my usual Pit STOP::Masjid Darul Istiqamah

Since I’ve moved to Bintulu in October 2010 as a married bachelor, driving back to Miri with my machine QMQ5299 during every weekend or any available opportunities was an obligation to me. Usually, I knocked-off from office around 16:45 hours or sometime as late as 18:00 hours, depending on my office demand that day. After about one hour and forty-five minutes accelerating at an average speed of 105 km/hr, on the narrow and bumpy (some stretch) coastal Bintulu-Miri road, I usually had my ‘pit-stop’ at Masjid Darul Istiqamah, Kpg Luak Miri. The hospitality of the people there were amazing. They usually hold a small gathering and dining after ‘Isya prayer on Friday night. One Friday, I arrived around 20:05 hours and performed my ‘Isya and Maghrib prayers along the corridor. Before I commenced, one kind polite brother at his mid 30s greeted me and out of feeling guilty (I guess), as the responsible locals, he invited me to perform my obligation inside the main prayer hall. I politely responded to him that it was fine for me to do it here (along the nice spacious corridor). He smiled away satisfactorily and left me alone. At least he has done his part! In Islam, entertaining a traveler is part of the obligations that Muslims must observe. However, one point that I want to make is about people perception on the place to pray, which is influenced by their cultural mind frame.

::DO not QUIT

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit!
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure has turned about,
When they might have won had they stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow!
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering one,
Often the struggler has given up
When they might have captured the victor's cup.
And they learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close they were to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint to the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the task when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem the worst, which you must not quit

You ALL are ONE year older now.....

We do not actually celebrate birth day, but this time around, mooted by the kids, nieces and nephews, we had a relatively big celebration for the birthday boys and girls of the Yayasan Yusuf fraternity. Thanks to Fauziah for coordinating the whole scene and many thanks to Kak Hjh Rahmah for accomodating the auspicious event in her house. To Afi, Muhammad Afiq, Adib, Amar, Abg Hj Abd Khalek, Fauzan, Hj Sulaiman, and Shamimi; We wish you Happy Baraqah Birthday. May Allah swt grant you all His Blessings, Grace and Mercy. This anniversary marks another milestone of your journey of your life. The successfullness of the journey shall be determined by how close we are to Allah Rabbul Jalil as shown by His Messenger, the Holy Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him).

my very FIRST day & d We Care We Share

Forty five minutes after I made my very first entrance to the world second larget LNG complex and the second world largest producer of this lucrative molecule called LNG, I was invited to the very first 'We Care We Share' initiative. 'Langkah Kanan' as the malay famous saying says! It was a pot luck breakfast together with all the team members of OPI and PAO...and no business work subject matters is allowed.

Sacrifice - for d Betterment of our Life

The Sacrifice – is what I describe for the very next chapter of our life. When my employer decided to second me to its gas plant in Bintulu, we decided to explore another mode of lifestyle – staying apart. Split by the Borneo Rainforest that accommodates one of the biggest caves in the world – the Niah Cave, my family stay in the Miri Oil town and I rent a room in my good friend’s detach house at Kidurong, Bintulu. Though it is just a two and a half hours nice drive, I must admit it is not always easy to break away from the comfort zone – that is the nineteen years of living together under one roof wherever we go. This is what I called – the sacrifice that we have to make for the betterment of our inner mental strength. The question is why after almost 46 years living in this temporary world and after 19 solid years been together; we have to go through this hardship? My answer is; it is never too late to learn to enhance ourselves and the effective way to do it is through this hardship - the experiential learning approach. I believe, hard times do make people better and in the middle of difficulty lives opportunity. As a matter of fact, eventually, all our fabulous kids will live their own life and sooner or later, we will have to live this world to continue our journey. Hence, justifying our move in venturing with this move.

Ta'lim : Part XXII

Rasullulah Sallallahhu alaihi wasallam (saw), peace be upon him said, “The contrast between a person who glorifies Almighty Allah and one who does not remember Him is like that between the living and the dead.”
Life is dear to all and every one fears death. The Holy Prophet Muhammad saw (Peace be Upon Him) meant to say that one who does not remember Allah, though bodily alive, is spiritually dead and his life is but worthless.