Be optimistic. With God, it wouldn't hurt.

And We have placed within the heaven great stars and have beautified it for the observers (AlQuran, 15:16) 

Credits

To be here one day and witness this...Subhanallah.

On Eyes That Stir Up Torrents

And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."

(Quran, 17:23-24)

Peace be upon y'all reading this unworthy blog !

How are you in health and happiness? I just wanted to write something quick as I am missing the nice feeling of typing intuitively at length without thinking of the consequences of doing so.

Distinguished members of my online audience, today I'd like to remind us all.

That you never know how deeply you are able to touch another person's heart. 

An apology, a handshake, a laugh, a smack on the back, a moment of eye contact, a brief touch, a word, a facial expression, everything you do, albeit how small it is to your perception, can produce huge torrents of emotion inside another. Positive or negative those emotions may be is up to the distinctive scenario, but if you are one of the participants in it, do not underestimate the power you have over the other person, and never underestimate the power of the other over you.

I am a melancholic soul, always hoping to get back in time to prevent these 'slips' from happening. And although my mature self has often laughed at this hopeful intention, for it now believes that everything that happened is better than what could have happened, there are just some things that it wishes it would never have done.

For those who have faith in me, I thank you. I probably don't deserve it, but you have no idea how much that faith means to me.

Yours truly
Azfar

On My Latest Man Crush

“Indeed, in this [Quran] is notification for a worshipping people. And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” [Quran: 21:106-107]




Ahhhhh where should I start? So much to relay, but too many uninterested ears, busy eyes and occupied hearts.


 Yesterday I saw a webcast, thanks to a link I found through a friend's blog (you, yes you…! thanks !!). After reading the small entry that came with it, I decided that it would be interesting to take part in the global event. And after telling my friends about it, some of whom encouraged me to buy tickets, I bought several tickets for the event. Little did I know though, the webcast which I initially thought would correlate well in timing with another event happening on that day was actually happening at a later time in that day, smack middle in time of the other event.


Knowing this, I knew that many of the friends whom initially thought that they could sit and watch with me would not be able to do so (with heavy hearts, I can assure you) and as planned earlier, I went to watch the event on a large TV at 'the crescent' with its so very cool inhabitants (yes...you guys!!). Why tell us the details of the pre-event, you ask? Spare us these cumbersome details of your pitiful life please.  


Well, I have a complex. I over think many things, in ways bordering to those with OCD would, I have to admit (a tutor once told me that all doctors statistically have some obsessive compulsive in them, that's what makes them able to do the studying and the job). I was thinking about this webcast, the excitement that came leading to it, imagining a huge bunch of people enjoying and spending time together in front of a screen to a good cause, and the eventual turn out. As capricious as the weather these days it seems, things change.


I'm no stranger to these incidences. Many things I've done before have just met up with, quite frankly, nothing. I remember a time when I travelled a long way in the dead night for something, and right in the middle, was told that there's no way I could make it in time for that thing. And so with a heavy heart I chucked a u-ie (read: youwie/ U turn), already three quarters of the way. That night I questioned lots of stuff, and so beat up I was emotionally, I decided to just sulk the night away. I know God doesn't do things without purpose, I know that for sure. Its just me, why does it seem, sometimes, that the things I do, with good intentions I must humbly admit, turn out to be such a waste?


Ok lets not dwell on that. Lets read about the webcast !!


The webcast was lots of fun as it was a very touching emotional journey. We were chatting with the malaysians online and making troll comments here and there. Haha. 


Its theme was: Prophet Muhammad, lessons from his marriage life. And so the content brought about by the speakers, in subsequent four to five minute videos, were of the relations that the prophet had with people around him, mainly focusing on his wives. It portrayed this man of beautiful character, calm demeanor, wise words and reactions, attentiveness and sensitivity, love and affection, trust and loyalty, humility and machoness, empathy and even altruism. And all over again, as many times as I've heard stories about him, I had a man crush. Owh how beautiful this man was!! Listening to the stories yesterday nearly brought tears to my eyes * teary* !! He is indeed a mercy to mankind =)))))  


And thus, I would encourage all of you, muslim or non muslim (apparently there were lots of non muslim who joined as well) to have a look at the website and watch the webcast, with open hearts. And together learn from the stories of this man. You will not be disappointed. I assure you.


The website is: celebratemercy.com


Have a look, have a click here and there and enjoy !!


