-----------------------

This blogspot is a medium to share my thoughts and adventures apart from promoting my books. Below are the books which have been written or authored and published by myself.


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Mencari Diri dan Erti".

ISBN 983-42031-0-1, Jun 2006


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Membela Syiar yang Asal"

ISBN 983-42031-1-x, May 2007


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Sirih Pulang ke Gagang?"

ISBN 978-983-42031-2-2, November 2007


It is interesting to note that while these books were written in Malay it has gained enough attention to merit being part of the collections of the American Library of Congress and National Library of Australia. Look here and here.


While the first three books were published by my own company, the fourth titled "Rumah Azan" was published in April 2009 by a company called Karnadya with the help of the Malaysian national literary body Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. It features beautiful pictures along with stories behind selected mosques which could be related to the history of Islam and the Malays alongside the formation of the Malaysian nation. Look at the article A collaboration of old collegemates - the book "Rumah Azan".


My fifth book "Ahlul Bait (Family) of Rasulullah SAW and Malay Sultanates", an English translation and adaptation of the Malay book "Ahlul Bait (Keluarga) Rasulullah SAW dan Kesultanan Melayu" authored by Hj Muzaffar Mohamad and Tun Suzana Othman was published early 2010. Look here... My 5th book is out! Ahlul Bait (Family) of Rasulullah SAW and the Malay Sultanates... . For more information check out my Malay blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU.



Like my fourth book "Rumah Azan", the sixth book "Kereta Api Menuju Destinasi" is also a coffee-table book which is published by the company Karnadya with the cooperation of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (the main Malay literary body in Malaysia). Coming out January 2011 it features pictures and stories on the adventure travelling by train to all of Peninsular Malaysia along with the interesting places which could be reached this way.


My seventh book "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah" in turn is a coffee-table book which is written, editted, designed and has pictures taken by me. Coming out of the factory October 2011, this book which combines family history with history of places such as Singapura, Johor, Batu Pahat, Muar and in fact the history of the island of Java and England has been reviewed with me interviewed live in the program Selamat Pagi Malaysia at RTM1. Look at the article Siaran langsung ulasan buku "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah" dan temu ramah di Selamat Pagi Malaysia. Some selected contents have been featured in Sneak peek "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah".


-----------------------


The "Berpetualang ke Aceh" series of novels could be obtained in e-book form. Enter http://www.e-sentral.com/, click general novel and go to page 4. You can also type the word "Aceh" at the search box. Or click straight Book 1, Book 2 and Book 3.


Thursday, July 19, 2007

A night at Masjid Tok Kenali...

Let me go straight to the story... Back from where I left off Dec 23rd 2006 in Kota Bahru...
Some 4 miles away from the Islamic city centre is the area of Kubang Kerian, still considered part of Kota Baru. Here lies the tomb and a mosque dedicated to a very famous person of Kelantanese origin who goes by the name Tok Kenali.
How famous is he? Well, let's just say, when Kota Bahru especially the Muhammadiyah mosque (refer to my previous posting) was last acknowledged as the nationwide centre of Islamic learning in the 1920s, perhaps even the most prominent centre for the Malay Archipelago, Tok Kenali was said to be the reason behind it all!
Here is a person acknowledged by many as a saint of the highest degree, his exploits and miracles so famous to all and sundry... Whatever, in this blogspot, I just want to tell a pictorial story about my 3rd (or was it 4th?) time visiting his tomb and spending the night at his mosque.
If you want to know more, you can Google the name Tok Kenali and find out about him especially his miracles. Why... He was known to have splitted his person into three so that he can attend three different functions and locations far away from each other at the same time!


The tomb of Tok Kenali standing out rather prominently at an old graveyard area in Kubang Kerian...


The grave Tok Kenali marked by these boulders. Besides is the grave of his wife.

Believe it or not, I've seen both graves in a dream I had many years ago. But it's only in mid 2004 I first visited the place and find out how exact are the details as compared to the dream!


A Quranic verse hanging up within the roofed tomb.


There, have a look and read the description... Then again it's in Jawi writings. Suffice to say, it says, Tok Kenali's real name is Muhammad Yusuf who died in 1933 at the age of 65...



Masjid (the mosque) of Tok Kenali where I spent the night. I'm getting quite familiar with the place as since mid 2004 I would pay a visit whenever in Kota Bahru.

The first nightI was there was a totally different experience though. Believe it or not, I can smell strong perfume, I think of Attar permeating the whole mosque for many hours. And for the whole two days I was there then, the tap water smelled, even tasted like lime juice, exactly just like in another dream I had a few years back! The account is related in Malay, in my second book "Berpetualang ke Aceh: Membela Syiar yang Asal", through the eyes and experiences of the main character Muhammad Al-Aminul Rasyid.

You can say I'm just simply haluccinating if you want and don't believe such things but that's how I felt. And that was not my only supernatural experience... I've had many, too many that I'm sure I'm able to tell whether I'm just dreaming, hallucinating or such...


The tower of the mosque seen as dusk approached.


A small 'museum' dedicated to the memory of Tok Kenali...


Part of the madrasah (religious school) continuing the tradition of Tok Kenali who used to teach many prominent scholars. Notice what is said in the signboard on the left? "Sudah kita bersedia untuk mati? (Are we ready to die?)."

This statement could be alarming for most but for those who have studied the deep mysteries of the universe especially through the teachings of Sufism (Islamic mystic), it is very common... In fact they would dare say, "Yes... We are ready to die", without bragging but with just conviction!

The only difference is in the manner one dies... Whether in ignorance or in understanding the actually workings of the universe, that is, a universe governed by the Maker, God, Allah... Whether as a useful person that have truly tasted life or as a loser without any contribution to society.

That's why a true Muslim (sorry ya, most people call themselves Muslims but in reality they are nowhere near its real significance) is not scared of death. But that doesn't mean one should walk around looking for excuses to get themselves killed or blow up their bodies like suicide bombers do. No...

Actually, it is more like the Samurai's code of Bushido. When you are not scared of death and are ready to die, then only you can live life to the fullest. This is because you are not scared to carry out any endeavour up to its fullest potential and such.

Anyway, that is just a whiff of the secret behind understanding the philosophy of "ready to die"... Got to continue with other writings... See ya! :]

No comments: