Write Away!

The Future of the Publishing Industry

2011-03-19T10:57:00.001+08:00

Watch this video. It highlights the end of the press and publishing industry...then again, maybe it doesn't....:)

The Fisherman and The Treasure Chamber

2011-02-18T09:03:00.002+08:00

Bismillah,

There once lived a fisherman who took his job very seriously.

He only caught one fish at a time, and only went to fish for another one when the the one he had at home finished.

One day, as his wife was chopping up the fish that her husband had brought home, she discovered something amazing. She found a pearl inside the fish.

She was astonished, a pearl inside a fish?? SubhanAllah. "Husband, Husband!" she exclaimed, "look what I have found!"
"What have you found?" he asked?
"A pearl, I have found a pearl inside the fish!" she answered.
"What an amazing wife you are! Bring me the pearl, pehaps we will benefit from it and eat food other than fish!"

The fisherman took the pearl to a pearl trader. The trader took a look at the pearl "This pearl is so precious, but unortunately I cannot afford it even if I were to sell my shop and my house! Go to the vendor in the nearby town, perhaps he can buy it off you."

The fisherman took the pearl to the great seller in the nearby town and showed him the pearl.

"Allah..by Allah, O my brother what a priceless possession! I cannot buy it off you, but I have a solution for you; go to the governor of this town, as only he his able to buy this pearl."

At the door of the governor's palace the fisherman awaited permission to enter.

"Oh God..it is a pearl like this that I have been searching for! I do not know how to value it for you, but I will allow you entry into my private treasure chamber. You have six hours to remain in it and take what you please, and this is the value of your pearl."

"Sir, can you just give me two hours, as six hours is far too long for a fisherman like me."

"No, six hours is what is fair for you take from the chamber what you like"

The fisherman entered the governor's treasure chamber to behold a tremendous sight. It was a very large room divided into to three sections. The first section was filled with jewels, gold and pearls.
The second section had a huge and very comfortable bed, if one were to lay eyes on it could sleep from comfort.
The third section was filled with all the delicious food and drink that one can imagine.

"What will I do in six hours? Six hours is such a long time for a simple fisherman like me" the fisherman asked himself. "Ok, I guess I should start with the food in the third section" "I will eat until my stomach is full so that I will gain the necessary energy required to accummulate as much gold as possible."

The fisherman went to the food and spent a whole two hours eating. He then made his way to the first section, but on his way there he saw the very comfortable looking bed.

"I ate until I became full, so why not sleep for a bit and wake up fresh so that I can carry the greatest amount of gold?" he asked himself. "This is a once in a life time opportunity, and what supidity will prevent me from wasting it"

The fisherman went to the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

After a while the fisherman was awoken by these words "Wake up, wake up oh ignorant fisherman, your time is up"

"Huh..what?"

"yes, come on get out!"

"Please I did not get the chance.."

"Huh..huh. You have been in here for six hours and only now you have woken up from your sleep, yet you still want to take some gems?" "you had the time and opportunity to take away all of this treasure and then you could have bought with it the best food and you could have made yourself the most comfortable bed! But you are an ignorant fool and can only think in the context which you are in. Take him outside!"

"No, no, please noooooooo"

))The End((

The story has ended, however the lesson does not end here.

The pearl in the story represents your soul, a priceless treasure, and you do not know the true value of your soul.

The treasure chamber represents the dunya (the life of this world), look how great it is, yet we exploit it.

The jewels in the chamber represent our good deeds and the comfortble bed represents our negligence.

The food and drink represent our desires.

And now, my brother fisherman, you should decide; should you wake up and get out of the comfortable bed and collect as many jewels available to you before your appointed time is up, and this time is your lifetime. Otherwise you will feel great regret when leaving this world.

Allah swt says in His book "Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allâh), he says: "My Lord! Send me back, So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them isBarzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected." (Surah Al-Mu'minun 99-100)

A Bowl of Soup

2010-03-11T15:51:00.004+08:00

The afternoon heat brought waves of discomfort to the patrons of the restaurant. The winds were nowhere within reach whereas the clouds preferred the peace of isolation. The blue skies focused on the hawker restaurant as the hustle and bustle of lunch hour took its toll.

Clad only in shorts and a damp singlet, Uncle Lim wiped his face with a Good Morning towel as he barked orders to his workers.

His eyes darted apprehensively around the crowd that were pouring into his shop. As in command, his ears ‘fed’ him with a detailed report of the feast of words darting within the four walls his restaurant.

“A man’s shouting for his noodles and he’s demanding for hot tea.”

His eyes ‘added’ on.

“Two women sitting across the room have tight jaws. Even the sweetest lotus cakes wouldn’t be able take away the sulk on their faces. They seem impatient.”

“Who’s calling someone an idiot? Eyes, please tell me from whose mouth it’s coming from?”

“It’s from a bespectacled man sitting at a table with a little girl. He looks like he’s spitting venom to the waiter.”

With that, Uncle Lim walked up to his unhappy customer and enquired about his problem.

“What kind of workers do you have here! I ordered two bowls of Chicken Rice and he brought me chicken porridge instead. I have a meeting in half an hour and I’ve wasted my time here.”

Uncle Lim calmed him down and promised to personally deliver his dish right away. Orders were conveyed to the cook as Uncle Lim carried a bowl of piping hot soup from the kitchen.

Looking at the customers around him, his eyes ‘spoke’ rapidly,

“Bespectacled man is fidgeting and he keeps looking at his watch. Sour faced women are drumming their fingers on the table. The only who looks happy in the restaurant is the model in the cigarette poster.”

Ears ‘replied’,

“Someone is yelling to hurry up! I hear a man wishing he had ordered fast food instead. A child is crying and waiters are being shouted at.”

With that, Uncle Lim quickened his pace and hurried towards the bespectacled man. As he caught up with speed, Uncle Lim missed a step and slipped. The bowl flew from his hands and hot soup gushed on his singlet and chest as the rest splattered on the floor. The bowl twirled continuously before lying closed down in the pool of soup.

Uncle Lim shouted in pain as his workers and even his customers ran to him. They removed his singlet and placed ice bags on his scarlet chest. Inflamed and scorched by the boiling soup, Uncle Lim lay in agony as his source of pain lay splattered around him like a reminder of a Chinese proverb that haste makes waste.

Poor Uncle Lim. But this is something to think about. What we see and hear influences our thoughts and actions. From gossips to body language, we drink in everything that is passed on to us through our eyes and ears and misquote them as truths. Don’t we all? I know I do.

But our ears and eyes do not make opinions, only our heart does. Our eyes and ears only deliver the first-hand information to us. They are the sponge that absorbs everything that is laid out for show and tell. The physical beauty compared to spiritual being, worldly riches instead of generosity and even the ugliness around us is taken in at face value. Ever wondered why Benjamin Franklin once said,

Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see.

Since our sense of hearing is circular and our sight is linear, we hear everything around us but see only what’s in front of us. Given that negative environment breeds negative information, it helps to remember that Mr. Franklin’s words are worth believing.

Otherwise, like Uncle Lim, we’ll end up in nothing but hot water.

My First Mountain Climb

2010-02-22T09:42:00.002+08:00

One of the greatest works of the mind is the ability to recollect the best of memories (and of course the worst).

"My First Mountain Climb" is one of my favourite posts on my blog and I'm thinking of rewriting it for a magazine.

For old time's sake, here's the old version of my special volcano hike. If I could get another shot at it, I would certainly do so. As somebody once said,

"I've learnt that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it." Anonymous

**************

One of the perks of being a writer is that we get special invitations to travel almost everywhere. I just got back from a trip to Jakarta and Garut, Indonesia and it was an eye-opener for me. Both the places were exact opposites...the Metropolitan city is the hub of 'anything is possible' while Garut which is a one and half-hour drive from Bandung sits in the heart of what is known as the Swiss of Java.

In Garut, we stayed in an idyllic resort called Kampung Sampireun and the place is drop dead gorgeous! Most of the chalets are perched on stilts in a lake and in the background, Gunung Cikurai as well as other volcanic mountains stand solemnly amidst the fluffy clouds.

We were taken to our resorts on a bamboo raft and from then on everything was just first-class! The air was fresh and every morning a man came on his sampan to our doorstep to serve us surabi which is a Sundanese pancake served with brown sugar syrup.

The hotel staffs took us around the Kampung area for our morning walk the first day and I was surprised to see avocado trees everywhere!Farmers were on bent backs planting padi and the mountain goats known as domba Garut were grazing outside the village. We even walked along the banks of the padi fields to view the vegetable plantations.

