Friday, August 29, 2008

Baby hidcups in womb

Date: 29/08/08
I am 8 months pregnant now!! It seems so fast... today 3rd time experience baby hidcups in tummy! I don't know baby can get hidcups in the womb. It's so cute... like heartbeat-ing in rhythm. Hubby can feel it too.

My girlfriend told me hers started hidcups during 7-month pregnant, so I have been waiting. She thought maybe the mother drinking water might help baby to stop hidcup... it didn't work for her.

3 days ago, when my baby started hidcup, as a mummy... I also followed what my friend did... drank water LOL. Somehow it worked!
*excited*
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
• Updates on 2 Sept 2008: Baby hidcups 6th times already. *excited mum-to-be jumping up and down*

• Updates on17 Sept 2008: Friend was telling me, baby hidcups in the womb is good for lung developement.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

South East Jogger pictures

Taken in 5 Nov 2007.
Found these pictures among the folders. Thought of sharing them :P



Singapore Bay Run 2008

Date: 18 Aug 2008
Venue: City Hall Padang Field
Time: 7:30 am

Cloudy and Muddy.


Hubby joined the 10 km run starting time 7.30 am. He left home around 6.20 am after checking the IRIS timing for the bus. I joined him later around 9 am. Since there are some road blocks, bus 36 was stopping at the stop before the Adelphi. I was blocked by the facilitators of the organiser (the Singapore Armed Force) at the traffic light junction. They wanted me to turned back and walk about 30 min to the venue rather than about 5 min walk from where I was. I told them I was going to the Bay Run venue, and they insisted that road was closed from public, only people from the venue can pass. Shocked... I didn't intend to walk 30 min or more with my heavy tummy.

I noticed they let an elderly passed! He was in the Bay Run T-shirt but didn't run, only went there to collect goody bag! Arrgh! Hey, I noticed something! Acrossed the traffic light, the Adelphi Building... no one was there to block the pedestrian... heehee... so I crossed the traffic light and happily walked to the venue in less than 5 min.

Hubby already finished his run, sms me to meet him at the field. There were a lot of fence blocks... so I managed to squeeze through the crowds and runners and located hubby (with his goody bag daggling in the air).

We met our South East jogger, Malcolm whom just finished his 10 km run. Then we took some pictures. While we were leaving, met another SE jogger Chin.








Haflah Al Jauhar 07/08








Date: 17 August 2008

Certificate Presentation for Al Jauhar was done at the stage of "Asian Halal Food 08" at the Singapore Expo Hall 5.

Recipients were students completed course/s conducted at Al Jauhar Darul Ulum, Masjid Hjh Fatimah and Mega Travel in year 2007 and 2008 with Imam Ahmad Jelani.

Course completed: Taisir, Tajwid, Talaqqi, Islamic Studies Module 1 & 2, Fardu Ain 1 & 2.

10 am, arrival of guests, registered and seated.
The event started with Qur'an Recitation by students of Al Jauhar. Followed by a short speech from Principal of Al Jauhar Darul-Ulum, Ustadz Ahmad Jelani Bin Kiyaii Johari. After that was the Certificate Presentation with the first batch of recipients.

A short break from the presentation, is an interesting Talk by Ustadz Windu Wijaya, topic on "Islam is a way of life" in Malay. His talk attracted many Expo passerby.

Then continued the presentation for the second batch of recipients untill closing doa by brother Zulkifli Bin Bujang (a long time student with Al Jauhar). After that was lunch reception and end of ceremony.

** More picture posted in Al Jauhar Multiply. Click on the Headline to direct link to Al Jauhar. **

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Space: Horsehead Nebula & Eagle Nebula Pillars

Suddenly miss the Horsehead Nebula & Eagle Nebula Pillars, do a search and find these 2 nice pictures and YouTube. Go to the web links and read about it.

Horsehead Nebula
Link: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_89.html
Credit and Copyright: Jean-Charles Cuillandre (CFHT), Hawaiian Starlight, CFHT


Link: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_73.html
Photo Credit & Copyright: Nigel Sharp (NOAO), KPNO, AURA, NSF


Eagle Nebula Pillars
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxwjh737oe4

2 nice pictures of the day.

A Bit of the Old Ultraviolet
Link: http://www.space.com/imageoftheday/image_of_day_080513.html

The ultraviolet light of the sun appears to burn electric blue when seen by SOHO.

This image shows a group of active regions that appear brighter in extreme UV light near the sun's left edge. The loops on the sun's fringe reflect particles spinning along and tracing magnetic field lines rising up and above several active regions. Scientists can observe the slowly changing activity along these magnetic field lines thanks to SOHO taking images every two and a half minutes.

The Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) launched as a joint mission between ESA and NASA in 1995. The spacecraft has the capability to image and examine the sun from its core to the outer coronal wreath and the solar wind.

— SOHO and SPACE.com Staff

Credit: SOHO (ESA & NASA)

Sis Aisya note: **This article taken from Space.com :) Love it!
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Active Galaxy NGC 1275
Link: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080822.html

Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA);
A. Fabian (IoA, Cambridge U.), L. Frattare (STScI), CXC, G. Taylor, NRAO,VLA
Explanation: Active galaxy NGC 1275 is the central, dominant member of the large and relatively nearby Perseus Cluster of Galaxies. A prodigious source of x-rays and radio emission, NGC 1275 accretes matter as entire galaxies fall into it, ultimately feeding a supermassive black hole at the galaxy's core. This stunning visible light image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows galactic debris and filaments of glowing gas, some up to 20,000 light-years long. The filaments persist in NGC 1275, even though the turmoil of galactic collisions should destroy them. What keeps the filaments together? Recent work indicates that the structures, pushed out from the galaxy's center by the black hole's activity, are held together by magnetic fields. To add x-ray data from the Chandra Observatory and radio data from the Very Large Array to the Hubble image, just slide your cursor over the picture. In the resulting composite, x-rays highlight the shells of hot gas surrounding the center of the galaxy, with radio emission filling giant bubble-shaped cavities. Also known as Perseus A, NGC 1275 spans over 100,000 light years and lies about 230 million light years away.

Sis Aisya note: **Article taken from NASA :) Nice Pix eh!

2 Nice pixs from space.com

Link: http://www.space.com/imageoftheday/image_of_day_080812.html

The wispy Veil Nebula appears to pass beneath the unrelated 52 Cygnus star, as seen in this image from the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter at the University of Arizona.

Also known as NGC6960, the Veil Nebula represents the shattered remains of possibly two supernovae that exploded more than 15,000 years ago in the direction of the constellation Cygnus. The explosion would have appeared as a bright star rivaling the crescent moon, once the light had crossed the 2,500 light-years to Earth.

The glowing, bright shell of gas from a supernova explosion usually results from the tremendous energy of the explosion plowing into its surroundings and heating up gas to millions of degrees. The cooling of the gas since then has created brilliant glowing colors.

— NASA/ESA and SPACE.com Staff

Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

Sis Aisya note: **Wow! Result of an explosion in space 15,000 years ago! Look at those colours!! Click on the Headline to visit the website of this article :) IF YOU ARE GOING THERE, remember to view the "Video: Supernova Destroyer/Creator", it shows you what is a SUPERNOVA! Amazing! Eg: The only thing in the universe that can form a Gold atom is during a Supernova!

Video direct link: http://www.space.com/common/media/video.php?videoRef=b050715_supernovadestroyer

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
cat's eye — ur doin it rong
Link: http://www.space.com/imageoftheday/image_of_day_080820.html

The Cat's Eye nebula gets a new look from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope.

The object known formally as NGC 6543 is a planetary nebula that represents a future snapshot of what our sun might look like several billion years from now. In its red giant phase, our sun will begin to run out of fuel and shed its outer layers. The remaining hot core eventually collapses to form a white dwarf star that pushes the ejected atmosphere away to form colorful filamentary structures.

Chandra's X-ray data appears in blue and shows a cloud of multi-million-degree gas surrounding the central star. Astronomers can compare where the X-rays sit in relation to the red and purple structures seen by Hubble's optical lens. The combined image shows the material shed by the star continuing to expand outward at a speed of about 4 million miles per hour.

— NASA/CXC and SPACE.com Staff

Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO/STScI

Sis Aisya note: **Updated pix of the Cat's Eye! Click on the Headline to visit the website of this article :) Nice Pix eh!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

PLS NOTE THAT THIS IS Ericsson 'Free Laptop' HOAX

Received this from a friend today.

Another "FREE / GIVEAWAY" Hoax... sigh... why people always love to create falsehood!!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dear All,
>
> The Ericsson Company is distributing free computer laptops
> in an attempt to match what Nokia has already done.
> Ericsson hopes to increase its popularity this way. For
> this reason, they are giving away the WAP Laptops.
> All you need to qualify is to send this email to 8 people
> you know.
> Within 2 weeks, you will receive Ericsson T18.
> But if you can send it to 20 people or more, you will
> receive R320.
>
> Make sure you send a copy to: Anna.swelung@ericsson.com
>
> Cheers and enjoy your laptop when it comes!
>
> Leen
> NNR Global Logistics (s) Pte Ltd
> Head Office:
> 10 Changi South Lane
> #02-01 Ossia Building (S486162)
> DID:6827 0895
> Main Line: 6827-0888 Fax: 6542-1268

*Note above: Someone signed off with her own company address,
sorry to say, this hoax will become from the sender then people (like me) will start calling the direct line for now to check for authenticity.
At least I did... it was a voice box message.*

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Can check these 2 websites regarding the Ericsson Hoax:

Ericsson 'Free Laptop' Hoax
http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/internet/a/ericsson_hoax.htm

FREE LAPTOP FROM ERICSSON
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/ericsson.asp

Pls check the authenticity before you FOREWARD anything/ any EMAIL.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Arabic test tonight.

I am studying for tonight Arabic test for module 1.

Hubby and I been taking several Arabic language classes for conversational and for beginners ... finally found one place with test and in several levels.

Completed module 1 last week so tonight is the test.

Hope we can pass.

Updates in 2 May 2012:
Yes, we passed. Hubby had continued through the 2nd module Arabic... while I was in confinement that time. Then once again... 3rd module not happening as the other students decided not to continue... Wonder is there anyone like us... so tragic in learning the language. Nevermind, the more we strive the more rewards we will get, inshaallah.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

99 Names of Allah

Allah is The Creator of the universe. He mentioned in the Quran that: Allah! There is no god but He! To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. (Qur'an 20:8) Allah describe His attributes to us mankind so we can know Him better.

