About Me...

(By: Mua)

My life is too boring to think of evenly, 

My family has cherished me vainly, 

Most of my friends do not care of me at all, 

Many people see me oppositely tho' I fall. 

Underneath my heart is a gloomy feeling, 

Upon seeing they gesture that I hurt them reeling, 

Utterly repents and regrets the sight, 

Ultimate chaos is certain at that site. 

All I did was strived to succeed these kindred, 

All I could do is write to express thoughts in hundred, 

A beloved Prophet I must adore to my best, 

Almighty Allah will surely bless me a rest. 

My distinct pairs of ears, eyes, lips, and a nose, 

May have been precious gifts since I arose, 

Made me enough a grateful slave, 

Merrily in service of the faith I am enslave. 

Mouminah lighten me dearly when she came, 

Mujahid stirred my soul as he was born in tame, 

Marjanah has completed my life sweetly ever, 

Moments we’ve shared will be treasured forever. 

At long last I’ve done sharing my part, 

And it’s yours the feeling of being set-apart, 

As more people living on this cyber-age, 

Are the more times people waste life enrage. 

Rowing in the middle of nowhere, 

Rays and heat of sun shines everywhere, 

Round the clock here I am gently waiting, 

Roses, doves are stuffs I am sweetly giving.

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Holiday

“Ah!” I sighed! What a bulky e-mails? Let me check this one... “Click!”

I don’t sense any zest hitherto to resume on my work as the week long Eid Al-Adha was just over for the year 1428 Hijra.

It’s been a usual obsession for me thinking, and planning to spend my vacation at home with my family, ever since I was in Kyonggi for the past 10 years... I enjoy waking-up late in the morning after a long, long exhausting, and sleepless night watching TV shows, DVD movies, surfing the net, & etc...

However, life is totally different here in Riyadh (where I’m presently residing) comparing to Candelaria, and Kwangju, Kyonggi (places where I’ve lived for the past years).

Anyway, I spent the Eid holiday altogether with my family, friends, and my cousins together with their own families. We’ve traveled to Eastern province in convoy of SUV cars, went to the beach, including the usual happenings during weekend. Although these stuffs have nothing to do with my original plans, then I’ve enjoyed it.

... “Click!” [Here is the content of the e-mail sent to me by a colleague in form of “office spam”]


If a barber makes a mistake, it’s a “New Style.”

If a driver makes a mistake, it is a “New Path.”

If an engineer makes a mistake, it is a “New Venture.”

If parents make a mistake, it is a “New Generation.”

If a politician makes a mistake, it is a “New Law.”

If a scientist makes a mistake, it is a “New invention.”

If a tailor makes a mistake, it is a “New Fashion.”

If a teacher makes a mistake, it is a “New Theory.”

If our boss makes a mistake, it is a “New Idea.”

If an employee makes a mistake, it is a “Mistake.”


... it is at this point wherein I told myself not to commit mistake today!

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Wherever you are, Death will find you out

I'd like to share about this beautiful poem sent to me by a friend, which I considered a worthy of pondering about.

This is the tale of an Average Man,
Who acts contrary to Allah’s plan,
If you are reflected herein,
Then repent and commit no sin.

It was early in the morning at four,
When death knocked upon a bedroom door,
“Who is there?” The sleeping one cried,
“I am Izraeel, Let me come inside.”

At once the man began to shiver,
As one sweating in deadly fever,
He shouted to his sleeping wife,
“Don't let him take away my life.”

“Please go away, O Angel of Death!
Leave me alone; I’m not ready yet,
My family depends on me,
Give me a chance, O please per pend!”

The angel knocked again and again,
“Friend! I’ll take your life without a pain,
It is your soul Allah requires,
I come not with my own desire.”

Bewildered, the man began to cry,
“O Angel, I’m so afraid to die,
I’ll give you Gold and be your Slave,
Don't send me to the unlit grave.”

