go to...

go to http://www.myspace.com/ahmadmusa90 to see of the pictures at my mum's wedding! :D

A nice story must read!

Since last night my young son has been unwell. When I got back from Work this evening I decided to take him to hospital despite my exhaustion.

There were many waiting; perhaps we will be delayed by more than an hour. I took my number and sat down in the waiting room. There were many faces, young and old, but all silent. Some brothers made use of the many booklets available in the waiting room. Some of those waiting had their eyes closed, while others were looking around. Most were bored. Once in a while the long silence was broken by a nurse calling out a number. Happiness appears on the one whose turn it is, and he gets up quickly; then silence returns.

A young man grabbed my attention. He was reading a pocket-sized Qur`an continuously; not raising his head even once. At first I did not think much about him. However, after one hour of waiting my casual glances turned into a deep reflection about his lifestyle and how he utilizes his time. One hour of life wasted! Instead of making benefit of that hour, it was just a boring wait. Then the call for prayer was made. We went to prayer in the hospital's Masjid. I tried to pray close to the man who was reading the Qur'an earlier in the waiting room.

After the prayer I walked with him. I informed him of how impressed I was of him and how he tries to benefit from his time. He told me that most of our time is wasted without any benefit. These are days that go from our lives without being conscious of them or regretting their waste. He said that he started carrying the pocket-sized Qur`an around when a friend encouraged him to make full use of his time. He told me that in the time other people waste he gets to read much more of the Qur`an than he gets to read either at home or in the masjid. Moreover, besides the reward of reading the Qur`an, this habit saves him from boredom and stress.

He added that he has now been waiting for one and a half hours. Then he asked, when will you find one and a half hours to read the Qur`an? I reflected; How much time do we waste? How many moments of our lives pass by, and yet we do not account for how they passed by? Indeed, how many months pass by and we do not read the Qur`an? I came to respect my companion, and I discovered that I am to stand for account and that time is not in my hand; so what am I waiting for?

My thoughts were interrupted by the nurse calling out my number; I went to the doctor. But I want to achieve something now. After I left the hospital I quickly went to the bookshop and bought a pocket-sized Qur`an. I decided to be mindful of how I spend the time.
If this information is beneficial to you, then please do forward it to your friends and relatives. Our Prophet (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said; "Whoever guides or directs to good, then he gets the same amount of blessing (reward) as the one who does it"

The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) also said "Pass on knowledge from me even if it is only one verse"

Eid-ul-Adha 1429 Hijrah (2008)

First of all I'd like to say EID MUBARAK! And I hope all of you had a nice day :)
I thought my Eid this year would be the same as the years before. But this Eid-ul-Adha was the best I've ever had.

While we were preparing to go to our granny's house one of my aunt (the youngest among my mum's siblings) called, saying that my granny fell and hit her head on the wall and blood came gushing out.. She immediately took my granny to the Damansara Specialist Hospital, had minor operation, stitch the wound. Aside from that she is alright.

On Monday morning which is the day of Eid, we woke up early and started to get ready to go for the Eid prayers. This year my granny made Qurban. 1 part of the cow and I'm her representative (my uncle and I actually). So, after the Eid prayers I got ready to help with the Qurban. The masjid made 12 qurban, my granny's is the 3rd one.

I didn't really do much in the slaughtering part. But I sure did a lot during the skinning and cutting part.. At first our group did not know what to do or where to start and not to mention our very blunt knives!! hahahaha..
Firstly, we sharpened our knives. While some of us were sharpening the knives, the rest were learning/finding out how or where to start.. And one of my aunt went to buy knives for my uncle and I. In the end we managed just fine. But we had no place to hang the cow so that made the skinning harder.
When we were almost done we had some help from an expert. Our cows stomach "pecah", it fell down when he was struggling.. Then it was just the chopping and packaging the meat, 1kg for 1 plastic bag. And also I was the one who chopped the head off.

Perhaps this isn't a "big thing" for some of you, but it was to me. I have been looking forward to "today".

Here are some videos.. I had already told my sisters to take pictures and some videos but Unfortunately they somehow did not really understand what I said.. They did took some photos but not when I was doing the work..just some pictures of the cows only.. And my sisters went back early so there wasn't much pictures or videos except for this 1. =(


OK.. Wassalam.

An Alll-Out day

Salam.. This is about yesterday.

