May be We Don't Look Good to Be Potential Customers.......

A long time friend from Sarawak came and stayed at my house for few days. She was here to visit me, her aunt and of course shopping. Since I was not in a busy schedule and haven't done shopping for quite sometime, it was my pleasure to accompany her. We went to Bukit Bintang as she wanted to buy computer devices. I really can't remember when the last time I went there because I don't like the hustle & bustle in that area. She got everything she wanted and we headed to Sogo and again I couldn't remember when was the last time I shopped here. May be it was since i started my phd, haven't got friends and time to indulge myself with shopping here (I still shop with my sister but in more peaceful areas). Not my interest to be in the crowded place especially during SALE.

As it was Y.E.S in Sogo, and I have nothing specific in mind to buy so a set of miniature perfume attracted me very much. The sales assistant at the perfume counter showed us the latest collection of the perfumes and persuaded us to buy 2 sets and we will get a free miniature. I declined since all I wanted was just a miniature perfume. Then came a sexy lady asking which perfume that can be used day and during night. We waited him to entertain that lady until it became a quite long waiting. We looked at each other and whispered maybe we didn't look like a potential buyer compared to that lady and nobody cares because we just want to buy not so costly perfume. We watched them ended their conversations and it seemed the lady didn't buy anything. Don't ask me what evil thought came straight to my head as I saw the lady didn't buy anything and at the same time we had been ignored.

The next day we went to a boutique as my friend wanted to look for tudung and jubah. Again, I became a very unsatisfied customer's friend the way the sales assistant treated us. My friend asked for the jubah they display on the mannequin. Since it was the last piece the sales girl seemed reluctant to take it out from the mannequin for my friend to try. She kept repeating and sceptically said "padan ke??". I felt like saying hello my friend is as slim as that mannequin, just give her a try on that jubah. The way she entertained us was below my satisfaction as a customer. All she did was talked about the price and discount given. When the owner of the boutique came and asked my friend to try, only then she took it out from the mannequin for fitting trial. And as I thought it fits her well. As far as I'm concerned, the customers are usually given a chance to try the dress/ jubah regardless whether they want to buy it or not. As I talked to my friend the way the sales assistant treated us, she also didn't feel satisfied but but had to ignore it since the jubah already had caught her eyes.Well... again we thought we were treated like that because our appearances didn't look like a potential customer. Sigh!

Another Notch Up

Alhamdulillah, another notch up. I passed and can proceed for the thesis writing.

Salam Maal Hijrah

A new year, a new start, a new chapter and hopefully a new beginning to become a better Muslim. May this year brings us more barakah and rahmat from Allah and please forgive for all my wrongdoings throughout last year. So, Salam Maal Hijrah 1431 to all my Muslim sisters and brothers.

It's very difficult to explain when somebody ask....

1. how is your Phd progress?
2. what stage are you?
3. You still haven't defending your proposal?
4. have you done the econometric part?
5. You are still not writing anything?
6. Blablabla etc

People keep asking me these questions.Sometimes it is very difficult to explain to those who are not familiar with the route I've taken. Most of them are more familiar with Phd using research/thesis writing. So let me explain that I'm pursuing my study using the coursework + dissertation route. When I enrolled to this university they made compulsory to anyone from the education background to be in this route so I've no choice. The reason they made it compulsory because those who are in education line will have to use all the theories when they go back teaching in their universities (this is what they said and I've no argument about this). We have to spend 2 years for coursework and another 2 years for dissertation. Even the study plan given by the university itself didn't show that we manage to finish in 3 years like using another route. So, for this almost 2 years I've finished my coursework + comprehensive exams and haven't started with a writing but Insyallah it will be soon.

