Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Serunding Daging

Yummy! Serunding daging is much like rendang but cook until dry. Not dry as in no gravy but dried until flaky. The meat is not cut cube as in cooking rendang. It is separated into tiny pieces.

Serunding can be considered as a fast food. It can be a dish for lunch or dinner typically for the Malays.

During the fasting month of Ramadhan AlMubarak, serunding is a favourite dish expecially for Sahur. This is because when eating sahur one's appetite differs from eating at normal meals. Not only had one restained from eating during day time, one also had to wake up from sleep in the wee hours of morning to eat sahur. Waking up for sahur, the body is still dizzy, the eyes is hard to adjust to light, and the throat is dry, and mostly the desire is to go back to sleep. The tasty serunding will open the appetite for a sufficient meal in preparation for the next day puasa.

For Hari Raya, serunding is taken with ketupat, or used as filllings for ketupat palas

In Kelantan, there are many families making serunding as their small business at their homes, especially at Kampung Laut, Tumpat. Here serunding is made in large "kawah"s batch wise. An eight kawah proces is manned by three ladies. The process is systematic to ensure productivity. Here you can buy them in kilo bags or in 250gm pre-packed packages.

Contact me if you wish to get some for your own consumption or business.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Doa Malam Lailatul Qadar

"Allaahumma Innaka 'Afuwwun Tuhibbul-'Afwa Fa'affoo 'annee."

"Say: O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so forgive me."

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The Virtues of the Night of Al-Qadr
Author:'Abdullaah Ibn Saalih Al-Fawzaan
Source:Ahaadeeth As-Siyaam (pg. 141-143)

Abu Hurairah (raa) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (saws) said: "Whoever performs the night prayer on the night of Al-Qadr with Eemaan (firm belief) and seeking reward will have all his past sins forgiven." [1]
This hadeeth is evidence for the virtue of the night of Al-Qadr as well as performing qiyaam (night prayer) during it. And it indicates that it is a grand night, which Allaah has honored and made better than a thousand months, with regard to its blessing and the blessings found in the righteous deeds that are performed in it. Thus it is better than the worship of a thousand months and that is equivalent to eighty-three years and four months. Due to this, whoever performs qiyaam (night prayer) with true faith and while seeking reward in it, will be forgiven his past sins. There were certain verses revealed concerning this virtue:

Allaah says: "We sent it (the Qur'aan) down on a blessed night. Verily We are Ever-Warning. Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment." [2]

Therefore, it is a "blessed night" meaning it possesses much good and blessing due to its merit and the great reward that awaits the one who does good deeds in it. Among its blessings, is that Allaah revealed the Qur'aan in it. Allaah says:

"Verily, We have sent it (the Qur'aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr. And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (Jibreel) by their Lord's permission with all decrees. (All that night) there is peace, until the appearance of dawn." [3]

Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said concerning Allaah's saying: "Therein descend the angels and the Rooh": "This means that the descending of the angels increases during this night due to the vast amount of its blessings. And the angels descend along with the descent of blessing and mercy, just as they descend during the time when the Qur'aan is recited and encompass the gatherings in which Allaah is remembered and spread their wings for the true seeker of knowledge, out of respect for him." [4]

This night occurs only in Ramadaan, since Allaah revealed the Qur'aan in it. He informs us that its revelation occurred during the month of Ramadaan in His saying: "Verily, We have sent it (the Qur'aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr." [5]

And His saying: "The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur'aan" [6]

This means that its revelation from Allaah to His Prophet Muhammad (saws) began in it.

Allaah's statement: "The night of Al-Qadr" is either an indicative of the honor and station of that night, as it is said: "Such and such person has great Qadr". The conjunction of "the night" to Al-Qadr is the joining of a descriptive feature to it, thus making it mean "An honorable night". The word "Al-Qadr" may also be in reference to the ordainment and disposal of affairs. Thus, its being joined to the word "the night" would be in order to denote a place or time for it. So it would mean "the night in which all that will occur in the following year will be decreed." This is similar to Allaah's saying: "Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment." [7]

Qataadah said of this: "Therein is decreed every matter for the (upcoming) year" [8] and Ibn Al-Qayyim said that this is the correct opinion. [9]

What seems most correct is that there is nothing that restricts the possibility of these two understandings and Allaah knows best.

His statement: "with Eemaan" means with firm conviction in what Allaah has prepared for those who stand in prayer during this magnificent night. And "seeking reward" means looking for reward and the attainment of recompense.

Thus, this is a grand night, which Allaah has chosen for beginning the revelation of the Qur'aan. So the Muslim must acknowledge its weight in worth, by guarding it and spending it in worship whilst having firm conviction and seeking the reward of Allaah, in order that Allaah may forgive all of his previous sins. This is why the Prophet (saws) warned us about being heedless of this night and being neglectful of spending it in worship, for the Muslim would be prevented from its good.

