Ramadhan

Ramadhan datang lagi. Sama-sama kita menyambut Ramadhan dengan memperbanyakkan amal ibadat serta memperbaiki cara hidup kita ke arah yang diperintahkan oleh Allah swt dan RasulNya.

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan.
Selamat Berpuasa.

:: aerobrain :: Ahmad Firdaus :: Pi ::

Happy 1st Anniversary

Alhamdulillah .. Yesterday was our 1st Anniversary. Life so far is great and I'm thankful that I have a very understanding wife. In a marriage, understanding and tolerate each other are very important. Otherwise, we'll be end up arguing all day without any solution. Any discrepancies or argument should be solved before we go to bed to avoid bad feeling to each other. This also implies to our children.

Alhamdulillah .. We also have our 1st child right now and she is growing very fast. May Allah gives His Blessing to this family. InsyaAllah.

To my wife,
I love you so much.

:: aerobrain :: Ahmad Firdaus :: Pi

Ramadhan Resolution

Ramadhan Al-Mubarak will come again in 3 days. Normally if few days more to New Year, people will start talking about resolution. Why not we welcome this precious month of Ramadhan with resolutions as well, resolution that InsyaAllah will move us forward in terms of Ibadah and Iman.

In my opinion, resolutions must be realistic and it depends on your situation right now. Is the meaning of Ramadhan is only Bazaar Ramadhan & Solat Terawih? It should be more than that.

Realistic Resolution can be as follows:

• Spend more time for reciting Al-Quran
• Perform more Prayers (Solat Sunat)
• Make more Do'a
• Give more Sedeqah (Charity in terms of money or food or etc)
• Take opportunity to revise our deeds, stop doing the bad deeds (sinful)

I call this Realistic Resolution because it can be done. Take for an example reciting Al-Quran, of course it is recommended to at least recite 1 Juz everyday, but knowing our busy life, if we can move from 0 (zero - not doing at all) to at least 1-2 page everyday, I consider that a Realistic Resolution.

Don't understand me wrongly, my point here is, it is better we move a step forward rather that not moving at all. At least we appreciate and treat Ramadhan as a special month, and with the hope that, the improvement that we made through Ramadhan will be Istiqamah (consistent) after the AidilFitri.

Let us try to make a move forward during this Ramadhan, because we never knew whether we can still live for the next Ramadhan.

:: Ahmad Firdaus :: Pi :: aerobrain ::

Blissful Weekends

Since the good news, my weekends have been so blissful and eventful. Instead of previously just look forward to hiking (broga) or watching DVD (alone) at home, right now, it is far more exciting to wait for every weekend to come. why? simple. because I can see my fiancee during weekend! think it is not enough to make me feel blissful? think again. (ceh, mcm NatGeo punye iklan).

Last 2 weekends were really happening! 10.10.2010 was my sister's (only sister) birthday, we did a small celebration but yet meriah (click here for detail story and also here).

And last weekend, I visited a place I never been before, my fiancee workplace (she works nearby this town). One of her best friend organized a small gather-together with friends and 'family'. Really feel welcomed to this family. Thanks to the organizer. It was nice to meet all of you. Me and my fiancee went to Kuantan to buy some stuff as a part of our wedding preparation. The seafood at Tanjung Lumpur was great, reminded me some good seafood when I was back in Penang. Thanks to my fiancee for showing me around Kuantan.

Alhamdulillah, I thank God for giving me opportunity to have this far better life right now. May Allah always shine His blessings upon all of us. Semoga Allah mempermudahkan segala urusan kita. Ameen.

Take care.

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

Ramadhan: 10 days left

A quick reminder to myself and to all Muslims readers! Let us grab this once-a-lifetime opportunity. Remember, we can't guarantee ourselves that we will live till the next Ramadhan.

Take care.

