Nasyeed: A is for Allah - Yusuf Islam

A' is for Allah, nothing but Allah;
Ba is the beginning of Bismillah;
Ta is for Taqwa, bewaring of Allah;
and Tha is for Thawab, a reward;
Ja is for Janna, the Garden of Paradise;
Ha is for Hajj, the blessed pilgrimage;
Kha is for Khaatem, the seal of the prophethood given to the Prophet, Muhammed (SAW);
Da is for Deen, Al-Islam, religion with Allah since time began;
Dha is for dhikr, remembering Allah;
and Ra is for the month of Ramadhan, ohh Ramadhan;
Za is for Zakat to pure our greed, when we give our money to those in need;
Sa is for Salamu alaikum, peace be with you wa'alaikum assalam;
Sha is for shams, the shining sun, which Allah placed for everyone;
and Sua is for salat, for when we pray facing him, everyday, facing him, till we meet our
lord;
Allah there's only one God and Muhammed is his Messenger. Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;
Dua is for duha, the morning light, the sun has turned from red to white;
Tua is for tareeq, the path to walk upon;
and Dhua is for dhil, a shadow;
and 'Aa is for 'ilm, the thing to know, to make our knowledge grow, in Islam;
Gha is for ghaib, a world unseen and that we know is not a dream;
Fa is for, the Opening, Al-Fatiha;
and Qua for the Qur'an, the book of God;
and Ka is for kalima, a word we're taught to teach us what is good and what is not;
and La is for the beginning of La ilaha illa'allah;
Ma is for the Messenger Muhammed-ur-Rasoolillah. La ilaha illa'allah, Muhammed-ur-Rasulilllah;
Allah, there's only one God and Muhammed is his Messenger. Allah, la ilaha illa'allah;
Na is for nawm, the sleep God gave to give us rest after the day;
Ha is for the Hijra, the journey that, the Prophet made;
and Wa for wudu before we pray to help us wash our sins away;
and Ya for Yawm-mid-Deen;
Allah, there's only one God and Muhammed is his Messenger. Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;
Allah, there's only one God and Jesus was his Messenger. Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;
Allah, there's only one God and Moses was his Messenger. Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;
Allah, there's only one God and Abraham was his Messenger. Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;
Allah, there's only one God and Noah was his Messenger. Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;
Allah, there's only one God and he created Adam, and we are the children of Adam. Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;
Allah, there's only one God and Muhammed is his Messenger. Allah, La ilaha illa'allah.

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E-mail Etiquette

Although you can try to recall an e-mail, it's better to use discretion in the beginning, according to Will Schwalbe, co-author of Send, a guide to e-mail etiquette. Always be polite, too, but we're sure you already knew that.

Here's Schwalbe's checklist of things to consider before you send:

Is the e-mail simple? If not, it could create confusion and waste time. Edit words and sentences until the message is as tight and as pared-down as you can make it without losing its meaning.

Is it effective? Correspondence, particularly for business, has to be right the first time, as you may not have another chance to connect with the recipient.

Is your e-mail necessary? We all spend too much time asking others to do things that are essentially frivolous. Ask yourself what would happen if you didn't send the e-mail. If the answer is ''nothing much,'' then delete it.

Do you want something done?
If your e-mail requires action, make sure you follow it up. And don't fall into the trap of forwarding something just to pass the buck. Ask yourself if you are moving things forward or just moving them off your own desktop.

Dos and Don'ts
Don't use CAPITAL LETTERS – it's the equivalent of shouting.
Don't send emotionally charged messages. If you wouldn't say it to the recipient's face, don't send it.
Don't e-mail confidential material. It could end up in the wrong hands. Send a letter instead.

Do be specific in the subject line. Your message could get deleted if it looks like spam.
Do answer at the top, not the bottom, of an e-mail.It's annoying having to scroll down the bottom to read a response.
Do stick with black font, no larger than 12 points in size. This is the easiest type to read.

(Source: http://www.readersdigest.com.my/rd/rdhtml/en/magazine/mag_fullcontent.jsp?cid=5609)

Are you observant enough?

*click on the picture for larger view

Song: Stay The Same - Joey McIntyre

Don't you ever wish you were someone else, You were meant to be the way you are exactly. Don't you ever say you don't like the way you are. When you learn to love yourself, you're better off by far. And I hope you always stay the same, Cuz there's nothin' 'bout you I would change.
	I think that you could be whatever you wanted to be If you could realize, all the dreams you have inside. Don't be afraid if you've got something to say, Just open up your heart and let it show you the way.
Don't you ever wish you were someone else, You were meant to be the way you are exactly. Don't you ever say you don't like the way you are. When you learn to love yourself, you're better off by far. And I hope you always stay the same, Cuz there's nothin' 'bout you I would change.
	Believe in yourself. Reach down inside. The love you find will set you free. Believe in yourself, you will come alive. Have faith in what you do. You'll make it through.
Don't you ever wish you were someone else, You were meant to be the way you are exactly. Don't you ever say you don't like the way you are. When you learn to love yourself, you're better off by far. And I hope you always stay the same, Cuz there's nothin' 'bout you I would change.

