitu.. satu pengalaman yang tak dapat dilupakan juga ke Mesir, intai si Firaun yg derhaka tu, masuk piramid, tapi yang best ke Iskandariah. .

Kalau yg pernah jumpa bebudak jual roti di Kaherah lagi best..

Roti tu dia susun sampai 12 tingkat atas kepala dia.. dan.. aksi yang paling best dia buat ialah..

Sambil kayuh basikal di tengah-tengah bandar yang sibuklah sesangatnya. .

Skil dia balance roti atas kepala sambil kayuh basikal dan dengan selamba langgar lampu isyarat..

Well, except that I did not go to Alexandria (Iskandariah) nor did I enter the pyramid (just visited th em in Giza and ride a camel). My brother and I did plan to go there, but for whatever reason, it has to be canceled. Owh and I think I could hardly find a traffic light there too. And there were horses/donkeys on the road too, alongside with the cars. How amazing!

One good thing to learn was to appreciate, accept and adapt the big differences between the countries that I have been to and people I have met there. But sad to say, how I wish an Islamic country could be very clean as that is how it is supposed to be, cleanliness is part of the iman (faith).

ONE OF THE REASONS

I just need to pass my exams. And one of the reasons is her. My niece who I have never been able to see and hug, and whom I have bought loads of toys for - which are going to be the only things to bring back home in my luggage.


OSCE was so hard, hopefully I am over it now. But still finding it hard to motivate myself to study for my paper exams. And I suppose that is one of the reasons I am in front of the computer, typing all these out when I should be reading infectious disease handouts, or answering MCQ questions.

Please give me strength Ya Allah.

PRAY FOR ME

YM status: Clumsy Iffa!

nikmadihah: iffa tak clumsy. she is as graceful as a swan.
iffa: yes i am
iffa: i just spilled a cup of coffee on the table and some books and notes just went brown!!!!!!!!
nikmadihah: add flavour and spice to life
iffa:
iffa: how was exam
nikmadihah: now u wont sleep while reading notes hehe
nikmadihah: ok tapi cuak for tomorrow.
iffa: or the noteswont sleep while reading me
iffa:
nikmadihah: hahahahahahaha. lawakla tu. taknak chatting ngan iffa yg buzy. cu soon
iffa: all the bestok
iffa: kene study pon
nikmadihah: ok beb. u too
iffa: doakan kame
iffa: kami
nikmadihah: ok insyAllah
nikmadihah: wslm

Please pray that me in exams is totally the opposite (it's practical exams tomorrow, and clumsiness won't help at all!)
=)

END OF THIRD YEAR

Yes, it is almost towards the end of the third year. Hopefully it will really be the end of third year, going into the fourth year a.k.a. the 'holiday' year for medics in Newcastle.

Stressing out for the exams is basically the background thought of my mind right now, although I have to say I have not put much effort yet so far, despite the library being more like a home now. Well I do try the best I could afford now, there are just too many things I need to study that I do not know where to start, and how to be organised with it. Anyway, please pray for us, the third years...

03 July 07 CIDR assessment

05 July 07 GP assessment

13 July 07 OSCE

19 July 07 Paper 1

20 July 07 Paper 2

All the best to those who are having exams or writing up reports too! Or for those with problems in life that need sorting out, may Allah guide us all in the right path.

DECISION

I had never realised a career that I have chosen would involve mainly decision making, until a few months ago. I always find making decision a hard thing to do. Not that I think about consequences all the time before I react to something, but most of the time, I do. And I never like to be one who decides. It probably just emphasises on how coward I am, afraid to take the responsibility to whatever decision I make.

Decision making is more like an adut thingy. Considering myself as still a child (haha sangke), I do not mind to not much being involved in the process itself. Even so, I do make decisions everday, do I? I decide when to set the alarm on the phone, yet next morning, I decide when actually do I want to wake up. I decide whether I want to have simple breakfast or a heavy one or none at all. I decide where am I going to sit in the metro going to the hospital. I decide whether or not to complete the sudoku on the way, or should I read something for the seminar. I decide where am I going to sit in the seminar. I decide whether I should spend money on the lovely scone in the cafe for 10 minutes break. Well, that is to name few of it. But most of these are decisions done unconsciously. I suppose when it comes to emotion and rationale, it is very very different. (come on, grow up Ifaa!)