“Let me in, O Friend!” The Angel said,
“Open the door; get up from your bed,
If you do not allow me in,
I will walk through it, like a Jinn.”

The man held a gun in his right hand,
Ready to defy the Angel’s stand,
“I’ll point my gun, towards your head,
You dare come in; I'll shoot you dead.”

By now the Angel was in the room,
Saying, “O Friend! Prepare for your doom,
Foolish man, Angels never die,
Put down your gun and do not sigh.”

“Why are you afraid? Tell me O man,
To die according to Allah’s plan?
Come smile at me; do not be grim,
Be Happy to return to Him.”

“O Angel! I bow my head in shame,
I had no time to take Allah’s name,
From morning till dusk, I made my wealth,
Never even caring for my health.”

“Allah’s commands, I never obeyed,
Nor five times a day, I ever prayed,
A Ramadan came and a Ramadan went,
But no time had I to repent.”

“The Hajj was already fard on me,
But I would not part with my money,
All charities, I did ignore,
Taking usury more and more.”

“Sometimes I sipped my favorite wine,
With flirting women I sat to dine,
O Angel! I appeal to you,
Spare my life for a year or two.”

“The Laws of Qur’an I will obey,
I’ll begin Salaat this very day,
My Fast and Hajj, I will complete,
And keep away from self-conceit.”

“I will refrain from usury,
And give all my wealth to charity,
Wine and wenches I will detest,
Allah's oneness I will attest.”

We Angels do what Allah demands,
We cannot go against His commands,
Death is ordained for everyone,
Father, mother, daughter or son.”

“I’m afraid, this moment is your last,
Now be reminded, more of your past,
I do understand your fears,
But it is now too late for tears.”

“You lived in this world, two score and more,
Never did you, your people adore,
Your parents, you did not obey,
Hungry beggars, you turned away.”

“Your two ill-gotten, female offspring’s,
In nightclubs, for livelihood they sing,
Instead of making more Muslims,
You made your children non-Muslims.”

“You ignored the Muezzin’s Adhaan,
Nor did you read the Holy Qur’an,
Breaking promises all your life,
Backbiting friends, and causing strife.”

“From hoarded goods, great profits you made,
And your poor workers, you underpaid,
Horses and cards were your leisure,
Money-making was your pleasure.”

“You ate vitamins, and grew more fat,
With the very sick, you never sat,
A pint of blood, you never gave,
Which could a little baby save.”

“O Human, you have done enough wrong,
You bought good properties for a song,
When the farmers appealed to you,
You did not have mercy, this is true.”

“Paradise for you? I cannot tell,
Undoubtedly you will dwell in hell,
There is no time for you to repent,
I’ll take your soul for which I am sent.”

The ending however, is very sad,
Eventually the man got very mad,
With a cry, he jumped out of bed,
And suddenly, he fell down dead.

O Reader, take a moral from here,
Never know, your end may be near.
Change your living and make amends,
For heaven on your deeds depends.

“Wherever you are, death will find you out; even you are in towers built up
strong and high!”(Holy Qur’an 4:78)

“Every soul shall taste death then you shall all be brought back to Him.”(Holy
Qur’an 29:57)

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-allehe wa-sallam) said:
"Pass on knowledge from me even if it is only one verse."

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“Precious Friend”

Ever precious friend, I’m glad I found you!
Your friendship is a gift should be shared.
I can be myself to comfort you;
safe with my worship and care.

Making me happy when you’re by my sight!
Our friendship bond was meant to be.
Thinking of it with great delight;
you’re always be a precious friend to me.

I’ve had fun, fears, play and tears!
But, you helped me heal and grow.
I prize our time-the days, the years;
more than you can know.

Rush, hush and seek mine, I would be happy!
To help you somehow start anew.
It’s a small token price to pay;
for the gift of a precious friend like you!

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Friday Qutba Sermon

I'd like to share with you the "Friday Sermon" I have delivered in our Islamic Studies class at Badia Islamic Center, Riyadh, last November 2006. This is all about a topic on how can we get rid of the Devil "Shaytan". May Almighty God help us understand the real aim of this topic.

