Never Have I Imagine

Never have I imagine
to be at ANU among the many applicants
enrolled in a world class faculty
a postgraduate degree in sight I am sure

Never have I imagine
to be under the guardian and protection
of Anthony Milner whom I have met once for a chat
are you still there and reading this email dear Sir?

Never have I imagine
that it is Peter Borschberg
who will guide me to a place of self-discovery
at ANU he say I will be intellectually better

Never have I imagine
to be embraced by a lady of of good-heartedness
it is Siaan Matthews of penetrating intelligence
with friendly love, caringness and comforting words she makes me feel near

Never have I imagine
to be embraced by a lady of consistent concern
for the listening ear, motivation and advice she always give
it is Mary Kilcline Cody whom I referring to here

Never have I imagine
to write 24,000 word essays in one semester
covering Islam, security, propaganda and asia-pacific
I must perservere to do well for the training is for the future

Never have I imagine
that all that I have never imagine
is now a possibility due to His Grace and kindness from those names above
pray for me dearest well-wishers for I need it to achieve the reason why I am here.


Syed Ad'ha
ANU/Toad Hall
2:00am

Mid Day Of My Life

I am in the mid day of my life
Looking back at what I have done
Sins and wrong doings engulf my heart
Repentance is imminent I must try

I am in the mid day of my life
Reflecting the deeds that I have done
Good and evil all meshed in one
The errors must be corrected I must strive

I am in the mid day of my life
Counting the blessings that I have till now
Family, friends, wealth and health all that I have
Thank you O ALLAH for these gifts in my life

I am in the mid day of my life
Trials and tribulations that I have surpassed
Shaping me to be stronger and deeper in faith I must arrive
All praises be unto You O ALLAH the Patron of my life

I am in the mid day of my life
While others are between dawn and dusk of their lives
Whichever part of the day our lives are in
We must continue our pursuit for excellence indeed.

Syed Ad'ha
14 June 2008
2:07am

From Which Lense Shall I See?

From which lense shall I see
For the lense of the political is always magnifying me
That human beings are manipulating more than assisting
Brings sadness and grief to the world that we live in

From which lense shall I see
For the lense of the sociological is often envisioning me
That men are of many typologies and perspectives it is
Through it I see hope and understanding is abound indeed

From which lense shall I see
For the lense of the spiritual is ever-guiding me
That God is where our hope and focus should be in
Enlighten my heart and uplift my soul in perpectual certainty

From which lense shall I see
These lenses of life are always causing happiness, worry and weariness in me
The political, sociological and spiritual all meshed in me
Competing my heart, my mind and my soul thus never at ease

From which lense shall I see
The lenses of truths that has been entrusted onto me
To establish prayers and do good deeds is the way indeed
Putting my worries and weariness finally at ease

From which lense shall I see
With the lenses of faith, hope and forgiveness I shall see
Which every man can see with if he believes
That these are the lenses of life which are ever-sustaining.

Syed Ad'ha
6 May 2008
12:43pm

Iman and Amal Soleh

The Quran mentions for those who have faith and do good deeds, ALLAH Subhana Hu Wa Ta'ala will grant unto them everlasting blessings and grace. Here faith and good deeds is termed as Iman and Amal Soleh. Why is it then that the Quran mentions Amal Soleh and not Amal, Amal Hassan, Amal Khair etc? Amal is only considered as Amal Soleh if the deeds that is carried out is firstly done out of sincerity, stemming from the believe that it is to be done to attain ALLAH's Pleasure. Thus the niat will bring out the deed in its most best fashion in act. It is in this approach that the doer will be able to attain a higher level of Iman, for the Amal has brought the doer to be closer to ALLAH Subhana Hu Wa Ta'ala. This is due to the doer's understanding that it is to be done only to gain His Blessings, thus increasing one's proximity to Him and not otherwise. The link between Amal, Iman and Sincerity is all-close to an extent that amal which is not done from true believe and pure sincerity, will be only known as amal of other kinds. It does not bring one close and closer to ALLAH Subhana Hu Wa Ta'ala. Thus it is urgent that we reflect the deeds that we have carried out and ask ourselves whether we have done it with true conviction that is to gain His Pleasure and therefore to do it with sincerity from the heart. This inter-twinning nature also tells that for sincerity and true believe to exists and thus the amal to be of soleh in nature, we must do our utmost to prevent any form of shirk from affecting our Tauhid, small or big. For shirk is darkness and darkness leads one astray. Iman and Amal Soleh are our salvations in the hereafter. Other than The Mercy of ALLAH Subhana Hu Wa Ta'ala and the Syafa'ah of Rasulullah sallallahu 'alaihi wassalam, we have to strengthen our Iman and Amal Soleh with the best fortifications. May ALLAH Subhana Hu Wa Ta'ala guides us. Amin Ya Rabbal 'Alamiin.