Abu Hurairah (raa) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (saws) said: "Ramadaan has come to you - a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory upon you to fast in it. During this month, the gates of heaven are open, the gates of the Hellfire are closed and the evil devils are chained. To Allaah belongs a night in it, which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is prevented from its good, then he has been deprived." [10]

The Muslim should supplicate much on the nights in which the night of Al-Qadr is sought. And he should supplicate with that which the Prophet (saws) instructed 'Aa'ishah (raa) with, when she asked him: "What if I know on which night the night of Al-Qadr occurs, what should I say?" So he (saws) said: "Say: O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so forgive me." [11]

Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said: "It is recommended to supplicate a lot at all times and (to supplicate) more than that during the month of Ramadaan, its last ten days and its odd days. And it is highly recommended to increase ones invoking with this supplication: 'O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so forgive me.'" [12]





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Footnotes:

[1] Al-Bukhaaree (4/2550 and Muslim (759)
[2] Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 3-4

[3] Surat-ul-Qadr: 1-5

[4] Tafseer Ibn Katheer: (8/465)

[5] Surat-ul-Qadr: 1

[6] Surat-ul-Baqarah: 185

[7] Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 4

[8] Reported by At-Tabaree in his Tafseer (25/65) as well as Al-Bayhaqee in his book Fadaa'il-ul-Awqaat (pg. 216). Its chain of narration is saheeh.

[9] See Shifaa'-ul-'Aleel of Ibn Qayyim (pg. 42)

[10] This hadeeth is reported by Ahmad and An-Nasaa'ee. See Ahmad Shaakir's checking of the Musnad (no. 7148) and Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb of Al-Albaanee (1490) as well as Tamaam-ul-Mannah (395)

[11] Reported by At-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah with an authentic chain. [Translator's note: The supplication transliterated from Arabic reads: "Allaahumma Innaka 'Afuwwun Tuhibbul-'Afwa Fa'affoo 'annee." ]

[12] Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 8/472

Thursday, September 18, 2008

I Love Malaysia

Malaysia has passed the second half of the century after merdeka. At 50+1 years old, Merdeka Malaysian can be thankful for the peace and harmony we experience. Lee Chong Wei's "datuk"ship is indeed well earned. He represents the vibrant and energetic Malaysia is today. The TV ad about a young man wanting to buy half a teh tarik from a mamak is so cute. It's not only cute, the ad is a sneak preview of our beautiful mix culture. Mix believe, mix language and alamak my post is getting too long already.

Love you Malaysia, may we prosper in peace and harmony.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Legal Fee

Feels like being ripped off for the second time from the same event.

I was unfairly dismissed from my job, twice terminated the case ended up at the industrial court. The result is of course I won. But somehow the term where the award money is to be paid to the lawyer becomes and issue to me now. It's best to forget, but I'd like to learn from mistake. Was it a mistake to accept that term and not paid directly to claimant? At that time I didn't think that much cause that's the kind of thing the lawyer would decide that's best for his/her client. In this case, maybe it was for the best of the lawyer.

Anyway, the money went to the lawyer - at the end of the term. Good. Then after a long wait from the lawyer, i was informed that the lawyer's fee is a staggering amount of RM35000 to be deducted from the award!! And I had to fight for the case the whole way. All the lawyer did was write up a few documents. And they have the cheek to bill me 35k.

During the course of process, i was always advised to settle with whatever they offer. And that was my lawyer's advice when they offered 100k settlement, 2 yrs after the event, and 2 days before the hearing date!! Think about it.

So back to the lawyer's bill, I feel he should just settle at an amicable percentage at 100k. The total award money was more than 60% from the original offer. And it was obtained through my voice. The lawyer was like arm folded during the discussion and was a yes sir or yes maam for this case when facing with the defendant.

The nerve.

Well, the money is with them now so give it to me. Astaghfirullah.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Hari tu kat Kort

U kat mane ha Zihan? I'm on my way, 10 minit lagi sampailah. Selalunye kort mane eh? Kort 1, mahkamah sesyen, bangunan belah kanan. Oh. OK. See you there.... that was perbualan on the phone between my lawyer and me on the phone. Lawyer pun satu, lawyer tanya anak guam bilik mane? Hm....

9 pagi me and my hub tunggu depan kort 1.

Itu die. Ye ke lain je muka die.... we met up with our lawyer whom we met for the second time after 2 years. Diorang ubahlah; pukul 11 mahkamah magistrate. kite minum dululah.

11 pagi we were waiting depan mahkamah magistrate for the chairman.

Dia tak de pun. Yang ada lawyer die dan seorang perempuan bertudung. Badan besar sikit ye? Itu HR Executive. Dia (Kling) tu ada, menyoroklah tu. Bila perlu baru minah ni call die.

I masuk dulu dengan lawyer diorang. U tunggu. OK.

Then, hakim nak jumpa u and your husband. Okay.

... perbincangan di kamar hakim..... kes close dengan court award of RM....

So kite tunggu duit. Sampai hari ni no news. Rase tak sedap. Kite tunggu sampai the 10th.