While reading The Lost Symbol

I continued reading the book again yesterday, after a delay of two months when it was shipped to Malaysia from my hall in Glasgow, and right at the start of Chapter 2:

"The goal of tattooing was never beauty. The goal was change. From the scarified Nubian priests of 2000 B.C, to the tattooed acolytes of the Cybele cult of ancient Rome, to the moko scars of the modern Maori, humans have tattooed themselves as a way of offering up their bodies in partial sacrifice, enduring the physical pain of embellishment and emerging changed beings."

- Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol, Chapter 2.

As I read this I keep relate it to covering up. Wearing hijab is pretty much the same - the goal is the change, not beauty. Me and my brother were reading the InTrend magazine bought by Ayong, when he saw the page on artists who have decided to cover up he said, "Habislah, trend sekarang bertudung." In reply I said, "Eh, baguslah!" Then that got me thinking, is it, really? Well, for starters, more and more people are now following the artists' footsteps and are taking the step to cover their hair - which is undeniably a good thing. This 'hijrah', as they say, is not perceived as something weird or scary anymore. People used to have a hard time making this decision but now it seems like it is not as big of an issue as it is a couple of years ago.

My only concern is the reason, intention or niat, for the change. It is a million times better if the change comes with deeper understanding of the Deen, of Islam. Wardina's life story is a great example. Upon quitting modelling and acting, she only started to wear hijab because she felt incomplete as a Muslim without it: "Saya ingin menzahirkan cinta saya kepada Allah."  When you fall in love, you feel like telling the whole world about it, don't you?

Bear in mind though, that there is no half-hearted way into Islam.

 "O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy." (2:208)

In other words, now that you are wearing hijab (yeay), please be sure that you pray and do what else is asked of a Muslim.

Again, I find Brown's writings can somewhat be linked to the topic:

"The act of tattooing one's skin was a transformative declaration of power, an announcement to the world: I am in control of my own flesh."   

- Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol, Chapter 2

Lets not make hijab as just an accessory. Lets not just follow the trend.
You are in control. You decide. 

Pssst: My referring to Dan Brown's book may be disturbing to some, but I believe there is good in everything. Pengajaran ada di mana-mana.

Jangan cepat melatah!

There has been quite a number of  RUMOURS circulating lately relating to the pharmacy profession, especially regarding us the future PRPs (provisionally registered pharmacists). To list down a few:

• There is an oversupply of pharmacists and that very limited places are available for PRPs. 
• Change in the duration of compulsory service to one year instead of 3 years to accommodate more pharmacist in the private and industrial sectors. So for non-JPA scholars they will only have to stay in government hospital for 2 years (1 year PRP + 1 year service). 
• As a consequence of this, the critical allowance will be cut. Some even said we will get only RM1100 as the basic salary. 
• There will be a delay in posting because of  the "pekeliling pembekuan dalam pengambilan kakitangan awam".

Source:   PRP2011 Group

HOWEVER, none of these has been confirmed yet!
Do not get emotional, people. That will not solve anything.
Analyze the situation thoroughly before you jump to conclusions.
Evidence-based, remember?

Recall our true purpose in life & work -
niat kita nak bekerja untuk apa, untuk siapa?   

Bigger Plan

When it rains, you hope for sunshine.
When it is sunny, you hope for rain.
When you study, you dream of working.
When you work, you miss studying.
When you are home, you want to get away.
When you are away, you want to be home.
When you are with her, you wish for someone else.
When you are with someone else, you wish she was her.

The grass is always greener on the other side.
The key point here is appreciate. 

Don't be selfish, be thankful. 

Kerana aku selalu lupa #7

This documentary is inspiring.

And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned." (25:30)

Terasa?

It's never too late to learn. Read, understand and study the Quran.
Come on, Smak! 

Roti canai hari-hari.

"Ni pukul berapa ni?"
"Pukul 9, Tuk."
"Pagi?"
"Haah, pagi."
"Atuk nak makan?"
Geleng.
"Nasi ada ni kalau nak makan nasi."
"Tak nak."
"Kenapa? Laparlah nanti tak makan lagi."
"Atuk tak lalu dah nak makan nasi. Takpa, biar jela Atuk ni tunggu masa je ni."
"Bihun sup nak?"
Geleng.
"Roti canai?"
Angguk.
"Okay tunggu kejap."

Revenge

Pada zaman dahulu kala, wujud seorang kakak yang kejam terhadap adik-adik beliau. Adik-adik beliau bukanlah baik sangat, maka adillah kiranya bila kakak tersebut bersifat kejam. Akan tetapi kerana berasa geram dengan kekejaman kakak mereka, adik-adik beliau cuba untuk membalas dendam. Persoalannya, bagaimana? Balas dendam dari segi fizikal memang out of the question memandangkan guys dont hit girls. Pengaduan kepada ibu bapa jugak tidak akan membuahkan hasil yang memuaskan kerana kakak mereka ini sungguh licik. Setelah sepurnama memikirkan rancangan balas dendam yang terbaik, mereka mendapat satu jalan yang agak mudah tetapi sungguh berkesan:

Dengan mengubah kedudukan penanda buku bacaan kakak mereka.

Revenge is sweet. 

Kerana aku selalu lupa #6

"The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful." (2:185)

Salam Ramadhan!
We may never see next Ramadhan, so lets make the most out of this one!