So, at 8am my dad came to pick us up (FINALLY after tons of emails, he said he'd take us out..he "disappeared" for a few months, no way to contact him).. We went for breakfast then immediately went to Sunway Pyramid to go Ice Skating (yes..again XD).. Huhuhu, I've gotten better XP.

At around 2pm we went for lunch and Zuhr prayer. Later at 3.20 we went to watch Madagascar 2. It was kinda good but not so good. The movie finished at around 5pm and we went to pray Asr.
Then we went for a walk at Kiara Park, Taman Tun Doc Ismail (TTDI). And then dinner..

On the way home Saddiq sent me an sms asking me to go watch Arsenal vs Chelsea @ 11.30pm!
My mum ALLOWED me to go.. At 11.50pm Saddiq and Afiq came to pick me up from my house, go pick up beck and Halim and went to a restaurant near Afiq's house to watch the match, Faris came with some of his friends to join us too.

The match ended at 2am. (Chelsea lost...huh...)
Then we went for a stroll at uptown.. And I reached home at around 3am.. hehe..

Basically that's all..

Tagged 2..

Rules and regulations:
Each player of this game must start off with 10 weird things, habits and little known facts about themselves. People who get tagged need to write a post on their own 10 weird things, habits and little known facts as stated in this rule clearly. At the end, you need to choose 10 people to be tagged and list their names. No tag backs.

10. I leave my room messy most of the time.. I just dump my clothes that needs to be folded on the bed (and my books & notes lying around in the room but not anymore =p).

9. I'm kind of an extremely shy person.. I don't really know if you can call it "shy".. hahaha. I just don't know how to talk/dread it..

8. I think millions of times before deciding on going out with my friends.

7. I prefer to be on my own..

6. I rarely listen to music. I just don't.

5. Even though all of you see me as a good and patient person but I used to be a very short-tempered person. hahaha.. Really.

4. Am I a crayon stealer??? I don't remember at all.. hahaha.. I don't remember much of my past. Whatever it is SORRY, to the one whom I stole the crayon from. Want me to buy you a new one for you?? XD

3. I am the eldest and the only son among five siblings, and the only grandson among 9 grandchildren from my mum's side.

2. I hate my sisters ??? hahaha..no..but sometimes I just wished they were boys.

1. I just don't really understand tags..but it seems fun..so i do it =). Thanks for tagging me XD.

Hmmm... I don't know who to tag.. All who I know blogging have been tagged..

erm.. I tag:

faez
ziqry
zahirah
(whoever wants to do this, tell me if u do)

Wassalams.

mmmm...???

I've been wondering...

Trees provide oxygen right??? So, less = trees = more polution & less fresh air/oxygen...

BUT!!..

What about in the deserts?? Or places that doesn't have lots of trees (like Yemen).. What's their source of oxygen??! And their air is quite nice..

hmmm... Anyone?? . . . .

The Bitter Harvest.. :)

The Bitter Harvest

---

by Muhammad Al-Shareef

I was a teacher in the Qur’anic study circle at our neighborhood Masjid at the time. I would see this young boy after Maghrib prayers, you might say he was about fifteen years old. He held a pocket Qur’an and sat alone reading from it - no, he wasn’t actually reading from it, he was just trying to make it seem as if he was.
Now and again, he would shyly steal a few glances at us, curious to know what we were doing. Once in awhile, you might see him straining to make out what we were talking about.
Every time I caught his eye, he would avert his head and continue with his recitation, as if he had not intended to look this way.
Day after day, he sat in the same reserved manner, revealing the same timid glance. Finally after Isha Salah one day, I resolved to confront him.

“As Salamu ‘Alaykum, my name is Salman, I teach the Qur’anic study circle in this Masjid.”
‘And my name is Khalid.’
Strange, he replied so fast, as if he had been waiting to share this piece of information for such a long time and expected to be asked.
“Where do you study Khalid?”
‘In the Eighth grade … and I … I love the Qur’an a lot.’
Strange indeed, why did he add that last sentence?
Confidently, I asked him, “Listen Khalid, have you got any free time after Maghrib? We would be honored to have you join us in the class.”
‘What? The Qur’an? The Halaqah? Yes … why, yes of course (happiness overcame him). I’ll be there, Insha’Allah.’