The next day, we left early at 2am for our hike on Gunung Papandayan which is an active but harmless volcano (that's exactly what they told us). Goya, the resort director said that it last erupted in 2002 but it didn't cause any damage to it's surrounding areas as it only spewed gasses, rock and ash.

It was my first mountain climb but it was worth the experience. We were freezing and the rocky path upwards didn't make things easy for us. As we climbed up, we heard what sounded like fighter jets flying above our heads. Someone said that it was the winds howling but we then realized that it was actually the magma from the crater of Gunung Papandayan. When we reached almost halfway to the top, we took a break for Subuh prayers. Since water was scarce and it was too cold for me to take wudhuk, I took tayammum instead and together with Puan Latifah we faced west to perform our solat just a few meters away from the crater which was emitting sulphur.

I have never in my life thought that I will one day climb yet alone pray on an active volcano. This is why I cherish this part of my trip the most. But there were more surprises for us. We continued our way up and we saw molten rock with magma, silicon and sulphur gurgling from beneath. Even the rocks that we stepped around that area was hot! It was quite a combination...cold winds and hot air all at once.

We were just a few minutes away from the top and once we reached it...I thought I'd reached heaven. The panoramic as well as the sunrise view was breath-taking...

The guides on the other hand whipped up Nasi Goreng for us (yup they even brought gas tanks, cutlery and drinks right to the top of the volcano).We had our little picnic with a view to kill. We were 2,655 metres above sea level and we could see lakes and hot springs below as well as the Gunung Cikurai further ahead.

Just before 11 am, we journeyed back down to the foot of the mountain and headed back for the next best part of the trip- free body spa. After tea, we drove back to Jakarta for a 2 night stay there before we bid Selamat Tinggal to Indonesia and headed back to KL.

I had a great time and despite the fact that I've brought back 'homework' to finish, I look forward for my next travel writing stint...

© Copyright Hezreen- First published:4th December 2008

The lion, the rat and the snake

2010-01-05T11:17:00.006+08:00

Got this story from my dear friend Rozel. It's something to really think about:

Once, a man dreamt that a lion was chasing him. He climbed up a tree and sat down on a branch. He looked down and saw that the lion was still there waiting for him.

The man then looked to his side where the branch he was sitting on was attached to the tree and saw that two rats, one black and one white, were gnawing at the branch.

Meanwhile, a big black snake had settled directly under him on the ground. The snake opened its mouth right under the man so that he would fall into it.

Then the man saw another branch with a honeycomb, drops of honey falling from it. He put his tongue out and tasted the honey. It was so sweet that he forgot about the rats, the lion and the snake.

When he woke up from his sleep, he went to a pious scholar of Islam who said: The lion you saw is your death. It always chases you and goes wherever you go. The two rats, one black and one white, are the night at the day. The black one is the night and the white one is the day. They circle around, coming one after another, to eat your time as they take you closer to death. The big black snake with a dark mouth is your grave, waiting for you to fall into it. The honeycomb is this world and the sweet honey symbolizes the luxuries of this world.

Behind his Best Shots

2009-12-08T10:49:00.005+08:00

Remember those haunting eyes that peered from the front cover of National Geographic Magazine in 1985? How would you like to meet the man behind those lenses when he captured this breathtaking picture called "Afghan Girl"?

Steve McCurry/a>, an award winning photographer, will be in town next year (literally next month) for a public talk, workshop and an exhibition which will be held in the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.

Entitled A Common Faith: Steve McCurry’s Travels through the Muslim World, the exhibition will be held from the 7 January 2010 - 8 April 2010. His exhibits which were inspired by the religious lives of Muslims to the transcendent beauty of nature, will be on display in the museum gallery.

Details are as follows:

7 January 2010
Exhibition Launch & Public Talk
Venue: Auditorium, Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Time: 3.00pm
The public are invited to participate in the Public Talk by Steve McCurry. Please RSVP your seats by 4 January 2010, please write in to education@iamm.org.my or contact 2270 5101 /5103 /5111 to reserve your seats.

8 January 2010
Steve McCurry Masterclass - Photography Workshop
Venue: Education Workshop, Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Two sessions, time: 10.00am - 1.00pm OR 2.30pm - 5.30pm
Capacity: 50 pax per class
Fee: RM 200.00

To participate, please send an email to stevemccurryclass@iamm.org.my latest by 2 January 2010. First come, first served.

So book your seats early and be enthralled by the man who captured the true essence of beauty with just a click.

See you there!

Science and Islam

2009-11-30T16:03:00.003+08:00

Too many things happening in December. And with 3 long weekends coming up this month, Al-Hunafa of Kuala Lumpur has decided to host an interesting lecture on the
4th and 11th of December entitled Science and Islam. To be delivered by Dr. Mohamed Arif Kasmo from University Kebangsaan Malaysia, here's what he says about the current situation of the world verses science of today.

“The world is in the midst of crisis. Human beings are facing multitude of problems because of their rejection of God and His system. The worldwide socio-economic and environment issues, moral degradation and spiritual crisis are some of the manifestations of the rejection. Ever since science detached itself from the Islamic root and has merged with the agnostic and atheistic system of the West, more problems emerged than before.

Science with the western perspectives strengthened the ancient Greek doctrine of materialism which led to the formulation of various atheistic philosophies. Human beings were misled into following these philosophies such as utilitarianism, hedonism, individualism, fascism and many others which trapped the people into the endless problems and miseries. Is there any glimpse of hope that humanity could be saved from the oblivion? Yes if human being accepts God and His system”.

If this has piqued your curiosity, then mark your calendars this month and make a beeline to Taman Tun for a good dose of intellectual discourse. Details are as follows:

Venue: Persatuan Al-Hunafa,

89A, Jalan Aminuddin Baki,

Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.

Time: 8.30- 10.00 pm

Date: 4th December and 11th December.

Admission: Free

For more information, contact: Encik Faheem Puah: 77267125

Muslim Fashion Tips

2009-11-17T08:47:00.001+08:00

A special welcome for all Muslim Sisters! Young Muslims Project will be hosting a tea party this Saturday in Kuala Lumpur which include funtivities such as a fashion show, hijab workshops and lots of food, fun and laughter.

Details are as follows. So if you're not hitting the malls this Saturday, then do make a beeline for this FREE EVENT.

See you girls!

Many Poetic Voices, One Faith

2009-10-08T15:33:00.006+08:00

It's there, right on the front cover! Featured next to Karen English, Irving Karchmar, Yahiya Emerick and Camilla Sayf, I was just too pleased to see my name together with these award winning writers.

When Sister Linda D. Delgado emailed to confirm that my poem has been published in this year's Islamic Writers Alliance poetry anthology, I was THRILLED! Alhamdulillah.

I received my copy of the book yesterday and as I went through the pages, drinking in the melodious words of wisdom, I couldn't help but feel grateful for having Linda, a great-grandmother put in effort in compiling these beautiful works. From Arabic ghazal to the plight of the eighteenth century slaves, every poem weaves through thought-provoking renditions of life from birth to the grave and beyond. Some poems had me tickled, while others made me gaze at the astounding works of the great Artist above. But my favourite (apart from mine) is the simple verse called A Soul Mate written by Ponn Sabra.

So come take a peek into the world of Islam and sufism through poetry. For more information, do contact:

Phone: 480-894-6014 Tempe, Arizona - USA.
Email: woodad@mindspring.com or visit:

Title: Many Poetic Voices, One Faith

Author: Islamic Writers Alliance

ISBN: 978-0-9819770-0-3

118 pages

6 x 9 paperback

Reading Levels: Teen and Adult

Listed Price: $8.95

Man's Intellect

2009-07-23T16:21:00.009+08:00

"There are four sorts of men:

He who knows not and knows not he knows not : he is a fool - shun him;

He who knows not and knows he knows not : he is simple - teach him;

He who knows and knows not he knows : he is asleep - wake him;

He who knows and knows he knows : he is wise - follow him."

.......An Arabian Proverb (Lady Burton, 1890)

We are Children of Adam

2009-07-06T16:05:00.004+08:00

Yesterday was a day I'll never forget. I was fed with spiritual knowledge and a good knock in the head too when Imam Suhaib Webb delivered his first speech during the launching of Knowledge and Arts Tour.

What did the former hip-hop DJ-turned Imam say that woke us up from our Sunday morning slumber? Plenty. First off he reminded us that we Malaysians are blessed with 3 elements that will make us become successful Muslims:

1. Resources- we have the people, the place, the time and the money to become anything we want to be and to do anything under the sun; even to host an artsy-fartsy event for the youth. There is nobody to stop us except our ownselves.

