Your Place or Mine ?

QUOTE : "For a mother is the only person on earth who can divide her love among ten children
And each child still have all her love."











Lyrics for: Mother Of Mine
Artist : Neil Reid
Music composed by : Bill Parkinson

Mother of mine you gave to me, all of my life to do as I please,
I owe everything I have to you,
Mother sweet mother of mine.

Mother of mine when I was young
You showed me the right way things had to be done,
Without your arms where would I be,
Mother sweet mother of mine.

Chorus:
Mother you gave me happiness, much more than words can say,
I thank the Lord that He may bless you, every night and every day.

Mother of mine now I am grown and I can walk straight all on my own,
I'd like to give you what you gave to me,
Mother sweet mother of mine.

Chorus

Mother of mine now I am grown and I can walk straight all on my own,
I'd like to give you what you gave to me,
Mother sweet mother of mine.

Mother sweet mother of mine.



Ibu
Artist: P. Ramlee
Music composed by : Ahmad Jaafar

Ibu ibu
Engkaulah ratu hatiku
Bila ku berduka
Engkau hiburkan selalu

Ibu ibu
Engkaulah ratu hatiku
Tempat menyatakan kasih
Wahai ibu

Betapa tidak hanya engkaulah
Yang menyinari hidupku
Sepanjang masa engkau berkorban
Tidak putusnya bagai air lalu

Ibu ibu
Engkaulah ratu hatiku
Tempatku menyerahkan kasih
Wahai ibu



********************************************************************************

Today is Haziq's birthday, being 30 September 2008 and he is 11 years old which also happens to be the eve of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri but he is in Kedah now,which is his father's hometown. with his family celebrating the Raya festival.
As usual,the Hari Raya holidays will always conjure a sense of division and mix decisions about where to celebrate the joyous occasion especially if you are a married person.In this case,the issue can be very overbearing if the couple needs to select the venue where Hari Raya should be celebrated : whether it will be at the husband's or wife's hometown so to speak.I guess these perennial "domestic dissent of choice and options " will not prevail if the grandparents and their families are residing in the same city e.g. Kuala Lumpur.And in the case where none of the grandparents existed,their children will have no problems in determining or deciding the ultimate place to celebrate the event.When parents have many children,and as they grew up and marry off with their partners,the desire to please each side of the family household is a hard and painful sacrifice to meet during each festival time.
As the only member of the family who is still single,the problem of choosing my place of celebration for the annual homecoming family reunion is totally non- existent and non-confrontational.Not unlike my other siblings who has to face some of the most challenging situations of their lifetimes, especially when it comes to an occasion like Hari Raya Aidilfitri or maybe Hari Raya Haji,revered as two of the more joyous festivals in the Muslim calender.This issue would probably has a more lasting effect than any other type of family get together suggested.

As most of my siblings have husbands and wife from different hometowns and locations, it is only natural for them to practise and adopt a bipartisan rotational concept whereby both sides of the couple will enable and empower a democratic system on the choice of venue to celebrate the blessed occasion which hopefully will never raise any doubts or bickering amongst them. Again as in her usual contemplation of wishes, my mum will speak bitterly of some members of the family for not taking the opportunity or prerogative to spend the happy occasion with her.Its been years now that the same fate is recurring but 2008 seems to be slightly different as compared to all the years that i have observed Hari Raya. Reason being, - my mum is not well this time. In fact her health is now unlike any of those years that i have seen or felt. Flashback, she actually experienced a slight fall at one of my sister's house sometime in April this year and was operated and hospitalised at the Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Jalan Ampang for more than three weeks.As a diabetic,the fall was a big blow to her, both physically and mentally,as she was still so devastated by the horrifying accident.Still undergoing physiotherapy sessions and after many months went by, she has not really fully recovered and has to move with the aid of a crawler in order to move from one place to another. In fact the speed of her body movement has been reduced tremendously so much so that the physical movement abilities can be compared to that of a new born child who is learning how to walk again. Seeing that before my eyes can really break my heart but fate may have wanted that to happen and i just have to bear seeing things changed almost overnight and being totally unfamiliar in more ways than one.
While watching the television this evening she brought up the issue again about how my two other siblings from Singapore who have never made any effort to call her to convey the much anticipated occasional Hari Raya greetings. As far as i have known, the same words and laments have always been uttered by her every time when the Raya day approaches. No wonder some people blame or likened old parents as being a like a spoiled record player churning repetitive lyrics and music that is intolerable that would easily fell on deaf ears. I'm for sure think that married people have different views about their parents' well being when these folks are still alive. Even far worse off, they don't seem to have that personal conscience of guilt or memories of how they were brought into this world by their parents especially by their mothers who cradle them, fed and nurtured till they became adults.They don't seem to feel any sense of gratitude or indebtedness for all that have been provided and blessed. What difference does it make between each son's or daughter's biological mother and their mother in law ? A mother from any side has much to be respected and love without any contrasts and partiality.
Tears flowed in my mother's eyes accented by her subdued voice with intermittent impediments thus limiting and faltering her expressions momentarily.

I would have been the only member of my family to have heard all the grievances that she has made all this while. Sometimes i wish that my two Singaporean siblings would have heard all these words and expressions and if only i had a tape recorder to play it back for all of them to hear. Fortunately, I guess this blog saves the day where i can put all of that in writing now for all of them to read but until the day when it will all be too late to even think about mending all their past faults and misdeeds whether through actions and speeches or just mere silence.

Ironically,there was only one phone call tonight i.e. from my sister's mother- in- law in Kuala Pilah who has made a concerted effort to wish my mum the Hari Raya greetings but again the call had its own personal purpose i.e. to request a presence for my mum to attend her son's wedding ceremony slated for this November.Again some sobs of sadness and dolor will surface during the telephone conversation as she carried on apathetically.It just goes to show how desperate my mother's feelings had been all these years about her circumstantial well being when Hari Raya comes. Not only during this time would she speak in an anguish and melancholy tone but i have never seen her shed so much tears on so many occasions and countless number of times.

Even till late in the evening while it was approaching the hour of midnight,no calls came through. By then my mother has already felt lethargic and exhausted,and after an inexorable wait,she decided to call it a day. Many children would not have felt any sense of urgency or insatiable longing of a mother's wait and hopes to hear a voice of concern and indulgence to care about her anxieties and worries deeply embedded in her heart.
How long must a mother wait? Until the last gasps of her breath subsides,then it will be too late for future regrets.

Food For Thought - Excerpt From Jakarta Post

Photo credit : OXYMANUS

By the Way: Has my Indonesia really sunk this low?

Sun, 09/21/2008 9:49 AM | Headlines




First, rest assured that I'm perfectly aware that Indonesia is far from eradicating poverty. I've lived outside Java and traveled much into the countryside to know that Jakarta's gleaming lights give a misleading portrait of Indonesia as a whole. But I used to think that the term "dirt poor" could only be applied to certain pockets in far-flung provinces. Until this past week.

I was breaking fast with grilled chicken and veggies when the TV news put out a news flash that literally stopped me from polishing off my meal.

The news reported on a group of trash collectors who frequent Jakarta's garbage dumps, fish through hotel leftovers to select the still-edible pieces, then sell them to some profiteering devils. They then tidy up the scraps, dowse them with seasoning before recooking them and resell these disguised castoffs to local wet markets as affordable ready-too-eat fresh dishes. The scary footage walked the viewers through the whole recycling process.

I apologize if I've ruined your Sunday brunch, especially if you're having it in one of the posh hotels. It's a known fact among insiders that high-end hotels, in their perennial striving to maintain high quality standards, do not keep leftovers or uncooked foodstuffs for long.

A good friend who was once a senior chef in a Jakarta 5-star hotel told me tales of perfectly edible, often untouched meals -- usually from weddings or functions whose hosts had ordered extra food "just to be safe" -- which ended up in the disposal bins. He also recounted how low-paid kitchen staffers lost their jobs when they gave into temptation and snuck some of these glorious dishes out in their knapsacks.

If you're wondering about the recycled meals, they definitely found buyers. Low-income housewives who've been suffering from skyrocketing prices for months saw them as the chance to finally bring long-lost chicken and beef back to their family's dining table.

Meat must've been so scarce for so long that these hardship-beaten people didn't get suspicious of how high-quality cooked meat could turn up so cheaply in their neighborhood market.

O readers, has my Indonesia gone that hungry?

The second news item that stunned me -- while Wall Street crashed, sending shockwaves across the world early this week -- reported how 21 people died in East Java in a stampede while trying to collect Rp 30,000 in alms. Yes, okay, Rp 30,000 (about US$3.2) could mean a simple meal for a family of three outside Jakarta, but it really doesn't amount to much.

It's what an urban white-collar worker might spend on one lunch break, or what a middle-class mom will use to get her kids ice cream any weekend at the mall, or simply parking costs a highly mobile professional might pay on a typical day. To think that old women in Pasuruan walked from their villages and stood for hours, only to be trampled upon and eventually crushed to death, for a meager Rp 30,000, was simply eerie.

O readers, has my Indonesia gone that poor?

These stories occurred around Jakarta and in East Java, not in some faraway province known to have missed the development train.

The recent global economic downturn has hit most of us, from U.S. financial behemoths to giant multinational airliners to local businesses. I left the corporate world 18 months ago to pursue an entrepreneurial path, only to see my new business barely floating above the tide of cash-crunched customers, and my modest capital market portfolio, supposedly my future life savings, losing a good 25 percent of its value.

I've skipped weekend parties, cut back on travel, and long forgotten the feminine pleasure of a fabulous pair of designer shoes. All of these frugalities at the end of the day hold no candle to the suffering of people who can only afford refashioned garbage or who are willing to gamble their very life for an extra Rp 30,000.

I don't have a magic solution, but let me offer my two cents.

First, for philanthropists out there who genuinely want to help the poor; select charities you trust and let them distribute your alms. If you're afraid charity caretakers may siphon off your dough, quietly visit any poor neighborhood's Ketua RT (head of smallest neighborhood unit) who maintains a list of poor households. At some point, you'll eventually need to entrust that well-intended money to someone else. Better to extend it to the deserving through effective channels rather than as Saykhon Fikri insisted on disbursing his charity directly to the throng of 2,000 in his front yard.

The second one is a plea to fancy hotels. Your food is well made and arguably more nutritious than what an average poor kitchen might muster. I trust there are other methods for maintaining your standards without sending off perfectly edible food to garbage bins, only to find its way to hungry unsuspecting stomachs. Why not send the food off directly to hundreds of orphanages or nursing homes, which may receive donations during Ramadhan but for the most part struggle to survive for the rest of the year?

It may not get you peer approval, garner media attention or win your company a CSR award but, if there's any Islamic teachings on sincere giving I do remember, when your right hand doles out charitably, even your own left hand doesn't need to know.

O readers, I'm afraid my Indonesia has really gone dirt poor.

What a sad Eid it will be this year.



--Lynda Ibrahim

Peranakan Musuem - Asian Art Newpaper Excerpt

PHILANTHROPIST & SCHOOL FOUNDER - GAN ENG SENG

Peranakan culture is one of Singapore’s most distinctive. Otherwise known as Babas and Nonyas, the Peranakans were early Chinese immigrants to the English Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang who embraced the predominantly Malay local culture. They are often assimilated with the Straits Chinese, who, according to some members of the community, adopted the indigenous life-style but in ethnic terms, remained wholly Chinese. Beyond this genetic hair-splitting however, the mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Arab and European heritages that characterises the Peranakan and indeed Straits Chinese way of life is responsible for some of Singapore’s most interesting indigenous art and architecture.

Peranakan communities exist throughout Southeast Asia and as a result, a number of Baba houses have sprung up over the years. These, located in 19th-century or early 20th-century, Peranakan-built shop-houses showcase the Straits Chinese lifestyle in situ and tend to be big on atmosphere rather than scholarship. Singapore, doubtless boasting Southeast Asia’s most sophisticated museum infrastructure, has just launched its new Peranakan Museum. The museum is both unique as an institution as well in the splendid and comprehensive collection it displays.

Located in Armenian Street, in the heart of the city-state’s museum district, the new venue is run by Singapore’s young but well-established and internationally respected Asian Civilisations Museum. The ten permanent-gallery Peranakan Museum is housed in the early 20th century Peranakan-funded Tao Nan School, which subsequently harboured the first incarnation of the Asian Civilisations Museum until the institution’s 2003 move to its permanent home at Empress Place on the Singapore River. According to Tan Huism, Deputy Director Curation & Collections at ACM, the Peranakan Museum’s collection, actively built up over the last four decades, is the world’s most comprehensive and doubtless largest grouping of such objects. Including documents as well as artefacts – jewellery, silver, furniture, textiles and crockery predominate – brought alive by interactive and multi-media stations, the material has been skilfully assembled to give a vivid picture of the culture it represents.

Emphasising the living aspect of the culture and keen to avoid the nostalgia that many locals associate with the Peranakan lifestyle and the group’s early twentieth century heyday as an elite Singapore community, the museum does not focus on any particular time-line. And though much of the material dates to the pre-war period, recent, gallery-punctuating interviews with members of Singapore’s Peranakan community bring history into the present by shedding light on the heritage’s current context and concerns. Says Tan ‘Peranakan culture is very diverse, fluid and alive. With our presentation of the collection we aim to show how being Peranakan means different things to different people. In the end, this culture is quintessentially Southeast Asian in nature: hybrid, evolving and ultimately far more than the sum of its parts. The idea here is not to deconstruct the culture into its different ethnic strands but rather to say this is our own very locally produced heritage, let’s understand it as a whole and appraise it on its own merits’.

Displayed over three floors, the information and supporting objects are grouped into ten thematic spaces. On the ground floor, the introductory gallery known as Origins defines the culture in broad terms by explaining to the public that not only are there Peranakan Chinese communities beyond Singapore (they exist in Indonesia for example), but also that Diaspora Indians who have embraced Malay culture are also known as Peranakans. This is a community-based display currently showcasing large-scale colour portrait photographs of Peranakans as well as an important Peranakan mid 19th-century cotton batik of Javanese origin on loan from the Dutch national collection, Leiden.
The second floor’s four galleries are devoted entirely to the Peranakan wedding and its associated 12-day ritual and elaborate accessories. Here highlights include a sumptuous carved, lacquered and gilded canopied wedding bed from 19th-century Penang complete with richly adorned silk hangings. A grand wedding procession features heavily embroidered wedding outfits, their mixed Chinese-Malay style in evidence with sarong and kebaya. Related ceremonies are examined, including lapchai, the pre-marital custom involving the exchange of gifts between the bride and groom’s family. Here museum-goers are treated to a wealthy display of Peranakan jewellery that attests not only to Malay and Chinese influences, but also to Indian and Western stylistic and technical attributes that combined, make Peranakan art so eclectic.

On the museum’s top floor, six galleries afford different society-based perspectives on the Peranakan. The respectively labelled Nonya, Religion, Public Life, Food and Feasting and Conversations Galleries tackle distinct themes that juxtaposed, serve to elucidate the culture in all its complex hybridity. Through material evidence such as embroidered and beaded clothing and more utilitarian household objects, the Nonya Gallery examines the traditional values imparted by Peranakan women to their daughters. The section elaborating Religion and its rituals is probably the museum’s most multi-layered and surprising, explaining the strongly diverging religious tendencies within the Peranakan community and so illustrating the culture’s fluidity and pluralistic overtones. A video of a catholic mass given in Baba Malay, the Peranakan Chinese-Malay patois, the Tan Kim Seng ancestral altar table referencing traditional Chinese ritual practice, and displays documenting animistic folk superstitions embraced by some Baba families, together provide a snapshot of Peranakans as an accepting and uniquely cosmopolitan group that in its openness, exemplifies the best of Southeast Asian tradition. Seeking to underscore the importance of ritual in the culture, curators have devised the ‘wailing corridor’ where mourning clan members are recorded grieving at a family wake. Though this vivid and realistic audio-montage is clearly designed as a crowd-drawer specifically targeting museum-shy Singaporeans – museums in the city-state, however well presented and whatever the quality of their collections has trouble competing with the local shopping malls for audience attention – is nonetheless well made.

The Public Life section, the institution’s most classically historical in flavour, presents a changing display of a number of the community’s more illustrious members. Divided into five parts, including Philanthropists, King’s Chinese (Peranakans who played a role in the colonial civil service), Career Women, Nation Builders and Social Reformers, the listed figures include, amongst others, philanthropists Tan Tok Seng and Gan Eng Seng; (see pic) Mrs Seow Peck Leng, one of the trailblazers of the women’s movement in Singapore; Dr Lim Boon Keng, an early 20th-century social reformer who advocated education for girls (Lim founded Singapore Chinese Girls’ School with Sir Ong Siang Song); and Lim Kim San, the Chairman of the Housing and Development Board, Singapore’s notorious public housing blocks that forever changed the face of physical Singapore in the 1960s. A private variation on the public nature of the previous showcase, the Conversations gallery features audio-documentaries detailing the lives and views of ordinary members of the Peranakan community.

Finally, the museum looks at that most well-known and loved aspect of Peranakan culture, its food. In the Food Gallery curators present a fully laid Tok Panjang (tok, Hokkien for table, panjang Malay for long) boasting a fine array of ostentatious Peranakan porcelain, as well as video screenings of food preparation. If anything illustrates the culture, Nonya cuisine’s blend of Chinese and Malay methods and ingredients (noodles, coconut, lemongrass, chilli, turmeric and screwpine amongst much more) does. As well as its feasting table, the gallery contains other pieces of Peranakan furniture. These attest to a mixture of influences namely Malay carving and inlay, overall Chinese structure and Western style derived both from the heavy Victorian furniture of late 19th-century England as well as from Dutch colonial prototypes of the same period ubiquitous in the Indonesian archipelago.

As well as its just-opened state-of-the-art Peranakan Museum, as of summer 2008 the city-state will also boast a new straits-Chinese house museum. South of the Singapore river on Chinatown’s Western fringe, the Baba House affords visitors an atmospheric taste of life as it was lived in an affluent Straits Chinese household circa 1928. The 150-year-old three-storey home, site of the Baba House, is located in one of Singapore’s few surviving intact Peranakan residential enclaves known as the Blair Plain Conservation Area. Run by the National University of Singapore’s Centre for the Arts, the Baba House is not a traditional museum but a heritage house with a mission to provide education and research about Straits Chinese culture. The house, in the same family for six generations until its purchase by NUS, is thought to be one of Singapore’s most authentic remaining Peranakan residential properties. Though opening to the public with considerably less fanfare than that accorded the Peranakan Museum, the Baba House is probably the best of its kind in the world.
IOLA LENZI

Peranakan Museum, 39 Armenian Street, Singapore
National Museum of Singapore’s Baba House, 157 Neil Road, Singapore

Boys Will Be Boys

Photo credits : Oxymanus

This afternoon,i decided to drive to a public park near Setapak wherein lies a man made lake and was somewhat previously a sewage processing catchment area or rather, even an old disused mining pool,i guessed,knowing that Kuala Lumpur used to be a thriving tin mining town in those good old days.Setapak is considered one of the many mining areas around the Klang Valley.The DBKL authorities(KL City Council) have recently upgraded/converted the park into a public recreation centre for its nearby residents to engage in healthy pastime activities like jogging, fishing, relaxing or just simply idling their free time and making use of the safe compound of the park in their own ways for their respective families. A commendable project i must say.
While totting my camera around the vicinity,i encountered two young boisterous boys of similar age,soaking and shivering in the perimeters of the lake enjoying and celebrating their wet and wild adventure in the afternoon's scorching sun. It was a hot day indeed but the water below might be cold it seems as testified by the crackling sounds of his teeth, while he gleefully grinned at me in sheer admiration. They seemed overjoyed and full of excitement,especially when seeing me and my camera clicking away their candid images of sorts. Without hesitation,one of them came out of the water and to my shock,in full representation of his school uniform still intact!, he appeared.He must have came into the water soon after they had finished school,i assume. His friend was somehow dressed in a school t-shirt but still wearing his school uniform trousers as i vigilantly observed the colour of its material. Their school bags were were seen left on the ground nearby their swim site.

In my own state of mind, i was wondering if these boys are fully aware of the impending dangers that could be inflicted, when i found out that the lake is quite deep(an information derived from my earlier conversation with the adult angler nearby)Right across their swim area could be seen a wooden structure of recreational nature which was man made for a dipper to sit and rest or simply do a diving stunt off it. It was tastefully built and really serves as a creative and natural dive point if you might label it.

One of them, a Chinese lad,emerged from the water and ask me what i was up to. He was bemused, took a strong interest in my presence and anxiously demanded that i showed him what i have snapped of him.He was grinning, laughing and while displaying his fervent excitement,he nearly touched my camera, oblivious of his wet hands dripping with water.

His other friend, a Malay boy and most probably his classmate in school just continued his prancing splashes in the pool of water.His hands were almost white and wrinkled signifying his long association inside it.I heard they were in primary 3 at the nearby school and asked them randomly what brought them to the lake. The Malay boy told me that his mother had ask him to catch some ornamental fish to be kept in their aquarium at home. I was shocked to hear his remarks and wondered if his mother actually knew the sort of physical risk he is facing eg drowning.

There were other people around the so called public park. Despite its scenic view in the right location, the park still lacks the conducive public amenities, like benches,litter bins, proper signages, public toilets, well manicured shrubs and bushes and maybe a nice hawker centre .
Come to think of it, many such park and recreation centres should be opened up by the government in order for the residents in indulge in healthy urban lifestyle irrespective of age or sexes.

Over at other corner,some older men were seen angling their luck for some freshwater fishes. From what i have seen in their receptacles, there was not much of a pride to shout about in terms of the size of the fishes. Maybe its the pleasure of waiting and feeling the challenge of getting your hooks nabbed by those mysterious swimming elements underwater.

Other visitors to the park this afternoon include two guys chatting the world away in their Proton car , while in another location a couple could be seen and heard arguing a domestic problem with their motorcycle parked along with them.

Watching the two young lads again is enough to make me very happy at their complete innocence of inter racial friendships, something that also reminds me of my childhood days. We were very close and we treasured our trust and understanding of each other. Obviously the two boys were not playing truant i know,but their form of recreation seems to perturb me as i see danger lurking their way if left unattended by their own guardians. What if there were no adults or competent swimmers or lifeguards to rescue such persons in the event of a mishap. Will the mother be sorry later for asking her son to catch some fishes for their home aquarium ? What if ...... ?

Anyway boys will be boys. I have seen my old childhood friends doing worse things than that and swimming in the lake might not be a dangerous sport to some people.

Before i bade farewell to the boys, one of them asked me if i was coming to see them again tomorrow. When i asked them what time i should be present,he quickly mentioned same time at 12.00 pm. Obviously,he does not know how to tell the time as i laughed quietly, walking my way back to the car with the time dial indicating 5.45 pm then.

My Favorite Singer

Biography -
© 2008 Miss Nancy Wilson
Designed by Red Evolution


Nancy Wilson’s musical style is so diverse that it is hard to classify. Over the years her repertoire has included pop style ballads, jazz and blues, show tunes and well known standards. Critics have described her as “a jazz singer,” “a blues singer,” “a pop singer,” and “a cabaret singer.” Still others have referred to her as “a storyteller,” “a professor emeritus of body language,” “a consummate actress,” and “the complete entertainer.” Then who is this song stylist (that’s the descriptive title she prefers) whose voice embodies the nuances of gospel, blues, and jazz? Her colleague and long time friend Joe Williams used to call her “the thrush from Columbus.”

By the age of four, Nancy Wilson knew she wanted to be a singer. Born in Chillicothe, OH, Nancy grew up in Columbus where her father provided early exposure to many vocalists. These included male singers Billy Eckstine and Louis Jordan, and the rhythm and blues of Ruth Brown and LaVerne Baker. Nat King Cole was influential as well. She also heard big band vocalists Jimmy Rushing with Count Basie’s Orchestra, and Lionel Hampton’s Little Jimmy Scott. As a child she took an active part in church music as well as school choirs and dance bands.