• Allah: The Creator, He has the power to create the entities.
• Ar-Rahmaan: The Compassionate, The Beneficient, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers and the blasphemers in this world and especially for the believers in the hereafter.
• Ar-Raheem: The Merciful, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers.
• Al-Malik: The King, The Sovereign Lord, The One with the complete Dominion, the One Whose Dominion is clear from imperfection.
• Al-Quddoos: The Holy, The One who is pure from any imperfection and clear from children and adversaries.
• As-Salaam: The Source of Peace, The One who is free from every imperfection.
• Al-Mu'min: Guardian of Faith, The One who witnessed for Himself that no one is God but Him. And He witnessed for His believers that they are truthful in their belief that no one is God but Him.
• Al-Muhaimin:mThe Protector, The One who witnesses the saying and deeds of His creatures.
• Al-'Azeez:mThe Mighty, The Strong, The Defeater who is not defeated.
• Al-Jabbaar: The Compeller, The One that nothing happens in His Dominion except that which He willed.
========================
• Al-Mutakabbir: The Majestic, The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures and from resembling them.
• Al-Khaaliq: The Creator, The One who brings everything from non-existence to existence.
• Al-Bari': The Evolver, The Maker, The Creator who has the Power to turn the entities.
• Al-Musawwir: The Fashioner, The One who forms His creatures in different pictures.
• Al-Ghaffaar: The Great Forgiver, The Forgiver, The One who forgives the sins of His slaves time and time again.
• Al-Qahhaar: The Subduer, The Dominant, The One who has the perfect Power and is not unable over anything.
• Al-Wahhaab: The Bestower, The One who is Generous in giving plenty without any return. He is everything that benefits whether Halal or Haram.
• Al-Razzaaq: The Sustainer, The Provider.
• Al-Fattaah: The Opener, The Reliever, The Judge, The One who opens for His slaves the closed worldy and religious matters.
• Al-'Aleem: The All-knowing, The Knowledgeable; The One nothing is absent from His knowledge.
========================
• Al-Qaabid: The Constricter, The Retainer, The Withholder, The One who constricts the sustenance by His wisdomand expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy.
• Al-Baasit: The Expander, The Englarger, The One who constricts the sustenance by His wisdomand expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy.
• Al-Khaafidt: The Abaser, The One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.
• Ar-Raafi': The Exalter, The Elevator, The One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.
• Al-Mu'iz: The Honorer, He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; And He degrades whoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.
• Al-Muthil: The Dishonorer, The Humiliator, He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; And He degrades whoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.
• As-Samee': The All-Hearing, The Hearer, The One who Hears all things that are heard by His Eternal Hearing without an ear, instrument or organ.
• Al-Baseer: The All-Seeing, The One who Sees all things that are seen by His Eternal Seeing without a pupil or any other instrument.
• Al-Hakam: The Judge, He is the Ruler and His judgment is His Word.
• Al-'Adl: The Just, The One who is entitled to do what He does.
========================
• Al-Lateef: The Subtle One, The Gracious, The One who is kind to His slaves and endows upon them.
• Al-Khabeer: The Aware, The One who knows the truth of things.
• Al-Haleem: The Forebearing, The Clement, The One who delays the punishment for those who deserve it and then He might forgive them.
• Al-'Azeem: The Great One, The Mighty, The One deserving the attributes of Exaltment, Glory, Extolement,and Purity from all imperfection.
• Al-Ghafoor: The All-Forgiving, The Forgiving, The One who forgives a lot.
• Ash-Shakoor: The Grateful, The Appreciative, The One who gives a lot of reward for a little obedience.
• Al-'Aliyy: The Most High, The Sublime, The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures.
• Al-Kabeer: The Most Great, The Great, The One who is greater than everything in status.
• Al-Hafeez: The Preserver, The Protector, The One who protects whatever and whoever He willed to protect.
• Al-Muqeet: The Maintainer, The Guardian, The Feeder, The Sustainer, The One who has the Power.
========================
• Al-Haseeb: The Reckoner, The One who gives the satisfaction.
• Aj-Jaleel: The Sublime One, The Beneficent, The One who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status.
• Al-Kareem: The Generous One, The Bountiful, The Gracious, The One who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status.
• Ar-Raqeeb: The Watcher, The Watchful, The One that nothing is absent from Him. Hence it's meaning is related to the attribute of Knowledge.
• Al-Mujeeb: The Responsive, The Hearkener, The One who answers the one in need if he asks Him and rescues the yearner if he calls upon Him.
• Al-Wasi': The Vast, The All-Embracing, The Knowledgeable.
• Al-Hakeem: The Wise, The Judge of Judges, The One who is correct in His doings.
• Al-Wadood: The Loving, The One who loves His believing slaves and His believing slaves love Him. His love to His slaves is His Will to be merciful to them and praise them:Hence it's meaning is related to the attributes of the Will and Kalam (His attribute with which He orders and forbids and spoke to Muhammad and Musa -peace be upon them- . It is not a sound nor a language nor a letter.).