But, it is not a bad thing at all is it? When you find something is hard enough for you, that you would need someone to help and support you, that is what makes you closer to Allah. Because He will always be there for us. And remember that Allah knows best.

(although still, I do not understand how can one be so sure about decisions s/he is making? if I do not believe that everything happens for a reason coz Allah knows best, then I do not know where would I have been now)

Thank you Allah for this beauty of surrendering myself to You.

THE MENTAL TALK

There were times when I felt like I totally knew what I am doing, but at some other times, I just had no clue of why I do things. Here, I am writing particularly about medicine. About choosing medicine and a career as a healthcare professional in the future. Not bluffing - most of the time, I really want to become a doctor, and I can see me becoming one in the future. Chatting kindly with patients and not forgetting to smile as a means of treating them psychologically before medically. But on the other hand, it did sometimes feel so strange as if medicine is not the right pathway for me at all - honestly, there were a number of times when I felt like quitting medicine.

As for now, I am very glad to share that today is one of the days when I like being here, doing what I am doing. I truthfully enjoyed the case presentation session this afternoon. Amazing how your teachers and colleagues could actually change your perception and thought over something. Cheers guys (haha,like u guys are ever gonna read this?). Each day just went so fast, and today I have already finished my first week - out of four - of mental health (psychiatry) rotation.

Then, I will start my final rotation - that being CIDR (chronic illness disease rotation) for eight weeks, then bam! Big exam is coming up. Well, not as enormous as the judgement day, but your efforts still count for that, aye?

At this moment, I know I should have fully AWARE of the very limited time I have to spend on studying, and that last minute study is no more a smart way of passing a third year med student exam... but although the word exams has always been the mainstay of our daily conversation for this week, I have no clues of why am I still not paranoid with it. I suppose I study better under the pressure and I need to be a bit worry about it. Actually come to think of it, I do feel nervous, with a grandious jitteriness in fact. Especially when I was going through some random MCQ questions and found out that I cannot answer things I could have possibly been able to answer even in my first year. I remember when I was in infectious disease rotation, I turned totally blank when I was being asked "what do the B cells produce?". Seriously, where was I in the past two years?

Sometimes, everything is there in your head. You know you have the answers, but you just need more time to organise them. Or maybe you cannot put them together at all until someone tells you the answer, then you go "aahh, I knew it was that!". Worst, you know you have read or heard a medical term which appears in the answer lists before, but you just cannot recall what it is about. And even worst, you know that you are expected to know about something, but you just don't.

Ya Allah Ya Rabbal 'Alamin, I need strength for this.

ONE SATURDAY NIGHT

Adik almost cried when not all the housemates wanted to play her game. Children, they are so imaginative, and this one has always created "her game", having her own rules of playing it.

That night, she needed all six of us to join. So when she started crying in my room, finally everybody agreed to play. We all went outside into the living room and sat in a circle. Apparently, her game that night resembled "kotak beracun". Well, almost the same, except with no aim or ridiculous dares like I had always played it before. We just had to pass her 2-3 weeks old-very-cute-teddy-bear (which she got from a car boot sales) around the circle, and wait until the music stops. Whoever holds the teddy will have to go and play the music and stop it for the next round.

I love you Adik!!

For the first few rounds, we were so blank. There was no aim at all. If we get the teddy there would be no "punishment", I suppose going to press the cd player button is not a horrible thing to go through. Ok. So one of us adjusted the game to make it more interesting. Bits by bits, it ultimately ended up as 'truth or dare' game, if you have ever heard of it. But the rule was a bit distorted - one had to answer the question first, only if you choose not to answer, then you would be dared.

And going back earlier that day, Kak Rabitah bought a litre of goat's milk today, just to taste it, since it is one of sunnah left by Rasulullah s.a.w. Everybody tried it, except me. I was turned off by the scream Amira made when she gave it a taste. I did not even like lamb. How on earth would I like the milk if it tastes worse than lamb or sheep? Amazingly, adik is the hero. She likes it so much, that we still have it in our fridge now, coz adik wants more! She is the only one in this house who alhamdulillah, able to drink the milk.

