Arafah Day, Today

 
As the sun of 9th Dzulhijjah rises, most pilgrims already set their feet on 'Arafah.   
Takbir, Tahlil and Talbiyah.

From noon, until dawn the next day
“Labbaikallaa Humma Labbaik” 
O God, here I am answering your call, by nearly three million pilgrims from around the world. 

The once in a lifetime journey of faith. 
The faithfuls gratefully come to Makkah to discharge their owed duties to HIM.  

Haj is ‘Arafah.
Immense spiritual congregation in 'Arafah during this sacred moments.
On the plain, and at hilly slopes of 'Arafah, is where pilgrims standing and supplicating to the ALMIGHTY s.w.t., seeking HIS Forgiveness and Mercy.
Not only to be physically presence in 'Arafah, but mentally too.
Believers are promised during these 'Arafah hours, HIS Forgiveness and Mercy are bestowed.
HIS Presence thus felt weather one is asleep, awake, lying down, resting, sitting, or even walking.

Men, draped in two white unsewn pieces of cloth, an extraordinary symbol of unity and equality.
Men and women formed a massive stream of white.
Getting to 'Arafah is not without difficulties for many.
Hardship aside, having reached 'Arafah is a dream come true, for all pilgrims. 

'Arafah, peaceful, is where the connection with GOD takes place.
Dzulhijjah after Dzulhijjah, over and over again.
The beginning, the present, and the future.
All believers, from all corners of the world, come together to 'Arafah, to pray to GOD.
The feeling of wanting to be near to HIM, HE who Observes from above, the whole body shivers...
While in 'Arafah, wise pilgrims spend the day making supplications to ALLAH s.w.t.

Rasulullah s.a.w said, 

“The best du‘a is the du‘a on the day of ‘Arafah.”

- Abu Dawud.

It is the ultimate day to ask for forgiveness of every single sin of us.
Rasulullah s.a.w. also said,

“There is no day 

in which Allah s.w.t. sets free more souls 

from the fire of Hell, 

than on the day of ‘Arafah.”  

- Muslim.

People spent the day in worship and supplication.
Pray for our needs.
Pray for the welfare of all.
Never mind wherever we are now, in Asia, Africa, America, Australia or Europe.
In this sacred moment, the 'Arafah day, HE opens the sky for all our prayers to directly reach HIM.
The day where HIS promise delivered.
Seize the opportunity.
Rasulullah s.a.w. spent his day at 'Arafah until almost sunset.

Unity in prayers itself has created a peaceful atmosphere, at the most peaceful place on earth. 
"Labbaikallaa Humma Labbaik”,
reenacted again and again, since fourteen centuries ago.
Answer the call of ALLAH s.w.t. and pray for peace and tranquility.
Pray sincerely, spread humanity.
They set out, chanting that they have come to answer GOD’s call.

The endless sea of  'white' pilgrims, in their endless chants,
"Labbaikallaahumma Labbaik”
Ability to make connection with ALLAH s.w.t. is an individual experience.
Unexplainable...
No words can explain one's feeling, although everyone is on the sacred ground of 'Arafah is obviously with one intention - HIS acceptance.

Performing Haj is obviously about communication and connection to ALLAH s.w.t.
The spiritual faith.
The inner peace is felt by  those whose Haj is accepted.
It is reflected in us, in our doings, in our daily life. 
Mabrur...

While Waiting For Eidul Adha...

Praise belongs to ALLAH s.w.t.
Peace be upon Rasulullah s.a.w., his family and companions.  

Dzulhijjah days are among the most magnificent days in Islamic calendar.
Dzulhijjah has many virtues, based on many things, particularly in its first ten days.
The first ten days of Dzulhijjah are the days of virtue and righteous deeds.  
Quranic verses and Hadith indicate that the first ten days of Dzulhijjah are better than all the other days of the year.

The first ten days of Dzulhijjah have been preferred by ALLAH s.w.t. over all the other days of the whole year,
except that the last ten days of Ramadhan,
which are considered better than them for they include Lailatul Qadr
- the Night of Power,
which is better than a thousand months. 