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Each and every one of us is a specially created by God. Be proud of who we are, don't try to be someone else... Be comfortable and confident in ourselves and we can achieve (almost, God willing) everything we wish for...

Nasyeed: Ya Ilahi - Muhammad Husayn

In the night, among the nights I don’t know what happened to me A darkness invaded me, O Lord, The earth and the sky shrunk And my heart didn’t see the light And the tears started to fall, O My God O My God O My God O My God O My God
	I sinned and the regret is big And I am in my sadness sorry I can’t support this regret, O Lord So do I, a criminal (in terms of sin), O Lord, deserve forgiveness I can’t support this bitter regret, O My God O My God O My God O My God O My God
You’re the one who created me Gave me mercy and enriched me Always, O Lord, You were with me But I neglected You And I forgot what You have And I followed my road, O My God O My God O My God O My God O My God
	And today My Lord I am returning From a darkness that is behind barriers The heart is broken and the path is hard And I, the drowned, I only see You To rescue me, no rescuer, No rescuer, except You O My God O My God O My God O My God

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This is a translation of a nasyeed which is actually a prayer asking Allah's forgiveness...the rhythm is from the song "Hallelujah", in Hebrew meaning "to praise (ye) Lord"...

Islam & Science: The Wonders of Creation

Creation of the Universe

The Qur'an informs us concerning the existence of an initial gaseous mass (dukhan), as well as descriptions of the elements which, although at first were fused together (ratq), they subsequently became separated (fatq). These ideas are expressed in chapters Fussilat and al-Anbiyaa:

"God then rose turning towards the heaven which it was smoke ..." (Al-Qur'an, 41:11)

"Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of creation), then We split them apart?" (Al-Qur'an 21:30)

According to modern science, the separation process resulted in the formation of multiple worlds, a concept which appears dozens of times in the Qur'an. For example, look at the first chapter of the Qur'an, al-Faatihah: ( "Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds." Al-Qur'an, 1:1).

These Qur'anic references are all in perfect agreement with modern ideas on the existence of primary nebula (galactic dust), followed by the separation of the elements which resulted in the formation of galaxies and then stars from which the planets were born.

Expansion of the Universe

Chapter ath-Thariyaat of the Qur'an alludes to one of the most imposing discoverises of modern science, the Expansion of the Universe.

"The heaven, We have built it with power, Verily We are expanding it." (Al-Qur'an, 51:47)

The expansion of the Universe was first suggested by the general theory of relativity and is supported by the calculations of astrophysics. The regular movement of the galactic light towards the red section of the spectrum is explained by the distancing of one galaxy from another. Thus, the size of the universe appears to be progressively increasing.

The Sun and the Moon

Whereas the Bible talks of the sun and the moon as two lights differing only in size, the Qur'an distinguishes between them by the use of different terms: light (noor) for the moon, and lamp (siraaj) for the sun.

"Did you see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, and made in them the moon a light and the sun a lamp?" (Al-Qur'an, 78:12-13)

The moon is an inert body which reflects light, whereas the sun is a celestial body in a state of permanent combustion producing both light and heat.

Orbits

Today, the laws governing the celestial systems are well known. Galaxies are balanced by the position of stars and planets in well-defined orbits, as well the interplay of gravitational forces produced by their masses and the speed of their movements. But is this not what the Qur'an describes in terms which have only become comprehensible in modern times. In chapter al-Anbiyaa we find:

"(God is) the one Who created the night, the day, the sun and the moon. Each one is travelling in an orbit with its own motion." (Al-Qur'an, 21:33)

Source: http://www.islamicity.com/Science/WondersOfCreation/Commentary.shtml

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Allah The Almighty is The One and Only with the power to create such complex and complete universe... Even if scientists had come up with all kinds of theories regarding the formation of the universe, the evidence were clearly stated in the Qur'an... May we all remain a firm believer of Islam...

