Muslims more numerous than Catholics

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

less time to think what to type, I just want to point this out in yesterday's news...

VATICAN CITY - Islam has surpassed Roman Catholicism as the world's largest religion, the Vatican newspaper said Sunday.

"For the first time in history, we are no longer at the top: Muslims have overtaken us," Monsignor Vittorio Formenti said in an interview with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. Formenti compiles the Vatican's yearbook.

more details in here

Conversion Panel IAW 2008

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

Alhamdulillah, the conversion panel session was a success. Eventhough many people came quite late, but it filled the whole lecture room at last. =)

This year, we had Bro Nurudeen (same as last year), Bro Ralf, and Sis Suzanne. And they shared interesting stories about their converting to Islam. Masya Allah, Allah honored them with the beauty of Islam.

Bro Nurudeen, a former Christian started his journey to Islam during his visits to religious prayer places such as synagogue, temple, and also a mosque. He was impressed by the words from the Imam at the mosque, that made him feel Islam is right belief to practice. [I couldn't get much of the info, I came in a little bit late]

Bro Ralf (sorry if spelled wrongly), was an atheist, is a German - studying his PhD here in Vanderbilt. Earlier, he only knew about Islam through his relative who worked in Iraq. He only learned about fasting, zakaat, etc.. realizing that a lot of Germans (25% from Wikipedia) do not practice a religion. After working for some time, he got the opportunity to continue his Masters in Germany and then his PhD in Vanderbilt. Here, he learned a lot from Bro Nurudeen about Islam, and have a good relationship with MSA... Finally, he said Shahadah in February 2008. Allahu akbar!

Sis Suzanne, one of the sisters I meet quite frequent, is in a Catholic family. She was married to a Muslim before, but without knowing why, she never felt to embrace Islam at that time. After she went to overseas, got divorced, and went back to United States, she decided to say shahadah. And alhamdulillah, her family (especially her mother) supported a lot even they are in different religion. She just married (2nd time) last time and her husband sells pizza in Nashville! =)

Overall, all the panels were welcomed in Islamic community with big hands. They never felt being apart, yet proud to be Muslims. One thing that Bro Ralf brought up was he was amazed to see Malaysian muslims and other muslims in his class being so calm and polite etc.. [I guess a PhD student has to teach a class for one of his requirements]. I just smiled, and thought - who are those malaysian people?? =D [Alhamdulillah, the existance of Malaysians here are benefited, tak sia2 Malaysia hantar pelajar ke sini..]

Today's event was a success, and we hope the next events on Wednesday will be a huge success with the great speaker of Bro Yasir Arafat (Nashville) and Imam Siraj Wahaj (New York).

Moga Allah permudahkan segala urusan... Ameen~

IAW 2008 @ Vanderbilt

LIVE Broadcast ISR UIUC

ISR @ UIUC 2008: "Islam and Modernity: Revisioning the Role of Muslims in Contemporary Society"

Watch it live tomorrow! (22nd March 2008) @
http://www.misgonline.com/misg-production-house/misg.tv/*live-broadcast*-isr-uiuc.html

visit http://www.misgonline.com/isr/uiuc for more details.

people outside USA are welcomed to join in! The time shown are in Central Time USA.

Tentative

12.00pm		Muslim Scholarly Discussions on Salvation and the Fate of Non-Muslims - Prof. Mohammad Khalil
1.30pm		Lunch Zuhr Prayer
3.00pm		The Muslim Crises in the Southeast Asia and Their Possible Solutions - Dr. Dodi Heryadi
4.40pm		Asr Prayer
5.10pm		Forum: Memartabatkan Pelajar Muslim Malaysia Di USA - Panel 1: Imran Karim (Northwestern University) - Panel 2: Ansari Razali (UIUC) - Panel 3: Atikah Paimin (UIUC) - Moderator: Imran Tuan Yaacob (Purdue University)
6.50pm		Dinner Maghrib Prayer
9.00pm - 10.30pm		Conclusion

Maulidurrasul~

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

I was about to post about the remembrance day of our Beloved Prophet Rasulullah s.a.w, but totally forgot about it yesterday.

Anyway,
Firman Allah maksudnya:
Dan tiadalah Kami mengutuskan engkau (wahai Muhammad), melainkan menjadi rahmat bagi sekalian alam.
And We did not send you (O dear Prophet) except as a mercy for the entire world.
[Surah Al-Anbiya 21:107]

Selawat ke atas Nabi junjungan Muhammad s.a.w

Malulah pada diri sendiri jika mengaku umat Muhammad, tetapi tidak mengikut apa yang diajarkan baginda dahulu...

Semoga kita tergolong dalam umatnya yang mengikuti Al-Quran dan sunnahnya...

Istighfar, and remember Allah and the Prophet always.

Wallahua'lam...