Holidays are here
Azfar


p.s.: One month post article translating contest, entries and expressions of interest = zero/ naught/ nil/ teloq ayam. I might have to get myself a new novel then!! :D

Holding a Rose

Holding a rose

 Your hand bleeds from the thorns piercing your skin, 

your brain whirrs from the sickening spin, 

yet you held on,

for the life of you,

you held on

 Is it the visual presentation?

the petals dancing on a beat?

or the olfactory stimulation?

the scent so sweet?

Maybe it is the heart that confuses you,

for it beats quick, 

in a way no different to

how pleasure would make it tick 

-THE END-

I wonder about the curse placed in many hearts. The curse of holding on. The curse of persistence. The curse of reluctant hope.

It makes me ask: what does it take to let go? To say that you have chosen different paths and you are happy with them. To sincerely say that its okay that things turn out this way, that it is for the best. That we shall happily move on. 

Its not easy, I know. 

The reason I even tried this poem is that I saw something yesterday (ok.....now now... thats enough snorting and chuckling Zaid and Kiambang...and other poets out there..I had no other idea than the word 'tick'. Even after looking at the rhyming dictionary!!! This is my first time!!!! ).

It was a photograph. I know the story behind the photograph and I know the story leading to it, and the story after it. 

The photograph depicts the story quite well. Of two people who got caught up in a relationship that would, in the end prove to be...for the lack of better terms to describe it, hopeless. And thus its no surprise that it is as bad now as it will ever be.The thing is, if it was me who were in that relationship, the photograph would be the last thing I would look at. 

Not in this case though. This person chose to look at it everyday. Not that I would want to, mind you, but I can only imagine the pain this person feels.

One thing I don't have to imagine though, and I know this for a fact. Matter of the heart are never easy.

Dear Lord, You who hold our hearts in Your Hands, guide our hearts to find acceptance, peace and happiness. Amin~   

One week from holidays

Azfar

This is a CONTEST!!! Yep you read it right! A CONTEST!!

Translate this article into the English language and win an AUD30 book voucher!! Hooray !!!   

Dear readers


I think I mentioned in my brief one-liner post below that I am currently working on translating a well known piece by a famous muslim scholar. The piece is basically a letter of advices that Imam Hassan Al Banna wrote in reply to a letter from a youth who was troubled with how he saw his heart. Dead. Defunct.Lifeless. 

The reason that I am attempting to translate this article into the English language is because I thought that its a good piece to share with everyone and it would be a very good language exercise. And I have failed after browsing through 4 Google result pages, to find this article in English. As 9-gaggers would say it 'if its not there in the first 4 pages of google, it probably doesn't exist'

Halfway through the entire article, something suddenly crossed my mind during my lazy noon shower today. Instead of translating it myself, maybe I should find more talents across my sea of acquaintances and friends who would do much better jobs than me !

So here is the deal:
1. translate the article 'Surat Rijal kepada Hassan Al Banna' or its equivalent article in any other languages into English. A translation from the Arabic version would probably have the best advantage in terms of subtlety of language and meaning. AND please make sure that your attempts are honest ones, and not actually results from your far superior Googling skills or copying from other sources. Lets work with the system of trust and honesty. Feel free to extend the invitation to any of your friends.
(Many apologies to my readers with no other language than English in hand. Obviously this does not apply to you because the purpose of the contest is for you to be able to understand the article =) ) 
2. Send it to azfar.nor@gmail.com before (considering the traffic this blog gets) 30th March 2012.
3. I'll get some language hot shots to read it and evaluate it
4. The best translation wins an AUD30 book voucher ! and will be contacted through email.If you can find no use for an australian currency book voucher (i.e. you're in Malaysia or the UK or NZ or India or somewhere else), we will work something out.
5. The translation will then be posted here and be read by thousands of people on a daily basis. *cough2*..so much for a system of honesty and trust

Up for the challenge?! Go for it!

Yours truly
Azfar

Friends pick us up when we fall down, if they can't pick us up, they lie down and listen for a while

 Off a post in 9-gag. No photos, I'll let you picture it yourselves.

P.s.: Working on translating a well known piece. Otherwise I'm trolling around playing video games and pushing people when they are trying to aim for a head shot in their video games. I'm starting the semester with a hilariously confusing and laid back elective term. Nothing to do + denial of medical student status = fun !! and hopefully some outside-of-medicine productivity as well...of course... 

Lots of Bee Gees too, admittedly. Its so weird.