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

Ramadhan 1431

Tomorrow will be the 1st day of Ramadhan, that means tonight will be the 1st night of Terawih. That also means tomorrow will be the 1st day of fasting.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Ramadhan Mubarak to all of you. Take this opportunity to improve our life not only in terms of Ibadah but also in all other aspects. Increase productivity, spending more time with family/friends during dinner/iftar and performing solat, qiamullail, giving sadaqah, and all other positive activities you can think of.

Remember, one of the big reason Ummah of Muhammad (saw) is blessed with Ramadhan is because our life is shorter than the previous ummah. Do as much as you can because you might not be able to live during the next Ramadhan. Wallahu'alam.

Take care.

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

ReThink @ Broga Hill

Last weekend I spent 2 consecutive mornings with my friend. On Saturday was with my long lost friend, used to be my university-mate, housemate and makan2-mate back in Penang .. Imad. And on Sunday was with with my best friend who just get married but need to be separated for awhile with his wife due to further study .. Specky.

Maybe many of you were asking, isn't that so boring, dull and static to just climb up Broga almost every weekend? Well for me, I found new things every time I hike there. Sometime the grass is not sooo green, sometimes its yellowish. Sometimes the wind is sooo strong, sometimes no wind at all. Not mentioning the different faces I saw every time I hike (or maybe I'm not that good in remembering faces as well) ..

However, I realize, there is single thing in common, that is .. every body seems happy up there. Like leaving all the problems at home and climb up without any burden in the head. Everybody talking to each other, joking, laughing, having breakfast .. so happening, so happy. Well, I think this is a very healthy culture. Once a week or once a month, you gotta find a place that can help you to forget all the problems and issues, at least for few hours. Only then, you will get momentum to look at the problems again.

As usual, below are some pictures from the weekend trips to Broga:

"Healthy body leads to a healthy mind"

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

We are the World

I heard this song on Radio24 while driving the other day. I search in the YouTube and found this new revamp song after the original was dedicated to Africa 25 years ago.. and this time is dedicated for Haiti.. to help to gather fund relief for the people there.

For me, the message is clear. We, as human being, should always help each other no matter what color our skin is, what language we speak, what food we take and which continent we stay. Humanity doesn't depend on all this. Enjoy this song and remember, when we have something to eat, ponder to others who are struggling to even have some food and drinks.

Lyrics:
There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on
Pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

"Help others = help ourselves"

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

Cycle of Life

Let us think and look around, at this moment around the world, there are cycle of life happening, whether we want it to happen or we don't want. Whether we like it to happen or we don't like.

At this moment..
Babies are born, new life begins,
But, there are people facing death, life ended.

At this moment..
There are people recovering from sickness, life is moving,
But, there are people falling sick, life is stuck.

At this moment..
There are happy faces, life is being cherished,
But, there are sad faces, life is being challenged.

At this moment..
There are people become millionaire, being at the top,
But, there people facing Chapter 11, bankruptcy, being at the bottom.

At this moment..
Scientists discover something new and useful,
But, there are people abusing the technology.

At this moment..
Somebody get promoted, life is blossoms,
But, there are people get retrenched, life is hard.

At this moment..
A girl fall in love with a guy, life is so beautiful,
But, there is a girl leaving a guy, life shrouded by darkness.

At this moment..
Couples get married, starting new life together,
But, there are couples filing for divorce, ending life together.

At this moment..
Kids are running, playing in the garden happily,
But, there are kids are being used as slave.

At this moment..
There are people wondering and thinking of the future,
But, there are people still being carried away with the present and the past.

Truth is, nobody can stop the cycle of life. Nevertheless, we shouldn't give up in this life. Sadness, sorrowful, frustrated are just being part of life, but we still have time to wake up and raise up. The true success is not that when we never fail, but when we successfully raise up from the failure.

The only way to sustain at the top is to always ponder and look at the people below. Be grateful everyday, and you will get more.

"If you ignore the past, you jeopardize the future." [The Clone Wars, S02E12]

Take care.