Celebrate the Praises of ALLAH s.w.t. during the appointed days: 
Tasbih (Subhaanallah), 
Tahmid (Alhamdulillah) 
Takbir (Allahu Akbar) and
Talbiyah (Labbaikallah Humma Labbaik).

It is our duty to appreciate the blessed month of Dzulhijjah,
having more concentration in our prayers,
always on our very best. 
Dzulhijjah is a wonderful moment
immersing ourselves as much Iba'dah, acts of worship, as possible.
Devotion and sincerity do have its reward.

Abdullah ibn Umar r.a., the son of Saidina Umar r.a.,
reported that The Prophet s.a.w. said: 

"There are no days greater in the sight of ALLAH 
and 

in which righteous deeds are more beloved to HIM 
than these ten days, 

so during this time 
recite a great deal of 
Tahlil (Laa Ilaaha Illallah), Takbir and Tahmid." 

- Reported by Ahmad

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. commanded the believers
to recite a lot of Tasbih, Tahmid and Takbir during these days.

Ibn Abbas r.a. reported that The Prophet s.a.w. said: 

"There are no days 
in which righteous deeds 
are more beloved to ALLAH 

than these ten days." 

The people asked, 
"Not even jihad for the sake of ALLAH?" 

He said, 

"Not even jihad for the sake of ALLAH, 

except in the case of a man 
who went out to fight giving himself 

and his wealth up for the cause, 
and came back with nothing." 

- Bukhari

These ten days are a great blessing from ALLAH s.w.t. to all of us.

Even for us, who are not undertaking the Haj,
the first ten days of Dzulhijjah are a special time to remember ALLAH s.w.t.
A great opportunity to sincerely correct oneself.
Bettering our deeds and seek HIM for forgiveness and guidance.

The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
encouraged people to do righteous deeds
due to the virtue of these days
and the Haj season during which the Haj season is situated.
The Prophet s.a.w. said that
the first ten days of Dzulhijjah
are a special time for devotion,
for during these ten days that most of the Haj rites occur.

i) - 9th Dzulhijjah is the 'Arafah Day (Yaumul 'Arafah),
the date when all pilgrims assemble on the plain of 'Arafah, six miles away from Makkatul Mukarramah.
Pilgrims perform the most essential part of the prescribed duties of Haj - Wuquf  - the stay in 'Arafah.

Yaumul Arafah is the day when the Mercy of ALLAH s.w.t. descends in Abundance. 
Yaumul 'Arafah is the day when sins are Forgiven,
and do'a Accepted,
all through HIS Compassion and Mercy.  
Yaumul 'Arafah is the day which ALLAH sw.t. perfected one's Religion.

The Prophet s.a.w. was asked about fasting on Yaumul 'Arafah.
He s.a.w. said,  

"It compensates for the (minor) sins of the past 
and the coming year."  

- Ibnu Majah

The 'Arafah fast has been emphasized by the Prophet s.a.w.
as a desirable act.
Fasting on these ten blessed days,
or at least a day, on the 9th Dzulhijjah, will bring us closer to HIM.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. has said,  

"One fast during these days 
is equal to the fasting of one complete year, 

and the worship of one night during this period 

is equal to the worship in the "Lailatul-Qadr".

For us not performing the Haj,
it is desirable to fast on this day.

ii) - Beginning from the Fajr of the 9th Dzulhijjah up to the 'Asr prayer of the 13th,
it is encouraged on us to recite the Takbir of Tashriq after each daily prayer. 

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

La Ilaha Illallahu, Wallahu Akbar,

Allahu Akbar wa Lillahilhamd.

(There is no other God but ALLAH and ALLAH is the Greatest, 

Allah is the Greatest and to ALLAH belongs all Praise).

iii) - 10th Dzulhijjah is Eidul Adha.
Unlike 'Eidul Fitr,
sunnah is not to eat before the 'Eid prayer.

iv) - The Qurban.
An act of total submission to ALLAH s.w.t.
and a complete obedience to HIM, without hesitation.
It is encouraged for all to make sacrifices for themselves and their dependents.
The sacrifice of animals - goat, sheep, cow or camel - during the 10th, 1lth and 12th of Dzulhijjah.