Tudung & Malaikat

I was reading and overheard somebody happily said "I will only wear tudung if I go back to Malaysia but not in Australia". Her words automatically had made the evil thought came straight to my head and saying "kat Malaysia je ke ada malaikat, kat Australia takde kot'( Ya Allah, I beseech your forgiveness for saying this in my heart to this person whom I didn't even know her)

It reminds me the story of me & my ex students. Due to the lack of the class available during day time, I did a replacement class at night from 8.00 to 10.00p.m. When I entered the class I felt something wrong somewhere where and a lot of unfamiliar faces in my class.Half of the female students didn't wear tudung and as far as I could remember only few students didn't wear it in the class. I thought I was in the wrong class and asked them to confirm it. The students said it was my class so I asked again why there were unfamiliar faces and I hardly recognized them. The guys definitely gave a very straight answer "ramai tak pakai tudung malam ni". It gave me a chance to reply " apasal, malam takde malaikat siang je ada". You can expect the action from the guys they were laughing like they never did anything wrong in my class and the girls of course could only gave sour smiles.

I didn't mean to be sarcastic far from trying to humiliate anyone but I know I have the obligation to educate them and not just to teach them. I hate nagging to others and been nagged by others so if I gave a ceramah about pahala & dosa or syurga & neraka after seeing my female students were not in the proper attire definitely they wouldn't listen to me or just ignore everything. What I could do was saying only a short and simple remarks and hopefully it was effective. Whether the students understood what I meant or not, my intention at that time was really sincere. I'm not saying I'm good, far from perfect enough to give admonition/advice in this matter but I believed the students and myself too should be reminded when we did something wrong.

Note : The entry doesn't mean to condemn anyone. It just my experience as an educator and a muslim woman who tried to educate the students. If the way of educating my students and writing it here didn't seem right I accept it solely as my own weakness

Rain & Motivation

Since the weather is really dark and gloomy lately, and it is raining almost everyday. So, here is a self motivation and something nice to read during a rainy day.

Through the Rain

When you get caught in the rain with no where to run
When you're distraught and in pain without anyone
When you keep cryin out to be saved but nobody comes
And you feel so far away that you just can't find your way home
You can get there alone
It's ok, won't you say

I can make it through the rain
I can stand up once again on my own and I know that I'm strong enough
to mend
And every time I feel afraid
I hold tighter to my faith and I live one more day and I make it
through the rain

And if you keep falling down, don't you dare give in
You will arise safe and sound, so keep pressing on steadfastly and
you'll find what you need to prevail
What you say

I can make it through the rain
I can stand up once again on my own and I know that I'm strong enough
to mend
And every time I feel afraid
I hold tighter to my faith and I live one more day and I make it
through the rain

And when the wind blows
And shadows grow close
Don't be afraid
There's nothing you can't face
And should they tell you, you'll never pull through

Don't hesitate, stand tall and say

I can make it through the rain
I can stand up once again on my own and I know that I'm strong enough
to mend
And every time I feel afraid I hold tighter to my faith
And I live one more day and I make it through the rain
And I can make it through the rain and stand up once again
And I live one more day and I, I can make it through the rain
Oh yes you can,
You're gonna make it through the rain

The First Ten Days & Nights Of Dhul Hijjah

The Article is taken from IqraSense;


This year Hajj (Arafat Day) will be on Thursday, November 26th, 2009 corresponding to 9th Dhul-Hijjah. The first day of Dhul-Hijjah therefore falls on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009. Eid Al-Adha therefore will be on Friday, November 27th, 2009.

Most Muslims very well know the blessings of the nights of Ramadan, especially the last ten nights. However, not everyone knows that the first ten days of the last month of the Islamic month, Dhul Hijjah, are equally packed with blessings.

Allah has provided Muslims numerous opportunities throughout the year to renew their faith and to encourage them towards acts of goodness by specifying such special days. So, we have another such opportunity that we shouldn’t let pass by just like any other period in time.

Allah says in the Quran in Surah Al-Fajr (interpretation of the meaning):

“By the dawn; By the 10 nights” [al-Fajr 89:1-2].

Most scholars agree that these ten nights refer to the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer also had validated that opinion by stating: “This is the correct opinion.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413]

Ibn ‘Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said,

“No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah].”

Among the deeds recommended during those ten days are observing voluntary fasting, offering animal sacrifices (lamb, goat, etc.), sincere repentance, recitation of the Quran, staying up the night and finally praying the Eid prayers on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah.