2. Talent- the origins of our talent and knowledge is permissible. Which means that whatever we do is for the right intentions so we should go ahead with a positive mind and attitude. Do not start off with a statement like, is what I'm doing silly or a waste of time? We are all judged by what we intend and not by the end results.

3. Freedom- He quoted that in the Middle East we wouldn't be able to freely host an Islamic event in a public place. But in Malaysia, we have the rights and abilities to host, advertise, invite and even attend such an event.
Islam he says came not to wipe out our culture but to polish it. So he reminded us to retain our identities, for we are what we are.

Oooh and he gave us a dose of confidence too...Like the dessert at the end of a delectable meal he concluded by saying that success is not measured by the number of people you attract or how many fans you have, but success is measured by effort. Purely that and nothing else.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Imam Suhab Webb will be in KL for the next 9 days,and his next event will be about the importance of unity and the mutual understanding between all children of Adam:

WE ARE CHILDREN OF ADAM

BY

IMAM SUHAIB WEBB

“O mankind! We have created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that you may despise each other).”

Al-Quran 49:13

The brotherhood of the children of Adam is a repeated message from God to mankind. All the prophets, from Adam, Nuh, Ishak, Musa, Yusuf, Isa to Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon them all, preached the same message; peace through submission to the Almighty. Through them God sent His revelations; the Torah, Injil or Gospel and the Quran.

Unfortunately, in a world consumed by self preservation, brotherhood has been compromised. When relationships are defined by differences, we empower those who sow hatred rather than peace. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.

Date: Wednesday, 8th July 2009

Time: 8.00 pm

Place: Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA), Bukit Kiara

Topic: ‘We Are Children of Adam’

Enquiries: Mimi 012 372 3135

Aishah 012 223 1961

Yuzaidi 012 273 4353

*Entrance is by a minimum contribution of RM 20 for adults and RM 10 for students

Knowledge and Arts Tour

2009-07-02T19:01:00.006+08:00

This is one of my busiest months this year especially with The Knowledge and Arts Tour beginning this 5th July. Street Art and Sacred Knowledge are two elements that are said to be an inspiration especially where youth are concerned.

I'm looking forward for most of the events, especially the opening this Sunday. Details are shown in both posters.

Ready, Get Set, GOAL!

2009-06-19T06:23:00.014+08:00

“Have some strips of longing. There are enough for everyone.”

Beth Yahp passed the packet of pickled fruit around for us to savour, grinning to see the puzzled looks on our faces.

Strips of Longing.

What a clever way to name pickled fruit. It’s a great name. Although, the same can’t be said about the taste of the pickles. The name lingered on and I thought, what an interesting way to inspire people:

“Here, have some strips of longing. It should do you good.”

“Bored? Grab some strips of longing and you’ll feel a burst of energy.”

“These strips of longing should help you find your muse. And they are sold in supermarkets! How convenient.”

But honestly, is it all that easy? Whenever life seems dull, just get an extra boost and you'll be out from your bed and on the way to your dreams!

Actually, the answer is yes. We need internal and external factors to move forward in life. It's how we feel inside, that makes us want to get that promotion at work. It feels great because we can have a room of our own, earn a fat salary and no more tinkering with the broken cappuccino machine on the first floor.

The brain reacts to how the heart feels. So when the heart is all smiles, the brain charges forward too. But guess what? We can't do it on our own. Sure, we want that promotion, but wanting it alone isn't enough. We need encouragement, the gentle nudge from someone (a friend, family) to remind us that we have it there in us. It is the outside factor too that helps us reach our goals and this story that I'm going to share with you, proves it all:

Mona Ramouni has everything life has to offer. When the sun is out and the birds sing, the young girl heads off to work, eager to seek the challenges of the day. This has been her routine all her life in Detroit where she lives. Mona has a passion for knowledge. She aims to pursue her doctorate in child psychology and to travel to as many places as possible.

Not too difficult to achieve you might think.

True. Except Mona doesn’t know what the world looks like. She hears the birds but doesn’t see their colours. She knows when it’s sunny but doesn’t see the sun’s golden rays. Mona Ramouni is visually impaired. She lost her eyesight since birth. For 28 years she had relied on her family to guide her around. But Mona wanted something more; she wanted Independence to move around.

So, she was introduced to Mexicali Rose, a miniature horse who is a substitute for a guide dog. Cali, as she is known takes the bus with Mona to work where she proofreads textbooks in Braille.

With so much of dedication of caring and training her new companion, Mona has every bit of a chance of achieving her dreams in her life, Insha Allah; God Willing.

Touching. Inspiring. But what Mona said about Cali made me realize the importance of having external motivators in life. Here’s her wake up call,

“Before Cali, I had basically given up. I mean, I had been to the point where I thought, I'm going to get nothing out of my life. Having Cali showed me that I had forgotten about all the optimism I had as a kid. When I was a kid, I thought I could do anything. I thought everything was possible."

Take a cue from this remarkable girl. A girl who has shown that it’s not what you see but what you feel that matters when you are aiming for your goals. And Cali? Yes, that's her little pony, her hero in life.

As for the pickled fruits, if you're wondering if the strips of longing really exist, the answer is yes, they do. Keep looking for them. Chances are, you'll find them in places you'll never expect. And that, I can assure you!

Injecting emotions into writing

2009-06-10T07:50:00.007+08:00

Yipppeeee!!! I think I've found my voice today. No, no, not the voice that comes from my mouth, but the words that slip easily from my fingers when I write...or type.

I've been grappling with fiction writing all my life, but now, since I'm working on my book and I've found a relevant topic to write about, I've settled in with my new comrade; non-fiction.

The only challenge I have now is injecting emotions into writing. Finding the right pump to push in the smiles, laughter, fear, anger, hurt into a piece of paper can be daunting. I guess that's why I love it. As a wise friend of mine once said, write like you're talking to your friend,and you'll soon get the hang of it.

Here are some tips on bringing life into writing:

1. Try speed writing. Pick a topic, set the alarm to ten minutes and just write. Ignore grammar rules, punctuation, spelling errors and just let your pen do the talking. Once your time is up, read through your first draft and you'll see that what you have are the bare essentials of a soon-to-be fantastic essay.

2. Read. Let it be anything. My favourites are still Enid Blyton, Khaled Hosseini, Amy Tan and Paolo Coelho. These books are packed with pages of entertaining works that leave me with a very warm chair, list of new vocabulary and different styles of writing. Plus, the more your read, the better you write, so start nosing into that paperback for extra food for thought.

3. Trust your instincts. If you think that you can connect with something that you can write about, then just do it. Writing should be fun. It's something that you should enjoy and great writing comes from the very depths of the heart. That's why I've learnt (through the hard way)that the few ones who appreciate my writings on football, cars and IT are the paper man who buys my recycled paper.

Now that I've just taken up belly dancing, I've realized that finding your inner voice in writing is a lot like it. Just move with the flow of the music and don't just focus on the steps. Follow the rhythm, don't be shy and you'll look natural.

Oh yes, and practise helps too.

There you have it! Hope this tiny bit helps. And sometimes, you've got to give credit for your work. And you know what? Blogging has taught me,that there's no such thing as a bad first draft.

You've just got to let it go.

Healing through Words of Kindness

2009-05-29T11:46:00.007+08:00

We all have heard of Dr. Masaru Emoto, the Japanese scientist that speaks to water. He could speak different messages to water. Depending whether the spoken words were positive or negative, the molecule structure changed its shape and appearance to either a perfect geometric shape or a chaotic structure.

For example, when he spoke the words “you make me sick” to the water, it showed a misshaped structure which was said to resemble cancerous cells. On the other hand, when he said the word “love” to the water, the molecule structure was crystalline and perfect.

Having said this, what does this have a connection to us mankind? Since the shape and the molecular structure of water changes according to these messages that are read in water, haven’t we once thought it could because of this we are all reminded every now and then to say Bismillah or in the name of Allah before we eat or drink?

Now it’s time for us to sit and to ponder for a moment. If these positive or negative words were to affect the food and drink that we consume, imagine what it can do to our minds? Words are the manifestation of our thoughts and our inner being which is why the Noble Quran clearly states that when we meet each other, we should convey and offer good wishes and blessings for safety and security.

Words have the power to make a person happy or to even destroy a person’s mental well-being. Even if we were living the healthiest lifestyle, we would still become ill if there were people who plant negative thoughts in our minds or who ridicule or pass hurtful remarks to us.

You see, each word we speak has an energy associated with it. When we speak good or ill of someone, our words carry vibratic patterns that can overwhelm an individual. We don’t realize that in return we affect our own self with the energy we send to others, even if it’s a negative message or a positive one.

