Last night after isya’ prayer I went straight home and grabbed the Fathilat Amal (Teaching of Islam) and read a beautiful Hadith. I am still thinking of what I have done about a year ago during Ramadan. And this is my last year post regarding Ramadan: “Ramadhan, the month of fasting for Muslims” so today I would like to refresh my memory again and pledge to Allah and may Allah grant me strength and steadfastness to make this year Ramadan a better Ramadan for me and for my family, insyaAllah.

Last night this is the beasutiful Hadith that I read,

Abu Hurairah radi’allah’uanhu relates that Rasulullah s.a.w. said, “My ummah (people) were given five things which were not given to anyone except them. For them, the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is more sweeter in the sight of Allah than the fragrant smell of musk; On their behalf the fish in the sea seek forgiveness until they break their fast; Allah prepares and decorates a special garden in Jannah (heaven) everyday and then says (to it): ‘The time is near when My faithful servants shall cast aside the great trials (of the world) and come to you.’; In this month of Ramadan the evil-minded syaitan (devil) is chained so as not to reach unto those evils to which they normally reach during other months besides Ramadan; On the last night of Ramadan they are forgiven.”

The sahabah thereupon inquired, “O’ Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) s.a.w., is that last night Laylatul Qadr?” Rasulullah s.a.w. replied, “No, But it is on right that a servant should be given his reward on having completed his service.”

Subhanallah, what a beautiful Hadith.

The Commentary:

Rasulullah s.a.w. mentions in the Hadith five such presents from Allah which were not granted to the fasting people before Islam. If only we can truly appreciate how great this bounty from Allah realy is, and if only we could sincerely try to gain those special favors. Firstly, we are told that the smell from the mouth of the fasting person is more beloved and sweeter in Allah’s sight than the smell of musk.

Fasting is one of the most accepted forms of ibadah (prayers) in Allah’s sight. For this reason the Hadith states that the reward for every deed is brought by the angels but Allah says, “The reward for fasting, I myself will give, because it is for Me alone.”

The second special favor is the fish in the sea make Istighfar (forgiveness) for hin who fasts. The aim here is to explain that many beings including the angels, the animals offer prayer on his behalf who fast. Subhanallah what a great bounty.

The third favor bestowed on the fasting person is that Jannah (heaven) becomes decorated for them. As an example, we know that when a great person is expected to arrive, a great care is taken in the preparations for his coming. It is similar to a person fasting in Ramadan.

The fourth favor is that the rebellious, evil sowing syaitan are chained (detained) as a result of which evil is diminished. So in the month of Ramadan we have a great desire for ibadah, insyaAllah.

The fifth favor is that forgiveness is granted on the final night of Ramadan; because of this great favor the sahabah thought that, it must be Laylatul Qadr, they knew the great blessings of that night and accordingly asked whether that was Laylatul Qadr. The reply was that is was not. This is merely the favor granted for having given Ramadan its due right to the end.

So let us put our mind to it, to the blessed month of Ramadan and may Allah give us strength and good health through out the month of Ramadan so that we could make a lot of Ibadah and get all the rewards from Allah. Amin. Also never forget to know about the 10 great goals to set for this Ramadan.

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While having my coffee break this morning I grabbed a copy of New Straits Times (NST).  The front page is about How Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) nabs 28 Puspakom Officers and 19 runners.  They we all arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes. Then I flip to the classified page and here is the title that interest me, “Working From Home”. In case that you did not have a chance to read about this, I will share the summary here.

The author says, “Home based business has become a popular alternative to earn a primary or secondary income. If you have a good idea and are willing to work and learn, it can be rewarding and a great joy. In Malaysia, the usual jobs available are selling insurance, multilevel marketing, giving tuition or baby sitting. Other alternatives are customer service, telemarketing, internet marketing, writing, proofreading, recruiting, graphics design and photography (which you can find in jobs section of 1Klassifieds)”

Then the author added, “These jobs are usually part-time, commission-based or pay per project”.

