Al-Aqsa And The Dome Of The Rock

When you read this post, just regard it like I am telling a story, ok? Some of the facts may not be too accurate as I may have misunderstood some of the things I have read.

Al-Aqsa is most prominent for being the first qibla and also for Isra' Mi'raj. When Rasulullah saw made the night journey on the winged steed Buraq, he arrived at al-Aqsa and then performed a two rakaah prayer. After that from a rock there he ascended to the heavens with Jibril.

History said that al-Aqsa fell into the hands of the Roman Empire for some time and later it was Umar al-Khattab ra who rebuilt the masjid on its current location.

Masjid Al Aqsa is located within a precinct of religious buildings in eastern Baitul-maqdis (fyi Baitul-maqdis was captured by the Israel in 1967). According to tradition, the whole area is called al-Aqsa, not just the mosque particularly.

The name al-Aqsa translates as the 'farthest' ie Masjid al-Aqsa means 'the farthest masjid'. It is located in the southern part of the al-Aqsa precinct. It can take as many as 5,000 prayer congregation at any time. It is the masjid with the greyish dome (some said blue).

Now Dome of the Rock is a dome over the stone where Rasulullah saw stood for Mi'raj (some said it is a masjid also) and it was built by a latter day khalifah, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. Its proper name is Qubbat as-Sakhrah (ie Dome of the Rock). The gold cover of the dome is made of real gold.

There are lengthy narrations of the history of al-Aqsa - the site is also believed as the place where Prophet Sulaiman, Daud and Zakaria had worshipped Allah.

Now the Jews believed the site is also where the Temple Mount is - the first Jewish temple. They also believed that the final temple will be built by Moshiach (the Jewish Messiah) on the same location when he reappears.

As such, that is why today there are many conflicts over the site. So that's the story I want to tell.

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Something That I Like

Yes, I have Anuar Zain's latest CD. A few people popped the question after reading the previous posts - so that's the anwer.

It's very 'listenable'. Very typical of Anuar - mendayu-dayu. Very nice. I like it except for a couple of songs which sound like very retro to me - I start imagining people with big hair (Alleycats era?) when I hear those songs.

If you like Anuar, it's very worthwhile to get the CD. If you dont like Anuar, it is very worthwhile to get the CD. If you have no opinion of Anuar (something like, like I care?) it is very worthwhile to get the CD.

Ha-ha.. need I say more?

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Blessed With His Mercy

Alhamdulillah. It is confirmed the project cut-over date is deferred.

I am happy; all of us have the notion that it will be postponed and now thankfully it is confirmed. So I can concentrate on Ramadhan and up-coming Syawal for now.

But knowing the boss, she will start handing out new plans and tasks to be delivered before very long. I dont really mind all the hard work - but when that is coupled with very very tight schedule and no room for fall-back, life can be darn miserable. Add to that uncompromising users and unpredictable bosses, they all make a great life - in hell, that is - figuratively speaking of course...

But for today / this evening / maybe tomorrow too or the rest of the week, life seems wonderfully bright!

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A Flicker Of Smile

I heard on the grapevine that the project cutover date could be deferred. I am so happy if that were true. I really and truly hope it is true.

I promise myself I will do more amal and perkara yang baik-baik je Ramadhan ni if this is so. Rasa kusut semacam dengan projek nak cutover and also to concentrate on Ramadhan at the same time. I am not complaining about Ramadhan; but of dunia yang tak ada penghujung - especially work when we cant set the rules ourselves.

Thank you Allah, if the project is really deferred. Thus the flicker of a smile from me.

Nevertheless, I am heading home now - thank you Allah for giving us husbands who could get us dinner if we were late home from work.. (the one concerned would be sooo mad if he reads this..)

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On The Fourth Day Of Ramadhan

Went to the shops to get some stuff today (amongst others I wanted to see if Anuar Zain's latest CD is out. He's the only singer I make an exception to buy original CDs instead of downloading from the net - well, maybe M Nasir too come to think of it..).

Anyway on this fourth day of Ramadhan I am still sluggish about Eidul-fitr. I mean, yeah sure it's just round the corner - but I have not made plans about it yet. Where to raya, clothes, kueh raya and the house - nothing's done yet. With the project cutover date looming, who's prepared for anything else anyway?

So, sluggish as I was I walked into the store & they were playing what else - if not raya songs? Five minutes into the store and all those nostalgic things you remember at raya and raya only, came back and instantaneously I thought, hey it is very much almost raya already.

& I thought I really need to find some decent raya clothes for the boys, songkok for Eirfan, to get my baju raya from the tailor, order some kueh, get some lights for the porch (last year's was nice but sooo last year..) and blah.. blah.. blah.

But in the mean time let's concentrate on celebrating Ramadhan first.

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I Am WHAT??!

I tolerate rudeness ~
I believe the youngsters have not yet learnt to guard their tongue;

I forgive others ~
I think I may have made similar mistakes;

I admire intelligence ~
I've learnt looks will fade but a sharp mind is a habit of diligence;

I value time ~
I looked back and I wondered where they had all gone;

I treasure friendships ~
I realised you could befriend someone and yet not be friends;

I am thinking that I am laid-back, understanding, mellow, mature, at peace with my own self. I am convinced I am old...

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Ramadhan al-Mubarraq

I wondered yesterday if it is correct, grammatically that is, to say "celebrate" Ramadhan ~ as the word celebrate somehow portrays parades and fireworks and parties that do not signify what Ramadhan should be.

But then again I thought, why not "celebrate" Ramadhan? After all, Ramadhan is a magnificent month ~ where blessings are abundant and forgiveness from Allah aplenty. Promises for countless returns of deeds done. Arent these more than enough reasons to celebrate the blessed month?

So let's celebrate Ramadhan. Let's let the spirit of the month rejuvenate our iman and intensify our 'amal. Let's engulf in the promised rewards. Let's embrace the glad tidings of Ramadhan.

Come, celebrate Ramadhan. The "new" you awaits at the end of this holy month, Insya'allah.

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Back To Basics

The Merdeka month's gone and so's my spirit of patriotism - whatever little there is in the first place..

I've change the blog colors again. I love the green as it symbolizes life and portrays cool forests and nature. The muted orangey tones are the colors of clay and earth. It also reminds me of the sun (what's life without the sun anyway?) and beautiful sunsets over the oceans.

Yeah, I know ~ I am real sucker for romances.

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A Chat Room

He.. he.. (I am gleefully laughing) I am so proud of myself - I managed to put up the chat area in the blog. Do keep in touch and drop me a line here.

Would love to hear from you out there!

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