This is why when we speak pleasant things of someone, it reflects back upon us and we feel its positive energy. This is proof that shows that we’re all connected to one another which is why Prophet Muhammad ( S.A.W.) had always reminded us that we’re all one ummah and we’re all descendents of Prophet Adam (A.S.),

To sum it up, here’s a reminder to all readers. We all have been thought from young that we should start the day on a positive note. What better way to do it then to convey our salams or peace to our fellow friends and family. For when we do so we are actually ‘conveying’ salams and peace to our inner souls for within it lies contentment and peace of mind. After all, that is the true meaning of Islam - peace and tranquillity to all mankind.

Can't Complain Enough?

2009-05-03T00:21:00.007+08:00

Bismillahirahmanirrahim...

Gratitude is riches, complaining is poverty. So instead of complaining about what's wrong, be grateful for what's right.

The message was there staring back at my face. I reread it and thought,if my dad were alive, he would have had it photocopied and pinned up in all our rooms.

I'm human and so are you. I do make daily plans, set goals but when something major goes off tangent,it gets on my nerves. But honestly, it takes just a minute to recollect and figure out that things could have been worse:

1) I could have been robbed if I had been at a particular place at a certain point of time. I guess I owe it to the flat tyre.

2)I should thank my lucky stars that it was only a parking ticket I received and not a death threat.

3 I live in a third world country but at least my home is free from landmines.

4. I lost my dad when I was young but I could have lost a precious future if it weren't for my supermum.

5. Most important of all, although my life is governed by rules and regulations, I have a religion that clearly dictates what's right and wrong so that I do not live in confusion.

So who am I to complain when life is so beautiful? Alhamdulillah, among all that I should be thankful for is the fact that Allah made me remember the gratitude I owe him through the note I read that afternoon.

This reminds me of a hadith reported by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) once told a bedouin who came to see him,

"Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world."

I couldn't agree more!

© Copyright Hezreen May 2009

Nothing is in Our hands

2009-04-03T18:05:00.009+08:00

Bismillahirahmanirrahim...

It wasn't fun being stuck in Moscow Airport. My flight was delayed for six hours and I didn't anticipate that at all. Hardly ever. But there is an Arabic saying that goes, Li Kulli Shayin Sababan; for everything there is a reason. I call them hidden reasons.

I sat by the window with my plate of pistachios looking at the snowflakes that looked like bits of cotton candy. Conifer trees stood along the icy roads that were covered with thick snow. Winter hadn't thawed yet and neither had the atmosphere in the waiting lounge of the airport. But who was I to complain? We had food, a computer with Internet access, clean toilets and plenty of time to nap.

After a long wait, we were finally called to check in for our next flight. We were compensated with chocolates and a new lesson- Never forget to say Insya Allah since everything happens with Allah's will, as mentioned in the Quran.

Alhamdulillah, the long flight to my destination was pretty much a pleasant one. Like the snow flakes I saw that morning, the journey across the Atlantic Ocean was worth remembering.

Nobody told us the reason for our delay in Moscow. But surprisingly, when we reached Houston Airport in the evening, everything was calm and in order as though a storm had just passed. The Immigration officers were in a friendly mood. I was told that the airport was packed earlier in the afternoon and had we arrived at that time, we could have been stuck for hours to claim our luggage.

I call this blessings in disguise. After all, who could have planned it better other than the Only One who thought what was best for us.

It was worth the wait in Moscow and the chocolates by the way-Masha Allah they were simply delicious!

© Copyright Hezreen April 2009

Losing Your Cool

2009-02-15T16:54:00.016+08:00

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

Your alarm clock rings, you jump out of bed and oops, you realize that you’ve missed performing solat Subuh. That’s not all, the water supply is off and you’re going to be late for work. You decide to skip the shower and bathe in cologne instead. Just as you’re about to leave your house, you slip and fall, grazing your knee in the process. You curse and swear and as you limp your way to the door you wonder why is there a profound quietness everywhere? Then you realize why. It’s a Sunday and everyone’s still asleep.

Sounds familiar? Well this could just be from someone else’s real life story but the bottom line is at some point in our lives we do lose our cool. After all, we’re only human. However, what makes us different from other living creatures is how we control our anger.

Think about this, when a baboon gets angry it resorts to violence since it does not understand why the other baboons love to play hide and seek in his territory. On the other hand, when a human is provoked, he has a choice of either rebelling like a wild animal or remaining cool as an ice cream. Therefore, when a temper bomb is about to explode, we have at least a split second to either flare or to flee.

Incidentally, it is said that being angry is like being drunk When fury takes control over you, your heart rate escalates, your intellect to reason goes awry and the organs (tongue, hands, legs) goes out of control too. This explains why some people become verbally and physically abusive when they see red as you’re intoxicated with negative emotions which immediately affects your faculty of thinking.

Anger is more than just a cauldron of disaster. It is actually a natural response to fear. So an angry person is actually someone who is fearful of something (of being exploited amongst other things) and unless he reasons out and calms down, he will transform into Mr Hyde.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) once asked his companions, “Who among you do you consider to be a strong man?” Most of them replied that the one who can defeat a wrestler in a fight is deemed to be strong. Prophet replied that the one who is strong is the one who can control himself at the time of anger.

On the other hand, the best antidote to rage would be to shut it out and be completely deaf and dumb. Either leave the room or engage yourself in something else to divert your thoughts. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) recommended his ummah to perform ablution as it cools down the fire which is brought by Satan.

Interestingly, a couple who have been fighting for many years came to see the prophet to seek a solution to the problem. The husband claimed that the wife always said something hurtful which made him furious and he was afraid that this could escalate to physical abuse and divorce. He asked the prophet on what to do to control his anger.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told the husband that whenever the wife begins to nag, sip some water and do not swallow or spit it out. Instead, he has to keep it in his mouth until she calms down. The man did exactly as he was told and in a few months he reported that it worked!

Holding your temper may not be that easy, but it isn’t impossible either. Besides, there are so many plus points in maintaining your cool. Apart from making yourself look more respectable, controlling your anger can also save you from looking old, weary and ugly!

© Copyright Hezreen February 2009

Allah's Blessings on Us

2009-02-10T11:59:00.015+08:00

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

"Look at those rosy cheeks! How cute she looks. What? It's actually a boy?"

Not that the baby minded. Oblivious to his surroundings, my newborn nephew didn’t bat an eyelid when all were cooing and tickling him in his basket. In fact, all the little fella did was to place his hands over his head in total surrender as he slept on. My guess is he didn’t mind all the attention he was getting, especially since it were the girls who were showering him their interest.

Babies. They are so appealing and those little things do nothing all day but cry, sleep and look cute. Just imagine, how a tiny being who is helpless at birth grows up to be strong, independent and develop quite a character later on in life. Then, this super human becomes weak again as sicknesses and death approaches.

It’s really fascinating. This is why Allah mentioned about us humans in the Al-Quran. (Allah is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness) (30:54)

That’s the cycle of life. As humans we usually overlook on the last part and push away thoughts of helplessness after becoming high and mighty. We shudder at the thought of death and serious calamities in our lives. But the Quran verse above is a reminder to us that the strong will never remain strong forever. For there has to be a balance and that’s why humans become helpless at a point of time. It’s something that we have to accept in our lives.

It’s for this reason that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said,

"Value five things before the occurrence of five other things":

1. Youth before old ( before it incapacitates you)

2. Health before illness (before it invalidates you)

3. Affluence before poverty (before it strikes you)

4. Leisure before business (before it occupies you)

5. Life before death (before it overtakes you)

That’s something to think about isn’t it? Wait, do I see a little smile on my nephew’s face? Aaaaah, the angels are playing peek- a- boo with him. Sigh, isn’t it such a pleasure being a baby?

© Copyright Hezreen February 2009

What was that again?

2009-02-05T19:10:00.007+08:00

We stepped out of the elevator and turned right down the hall. There was a certain silence that enveloped the air. That and the stench of fear made me want to turn back. But I had no choice. Mum wanted to see her. We didn’t want to upset her so my sister and I thought it was best to tag along.

We walked pass the beds and finally came to the right spot. My uncle’s grand aunt lay in bed looking frail in the hospital garments. Grandma Rukumani was well into her 80’s and she looked every bit of a grand old lady who had seen and experienced much during her robust days. I could see that she was in pain and I moved closer and held her hand gently. She responded with a weak smile.

As I stood there and talked softly to her, my eyes caught something above her bed. I stood transfixed at what I saw. The very lady whom I was talking to had her name written clearly in dark, bold letters as ROCK MANI.