Nancy’s professional singing career began at the age of 15. She had her own television show, Skyline Melody, on a local station. Soon after, she began performing in clubs in the Columbus area. After graduating high school, still undecided about a music career, she enrolled in the teacher training program at Central State College. But in 1956, Nancy’s desire outweighed the uncertainty of a vocal career, so she left college to join The Rusty Bryant Band. That same year she met Julian “Cannonball” Adderley when she accompanied Bryant’s band to New York City for a recording session. Adderley, impressed with her talent and determination, took an immediate interest in her career and the two kept in touch.

In 1959, Nancy moved to New York City, allotting herself six months to attain her goals. She wanted Cannonball’s manager, John Levy, to represent her, and she wanted Capitol Records as her label. Within four weeks of her arrival in New York she got her first big break, a call to fill in for Irene Reid at The Blue Morocco. Nancy did so well that the club booked her on a permanent basis; she was singing four nights a week and working as a receptionist during the day. She called John Levy and he went to catch her show.

John called me the very next day. He set up a session to record a demo,” Nancy recalls. “Ray Bryant and I went in and recorded “Guess Who I Saw Today,” “Sometimes I’m Happy,” and two other songs. We sent them to Capitol and within five days the phone rang. Within six weeks I had all the things I wanted.”

Nancy’s debut single, “Guess Who I Saw Today,” was so successful that between April of 1960 and July of 1962 Capitol Records released five Nancy Wilson albums. Two of those remain in-demand reissues to this day: The Swingin’s Mutual with George Shearing (1961) and Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley (1962), and earned her a permanent star in the jazz constellation. In 1963 “Tell Me The Truth” became her first truly major hit, leading up to her performance at the Coconut Grove in 1964 – the turning pointing of her career garnering critical acclaim from coast to coast. Time Magazine wrote, “She is, all at once, both cool and sweet, both singer and story teller.”

Nancy was seen performing on variety shows (The Andy Williams Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Flip Wilson Show, and others) and for one season she had her own popular television program, The Nancy Wilson Show (NBC) that won an Emmy in 1975. Nancy also took on acting roles, appearing on popular television shows throughout the years, from I Spy, Room 222, Hawaii Five-O, and Police Story, to The Cosby Show, Soul Food, New York Undercover, Moesha, and The Parkers.

After years with Capitol, during many of which she was second in sales only to the Beatles, surpassing even Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, the Beach Boys, and early idol Nat King Cole, the business had changed providing Nancy with an opportunity to seek out projects that allowed her to express the maturity that she acquired throughout her then 55 years of life.
One of the more interesting albums from her later period came about in 1991, when singer Barry Manilow was given a sheath full of lyrics written by the late Johnny Mercer which the great songwriter had never put to music. Manilow added melodies and chose Nancy to sing the resultant songs.

In 1995, when National Public Radio (NPR) was looking for an articulate voice with both name value and jazz credibility to host their Jazz Profiles series, Nancy was the obvious choice. Not only did she know the music, but she knew the artists personally. Her first profile for this program was the 75th birthday tribute to Charlie Parker.

In the late 1990s, Nancy teamed up with MCG Jazz, a social enterprise supporting the youth education programs of the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, a nonprofit, minority-directed, arts and learning organization located in Pittsburgh, PA. A Nancy Wilson Christmas, released for the 2001 holiday season was her only completed Christmas album. All proceeds form the sale of A Nancy Wilson Christmas went directly to support the programs of MCG Jazz.

Three years later Nancy gave MCG Jazz and the world of music another gift – R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) – which was released on August 25, 2004. Receiving gifts in return, R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) won the 2005 GRAMMY® Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the 2005 NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz Artist. (This was her second GRAMMY®, the first being in 1964 for “How Glad I Am,” and her second Image Award, the first being in 1986.) Other honors Nancy has received include a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, streets and days dedicated in her name, honorary doctorate degrees, and in 2005, the UNCF Trumpet Award celebrating African-American achievement, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP in Chicago, and Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Award.

Her third CD on the MCG Jazz label, Turned To Blue (released in August 2006), brought her a third Grammy award. While Ms. Wilson has “retired from touring,” she still continues to perform select engagements and, happily, to record. In addition, she has just taken on the role of Honorary Spokesperson for the National Minority AIDS Council and is working very hard to raise AIDS awareness in the African-American communities.

My Favorite Musician

"To me, music that breaks your heart is the music that stays with you forever," muses the best-selling jazz artist Chris Botti when talking about his new album, Italia. "It's one thing to be melancholy and one thing to be sophisticated, but when you get the two of them together in a way people can relate to, then I think you're on to something You want the sophistication to lie in the purity of the sound, the beauty of the arrangements, and the quality of the performances." - CHRIS BOTTI

Some Past White Presidents of USA

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHICAGO TRIBUNE













THE PRESIDENTS

Since George Washington's election in 1789, 43 men have served as President of the United States. They have led in times of peace and war, hardship and plenty, and served in tenures as short as one month and as long as 12 years. Learn more about America's Presidents.

1. George Washington


2. John Adams


3. Thomas Jefferson

4. James Madison


5. James Monroe


6. John Quincy Adams

7. Andrew Jackson


8. Martin Van Buren


9. William Henry Harrison

10. John Tyler


11. James Knox Polk


12. Zachary Taylor

13. Millard Fillmore


14. Franklin Pierce


15. James Buchanan

16. Abraham Lincoln


17. Andrew Johnson


18. Ulysses S. Grant

19. Rutherford B. Hayes


20. James Garfield


21. Chester Arthur

22. Grover Cleveland


23. Benjamin Harrison


24. Grover Cleveland

25. William McKinley


26. Theodore Roosevelt


27. William Howard Taft

28. Woodrow Wilson


29. Warren Harding


30. Calvin Coolidge

31. Herbert Hoover


32. Franklin D. Roosevelt


33. Harry S Truman

34. Dwight D. Eisenhower


35. John F. Kennedy


36. Lyndon Johnson

37. Richard Nixon


38. Gerald Ford


39. James Carter

40. Ronald Reagan


41. George H. W. Bush


42. William J. Clinton

43. George W. Bush


44. Barack H. Obama

Service In the Air ( S.I.A.)

A GREAT WAY TO FLY ALWAYS - SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380


What constitute good service in the airline industry when you are up in the air , flying ? "Anticipating beyond first class service that is so personalised" echoed my friend.I cannot disagree with him.Nowadays when air fares are spiralling due to high fuel costs, many airlines are cutting their losses and unfortunately cutting losses also means cutting the level and standards of service for some.Evidently when we fly in these carriers,the face of gloom and glum can be noticed sometimes especially when the planeload is a little too much to handle.


While i was in Bangkok recently, even the locals criticised their national carrier for being no longer hospitable like in the good old days.Can you imagine,a pretty stewardess,so gentle and smiling always is now actually a thing of the past? What you get now is someone who discriminate your service based on the cabin you are sitting in.Their poise is no more resplendent but instead rough, soulless and often robotic."When a job is done, nothing is left and the service ended abruptly",laments another.

What's more; with the advent of the LCC services,you can count your blessings if you will ever be a satisfied passenger after disembarking from the jet.Apparently LCC passengers are often treated like a herd of animals and this could probably hold true due to the popular adage : Pay peanuts and you get monkeys.

New Design - An Excerpt

(Beijing/Rotterdam, March 21, 2007): Far East Organization, Singapore’s largest private development company, has commissioned the Office for Metropolitan Architecture for OMA’s first architectural project in Singapore – a 36-story residential high-rise.

The 153 meter tall tower will be located at the intersection of Scotts Road and Cairnhill Road, in close proximity to Orchard Road, Singapore’s famous shopping and lifestyle street. With 20,000 m2 of built floor area, the building will provide 68 high-end apartment units with panoramic views.

The design strategically maneuvers within the highly regulated building environment to maximize the full potential of the site: Four individual apartment towers are vertically offset from one another and suspended from a central core. The skyline of floating towers directly relates to the surrounding building volumes and explores the most attractive views towards the city center and an extensive green zone to the north.

