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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.


Friday, April 26, 2013

Masjid Nabawi at night

Continued from Looking inside Baqi'.

Came night time I was at the Masjid (mosque of) Nabawi again to do my prayers while enjoying the atmosphere.


The whole place was lively inside and outside. People can practically sit anywhere and even lie down to sleep... that is, when it's not time to pray congregationally. For the record this is the 1,133th article in this blogspot.








Looking inside Baqi'



To the east of Masjid Nabawi lies a huge burial ground called Baqi'. It is opened to the public only on designated times. So when I found the gates opened after Asar (late afternoon) prayer, I immediately stepped in.


Baqi' has been around since the time of Prophet Muhammad SAW more than 1,400 years ago. Some of the Prophet's family members were buried here along with more than 10, 000 of his companions, it is said.






The graves and tombs are unmarked.




But that did not stop many from going around looking for the tombs of important persons in Islam.






Thursday, April 25, 2013

Finding a way to Raudhah inside the Masjid Nabawi

Continued from Going to Medina.


So we have arrived at our hotel in Medina. After a short rest I walked to Masjid Nabawi, the mosque of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and explored some of its corners. This picture is taken after I went out for a while. Then I went in again for the Zuhur (afternoon) prayers.






For the record the mosque is about 400 metres wide and 300 metres across. After entering from the left-side I had to walk a considerable distance to enter a certain place inside the mosque.




The place is called the Raudhah, a certain area which the Prophet said is a garden from paradise.


The authorities tend to create temporary barriers at different parts of the mosque to control the crowd and the Raudhah lies just after this. Looks like I have to find another way in.


So there I was hustling with a big crowd, all wanting to have the blessing of being inside the Raudhah.


The pulpit of the Prophet. It is said that the Raudhah lies between the pulpit and the Prophet's tomb some 20-30 metres to the left.


The mihrab of the Prophet. It was the front-most area inside the mosque during his time more than 1,400 years ago and that's where he used to lead prayers.


At this juncture one could safely say one is inside the blessed Raudhah.


Satisfied, I went outside following the crowd pass the three panels where lies the tomb of the Prophet behind. For my record this is the 1,131th article in this blogspot.


Going to Medina

Peace be upon you all. The article Views from the KLIA viewing area shows me and wife idling our time as we waited for our plane to take us to Saudi Arabia. What happened was the flight was delayed for more than 24 hours. It was only around 8 pm on Tuesday 2nd April 2013 that we get to board the plane. And it took more than another hour to take off.

Anyway we were relieved that we got on the plane. About 9 hours later we arrived at the airport in Jeddah and then took a bus to the holy city of Medina some 400 km away. By then it was already Wednesday 3rd April both here and in Malaysia. For the record the clock in Jeddah is 5 hours behind.


We started the journey at around 3.30 am. This picture was taken about 3 hours later.


By then my digital camera had ran out of power. So I had to rely on my handphone camera to record what's next.


This is the mosque at a stop where we had breakfast.


There might not be much to see along the way but hey, we were very excited...




Soon we have to pass through this gate. I believe it marks the outward boundary of Medina.




The city of Medina is still a distance away.








This is the mosque of Bir Ali, an important place as those doing their pilgrimage to the holy city of Mekah and the building called Ka'abah (focal points for Muslims praying worldwide) from the direction of Medina must set their niat (intention) here.


I think the city is some 8 km from Bir Ali.








Entering the city of Medina...












This is where we're stopping.






There's an Indonesian cuisine restaurant...


Next to it lies our hotel.