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

Reality of Life

People felt so down because they can't achieve this and that. Feeling that they were struggling and working so hard but the result was not as expected. Well, that is the reality of life. There will always be ups and downs that need to be realized. At the bottom point of our life, we might feel that we are the only loser in this whole world, but wait a moment..

Look around us ..

People are struggling with their everyday life. Some people struggling to get some food and shelter. Some are fighting for freedom, education. Some are struggling for power, others struggling for more money.

At the other side, some are struggling to lose weight after excessive food they ate. Some are struggling with the lawsuit for abuse of power and money. Everybody around us are struggling with their life.

Ultimately, these struggles in life ..
would it make our life better?
would it make our life happier?
could it bring love into our heart?
or we would even see more hatred and misunderstanding because of these struggles?

Well again, this is the reality of life. We are not living in the heaven. At least not yet. Heaven is not only a place where everything is in order, beautiful and peaceful, but heaven can start from a tranquil heart.

Thus, to achieve heaven, we must start from our heart. Ask ourselves, whether we are happy in whatever we are doing. How could we contribute to a better life of us and others surrounding us. It is not necessarily that when we have big car, big house, successful career, it gonna be the happiest moment in our life, the reality is in our heart. We paint our own reality, we paint our own direction, we are smart human being, we are given brain to make choices and recognize which is good, which is bad.

Let us pray and pray that we always do the right thing everyday, every decision we made in life. Always refer to the All Knowing because He knows what is the best for us in the past, in the present and in the future.

Be grateful during the ups and be patience during the downs. May all of us will have tranquil heart throughout our life.

... and don't forget to take everything positively. It helps a lot in our decision making and attitude presentation.

"A person is partly in heaven if the heart is tranquil."

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

Thank You

When I was browsing through video collections in TED Talk, I found a short speech by Laura Trice (Dr) suggesting that we should say thank you to the people around us.

"Thank You" is a just a simple phrase at which sometimes we took it for granted. It is actually a powerful phrase that might save your day, save your relationship, save your money, save yourself from trouble. Nevertheless it must come sincerely from the heart. I even come out with my own quote on this:

"Appreciate your loved ones, a word of appreciation today might save your day tomorrow."

Here I quote few words from the video:

"Go home and ask those questions and then help the people around you."

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, my friends and those people around me .. Thank you .. Thank you so much!

Finally, thank you for those who are reading this blog. :-)

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

More Sunrise @ Broga Hill

I started to get addicted to hiking again. This weekend I went to Broga Hill for 2 days consecutively (Saturday and Sunday). Well .. on Saturday was a planned one and on Sunday was really sudden decision to bring my brother-in-law to go hike since I was overnight at my sis house in Kajang.

Up there at the 1st peak, there were TV3 crews interviewing few uncles. I overheard (not eavesdropping, ok!), one of the questions was "What motivate you to wake up early morning and go to hiking?"

My answer (in my heart) was, "Because I want to exercise and I feel relax when I'm bonding with the nature." :)

The truth is, hiking really give me some time-out from work, from problems, from issues in my head. At least spending time to look at the nature for 1-2 hours a week could provide new perspectives, new ideas, tranquil heart, fresh air, fresh mind, healthier life and to become more grateful to God.

Anyway, I got a better shots of the sunrise this time:

I feels so green when I look at this photo

My GPS read the altitude at 3rd peak was 371m

My ride ... :)

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

Sami Yusof - Asma Allah

On this Friday Eve, let us remember Allah swt, pray for our health and safety .. physically and emotionally, and ask for His Forgiveness for our past sins. May the coming days will be better and brighter days.