The lifted apartment towers reduce the building’s footprint to a minimum; the liberated ground level provides communal leisure activities embedded in the tropical landscape.

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to create an outstanding project in partnership with OMA. The design reflects the new vibrancy and vitality of Orchard Road and Singapore. OMA with its extensive international experience will certainly bring a new perspective to luxury urban living and add to the cosmopolitan flavor of our development,” says Far East Organization Chief Operating Officer, Property Sales, Chia Boon Kuah.

“The collaboration with the Far East Organization is an exciting opportunity to further engage Asia,” says Ole Scheeren, Partner of OMA. "The design vertically redistributes the floor area in four alternating towers to create a skyscraper in which architectural and urbanistic concerns merge with mechanisms that create added value. The architecture, in this sense, goes beyond form and generates symbiotic qualities”.

Ole Scheeren is leading the project’s design, together with OMA Associate Eric Chang as the Project Architect. Ole Scheeren, Director of OMA Beijing, is responsible for the office’s work across Asia, including the 575,000 m2 CCTV tower and TVCC cultural center currently under construction in Beijing. His previous work includes the Prada epicenter stores in New York and Los Angeles, for which Eric Chang also served as Project Architect.

Singapore Residential Tower: Building PR from OMA 210307

Love Thy Parents

The fasting month is going through a rapid pace than ever, now that it has notched 15 days into the Ramadan calender and i realised that I have not performed my terawih prayers a single night yet. Consciously speaking, this must have been a shameful record year of disobedience or defiance in fulfilling my religious duties that was commonly expected of any Muslim this time around.

Recalling the years while i was a youth, going for the terawih prayers have always been an easy and undaunting task. As a matter of fact, i anticipated its arrival every year, where it reinforced my faith towards God in every sense of the word. As part of our religious duty, the terawih prayers requires the individual personal sacrifices for a person's time to be devoted to worship, repentance and the begging of forgiveness to Almighty God. It was also the month for asking and to seek spiritual rewards which comes as a huge blessing only once in a year when the doors of heaven are wide opened.While i was writing down these notes, i was also trying to add some new video gadgets into my site especially the ones pertaining to Hari Raya. And while doing so through the You Tube files, i chance upon the past advertising clips that was made by Petronas over the years including the most recent one that was released in the TV commercial of 2007.

I was very grateful that somebody out there has made the effort to download these video gems for all the internet users to see and relish.The clips were so well crafted that it does not goes out of date or even a bore to watch no matter how many times one is viewing it.
The clips represented or carried a message for every muslims,young and old alike things about tradition, religion as well as the spirit of kinship and bonding in the Hari Raya theme.I watched in solemn inhibition to each and every detail of the story plot embedded with nostalgic music when my guilt conscience preyed on my emotions in no time. You cant hide the fact that in whatever backgrounds /situations depicted in the video clip lies the truth of us human going through certain times like that. It was painful but yet it was the common truth. Scenes like that will never be forgotten and that is what i called successful marketing.

It may have cost Petronas thousands of ringgit to create such a brilliant masterpiece, just like a work of art but then again it does not cost anything to anyone of us to be kind to our parents and to treat them honorably for as long as they shall live. And my tears flowed again, just like yesterday.

Jihad Explained - An Excerpt

In the linguistic sense, the Arabic word "jihad" means struggling or striving and applies to any effort exerted by anyone. In this sense, a student struggles and strives to get an education and pass course work; an employee strives to fulfill his/her job and maintain good relations with his/her employer; a politician strives to maintain or increase his popularity with his constituents and so on. The term strive or struggle may be used for/by Muslims as well as non-Muslims; for example, Allah, the One and Only True God says in the Qur'an:

"We have enjoined on people kindness to parents; but if they STRIVE (JAHADAKA) to make you ascribe partners with Me that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not..." (29:8; also see 31:15)

In the above two verses of the Qur'an , it is non-Muslim parents who strive (jahadaka) to convert their Muslim child back to their religion. In the West, "jihad" is generally translated as "holy war," a usage the media has popularized. According to Islamic teachings, it is UNHOLY to instigate or start war; however, some wars are inevitable and justifiable. If we translate the words "holy war" back into Arabic, we find "harbun muqaddasatu," or for "the holy war," "al-harbu al-muqaddasatu." WE CHALLENGE any researcher or scholar to find the meaning of "jihad" as holy war in the Qur'an or authentic Hadith collections or in early Islamic literature. Unfortunately, some Muslim writers and translators of the Qur'an, the Hadith and other Islamic literature translate the term "jihad" as "holy war," due to the influence of centuries-old Western propaganda. This could be a reflection of the Christian use of the term "Holy War" to refer to the Crusades of a thousand years ago. However, the Arabic words for "war" are "harb" or "qital," which are found in the Qur'an and Hadith.

For Muslims the term JIHAD is applied to all forms of STRIVING and has developed some special meanings over time. The sources of this development are the Qur'an (the Word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S) [(S) denotes Sall-Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam, meaning peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]. The Qur'an and the Hadith use the word "jihad" in several different contexts which are given below:

1. RECOGNIZING THE CREATOR AND LOVING HIM MOST:

It is human nature to love what is seen with the eyes and felt with the senses more than the UNSEEN REALITY. The Creator of the Universe and the One God is Allah. He is the Unseen Reality which we tend to ignore and not recognize. The Qur'an addresses those who claim to be believers:

"O you who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for protectors if they love disbelief over belief; whoever of you takes them for protectors, such are wrong-doers. Say: if your fathers, and your children, and your brethren, and your spouses, and your tribe, and the wealth you have acquired, and business for which you fear shrinkage, and houses you are pleased with are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and STRIVING in His way: then wait till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah does not guide disobedient folk." (9:23, 24)

It is indeed a struggle to put Allah ahead of our loved ones, our wealth, our worldly ambitions and our own lives. Especially for a non-Muslim who embraces Islam, it may be a tough struggle due to the opposition of his family, peers and society.

2. RESISTING PRESSURE OF PARENTS, PEERS, AND SOCIETY:

Once a person has made up his mind to put the Creator of the Universe above all else, he often comes under intense pressures. It is not easy to resist such pressures and STRIVE to maintain dedication and love of Allah over all else. A person who has turned to Islam from another religion may be subjected to pressures designed to turn him back to the religion of the family. We read in the Qur'an:

"So obey not the rejecters of faith, but strive (jahidhum) against them by it (the Qur'an) with a great endeavor." (25:52)

3. STAYING ON THE STRAIGHT PATH STEADFASTLY:

Allah says in the Qur'an: "And STRIVE (JADIHU) for Allah with the endeavor (JIHADIHI) which is His right. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you in the DEEN (religion) any hardship..." (22:78) "And whosoever STRIVES (JAHADA), STRIVES (YUJAHIDU) only for himself, for lo! Allah is altogether independent of the universe." (29:6)

As for those who strive and struggle to live as true Muslims whose lives are made difficult due to persecution by their opponents, they are advised to migrate to a more peaceful and tolerant land and continue with their struggle in the cause of Allah. Allah says in the Qur'an:

"Lo! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wronged themselves, (the angels) will ask: 'In what you were engaged?' They will way: 'We were oppressed in the land.' (The angels) will say: 'Was not Allah's earth spacious that you could have migrated therein?'" (4:97) "Lo! Those who believe, and those who emigrate (to escape persecution) and STRIVE (JAHADU) in the way of Allah, these have hope of Allah's mercy..." (2:218)

Allah tests the believers in their faith and their steadfastness:

"Or did you think that you would enter Paradise while yet Allah knows not those of you who really STRIVE (JAHADU), nor knows those (of you) who are steadfast." (3:142) "And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and fruits; but give tidings to the steadfast." (2:155)

We find that the Prophet Muhammad (S) and his clan were boycotted socially and economically for three years to force him to stop his message and compromise with the pagans but he resisted and realized a moral victory (2).