- - -

INTRODUCTION

Praise Allah, Lord of all that exists, The Firmest of the firm, to him is the creation and the matter, Aware of that which each soul commits, his will proceeds, his ruling is tender, Allah has revealed a thing that if he willed would be a guide for all of humanity, Praise Allah, thank him, repent to him and seek his forgiveness, I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, He alone with no partner, I bear witness that He is without doubt , And I bear witness that our prophet and master is His servant and messenger, As-Sadiq , Al-Waad, Al-Ameen (the trustworthy-the promiser-the truthful) O’Allah send Your praise, peace and blessings on Your slave and messenger Mohammad, and bestow upon his family and companions a praise and peace permanent until the Day of Judgment.

So be it:

So fear Allah, without doubt, openly and remember the here after, and don’t follow the way of the looser. And know that for everything there is a beginning and ending, and to every test or competition there is a goal, and that in this test (this life) the goal is Paradise or the Hell fire. And Allah put on path to paradise and that path is Islam, Allah mention in the Qur’an: “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will be one of the losers” [Al-Imran: 85] And Allah put for this Islam good deeds, as a salvation and a dilutant for sins and bad deeds, and Allah put paradise as a place of comfort for those who teach and call towards Islam. And the callers are the prophets upon them be peace, and their followers are those whom the comfort and grace of Allah is upon them and their families. Allah mentioned: And whoso obey Allah and the messenger then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His grace, of the prophets, the Siddiqun, the martyrs and the righteous. And how excellent these companies are! Such is the bounty from Allah, and Allah is sufficient as All-Knower. [An-Nisa: 69-70]

Their Histories were good, and their inner selves purified, and their deeds multiplied, which helped their matter and won for themselves dwelling in paradise, also Allah made for the fire it’s own companions. And the path of the fire was made clear, Allah made it known to all about the bad deeds that will gain His anger and that will lead to the punishment of the fire, Allah stated: And whosoever disobeys Allah and His messenger, then verily for him is the fire of hell, he shall dwell therein forever.[Al-Jinn:23] And in this place Allah created lasting punishments for those who invite to the fire in this lifetime, also Allah says about the people of the fire: And on the Day of Resurrection, they will not be helped. And we made a curse to follow them in this world, and on the Day of Judgment they will be among those who are prevented from receiving Allah’s mercy or any good; despised or destroyed.[Al-Qasas:41-42]

The callers of evil decorate the evil deeds, the caller of evil calls to the evil that destroys it’s companion, A severer manner is an invitation to hell, and a greater manner is to have a feud with Allah-The Above- the evil Shaytan (the cursed of Allah) attracts the obedient through the disobedient, and Allah says: And indeed Shaytan did prove true his thought about them and they followed him all except a group of true believers. And he (Shaytan) had no authority over them-except that We might test him who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is watchful over everything. [Saba: 20-21] And He also said: Did I not command you, O children of Adam, that you should not worship Shaytan. Verily, he is a plain enemy to you, and that you should worship Me. That is the straight path. [Ya-Seen: 60-61]

The Shaytan is wicked, and he calls to every bad act, Allah gave to him the ability to do so, but he does not exceed this limit. And he comes to a pious believer with the temptation of greed to try and over come the believer, Allah allowed Shaytan the ability to illuminate and whisper, Shaytan uses the obsessions of the heart, then he beautifies that invalid thoughts of the soul, and Shaytan does this with constant repetition, and Allah says: And Shaytan made fair-seeming to them that which they used to do. [Al-An’am:43]. But Allah did not give Shaytan the ability to make someone love something, so that manner of commanding love of something is in the power of Allah alone. Allah says: And know that among you there is the messenger of Allah (pbuh) if he were obeys you in much of the matter, you would surely be in trouble. But Allah has endeared the faith to you and has beautified it in your hearts, and has made disbelief, wickedness and disobedience hateful to you. Such are they who are the rightly guided. [Al-Hujurat: 17]