© Copyright Hezreen February 2009

My First Mountain Climb

2008-12-04T11:52:00.017+08:00

Greatest Gift of All

2008-11-18T15:40:00.006+08:00

I had a surprise this evening and it came sealed in an envelope. I opened it to find a card, a beautiful bookmark and the loveliest words penned down thoughtfully in the card. My friend just came back from umrah and she wanted to give me something as a token of our friendship. How sweet!

The bookmark was from the Islamic Arts Museum and there were Chinese calligraphy painted on it by Mohamad Yusuf Chen Kun who hails from China. The inscription was translated as follows:

No honour higher than clemency.
No treasure more beneficial than knowledge.

The card was a surprise and what she wrote in it touched me deeply. It was a simple but very precious gift to me. These days when everything revolves around forwarded emails, requests on facebook and wall messages, there's nothing like genuine words of appreciation handwritten on paper.

I guess the Internet has changed many things these days. But it made me appreciate the surprise that landed in my letterbox today.

What can I say? I'm just thankful for all the lovely people around me.

© Copyright Hezreen November 2008

Who am I?

2008-11-06T12:57:00.009+08:00

O Son of Adam!

I have been created to witness your deeds.

I am a blessing that is constantly abused by mankind.

I can be measured but cannot be compensated.

I am closely associated to Allah and He equates me with Him.

Allah has granted 2 favours that are overlooked by mankind...one of them is I.

I am not life for I do not have a beginning or an end.

O Son of Adam! Take provisions from me because when I pass, I will never come back.

On the Day of Judgement, a servant of Allah will be left standing until he is asked about 4 things. One of them is about me.

Who am I?

( Click here for the answer )

© Copyright Hezreen November 2008

Yesterday Once More...

2008-10-28T12:52:00.007+08:00

She blinked, I smiled. With her fist still in her mouth she eyed me carefully, studying every inch of my face. Then without warning, she lunged forward and rewarded me with a wet punch. She chuckled heartlessly and I replied with feigned surprise. Yes, at ten months, Jade could recognize me. Her twin brother on the other hand sat quietly in a corner. He was more engrossed with the empty ang pow packet he had in his hand.

It was the twins' first Divali and they look adorable in their costumes... Jade complete with her bangles and Jaden in his Jippa. And as usual, I forgot my camera, so no pictures of my niece and nephew this time.

Unlike the previous two years, this year's Divali was super special since it didn't clash with Ramadhan. It has always been a treat for us since this is the only time (apart from our usual family barbecues) where we get to meet up with my cousins who are scattered almost everywhere in this big blue ball.

Oooo, I had fun yesterday...food was awesome as usual. Christmas will be next and that will be another gathering with my other batch of cousins. Yes, I am blessed...nothing beats having a mixed family where we celebrate almost everything under one roof. But the best part of it all is when we get confused looks
when we're out together in public. Especially when we hear a stranger quip "Waah keluargani muhibbah rupanya..."

© Copyright Hezreen October 2008

From a Man’s Spare Rib...

2008-10-25T17:47:00.009+08:00

"A woman is a flower vase of beauty and fragrance. So smell her gently, do not wrestle with her." (Arabic proverb)

He clutched the handle of the umbrella as his eyes stayed fixedly on the beautiful verses of the Yasin, the heart of the Holy Quran. His sarong clung damply around his legs as he stood over the tomb. Even the monsoon rain couldn’t deter this man from his daily ritual… a ritual that faithfully greeted our eyes every morning before we went to school.

Since we lived nearby a Muslim cemetery in Johor Bahru, we could see nearly everything within the vicinity. Thus, this man never ceased to get our attention for we always wondered whose tomb it was that he visited everyday. Could it be his child’s or his mother’s? We were told that it was his wife’s and even death could not spare this man from his true devotion to her… his companion in this world and God-willing even in the hereafter.

This scene remains fresh in my memory for I remember this hadith quoted by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), "Women are the twin halves of men.” Before we were born, our souls were created and gathered in Paradise.

Thus, Aishah, the Prophet’s wife, said: “Souls are like soldiers grouped in ranks. The souls that recognize each other will be friends, and those which are unfamiliar will be in conflict.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others)

But however much conflict men and women face with each other, Prophet forbade any form of harshness meted out towards the daughters of Hawa. He said, “Treat women kindly. Woman has been created from a rib and the most bent part of the rib is the uppermost. If you try to turn it straight, you will break it. And if you leave it alone, it will remain bent as it is. So treat her with kindness.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Before the advent of Islam, females were treated worse than cattle. Baby girls were looked upon as an object of shame and were buried alive while the women were treated like slaves and then discarded. Back then, women were never appreciated for anything and were said to be an object of nuisance to the family and even to the community.

Prophet once told Umar Al-Khattab, "Shall I not inform you about the best treasure a man can hoard? It is a virtuous wife who pleases him whenever he looks towards her, and who guards herself when he is absent from her."

Thus, it comes as no surprise that the man who visited his wife’s grave every morning realized the treasure he had when she was alive. For even he recognized the value of having one of the most important women of his life.

Here’s a beautiful Arab proverb which provides a meaningful description of women who are said to be the soulmates to men. "A woman was taken out of a man- not from his head to topple him nor out of his feet to be trampled upon. She was taken out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected and near his heart to be loved."

© Copyright Hezreen October 2008

Time to Forgive and to Forget

2008-09-30T17:44:00.009+08:00

I was driving home the other day when I saw two cars parked near a junction. The men were arguing their heads off and they created quite a scene. Before things could get really ugly, I drove away. There’s no need to witness such things on such a beautiful afternoon.

Sigh, why are people so hostile these days? Honestly, from supermarkets to parking lots, everyone seems to have the words “BACK OFF” carved on their foreheads. Do they have to keep so much of vengeance in their hearts that they have to release them with venom?

Yeah, ok fine. I’ve had one of those days too when I’d wish that I could just wring someone’s neck like a wet towel. Yes, it feels good…but only for a scant moment. Because at the end of the day, I usually feel awful. The fury, the grudge and the urghh geramnya…it’s such a waste of precious energy. Why invite the wrinkles? Smile, girl, smile…

Ali ibn Abi Talib said, “he who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare. But he who has an enemy will meet him everywhere.”

Someone once told me that the best form of vengeance is by repaying hostility with compassion. Nothing beats the syrupy feeling of seeing someone look startled and then embarrassed when you smile and say, “I’m sorry…” But then again, it must come deeply from the heart.

On the other hand, the person who forgives another gets the most reward. Here’s a story that reflects on the vast greatness of forgiving:

Prophet, Messanger of Allah was sitting with his sahabah and he said "A man who will now enter is from the people of Paradise." Sure enough, an old man walked in. Abdullah ibn 'Amr (RAA) wanted to find out what was so special about this man, so he asked him if he could stay with him for 3 days. During his stay, Abdullah noticed that the man didn't do anything out of ordinary: He didn't fast all the time, he slept some of the night and prayed some of the night. So after the 3 days, Abdullah explained the reason for his stay and he asked the man what could be the reason he was chosen to be the man of Jannah.

The man couldn't think of anything, but after a bit he said, "Every night, before I go to sleep, I forgive whoever has wronged me. I remove any bad feelings towards anyone from my heart."

There. Isn’t that beautiful? It has certainly touched my heart and I hope it has touched yours. So in the spirit of giving and forgiving, let me leave you with these words which were found inscribed on the hilt of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) sword:

“Forgive him who wrongs you, join him who cuts you off, do good to him who does evil to you and speak the truth although it be against yourself.”

Till then, Eid Mubarraq. May Allah accept our ibadah during the month of Ramadhan. Maaf zahir dan batin!

© Copyright Hezreen September 2008

Did you Know?

2008-09-28T15:37:00.008+08:00

∙ That Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) fasted for eight Ramadhans as the order for fasting came only during the 2nd year of Hijrah.

∙ That the fire in this world (including nuclear weapons) comprise of a zarah (tiny measurement) of hell fire that have been dipped into 7 seas.

∙ That the sun rises every morning between the two horns of the Iblis. As a result, we are prohibited from performing our solat at that point of time.

∙ That every surah (chapter) of the Quran begins with Bismillah (in the name of Allah) except for one chapter.

∙ That the oldest university in the world (that still operates today) was founded by Fatimah Al-Fihri and it is in Morocco.

∙ That Iblis was previously known as Azazil and he was placed together with the angels in heaven.

∙ That Prophet’s wife Saudah ( R.A.) operated a successful leather tanning industry.