As-Saff:2-3

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

Surah As-Saff;
[2] Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Mengapa kamu memperkatakan apa yang kamu tidak melakukannya!
[3] Amat besar kebenciannya di sisi Allah kamu memperkatakan sesuatu yang kamu tidak melakukannya.

Diingatkan, manusia sangatlah pelupa. Maka, ingatkanlah teman2 disekeliling anda.. Fikirkanlah, bukan diri seorang inginkan syurga, orang lain juga impikannya. Malah akan disoal mengapa tidak menjalankan tugas sebagai seorang teman untuk mengingatkan.

UdzkuruLlah...

Selingan
Dr. Jack Shaheen from Southern Illinois University katanya tadi: "Films are the most effective place for propaganda." Oh yeah, absolutely.
"Middle Eastern Night 2008 at the talk titled 'Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People' (his project)"

--make thing EASY--

[Hadith]
Rasul Allah, sal Allah alayhi wa sallam, said, "There was once a
merchant who would lend money to people. Whenever the person he
lent money to was in difficult circumstances, he would say to
his employees, 'Forgive him so that Allah may forgive us.' So,
Allah forgave him."
- Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 292

[Lessons from this Hadith]
When you and I forgive people, who are we actually setting free?
OURSELVES! Because of the outstanding way this man dealt with
people, Allah forgave him, and blessed him with profit in this
life and the next. Is there someone in your life that you are
making things difficult for? What can you do to make it easy for
them?

perubahan besar?

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

Sedikit personal review dari saya tentang pilihanraya di Malaysia yang baru lepas...

Untuk diri yang berada di luar Malaysia, tetap terasa kehangatannya. Biarpun tiada fizikal, namun kehebatan teknologi mampu memberikan updates dari semasa ke semasa. Bersama-sama ayah yang sedia online hingga jam 3 pagi. Apa2 yang diberitakan di tv diberitahu. *Malangnya mencari2 streaming tv1 tak berjaya dijumpai, semuanya error..... atau saya yang tak berjaya~*

Keputusan pilihanraya - satu perubahan besar dalam negara. Paling tidak, sejak saya mula concern tentang politik ini dari 1999. ketika pusat mengundi ada di hadapan rumah saya, jadi nampaklah keadaan dari hari pembubaran parlimen, hinggalah ke hari pengundian.

Kemenangan pihak pembangkang di 5 buah negeri pasti satu impak besar buat semua. Let's see how the new state governments make the changes. Juga pastinya kerajaan Malaysia berlainan sekali, bukan dimonopoli oleh satu parti sahaja.

Ayah2 teman2 saya menang di kawasan masing2, samada di pihak parti kerajaan mahupun parti pembangkang. Tahniah buat mereka. Diharap tanggungjawab dilaksanakan dengan bijaksana dan berlandaskan syariat Islam. Allahu akbar!

Sekadar itu komen umum di sini. Ingin sekali melihat perubahan di sana, seram juga, bagaimanalah Malaysia sekarang ini. Setahun lagi, pasti sudah berbeza!

Semoga Allah melindungi dan merahmati orang2 yang beriman... ameen~

Wallahua'lam...

Setiap kali

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

Setiap kali by Devotees

Setiap kali mendapat nikmat
jarang kusedari itu pemberian-Mu
terkadang rasa itu kerana
segala usaha dan penat lelahku sahaja

setiap kali ditimpa musibah
kumengeluh risau bertambah gelisah
hingga terlupa pada-Mu Allah
tempat kembali segala masalah

oh Tuhan Yang Maha Penyayang
leraikanlah aku dari keluh kesah
yang membelenggu jiwa dan fikiran
ditambah dengan hasutan syaitan

kurniakanlah kepadaku ketabahan
singkapkanku hikmah segala ketentuan
Moga sinar-Mu berikanku pedoman
Hanya pada-Mu segala ketetapan

(backup)
oh tuhan yang maha penyayang
leraikanlah aku dari keluh kesah
yang membelenggu jiwa dan fikiran
ditambah dengan hasutan syaitan
durjana yang sentiasa mengarahku
kepada kemurkaanmu
kurniakanlah kepadaku ketabahan
tunjukkan ku hikmah segala ketentuan
Moga sinar-Mu berikanku pedoman
Hanya pada-Mu segala ketetapan
Ya Allah kau redhailah diri ini

seandainya diri ini
mampu meraih cinta keredhaan-Mu
seandainya akulah insan yang terpilih
pimpini hidupku

_________________________________________

seringkali kita lupa hidup yang dilimpahi nikmat dunia..
dapat result yang flying colors, rumah besar, duit menggunung
tapi sikit masa yang kita luangkan untuk lahirkan rasa syukur

bila susah ada juga masa lupa pada Dia
menyalahkan takdir tanpa kita sedar
atau, baru teringat untuk memohon pertolongan pada Allah...

siapalah kita untuk berpelakuan begitu kepada Pencipta kita?

Wallahua'lam...