4. STRIVING FOR RIGHTEOUS DEEDS:

Allah declares in the Qur'an:

"As for those who STRIVE (JAHADU) in Us (the cause of Allah), We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good doers." (29:69)

When we are faced with two competing interests, it becomes jihad to choose the right one, as the following Hadith exemplify: "Aisha, wife of the Prophet (S) asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, we see jihad as the best of deeds, so shouldn't we join it?' He replied, 'But the best of jihad is a perfect Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah).'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari #2784) At another occasion, a man asked the Prophet Muhammad (S): "'Should I join the jihad?' He asked, 'Do you have parents?' The man said, 'Yes!' The Prophet (S) said, 'Then strive by serving them!'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari #5972) Yet another man asked the Messenger of Allah (S): "'What kind of jihad is better?' He replied, 'A word of truth in front of an oppressive ruler!'" (Sunan Al-Nasa'i #4209) The Messenger of Allah (S) said: "...the MUJAHID (one who carries out jihad) is he who STRIVES against himself for the sake of Allah, and the MUHAJIR (one who emigrates) is he who abandons evil deeds and sin." (Sahih Ibn Hibban #4862)

5. HAVING COURAGE AND STEADFASTNESS TO CONVEY THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM:

The Qur'an narrates the experiences of a large number of Prophets and good people who suffered a great deal trying to convey the message of Allah to mankind. For examples, see the Qur'an 26:1-190, 36:13-32. In the Qur'an, Allah specifically praises those who strive to convey His message: "Who is better in speech than one who calls (other people) to Allah, works righteous, and declares that he is from the Muslims." (41:33) Under adverse conditions it takes great courage to remain a Muslim, declare oneself to be a Muslim and call others to Islam. We read in the Qur'an:

"The (true) believers are only those who believe in Allah and his messenger and afterward doubt not, but STRIVE with their wealth and their selves for the cause of Allah. Such are the truthful." (49:15)

6. DEFENDING ISLAM AND THE COMMUNITY:

Allah declares in the Qur'an:

"To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to defend themselves), because they are wronged - and verily, Allah is Most Powerful to give them victory - (they are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right - (for no cause) except that they say, 'Our Lord is Allah'..." (22:39-40)

The Qur'an permits fighting to defend the religion of Islam and the Muslims. This permission includes fighting in self-defense and for the protection of family and property. The early Muslims fought many battles against their enemies under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (S) or his representatives. For example, when the pagans of Quraysh brought armies against Prophet Muhammad (S), the Muslims fought to defend their faith and community (3). The Qur'an adds:

"Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress limits. Lo! Allah loves not aggressors. ...And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against transgressors." (2:190, 193)

7. HELPING ALLIED PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE MUSLIM:

In the late period of the Prophet Muhammad's (S) life, the tribe of Banu Khuza'ah became his ally. They were living near Makkah which was under the rule of the pagan Quraysh, Prophet Muhammad's (S) own tribe. The tribe of Banu Bakr, an ally of Quraysh, with the help of some elements of Quraysh, attacked Banu Khuza'ah invoked the treaty and demanded Prophet Muhammad (S) to come to their help and punish Quraysh. The Prophet Muhammad (S) organized a campaign against Quraysh of Makkah which resulted in the conquest of Makkah which occurred without any battle (4).

8. REMOVING TREACHEROUS PEOPLE FROM POWER:

Allah orders the Muslims in the Qur'an: "If you fear treachery from any group, throw back (their treaty) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms. Lo! Allah loves not the treacherous." (8:58) Prophet Muhammad (S) undertook a number of armed campaigns to remove treacherous people from power and their lodgings. He had entered into pacts with several tribes, however, some of them proved themselves treacherous. Prophet Muhammad (S) launched armed campaigns against these tribes, defeated and exiled them from Medina and its surroundings (5).

9. DEFENDING THROUGH PREEMPTIVE STRIKES:

Indeed, it is difficult to mobilize people to fight when they see no invaders in their territory; however, those who are charged with responsibility see dangers ahead of time and must provide leadership. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (S), had the responsibility to protect his people and the religion he established in Arabia. Whenever he received intelligence reports about enemies gathering near his borders he carried out preemptive strikes, broke their power and dispersed them (6). Allah ordered Muslims in the Qur'an: "Fighting is prescribed upon you, and you dislike it. But it may happen that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that you love a thing which is bad for you. And Allah knows and you know not." (2:216)

10. GAINING FREEDOM TO INFORM, EDUCATE AND CONVEY THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM IN AN OPEN AND FREE ENVIRONMENT:

Allah declares in the Qur'an:

"They ask you (Muhammad) concerning fighting in the Sacred Month. Say, 'Fighting therein is a grave (offense) but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its inhabitants. Persecution is worse than killing. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith, if they can..." (2:217) "And those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, (are not cowed but) fight back." (42:39)

To gain this freedom, Prophet Muhammad (S) said: "STRIVE (JAHIDU) against the disbelievers with your hands and tongues." (Sahih Ibn Hibban #4708) The life of the Prophet Muhammad (S) was full of STRIVING to gain the freedom to inform and convey the message of Islam. During his stay in Makkah he used non-violent methods and after the establishment of his government in Madinah, by the permission of Allah, he used armed struggle against his enemies whenever he found it inevitable.

11. FREEING PEOPLE FROM TYRANNY:

Allah admonishes Muslims in the Qur'an:

"And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? - Men, women, and children, whose cry is: 'Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You, one who will protect; and raise for us from You, one who will help.'" (4:75)

The mission of the Prophet Muhammad (S) was to free people from tyranny and exploitation by oppressive systems. Once free, individuals in the society were then free to chose Islam or not. Prophet Muhammad's (S) successors continued in his footsteps and went to help oppressed people. For example, after the repeated call by the oppressed people of Spain to the Muslims for help, Spain was liberated by Muslim forces and the tyrant rulers removed. After the conquest of Syria and Iraq by the Muslims, the Christian population of Hims reportedly said to the Muslims: "We like your rule and justice far better than the state of oppression and tyranny under which we have been living." (7) The defeated rulers of Syria were Roman Christians, and Iraq was ruled by Zoarastrian Persians.

WHAT SHOULD MUSLIMS DO WHEN THEY ARE VICTORIOUS?

Muslims should remove tyranny, treachery, bigotry, and ignorance and replace them with justice and equity. We should provide truthful knowledge and free people from the bondage of 'associationism' (SHIRK, or multiple gods), prejudice, superstition and mythology. Muslims remove immorality, fear, crime, exploitation and replace them with divine morality, peace and education. The Qur'an declares:

"Lo! Allah commands you that you restore deposits to their owners, and if you judge between mankind that you judge justly. Lo! It is proper that Allah admonishes you. Lo! Allah is ever Hearer, Seer." (4:58)

"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah's witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to Piety and fear Allah. And Allah is well acquainted with all that you do." (5:8)

"And of those whom We have created there is a nation who guides with the Truth and establishes justice with it." (7:181)

"Lo! Allah enjoins justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbids lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorts you in order that you may take heed." (16:90)

"Those who, if We give them power in the land, establish prescribed prayers (SALAH) and pay the poor-due (ZAKAH) and enjoin right conduct and forbid evil. And with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs." (22:41)

DID ISLAM SPREAD BY FORCE, SWORDS OR GUNS?

The unequivocal and emphatic answer is NO! The Qur'an declares:

"Let there be no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error." (2:256)

Here is a good study of the question of the spread of Islam by a Christian missionary, T. W. Arnold: "...of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestantism penal in France, or the Jews were kept out of England for 350 years. The Eastern Churches in Asia were entirely cut off from communion with the rest of Christiandom throughout which no one would have been found to lift a finger on their behalf, as heretical communions. So that the very survival of these Churches to the present day is a strong proof of the generally tolerant attitude of Mohammedan [sic] governments towards them" (8). Islam does not teach, nor do Muslims desire, conversion of any people for fear, greed, marriage or any other form of coercion. In conclusion, jihad in Islam is STRIVING IN THE WAY OF ALLAH by pen, tongue, hand, media and, if inevitable, with arms. However, jihad in Islam does not include striving for individual or national power, dominance, glory, wealth, prestige or pride.

-- M. Amir Ali, Ph.D.