That night, I couldn’t think of anything other than this young boy and the haze that surrounded his behavior. Sleep would just not come.
I attempted to interpret an answer for what I saw and heard, but there was none. A verse of poetry came to mind: ‘the coming days shall unravel the mystery / and the news may appear from where you could never see.’ I turned on my right side and slipped my right hand under my cheek. O Allah, I have surrendered myself to You and to You I turn over my affairs.

*** Subhan Allah, how the calendar was jogging by. Khalid was now a regular in our Qur’anic circle, energetic and successful in memorization. He was friends with everyone and everyone was friends with him. You could never catch him without a Qur’an in his hand, or find him in any other line in Salah other than the first. There was nothing wrong with him except for his occasional long lapses of attention. There were times when his stoned eyes would reflect the fathomless thought going on in his mind. Sometimes we knew his body was with us, but his soul was somewhere else, suffocating in another world.
Occasionally, I would startle him. All he had was a mumble to reply with, he would have been the first to admit its fabrication.

One night, I walked with him after class to the beach shore. Maybe his big secret might meet something equally large, relax somewhat, and release its distress and pain.
We arrived at the beach and traced the waves. The full moon was out.
A strange sight. The darkness of the night found the darkness of the sea, with a lit moon in-between them.
It sat somewhat embarrassed at its intrusion, similar to my shyness towards Khalid right then.
The rays of the silent moon rested on the silent waves of the sea. I stood behind the silent boy. The scene was silence.

Just then!
It all shattered and crushed to the ground as the young boy fell to the bottom, bleeding his heart with tears. I chose not to interrupt Khalid’s emotional release, perhaps the saltiness of his tears might help him relax and cleanse his distress.
After a few moments he said from behind his tears, ‘I love you all … I love the Qur’an … and those who love it. I love pious brothers, moral, pure brothers.
‘But … my father … it’s my father.’
“Your father? What is wrong with your father Khalid?”
‘My father always warned me not to hang around with you people. He’s afraid. He hates you all. And he always tries to convince me that I should hate you too. At any chance he gets, he’ll try to prove his point with stories and tales.
‘But … when I saw you people in the Halaqah reciting Qur’an, I saw something entirely different. I saw the light in your faces, the light in your clothes, the light in your words, even when you were silent I could see the light even then.
‘I doubted my father’s tales and that’s why I would sit after Maghrib, watching you, pretending that I was part of the circle, trying to share in the light.
'I … I remember Ustadh Salman … I remember the time you approached me after ‘Isha prayer. I’d been waiting for that moment for such a long time. When I began the classes, my soul locked itself into a world of purity with your souls. I began the circle and was persistent. I wouldn’t sleep, my days and nights became Qur’an. My father noticed the change in my routine. He found out, one way or another, that I had joined the circle and that I was now hanging out with “terrorists.”

‘Then, on a dark night…
‘We were waiting for father to come home from the coffee shop, his daily ritual, so that we could all have dinner together.
‘He entered the house with his hardened face and slaps of anger.
We all sat together at the dinner mat. Silence settled on the gathering as usual, all of us were afraid to speak in his presence.
‘He knifed the silence with his roaring and immediate voice. “I heard you’ re hanging out with the fundamentalists.”
‘I was caught red. My tongue looped and failed. All the words in my mouth attempted to come out at the same time. But, he didn’t wait for the answer…
‘He snatched the teakettle and threw it maliciously at my face.
‘The room spun and the colors united before my eyes. I stopped distinguishing the ceiling from the walls from the floor, and fell.
‘My mother held me.
‘A damp cloth on my forehead reminded me of where I was. The vicious voice turned on my mother, “Leave him alone, or you’ll be in the same lot.”
‘I crawled out of my mother’s lap and whimpered away to my room. He followed me down the corridor with the cruelest curses.
‘There was not a day that he didn’t beat me in some way. Curses, kicks, throwing whatever was nearest to his hand. My body had finally become a shiver of fear, grotesque colors formed all over. I hated him.
‘One day while we were sitting at the dinner mat, he said, “Get up, don’t eat with us.”
‘Before I could get up though, he pounced immediately and kicked me in the back, making me slam into the pots. ‘At that moment, lying there on there on the ground, I pretended to stand taller than him and shout back in his face…
‘One day, I’ll pay you back. I’ll beat you just like you beat me, and curse you just like you cursed me. ‘I’ll grow up and become strong. And you’ll get old and become feeble. ‘And then … I’ll treat you just like you treated me. I’ll pay you back.
‘After that, I left home and ran away. I just ran, anywhere, it didn’t matter anymore.
‘I found my way to this beach. It helped me wash away some of the sadness. I held my pocket Qur’an and began reciting until I could continue no longer because of my excessive crying.’