Looking beyond its mundane benefits,
it is to understand the spirit of most superior qualities so necessary
to keep humanity in a state of lasting peace and welfare.
Qurban is but a powerful symbol of the required human conduct
submitting to the DIVINE commands.
The spirit of total submission to HIM,
irrespective of difference in our economy or society.

Pine not, whine not, if we are unable to slaughter a sacrifice.
For general Qurban included all acts of charity too, all year round.
The purpose of charity is nothing,
but to seek ALLAH s.w.t.'s pleasure.
And, sacrifices are in many forms too.

Sincerity is always priorotised.
Verily, good deeds remove small sins.
A gentle reminder for the mindful, for those who accept advice.

Perform sincere prayers.

"And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day 

and at the approaches of the night: 

for those things that are good remove those that are evil: 

be that the word of remembrance 

to those who remember (their LORD)"

- (Hud: 114).

Pray that HE Bless us with HIS Virtues.
Pray that HE Bless us with spiritual gains
Pray that we are all Blessed in these magical moments of Dzulhijjah.

Reflecting of our past doings will have great benefits for us:
People around us, family, neighbours, relatives and friends.
Pray for the very best.
For His Bounty of what's already in our possession.
His Reward, not a burden:

"On no soul do ALLAH place a burden 

greater than it (the soul) can bear. 

It gets every good that it earns, 

and it suffers every ill that it earns. 

(Pray): 

"Our GOD, 

condemn us not if we forget or fall into error. 

Our GOD, 

lay not on us a burden like that 

which YOU did lay on those before us. 

Our GOD, 

lay on us not a burden greater 

than we have strength to bear. 

Blot out our sins, 

and grant us Forgiveness. 

Have Mercy on us. 

YOU are our PROTECTOR, 

Help us against those who stand against Faith." 

- Al-Baqarah : 286  

The Other World - My Late Father's Presence

"Mak tak pernah tengok muka Bapak engkau cantik macam tadi." 

"Bapak kita memang cantik, Mak." My Elder Sister replied.

Our Late Father is indeed spiritually beautiful.
He is often present when My Mother recites Her 'wirid'.

My Eldest Sister, whom My Late Father stayed with, during His last days, used to call Me to inform of the glow on Our Late Father's face, especially on Fridays.
So, not only was My Late Younger Sister was present yesterday, there was My Late Father too.

******

I saw only straight row of trees that was planted in the middle of the big road along Bedok Reservoir.

Why was I seeing only trees?

Where are the cars?

After a while, a big bus passed through the deserted road...

It was a casket bus.

My Father's body was inside...

Immediately I called My Eldest Sister to inform Her what I had just seen in my dream.
Our Father will pass away during most people are out spending their long holiday.
I feared nobody will be around to send Him off.
I requested Her to pray hard that Our Father will be properly being sent off.

It was few months before His final days.
He passed away of old age, not of any sickness.
I received the news at 10am on Friday, the second day of 'Eidul Fitr, 2005.

Thank GOD, there is no better days for Him to meet YOU then the day that YOU had chosen for Him.

Thanking My Eldest Sister too, for Her endless day and night prayers.

While I preferred Qur'an reading to have direct communication with HIM, My Eldest Sister finds solace on Her praying carpet.
My Dhuha, if any, is only two raka'at compared to Her, twelve.
My closure prayer, Witir, is only one raka'at that invited scolding from Her.
I devise My own lazy and shortcut ways to get HIS attention.
But nevertheless, My Eldest Sister would turn to Me for things that doubted Her.

******

While I was performing my 'tawaf' around the Ka'abah, My Late Father came to Me.

"Assalaamu 'Alaikum,"

"Eh, Bapak. Bapak buat apa kat sini?" I did not reply His salam.

Too shock to see Him appeared from nowhere during My circumambulation round the Ka'abah.