Here is a nice video by Sami Yusuf - Asma Allah .. (translations in the video)

Rahim
Karimun
'Adim
'Alimun
Halim
Hakimun
Matin

Mannan
Rahmaanun
Fattah
Gaffarun
Tawwab
Razzaqun
Syahid

Allahuma shalli 'ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad
Ya Muslimin shallu alayh
Allahuma shalli 'ala Muhammad wa shahbi Muhammad
Ya Mu'minn shallu alayh

Latif
Khabirun
Sami'
Basirun
Jalil
Raqibun
Mujib
Ghafuur
Syakuurun
Waduud
Qayuumun
Ra'uuf
Shabuurun
Majid

Allahuma shalli 'ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad
Ya Muslimin sallu alayh
Allahuma shalli 'ala Muhammad wa shahbi Muhammad
Ya Mu'mineen shallu alayh
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
La ilaha illa hu
Al Malikul Quddus
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
Ya Rahmanul irham da'fana
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
Ya Ghaffaru ighfir dhunubana
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
Ya Sattaru ustur 'uyubana
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
Ya Mu'izu a'izza ummatana
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
Ya Mujibu ajib du'aana
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
Ya latifu ultuf bina

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

Love .. Sinful or Blessing?

There is a concept in Islam, at which love between man and woman before marriage is considered forbidden and sinful. For the past years, I've been understanding this concept from a different perspective and now I've got to know another perspective. This concept is so modest, so pure, so protective, emotionally and physically.

When a man or woman fall in love, it is like falling onto a dreamland that we have created in our mind. A perimeter whereby the person we love always there for us to see, to think, to wonder, to appreciate, to care, to love .. It is like living in a different world. However, from Islamic perspective, it is forbidden for us to create an imaginary dreamland before the 'true dreamland' is established which is marriage. Thus, the excessive thought, the care, the love, in our mind is forbidden and sinful until the 'true dreamland' is established. The word 'excessive' is used here because naturally the care and the love should also presence but just adequate to sustain the relationship until marriage.

This might sound extreme to people like us who has been exposed to the modern world of love and dating. But looking at the positive side of this concept, we are protected emotionally by restricting ourselves for excessive emotional devotion which might disturb our concentration towards the real world, and protected physically by restricting seeing each other or dating. Pure love should lead to the ultimate goal that is marriage. Love without the ultimate goal is forbidden and will end up sorrowful.

If everything forbidden then what is not?? The love after marriage. The love that when we care about a person, when we think, we wonder, we appreciate, we love, will be blessed by Allah swt. Thus, this should be the ultimate goal of love.

For a man,
There is a woman,
For a woman,
There is a man,
Love ties them together,
with love human being grows,
with love human being sustains.

Love is abstract,
Happens in the heart,
Which nobody could see,
Which nobody could perceive,
which nobody could predict.

When love happens,
Person enters a new world,
Beautiful world that is never been imagined,
Creating a barrier with the real world,
Every seconds are beautiful ...

So beautiful until we forget,
That is God who Injected the Love,
Injected into our heart,
And it is His Power to take it back,
If we are not thankful,
If we are not appreciating,
If we are not realizing,
That the love must be channeled,
To the right path,
To the right destination,
To achieve the right goal,
To achieve the ultimate goal,
To cross from a forbidden to a permissible,
To cross from a sinful to a good deed,
Hoping a continuous Blessings from God,
Blessings to the ultimate happiness throughout the life,
In this world here and in the hereafter.

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

Happy New Year 2010

Last night I was driving on the MRR2 from Ampang towards Bukit Jalil. There were lots of cars parked at the road side (covering about 2-3 lanes) which slowing down the traffic. At that time was few seconds before midnight, few seconds before the new year 2010! That was the last moment of 2009!

At exactly midnight, there were fireworks from few places. I can see on my right, at the KLCC area, in front of me, might be coming from Bukit Jalil area. I just follow through the traffic and after the congested area I started to drive normally (at my normal speed when the road is clear.. :p).

Driving home last night made me think, what is so special about new year, it gonna be just another day. Waking up in the morning, for those who are working, going to work, for those who was celebrating till late at night gonna wake up late.

Reality is, its not about the date, or the year, its about what is in our mind. If we are expecting something in this new year, we gonna feel it different from the normal days. Otherwise, it just another day..