Song: One Moment In Time - Whitney Houston

Each day I live I want to be A day to give The best of me I'm only one But not alone My finest day Is yet unknown
	I broke my heart Fought every gain To taste the sweet I face the pain I rise and fall Yet through it all This much remains
I want one moment in time When I'm more than I thought I could be When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away And the answers are all up to me Give me one moment in time When I'm racing with destiny Then in that one moment of time I will feel I will feel eternity
	I've lived to be The very best I want it all No time for less I've laid the plans Now lay the chance Here in my hands
Give me one moment in time When I'm more than I thought I could be When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away And the answers are all up to me Give me one moment in time When I'm racing with destiny Then in that one moment of time I will feel I will feel eternity
	You're a winner for a lifetime If you seize that one moment in time Make it shine
Give me one moment in time When I'm more than I thought I could be When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away And the answers are all up to me Give me one moment in time When I'm racing with destiny Then in that one moment of time I will be I will be I will be free I will be I will be free

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Time is very precious. That is why there are sayings such as "Time and tide wait for no man" and "Time is Gold". There is even a Quranic verse, Surah Al-'Asr: "1) By Al-'Asr (the time). 2) Verily! Man is in loss, 3) Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy."
In our journey through life, it isn't always smooth sailing throughout...we will definitely face some difficulties along the way. However, that's what makes us who we are today...we learned from our mistakes, improved from our successes, and we got back on our feet when we fell... And there is always that one moment that will set the path for the future, so grab the opportunity that comes your way and make the best of it...

This song was the opening song for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

Song: You've Got A Friend - Carole King

When you're down and troubled And you need some loving care And nothing, nothing is going right Close your eyes and think of me And soon I will be there To brighten up even your darkest night
	You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I'll come running to see you again Winter, spring, summer or fall All you have to do is call And I'll be there You've got a friend
If the sky above you Grows dark and full of clouds And that old north wind begins to blow Keep your head together And call my name out loud Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door
	You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I'll come running to see you Winter, spring, summer or fall All you have to do is call And I'll be there
Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend When people can be so cold They'll hurt you, and desert you And take your soul if you let them Oh, but don't you let them
	You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I'll come running to see you again Winter, spring, summer or fall All you have to do is call And I'll be there You've got a friend

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To be able to be the person whom at least someone can turn to, is indeed an honour. It means that someone trusted us enough to tell her/his deepest and darkest secrets; can be counted to sooth her/his fears, relieve her/his sorrow, and to cheer her/his victory.. Hope that we will be that person for someone...

Song: One Thousand Million Smiles - Sudirman

There's a gift I'd like to give you That can't be bought or sold A ray of sunshine across the waters That comes straight from the soul
	Let us join our hands together To bind the colours of our skin A rainbow under GOD's Great heaven A sign that love will always win
One thousand million smiles I bring joy across the miles In my land of sunshine Or in your land of snow Makes no difference where you are If you let your feeling show
	One thousand million ways To love each other every day For the poet and the old man For the mother and the child These One thousand million smiles
If the world is full of sorrow Then what's the meaning of life If war's the master of the house And hunger is his wife ooo...
	But a shining bridge of loving smiles And tender helping hands Will bind all men on earth together And will forever stand
So here! Stand with heart in hand I bring this gift from my homeland So take these smiles and sweets hellos Keep then in your heart where ever you may go

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This song was sung by the late Sudirman at The Royal Albert Hall, London and won him the title of Asia's Best Performer 1989.
A smile is the cheapest gift you can bestow on someone...a smile that comes from your heart will show on your face and goes straight to the heart of the receivers. Sometimes all a person ever need is a smile as an encouragement.. Start your day with a smile, and the world will smile back at you..
I couldn't find the song in the playlist, so here's the video (taken from YouTube), and was sung by Jaclyn Victor in Konsert Suara Hati Sudirman 2007 (RTM).

PRACTICE OF THE PROPHET (SAAS)