Also Allah gave this wicked enemy the ability to inspire disbelief and invoking others to do evil deeds, Allah says: See you not that we have sent the devils against the disbelievers to push them to do evil. So make no haste against them; we only count out to them a limited number of days of the life in this world and delay their term so that they may increase in evil and sins. [Maryam: 83-84] Also Allah allowed Shaytan to incite anger by the way of whisper and mumble. The whispering and mumbling is a seduction of the heart, his whispering is like a strike of poison then they Shaytan escapes. Gather what Allah has informed us of the deceptions of Shaytan, and know that those deceptions are weak, easily abolished and futile, and the actions of Shaytan are refuted by having faith and by seeking protection in Allah the Most High. And Allah says: Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaytan [Nisa: 76]

And Allah mentioned about this enemy: Verily! He has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in Allah. His power is only over those who obey and follow him, and those who join partners with Allah. [An-Nahl: 99-100] Shaytan has nothing and he has no power over the believers who rely on Allah. We believe in the existence of Shaytan, and we know his effect on people, and we feel the results of his evil, Allah calls the Muslims from Shaytan.

Shaytan stand or sits in the paths of good and calls waits to call people away from doing good, like Allah mentioned about this enemy: (Shaytan) said: Because You(Allah) have sent me astray , surely I will sit in wait against them(human beings) on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left and you will not find most of them as thankful ones. [Al-A’raf:16-17]

We will not dispel shaytan’s evil and we will not refute his evil nor escape his seduction except by seeking refuge in Allah. Allah his majesty said: And whoever holds firmly to Allah then he is indeed guided to the right path. [Al-Imran: 101] So win over Shaytan with deeds through Qur’an and Sunnah, and call to the way of Qur’an and Sunnah.

Allah has clarified that this enemy leads man to a point of damnation then he abandons him and Allah mentioned: By Allah, We indeed sent messengers to the nations before you, but Shaytan made their deeds fair-seeming to them. So Shaytan is their helper today and theirs will be a painful torment. [An-Nahl: 63]

Shaytan embellished to Noah’s people, Abraham’s people and the Maidian companions polytheism, disbelief and evil acts. He also embellished to the prophet Lot’s (a.s) people Al-Fahisha, he also advocated for many empty centuries different kinds of sins and evil acts. So when Allah sent down His punishment on the wrong doers, Shaytan could not benefit them or save them from Allah’s will. And Allah mentioned: like Shaytan, when he says: to man “Disbelieve in Allah” but when man disbelieves in Allah, Shaytan says: “I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of all that exist.” So the end of both will be that they will be in the fire, abiding therein. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers. [Al-Hashr: 16-17]

As for in the Afterlife Shaytan will stand on a hill in the fire, and he will speak as Allah mentioned: And Shaytan will say when the matter has been decided: “Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you and you responded to me. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me as a partner with Allah.[Ibrahim:22] And nothing will remain after that speech except exhaling , inhalation, regret , weeping and shouting, and Allah mentioned: Allah will say “Remain you in it with ignominy! And speak you not to Me!” [Al-Mu’minun:108]

One way for a Muslim to repel the whisperings of Shaytan is by seeking assistance with Allah, and seeking the refuge of Allah the Most High. As was stated: But none is granted it except those who are patient and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion in this world. [Fussilat: 36] He also mentioned: And say my Lord! I seek refuge with you from the whisperings of Shaytan. And I seek refuge with you, my Lord! Lest they should come near me.”[Al-Mu’minun:97-98]

The congregation prayer is from amongst the things that overcomes the evil delusions of Shaytan. Allah, the Most High mentioned: And perform prayer. Verily the prayer prevents great sins of every kind and it prevents disbelief and wicked deeds, and remembering of Allah is greater indeed. [Al-Ankabut: 45] Allah stated about Shaytan: And whosoever follows the footsteps of Shaytan then verily he commands indecency and disbelief. [An-Nur: 21]