New Year 2010..
I started with full of respect,
Respect to myself,
Knowing that I've been doing great in the past year,
Thanking God that He still giving me chance in this world..

Nevertheless..
There are still rooms for improvements,
There are still rooms for perfections,
Because I should not take the chance that God gave me for granted..

As Human Being..
I can't runaway from mistakes due to my weaknesses,
I seek apologize for all my mistakes,
To my family,
To my friends,
To my colleagues,
To my special person,
Let us forgive and forget,
Through mistakes, we grow to be a better person..

This New Year..
I feel like want to be different,
Venture into something I never dare to venture,
Something that might be crossing the line that I've drawn,
Something that might be replacing the principle that I've built,
So that I know the real limit of myself,
So that others know the real limit of me..

Happy New Year 2010!
May this new year brings lots of success, joy, prosperity and laughs to all of us!

Small RC Heli with Gyro for myself :)

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

29 hours to New Year 2010

Time ..
Some said its precious,
Some said its priceless,
Some said its always insufficient ..

There were moments ..
That we wished the time has stopped,
That we wished the time ran faster,
That we wished we don't have to face it at all,
That we wished we can go back to change it all over again ..

Truth is ..
Everybody has 24 hours a day,
To be allocated wisely,
To be managed properly,
To be spent appreciably,
So that it won't be wasted just like that,
Waste the time,
Waste the moment,
Waste the life,
That will only pass once in our life,
Not twice, not thrice,
Today is 30-Dec-2009,
There won't be any 30-Dec-2009 in the future ..

Spend wisely, properly, appreciably,
only then the Time will appreciate us,
and we won't feel regret later in our life ..

:: aerobrain :: pi ::

27th on the 27th of December 2009

Bismillahirahmanirrahim ..

27th of December 2009, 27 years ago, a baby was born. The baby has grown to become a man, that has decided to launch a new blog today on his 27th birthday.

Another year has passed ..
Older a person will be ..
Wiser a person should be ..
Shorter the life of a person gonna be ..
Nearer to God a person must be ..

My 27 years of life has taught me lots of lessons. The life was wonderful, I got almost all that I want in life, until at a point when God want to teach me a lesson. Lesson that have changed my thoughts and acts, made me wiser, thoughtful, careful person.

When life gets too comfortable ..
We tend to forget where we came from ..
and where we gonna end to ..
but The Most Powerful loves us so much ..
He taught a lesson that make us realize ..
That we are small, fragile and perishable ..
No matter how high our knowledge is ..
How high our status is ..
We are still small, fragile and perishable ..

After the 2 series of accidents (physically), I realized that I need to be closer to God. Pray and hold to His Blessing and Love. I cried in a night when I heard these prayers at a mosque:

Ya Allah,
Jika ada di antara kami anak yang derhaka kepada ibu bapa,
ampunkanlah dosa kami ..
Jika ada di antara kami suami yang mengabaikan tanggungjawab,
tunjukkanlah jalan yang benar kepada kami ..
Jika ada di antara kami isteri yang derhaka kepada suami,
berikanlah kesedaran kepada kami ..
Jika ada di antara kami yang tidak bersyukur dengan nikmatMu,
bukakanlah hati kami ..
Jika ada di antara kami yang engkar dengan perintahMu,
berikanlah hidayah kepada kami ..

Just after the physical test, I was tested emotionally. I tried to get through and I finally I realized that human being are really fragile, both physically and emotionally.

Human emotion is a complicated subject ..
We loved .. we hated .. we confused ..
We laughed .. we cried .. we frowned ..
We pushed .. we pulled .. we walked away ..
Then we realized ..
It is beyond the power man or woman ..
It is the power of the Most Powerful ..
To inject love in our heart ..
To inject happiness in our life ..
To execute the plan that we have made ..

This is not the end, it is only the beginning ..

Thanks for the birthday wishes, from family and friends.

:: aerobrain :: pi ::