"Bapak ada kerja sikit lagi ni. Ada tujuh..."

Then I was suddenly awake.

******

I had just finish the first ritual at the jamrahs.
It was My first night in Mina when He approached Me.
I was in the midst of answering the call of Prophet Ibrahim 'alaihis salam to perform Haj on GOD's instruction.

It worried Me as He did not finish His sentence.
It had been seventy days since He passed away, and 'things' are still at work.
But, by just voicing out my worry, usually things will straighten themselves, GOD willing.

"Seven, seventy, seven hundred, seven thousand, which number will justify the lingering doubt?" My Eldest Sister asked when I called to inform Her of my dream. 

"Seven hundred." I said as straight away I remembered,

"The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of ALLAH is like a seed (of grain) which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. 

And ALLAH multiplies (HIS reward) for whom HE wills. And ALLAH is all-Encompassing and Knowing." - Surah Al-Baqarah 261. 

Upon my return from the Haj, My Eldest Sister told me she had made a sadaqah of S$700 in My Late Father's name. 
My Elder Sister 'saw', although My Late Father had almost nil contribution of His possession, He was then sitting on a big chair among prominent men who shared their knowledge and wealth in Singapore during their living days. 

"And whatever you give for interest to increase within the wealth of people will not increase with ALLAH. 
But what you give in zakah, desiring the countenance of ALLAH - those are the multipliers." - Surah Ar-Rum 39.  

Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth and the servant who forgives, ALLAH s.w.t. adds to his respect. 

And the one who shows humility, ALLAH s.w.t. elevates him in the estimation of the people. - Hadith narrated by Muslim.              

Dzulhijjah In Memory And The Drawn 1431 Curtain

Dzulhijjah, the twelfth and final month in the Islamic Lunar Calendar, marking the end of the year.

The CREATOR wants us all to end each of our living years with brotherhood forged and relationships rekindled, that is part of the reason why Haj to Mecca,

being at the centre of the earth, was set during the holy Dzulhijjah month.

Yes, it's one of the four holy months beside the holy Muharram, the first month of each year.
Both are holy months, and GOD strictly forbids fighting but building understanding and relationship for the betterment of all living creatures.

But, when one human's ego is bigger than his head, it is enough to stir anger in some of wicker and wicked hearts beings.
Then dissatisfaction and resentment went spiral, is going, and continues to...

Sacred or not the month of Dzulhijjah is, each heart's desire wins, despite GOD's blessing and warning that human's good (or evil?) deeds, are multiplied many times over.

Dzulhijjah is one of the month when one's heart will most likely be touched by HIS blessing or ...

"4- HE created mankind.

5- HE taught him the speech.

6- The sun and the moon are with calculations.

7- And the stars and the trees they both prostrate.

8- And the sky, HE Raised it and HE set up the Balance.

9- That do not exceed in the Balance.

10- And Establish the Weight with the Justice and do not reduce the Balance.

11- And the earth HE laid it down for the creatures.

12- In it and are date palms having fruit sheaths.

13- And the grains of fragrant having herbs flowers husk.

14-Then with which favours of RABB of you two, you two will?" - (Al-Qur'an 55: 4-14).

******

As Dzulhijjah 1431 drew its curtain on Sunday, clouds enveloped the sky the whole day.

"It is He Who created everything on the earth for you and then directed His attention up to heaven and arranged it into seven regular heavens. He has knowledge of all things." - (Qur'an, 2:29).

I had experienced of clouds like Sunday, with my phone roaming went dead the whole day.
Agitating to some, but ...
Those were days when our hearts and our whispers were heard...
To some who wants to believe ...

"The thunder glorifies HIS praise, as do the angels, out of fear of HIM.

HE discharges the thunderbolts, striking with them anyone HE wills. Yet still they argue about ALLAH when HE is inexorable in HIS Power!" - (Qur’an, 13:13) 

To some who wants to believe ...