Whom ever wishes to avoid Shaytan should recite the Verse of the Throne, the chapter of Purity and the last two chapters of the Qur’an, and seek forgiveness in the beginning and end of the prayers, and if a Muslim enters a mosque he should say: In the name of Allah and praise and peace upon the messenger, I seek refuge in the Greatest his, Noble Face and in the Sultan of Al-Qadeem from the rejected Shaytan. The Shaytan called this a protection from him for the day. Another way given to overcome shaytan’s evil is by reciting the Qur’an and recites it in a beautiful way; whenever the slave increased the recitation of Qur’an he fortified himself from the rejected Shaytan.

Also paying Charity of giving sadaqa for Allah’s pleasure helps to over come the Shaytan, the prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “the charity extinguishes the sins as water extinguishes the fire.” By remembering Allah with tasbeeh, tahmeel, and takbeer, also tawbah and supplication are others ways to protect one’s self from Shaytan. a hadith related by Abu Hurairah (r.a) states that the prophet once said (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam): if a believer says, there is no deity except Allah, he alone, without partners to him the dominion and praise and he is over everything with power, one hundred times in the beginning of the day, this will shield him from Shaytan for that day, it will also wipe away ten bad deeds and write for him one hundred good ones. (Agreed upon)

By having trust and faith in Allah and his oneness, the deceptions of Shaytan are over thrown, by practicing with pure intention and having sincerity in worship solely for Allah, Allah states: Certainly you shall have no authority over My slaves except those who follow you or those who go astray. [Al-hijr: 42] So fear Allah brothers in Islam, and avoid the Shaytan, As Allah mentions: O you who believe! Enter completely into Islam and follow not the footsteps of Shaytan. Verily! He is to you a plain enemy. Then if you slide back after the clear signs have come to you so know that Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.[Al-Baqarah:208-209]

End of the first Qutba, the second Qutba was just a reminder to try our best to avoid Shaytan and remember Allah as much as I can, and a du’ah.

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Journey for Life

As an adventurer & pro-driver like myself, it is my dream to drive elegant, and luxurious cars specifically SUV even just a short period of time.

It’s been a superb kinda feelin’ akin to a baby being cuddles by parent. And it’s more exhilarating if I can drive, as fast as I could recklessly on highways, knowing that even if speed limit is rigorously imposed, I’ll still ignore mobile patrols, which could not even catch me--because of the built-in gigantic motor engine in the vehicle.

There are various types of expensive vehicles that could be found here in Middle East region: Ranging from sport’s car, classic car, SUV & etc., down to the lowest level-- name it and you’ll see it... as they say. Amongst these vehicles, I am dreaming to drive is Hummer 2 or popularly known as “H2”.

Hummer is a brand of sport utility vehicles (SUV) sold by General Motors, also known as GM. They are based on the military High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee. It was Arnold “The Terminator” Schwarzenegger who originally convinced then-manufacturer AM General to make a version of the hulking vehicles for the civilian market, and in 1992 he was the first person to buy one.

Anyway, last 26 June 2007 (Tuesday night), I received a mobile-phone call from my cousin, inviting me to go and travel with them in what I could describe as “Journey for Life,” to a place with a distance of 794.88 Kilometers / 493.93 Miles. The next day afternoon, we went on galloping an Isuzu Trooper SUV 2003 model. It took us nine hours of travel in an average speed of 120/kmph; we left Riyadh at dusk time and arrived dawn in Makkah---our final destination.

During the travel, I simply imagined myself steering my dream car “H2,” as I was in fact the one driving the entire trip. Besides, I just want to skip boredom, and tiresome long lonely night trip. I didn’t mind to listen to any music coz... it may simply arouse my companions, who were deeply sleeping, and that’s how I preferred it to be that way.

“Ahh!” I sighed; this is my first time to drive such long distance travel.