I wish I could too. Do not say I did not try. That night, when I refused to share my "personal" secret, I was dared to drink a full cup of goat's milk, without pinching my nose. And trust me it was no easy task to do. It was not the taste, but the smell. Devastating. It is one of the sunnah, so I assume is good for the health too, but I just can't help myself. Luckily, it is not an obligatory one.

A few morals from the story. Firstly, the game was so bored when we first played it. No aim. Everybody was just looking at each other with a what-are-we-doing-passing-this-teddy-around look. And nobody minded to hold the teddy when the music stopped. But when the rules changed, with aim not to get the teddy coz if not you would have to tell the secret or get a dare, everybody was passing the teddy very quickly. Trying the best not to hold it when the music stopped. And screamed horribly when it happened. Same goes to our lives. If we do not have aim in this life, it is boring. There would be no purpose of life.

I once asked an SHO who is an atheist, "so what's your purpose of life?". He said "I'm afraid I will loose (to me, coz we were arguing loads before) about this one. To be honest, my purpose of life before I got married was bullshit. But now that I am married, it's my wife and my two kids."

Secondly, I was so reluctant to drink the milk before. But when I have to drink it due to the "rules", I managed to finish a full cup of it. A full cup mind you, not a sip. It is not fair for me or for other players to not do the dare as we already agreed to the rule.

A believer believes that Allah's rule is one to obey. It is not fair for Allah that we claim we are muslims but we never play by His rules. It is not fair that we agreed to be born into this world and live on the earth He created with all the ni'mat, yet we do not play our lives by His rules.

And just see how important are the governers who have the power, who can use their "hands" to rule something. A hadith says (approximately):

"If you come across a wrong deed, change it with your hand. And if you cannot change it with your hand, speak against it with your tounge. And if you cannot speak against it with your tounge, hate it in your heart."

When there are rules, people have to follow it, whether they like it or not. And first rules to obey are ones from our Creator. I needed to drink the goat's milk no matter I like it or not. Because it was the rule. Congratulations to me!

(should have niat minum sebab sunnah rasulullah...dapat jugak pahala huhuhu)

FROM BEIRUT TO JERUSALEM

I have heard about the book "from Beirut to Jerusalem" vaguely before, but I was so ignorance to find it and give it a read. Good thing when I went to IMAM programme called Extreme Medicine last weekend, the writer herself, Dr Ang came up as one of the speakers, talking about the manmade disaster, the war. She talked about her experience, how she was brought up to support Israel and to hate the Arabs, the so called "terrorists". But her experience has changed it all.

Click here for the audio, pictures, and written experience. Trust me, you have to listen to this one!

One of the very touching picture, as described by Dr Ang:


---And suddenly a whole lot of children - Palestinian children from every where began to crowd around me, and the little girl said "Doctor can you take a picture of us?" I said "of course I will". "You must take a picture of us now because there is the Shatila camp - tomorrow maybe the camp will be destroyed and there will be no more Shatila, but al least today we are here and you can take a picture and show your friends all over the world this refugee camp and show them we are the children of Shatila". And as I began to focus the camera they decided to put their hands up and make a victory sign and said "and we are not afraid". This picture was taken in October 1982, since then I have been back to Lebanon many times, and each time I go back I carry a copy of these pictures hoping I can find them - of course I never found any of these children. But now looking back I realise they didn't ask me bring the pictures back to them - they said take the pictures and show it to the whole world, to show the whole world how the Palestinian children of Shatila camp were not afraid. So I am showing it to you now." ---(by Dr Ang)

Even up to now she is so active, trying to make sure that people will soon realise who are the terrorists, and who are the victims. May Allah grant her hidayah... and may we learn something from her spirit and enthusiasm.

T.O.P.

I am now doing my obs and gynae rotation, and I am so called to reflect upon my session today and share the thought with all of you. I was timetabled to sit in a family planning clinic this afternoon. I thought it was gonna be a light unstressful session discussing and learning about the variety of contraceptive methods available at the moment. I thought I would not learn much except the same facts written in the text books. But my assumption was completely wrong. I think today is the day when I made lot of reflections. The day when I learned that there are so much things to worry about in this life. The day when I could have burst into tears if I did not control myself. The day when the future looks so foggy even though I am beginning to see the interesting and challenging bits of doing obs and gynae later on.