****** 

It was the last days of Dzulhijjah 23 AH, or November 1st, 644 AD, that Saidina Umar r.a. while heading the morning prayer in Masjidin Nabawi, he was daggered with six blows over levy that he imposed on a foreign worker.
Thirteen others in the congregation were wounded, before the killer committed suicide by stabbing himself.

When he regained his conciousness, he reminded those surrounding him to stop praising his virtues and qualities.

He asked his son, Abdullah, to ask Aisyah r.a. for permission to be buried beside her Husband, The Prophet s.a.w., and her father, Saidina Abu Bakar r.a.
Umar was permitted to be buried, upon his death, close to to the two people that she was closed to, but with her weeping, she said,

"I had reserved the place for my own burial but I give Umar precedence over myself. Let him be buried there." 

Umar was indeed happy that having his greatest wish fulfilled, saying,

"GOD bless Aisyah. She has fulfilled my greatest wish. Now I can die in peace."

Nothing makes Umar happier than to be close with The Prophet s.a.w. and Saidina Abu Bakar r.a.

"... But I think Aisyah has given me permission out of respect for me. When I die, take me to her house and ask again for her permission..." 
"If she refused, bury me at Baqi'"

His son, Abdullah did as was instructed by his father when he passed away, and again, 'Aisyah gave her permission.

******

Before his death, Umar asked his son to estimate his unpaid debt - eighty six thousand dirhams*** inclusive of caliph salary that had been drawn from Baitul Mal.
His debt was to be paid from the money which his property will be put on sale.

About his funeral. he reminded his son to be moderate as should GOD Sees anything good in him, and should he is in GOD's favour, then GOD will change him a better shroud.
If otherwise, then he will be strip of all he has.

"... And be moderate in the grave that you dig for me, for verily if there be anything of good with GOD in my favour, HE will widen it for me, and if I have otherwise, HE will make it narrow for me to squeeze my body. "All Praise is to ALLAH. If all the treasures of this world were to be at my disposal, I would offer them as a ransom to be saved from the trial at the Day of Judgement." Umar continued.

These are words who succeeded Saidina Abu Bakar r.a., who, The Prophet s.a.w. had once remarked, "Abu Bakar's name shall be called out from all the gates of Paradise.

But the humble Saidina Abu Bakar r.a. used to say,
"I wish I were a tree that would be cut and done away with." 

"I wish I were a blade of grass, whose life ended with the razing by some beast." 

"I wish I were a hair on the body of a believer."

There was once when he was in a garden, seeing a singing bird, sighing deeply, he said,
"Oh bird, how lucky you are! You eat, you drink and fly under the shade of the trees, and you fear no reckoning of the Day of Judgement. I wish I were just like you."

Saidina Abu Bakar r.a. missed The Prophet s.a.w. so much that when he was ill, he was counting the days to eagerly waiting to 'see' The Prophet s.a.w.

He was always asking his companion,
"What day is it?" They said Saturday.

The next day he asked again
"What day is it?" They said Sunday.

Then he said, "I might die either today or tomorrow.
I wish to die on the same day as The Prophet."
But he did not.

He passed away (of food poisoning) on Tuesday Jumadil Akhir 21, 13 AH (August 23, 634 AD), befitting his ranking as the first caliph after the demise of The Prophet s.a.w., which was on Monday.

****** 

"The Messenger Believes in what has been Revealed to him from His LORD, as do the people of Faith. 
Each one believes in GOD, HIS angels, HIS books, and HIS apostles. 
"We make no distinction they say between one and another of HIS Messengers" 
And they say, 
"We hear, and we obey. 
We seek THY forgiveness, our LORD, and to YOU is all journey's end."

On no soul does GOD place a burden greater than it is able to bear. 
It receives every good that it has earned, and it will suffer every ill that it has earned. 
Pray: 
"Our LORD! Do not condemn us if we forget or fall into error! 
Do not lay on us a burden greater than we have the strength to bear. 
Blot out our sins, and grant us YOUR Forgiveness. 
Have Mercy on us. YOU are our Protector. 
Help us against those who stand against Faith." - (Qur'an, 2:285, 86).