∙ That the place where your forehead touches the ground during sujud will bear witness for the worshippors during judgement day.

∙ That surah Al-Fatihah is so powerful it has cured scorpion stings.

∙ That the River Nile and River Euphrates are two of the four rivers of Paradise.

∙ That the Baitul Maqdis comprises of 14,400 sq metres of the Holy land and it is not just restricted to the Dome of the Rock.

∙ That the mountains are the pegs that hold the crust of the earth (as mentioned in the Quran).

∙ That when we are asleep, we are actually experiencing minor death for our souls are released from our flesh for a span of time.

∙ That the shooting stars are the missiles launched by the Malaikats (angels) at the Jinns for eavesdropping at the lowest heaven.

Our beloved Prophet once said "that knowledge is treasure and the key to that treasure is by asking questions (though not excessively)."

© Copyright Hezreen September 2008

Set Yourselves Free!

2008-09-25T14:59:00.010+08:00

I just love to look at the birds. They make the sky look really pretty. I guess birds look pretty since they seem so fearless and free. They don’t seem to carry a weight of problems tucked under their wings as they glide high above. I guess if we all had a chance to fly away and leave our worldly struggles below, we’d be glad to do so. (I know I would)!

But problems and distress are part of our lives. No human except for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is free from sins. As children of Adam (A.S.), we commit mistakes everyday... consciously or otherwise. Remember the time when you lied to cover up your tracks? What about the time when you hurt someone so badly that the pain is still visible in her eyes? Distress is due to our consciousness and guilt that prick deep in our hearts. What lies in our hearts reflect clearly on our faces.

When we commit major sins, misery takes control of our lives. We dwell in our sorrows because at this point of time, Shaitan becomes our closest companion who fervently sows more seeds of suspicion, fear and hopelessness in our minds and hearts. As Muslims, it’s our jihad to fight these negative vibes. But honestly,how do we do that?

Allah has given us the most precious gift to release ourselves from these feelings of guilt and suffering- our daily five times prayer. Our beloved Prophet mentioned that our prayers are the ascension or Mi’raj for the believers. Because only during prayer we are be able to communicate with our Creator especially during sujud when we’re closest to Him.

So ask Him, talk to Him, plead with Him and most importantly, have faith in Him. He said very clearly, ask Me and I’ll grant it. Do not let the Shaitan lead you to think that Allah would not love you due to your past sins. Allah says that he loves us more than a mother loves her newborn. After all, His Mercy overtakes His anger and punishment so long as we do not repeat that particular sin.

The month of Ramadhan is a month of forgiveness and Prophet taught Aishah (R.A.) to read this dua during the last ten days of Ramadhan. O Allah, O my Lord, forgive me, because you love to forgive, thus forgive me, O you Merciful!

So go ahead. Make use of this month and set yourselves free. To Allah, the one who is successful is not he who has climbed Mount Everest or is prosperous in wealth and children. But the one who is truly successful is the believer, who humbles himself in prayer. For it is this man who has attained the biggest prize ever … peace in this world and in the hereafter.

© Copyright Hezreen September 2008

I've said my 'Peace'

2008-09-23T21:25:00.008+08:00

It’s one of those days where I had to race against time and it’s usually the ticking of the clock that wins. Is it just me or does Ramadhan seem like a breeze? 3 sets of 10 days and we’re already reaching the finishing line.
I was rushing to reply some sms’s and I was fighting the urge of either fervently ending them with a ‘bye’ or with a proper assalamualaikum. I mean, these are really elderly people whom I respect. I couldn’t possibly be too casual with them. But temptation took the better of me and I did justice to my aching thumb. I replied instead with a smiley face... See what I do to cheat time?

That night, I thought back about this issue of giving greetings. I sat down and thought really, really hard. I find that beginning an email with a simple ‘hi’ is far more convenient than typing out a seven-syllable word of salaam. Even spell checker recognizes a hello. But the question is, does it mean anything? Does a ‘hi’ have any significance as compared to the way Prophet taught us to greet one another? So I decided to do a little bit of research. What I found out shocked me... completely.

Arabic is a language of precision. Every stroke, prefix and suffix has a different meaning. Thus, the word Assalamualaikum when translated means May peace be given to you (and to all those surrounding you). Yes, you read it right. The suffix ‘kum’ means to you in plural form. So what does this mean?

An Islamic lecturer once told me that this greetings of peace even when conveyed to a single person is transmitted to the angels on his right and left shoulders as well as to all Allah’s creatures who believe in Him (including the ones that we don't see with our eyes). And they respond immediately- waalaikummussalam. And May peace be upon you.

So just imagine. Just one sentence results in numerous greetings of peace bouncing back and forth. Though we’ve been taking this for granted, this is one of the simplest but best forms of supplication for Prophet did say that whoever utters the salaam earns 10 rewards.

So aching fingers or not, I end my post with peace to all of you who deserve it most. So spread the word around and say your salaams...After all, don't we all need it now in our battle against time? Assalamualaikum...

Ramadhan Kareem!

2008-09-02T16:16:00.006+08:00

The call of the muezzin echoed in the crimson sky. Even the birds spread their wings to take flight. Sunday’s azan of the Maghrib prayers marked the dawn of a brand new day. It was also a grand welcome for the month of peace where the doors of Paradise are opened, the torments in the graves are halted and the devils are chained in Hell.

So what is Ramadhan? To some, it means a month of rumbling tummies, a great time to lose weight and for me, the only time when I can feast on my favourite dates! Ramadhan means scorching heat in Arabic. It is a blessed month when the Quran – the greatest gift of guidance was revealed, Muslims were given victory during the battle of Badr and most importantly, it is the only month that has been bestowed with a night that is better than a thousand months. It’s not about feasting at night either for we have the tarawih which means to have rest….. it is a prayer that gives us peace during the night.

Significantly, only during the month of Ramadhan that we share the same attributes as the angels (during the day). For the angels do not eat or have physical desires.

There were many who were with us during the last Ramadhan, performing the solat side by side. For some that would have been their last Tarawih for they have now proceeded to the Barzakh. Thus, I ask you to make full use of this holy month and make dua or supplication for it will surely be answered. Definitely.

So enjoy the most beautiful month ever and may the angels lower their wings for those who seek Allah’s pleasure. Ameen.

© Copyright Hezreen September 2008

How it All Began....

2008-08-28T22:42:00.008+08:00

She looked up and glanced shyly at the group. His plate was empty but the smile etched on his face showed something. Her father was right. The dish was the perfect choice. It was his favourite you see. She lowered her eyelashes as he reached out for a second helping. Although she was shielded by the door, she could see him clearly from far. It’s true. It’s absolutely true when they say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

That was how Allahyarham Tan Sri Dato’ Harun Mahmud Hashim fell for Puan Sri Nik Esah Nik Ahmed Kamil. From the tender age of 14 the daughter of the then Menteri Besar of Kelantan was given the task of cooking for official functions at her home. So when her father announced that his best friend Dato’ Mahmud Hashim had offered his son for her, she utilized her skills and whipped up a feast for the entourage.

Many years have passed and till today, Puan Sri is known for her culinary skills. Thus, when her children decided to compile the family recipes into a book, they decided to dedicate it to their parents, particularly to their mother whom they affectionately call Nik.

Although it took about a month to write the text, it’s been three years. Three long years and Nik’s Kitchen was finally launched today. It was a moment of pride for me. Especially since this book was my first writing project. Nik’s Kitchen got the ball rolling for me. And thanks to Yasmin who entrusted me with the honour of penning down Puan Sri’s life memories in the form of a cook book, my cv has been given a new lease of life and I’ve found joy in what I do today.

As we feasted on authentic Ayam Kuzi and several other Kelantanese dishes this afternoon, I chatted with the editor and the other project assistants. Yes, we made an excellent team. And I hope that this will pave the path for more exciting writing projects to come!

As for the late Tan Sri, the Nasi Briyani he had when he first laid eyes on his future beloved was more than just another rice dish. For it was prepared with affection and garnished with compassion...So you see, food does create wonderful beginnings in life, especially for those who truly believe in the power of faith.

© Copyright Hezreen August 2008

Why are We Here?

2008-08-27T16:44:00.009+08:00

Stop and think

Why are we here as God’s creations?

An unknown destiny awaits,

To which we will surely return

Lands of purity are stripped off their dignity

In the name of power, greed and malicious conspiracies

The devils keep plotting away,

Wishing all their might for the human race to decay

Is this the price we have to pay?

For discarding the truth and choosing to disobey?

What are we after all?

Insan or forgetful creatures made from lumps of clay

When will the pain and torment end?