It was a bright night, as I could see things visibly ten meters away in either sides of the road. The moon was shining brightly in its third quarter shape. Suddenly! I became aware of the paradoxical aspects of life, which coerce the entire humanity craving greedily into wealth, power, and ambitions. Our lives seem to be eternal as we selfishly desire for worthless chattels.

It’s indeed a significant factor having lots of useful property for our own conveniences and benefits, but yet let us not forgets that life is too short to strive with each and every inevitable need in life. I am implying that while we spend life in well-off conditions, then we should indulge personal desires and whims responsibly.

Sooner or later, whether we like it or not, we will be meeting the Almighty Creator, who neither deceives nor cheats but, will hold us liable for our good and evil deeds, at the time of resurrection, which lots of people will repent the very day that he or she was born.

After longer hours of travel, at last we reached Qarnu’l Manāzil, a small town in Taif, where people perform initial rites of Umrah, before coming to Makkah (Mecca) to complete the rituals.

Umrah is a pilgrimage to Makkah that can be undertaken at any time of the year. It is sometimes called the “minor pilgrimage” or “lesser pilgrimage”, Umrah is not compulsory but highly recommended. The pilgrim sometimes referred to as a “Hajj”. It is a series of religious ritual acts symbolic to the lives of the prophet Abraham and his wife Hagar, and of solidarity with Muslims worldwide.

Upon reaching Taif, I reflected on myself as a Muslim. As if I was awaken from nightmare. I told myself to stop dreaming and face my real world. Besides, we were on a religious trip and not in adventures.

The moment we’re done, then we left afterward going to Makkah... and the rest of what we have carried-out was history...

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My Kids' Photos

My one day old Baby Marjanah

My one day old Baby Marjanah

So lovely and so sweet, and yet so innocent Baby Marjanah.

My three months old Baby Marjanah
being cuddles by her Mom.

(Smile and pose for a while... click!) My three months old Baby Marjanah

Kuya Muja and Bunso Marjanah


My son and daughter

(Mujahid and Marjanah)

Such a lovely kids...

My Baby frowns...

What is that Omie, I smell something...

My handsome Muja

(Abie! Em... feelin' so confident beside these lovely girls)

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The Lasting Wake-Up Call

Reflection on Faith, Obedience, and the Search for Truth

First of all, I commend you for the achievements you have attained in life, and I also sympathize with the adversities and trials you are currently facing. Despite these challenges, I remain hopeful that our simple dreams will one day be realized — dreams that we believe can bring constructive change not only for ourselves, but also for our families, friends, and the Filipino nation as a whole.

You may wonder what I wish to convey here. This reflection has nothing to do with politics, entertainment, or sports. Rather, it is a reminder of a reality we often overlook: very few people in the world today uphold true dignity. Among them are priests, teachers, physicians, soldiers, lawyers, law enforcers, legislators, pastors, imams, and other professionals, as well as members of various faith communities — Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and others. Yet even so, no human being is perfect.

If we believe in the existence of Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, then we must also accept the reality of heaven and hell. Across all faiths, people will face accountability in the Hereafter. Only those sanctified by God’s mercy will enter the eternal garden of paradise, while the rest will face His justice.

On the Day of Resurrection, none of us will escape the three fundamental questions:

1. Who is your God?

2. Who is your Prophet?

3. What is your Religion?

God has created the world in pairs and opposites: light and darkness, man and woman, sleep and wakefulness, good and evil. In the same way, if there is a Lord, then there are those who are His servants. To illustrate: if you had a servant and gave a command, but the servant insisted on following their own preference rather than yours, how long would you tolerate such disobedience — even if they claimed love and devotion for you?

This is like our relationship with God. He has already taught us how to worship Him, and prescribed specific times for prayer, remembrance, and obedience. Yet many of us act according to our own convenience, worshipping only when we wish, rather than when He commands. In doing so, we place our will above His, just like the servant who resists the command of his master.

Therefore, we must pause, reflect, and seek out the truth. Only through sincere obedience to Almighty God can we hope to attain true success — not only in this world, but in the life to come.

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