Visit to Mount Bromo

 



From my previous blog, I found out that my grandfather came from the island of Bawean. It is a small island 150km north of Jawa towards Borneo.

 

I took the whole family (wife + 4 daughters) to Bawean. However, when we reached Jawa, the boat going to Bawean was cancelled due to engine failure. The boat trip to Bawean is 3 times in a week.

 

Anyway, I then planned a trip to south of Jawa, to a volcanic mountain of Bromo. It was a beautiful scene on top of the volcanic range. We went up the summit of Mount Panajakan (by 4x4) to see the morning sunrise.

 

Then we climb Mount Bromo, which needs a bit of effort to reach the volcano top. The volcano is still active with hot steam coming out of the crate.

 

I am sharing 2 of my favourite photos up on Mount Bromo. I wore none other than Manchester United jersey. Then me & daughters took the air-borne picture with the camera facing the sun. If there is the flash, then the picture will be clearer. Nonetheless, the picture showed our feelings.. 

 

Subhanallah, all praise be to Allah for creating such a beautiful mountain/volcanic range.

 

It was a very good family outing. The result is I am closer to my wife & the kids as we enjoyed the good things together & I always remind them to praise Allah when we observe HIS creations.

 

For mountain in Quran (Ghasiyah:19). "And the mountains, how they are fixed firm" 

Rivalry that diverts us from good deeds!!

It has been a while since I last wrote in my blog.

Just to update regarding some things worth mentioning.

Our life that we are living is about making this earth a better place. It is a command from Allah that we ensure that this world is being properly managed.

Most of humans accumulate wealth, because money and fame are things that make you feel really good in the eyes of the people.

But, actually doing good deeds and being humble are traits that Allah ask from His slaves. We will leave ALL world things when we eventually die.

We should be grateful and praise Allah for all the good things that he has given to us. Sometimes, what Allah does not give you is best for you as He is the All knowing. So why should we worry about anything in this world? Just do what Allah tells us and abstain from what He forbids. Do good deeds and for sure Allah will protect you.

I was riding my motorcycle along the highway when a BMW came within a whisker from hitting me. The driver was a young professional. He was racing with another young driver driving a Mini Cooper. Wow! I was thinking to myself. These two young guys were  really "trying" to enjoy themselves.

They tried to have cheap thrill by having a race and flashing their "exclusive" toys. At the same time, endangering other innocent people.

I make doa to Allah. Please guide ALL of us from being indulging in this worldly things simply because of unnecessary rivalry. (Surah Takathur: 1).Same case goes to people in the corporate world, who are fighting tirelessly to climb the corporate ladder. 

May Allah protects us from syaitaan..

From Latvia to Russia

How I wish that I travel from Riga (Latvia) to Moscow in Russia. People might wonder why I chose these 2 cities to travel.

Well, the main reason is that I have blog followers from both these countries that I have never been before.  Maybe (insyaallah) one day I can visit these 2 countries.

I wanted to share with you the experience that I felt recently.I have this strong feeling that Allah is really close to me.

This feeling came from me observing the things around me. What a perfect world this is. The oxygen mix, the balanced ecosystem, the raw materials that this world produces is all signs of the Creator.

Most of us take them for granted. Most of us complained a lot and show little gratitude to the Creator. It is no surprise that Allah does not give them the most valuable gift of all -peacefulness.

The heart must be pure. The good deeds must be done for the sake of Allah. We must consistently seek guidance from Allah, as He is the one who gives us guidance. Do solat on time and in jamaah. Guard your tongue from saying bad and hurtful things. Always remember Allah by observing the things around us. Look at the positive things in life. Speak the truth, keep your promise and be fair to people.

Read the Quran and learn them well. Remind people of the good things that they must do.

When calamity comes, be patient and seek help from Allah. You will DEFINITELY find peace entering your soul…
Let us all make doa to Allah to guide us to the right path and protect us from syaitan. We will be successful in this world and the hereafter.  

syaitan is constantly whispering to all of us

Just to remind everyone that syaitan is constantly whispering to us to do bad things and follow our desires.

After Ramadan, syaitan has renewed his strategy to ensure that we do not follow the right path. he is making extra effort, knowing that humans have gone through the Ramadan annual training program for one month. syaitan is coming with a new approach. One thing we can learn about syaitan is he never ever give up. he will go on and on.. and on

I am sharing with my readers what has always been whispered to me lately.

The whisper that I am being left out from having got a Promotion at my workplace. This constant whisper that many of my juniors have now overtaken me in terms of being promoted. The whisper that what I have put up so far has gone to waste, as it is not good and honest work that pays, but the level of "who-you-know" is the determining factor when it comes to being promoted.

I have to really fight this constant whisper... I seek protection to Allah azzawajal to protect me from syaitan... please protect me from up, down, left, right, front and back. Please guide me to your straight path ya Allah.