*** In Pre-Islamic Persia, a dirham retained a stable gold value of about 4 gram. 

In the Islamic period, Saidina Umar r.a. himself introduced silver coins which was small unit weight of about 3 gram.

Tough Time For Illegals In The Two Holy Places

Today's news reported  Indonesian overstayers  in Saudi became unruly nuisance so they would be picked up by police and deported from the country free of charge.

When I was there last month, many Indonesians stay away from public areas and only come out when night falls under their black veils to do their trade.
Even then, they were always on the lookout for 'searching eyes'.
In Mecca, they had shifted their stay right up to the hilltop, away from the authority's long arm.
The immigration went all out to nab these over-stayers and illegal immigrants.

I had always with me many SR1.00 to be given away in Madinah.
But it was only on the first day of Syawal, after a week of my stay there, did I manage to meet the first girl  asking for money.
Even then, she was beautifully dressed - Aidilfitri perhaps - or to camouflage herself from the patrolling policemen.

The same scenario happened in Mecca, only few children - with beautiful dresses and shirts, asked for money.
I ended up bringing back much of the untouched SR1.00.
For the next trip, perhaps, GOD willing.

A six-month general amnesty was given, on the second week of Syawal, to overstayers after arriving on Haj, Umrah or visit visas but they are to approach the deportation center with their passports and air tickets to get an exit visa stamped on their travel documents.
Many of these illegals I met would rather lined themselves up on the street, hoping to be caught by the authority, jailed and deported - simple - as they said.
They were confidant that their embassy would arrange for their 'free' deportation.

The Saudi immigration really mean business this year - they'll do what they say.
Starting this year, to curb illegals, all food for pilgrimmers will be catered from legal sources.
Travel agencies are not allowed to have their food self-cooked or having their own kitchen hands.

Talking to these seasonal food caterers who had been in Mecca for the past many, many years, they knew their livelihood is at stake.
Even then, none I talked to, wanted to move back to Indonesia although they knew the amnesty is only until March 23, 2011

******

Police Target 'Fake Pilgrims'

Police were cracking down on 'fake pilgrims' after a record number of people registered to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. - Photo: AFP

DHAKA - BANGLADESHI authorities said on Tuesday the police were cracking down on 'fake pilgrims' who may actually be migrants after a record number of people registered to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

This year, 93,875 people from Bangladesh have registered to perform the annual pilgrimage in November, up from just 58,489 in 2009, religious affairs ministry spokesman Anwar Hossain told AFP.
'We have warned the police, the Hajj travel agencies about fake pilgrims - we are worried some of them may not return from Saudi Arabia,' Hossain said.
Performing Hajj at least once is a religious obligation for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford it.
Bangladeshi police are cross-checking all Hajj applicants under 40 and any who do not appear to come from wealthy families in an attempt to weed out economic migrants trying to get to the Gulf on Hajj visas to work.
Bangladesh, the world's third largest Muslim-majority nation, relies heavily on remittances, but the global downturn affected jobs for migrant workers, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors in the Gulf. -- AFP

The Train Is Coming (To Mecca)

A Makkah Metro train during a test run. (AN photo)

30-Day Test Run For Makkah Metro
JEDDAH: The newly established Mashair Railway, which links the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa with Makkah, will have a 30-day test run before opening to transport domestic and GCC pilgrims during the upcoming Haj season.

Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Mansour bin Miteb will inspect the railway (also known as the Makkah Metro) on Tuesday to make sure the facility is ready to transport the guests of God. The railway will bring about a dramatic change in pilgrim transportation between the holy sites.
Established at a cost of SR6.5 billion, the new railway will have a capacity to transport 72,000 pilgrims in an hour. Nine stations have been constructed in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifa, each having three stations. This is the second largest project implemented by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs after the SR4.5 billion high-tech Jamrat Bridge project in Mina.
Habib Zain Al-Abidine, deputy minister of municipal and rural affairs, said the railway will have 10 trains in the first phase, each with a length of 300 meters. “Each train will carry 3,000 passengers.”
He said Saudi authorities have not yet fixed the fare. “The matter is in the hands of Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif, chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee. Once the prince gives his directives, we’ll announce the fare,” he said.
The time for transporting pilgrims from Arafat to Muzdalifa will be reduced to five minutes on the 9th of Dul Hijjah when the faithful will move together from the plain of Arafat to Muzdalifa. And another five minutes will take them from Muzdalifa to Mina on the 10th.
Zain Al-Abidine said the railway would operate throughout the year.
The second phase of the project will link Mashair Railway with the Grand Mosque in Makkah with a station on Umm Al-Qura Road. It will also be linked with the Haramain Railway that connects Makkah with Madinah and Jeddah.
The trains will have a test run covering 6,000 km each before starting regular operations. The first test run took place last Thursday. The railway will have 20 trains in the next stage, each with 12 carriages and each carriage holding 250 passengers. About 20 percent of passengers will be seated while 80 percent will be standing. Trains will have a speed of 80 to 120 km/hour.

******

A 'Train' Of Thoughts 
In Singapore, I saw the most intelligent and safest train in the world. It runs underground without a driver. It has 29 stations above ground.

The length of its track is 33.3 km and its speed 90 km per hour. This train is electronically controlled from an operations room, whose director says controlling the train is like playing a Playstation.
There are of course other examples. Let us go to Iran. A news item says China and Iran have signed a $2 billion deal (approximately SR7.5 billion) to construct a railway line from Iran to the city of Khisrawi in Iraq, passing through a number of other cities. The story was covered on Sept. 11 by a number of newspapers, including the Egyptian publication Akhbar Al-Youm.
Now let us go to an Arab country, Libya, which has a project for two railway lines with the total length of more than 1,152 km and costing SR9.75 billion.
This means that the cost of a single kilometer of rail is SR8.5 million. These two lines are being constructed by a Chinese company.
In Saudi Arabia there is Al-Mashaer (Holy Sites) Metro, which runs on track that is only 18-km long. It is also being built by a Chinese company. Its cost is SR6.6 billion, which means that the cost of a single kilometer is SR369 million.
Let us, without any prejudice, try to understand the high cost of this metro. It is a traditional historic tram. From the pictures that were leaked, it seems that in terms of decor its cars could compete with Van Gogh’s Opium Flower painting (which was recently stolen from an Egyptian museum). The cars are painted with 24-carat gold. The floors are encrusted with jewels and precious stones. Its seats are made of silver. It incorporates state-of-the-art technology and has an intercom system, which talks to each pilgrim in his or her own language guiding on the correct methods of performing Haj.
If need be, these cars will complete the rituals for the pilgrims. All the above is no more than hypotheses and theories. The truth lies in the hearts of the officials. I asked a friend why the Singaporean train is more intelligent and cheaper? He answered: “Because you are stupid!”
— aaljamili@yahoo.com

Source: Arab News

The Debt, Paid At Last

I gave Mak Maznah a year to sort out her dream of her father, with her brother.

Her father appeared in her sleep asking for 300 (S$, RM, SR? I've no answer) from her.

'Mana ada duit',
she turned down his request and woke up.

She spent the whole night and dawn thinking of him before she came over my house that early morning.
Her father wanted the money to go to Mecca, to fulfill the last pillar but, he was dead and buried underground more than 60 years ago.

Her late father, she said, was a rather rich man in his days, having acres of land in Opera Estate. 

But his favourite activities of marrying and leaving his families to start another family, took up a lot of his time.

Although he knew of his obligation to fulfill the 5 pillars, the knowledge was shelved away.

Before he died, he made his wish to Mecca known to his children. 

But nobody took heed of it. 

They were more interested in the acres of land.

Mak Maznah was 12 and her only flesh-and-blood brother, 7, when their father passed away. 

The pair, due to their tender age, were oblivion in the in-fighting among siblings of their father's estate. 

The pair's mother, being the last of many wives, were excluded of her share.

******

Fast forward, the brother married the busy hawker centre stall-owner whom he had worked with.