Hafsah reported, “There are five things that the Messenger (saws) never abandoned: fasting the day of ‘Ashurah, fasting the [first] 10 [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting 3 days of every month and praying two rak’aah before the dawn prayer.” [Related by Ahmad and an-Nasa'i]

Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, “There are no days more loved to Allah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e., Lailatul Qadr].” [Related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi]

The Prophet (SAWS) commanded us to recite a lot of Tasbeeh (”Subhan-Allah”), Tahmeed (”Al-hamdu Lillaah”) and Takbeer (”Allaahu akbar”) during this time. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (SAWS) said: “There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahleel (”La ilaaha ill-Allah”), Takbeer and Tahmeed.” (Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated that it is saheeh). (Islam-QA.com)

So, as Muslims we should welcome the ten days of Dhul Hijjah with the same fervor and enthusiasm as we welcome the last ten days of Ramadan or any other blessed days in Islam. Lets make the most of it.

Insomnia?

Since the last few weeks I have problem to sleep. If I try to sleep at 12.30 a.m, the time I manage to sleep is around 3 a.m. Most of the time my eyes are wide open and I don’t feel sleepy at all. Being me somebody who seldom fall in the deep sleep I can easily wake even heard somebody slowly open the door. I’m only feeling tired in the morning the rest of the day I’m energetic.

I try to exercise believing that if I’m exercising my body will be tired and I’m easily fall asleep. But it doesn’t work. I have regular coffee intake, not more than a cup per day so I will not blame on my coffee. I seldom take a nap during day. If I did that I find myself up all night. I don’t have big problems that give problems to my normal sleeping hours. I don’t have exam, assignment or anything related. The only thing I’m doing now is just looking back at my proposal and made some amendments. I don’t put much pressure while doing that and nothing much to worry until I have to have a sleepless night.

Well…thinking it back may be it is not really a problem and 3-4 hours sleep is just enough for me.

Lazy Rambling

أللهم إني أعوذ بك من الهم والحزن

وأعوذ بك من العجز والكسل

وأعوذ بك من الجبن والبخل

وأعوذ بك من غلبة الدين وقهر الرجال

I should read a LOT of the above doa. I’m really in a lazy mood. Lazier than normal. As people always blaming on the hormones for any changing moods, I can’t even find any significant relationship between hormones and laziness. I’m feeling lazy. What else can I say. Busyness is a really nonsensical defense for my laziness at the moment. I’m not at all feeling busy & still waiting for the exam result to come out. I’m really lazy to do anything, reading, writing and etc. Even to fill in the form for kenaikan pangkat and scrutinize all the documents is like ages to do. I know the new coordinator in the department is already babbling for my procrastination. Got her message recently written “study hard and remember all my advices”. When I read the message twice, I felt like replying “which one?” .There are a lot of advices she gave me before I left for study leave. Personal advices, study advices, do’s and don’ts and etc. Anyway I should be thankful for the advices and reminder.

There was annual meeting of Economics Graduate Association recently and all the postgraduate students were invited to attend the meeting. Due to my laziness I didn't even bother to go until Kak S called me. The meeting couldn't proceed unless there was enough quorum. So, I was there just to complete the quorum. The best part I was forced by Mr President to hold a post in the association. I think all those who were qualified (finish the coursework) got the posts (remember there was not enough quorum). I was actually threatened by Mr President with the Phd room. Ha3x. If you don't have any posts, then it will be really difficult for you to get a room. Doesn't it funny if you are in the politics, people really want to hold any positions but in this meeting you have been persuaded and threatened to hold a post which you don't even bother about it. Well....another story I made an irrational thing on that day too. I was fasting and Mr President asked me to eat nasi ambeng that they have ordered tripled than those who attended the meeting. Again, I was lazy to explain to him that i was fasting and was pity to look to those who work hard for the meeting (not a really solid reason to breakfasting) so I ate nasi ambeng. Half way eating I felt like giler ape breakfasting for the sake of nasi ambeng. No, I'm not a fan and far from a lover of nasi ambeng. (Nasi lalapan lagi sedap). Feeling regret for the whole day.