• Al-Majeed: The Most Glorious One, The Glorious, The One who is with perfect Power, High Status, Compassion, Generosity and Kindness.
• Al-Ba'ith: The Reserrector, The Raiser (from death), The One who resurrects His slaves after death for reward and/or punishment.
========================
• Ash-Shaheed: The Witness, The One who nothing is absent from Him.
• Al-Haqq: The Truth, The True, The One who truly exists.
• Al-Wakeel: The Trustee, The One who gives the satisfaction and is relied upon.
• Al-Qawiyy: The Most Strong, The Strong, The One with the complete Power.
• Al-Mateen: The Firm One, The One with extreme Power which is un-interrupted and He does not get tired.
• Al-Waliyy: The Protecting Friend, The Supporter.
• Al-Hameed: The Praiseworthy, The praised One who deserves to be praised.
• Al-Muhsee: The Counter, The Reckoner, The One who the count of things are known to him.
• Al-Mubdi': The Originator, The One who started the human being. That is, He created him.
• Al-Mu'eed: The Reproducer, The One who brings back the creatures after death.
========================
• Al-Muhyi: The Restorer, The Giver of Life, The One who took out a living human from semen that does not have a soul. He gives life by giving the souls back to the worn out bodies on the resurrection day and He makes the hearts alive by the light of knowledge.
• Al-Mumeet: The Creator of Death, The Destroyer, The One who renders the living dead.
• Al-Hayy: The Alive, The One attributed with a life that is unlike our life and is not that of a combination of soul, flesh or blood.
• Al-Qayyoom: The Self-Subsisting, The One who remains and does not end.
• Al-Waajide: The Perceiver, The Finder, The Rich who is never poor. Al-Wajd is Richness.
• Al-Waahid: The Unique, The One, The One without a partner.
• Al-Ahad: The One.
• As-Samad: The Eternal, The Independent, The Master who is relied upon in matters and reverted to in ones needs.
• Al-Qaadir: The Able, The Capable, The One attributed with Power.
• Al-Muqtadir: The Powerful, The Dominant, The One with the perfect Power that nothing is withheld from Him.
========================
• Al-Muqaddime: The Expediter, The Promoter, The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.
• Al-Qaadir:Al-Mu'akh-khir
The Delayer, the Retarder, The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.
• Al-'Awwal: The First, The One whose Existence is without a beginning.
• Al-'Akhir:The Last, The One whose Existence is without an end.
• Az-Zaahir:The Manifest, The One that nothing is above Him and nothing is underneath Him, hence He exists without a place. He, The Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.
• Al-Baatin: The Hidden, The One that nothing is above Him and nothing is underneath Him, hence He exists without a place. He, The Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.
• Al-Waleer: The Governor, The One who owns things and manages them.
• Al-Muta'ali: The Most Exalted, The High Exalted, The One who is clear from the attributes of the creation.
• Al-Barr: The Source of All Goodness, The Righteous, The One who is kind to His creatures, who covered them with His sustenance and specified whoever He willed among them by His support, protection, and special mercy.
• At-Tawwaab:The Acceptor of Repentance, The Relenting, The One who grants repentance to whoever He willed among His creatures and accepts his repentance.
========================
• Al-Muntaqim:The Avenger, The One who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them for their sins. It may mean the One who destroys them.
• Al-'Afuww: The Pardoner, The Forgiver, The One with wide forgiveness.
• Ar-Ra'uf: The Compassionate, The One with extreme Mercy. The Mercy of Allah is His will to endow upon whoever He willed among His creatures.
• Malik Al-Mulk: The Eternal Owner of Sovereignty, The One who controls the Dominion and gives dominion to whoever He willed.
• Thul-Jalali wal-Ikram: The Lord of Majesty and Bounty, The One who deserves to be Exalted and not denied.
• Al-Muqsitr: The Equitable, The One who is Just in His judgment.
• Aj-Jaami': The Gatherer, The One who gathers the creatures on a day that there is no doubt about, that is the Day of Judgment.
• Al-Ghaniyy: The Self-Sufficient, The One who does not need the creation.
• Al-Mughni: The Enricher, The One who satisfies the necessities of the creatures.
• Al-Maani': The Preventer, The Withholder.
========================
• Ad-Daarr: The Distresser, The One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed.
• An-Nafi': The Propitious, The One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed.
• An-Noor: The Light, The One who guides.
• Al-Haadi: The Guide, The One whom with His Guidance His belivers were guided, and with His Guidance the living beings have been guided to what is beneficial for them and protected from what is harmful to them.
• Al-Badi': The Incomparable, The One who created the creation and formed it without any preceding example.
• Al-Baaqi: The Everlasting, The One that the state of non-existence is impossible for Him.
• Al-Waarith: The Supreme Inheritor, The Heir, The One whose Existence remains.
• Ar-Rasheedr: The Guide to the Right Path, The One who guides.
• As-Saboor: The Patient, The One who does not quickly punish the sinners.