Their food business was elevated to a new height.
The couple became canteen operators, preparing food for staff and employees to one of the world's busiest port, manning a 24-hour canteen, preparing food with thousand eaters daily in mind.
It's big business.

The S$ churning business makes the brother's 6 in the family's several trips to Mecca possible beside the husband and wife's couple of times Haj pilgrimage.

******

Did Mak Maznah discuss her dream with her brother?
I doubted as he's known to resent his father as a father, a husband and a person as a whole.

Mak Maznah's feeling of her father?
She's fighting hard learning to discard any negative feelings of him.

******

A month before the December 2005 Haj season started, Mak Maznah brought up to me, the father's '300' issue which she was unable to raise, being herself in the social welfare and Baitul Mal list.

Her brother?
She dared not pester further when he refused to produce the '300'.
His resentment towards the father is more than skin deep, right to his heart.

******

My idea of paying volunteer student to perform 'badal haji' for the late Mak Maznah's father was subsequently put off.

Ok, My Husband will perform their father's long overdue Haj, I said.
The breaking news was followed by Mak Maznah's rainy eyes.
I held the news of my going there again for a year from her until that very moment, not because of anything, but to see how her brother will react towards his sister's dream and their father's last wish.

******

Thank GOD, the Haj went well and we were back home in mid January 2006.

Mak Maznah came over to my house one early morning, few days after we reached home.
Her father appeared in her dream again, thanking her of the '300' and his last pillar of Islam finally built.

***Some changes made.
***The brother's licence to operate the 24-hour canteen expired end December 2005 and, not renewed ever since.                    

There Are Eyes Around

It was in 2006 and I was the last person to go through Sue's photo-album of she and husband performed their Haj.

Did those before me looking at the photos taken noticed something strange?
I asked, but none could think of any.
When Sue came for the photo-album, I sat with her, asking her if anybody reminded her, possibly, not to snap any photographs at any 'Jamrahs' - She saw no reason why it should not be done.

.

As Sue and I went through the photos of 'Jamrahs', where the act of Prophet Abraham alaihis salam threw stones at satan for discouraging him performing his duty to GOD was followed, she realised pairs of red eyes were scattered on them.
Her facial expression changed, quickly she put away the album back into the casing.

"Just throw away the photos." I advised her.

******

Mina, where the 3 'Jamrahs' are, is not a place to live in as it's the place where  satans and other evil creatures

roam around -It's only during the Haj period do we see throngs of pilgrimmers.

Outside the season, it's out of bound but, it used to be one favourite spot for illegal immigrants.
It's the place where the elephants belonging to the then Yaman's King Abrahah's were burnt to ash with stones aimed by the 'Ababil' birds
(Surah Alfil 2: Did HE not make their treacherous plan go astray?
3: And HE sent against them Flights of Birds.
4: Striking them with stones and baked clay.
5: Then did HE make them like an empty field of stalks and straw, [of which the corns] had been eaten up).

It's the place where annual stampedes took place, but with the just built new multi-tired stoning areas, GOD willing, there'll be none.

The last time I was there, I saw a woman deep in trance, jumped into one of the walled 'jamrah' pillar and continuously banged herself against the pillar.
Unavoidably, she was stoned by many pilgrimmers.

At best, unnecessary purchases be avoided.

******

Two years on, I asked Sue about the photographs, and she lamented the eyes had multiplied many times more.

"Just throw away." I said again.
She wanted to, but her husband forbid though they realised the unusual changes in their bedroom - 'Somebody' was constantly watching over them.
The photo-album was then moved to the study.

******

"Ummie, are the photos in any way, linked to Razif's constant faint? He's taking his O level this year end." My friend, Sue's workmate, was curious to know, as Sue had been taking more frequent emergency leave attending to Razif. He's been frequenting hospital as doctors are still finding the cause.

"To save your doubt, just throw away the pictures." My friend advised her, too.
She wanted, but her husband refused.

The husband liked the photos very much as the red eyes keeps multiplying, not only as a background as before, but occupied the whole pictures!

***Some Changes Made.