REFERENCES:

1. For the sake of simplicity and easy reading, masculine pronouns have been used throughout this brochure. No exclusion of females is intended.

2. Haykal, M. H., THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD, Tr. Ismail R. Faruqi, American Trust Publications, 1976, p. 132.

3. Haykal, pp. 216, 242, 299 and 414 for the Battles of Badr, Uhud, Al-Khandaq and Hunayn, respectively.

4. Haykal, p. 395 for the conquest of Makkah.

5. Haykal, pp. 245, 277, 311 and 326 for campaigns against the tribes of Banu Qaynuqa', Banu Al-Nadir, Banu Qurayzah and Banu Lihyan, respectively. Also, see p. 283 for the Battle of Dhat Al-Riqa'.

6. Haykal, pp. 284, 327, 366, 387, 393, 443 and 515 for the Battles of Dawmat Al-Jandal, Banu Al-Mustaliq, Khayber, Mu'tah, Dhat Al-Salasil, Tabuk and the Campaign of Usama Ibn Zayd, respectively.

7. Hitti, Philip K., HISTORY OF THE ARABS, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1970, p. 153.

8. Arnold, Sir Thomas W. THE PREACHING OF ISLAM, A HISTORY OF THE PROPAGATION OF THE MUSLIM FAITH, Westminister A. Constable & Co., London, 1896, p. 80.

For more information, please contact: The Institute of Islamic Information and Education 4390 North Elston Avenue Chicago, Illinois, 60641-2146 Tel. (312) 777-7443 Fax (312) 777-7199

The Religion Of Islam

- Photo by Oxymanus
>THE RELIGION OF ISLAM

The first thing that one should know and clearly understand about Islam is what the word "Islam" itself means. The religion of Islam is not named after a person as in the case of Christianity which was named after Jesus Christ, Buddhism after Gotama Buddha, Confucianism after Confucius, and Marxism after Karl Marx. Nor was it named after a tribe like Judaism after the tribe of Judah and Hinduism after the Hindus. Islam is the true religion of "Allah" and as such, its name represents the central principle of Allah's "God's" religion; the total submission to the will of Allah "God". The Arabic word "Islam" means the submission or surrender of one's will to the only true god worthy of worship "Allah" and anyone who does so is termed a "Muslim", The word also implies "peace" which is the natural consequence of total submission to the will of Allah. Hence, it was not a new religion brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) I in Arabia in the seventh century, but only the true religion of Allah re-expressed in its final form.

Islam is the religion which was given to Adam, the first man and the first prophet of Allah, and it was the religion of all the prophets sent by Allah to mankind. The name of God's religion lslam was not decided upon by later generations of man. It was chosen by Allah Himself and clearly mentioned in His final revelation to man. In the final book of divine revelation, the Qur'aan, Allah states the following:



"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion". (Soorah Al-Maa'idah 5:3)





"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah (God) never will It be accepted of Him" (Soorah Aal'imraan 3:85)





"Abraham was not a Jew nor Christian; but an upright Muslim." (Soorah Aal'imraan 3:67)



Nowhere in the Bible will you find Allah saying to Prophet Moses' people or their descendants that their religion is Judaism, nor to the followers of Christ that their religion is Christianity. In fact, Christ was not even his name, nor was it Jesus! The name "Christ" comes from the Greek word Christos which means the annointed. That is, Christ is a Greek translation of the Hebrew title "Messiah". The name "Jesus" on the other hand, is a latinized version of the Hebrew name Esau.

For simplicity's sake, I will however continue to refer to Prophet Esau (PBUH) as Jesus. As for his religion, it was what he called his followers to. Like the prophets before him, he called the people to surrender their will to the will of Allah; (which is Islam) and he warned them to stay away from the false gods of human imagination.

According to the New Testament, he taught his followers to pray as follows: "Yours will be done on earth as it is in Heaven".


THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM



Since the total submission of one's will to Allah represents the essence of worship, the basic message of Allah's divine religion, Islam is the worship of Allah alone and the avoidance of worship directed to any person, place or thing other than Allah.Since everything other than Allah, the Creator of all things, is Allah's creation; it may be said that Islam, in essence calls man away from the worship of creation and invites him to worship only its Creator. He is the only one deserving man's worship as it is only by His will that prayers are answered. If man prays to a tree and his prayers are answered, it was not the tree which answered his prayers but Allah who allowed the circumstances prayed for to take place. One might say, "That is obvious," however, to tree-worshippers it might not be. Similarly, prayers to Jesus, Buddha, or Krishna, to Saint Christopher, or Saint Jude or even to Muhammad, are not answered by them but are answered by Allah. Jesus did nottell his followers to worship him but to worship Allah. As the Qur'aan states:



"And behold Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary Did you say to men, Worship me and my mother as gods besides Allah He will say-"Glory to you I could never say what I had no right (to say')" (Soorah Al-Maa'idah- 5:116)



Nor did he worship himself when he worshipped but rather he worshipped Allah. This basic principle is enshrined in the opening chapter of the Qur'aan, known as Soorah Al-Faatihah, verse 4:



"You alone do we worship and from you alone do we seek help".

Elsewhere, in the final book of revelation, the Qur'aan, Allah also said:





"And your Lord says:"Call on Me and I will answer your(prayer)."(Soorsh Mu'min 40:60)



it is worth noting that the basic message of Islam is that Allah and His creation are distinctly different entities. Neither is Allah His creation or a part of it, nor is His creation Him or a part of Him.

This might seem obvious, but, man's worship of creation instead of the Creator is to a large degree based on ignorance of this concept. It is the belief that the essence of Allah is everywhere in His creation or that His divine being is or was present in some aspects of His creation, which has provided justification for the worship of creation though such worship maybecalled the worship of Allah through his creation. How ever, the message of Islam as brought by the prophets of Allah is to worship only Allah and to avoid the worship of his creation either directly or indirectly. In the Our'aan Allah clearlystates:



"For We assuredly sent amongst every people a prophet,(with the command) worship meand avoid false gods " (Soorsh Al-Nahl 16:36)



When the idol worshipper is questioned as to why he or she bows down to idols created by men, the invariable reply is that they are not actually worshipping the stone image, but Allah who is present within it. They claim that the stone idol is only a focal point for Allah's essence and is not in itself Allah! One who has accepted the concept of the presence of God's being within His creation in any way will be obliged to accept this argument of idolatry. Whereas, one who understands the basic message of Islam and its implications would never concede to idolatry no matter how it is rationalized. Those who have claimed divinity for themselves down through the ages have often based their claims on the mistaken belief that Allah is present in man. They merely had to assert that although Allah according to their false beliefs, is in all of us, He is more present in them than in the rest of us. Hence, they claim, we should submit our will to them and worship them as they are either God in person or God concentrated within the person.

Similarly, those who have asserted the godhood of others after their passing have found fertile ground among those who accept the false belief of God's presence in man. One who has grasped the basic message of Islam and its implications could never agree to worship another human being under any circumstances. God's religion in essence is a clear call to the worship of the Creator and the rejection of creation-worship in any form. This is the meaning of the motto of Islam:

"Laa Elaaha lllallaah" (There is no god but Allah)

Its repetition automatically brings one within the fold of Islam and sincere belief in it guarantees one Paradise.

Thus, the final Prophet of Islam is reported to have said, "Any one who says: There is no god but Allah and dies holding that (belief) will enter paradise".(Reported by Abu Dharr and collected by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).



It consists in the submission to Allah as one God, yielding to Him by obeying His commandments, and the denial of polytheism and polytheists.


THE MESSAGE OF FALSE RELIGION



There are so many sects, cults, religions, philosophies, and movements in the world, all of which claim to be the right way or the only true path to Allah. How can one determine which one is correct or if, in fact, all are correct? The method by which the answer can be found is to clear away the superficial differences in the teachings of the various claimants to the ultimate truth, and identify the central object of worship to which they call, directly or indirectly. False religions all have in common one basic concept with regards to Allah. They either claim that all men are gods or that specific men were Allah or that nature is Allah or that Allah is a figment of man's imagination.