I went to Kompleks Tabung Haji Kelana Jaya to send my second abang. Abang performs his hajj this year. He went alone not be accompanied by anyone except his bags. Should not worry about that, insyallah he will find a lot of Malaysian’s friends and friends all over the world. As abang was wearing his Tabung Haji bracelet and I could remember vividly the same scene at the same place three years ago, when my sister’s MIL trying to put the bracelet on my hand she said this is the most expensive bracelet I’m going to wear. It needs a lot of money, efforts, sweat, determination, patience, sacrification and invitation from Allah to wear it. Her words touched my heart very much. The feeling of wearing it will never be the same as you are wearing the RMXXXXX gold/ platinum bracelets women can dream for. When I saw that scene again, the mix feelings, the sense of jealousy (jeles org dpt p haji) at the same time happy for abang as he will be guest of Allahfor the hajj season this year. Kakak said who knows we are going to be invited by Allah too this year. Sound impossible for this year but who knows! May be... the following years lah kak!. On another scene, Bibik got the teary eyes when she heard the Talbiyah. She wondered whether she will get a chance to perform hajj. I told her that Allah will invite His guests if the person has a determination to go regardless the races, the wealth, the colour or the countries you come from. As I was explaining to my nephews and the niece where and what abang is going to do during hajj, she was listening and told me “ enak ye kak kalau dapat pergi haji. When I looked at her, I saw her hoping face and the sincerity in her words I wish I have a lot of money and sending somebody like Bibik to Mecca. Back to the story of my abang, he is in Madinah now, a “lone ranger” journey to fulfill the 5^th pillar. I know abang is well prepared for the journey mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. But still the tense, the anxious and the happiness can be seen through his face before he checked in to the hall. I just wish abang a great and successful pilgrimage. May the journey be the beginning of a better tomorrow, and the return be a fresh start altogether.

I got a reunion invitation for Economics students from U* on the 20^th December. I even got a personal invitation from Bib (one of active members of the organizer) but sorry Bib I don’t think I will go due to certain reasons. My schedule is filled with the plans which are “subject to change”. By the way why I need to explain?….I owed nobody any explanations for not attending the event that I used to be excited to go. Yes…I have done my work during the tarik session but I didn’t make any promises to go for the reunion. The pity part is for Is,(I know you are reading this). She will come from Sarawak on this December . I feel guilty when she said if I go then she will go too. If I don’t go definitely she will not too(Ini kes Titanic, I jump, you jump) . Well… see what I can do but 70% is definitely I will not going. Another 30% I’m still thinking. Love to meet my friends whom I haven’t met for a long time but still I have good reasons for not going.

Got this newspaper, sound like a funny news but it is a true story and and there is lesson should be learnt too.

People always said life is too short. Enjoy the moments and live life to the fullest but what if working is your enjoyment

P/S: Pardon me I'm so lazy to make paragraphs and subtitles

Still Waiting & Worrying...................

I'm still waiting for the exam result to come out. Not much progress done or should I say there is no progress at all after more than one month waiting for the result. Trying to read few articles and preparing for the proposal but usually it will ended up with something that bring no benefits. Day by day passed and I'm still waiting whether I can proceed to the next level and can form the committee members or I have to resit for the exam which mean I have to read all the theories and books again.

What I did for the past 1 month;

1. Balik kampung

2. chasing for the lecturers whom I knew are the exam panels to get a clue whether I pass or.....( got a bit of a clue but it is not official yet).

3. went to a colloquium in a golf resort.

4. went to many open houses and gathering for hari raya and ate a lot of hari raya foods.

5. Did a research and finding books on mosque's architecture and the roles of mosque for the community development for my brother's paper work. It took me a week to find those books and articles.

5. Internet surfing for the cheapest flight tickets for my sister and my SIL to fly and meet their husbands.*

6. Went to Miri with my family and ate a lot of nasi lalapan (we ate nasi lalapan for three consecutive days)ha3x and I was so jakun with Teh C (three layered colour of tea)

7. Searching for a suitable umrah package for my sister and other family members*.



* Feeling like I have become a travel agent to the family members

NOKIA & CELCOM

NOKIA

Again I'm blogging about my new Nokia handphone that give me so much trouble. After 2 months sending back to the shop to fix the problem, I took it back. Again the problem occured, most of the time my handphone is without any signals. The problem is not about the line coz if I change the sim card to another handphone there is no problem at all.