I assume it is alright to write in general about my experience today, without breaching any confidentiality. So I sat in the clinic and I met a few people there. And I never thought there would be so many cases of termination of pregnancy (TOP). Yes, English law allows TOP before 24 wks(?) but culturally before 17 weeks (?). (Well I might not be the right person to comment about this medics stuff – just in my third year – do not want to look that stupid or even worse, to give wrong information or anything.) But anyway, being here and being just a medical student, I have to respect the patients' right to choose their way of life. There are just too many ethical reasons to consider about. I am totally against it of course, only Allah knows what was in my mind at that time.

Back to the case. So I sat in the clinic and one of the patients that came in for TOP was only as young as 15 years old.She is so young and even afraid of having a venepuncture (amik darah) done on her arm. I presume she had no idea what to expect for committing a TOP. It is not her story that I wanted to comment here, coz I have no right to talk about her. But I suppose I have the right to comment about my relatives who have the same religion as mine ie. the muslims – and to be more precise, Malaysian muslims coz its more relevant to us. Coz I care about my society. I care about my religion. And these are important factors in directing my future life and the future of Islam and I care about these.

What stricken me the most was when I imagined her being my sister. When she said she was born in 1991, my first gut reaction was “that is so my sister’s age” – nauzubillah, may Allah prevent this disaster from anybody that I know of – well, at that moment I could not help thinking about the situation in Malaysia where the contraindicated values of the West is becoming a culture. Incorrect way of entertainment is the main component of life nowadays. Normal homo sapiens named as “artists” are being worshipped more than ever. Muslims going to night clubs are becoming more common. In fact I heard some comments saying that it is peculiar to not have gone there among some groups of Malaysian muslim youths and teenagers, mind you. Same goes to virginity. Some can be so proud to tell that they have actually lost their virginities. Surprise surprise, some can even be so ashamed to not have done it by certain age – which is so ridiculous. And if you want to hear something more ridiculous, some even "sell" themselves to achieve wealth in this impermanent, temporary life. And when unwanted pregnancy occurs, this would most of the time results in abortion or infanticide or child abuse which adds up to the sinful acts prior to this. I cannot imagine the battle I would be in to make sure my future children (kalau panjang umur) are safe from all these new culture which is totally against Islam.

I chatted with a friend who befriends a few of these “social” or “huha huha” people once. She claimed that most of them are influenced by peers. Family problems, lack of attention and religious education are mainly the basic reasons to why they tend to be easily influenced by friends. They have no parents to go to, so friends are the only options. That is why relationship within familymembers is an asset for taking down these social problems. I haven’t got any experience myself to mingle closely with these people, so I would not blame anyone. Blame. Human beings always tend to blame other people when bad, unwanted things happen to them.

Anyway. My point is that I would like to remind myself and all, that we all have a purpose in our life. We have our religion as our way of life. Please do not let other culture takes over ours. Never underestimate the effect of discussing religious issues and educating ourselves and the children even at early age coz to know more about our religion and practising it fully are the only things that will make sure that we are on the right path.

Hidup tanpa ilmu umpama orang yg mati.
Ilmu tanpa amal umpama orang yg tidur.
Amal tanpa keikhlasan adalah sia2.

[masa belajar ni je la kalau nak ada masa buat benda2 extra, dah keje nanti apelah nasib....]

~~~~just a piece of thought~~~~
~~~~~betulkan jika salah~~~~~

SO BEAUTIFUL

My usrahmates and I joined a programme called Da'wah Course today, organised by the Islamic society. It was focusing on communicating Islam to the non-muslims to facilitate and encourage us to do the obligatory sunnah of our beloved prophet Muhammad s.a.w (p.b.u.h.) - that is to do da'wah. Yes, it is a sunnah, but it is a duty of us, muslims. I used to always interpret sunnah as wearing a turban, keeping the beard (both for guys obviously), etc. But it is actually everything that was done, spoken, or undone by rasulullah s.a.w. And one might not realise that things like da'wah to non muslims and bringing back the true Islamic country into the world up to achieving the world orde (ustaziatul 'alam) are also the sunnah. The obligatory ones in fact.

It was only a one day - no, actually, a half day course indeed. 11am -5pm. Let me just share and reflect back a few valuable points that I have learned today.