Will peace on earth finally descend?

There’ll come a man, who’ll fill justice in this world

But only for a span of time, for great evil will follow

Anti-Christ will then triumph, filling the world with lies and much sorrow

The Time is approaching

The real Mahdi will soon appear

The great scholars are certain, for the signs are clear

So stop and think,

Why were we created, why are we here?

You should know, for it’s stated in the Quran

Chapter Adh-Dhariyat has the definite answer

© Copyright Hezreen August 2008

Retail Therapy Anyone?

2008-08-24T22:11:00.005+08:00

Somebody made use of the Mega Shopping Carnival this time around. Catherine needed the last-minute shopping spree before heading back to the States. Since she heard about the flea market at The Curve, the whole bunch of us made a pit stop there.
After a good dose of laughter, piping Tom Yam soup and a few snap shots, we made our way around PJ's Golden Triangle.

Interestingly,Catherine told me that she enjoyed shopping in Penang.

" I like the cooling powder I bought."

" The cooling what sorry?"

" The powdery stuff made from rice grains."

" Aah, yes...you mean bedak sejuk?"

" Yup, as well as the Chinese tea cups, scarves and batik. But they're all for giving away, as presents."

Good Catherine. Now you've reminded me of a few birthdays coming up next week. Mmmm....Now what did I get them the last year?

© Copyright Hezreen August 2008

A Friend like No Other

2008-05-06T22:19:00.005+08:00

Aunty had been in the family before I was born. She came to the shores of Malaya in a huge boat with her brood from Indo China. I wasn’t sure why she was brought to this country but I was told that when Great- Grandfather first saw her in Penang, he thought she would be perfect for his household. True enough, great- grandmother liked her instantly and she was then regarded as ‘the family nurse’.
Aunty provided her services well to all who were in need of her. She was there when someone had a tummy ache or even a muscle pull. She had such a positive effect on the family that she went everywhere with them in the car- for a short drive, to the seaside and even to weddings!
As much as she was a favourite to all, she had a stiff upper lip where children were concerned. Apparently her work permit had stated clearly that her services did not extend to children. Once, when my uncle who was in pre-school fainted due to heat wave, Aunty stood firmly away. Rules are rules and she was adamant about not giving even a trickle of her assistance to the little one. How selfish!
Although she appeared stiff on the outside, I was told that she was actually very warm to those who truly needed her touch. She was there by my great-grandmother’s side when the grand old lady breathed her last. Aunty had always been faithful to her as long as my mum could remember. She did much service to the other relatives too during the funeral. She was there to soothe their aches and pains, comforting them as how she did for my great-grandmother.
Many years after I was born, Aunty moved in with us. Although she had aged completely, mum loved her very much. However, there were remarks from the rest of the family that she wasn’t as strong as before. Others noticed that she was shrinking in size too. But my mum insisted that she stay on with us as even relatives abroad would enquire about her as they missed her terribly.
She got along fine with most women although the men kept her at arm’s length. I can understand why. Apart from being too square, I thought she smelt funny too. I showed my disapproval whenever she was around. The moment she was in my presence, I’d hold my nose. Mum thought that was rude. She used to reprimand me time and again.
That was many years ago. Time has passed quickly and today, Aunty’s place has been taken over by a sweet little thing that smells of lavender. Mum still prefers Aunty though. This is why we still have a memento of her even after she had expired.
Although I've referred to her as Aunty, her real name is stronger and has a more exotic element to it. To her ardent fans, she is known as Minyak Cap Kapak. Truly, she will always be remembered as Malaysia's favourite headache ointment. Headaches may come and go but she will always be etched in the hearts of those who knew her best.

© Copyright Hezreen May 2008

Living in a World Without Colours

2008-04-30T07:39:00.006+08:00

I'm just glad blogspot didn't confiscate my profile. (umm, I think maybe they should give a time frame or a warning message to bloggers: "Meet the dateline or we'll give you a deadline."

I met someone the other day who told me,write something about colours. Anything about it at all. This got me thinking. Why not write the opposite? Since white is the absence of colours, I'll add her sinister twin which is black. I gave it much thought and after working on it a bit, I came up with this:

Life. What would it be like if we live constantly in a world of blacks and whites? No sunny colours to flavour up your foods, no hues of blues and greens to freshen up the air and no purples and pinks to calm our nerves. Just think about it. If we live in a world of dual colours we would all look, dress, smell and eat alike.

Colours are a gift to us from Allah for it pleases the eyes and nourishes the soul. Colours affect our moods and our moods affect the way we see colours.

Without colours, everything around us would be utterly strange. There would be no such thing as whitening creams or tanning saloons for everyone would be in same shades of white or black. The positive side would be that there would be no fits of anger or feelings of envy for the colours red and green would be completely obsolete. Nobody would be able to tell if a baby is feeling cold or hot for the colours of temperature would not be available.

Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes would lose its classic essence for Goldilocks would have to change her name and Little Red Riding Hood would have survived till the end for the wolf wouldn’t have been able to spot her in the thick forest.

There would be no such thing as being colour blind and the legendary Mahsuri wouldn’t have been famous unless of course if her blood had been black. For the first time ever, picking flowers for your beloved would be easy as flowers would only come in shades of white.

Nobody would be able to spot a rainbow in the sky and the birds would not be able to survive for they depend on colours to collect nectar from the freshest blooms. Flowers and plants would not only lose their beauty but they would wither in the world without colours for they need chlorophyll during photosynthesis.

Life would be a mystery for nobody would be able to point out the colour of earth, metal, fire and water.
Life would be bleak indeed. That is until someone comes up with a decision of inventing a brand new colour. So how would anyone be able to derive a new colour when there are only two primary colours to begin with? That’s when someone decides at last to mix black and white and finally, we have a brand new colour- grey.

Now aren’t we all fortunate that we’ve been spared from these depressing hues?

© Copyright Hezreen April 2008

Spices- Jewels of the East

2007-10-21T21:16:00.002+08:00

I started off my blog thinking that I would at least post an entry once week. Then it dwindled down to a fortnight. And now as I scan through my last post I realize with utter horror that I had only one miserable entry for the month of September! I've been feasting on rendang, lemang, appam, chicken curry, London Almonds…euughhh Hari Raya kenduris are a real culture shock for my stomach…Anyway, I told myself that I’ve to at least write one entry per week. So here’s a not so short entry to make up for all the weeks that I’d missed out. (Dunno why but I seem to have this thing for food.)
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Back during my primary school days when my teacher broached on the topic of the evasion of the Portuguese on Melaka, my friends and I marvelled over the fact that these Mat Sallehs braved our scorching weather and ferocious mosquitoes for the sake of gold, glory and god. Until we were told that the term gold actually referred to spices and not bullions! With my mouth gaping like a goldfish, I had vivid images of hairy soldiers sneezing all the way from the sundry shops to the pier as they load sacks of curry powder, cinnamon and dried chillies on their awaiting ships. Just think that it was our garam masala that lured the Portuguese vessels onto our shores!
But the story of spices began long before the Portuguese set up camp in Melaka in 1511. Spices were a treasured commodity way back before the dark ages. Legends of the ancient world were full of illustrative accounts of spices used as medicine, perfumes and for beauty treatments. Known for their elements of preservations, spices were even used to embalm the bodies of mighty pharaohs during ancient Egypt.
Amazingly, spices did add flavour to world history. Arab merchants who maintained the monopoly of spices weaved remarkable tales of how and where these condiments grew. So great was the power of these spices that men were willing to trade their lives for these condiments while they took on dangerous adventures at sea. Despite these odds, the extensive voyages from Europe to Asia led to another remarkable discovery - the world’s first map was drawn not on paper but on a three-dimensional globe.