Encounter with a stranger on bus 63.

1 August 2008, Friday night, meeting a girlfriend in Islamic Studies Class, 2 weeks after the "encounter with the Shites cab driver"...

Going from my mother's house, so I am taking bus 63. A dark Chinese man got up the bus from Geylang area and sat beside me. He was sitting close to me, so I adjusted myself, disliked the closeness.

He then spoke to me in Malay... Don't understand what he said, tried hard to figure with my limited Malay...

Why people always speak to me in Malay? Just because I am wearing Muslim's head scarve to cover my hair, it makes me a Malay... misconception of the public that a Muslim is an "unquestionable" Malay... sigh.

Then I heard "Sambayang?" (meaning prayer).
I nodded... since it's close to Ishak prayer at 8.28 pm.

He said: " Belajar?" (meaning learning/ going to class)
I nodded... since I was meeting friend in class.

He said: " xxxx xxxx xxx xx..."
Oh dear, don't understand... "Err, you can speak Malayu very well..."

He said: "... Kawan.... Muslim... xxx... xxx..." (Ok, Kawan means friend, so he has Muslim friend so he can speak Malay well.)
I said: "Sorry, I don't speak Malay."

He said (in Malay and Eng) : "... last time... china... kawan... Muslim... no food... he cannot already... dying... I give him pork to eat... Muslim cannot eat pork I know... but he dying... only drink water..."

Shocked, I didn't know did I hear correctly, I keep quiet and hear what he want to say.

He continued: "No food... He don't want to eat... he good person, very helpful... we have 4 person (?)... don't want to see him die... we tell him it's beef, then he eat... Wa, then ho, when he recover, he want to beat me, he thought I scare, I don't like he talk big, I take the bicycle, want to hit him! He talk big you know! He say he 100% Muslim, never eat pork before! What 100% Muslim? You know chinese don't eat beef?"

I said: " No, only certain religions, chinese don't eat beef, not all chinese don't eat beef."

He said: "Ya, I was a "?" I don't eat beef before, then one time I eat, nothing happened to me what, I still eat beef now!"

I said: "Sorry, muslim don't eat pork is a command from the Quran... ." (after that I realised he won't listen so I didn't continue)

He said: "Nothing happened to me ma, I eat beef, so CAN EAT."

He continues: "So we four give him pork. He said got sin, aiya, ok lah, I know I got sin with your Allah."

I went: "Huh? Sin? (a pause) You are not a believer, so you don't have sin lah, you are being kind wanted to help but you didn't know the seriousness of a Muslim regarding pork... I believed he also not TALKING BIG, he just wanted you to understand, but I think you didn't listen to his reason..."

He stared at me.

I continued: "Muslim don't eat pork, but only during emergency..."
He interrupt: "Ya emergency, he dying!"
I continued: "Only he can decide, you said he drinking water right? You should let him decide when he should eat, not you."
(To the muslim, he felt angry might due to this man betrayed his trust, the muslim believed what this man said, he was eating beef... I think.)

He said: "But he good man, like a brother, I don't want see him die."
I said: " Yes, but you should let him know he was given pork, let him decide, he would know whether he is in emergency or not... BUT talked about sin... You are just trying to save him but ignorance about our law, so no sin... As for him, he ate the pork out of ignorance, he didn't know, so no sin too."

*in my heart thinking... Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful, as long as the muslim repent for the mistake he make for eating forbidden food, Allah will forgive, inshaAllah*

Ah, realised I was about to reach my bus-stop, thinking "Oh Great, I can get off the conversation..."

Then I told him, "I have reached my stop."

He standed up, pleading: " You ask your teacher, you ask your teacher, I..."
I stand up from my seat, but his arm blocking my way, alarmed I looked at him speechless.

He continued: " You ask your teacher, you ask your teacher! I saved him! He talk big, want to beat me!"

The bus is stopping, with him blocking my way, I raised my voice " I NEED TO GET DOWN NOW!"

He removed his arm still asking me to ask my teacher... sigh... I alighted the bus.

This keep me thinking till now.

Encounter with a Shi'ite cab driver.

One friday night, was helping ustadz with solat practical to Islamic Studies Course 1. Class starting at 9 pm, so I prayed maghrib prayer at home then took a cab to Arab Street class.

Cab driver: " Pergi mana?" (Go where?)
Me: "Arab Street please."