CELCOM

My celcom broadband gives me a really headache since last month. The internet connection is really poor. To read all my emails is such a waste of time. I can fall asleep in between mouse clicks. So let alone to open blogs.

So, these are 2 reasons why I may not be replying your sms or not even online for quite a long time. He3x

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

A Quick Entry; Just to wish all of you Selamat Hari Raya & Maaf Zahir Batin

Should I Just Get It Done and Over?

I'm going to sit for my last prelim exam less than a week. Dr S was so kind asking me whether I want to reschedule the exam date until a week after raya. They won't have much problems to rescheduled since I'm the only person who will sit for that paper. I was really in dilemma and didn't answer Dr S question until he said if I want to change the date I can meet Mr A to do so.

Well, I'm far from 100% ready for this paper and need more time to study but If I change the date after raya, will it make much difference?. Knowing myself, i won't study much if go back to kampung especially it is hari raya. If only Dr S said it can be rescheduled three weeks after raya I'll definitely nodded without any hesitation.

Should I reschedule the exam or should I just get it done and over?

The Cost Of Balik Kampung

I'm still in the middle of the exam. I told my father and others I will only come back three days before raya. Yup, I will still have my exam three days before Raya. If I'm the only student* who take will sit for this prelim exam that time, I will ask the invigilator to play lagu Raya during the exam (It will be 5 hours exam, should get some entertainment and hari raya mood. Ha3x). However, the urge feeling of going back to kampung and iftar with my father and my brother ( The two most eligible bachelors) made me to have a quick decision. After I had finished my first paper I went back without much thinking. However, being a student in economics I will definitely cannot run away from calculating the cost and the benefit. So, this is the cost incurred for me to go back just for two days;

The costs
1. Petrol RM50 x 2 = RM100
2. Toll Tickets RM 51.70 x 2 = RM103.40
3. Fine for Speeding RM300 (get 50% discount) = RM150
4. Traveling time cost 3 1/2 hours x 2 = 7 hours ( opportunity cost of studying)

the benefit part,

1. See my father's and brother's smiles and had iftar with them = PRICELESS

So, does it worth for me going back to kampung in the middle of my exam?

* I'm the only student who sat for the prelim exam for Mcroeconomics last semester

In Memory......

" His command, When He intends anything, is only to say to it: Be, so it is. Therefore Glory be to Him in Whose hand is the kingdom of all things, and to Him you shall be brought back -Surah Yassin, 82-83"

I always afraid of a late night call from my family. They never call late at night unless something is really important and usually it will be a bad news. I got a phobia getting late night call after the death of my mom. But, I got it again. This time I expected who was going to leave us after I heard the tone of my sister’s voice. My 10 years old nephew left us after a year suffering with bone cancer. The boy who was a bit “straight’ boy left his parents who adore him very much. A boy who amazed me the most left us in his young age. A gifted boy who recited and khatam his Quran in just a month of Ramadhan and put me in shame because I have no determination like him is no longer with us. A boy who told his Ma that he wanted to be rich like me (He thought I’m rich because I gave him money everytime I got my salary) was already invited by Allah the Al Mighty. A boy who asked me what was the feeling of going to Mecca and told me some day he will be there too will never fulfill his dream. A boy who innocently asked me what the angel looks like after learning in kelas Agama may be has got the answer and seen the angels. A boy who strongly fighting with his cancer and suffering through the process of chemotherapy already lost in his battle. But Insyallah, a boy without a sin will be in a better place.

His death is a great lost for us. It is always not really easy to know those who were elder than us being invited by Allah but it's even harder and greater to witness that those who are younger than us left earlier.

Al Fatihah – Muhammad Shafiq Aiman

Ilmu Adalah Milik Allah

One is not likely to achieve understanding from the explanation of another. Understanding is achieved by solving problems. - Michael Weetzstein

When I'm working with problem, i never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong (Buckminster Fuller)

Never, never, never give up (Winston Churchill)

I'm studying. Still studying for my coming comprehensive exam. I've been working with one example of comprehensive exam question for the last two weeks. I took two days trying to solve it but still couldn't find the solution. I think I've tried every single formulas and theories before I gave up and started to ask my friends. None of them can help and have a clue to solve it.

I gave up with that problem but sometimes my mind keep wondering about the question's solution. It was until tonight while I was having a break and playing with my facebook, in a second, it was like a bulb in my head with the filament of the bulb started to function, I got the idea to solve it. Yes, the idea came in a split second and I don't even force your brain to think about the problem's solution. I did the calculation again and Voila! got the answer.

I do believe in what my friend who is in the process of writing thesiss said, "Ilmu adalah milik Allah, Kalau Dia nak bagi, kita akan dapat dengan mudahnya dan dalam sekelip mata tapi kadang - kadang ilmu kita cari susah nak jumpa atau dapat, then we have to pray to Allah to smooth our path in seeking His knowledge and we have to strive harder to look for it.

Alhamdulillah, got it at last and I'm really happy.

Colour, Character & Birth Date

A long time friend asked me what is my favourite colour as she wanted to buy something for me. (Thanks Is!) I never have any exact favourite colour. It just depending on my mood. So, I searched in the internet based on my birth date and this is what I found;

The colour that suits me is Pink (pink???)

PINK

You are always trying your best in everything, and like to help and care for other people. But you are not easily satisfied. You have negative thoughts, and you look for romantic like in a fairytale.

and then I found this;

The character based on birth date

• Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying.

This is the version of Dr Fadzillah Kamsah , more or less like the above character but the interesting part is the line I've bold.

• Sangat suka didamping. * Banyak berahsia dan sukar dimengerti. * Agak pendiam kecuali dirangsang. * Ada harga dan maruah diri. * Tak suka menyusahkan orang lain tapi tidak marah apabila disusahkan. * Mudah dipujuk dan bercakap lurus. * Sangat menjaga hati orang lain. * Sangat peramah. * Emosi sangat mendalam tapi mudah terluka hatinya. * Berjiwa sentimental. * Jarang berdendam. * Mudah memaafkan tapi sukar melupakan. * Tidak suka benda remeh-temeh. * Membimbing cara fizikal dan mental. * Sangat peka, mengambil berat dan mengasihi serta penyayang. * Layanan yang serupa terhadap semua orang. * Tinggi daya simpati. * Pemerhatian yang tajam. * Suka menilai orang lain melalui pemerhatian. * Mudah dan rajin belajar. * Suka muhasabah diri. * Suka mengenangkan peristiwa atau kawan lama. * Suka mendiamkan diri. * Suka duduk di rumah. * Suka tunggu kawan tapi tak cari kawan. * Tidak agresif kecuali terpaksa. * Lemah dari segi kesihatan perut. * Mudah gemuk kalau tak kawal diet. * Minta disayangi. * Mudah terluka hati tapi lambat pulih. * Terlalu mengambil berat. * Rajin dalam membuat kerja.

Anyway this is just for fun, half of it doesn't sound like me. Ha3x

P/S : Is next time buy me anything with pink colour. Ha3x. Anyway thanks a lot for the green thingy!

The Link Between Man & God is FAITH

“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe
and enough shadows to blind those who don't” - Blaise Pascal

Got this from my email. Thanks to the sender, K. Lina

AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION .

An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.

He asks one of his new students to stand and .....

Prof: So you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.

Prof: Is God good?
Student: Sure.

Prof: Is God all-powerful?
Student: Yes.

Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't.

How is this God good then? Hmm?
(Student is silent.)

Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fellow. Is God good?
Student: Yes.

Prof: Is Satan good?
Student: No.

Prof: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From...God...

Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student: Yes.

Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student: Yes.

Prof: So who created evil?
Student does not answer.

Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student: Yes, sir.

Prof: So, who created them?
Student has no answer.

Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.

Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student: No, sir.

Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student: Yes.

Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.

Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.



Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof: Yes.

Student: And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof: Yes.

Student: No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat.

But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that.

There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold.

Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something.

You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....

But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it?

In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God.

You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.

Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.

Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)

Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor,

are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher? (The
class is in uproar.)

Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain? (The class breaks out into laughter.)

Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir? (The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)
Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student: That is it sir... The link between man & god is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.

Small, Sleek, Stylish But Sorry Too Fragile!

