Month: February 2010

Aku drive keluar dari office tadi tetapi tak boleh nak keluar dari exit office sebab ada satu van tengah block jalan. Drivernya yang duduk di dalam tengah bertekak dengan pak guard. Rasanya pak guard suruh driver van ni buat satu round pusing sebab orang yang dia tunggu tak turun lagi tapi driver ni tak nak. Dari dalam kereta aku boleh dengar suara dia memarahi pak guard tu. Aku diam aje dalam kereta. Tapi lama-kelamaan aku bengang jugak. Kereta-kereta kat belakang aku dah horn bagai nak rak.

Tak semena-mena driver ni boleh pandang kat aku dan jerit:

“Apa horn-horn BABI?”

Lalu aku keluar dan tinggalkan kereta aku, berjalan menghala ke arah pintu driver van tersebut. Aku hentak pintu van tu dengan tangan tapak tangan aku sekuat hati sampai kemek sedikit dan dengan penuh budi-bahasa aku bahasakan dia dengan sekuat-kuatnya:

“Sedap betul mulut engkau panggil orang BABI. Dah selalu sangat hisap butoh mak engkau tiap malam, ye? Kepala ada otak tak ada! TEPI LA SIKIT KALAU NAK GADUH PUN, SUNDAL!”

Perit tekak aku macam baru lepas kasi command kat parade square masa Panglima punya inspection. Tanpa banyak berkata driver tu pun memandu vannya beredar terus dari kawasan office aku. Pak guard tadi pun tak berani nak bertentang mata dengan aku mahupun berkata apa-apa.

Bagus jugak ada MONSTER DOG ni. Sesekali aku terasa macam Jim Carrey bila pakai MASK.

Sama-sama sickening.

Cuma tak kelakar.

This morning’s newspapers greeted us with two prominent figures speaking on the same subject: the celebration of Maulidur Rasul (Maulidin Nabi), and the two figures are Dr Asri, the former Mufti of Perlis; and Datuk Nik Aziz, the PAS spiritual leader. The former spoke about the need to ban processions that congest roads while the latter questioned the need for such a celebration.

With the former, I would agree. If you talk about human rights in Islam, the need for what purpose something is built takes precedence over the need of other rights. For example, a road was built for traffic users. Therefore, their right to use the road freely and unobstructed except by law takes precedence over the need for people to use the roads to demonstrate. Furthermore, in my opinion, demonstrations achieve nothing. They serve only to incite participants, and if done frequently, present a clear and present danger of the demonstrators going unruly. If I were an employer, I would duly sack my employees who demonstrated during office hours.

The latter stressed that Maulidur Rasul was not celebrated until 300 years after the Prophet’s death. Nik Aziz asked if that would mean the people who lived between Muhammad’s time up to when his birthday was celebrated did not love Muhammad? Certainly not.

There was never a Mauliddin Nabi until some 460 years after the death of Muhammad. And this was done during the Fatimite caliphate in Egypt, which was a Shiah Caliphate (during the reign of Wazir al-Afdlal).

The Ahlil Sunnah Wal Jamaah version was brought about by King Muzaffar ad-Din Kukburi, who ruled Egypt after the Shiite caliphate was overthrown some 200 years later. King Muzaffar was the brother of the muslim warrior Saladin (Salahuddin al-Ayubbi). Because of Saladin’s involvement fighting the Christians during the Crusades, the Birthday of Muhammad was introduced to counter the birth of Christ…Christmas.

Christmas was only a date picked by the Catholics because it is one week before the new year. And they traced back to the day a comet appeared somewhere during Year Zero, and deduced that Christ was born on December 25th. The Orthodox Christians however, celebrate Christmas on January 7th, because to them, Jesus was born a week after new year, taking the new year as the day the universe was created by God, and on the 7th day there was life.

No one knows when Muhammad was born. No one had recorded his birth, and I doubt very much that the Quraisy had had a birth registration system, given the fact that they were still burying little baby girls alive then. It was just a date borne out of consensus (Ijma’) but has never been proven to be correct. As I have stated above, none of the Khulafa ar-Rashiddin ever celebrated Muhammad’s birthday, not even when he was alive. The Shiites celebrate Maulid on the 17th of Rabi’ul Awwal while the Sunnis on the 12th of Rabi’ul Awwal.