*peek at the rear mirror at me*
Cab Driver: "Berlajar?" (learning/going to class?)
Me: " Yes, Belajar." *smile*

Cab Driver: " Xxx xxxxx xxxxxx Sunni, Shi'ite?" (in Malay)
Me: "Huh? Sorry I don't understand Malay."
Cab driver: "Oh, you learn Sunni or Shi'ite?"
Me: " Sunni..." (puzzled why he asked.)

Cab driver: "What you know about Shi'ite?"
Me getting uncomfortable... : " Why? Are you Shi'ite?"
Cab driver paused: "Ya, I am Shi'ite. So what you know about Shi'ite?"
I was trying to avoid comfrontation, just answered softly: "Only what I learnt from my Sirah (history) class, not much..."

Cab driver persisted, "So what you know about Shi'ite?"
Couldn't avoid... so I went: "emm, you follow Ali right?" (Ali is the 4th Caliph, and also son-in-law of prophet Muhammad)

Cab driver looked at rear mirror at me: " You know Salawat right?" (Salawat is sending Salam/Peace to our beloved prophet.)
Me: "Yes ?!"
Cab driver: "How you say Salawat? Allaahuma sawli ala Muhammad, wa ala alii Muhammad right? What is ALII ?"
My eyes bewildered... "Huh? That ALII does not mean Ali (the person)! (In arabic) It means Family of the prophet!"

Cab driver: "Of course I don't mean Ali, yes, it says family of prophet, so we have to follow Ali, he is the son-in-law of prophet, husband of Fatimah. "
Me: "Ya, also cousin of prophet..."

Cab driver: "If you recite Salawat without WA ALA ALII MUHAMMAD, your salawat is not valid!"
Me: "Huh? Never heard of it... but I'll rather follow the Sunnah (teachings) of the prophet."

Cab driver: "Yes we follow the sunnah, we also have to follow the lineage of the prophet!"
Me: "Then you should follow the rest of the Caliph too, they are in-laws of the prophet too!"
Cab driver: "No."
Me: " YES, Umar and Uthman also in-laws of prophet!"
Cab driver: "You mean Abu Bakar, father-in-law of prophet, father of Aishah?"
Me: " Uthman and Omar too. Uthman was son-in-law, of prophet, and Omar was father-in-law of prophet!"
Cab driver: "No, Prophet only has 1 daughter Fatimah!!"
Me: "No, prophet had 2 other daughters too, Uthman married one but after she died, he was so sad, and wanted to be prophet's son-in-law again, so he married the sister, so he was twice son-in-law of prophet. While Omar's daughter married prophet, so he was father-in-law of prophet!"
Cab driver: "Really, who's his daughter?"
Me: "You know the one keeping the compilation of the Quran... her name is Hafsah... they let her keep the compilation in respect of Omar."
Cab driver: "Ahh... Hafsah, I don't know!"
Me (felt relieved, hoped he stopped asking me more): "Ok, so I know something you didn't know..."

Cab driver: "Ah, I didn't know!"
Me (without thinking): "So please go and learn if you do not know..." (oops)
Cab driver: "haahaa... ok."

My cab reached Arab street... felt relieved... digging in my purse to pay the fare.

Cab driver: "You don't mind ah... just chatting only."

I didn't say anything, just smiled at him and nodded my head.

I have encountered a lot of this kind of conversation with many (hundreds of) cab drivers/strangers... all said the same at the end, but usually, they (really seems to) challenge my belief and being a female Muslim. But compared to the type of "encounters" by our prophet Muhammad during his life time, I guess mine are considered mild cases. (Prophet Muhammad encountered numerous physical and verbal confrontation by the non-believers. He was even laid with dead camel intestines while he was praying towards the Ka'bah. Glad I was not tested this way, scary.

I supplicate to Allah that I will attain the knowledge to spread the correct message of Islam to these people, muslim or non-muslim.

Don't know why I keep getting all this kind of treatment, but hubby always hoped someone will ask him like what they asked me... I rather he is the one being asked... I always have to keep calm and not getting angry or impatience with these strangers. It's hard you know. Don't know how many brain cells were killed during the "conversation and exchange of knowledge".

Yaa Allah, please give me strength and strengthen my faith and knowledge for your sake.