The course had one practical session where the facilitators acted as a non muslims and the participants had to answer the questions asked by them. Some of the questions might just be "tell me about Islam". As simple as that. Of course we can talk about thousands and millions of thing, but what do we want to focus on first especially if we have only 3 minutes with him/her? There was a quote from a brother: "You are not doing da'wah if you are just discussing about why you don't eat pork, why you don't drink alcohol, why you dont go to pub. But talk about the tauhid." Let them know that Allah is one. The one god that we worshipp. Let them believe that Allah is their god too. That Allah is everyone's god. Easier said than done of course, but we never know if it is through us that Allah wants to grant the hidayah to a non muslim. Let me give you a few more questions or statement that we as a muslim might want to start thinking of.

1. What is Allah? Why is your god different from others?
2. Aren't all the religions the same?
3. Why do good people or muslims still suffer if god exist? I have a friend who is suffering from cancer, she is a good person, the best one I have ever met. Why does god allow her to suffer when she is a good person?
4. Where does evil come from? From god?
5. I am not an evil person. I do good things, and I help lots of people. Would I be condemned to hell simply because I am not a muslim? - Man, this is though!
6. How can you be so sure Islam is true?
7. How do know Muhammad is a prophet? Didn't all sorts of other people claim to be prophets?
8. Why are dressing like that (for women)? Do you not feel oppressed? How do you find a boyfriend then? Do you not have one? (I actually got this one)
9. Do you have to pray five times a day? That must be so hard for you!
10. You are not even allowed to drink when you ae fasting? Hey, that is not good for your health is it?
11. Do you need to be particular about what you are eating? What is these halal meats?
12. You are not allowed to drink alcohol even a small sip of it? But isn't it good for the heart if you take redwine occasionally? You won't get drunk.

Some of these were questions I got from my friends too or from a stranger I met in the metro, or in a shop. It is a good thing they ask us - it means they are interested to know. And we do not even have to go and approach them. In this case, the least thing that we could do is to tell them about Islam. To let them know about Islam. To help them find the truth. Any question. Any statement.

Anyway, we do not have much time to discuss the questions. The key thing to answering these questions is definitely KNOWLEDGE. Sometimes we know Islam is right, any query directed to us will go back to the fact that Allah is fair and that there must be good thing that comes out of bad things because Allah knows the best for us. Many of us might have lots of knowledge, but knowledge without practising it is nothing. Trust me, trying to answer these questions and explain it carefully, trying no to offend anyone is not an easy thing to do especially when you never think of these questions, because you are born muslims. But practise makes perfect, right?

True success of doing da'wah is that you obey Allah and you made the effort. Every time you do da'wah you will be rewarded. If they become muslims, alhamdulillah. If not, it is all in Allah's hand.

ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ

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

[an-Nahl;125]

INVITE. It does not say MAKE SURE everybody will gladly be accepting it. But let them know. Give them choice. There are many prophets of Allah who did the preaching for many years, and some of them ended up with very few followers, or even none. But the key thing is, the effort was there. Even rasulullah s.a.w., the habibullah (one who Allah loves) was being tortured and treated so badly when he introduced Islam to the community.

By the way, back to the title of this post. An unexpected, unplanned beautiful event occured in the mosque during the course. I can still hear the announcement very loudly at the back of my head.

"Brothers and sisters, we are about to witness something that doesn't happen every day. We are about to witness a new birth".

There was a Caucasian brother, who wanted to say the syahadah, and admit that Allah is the only god and that Muhammad is the messenger of god. And it was very touched when he said it, that he actually has hearing problems, and he has to read the lip to understand or to know what the other brother was saying. And he said it in front of all of us. And he has just became a new person, who is free from sin, like a newborn. And I wish I can start as fresh as him.

Not only that, a few minutes later a sister came to us, and told us that an 11 years old girl who followed her granny (who is also a revert) to the course, has also said the syahadah after she stated her interest to become a muslim. And only after that, she began to think about her mother's acceptance.

11 years old girl and a guy with hearing and speech problems. Two in a row. It is so amazing how Allah can open their heart to accept Islam. Even when the media is currently busy reviewing the July 7 tragedy and keeps relating it to muslims as terrorists. Even when the channel 4 had just commented and created misconceptions about Islam in Undercover Mosque.

