missing the good old days ...

zzZzZzzzZ...wake up maa!

Lately, I'm kinda struggling to woke up early in the morning. So, I think this lecture is a good reminder for me and those who are facing the same problem. Here, I give you some interesting points from the lecture....I highly recommend you to listen to this short lecture. It only takes about 17 min.

* Waking Up for Allah - Husain Abdul Sattar

- Allah takes the entire earth and puts it into the day - it's not a small task that you started with the night and all the sudden you ended with the day...

- Waking up in the morning is one of the signs of His greatness...Allah controls of everything - Allah is so Merciful. He didn't create life as one lengthy unit. He could have written that but Allah didn't do that way.

- Allah create each day as an individual unit.

- Allah create the night as the "eraser" - When we woke up the next morning, we woke up fresh. We don't bring the mistakes from the previous day with us nor we bring the success with us.

- The new day is a new opportunity. We can't live in the past...We can't assume everything that happened in the past, now all the sudden will just change us to who we are in the future...Everyday is a new challenge...

- Those people who have led their lives full of mistakes...it doesn't matter! You start over the next day! And those people who are striving in their deen...it doesn't matter too! The next day is another opportunity to strive!

- So, we should take this advantage!


أَصْـبَحْنا وَأَصْـبَحَ المُـلْكُ لله وَالحَمدُ لله ، لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وَحدَهُ لا شَريكَ لهُ، لهُ المُـلكُ ولهُ الحَمْـد، وهُوَ على كلّ شَيءٍ قدير ، رَبِّ أسْـأَلُـكَ خَـيرَ ما في هـذا اليوم وَخَـيرَ ما بَعْـدَه ، وَأَعـوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَـرِّ هـذا اليوم وَشَرِّ ما بَعْـدَه، رَبِّ أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنَ الْكَسَـلِ وَسـوءِ الْكِـبَر ، رَبِّ أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنْ عَـذابٍ في النّـارِ وَعَـذابٍ في القَـبْر. [مسلم 4/2088

"We have reached the morning and at this very time unto Allah belongs all sovereignty, and all praise is for Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent. My Lord, I ask You for the good of this day and the good of what follows it and I take refuge in You from the evil of this day and the evil of what follows it. My Lord, I take refuge in You from laziness and senility. My Lord, I take refuge in You from torment in the Fire and punishment in the grave."

CINTA a.k.a LOVE

Allah's Messenger, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said:
"If Allah loves someone He calls (angel) Jibreel and says: I
love so-and-so, so you love him. Jibreel loves him, and calls
the other angels in Heaven to love that person. They love him,
then his love will be made upon earth, and he becomes loved.

"And if Allah hates someone He calls Jibreel and says: I hate
so-and-so and you hate him. Jibreel hates him and calls the
angels in Heaven and says: Allah hates so-and-so, so you all
hate him. They all hate him, and his hatred is made upon earth
and he becomes hated." - Muslim

[Lessons from this hadith] People do things for the sake of
seeking out love from other humans. All the love you need is
found in obeying Allah. Do actions sincerely to win Allah's
love, and love will be yours!

[Suggestions on how to implement this hadith]
http://www.Powerworkshops.org in the "Free Stuff" section

With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!
- Muhammad Alshareef

[Review] Nikon School of Photography: Introduction to Digital SLR Photography

Saturday, March 10, 2007. I bold myself to attend this workshop alone at New York's Hotel Pennsylvania which is across from Madison Square Garden. Although NYC ain't that far from my place plus it was going to start at 9:30 am, I decided to leave a little early - around 8 am. And I thought the good fortunes to arrive early were that I could get the best seat, be relaxed and comfortable. However, when I arrived at the Penntop South Ballroom...whoa, I found out that almost half of the seats have been filled! Apparently, I wasn't the only one who wanted the best seat. Never mind. Just kept on looking for an empty spot in the middle row...and smile! finally, I found it.

I could see participants of different ages; but most of them from middle-aged people and very few teenagers. Furthermore, I found out from three women I chatted with, some of them were sent by their companies and some of them attended this workshop because of deep interest in photography. Also I noticed that most of them brought together their SLR digital camera except me, who brought a Nikon Coolpix S1...haha, at the moment I felt sO ashamed that I reluctant to bring it out =P. I was wrong when I thought I could also use it for this workshop despite I knew it wasn't a SLR camera.

Personally, I think I was pretty lucky to receive a free ticket from Nikon Inc. because the fee for this one-day-school is quite expensive for a college student like me, which is cost 119 bucks. If I were given a choice, I don't think I would want to spend my money on this workshop unless I am really into photography or going crazy with myself. You might be wondering why or how could I possibly get a free ticket to this school don't you? =D

Honestly, this was not really a free ticket - nothing in life comes for free or easy unless there is an "excuse."