There are two schools of thoughts when it comes to celebrating the birth of Muhammad. The first being the scholars who think it is okay to celebrate based on a hadith asking Muslims to fast on a Monday as it was also the day Muhammad was born, and the day prophecy descended on him.

Those who say it is not, based their findings on the following:

Muhammad (pbuh) has said: Do not over praise me as the Christians over-praised the son of Mary. I am His slave so say: ‘Allah’s slave and messenger’ (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

The Messenger (Muhammad Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allâh, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, “We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers” – and they say, “We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all).” (al-Quran 2:285)

Based on that ayat, and the fact that the celebration of Mauliddin Nabi originated from the Shiites, coupled with the fact that it imitates the Christian celebration of Christmas, and the fact that it was never practised by either Muhammad or any of the Khulafa ar-Rashiddin – the celebration was deemed a bida’ah and Haram by the Senior Ulama Committee of Saudi Arabia.

So, there have you. I don’t see anything wrong in remembering Muhammad, but it should not be confined to that one day where you glorify him. He should be remembered everyday in every single prayer, as you should remember all the other Messengers before him: Christ, David, Abraham, John, Moses, , Noah Adam etc. They were all human beings like us.

So, like Valentine’s Day, I do not celebrate Maulidur Rasul. I don’t mind the holiday, though. But I prefer to remember those I love on a minute-to-minute basis rather than once a year.

It is the year of the Tiger. So what does the Tiger has in store for a Horse like me this year?

HORSE: 74% (12 favorable months)

The Horse will experience a more favorable year than the other signs, the only exception being the Dog. The year’s ruling element, Metal, is not one of your best and will likely temper what would otherwise be an outstanding year, to just a very good year on all fronts. You are poised to achieve gains in many areas of your life and have a great time doing it. The Horse is forecast to have an entire year without even one unfavorable month in 2010, a very uncommon phenomenon. This is not a time to hold back or sit on the sidelines. Rather, you should proceed through the year at a gallop. You may not win every race, but there will be many times you do reach the finish line first. Keep in mind the Tiger’s influence tends to be a bit reckless. Occasionally tighten up on the reins and be more careful.

Career

The Horse is well positioned for a year of marked progress in reaching professional goals. The Tiger will be ushering in change and uncertainty. For a typical Horse, your love of variety and diversity already gives you a natural advantage over your competitors. If you are in a in a career you enjoy, the unpredictable challenges should be exhilarating. If you don’t love your industry, seek new employment as early as possible, and you’ll likely make a quick, rewarding transition. Horse sign people are often blessed with a deeply held, personal confidence that they will succeed. This belief in yourself will also benefit you, but don’t think you have failed if you don’t accomplish every goal you set for 2010. The year is about being proactive and setting the stage for ultimate achievements. You can expect to see more of those next year.

Relationships

The Horse’s interactions this year should be very rewarding. You may find yourself highly in-demand with friends and acquaintances, and your social calendar is bound to conflict at some point with your responsibilities. As a Horse sign person, you know how to enjoy a raucous time, but in the end you are not likely to risk your true objectives. Don’t let the impetuous Tiger lure you too far down the path of temptation. In your personal life, you may find yourself attending more than usual to domestic matters or family obligations, and actually enjoying it. This year should be more conducive to romance than recent years, and 2010 is an auspicious year for engagement or marriage. If you have been single or lonely, you are almost sure to find someone to feel passionate about, especially during the spring and summer months.

Health

Horses often get away with neglecting their health for long periods without experiencing negative consequences. While this may seem like a blessing, it can actually be a disadvantage because you learn to take your body for granted. As strong and resilient as you might be, you cannot endure continuous abuse without paying a price. Furthermore, those life-enhancing habits like regular exercise and nutritious foods only get harder to adopt with with time. In such a busy and active year as this one, it is almost certain your brain will be getting all the exercise it can handle. It will actually improve your performance in all areas of your life if you treat your body as well as you treat your mind.

Wealth

Finances could be the weakest area for Horses this year. You may be deluded by illusions of grandeur when you receive a raise, or a large sum of money. The Tiger may influence you to spend it, but excessive luxury purchases are not advised (I hope my wife reads this!). You are likely to face unexpected expenses, and your security will be improved if you set aside as much of your money as possible in savings and secure investments so you can cover the additional outflows without worry. You will fare well by making a habit of living below your means. Needless to say, it is not a good time for gambling or risk; don’t trust your luck where money is concerned.