11 years old girl. What did I do when I was 11? Playing galah panjang with boys, talking and obsessing about KRU and the musics, what else? If I was not a muslim at time, I doubt that I would have achieved that high level of thinking to make decisions about religion or even to care about my religion, and obviously not even try to find out the true religion. And a guy who has to read lip to communicate? Who uses sign language to talk to others? Very amazing. Seriously. There are so many of us, muslims or not, who are so perfect as a human being, having ears and eyes to see His "ayat", yet we keep them shut and do not use them wisely.

Some of us could not control ourselves from crying happily. Everyone was so touched. It was so beautiful. It was like a miracle. It is something that I never thought I would have witnessed.

BELAIAN IBU

[Hijjaz]

Tertanam naluri keibuan amat mendalam
Di jiwa insan yang mendambakan kebahagiaan
Oh... ibu

Di bahumu tergalas beban
Perjalananmu penuh rintangan
Kau titipkan kasih sayang
Sejujur pengorbanan
Tak ku nafikan

Di saat kita berjauhan
Rasa ingin ku berlari
Mendakapimu penuh girang
Bak si kecil kehilangan

Kau insan penyayang
Betapa ku merindu
Lembutnya belaian ibu
Membuatku terlena

Di wajah terlukis tenang
Debar di dada kau rahsiakan
Ku pastikan dikau aman
Dikurnia sejahtera
Tak ku lupakan

Di saat kita berjauhan
Rasa ingin ku berlari
Mendakapimu penuh girang
Bak si kecil kehilangan

Tiada aku tanpa ibu
Hanya (kau) satu didunia
Bertakhta dikau dijiwaku
Kau lah ibu yang tercinta

Kau insan pengasih
Betapa aku mengharap
Hadirnya restumu ibu
Membawaku ke syurga

Bersemi belaian kasih sayang nan berpanjangan
Darimu insan yang mendoakan kebahagiaan anak-anakmu
Oh... Ibu

HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY LITTLE (?) BRO

Tiap saat pun we grow up. Apa guna bertambah usia if we are not becoming more mature than before. If we still do not appreciate others that are important to us, and if we still do not know how to differentiate yang hak dan yang batil. My lil bro, hope you will grow up to be as nice a brother to us the siblings, as mithali a son to mama n papa, as funny and cheerful a friend to your friends, as brilliant a student to your teachers, as responsible a person to the ummah, and most important as obedient and faithful a believer to Allah.

Hey good news is no matter how old you are, you will always be a brother to a GOOD sister (hhehe)

*sori, aku copy je ayat ecard tu, malas nok tulis baru...*

TOO MUCH

Ok. I have not been writing for a while. Almost two months from Eid and now is very close to another Eid celebration. And I was planning to go back home and play with my first niece, but the ticket is so expensive I just can't afford it myself, and I just can't afford asking "a few grands" from my parents. Well, at least it is so sweet to know that some people do miss me at home, although some admitted it but some didn't, I so know that you do Im, hehehe :P

Ok so my niece has almost turns 3 months now. I went to carboot this morning and bought a few things for her. And Danish and Fatin are back here in Newcastle!! I can't believe how fast and clever has Danish grown up - he can repeat your words, follow your instructions, laugh hilariously (when you push him in that kereta sorong plastik), and he is undeniably cute.

Quick update. I have finished my first sem exam - I won't say it was great, but some of the stations was not that bad. I knew it whenever I screwed it (apart from the sleepy patient that I thought was asked to act as a tired and sleepy patient - whom I assumed might has had partial ptosis due to ?pancoast tumour - but apparently that was not the case). And that stupid cannula station, why on earth would I insert blood when the question clearly asked me to insert the iv fluid? Guys, PLEASE read the question carefully and do exactly what it says, do not just assume the question. And DO NOT PANIC. 5 minutes is more than enough for a question and a cannulation procedure. Seriously.

And AGM Balai Malaysia (Malaysian community in Newcastle) has also been held. And I have just officially started my holiday in which I am going nowhere really, as opposed to last year (went back to Malaysia - its been a year now!) and last 2 years when I travelled to few different places). I will spend 6 days at PMS (Perhimpunan Musim Sejuk) in coventry - which I am sure would be beneficial - then I am gonna have Asma' coming here. And I should probably go and visit a few people I have been too busy to visit during the term time, and go and visit the newborns as well. And there will be another Eid without family (isk isk isk) and then another term will begin very soon - I will start with paediatrics in South Tyneside hospital.