And here, a few of those innocent tears descended again, tears that sparkled under the moon like pearls under a lamp. I couldn’t say anything, the surprise had arrested my tongue. Should I be aghast at this beast of a father, whose heart knew nothing about mercy? Or, should I be amazed at this patient young lad, whom Allah had wished guidance for and inspired with faith.
Or, should I be shocked at them both, at the father-son bond that had broken, causing their relationship to transform into that of a lion and a tiger, or a wolf and a fox. I held his warm hand and wiped away a tear from his cheek. I reassured him, prayed for him, and advised him to remain obedient to his father. I told him to remain patient and that he was not alone. I promised that I would meet his father, speak to him, and try to evoke his mercy.

*** That incident slipped further away with each passing day. I tried thinking of ways to open Khalid’s case with his father. How should I speak to him? How was I going to be convincing? To be frank, how was I even going to knock on his door? Then finally, I collected my courage, rehearsed my plan, and resolved that the confrontation … uh, meeting … would be that day at five o’clock. When the time arrived, I left for Khalid’s house with all my ideas and questions for his father dangling from my pockets.
I rang the doorbell. My fingers trembled and my knees were melting. The door opened. There it was, standing in the shadow with it’s frowned lips and veins beating with anger. I tried beginning with a candid smile. Maybe it might smooth out some of the wrinkles before we even started. He snatched my collar and jerked me towards him. ‘You’re that fundamentalist that teaches Khalid at the Masjid, aren’t you?’
“Well … uh … yes.”
'God help me, if I ever see you walking with him again, I’ll break your legs. Khalid won’t be coming to your class anymore.’ And then, he mustered all the saliva in his mouth and spit on my face. The door slammed behind it. Slowly, I unfolded a tissue that was in my pocket, wiped what he had honored me with, and retreated down the stairs consoling myself. Allah’s Messenger – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - suffered more than this. They called him a liar, cursed him, stoned him with rocks and caused his feet to bleed. They broke his teeth and placed dung on his back and expelled him from his house.

*** Day after day. Month after month. No sign of Khalid. His father forbade him from leaving the house, even for the congregational prayer. He even forbade us from seeing or meeting him. We prayed for Khalid … Until we forgot about him. Years passed away. One night, after the ‘Ishâ’ prayer, a shadow walked behind me in the Masjid and rested a familiar harsh hand on my shoulder. The same hand that held me years ago. The same face, the same wrinkles and the same mouth that honored me with what I was not deserving of.
But ... something had changed. The savage face had shattered. The angry veins had subsided, belittled and still. The body looked tired of all the pain and conflict, weakened by sadness and grief.
“How are you?” I kissed his forehead and welcomed him. We took a corner of the Masjid. He collapsed on my lap sobbing. Subhan Allah, I never thought that that lion would one day become a kitten.
Speak up. What’s wrong? How is Khalid?
‘Khalid!’ The name was like a dagger piercing his heart, twisting inside, and breaking off. His head slumped. ‘Khalid is no longer the same boy that you used to know. Khalid is no longer the generous, calm and humble young lad. ‘After he left your circle he befriended a pack of evil boys, ever since he was little he loved to socialize. They caught him at that time of life when a youth wants to leave the house. Vanity, jokes. ‘He began with cigarettes. I cursed him, beat him. But there was no use, his body had grown accustomed to the beatings, his ears were used to the curses. ‘He grew quickly. He started staying up with them all night, not coming home until dawn. His school expelled him. ‘Some nights he would come home to us speaking abnormally, his face loose, his tongue confused, his hands shivering.

‘That body, which used to be strong, full, and tender, passed away. What remained was a feeble worn frame. That pure frosty face of his transformed. It became dark and filthy. The scum of misguidance and sin clung to it. ‘Those shy and simple eyes of his changed. They shot red like fire as if everything he drank or took showed immediately in his eyes like some sort of punishment, in this life before the next. ‘Hostility and disrespect replaced that shyness and cowardice he once knew. Gone was that soft, respectful young heart. In it’s place grew a hardened center, like a rock, if not harder. ‘Seldom a day would pass without incident. He would either curse, kick, or hit me. Imagine it, my own son. I’m his father, yet he still hits me.’

After releasing all that, his eyes returned wet and bitter. But, he added quickly, ‘I beg you Salman, visit Khalid. Take him with you, you have my blessing, the door is open. ‘Pass by him sometime. He loves you. Register him in the Qur’anic study circle. He could go with you on field trips. I have no objection. In fact, I am even willing to allow him to live in your homes and sleep over. ‘The important thing, Salman … the important thing is that Khalid returns to the way he was. ‘I beg you lad, I’ll kiss your hands, warm your feet, I beg you and beg you…’

He collapsed, crying and wheezing, into the memories of the grief and pain. I allowed him to complete everything he had to say.
Then I addressed him…

“Despite what has passed, let me try. Brother, you planted this seed. And this is your harvest.”

Grrr... (Be patient..calm down..)

Salam..

Last night I almost had a fight with my brother, twice!! He does not bathe regularly, perhaps that's how when he was in Yemen. So..my (our) room is getting smellier.. This now he came into the room, switched on the fan and "baring" on the bed.. Then I switched off the fan and called asked him to follow me out of the room to do something. (H=him, M=me)

H: "OK, but switch on the fan."

M:"No need, we're going out of the room."

H:"Why?"

M:"Because no one will be in the room (and the electric bill crap)." This went on a few times..

Then he came and switched on the fan and I wanted to switch it off again when he suddenly blocked my path and pushed me.. At that time I was already about to punch him!!
(I dont' really remember me in
He said to let the fan on, he don't like the smell of the room. It was HIS smell!! He's fault for not bathing.. Even so, he should let the door and window open, no use switching on the fan.. And he does not like to let the window open and always closes it when he see that its open..
That was the first time..

And my sisters saw the "fight" and they said they'll close it when he gets out from the room.. Which he saw my sisters went in and switched it off.
Then the argument started again.. And suddenly (couldn't really remember) he was like twisting one of my fingers.. This time I was about to give him a "double punch"!! huh.. I didn't do it of course. huh.. that's all...

And he's really a persistent and strong-headed person.. Gr..

This morning after jogging (bringing him jogging in the mornings, he has to do some sports in the mornings.. But he's jogging is sooo not jogging, I'd say its more to walking..)
OK, so after he went for his jogging (he went off alone today and I don't think he walked much) he came home, had a Bath and wore back his pajamas and slept.
Of course, when my mum found out she immediately went into my room and told him to wake up which he REFUSED!!! And said my mum is crazy after she went out of the room, my mum went out for meetings..
And he continued sleeping.. Because of the "great" smell (it was really smelly, I slept in the living room last night, also because of the incident that occurred) in the room my mum asked me to clean up the room, send his blanket and bed sheet to wash and just do it as though he isn't there.. So, even though he was sleeping I just did all that, vacuum the room, take out his bed sheet and all..hahaha.. He was really shocked..

Well...that's all... (he has a bit of psychological prob..yeah..that's it)


Wassalam..

huh

It looks like I maybe going back to yemen soon..but looking to see about my NS and my pilot "things"..
Also the plan of moving to Yemen maybe sooner than later. The original plan is to go in 2 years, but now maybe by mid/end of next year - see how things goes. So if I'm going back to Yemen this month or so then maybe I won't come back too.. No2, I will come back to do my pilot studies here..

My mum's wedding pics still not ready yet.. Still doing some adjustments with the pictures. When it is ready then maybe I'll put up some or just make a slideshow of it because its too many..

Ice Skating

I know I haven't updated for quite a long time.. Well I'll just tell of what happened for this year's raya..

Every raya has been quite the same excet for the past 2 years..but today, we went for Ice Skating at Sunway Pyramid. Only my sisters and I skate, my mum went to watch a movie.

So, we arrived at Sunway Pyramid at 10am as my sisters wanted to skate the whole day, they have gone skating for quite a number of times already but this was only my SEcond time. So by the time we started to skate and all was 10.30am.

At first we were all holding the sides but not for long for three of my sisters as they are kind of used to it..but it took me and my youngest sister to get used to it and not holding the sides. And once I started to really skate I fell down quite a number of times. LOL. Well, what do you expect? It was only my second time and my first time was like long ago and just a short one. And next time Ishall remember to bring an etra pair of clothes!! As the rink was quite wet! and you wil be soaked even by having a "great" fall once.

Eventually after an hour or so I became used to it and was getting better. But the rink was just sooo full!!! That made it even harder to skate too. Then at around 12.30pm they had to resurface the ice and we had our lunch (bungkus food from home..hehe) and then I went for Friday prayers and came back to skate again.

And we skated till 6pm - there was half an hour break after every one hour and a half for them to resurface the rink.. We had a lot of fun.. "Racing" with my sisters, making them fall (which sometimes I end up falling down too/only me falling down), falling down yourself and watching other people fall.. hahahaha

I just don't get on how to break so there are a number of times where I almost crash into someone..And I did crash into some pople but it was quite their fault for coming out of nowhere, 2 person only actually. The first one had a bad fall (at first he was already stable but he suddenly fell=s) and the second one managed to not fall.

That is all from having a day of skating. =)

EID MUBARAK

Salam. It's been a long time since I've updated, I don't have internet at home so I have to go to the cc to use internet.

Here's on of the pics at my mum's wedding (this is the only I have for now).
That's him and my mum..and then there's my sisters and I.

Salams.. It's been a while.. I'm now back at home with my mum and sisters:)

I arrived on Thursday night,21st of August with my dad, the flight was 16hours long!! So, on Friday we were busy getting ready for the preparations for the wedding.

The wedding went well and I'd like to thank those who came=)

So the rest of the days was spent with my mum going out for meetings with my dad. And I followed also but twice only..

But on Friday we took him to Genting Highlands, spent the night there and returned on Saturday morning. And he just left yesterday morning.

and RAMADHAN MUBARAK to all..

U R INVITED!

ALL ADNI GEN05 are invited to my mum's wedding on the 23rd of August @ KELAB GOLF PERKHIDMATAN AWAM (KGPA), PETALING JAYA @ 8PM.

Other details will be emailed. Those who does not receive any email from me please ask the others / give me your email.

Make sure to call the number given in the email to confirm ur attendance.
tHANK yOU.

Tagged

a) Answer the questions below, do a Google Image Search with your answer, take a picture from the 1st page of results, do it with minimal words of explanation
b) Tag 5 people to do the same once you've finish answering every question

1. The age you'll be on your next birthday
2. Place you want to travel to: mecca & medinah - hajj

3. Your favourite place: Home Sweet Home

4. Your favorite food: most foods


5. Your favorite pet: cats and also other animals


6. Favorite color combination: Green and blue i guess



7. Favorite piece of clothing:

8. Your all time favorite song:

9. Favorite TV show: Supernatural & Grey's Anatomy (those were the "last")


10. First name of your significant other/crush:

11. Which town do you live in:

12. Your screen name/nickname:

13. Your first job: Administrator (at the age of 12)

14. Your dream job: pilot

15. One bad habit that you have: Laziness

16. Worst fear:

17: Things you'd like to do before you die:


18. The 1st thing you'll buy if you get $1,000,000: A condo, laptop, private aeroplane




19. Your husband/wife:


ermm...who should I tag???
1. Fatimah
2. Elf
3. Nana
4. Zyra
5. any volunteers??

What a week..

I'm back!

Last week my mum came to attend an orphanage conference held by my step-father.

03/08 Friday;
- At 8pm his driver came to pick me up from the hostel and take me to the orphanage center, then at 10pm we went to the airport using the PRESIDENT'S CAR!! So we easily got into the VIP waiting lounge (it was WOW and I din't even they had one) and waited for my mum there. Then when my mum arrived I went into the VIP bus to go the plane to pick up my mum. After collecting her bags and all then we headed to the hotel.

- Movenpick is the name. It has 2 swimming pools, sauna, jacuzzi, spa, etc3..

04/08 Saturday;
- Had breakfast at 8am then go to the Grand Ballroom for the conference which ended at 11am. There were "graduates" from the orphan. The orphan center not only provide shelter but also education in the center. So, those who finished their studies were given certificates and prize money for those with good results.

- At around 1pm all of the guest (including me) went to Al-Baek Al-Shaibani Restaurant with a bus. And there was also police escort!! We had ice breaking and some sang nasyid. The guests were from Lebanon, Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Sudan, Japan (but he's a Buddhist), Syria and many more.

- We went back to the hotel after finishing our lunch.

- There was a program at around 6pm but I did not join.

05/08 Sunday;
- There was another conference and ended at 1.30pm. And then we had lunch and went back to the hotel after lunch and another program at 6pm which I did not join again. (I forgot why)

(I forgot what happened in monday and tuesday)

Monday/Tuesday

06/08 Wednesday;
- Go to the orphan center for another conference. The conference is not like just talking2 and then Q&A sessions. There is drama, nasyid, etc. And the President of Yemen came for today's conference and he donated USD1 MILLION (of course he's EXTREMELY rich, he takes the country's money for himself).

- After the conference we went ot the PRESIDENT'S MOSQUE!! It's strictly for him, his family (and the ministers too I think). The mosque is really WOOOOWWW!! It's huge! And the inside was really beautifully decorated, it's quite like Masjid Nabawi I'd say. Inside the pillars is the air-cond like Masjid Nabawi.

- After praying Zuhr we went for lunch and back to the hotel. And finally, after 5MONTHS!! I went for a swim and jacuzzi :D

- At night we went to Hadda Hotel for another conference. But this time it was mainly to collect funds for the orphanage center from the guests. And they were all donating like they have a money printer at home. The amount of collected funds was really a lot.

07/08 Thursday;
- Again we went to the orphan center but his time it's because 1000 ppl from the orphanage were getting married. 1000 BRIDE & GROOM. Here they like to have multiple wedding at one time.

- And we had lunch at Allahyarham Sheikh Abdullah bin Husein Al-Ahmar and back to the hotel.

- At 6pm we went to someone's house and then there was another conference but this time it's for the Al-Quran Organization. Again the guests was donating their money like water..

08/08 Friday;
- At 6am we went to Alhaddah (my step father's village). It was a 2 hour journey, then had breakfast and went down to the farm and had a feast of grapes and pomegrenates!! Then the guests went to Ibb (I did not go).

- They came back from Ibb at 8pm. Then had dinner and the guests went back to the hotel in Sana'a. My mum and I stayed with him in Alhaddah.

09/08 Saturday;
- Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindaini (one of those who is on the US wanted list) came to have breakfast (he had a car full of soldiers as his escort). And I just realized I'm somehow quite famous here, during breakfast I was sitting beside one of the soldiers. Then suddenly he said to me (S -soldier, A-me)
S: Ahmad Malizee?
A: Yes.(how did he know me, i don't even know him).
S: You know Mujeeb (an ex-teacher at my mum's school, now in Amran, Yemen) right?.
A: "Yes".
S: I am his friend, ?I saw you in Amran with him.
The last time I went there was like about 3months ago!!
Also there were some ppl who knows me but I don't even know them. And my mum said so too. whenever she say that she's MY mum then ppl would go like "ooo..Ahmad Malizee? yes2, I know him..."

- At 9.30pm I went back to Sana'a with my mum.

- At 5pm we went I went to the airport with my mum and we got into the VIP lonunge again. Then I finally get to sit down with her and chit chat. At 6.30pm we got into the VIP bus and sent her to the plane and then I went back to the hotel...

I'll be back in a week or ten days!

FUH..

fuh!! what a big relief! Last week was not so good. (now i'm no longer in darul quran, i'm staying and studying in hostel sinan. The sheikh would come thrice a week, sunday,tuesday and thursday after 'asr). However, last tuesday i did not read to my sheikh as my memorization was not so good (couldn't really concentrate - thinking of august hehe) and the Surah was quite long. It was a 7 page surah (Surah Al-Zukhruf), up till now the longest surah i've memorized is only about 4.5 pages.. But, Alhamdulillah i finished the surah on thursday "successfully"!! It sure was a big relief..
Next is As-Shura which is 6 pages and then Al-Fussilat also 6 pages then the worst is Surah Al-Ghafir, almost 10pages!! and then Az-Zumar - around 9pages..huh.. a 10 pages surah then a 9 page... bt if i finish Az-Zumar then i'l have 3juz left..which i hope to finish before i go back to malaysia somewhere in august..

Btw, I somehow just realized that they use motorcycles as taxi too in yemen. I din't know it "exists".

My mum is arriving tonight :D so i might be away for a week..hihi..

Change of Plans...

Salam. As you can read the title there will be some of change of plans.