Dr Albert Winsemius

Singapore's growth as a city-state is planted from the time it was under the perview of the United Nation in 1963. Herein, the role of Dr Albert Winsemius came to shape. Dr Winsemius was instrumental in the economic, military and social aspects of Singapore's development. He pioneered the growth of industries and government-business relations, established a highly trained armed forces and developed housing for the people in Singapore. Albert's position as a post-war public housing consultant in Holland, relations with the business entity and military networks via the Jewish circles, helped Singapore leaders who were seasoned street politicians to have a solid foundation of guided governance henceforth. Dr Winsemius provided the urgent needs of the country prior to separation and guided our leaders who were inexperienced in governance to have a great headstart and on-the-job learning from Albert himself and through his networks. Perhaps it is time for an academic book, a coffee-table book and a think-tank should be named after him, in honour of his selfless sacrifice for our country.

Reflections from Europe

REFLECTIONS FROM EUROPE (PART I)

City of Mainz near Frankfurt Germany
A reflection of European history is there to see
The stronghold of Holy Rome in the year 800AD
Let me share the story of my trip
To great places you have never been

In my first experience in the city of Mainz
I notice the serenity and tranquillity around the town
How the people live with no pretensions or staring I see
Everyone leads their life judgement-free
That is a symbol of a civilised society

The Institute of European History is a pride indeed
Knowledge and resources many and plenty
The Library itself is a greatness one could see
What more the association with professors
In the aristocratic setting this institute has to offer

The Rhein River adds to the beauty
Castles and castles laid out in the hills and mountains
To live in the history of this great country
A thousand more years for us to feel
The richness of Germany is abound there is

The city of Trier intensify the glory
The Roman Empire was there in 300AD
Their relics and remains are signs of majesty
Trier was a city second to Rome in Italy
It is today alive just as how it has been

As I set myself in the churches of Mainz and Trier
I feel the ambience of worship and holiness among the people
The cardinals and bishops are laid in the plains
As witnesses to the congregations that place their hope
On God and Catholic religion till the end of time

Mainz is a great place to be in
Trier too is just as wonderful a view
If I have to make to a choice between the two
I will stay in Trier and work in Mainz
To have the fulfilment of both Trier and Mainz

Four days in Germany is all I have
To Leiden in Holland we now shall move on
The city where I hope to find my place
Just as how I certainly do hope
That the city of Mainz can be suitable for me too

REFLECTIONS FROM EUROPE (PART II)

Leiden University is the pride of Holland
The symbol of intellectualism many hope to be in
The Central Library has plenty of links
On the branches of knowledge throughout the country
No wonder Syed Hussein studies in Holland afterall

In this place called Leiden University
Campuses are spread throughout the city
Many thinkers are from this great university
Snouck Hugronje the orientalist and Nasr Abu Zayd the freedom fighter the few I could think
With wisdom, insight and knowledge all-encompassing

Leiden itself has few places to see
The Mummy Museum is certainly rich and awakening
Two millennium of history are rest in here
The story of mankind pursuing immortality from near
Ended up as dead bodies without a soul

The Law Faculty is a testimony of history
Understanding of once colonial territories is there as display
Shelves of resources are there to be used
For the Dutch and whoever wants to pursue
Further knowledge of Indonesia and Islam in general