These little condiments were also a source of love and romance in Malaya. Thanks to the cosmopolitan merchant community, interracial marriages sprung forth between the Arab and Indian merchants with the local Malays. This in turn led to the creation of the exotic fare which was made ever famous from our kitchens.
As much as we love our history and our cholesterol-laden food, we have overlooked the flavourings which have brought out the best in our lip-smacking cuisine. These sweet-scented condiments that have flavoured our Briyanis, and have given our curries the right colour, have actually played a pivotal role in moulding human civilization. The very fact that world history actually began from the depths of our very own kitchens is enough for us to realize that yes, there was a time when the world was envious of us.
So the next time you feast your eyes on the kurma and dhalca, just take a close look at those little wonders that had launched a thousand ships. Tiny they may be but they were fiery enough to have made it to our cooking pots and history books. Now isn’t this a valuable lesson we should cherish as we sit and indulge in Malaysia’s favourite past time?
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© Copyright Hezreen October 2007

Nasi Lemak, Doodles and Scribbles (Click on this title)

2007-09-05T09:01:00.004+08:00

Nasi Lemak
Originally uploaded by jazmyn

Doodle. I’ve always loved it. I’d be doodling while I’m on the phone, during tv commercials, and especially during classes. (You see,I’ve always had teachers who were a cure for insomnia). So the moment I've had my hands on some scraps of paper and a sharpened Staedtler, I’d be squiggling geometric shapes, spirals and wavy lines. Sigh,(dunno why but somehow, I’ve never made it to Picasso level).
Then, my moment of being came in the form of Beth Yahp- the author of Crocodile Fury.
Beth who came all the way from Down Under had a creative writing class a couple of weeks ago which I’d attended and it was smashing! Beth being a fiction buff herself introduced something far more inspiring than doodling- speed writing. Wow, you guys should try it. Set the stop watch for 10 minutes and as Beth says let your pen do the writing (without halting for a second). Forget about punctuation and spelling and just pour it all from your right brain. And what’s better with Beth’s class is the fact that she comes up with the most brilliant subjects to speed write about. Out of the five topics, I chose to write about how to describe nasi lemak to someone who has no mouth. Within three minutes, I managed to write the following:
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Do you know what it’s like to be able to smell something and your stomach growls with approval? No, I’m not talking about barbecued chicken or Tajin. This is a dish which you can either love to bits or hate with intensity. The fluffy rice with a tinge of pandan (screwpine)flavour, ikan bilis or fried anchovies which smells like keropok but is crunchy you can practically hear the rhythmic movements of the bitings. What about the sambal? It’s fiery, red gravy which makes you want to have two or three more helpings. Nasi lemak. You’ve got to have it. Even if you can’t eat it, at least watch someone eating it. It’ll make your eyes water.
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Ha, ha, Beth loved it and I enjoyed writing it. Nasi lemak by the way is Malaysia’s favourite delicacy. It is a rice dish with all the condiments mentioned above wrapped in banana leaf. Nasi lemak is well-loved by all so much so it is served at any time of the day be it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Just take a walk into any restaurant, market, and shopping mall in Malaysia and the pyramid-shaped rice packet will greet your eyes. The picture by the way is taken by Jazmyn, an up-coming photographer who has an impressive portfolio of snapshots.
As for those of you who love to doodle and would like to try something vaguely different, please point your mouse to the title of this post and create some fireworks on your screen. (Thanks Janet Lee for I found this doodling exercise on your blog).
Now if you excuse me, I’ve got to have my platter of steam hot nasi lemak. All this talk about doodling and fluffy rice has made me famished. It’s time to take a break and pledge allegiance to my growling stomach!

© Copyright Hezreen September 2007

'Park-insane' Syndrome

2007-08-28T12:18:00.002+08:00

It was one of those mornings where I had to make a run for some last minute chores. Cruising along the housing area of Damansara I went round and round in hopeful search of a parking space. So I kept on driving in circles for 15 and then 20 minutes and by now, I could have easily been passed out for one of those car thieves looking out for an early catch. The residents were looking suspiciously out from their windows and I could have sworn seeing a man taking down my car registration number. The petrol indicator meanwhile was dangerously moving towards South Pole and yet there wasn’t a miserly place where I could deposit the car for a few minutes.
Finally, I spotted the one vacant space and just as I shifted gear to move into my awaiting zone, I halted. Sitting on that spot was a rotten-looking flower pot with weeds sprouting out of it mockingly saying “sorry, but the place has been reserved”. I gritted my teeth, got down from my car, carried the dreaded pot to the side and parked right in.
Who is to say that the lot is reserved solely for you anyway? There were no yellow and white graffiti on the road which says ‘reserved for yours and truly’. After all, since when did the municipal council give residents the right to book the area outside their homes for their four-wheel drives?
But whine as much as you want, the annoying habit of blocking parking lots is a norm here in Klang Valley. Try and drive around the most exclusive housing areas in KL and you’ll find some of the most bizarre things Malaysians can come up with. Depending on how creative these residents are, you’ll find dust bins, road cones, plastic road barriers, mattresses and even crates of bottles blocking the road by the kerb. Once, I read a hand-made sign stuck up on the fence of a bungalow which read no packing after 5 pm. There are no second guesses as to what the sign was really made up for.
The fact that there is a lack of parking space in this country is enough for us to send thesis of complaints to the authorities concerned. But parking issues doesn’t end just there. Try and park your car for a mere 5 minutes along a faded yellow line and you’ll be instantly rewarded with a bright yellow accessory for the tyres, courtesy of MPPJ.
Parking space is so scarce that motorists treat it as though they own it. Ever seen people stalling for time before they finally move out of their parking spot (rather grudgingly) to give way to awaiting motorists to park in? But my favourite of all times are the parking lots in hypermarkets. If it isn’t already congested enough, you find shopping trolleys parked directly on a car park spot even though the trolley bay is right beside it!
So what do we do to tackle these parking woes? If there isn’t a decent spot in sight to park your car, I vote that we drive around the neighbourhood and try to make friends with the household residents. Go one step further by bringing a nice hot meal for them and discuss about the possibilities of sharing the parking spot 50-50. If all else fails you can still console yourself over the fact that at least you gave it a try.
After completing my chores that morning, I hurried to my car, checked to see that it was unscathed and drove off without putting the pot back in it’s place. After all, that was the least I could do for the next Malaysian who’s looking for a decent place to park.

© Copyright Hezreen August 2007

Weddings; Tis a BIG Business!

2007-08-19T16:55:00.004+08:00

I’m not exactly crazy about weddings, but weddings do drive me crazy. In this part of the big blue ball, getting married means more than a fancy promotion from Miss to Mrs. Regardless of whatever your ethnic background is, tying the knot the Malaysian way is BIG, BIG, BIG business. Why? Because it involves nosy and noisy relatives, new clothes, plenty of artery-clogging food and boxes of Kleenex for those tears of joy.
You see, the minute you announce to the whole world, that you’re a bachelor no more, the craziness already begins. Caterers, card designers, tailors, gardeners, photographers and even the water works department will be informed time and again that the kenduri (feast) of the year will be taking place at your very own doorstep. That’s not all, for the sake of a few Kodak moments, senior citizens of the family will be whisked off to top-notched dentists so that they will be able to say ‘cheese’ with dignity. Tuition teachers will also be notified that so and so will be skipping lessons due to the impending marriage in the family because they will all have to balik kampong (return to their respective hometowns). On the other hand, the big mouths of the society will be given the honour of spreading the hot news that the confirmed bachelor isn’t gay after all and that he has finally found a female as his soul mate. (Now you see how BIG a business Malaysian weddings are?)
But no matter how nerve-wrecking Malaysian weddings can be, nothing beats our way of saying “I do.” Regardless whether you’re attending a kampung-styled wedding or witnessing a sacred nuptial of the Maharajas or even a marriage like the Babas and Nyonyas, weddings in Malaysia speak of different colours but with the ultimate aim of uniting two souls.
So behind all these craziness, here’s to a journey of Malaysian nuptials which have been a pride of our ancestors, and are still celebrated with style till today.

Entering the Blogesphere

2007-08-17T21:59:00.002+08:00

Finally, after months, weeks and days of contemplation, I’ve decided to make my very first entry on my blog on this eventful Friday. Honestly, every time I had the urge to press ‘create post’, I’ll be flooded with thoughts of what if I get addicted? Or what if I lose interest midway and call it quits? But worse, what if I get hooked to it that I forget about my writing assignments? I’ve heard that blogging takes up most of your time and that you must take the plunge to pull the brakes so that you don’t get too obsessed with it. Blogging I suppose is like forbidden fruit, once you take a bite out of it there’s no stopping. But then again, as Sharon Bakar mentioned time and again, blogging is good practise, its good practise and its good practise. And for freelance writers like myself, it’s a great way of telecasting my writing skills (or whatever it’s called) to the world at large. So what’s Malaysiapedia about? It’s the minor ramblings, funny anecdotes and the little things in life which we Malaysians take for granted. Since my country is about to get a taste of 50 years of her independence, here’s to Malaysiapedia- a place where I call my home.
So if you’re wondering whether starting up a blog is really worth it? I’d say most definitely. Why not? As I steal a quick glance at the ‘publish post’ button staring right at my face, I tell myself, hey, I’ve got nothing to lose. Like our lives, blogging is like receiving a box of chocolates. You’ll never know what you’ll get out of it!

© Copyright Hezreen August 2007