I believe it wasn't until end of 2006 - i guess around late September or early November, i got a letter from Nikon Inc. I was kinda surprised to receive the letter since it has "return receipt requested" and "important" on it, which I knew there must be something important here. As I went through the letter, I was thrown again when it says, "We are writing to you in regard to a recent security incident at Nikon Inc. on September 12, 2006. The personal information you provided to us...has been made available to unauthorized persons." Astaghfirullahalazim! What's going on here? It wasn't long before I received a letter from PNC Bank saying that they detected a fraud case in my account! Sigh~

It made me pretty mad, but luckily, they said that they has remedied the security incident. They recommended me to contact the credit card issuer to discuss more about it and call the Nikon Consumer Relations Department if I need their assistance. Well, because of the incident, Nikon gave me a compensation; an automatic one year extension of "Nikon World" subscription and also a free ticket to the Nikon School of Photography. They also let me choose whether to attend "The Introduction to Digital SLR Photography" or "Streamlined Workflow Techniques".

Overall, the workshop was interesting even though it didn't meet my expectations. I guess I put too high expectations. Never had an any experience with photography workshop before so I think that's the reason why. What I'd expected was an active workshop - going outside to snap some pictures, breaking into groups and teaching us on group on how to use the SLR camera and so forth. But, when I think back, actually, "going outside to snap pictures" really doesn't sound right because where the heck are we going to take the pictures? In the middle of NYC with, I believe nearly three hundreds participants? lol...what a funny! =D

Just to give you some idea of what the workshop looks like - this workshop covers many things from technical insight and experience, sensitivity (ISO), Aperture - aperture vs f. number (sorry, I forgot what "f" stands for), program mode, shutter speed, image editors, RAW file, NEF file, EPSON printing, and color adjustment. There are also videos presentations, Q & A session, small booths located just beside the stage, and you can even meet the professional photographers personally during the break! Also, not forget to mention, your lunch is provided! So, basically you don't have to worry about getting hungry because they provide us with sandwich, fruits, snacks, yogurt, juices and sodas.

What I like most about this workshop is you don't leave empty-handed. They gave each of us two books, which are "Nikon School: Guide to Digital Photography", "Nikon School: Guide to SLR photography" and, also one Nikon notepad and a certificate of participation :). Besides, they gave us a CD of CaptureNX software but in trial edition - this software is only valid for 30 days from the moment you install it; just like other trials you find in the internet. In comparison to Adobe Photoshop, I like this software a lot more in many aspects such as it provides a user-friendly interface, you can make a quick adjustment at the point/area you want, and you can change the picture from normal view to "bird eyes" view or vice versa. You can also edit your picture from image histogram. (*disclaimer: this is just my petty sum. I am not a professional nor am I an expert in photography. Also, this is just based on my experience using Adobe Photoshop in year 2002-2003. I believe right now, there is a major upgrade of Photoshop.)

In short, I would highly recommend this workshop for those who are newly interested in SLR digital photography, thinking of getting or just bought a SLR digital camera, and has a strong financial support.

p/s: here are two websites I got from the workshop: http://www.billdurrence.com/ and http://www.nickdidlick.com/index.html
- and I still remember what Bill Durrence (one of the instructors) said about photography, "good photos combine ART and CLICHE" and "you're the one who treasure your photos...people can say anything about it, but only you know what your picture means"

Wallahualam~ (only God knows best) (^-^)y

SEEK out benefit

On the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah, sal
Allahu alayhi wa salla, said: "Seek out that which benefits you,
seek help only from Allah and never say you can't do it.

"If any adversity comes to you, do not say: 'If I had
only acted in such-and-such a way, it would have been
such-and-such;' but instead, say: 'Allah has decreed (it)
and what He willed, He has done,' for verily, (the word) (if)
opens the way for the work of Satan." - Saheeh Muslim

[Lessons from this hadith] If there is something that will
benefit you, make every effort and go after it! Seek it out.
There is no failure, only lessons.

[Suggestions on how to implement this hadith]
http://www.Powerworkshops.org in the "Free Stuff" section

With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!
- Muhammad Alshareef

bored~

it is a really lame boring day that i have nothing to do than just staying in my room. i wanna go for a walk but it's very cold and windy outside. hurm, i can't help myself but feel sleepy, watching Japanese drama and eating. i guess I'll gain some weight and have a chubby face.

sometimes it's good to have a long break, but sitting in the room all weekend and doing nothing is just miserable, right. actually, i could accomplish many things this whole weekend but i just don't wanna go for it - laziness has gotten its way, i guess. i could finish reading the "Muslim contributions to world civilization" book or at least finish reading the book that i received as a birthday present from my kak ana. sigh, really have to do something tomorrow! takleh biarkan kemalasanku bermaharajalela! Don't let syaitan win over me!

keampunan - Mirwana

i'm currently addicted to this song! gosh, it keeps replaying in my head! really gotta stop it now

Tak kusangka
di malam ini
tiada lagi...
purnama yang menerangi..
hanya sementara
berselindung balik awan
diselubung kegelapan sehingga kuterpenjara
lantas ku berlari jauh
mencari cahaya untuk menyuluh..
jalan untukku pulang..
Wahai Tuhan yang Agung
Kau yang Maha Pengampun
Andai diri Kau hukum
itu keadilanMu
Ku pohon maghfirahMu..
Ampunilah dosaku
tempat untukku mengadu..
kasihani hambaMu..
Disinilah hakikatnya..
aku tunduk aku akur..
dengan taqdirMu..
~Sebarang janji seringkali aku mungkiri..
tidak pernah sekali Kau menjauhkan diri
sedari mula tak mungkin dapat aku lari dari ujian semua yang telah Kau beri.."