Now it seems like I am gonna have a really short break, but the best part is I should startlooking for July ticket coz I am definitely planning to go back this summer. InsyaAllah.

FWD: RE: EMAIL

Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:42:14 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Re: [saifulislam.com] Pendapat Peribadi 'ISU MURTAD & DAKWAH'

saya pun sama.

saya rasa diorang salah sebab diorang tak friendly. saya rasa diorang salah sebab tak bermanis muka pada saya, sebab saya rasa saya deserve perkara2 ni.

saya juga memandang geng dakwah dengan pandangan negatif, sebabnya diorang pernah marah kawan baik saya yang berdua-duaan di taman bunga, atau juga pernah menyindir kawan saya yang sedang begayut dengan girlfriendnya berjam2. adakah camtu cara dakwah?

saya juga rasa pelik terhadap mahasiswa yang aktif berdakwah, sedangkan ramai lagi mahasiswa lain yang tidak menerima dakwah mereka. mahasiswa2 ni sepatutnya merancang bagaimana hendak menyebarkan Islam dengan lebih baik. kalau dilihat dalam universiti, sedikit je student yang terkesan dengan dakwah...yang lain enjoy je dunia tak ingat. sepatutnya geng2 dakwah ni rancang supaya lebih ramai student lain dapat didakwahkan sama.

siapa saya?

saya adalah antara manusia yang lebih mementingkan 'kaedah hikmah lembut' dari peri penting mesej dakwahnya.

saya juga adalah penonton2 tepi memandang sepi dan sinis pada geng dakwah melakukan kerja tanpa memberi bantuan pada mereka.

saya juga adalah manusia penonton yang sentiasa 'menghakimi' tindak tanduk geng dakwah, tapi lupa bahawa saya sebenarnya hanya penonton yang tidak menyumbang mana pada umat.

saya juga adalah manusia yang sentiasa memberi pandangan kepada gerakan islam pelajar dengan pelbagai cadangan, tetapi saya sendiri tidak/kurang membantu bersusah bersenang bersama membawa suara dakwah ke mercunya.

saya juga adalah manusia yang merasakan diri saya belum cukup baik untuk berdakwah, maka saya kena baiki diri saya dahulu baru saya akan berdakwah. bila saya nak baik?....sebenarnya saya tak tahu jawapan tu. sebenarnya saya tahu Yusuf Qardhawi pun tak akan kata dia dah baik maka dia dah boleh mula berdakwah.

sebenarnya saya tahu jawapan pada semua di atas. tetapi sebenarnya saya ingin jadi penonton je, saya malas nak susah2, nanti kalau aktif sangat saya takut pihak univeristy HEP blacklist saya. atau biasiswa saya ditarikbalik. saya takut hilang kawan2 saya yang ramai, yang panas telinga bila ada mamat datang dan dakwah pada mereka... saya tak nak hilang kawan, bilik penempatan university, dan segala-segalanya. akhir sekali saya takut saya tiada masa depan...

saya adalah salah seorang anak wawasan, salah seorang manifestasi produk pendidikan negara hadhari, tahu saya tidak membawa erti, kerana iman saya tidak teguh di hati.

kita tahu, biarlah dikumpulkan seluruh alam ini, merancang memusnahkan kita, jika tidak dengan redha-Nya ia tidak akan tertimpa ke atas kita. begitu juga sebaliknya. mari kita berlapang dada dengan perkara2 'kurang manis' yang pernah berlaku dalam 'golongan dakwah', kita doakan allah merahmati mereka.

mari bersama terjun ke lapangan ini, ambil segala yang baik sebagai panduan, yang tidak baik sebagai teladan. perbaikilah ia. mari teguhkan (bukan sekadar penonton) dan perkuatkan gerakan dakwah Islam ini. mari menjadi 'pelakon-pelakonnya ', cukuplah sudah lama kita menjadi 'penontonnya' .

penonton hanya membayar tiket wayang, pelakon lah mendapat ganjaran utamanya apabila filem menjadi box-office.

wallahu alam.