ISIM, IIAS and KITLV are institutes within the city
Research and publishing are features of their expertise
Many in the world seek their assistance in acquiring and producing
Knowledge discourses of Asia and The Muslim World
Enriching Leiden as an intellectual territory concomitant

Thirteen days in Europe is now up
To Germany and Holland I say goodbye
I will be back if He permits
With financial strength and study opportunities
To pursue masters and attain doctorate by the time I am 40

REFLECTIONS FROM EUROPE (PART III)

Europe has much history in it
Of human successes and failings too
Europe is built within hundreds of years
With human effort from time immemorial
The suffering and happiness is similar I hear

Orthodox Christians was once dominant
Then came the Catholics who re-establish religion
The Protestants expounded their ideology hundreds of years
All three are now mainstay of European society
Certainly Europe is no less religious as Asia is

With more than two millennium of Christianity in the region
The society are therefore rooted though open and liberal
If other religions wish to have a place here
They will get adherents with the advancement of time
But to displace Christianity is a foolish attempt

The religion of Islam permits everything to be consumed
Except liquor, drugs and pork-related products
Fish, bread and cheese are the staple of Europeans
That we can enjoy other than meat that is endogenously slaughtered
For Islam is simple as life’s guidance

They say Europe is too open and liberal
Pornography and free sex are there to be exploited
There is for sure no one in the streets of Mainz, Trier and Leiden
Behaving wildly to fulfil that testimony we have always promote
They are clear on public civility and private space all the time

Which university shall I choose
Leiden and Mainz both are equally good
Acquire a language if I am really keen
Either Dutch or German is certainly fine
That shall be the highlight from now till then

REFLECTIONS FROM EUROPE (PART IV)

I ask God when awake and asleep
Why He gives me help when my sins are many
For indeed He declares that He will help
As long as we seek and be sincere in relationships and ambitions
He shall assist whenever is needed

I ask God when awake and asleep
Why He sent Peter Borschberg to help me in this
When it is my people that I render my services
Yet they throw at my face insult and jeer
Explain to me the attitude they has been showing me

This trip to Europe has been an eye-opener
The lessons are many and the questions are plenty
Certainly I am happy that I have made this trip
For many of my peers have never been there
Near as I am they will therefore envy but…..

That is not my problem as you know it
For it is time that I pursue my dreams urgently
Leave some people who bring no benefit to me
Except harm and ill-will springing from envy
For the integrity of family lays supreme

Thank you to my loving wife and dearest kids
Being away from them thirteen days is a huge, huge miss
Now that I am back I can plan and think
One-year from bond is all I have
Before the postgraduate studies begins its course

O ALLAH bless me and my family too
For what I am about to do will be another struggle through and through
Though I am tired and worried, yes I do
I hope and pray for Your Help and Mercy all the way through
Bless my journey till the end of my life, Amin.

Ad’ha
18 June 2006
5:23pm

The Objectives of Education

Education in general is meant to produce people who are critical, inquistive, energetic, responsible and emphathatic towards the development of their society. While going about achieving them, they also are engaged in work which enables them to provide for themselves and their families. They are viable in the economic and social sense. In Islam, the objective of education is to produce people who are confident of their religion and always ready to convey the message of Tauhid to people around them. This is by no means a small or marginal effort. In fact, it is the mainframe and topmost objective of education in Islam. In his/her own community, the objective of Islamic education is also to produce people who can improve the spiritual and psyshological state of the people around them, so that they will understand and act upon their beliefs to the best of their ability. While no society is without problems, education that only serves to fulfill the economic needs does not produce population that shares the sufferings and difficulties of others. In fact, they are not even ready to be true impetus of betterment for their wards and constituents. The tauhidic paradigm aims to elevate people from debasing needs to higher attainments, which assists greatly in the final salvation when one faces God in the hereafter. For the essence of life is to worship and worship is in fact to admit that He is the Greatest. It is an all-encompassing approach to life. When that is done and the participation of the masses is real and fulfilled, we will then see how ALLAH's religion shine in this world, thus He be pleased on us and we pleased on Him. O ALLAH, help us to strength our faith, makes us deep in our conviction to convey your existence and place us among those who are successful in this world and the hereafter. Amin.