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

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.


Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Respect for mothers

Peace be upon you all. Recently I was asked to voluntarily translate a number of religious articles in Malay into English for a website. The thing is I'm also in the midst of translating a Malay book comprising of 500 pages A4 paper worth of text (some 150,000 words) to English and promised to complete it by July. As it is, I've only done slightly more than 200 pages so far and I'm scheduled to head for an overseas trip mid June. So I actually have almost 300 pages to go in slightly less than three weeks!

The person asked me a few times. After thinking hard about it, I decided to start. I had a look at all the articles available in the website and I thought, hey... why not? Although there are a number of them, the articles are at most 2 pages of A4 paper long. In the name of Allah I can do this an article at a time in-between other works. And to make it worthwhile my time besides making it easy for the person to gain the translation in the event if I can't e-mail it to him, why not publish it here too?

Oh by the way, I still can't e-mail the first article I managed to translate today as there could be something wrong with the address given. Then I just can't contact him by phone. So let us start. Here's the first article...

RESPECT FOR MOTHERS

By Ustaz Syed Hasan Alatas
http://www.shiar-islam.com/

English translation by Radzi Sapiee

Allah (swt) says in the Quran:"We make it obligatory for humankind to be good towards both their parents, (especially since) the mother had bore him in weakness with the load getting heavier (from early pregnancy till birth and breastfeeding). And the weaning is in a period of two years, (so) be thankful to Me (Allah) and to both your parents, and to Me you shall indeed return."

(Q.S.Luqman:14)

A man asked Rasulallah (saw), who is most deserving of respect. The Prophet (saw) answered: Your mother! The man asked again, then who is next, the Prophet (saw) answered: Your mother! The man went on asking, then who is next? The Prophet (saw) answered your mother! Then who is next? The Prophet (saw) answered: Then your father!

(Hadis related by at-Tirmizi)

Such is the high status and honour of mothers in Islam.One cannot deny the huge responsibility shouldered by a mother for her family especially her children. Imagine all the troubles a mother has to go through when bearing a child, from month to month until the baby is born. Imagine her pain when giving birth, and when the baby is born she looks after him and at the same time she also has to take care of all her other children. Imagine, with lots of love she has to wake up everytime the child cries and comfort him regardless of the hour and her own problems. Lots of time is spent nursing, taking care of, educating and protecting a child from infancy until he grew up.

There is no way we can pay back for all the tiring moments she has to go through. There is no price for the love she has towards her children. Every night the mother is disturbed from her sleep by her sweet baby. Such is the sacrifies a mother makes.

A mother is willing to do anything and lost everything for her beloved children without expecting any return. She is willing to suffer and loose sleep to give milk, or to make sure her child does not fall ill or get bitten by mosquitoes. A mother always prayed for her children to be well, healthy and grew up to be useful human beings.What big sin is in store for the rebel child who refuses to listen to his mother, what huge offence made by those who does not want to return a mother’s favour especially when she is sick or very old. Such is the situation nowadays that we often heard the elders say: “A mother is willing to take care, nurse and raise ten children but there is no guarantee ten children is willing to take care of one mother”

Thus we should return the good favour of our mothers by at least showing her respect. Honour our mothers and take care of their well-being especially in their old days when they need us the most.

No comments: