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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".


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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.


Saturday, June 13, 2009

Zikir and fikir (remembrance and reflection)


There should be no more need to explain this. Just read...


ZIKIR & FIKIR (REMEMBRANCE & REFLECTION)

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

English translation by Radzi Sapiee

Zikir literally means ’remembrance’. Doa (suplications), tahmid (reciting Alhamdulillah, thanks to Allah), wirid (a group of repetitious recitals), ratib (similar to wirid), the prayers, fasting, paying the obligatory yearly alms, pilgrimage of hajj, reciting the Quran, reciting the Asmaa ul- Husna (names of Allah) and such are all methods of remembering Allah s.w.t.

Allah commands us to always remember Him in all situations. As revealed in the Quran:

“They remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: ‘Our Lord, You did not create all this in vain. Be You glorified. Save us from the retribution of Hell.’” (Al-Imran: 191)

In the verse above we are also asked to reflect as both remembrance and reflection contain huge benefits for our lives here and in the hereafter. Verily to do zikir to Allah brings huge rewards. If we always remember Allah, then Allah would surely remember us (Quranic verse of Al-Baqarah: 152.). We would also gain spiritual strength and set our souls at peace (verse of. Ar- Ra’d:28).

The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said:

"The words that are most liked by Allah S.W.T. are four: Subhanallah (Most holy Allah), wal Hamdulillah (all praises for Allah), walaa ilaaha Illallah (and there is none to be worshipped but Allah), wallahu Akbar (and Allah most great).” (H.R.Muslim).

Reciting and remembrance of Allah must be done humbly, no need to be loud (as Allah is Most Hearing), in deep concentration, sincere only for Allah. God willing, our zikir will bear fruits. At the same time we are also asked to use our minds to reflect on everything which exist on heaven and earth. When we think about the creation of the heavens and earth alongside everything in it, we would surely be amazed at how ordered things are in space.

Earth and other planets, countless stars and other celestial bodies all revolve in its own orbit, all too numerous making it impossible to count their numbers. What would happen if their paths are not ordered, for example the earth approaching the sun, the moon going into earth or a planet in collision with another planet, star with star? For sure everything in this universe would be destroyed isn’t it?

God’s creations are so perfect. If we care, do reflect how we ourselves were created, from the seed of a man and woman becoming beautiful human beings. From the weak state we were born in, bit by bit we began to grow big. We are blessed with hearing, sight, ability to talk and such as we mature then grow old. Aren’t we supposed to thank Allah for all these?

Let us reflect on the purpose of us living in this world. Is it just to eat and drink, play around and then die? If that is the case, what is the difference between us and the other creations of Allah which we call animals?

We should reflect on how the Muslims are now so far left behind compared to the other communities. We should try to mend our mistakes by returning to the Quran and Sunnah, practices of the prophet s.a.w.. We should also love and care for each other. If we do these, God willing Muslims will become the best of communities.

Since the Muslims number more than one fith of the world’s population and the land in Muslim nations blessed with all sorts of wealth, by right the Muslims should not be weak as is the case now. Thus let us always remember Allah S.W.T. and use our minds for the prosperity of our lives in this world and the hereafter.


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