Pheww...time really flies!
A lot of things have happened in 2009. I'm not gonna write about that tremendous climate change, how Obama had performed, the global economic crises, the power transition in Japan, or our very much blogged about political scenarios.
All I wanna jot down in this stolen moments is about some of my own miniscule accomplishments, so perhaps when I read it some time later in years to come I could see how far I've gone, be a little more inspired maybe.
Apart from all the work that tax my time tremendously in 2009 like the work presented for both national and international conferences and seminars, papers published, surveys done, chapters completed, and all this done while maintaining my CGPA of 3.90 and facing some challenges, I embarked on a journey of learning how to read the Quran correctly. Of all the things accomplished, I felt my greatest achievement is being able to complete reading it concurrently both in its Arabic version, as well as reading it in the language that allows meaning and understanding sink deep in my heart: its Malay translation.
After maghrib on 23 December I managed to finished reading it to the end. I fast the next day, as it is sunat to fast when one khatam al-Quran. As my eldest who recently got 5As in UPSR also managed to khatam al-Quran on 24 Dec, then I planned for 25 December, Friday - a good day- another sunat practice, which is a small gathering of friends and relatives to become witnesses that both me and my daughter have finished reading the holy Quran. The majlis khatam Quran began not long after I came back home after sending a number of pre-packed pulut kuning to an orphanage nearby. I found out there was an addition to the community there since my last visit in the middle of 2009 - a single mother with her baby. If you'd like to know the orphanages near your place, you can look at the link I've put up for quite some time in my blog under the title rumah anak yatim.
Often I've prayed, fervently hoping for petunjuk in times of need, uncertainty, and challenges.
I've heard many times my friend F talks about she hopes Allah gives her petunjuk. And I'm sure, L also cries asking for petunjuk in her prayers.
What were we thinking?!
My dear friends, the petunjuk is in front of us: the Quran.
There are many of Allah's words in the Quran, which He stresses this. I can't remember all, but this is one of them: "Al-Quran ini merupakan pedoman bagi manusia, juga petunjuk dan rahmat bagi orang yang meyakininya." (Surah al-Jaatsiyah: 20).
I began reading it to satisfy my own curiosity and not just taking it from other people's mouth, to seek for answers for things that I often wondered, things that happened which I couldn't fathom why.
My friends F & L, I'm sure you have khatam the Quran very very much earlier than me - some others khatam during childhood, but I also suspect that many of us have been reading it in its Arabic version, which one could understand perhaps a few more words or lines than me. I'd like to suggest, if I may, that you come back to it and and reread it together with its translation.
I'm grateful that God has been most kind to me - He pulls me away from things that have no value to me even when I didnt understand when they happened or didnt happened at first, showers me with accomplishments, grants better rezeki, and sparks up a lot of great ideas and opportunities. Most importantly, I should bow to Him for giving the 'spark', opening my heart and making me bring the Quran in front of me to find out and understand what's in it. It makes me happy that my name is written there in Luh Mahfuz, as one who has accomplished reading the Quran before her life is taken out of her. How could I not feel blessed, when I also know that if not because of His rahmat, I wouldnt touch to read it or even understand what's written in it, just like many others who claimed themselves Muslim but had returned to the Creator without having tried to read His Quran. Allah's first Quranic revelation is an advice for us to read: Iqra' (read) bismirabbikallaziikhalaq (in the name of your God who created) - surah al-'Alaq:1.
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"Inilah al-Quran sebagai petunjuk; orang-orang yang engkar kepada ayat-ayat Tuhan mereka akan mendapat azab pedih dan menyakitkan." (al-Jaatsiyah: 11).
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"Sesungguhnya al-Quran itu bacaan yang sangat mulia. Pada kitab yang terpelihara (Luh Mahfuz), tidak dapat menyentuhnya kecuali mereka yang disucikan. Yang turun dari Tuhan seluruh alam. Apakah kamu masih menganggap remeh terhadap al-Quran ini?" (Surah al-Waaqi'ah: 77-81).
On this first day of 2010, a Friday, I wish Happy New Year to all and I hope to get more of His blessings, compassion and love. If only we know the future...but then again, do I really want to know?
Hopefully in 2010 life is better for each of us.
See in a year's time if I could accomplish these visions, and more.

Accomplished tasks, winning moves and actions

Read, research, & collaborate more

Share and deliver, deliver, deliver..

Speak with enthusiasm, capture attention and understanding

Write, document, express more



Graduate with flying colours, a valedictorian maybe? :P

Give and get lotsa, lotsa luvsssss. New and renewed relationships.

Better working environment and position

Raised salary...owh*

Money came out of computer? Hmm...not impossible..

Perform umrah. Maybe hajj too?

House looks and feels better to stay in

A brand new CRV to drive in comfort

Essentially bow to Him more and pray that He loves me more & more...

and never ever leave this even for a day...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 friends...

We can change the world...our world...in every wee bits and ways :)
"Wahai orang yang beriman, jangan sampai suatu kelompok memperolok-olokkan kelompok yang lain; mungkin yang diperolok-olokkan itu lebih baik daripada yang memperolok" (al-Hujuraat: 11)
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"Dan demi sesungguhnya, Kami telah mencipta manusia dan Kami sedia mengetahui apa yang dibisikkan oleh hatinya, sedang (pengetahuan) Kami lebih dekat kepadanya daripada urat lehernya, semasa dua malaikat (yang mengawal dan menjaganya) menerima dan menulis segala perkataan dan perbuatannya; yang satu duduk di sebelah kanannya, dan yang satu lagi di sebelah kirinya. Tidak ada sebarang perkataan yang dilafazkannya (atau perbuatan yang dilakukannya) melainkan ada di sisinya malaikat pengawas yang sentiasa sedia (menerima dan menulisnya)." (Qaaf: 16-18)
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"Tanda yang menunjukkan mereka (sebagai orang-orang yang soleh) terdapat muka mereka - dari kesan sujud (dan ibadat mereka yang ikhlas)." (al-Fath:29)
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"Sesungguhnya Tuhanmu, Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang yang sesat dari jalanNya, dan Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang yang mendapat hidayah petunjuk. " (an-Najm: 30)
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"Maka janganlah kamu berlagak suci. Dialah lebih mengetahui sesiapa yang bertakwa kepada-Nya." (an-Najm: 32).
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"Kamu masih saja mentertawakan dan tidak menangis menginsafinya? Apakah kamu masih meremehkannya? Maka sujudlah dan sembahlah Allah." (an-Najm:60-62)
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"Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, takutlah kamu kepada Allah dan berimanlah kepada Rasul-Nya, maka Dia akan memberimu dua kali rahmat-Nya, dan Dia akan memberi kamu cahaya yang dapat kamu pergunakan dalam perjalanan dan mengampunimu. Allah Maha Pengampun lagi Maha Penyayang. Agar ahli Kitab tahu bahawa mereka sedikit pun tidak berkuasa menghalangi kurnia Allah, dan sesungguhnya kurnia-Nya terletak dalam kekuasaan Allah yang diberikan kepada sesiapa yang Dia berkenan. Dan Allah jualah yang mempunyai limpah kurnia yang besar." (al-Hadiid: 28-29)
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References:
Al-Quran terjemahan Ustaz Mahadi & Ustaz Azharuddin, semakan Dr. Muhammad Uthman El-Muhammady