I bought a new handphone last month. My old handphone that served me for three years had some problems with its ribbon(??) (I’m not sure whether it is right but this is according to the salesperson in handphone’s shop). The display cannot show any information and the colour faded. There is sms ring tone but sometimes it cannot view the messages. But I still can receive any calls.

I love this phone very much and this is the most expensive handphone I ever bought. It is a fold handphone and I got the influence to buy after watching it in the Korean dramas where most of the actors were using the fold handphones. That time, I thought it was so cool and stylish of having a fold handphone. Then, I saw this type of handphone in Madinah with a cheaper price than here. Well... no surprise for cheaper price on handphones since there is no tariff in Saudi Arabia on electronic devices and electrical appliances. But at that time, I was thinking about the warranty and other things so I bought that handphone in Pertama Complex after coming back from S.A. The handphone came with a lot of features which I thought it would be useful to me but I was wrong because I didn't t even use it and never know how to use it until now. I’m using my handphone just for messaging and calling. Other functions?? Ha3x. Never been touched except for the camera that I used once in a blue moon (I have my own small Nikon digital camera that I always carry in my bag that works far better than my handphone’s camera, so why need the handphone’s camera).

Lesson learnt. So, I bought a new handphone with not much features in it because I know I’m not going to use it like my previous handphone. No more fold handphone since my brother said it is outdated. I looked for a slide handphone like my sister's. No more influence from the korean drama. The new handphone I chosed is small, sleek and stylish with 110 gm in weight. If I put it in my palm I can say “now you see and now you don’t” to describe the minimalist design of the phone. It is a really lady like phone and I think it isn’t perfectly for a man (my brother mengutuk habis2an for this handphone)

Less than 24 hours, after I was using it had a problem of signaling and couldn’t receive or make any calls. I sent back to the shop to fix the problem. After two week I took it back than again it has the same problem and for the second time, I sent it back to the shop. The problem maybe due its small design and leads to fragility. I realized it after I really have to handle it with care everytime I wanted I want to put it not like the old phone which I can campak everywhere.

Now, I’m still using my old beloved handphone even without the display screen since my new handphone is still under fixing. I know some of my friends already merajuk since I didn’t reply their messages. Don’t blame me if you didn’t get any replies. How do I know you sent a message my handphone cannot view it and definitely I cannot read it. So, next time, if it is really important, don’t be so stingy to call if you don’t receive my sms reply. Ha3x.

Want vs Need

Recently, I watched a documentary in ntv7 about the post tsunami victims in Thailand and their survival after the disaster. One of the victims is a Muslim man who said something that had touched my heart. He said “we might not get everything we want in life but be grateful if we got everything we need”.

There are differences between needs and wants. Needs can be limited as we can say “this is enough for our life”. However, want is unlimited. A classic example, if we can pick the moon and the stars of course sooner or later we want to pick the sun too. As normal human beings will we always think what we want and not what we need.

But would we be sorry if all our wants were satisfied? Yes, we would often be sorry if all our wants were gratified, for tomorrow these current wants will change. Everybody who has ever rubbed the magic lamp realizes the three wishes given to them by Genie Abdul only satisfied their current wants.

Why I’m writing about this? I’m studying the differences between demand curves in conventional and Islamic Economics that relate between needs and wants.

Study, Study & Study

For the last two months what I have been doing is just study and study. No more classes or assignment. A really independent study. I have 2 more comprehensive exams to sit on this coming fasting month. One paper will consists of different questions from 3 different lecturers who specialize on their parts. The 3 different lecturers are usually using 3 different books. For both papers, it means that I need to read about 18 books before sitting for the exam. My brother said I have ample time to study but believe me for one topic I’ve covered it took more than a month. May be I’m a slow learner that I just realize when I started to pursue for my Phd. Assumptions, modeling, numerics and equations are really torture for me to finish. There are many times I fall into this;

and there are many times I tried reading, feel so saturated or when I tried doing questions, and I just can't seem to recall any information nor think.

But I guess that is the life of a student. So, I don’t need to complaint. This is the path I’ve chosen, so I just follow the path and do what I’m suppose to do. Besides that, I was paid to study and I know a lot of my friends out there will say this ‘bestnya kalau kerja mcm u tak payah buat apa-apa, study je”. Ha3x. Only God knows.