1) There is a possibility that I will be going back to Malaysia somewhere in August (maybe mid-august) for a few days and then I'll return back to Yemen and really come back to Malaysia when I finish 10juz!. Why? Because my new father is going to Malaysia to meet the rest of the family and since we did not have any "kenduri"/photo taking here so my mum wants to have it when he comes and for that my mum wants me to be present as well.

2)Because of the above I might go back to Malaysia after raya..but if I still get to finish 10juz by raya then perhaps I'll come back for raya.. Besides, my mum said: "Why don't I try the raya here?" I thought about it when I first came but I still wanted to go back for raya..

Hmm... I don't know.. Stay/go back for raya??? :s suggestions ny1??

and my mum is coming AGAIN IN TWO WEEEKKKSSSSS!!!! :D and hopefully this time we'll be able to go to ma'rib!

oh..and I finally finished 5juz..and will the finish the 6th by the end of the month ..and finish 10juz before raya..Insha Allah

Stolen..

Yesterday was just all my other days..except for one!

Last night my hostel area blackout for a while about after maghrib. But usually the mosque has electric since it has a generator everytime that happens but I guess the generator broke down or something so the mosque did not have electricity.. So, the mosque was kinda dark.

As usual, I go to the mosque to pray isya'.. After isya' prayer I went to take my sandal (in yemen ppl keep their shoes/sandals inside the mosque, there will be like small2 boxes inside the mosque for ppl to keep their shoes) but I couldn't find it, well not only me but there were some others who found their shoes/sandals was stolen too.. Then since I couldn't find my sandal someone offered me to borrow his selipar and return it to him when I get a new sandal..

Well..anyways I was about to buy a new sandal as my sandal was kinda worn out and just a matter of time for it to be unusable..

Oh yes, btw I went to alhaddah during the weekend with my step-father and it seems that the grapes was ripe and ready to be plucked and eaten.. So after friday prayers we went to his farm plucked 1 grape (it was rly big and delicious!!).. Then when we reached the house he told the gardener to bring me to the farm and pluck some grapes for me, so I went down to the farm again and got two more grapes just for myself hihi and I thought of keeping it till saturday but I finished it by maghrib cos I couldn't resist it..haha.. It was relly2 delicious.

YEMEN WITH MUM - Alhaddah

Haddah is one of the name of a strreet in Sana'a. But Alhaddah is a name of a village, about 2hr journey by car from Sana'a. It's my step-father's village. We went a few days after they got married.

His villa.

Guess who... My mum!

His farm - there's grape, apple, pomegrenate, almonds, zaitun, balas, manggo, firsik/farsik (nt rly sure of the name actly)

Do u knw we can actually eat this?? What is this "thing" called?

Cut off the sides.

Cut thru the middle.

Ready to be eaten. Quite nice except if its seeds is big..

YEMEN WITH MUM - Darul Hajar

Darul Hajar is a house built on a rock and their water source is from a well which is dug THROUGH THE ROCK!

Darul (House) Hajar (Stone)

And this is "room" for the servants...the entrance is like a closet as the above..actually it does look more like a closet than a room...

That's the restaurant on the left.

Restaurant.

One of the building inside the Darul Hajar compund.

Qat chewing room.

Right - Fridge (meat,water). It's already cold enough that they don't need a fridge like us.

An example for the above.

Left - closet.

The oven.

Right - place to mix flour with water.

Left - sink!

The small door on the bottom-right is another wheat store - in the kitchen.

The well which is dug thru the rock! Its abt 280m if i'm nt mistaken...

how and who dug the well?? I xknw..bt I wonder how and who??

Wheat grinder.

Wheat storage starts from here - for the winter..

And its a few metres high also - forgot..

and ends here - its supposed to be closed then they jjs open the door and the wheat will come gushing down.. (smthg like this)

The king's sitting room (1) - thats his pic.

The king's sitting room (2).

The king's meditation room.

This are holes....FOR GUNS!

Shelter for his pigeons.

This is the place where the king sits to write letters.

My guardian and I.

My mum and I.

My guardian w his daughter&granddaughter and I. And the building behind us is the High Court.

Darul Hajar

It also has winter rooms for men and women - its for them to sit in during winter as the position of the room is opposite to the winter wind so the room is much warmer than other rooms.

The king has 4 wives and each wife has their own room, even the king has his own private room, just for himself. There was also room for the king's mother.

Well...I guess that's all for now..Till next time.