One of the most important characteristics, frequently mentioned with regards to the Prophet (saas) in the Qur'an, is that he only practiced what Allah revealed and asked of him, with no concern about what others might think. Important figures and members of other religions at the time wanted him to impose rules that would benefit them. Although these people were more numerous and powerful, the Prophet (saas) was punctilious about abiding by Allah's commandments and the Qur'an. Allah tells us the following in one verse: When Our Clear Signs are recited to them, those who do not expect to meet Us say, "Bring a Qur'an other than this one or change it." Say: "It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I follow nothing except what is revealed to me. I fear, were I to disobey my Lord, the punishment of a Dreadful Day." Say: "Had Allah so wished, I would not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. I lived among you for many years before it came. Will you not use your intellect?" (Surah Yunus: 15-16) In a number of verses of the Qur'an, Allah warned the Prophet (saas) about the conduct of his people. For instance: And We have sent down the Book to you [Muhammad] with truth, confirming and conserving the previous Books. So judge between them by what Allah has sent down and do not follow their whims and desires deviating from the Truth that has come to you. We have appointed a law and a practice for every one of you. Had Allah willed, He would have made you a single community, but He wanted to test you regarding what has come to you. So compete with each other in doing good. Every one of you will return to Allah and He will inform you regarding the things about which you differed. Judge between them by what Allah has sent down and do not follow their whims and desires. And beware of them lest they lure you away from some of what Allah has sent down to you. If they turn their backs, then know that Allah wants to afflict them with some of their wrong actions. Many of mankind are deviators. (Surat al-Ma'idah: 48-49) The Prophet (saas) told people repeatedly and determinedly to do nothing but that which Allah had revealed to him. One verse concerning this superior morality of the Prophet (saas) reads: Say: "I do not say to you that I possess the treasuries of Allah, nor do I know the Unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I only follow what has been revealed to me." Say: "Are the blind the same as those who can see? So will you not reflect?" (Surat al-An‘am: 50) Alongside that determination and constancy in the way of Allah, the Prophet (saas) told people about the true religion in the best and most pleasing manner. Comparing the Prophet (saas) to the great majority of people will be very helpful in understanding his superior qualities. Most people, now as in the past, are consumed with desires, longings and passions. Although the great majority believe in religion, they are unable to overcome those obsessions. Instead of giving up those desires, they make concessions when it comes to their religious obligations. They fail to carry out some of those obligations out of concern, for instance, over what their spouses, relatives or friends might say. Or, they are unable to give up habits that are unacceptable to the religion. They therefore interpret religion according to their own interests, accept those rules which suit them, and reject those which do not. The Prophet (saas) never made any concessions to what such people wanted. He conveyed the Qur'an to mankind with no alteration to what Allah had revealed, taking no one's personal interests into account, and did so simply in the spirit of fear of Allah. Allah speaks of the Prophet (saas)'s godliness (taqwa) in the Qur'an: By the star when it descends, your companion is not misguided or misled; nor does he speak from whim. It is nothing but Revelation revealed, taught him by one immensely strong, possessing power and splendour [i.e., Gabriel]...(Surat an-Najm: 1-6) Know that the Messenger of Allah is among you. If he were to obey you in many things, you would suffer for it.However, Allah has given you love of faith and made it pleasing to your hearts, and has made disbelief, deviance and disobedience hateful to you. People such as these are rightly guided. (Surat al-Hujurat: 7) For further reading: http://us2.harunyahya.com/Detail/T/EDCRFV/productId/5394/PRACTICE_OF_THE_PROPHET_(SAAS) (obtained from Harun Yahya: An Invitation to the Truth; http://www.hyahya.org/)

Song: The Power of the Dream - Celine Dion

Deep within each heart there lies a magic spark That lights the fire of our imagination And since the dawn of man The strength of just 'I can' Has brought together people of all nations There's nothing ordinary in the living of each day There's a special part every one of us will play
	Feel the flame forever burn Teaching lessons we must learn To bring us closer to the power of the dream As the world gives us its best To stand apart from all the rest It is the power of the dream that brings us here
Your mind will take you far The rest is just your heart You'll find your fate is all your own creation And every boy and girl as they come into this world They bring the gift of hope and inspiration
	Feel the flame forever burn Teaching lessons we must learn To bring us closer to the power of the dream The world unites in hope and peace We pray that it will always be It is the power of the dream that brings us here
There's so much strength in all of us Every woman, child, and man It's the moment that you think you can't You'll discover that you can
	Feel the flame forever burn Teaching lessons we must learn To bring us closer to the power of the dream The world unites in hope and peace We pray that it will always be It is the power of the dream that brings us here
Feel the flame forever burn Teaching lessons we must learn We've got to learn To bring us closer to the power of the dream The world unites in hope and peace We pray that it will always be It is the power of the dream that brings us here To realize the power of the dream To realize the power of the dream

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Almost everything we do now started with a dream...we dreamed to become successful in life, and so we worked hard to achieve that dream...great inventors also dreamed their inventions, and they strove to realize their dreams...we must have dreams because without them, we'll have nothing to look forward to...

This song was the opening song for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

Lies of Shaitan

Translation from The Holy Quran, Soorah Ibrahim verse 22:-
And Shaitan (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: "Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world)." Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).

** I hope that this verse will always be in our heart and will stop us from succumbing to shaitan's temptation...**

Song: From A Distance - Bette Midler

From a distance the world looks blue and green, And the snow-capped mountains white. From a distance the ocean meets the stream, And the eagle takes to flight.
	From a distance, there is harmony, And it echoes through the land. It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace, It's the voice of every man.
From a distance we all have enough, And no one is in need. And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease, No hungry mouths to feed.
	From a distance we are instruments Marching in a common band. Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace. They're the songs of every man.
God is watching us. God is watching us. God is watching us from a distance.

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We certainly wish that the world is free from war, famine and starvation...but as man evolved into a "more intelligent" being, we started to feel superior and careless of what might happen to others as long as we're not directly affected by it... Let us change all that..show more regards, sympathy and empathy towards each other.. Let us make this world a better place to live...

Poem: Don't Quit - Anonymous

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low, and the debts are high;
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh;
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are;
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things go wrong that you mustn't quit.