Thus, it may be stated that the basic message of false religion is that Allah may be worshipped in the form of His creation. False religion invites man to the worship of creation by calling the creation or some aspect of it God. For example, prophet Jesus invited his followers to worship Allah but those who claim to be his followers today call people to worship Jesus, claiming that he was Allah!

Buddha was a reformer who introduced a number of humanistic principles to the religion of India. He did not claim to be God nor did he suggest to his followers that he be an object of worship. Yet, today most Buddhists who are to be found outside of India have taken him to be God and prostrate to idols made in their perception of his likeness.

By using the principle of identifying the object of worship, false religion becomes very obvious and the contrived nature of their origin clear. As God said in the Our'aan:

That which you worship besides Him are only names you and your forefathers have invented for which Allah has sent down no authority: The command belongs only to Allah:



He has commanded that you only worship Him; that is the right religion, but most men do not understand ". (Soorah Yoosuf 12:40)



It may be argued that all religions teach good things so why should it matter which one we follow. The reply is that all false religions teach the greatest evil, the worship of creation. Creation-worship is the greatest sin that man can commit because it contradicts the very purpose of his creation. Man was created to worship Allah alone as Allah has explicitly stated in the Our'aan:



"I have only created Jlnns and men, that they may worship me"(Soorah Zaareeyaat 51:56)



Consequently, the worship of creation, which is the essence of idolatry, is the only unforgivable sin. One who dies in this state of idolatry has sealed his fate in the next life. This is not an opinion, but a revealed fact stated by Allah in his final revelation to man:



"Verily Allah will not forgive the joining of partners with Him, but He may forgive (sins) less than that for whom so ever He wishes"(Soorah An- Nisaa 4:48 and 116)




THE UNIVERSALITY OF ISLAM



Since the consequences of false religion are so grave, the true religion of Allah must be universally understandable and attainable, not confined to any people, place or time. There can not be conditions like baptism, belief in a man, as a saviour etc., for a believer to enter paradise. Within the central principle of Islam and in its definition, (the surrender of one's will to God) lies the roots of lslam's universality. Whenever man comes to the realization that Allah is one and distinct from His creation, and submits himself to Allah, he becomes a Muslim in body and spirit and is eligible for paradise. Thus, anyone at anytime in the most remote region of the world can become a Muslim, a follower of God's religion, Islam, by merely rejecting the worship of creation and by turning to Allah (God) alone-It should be noted however, that the recognition of and submission to Allah requires that one chooses between right and wrong and such a choice implies accountability. Man will be held responsible for his choices, and, as such, he should try his utmost to do good and avoid evil. The ultimate good being the worship of Allah alone and the ultimate evil being the worship of His creation along with or instead of Allah. This fact is expressed in the final revelation as follows:



"Verily those who believe, those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures), the Christians and the Sabians any who believe In Allah and the last day, and work righteousness *hall have their reward with their Lord;They will not be overcome by fear nor grief (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:62).





If only they had stood by the law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There Is from among them a party on the right course; but many of them follow a course that Is evil.". (Soorah Al-.Maa'idah 5:66)




RECOGNITION OF ALLAH



The question which arises here is, "How can all people be expected to believe in Allah given their varying- backgrounds, societies and cultures? For people to be responsible for worshipping Allah they all have to have access to knowledge of Allah. The final revelation teaches that all mankind have the recognition of Allah imprinted on their souls, a part of their very nature with which they are created.

In Soorah Al-A'raaf, Verses 172-173; Allah explained that when He created Adam, He caused all of Adam's descendants to come into existence and took a pledge from them saying, Am I not your Lord? To which they all replied, " Yes, we testify to It:'

Allah then explained why He had all of mankind bear witness that He is their creator and only true God worthy of worship. He said, "That was In case you (mankind) should say on the day of Resurrection, "Verily we were unaware of all this." That is to say, we had no idea that You Allah, were our God. No one told us that we were only supposed to worship You alone. Allah went on to explain That it was also In case you should say, "Certainly It was our ancestors who made partners (With Allah) and we are only their descendants; will You then destroy us for what those liars did?" Thus, every child is born with a natural belief in Allah and an inborn inclination to worship Him alone called in Arabic the "Fitrah".

If the child were left alone, he would worship Allah in his own way, but all children are affected by those things around them, seen or unseen.

The Prophet (PBUH) reported that Allah said, "I created my servants in the right religion but devils made them go astray". The Prophet (PBUH) also said, "Each child is born in a state of "Fitrah", then his parents make him a Jew, Christian or a Zoroastrian, the way an animal gives birth to a normal offspring. Have you noticed any that were born mutilated?" (Collected by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).

So, just as the child submits to the physical laws which Allah has put in nature, his soul also submits naturally to the fact that Allah is his Lord and Creator. But, his parents try to make him follow their own way and the child is not strong enough in the early stages of his life to resist or oppose the will of his parents. The religion which the child follows at this stage is one of custom and upbringing and Allah does not hold him to account or punish him for this religion.



Throughout people's lives from childhood until the time they die, signs are shown to them in all regions of the earth and in their own souls, until it becomes clear that there is only one true God (Allah). If the people are honest with themselves, reject their false gods and seek Allah, the way will be made easy for them but if they continually reject Allah's signs and continue to worship creation, the more difficult it will be for them to escape. For example, in the South Eastern region of the Amazon jungle in Brazil, South America, a primitive tribe erected a new hut to house their main idol Skwatch, representing the supreme God of all creation. The homage to the God, and while he was in prostration to what he had been taught was his Creator and Sustainer, a mangy old flea-ridden dog walked into the hut, The young man looked up in time to see the dog lift its hind leg and pass urine on the idol. Outraged, the youth chased the dog out of the temple, but when his rage died down he realized that the idol could not be the Lordof the universe. Allah must be elsewhere. he now had a choice to act on his knowledge and seek Allah, or to dishonestly go along with the false beliefs of his tribe. As strange as it may seem, that was a sign from Allah for that young man. It contained within it divine guidance that what he was worshipping was false.

Prophets were sent, as was earlier mentioned, to every nation and tribe to support man's natural belief in Allah and man's inborn inclination to worship Him as well as to reinforce the divine truth in the daily signs revealed by Allah. Although, in most cases, much of the prophets' teachings became distorted, portions remained which point out right and wrong. For example, the ten commandments of the Torah, their confirmation in the Gospels and the existence of laws against murder, stealing and adultery in most societies. Consequently, every soul will be held to account for its belief in Allah and its acceptance of the religion of Islam; the total submission to the will of Allah.

We pray to Allah, the exalted, to keep us on the right path to which He has guided us, and to bestow on us a blessing from Him, He is indeed the Most Merciful. Praise and gratitude be to Allah,the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be on prophet Muhammed, his Family, his companions, and those who rightly follow them.

Author: Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

Allah In The Bible

by Ishaq Zahid



ALLAH - for Muslims the greatest and most inclusive of the Names of God, an Arabic word of rich and varied meaning, denoting the one who is adored in worship, who creates all that exists, who had priority over all creation, who is lofty and hidden, who confounds all human understanding. It is exactly the same word that the Jews, in Hebrew, use for God (eloh), the word which Jesus Christ used in Aramaic when he prayed to God.

But what about The Bible?

At the top of this text is an image of the Ten Commandments from the Bible. Well, it is Bible in Arabic. I purchased it via the internet from the Barnes and Nobles site. You can do the same. However, it may not do you any good if you don't know the Arabic. The Arabic Bible, as is evident from the image page at the top, uses the word Allah to refer to God. Thus Arab Christians' God is Allah. It may surprise many in the West, but it is the plain truth. Allah is the One God of every one. Allah is the Creator of prophets like Jesus and Muhammad (peace be on them). Allah is also the creator of Satan. May we be in the protection of Allah from Satan all the times. Ameen.

"He is God, the One God Independent and sought by all; He begets not, nor is begotten, and there is none like unto Him" (The Holy Qur 'an - Chapter 112 - Al-Ikhlas- Sincerity of Faith)

NOTE: The photographed image above is taken from, "Al-Kitab Al-Muqqadis," i.e. The Holy Bible in Arabic.