I strongly believe that as long as we keep seeking the Creator's guidance, asking for forgiveness and doing our best to change ourselves for the better, Allah will keep His promise by guiding us and forgiving us.

I am pleading to my readers to make doa for me and my family to Allah, protect us all from the whispers of syaitan and guide us to the right path... Ameen

Notice that syaitan is in lower caps. 

Spending time with my 2 teenage daughters..

It has been a while since I write about my kids..

My wife went to London on 9 August 2013 with my two (2) youngest daughters. They will be there for 15 days.

That leaves me the time with my (2) eldest daughters age 19 and 17 respectively. We know that at that age, they have their friends that they like hanging out with. Well, this is a golden opportunity for me to hang out with them, when they are not hanging out with their friends. At that age, they do not like hanging out with their parents... Not fun

Firstly, I must act like their friends, not like a father.

That is easier said that done. Because once you are a father, you will remain a father, bossy & wanting to be in control ALL the time.

Secondly, I must appreciate what are their passion (music & movies).
Again easier said than done. Because of 30 years of gap, things are very different between us. The key word is "appreciate" not follow blindly..

Anyway, I took those 2 above principles, and we had a "good" time together amid many differences.. When there are differences, we just have to accept it, value them & explain the rational and go on...

They are grownups now and as a father, I realize that I may soon have to let them go...

May Allah protect them and make them to be good Muslimats and eventually become Mukminats
Ameen...     

David Moyes for United is like Bob Paisley for Liverpool

BPL 2013/14 kicks off on 18 August 2013.

Favourite team to win BPL: Chelsea or Manchester City

I like that prediction. Pundits say that Manchester United are in a transition period whereby this will be a year where David Moyes is rebuilding Manchester United. Well good comments.

I beg to differ. When Liverpool great manager Bill Shankly retired in 1974, he chose an relatively unknown assistant manager of his to be the new Liverpool manager. His name is Bob Paisley. When Bob Paisley took the helm of Liverpool,  people say that Liverpool is in a transition period. The rest, as they say, is HISTORY

Part of being a GREAT manager, is also knowing & identifying who is your successor. And I truly believe that Moyes is the one that Sir Alex has always wanted to be his successor.

Bill Shankly and Sir Alex Ferguson are great managers. Great managers know their SUCCESSOR..

He is a good proven manager during his Everton days, and he will be a GREAT manager for United. I have every confidence that Manchester United will be fighting for the BPL title this season and many more seasons to come.

But my main concern is Rooney. He wants to have a regular place in MU line-up so that he will be an automatic choice for England to be able to play in World Cup 2014 in Brazil. I hope that he stays with MU..

He is a fantastic player, slightly out of position at the moment..

Accept our ibadah this Ramadan ya Rabb..

This year Ramadan finished in a flash for me...

The moment I realized, it is the end of Ramadan. I did the usual routine works during end of Ramadan.
Like cleaning my grandparents and parents grave, making sure that the decorative lights are ALL light up.

During Eidul Fitri, I did what I always did every year. Sunat prayers, congregate at relatives house and having good food, taking pictures, visiting the grave, going to 3 must visit houses.

I did not manage to finish the whole Quran this Ramadan, but I did learn the deeper tafseer of certain selected Surah.

But what are the changes of this Ramadan compared to previous Ramadan?

1. I did not push myself when doing the "ibadah" this time. When I really feel like doing, I started doing it for the sake of Allah, not for my satisfaction. Even though the deeds are small, I make sure the intentions are purely to satisfy Allah.

2. During Eid, I wish people "Takabbalallah hu minha wa minkum" literally meaning, "May Allah accepts your ibadah (this Ramadan) and mine too". This means that we wish that ALLAH azzawajal will accept ALL our ibadah during the whole of this Ramadan, because if he accepts our ibadah, the reward is non other than entering paradise. And we must not forget that there is this ONE (1) special night in Ramadan that is better than 1,000 months and if Allah accepts our ibadah, than we get to be in worship equal to 1,000 months.. Masyaallah..


Back to Allah accepting our ibadah. There are 2 (two) significant signs that Allah accepts our ibadah.  These are merely signs, but Allah can do what HE pleases because He is the GREATEST.

1. The slave of Allah continues doing whatever he/she does during Ramadan. If he goes to the masjid to perform Isya in jamaah during Ramadan, then he continues to perform them in other months

2. The slave of Allah's akhlak is good (his character is good). He/she maintains being a good person to other people. He/She does not hurt anyone's feelings and does not do bad things.

Just look at our Prophet Muhammad SAW. Both the above signs were clearly showed by Rasulullah.
Our relation with Allah has improved, so is our relation with mankind..

Back to the objective why we fast in the first place.. to become muttaqin.. and the 2 signs above are signs of the slave becoming a muttaqin..

May Allah choose us to be muttaqin and we all sincerely seek constant guidance from Allah & please protect us from syaitan...

Ameen ya rabb.. Till we meet again in the next Ramadan..