A spokesman said the idea of working from home is it must be accessible and has no time constraint, turning your leisure into money. “In 10 to 20 years, things will change. Going to office may not be such a feasible idea due to rising cost of fuel, traffic jam, emotional stress, frustration, not to mention the prospect of your boss staring over your shoulders, on the other hand, by working from home you can be with your family and friends”, he added.

Generally there are many benefits of working from home. Firstly it gives you a sense of flexibility to adjust your work schedule to the needs of your family. Secondly, you will find work that matches your likes, skills, experience and training. It also gives the term ‘multitasking’ a whole new meaning. Instead of just working on your computer and talking on the phone, now you can feed your baby, write business letters, or throw the garbage.

Starting a home based business is more affordable than most people think. For example, if you turn a hobby into business, you do not have to worry about big start up cost. Other benefits are: There are no storefront or office to rent, no additional phone lines to pay, no extra utility expenses, and no furniture to buy, which adds to your savings.

Guys, before you jump into the bandwagon or before you quit your job, consider to read this first, on starting your own business from home. Working from home can be a fun, exciting, and rewarding experience. Best of all you get to pursue your hobbies, get plenty of free time and extra cash in hand.

Just make sure your home based business is one that is still in demand ten or twenty years from now.

This the the snap shoot of the article in the NST. Get your copy today.

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Guys, I found out this awesome site LifeLogger. Why LifeLogger?

LifeLogger is a new startup which aims, like several others these days, to be the no. 1 tool to log your life: from your photos to videos, audio, bookmarks, thoughts (via blog), to even your friends. And I can tell you here, it is no short of impressive.When I first came across LifeLogger this morning, I was unsure of the facilities and I know that there are so many tools of this kind that I have encountered before. But it is the crispy interface and the fact that LifeLogger’s storage limit (150 media files per month, 100mb per-file, free!) went beyond what I had previously come across, I could not leave it. Hope you find it useful too especially when your have a lot of photos and videos to share.

Multimedia blogging at its best!

• Log photos, videos, & audio
• Keep personal stuff private
• Connect with private messages
• Link to the world with bookmarks
• Blog from your mobile phone

“The perfect web app for you to log your life online” – G4 Tech TV

This is the screen shot of my LifeLogger website. >> http://roslimh.lifelogger.com/ <<

•   Voted a top blogging tool by Business Week Online readers

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To my muslim readers and friends, I would like to dedicate this article to you. It is also a reminder to me and my family.

Today already 24th Syaaban in the month of Islam and only 6 days, we will be fasting in the month of Ramadan, insyaAllah. So what is our preparation for the coming month of Baraqah? When our family’s birthday approaching, we always busy thinking of the preparation. When  national day is drawing near, we are busy organizing things for the coming occasion, but what is our preparation for the coming Ramadan? In a verse of the Quran, surah Al-Baqarah 2:183

O you who believe! Observing al-sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-muttaqoon (the pious).

Allah Almighty also says, (The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong).) (Al-Baqarah 2: 185)

Allah Hu Akhbar. As the beautiful month of Ramadan approaches this year, there are several things Muslim can do to prepare themselves spiritually and physically for the month-long period of fasting which is obligatory upon all able-bodied Muslims who have reached the age of maturity. Every Muslim should prepare himself to welcome the blessed month of Ramadan by strengthening his relationship with the Qur’an, busying himself with the spirit of fasting, and recharging his spiritual battery to prepare himself to make the whole blessed month of Ramadan a real occasion of sincere obedience.
Therefore, in order to benefit from Ramadan, we may do well to prepare for it by opening our hearts and minds to embrace it. Here are some tips that we should observed:

1. Keep praying daily that Allah gives us the chance and grants us good health that will enable us to fast the holy month.

2. Start repenting and seeking the forgiveness of the Almighty for all our wrongdoings before Ramadan.

3. Seek the strength from Allah to fast in the way that He likes and wants.

4. Seek forgiveness from all members of your family, workmates, neighbors, and relatives for any wrongdoing against them.

5. Refrain from backbiting, slandering, and unlawful mixing with people.

6. Clean your heart and soul from envy, jealousy, hypocrisy, arrogance, and all heart diseases.

7. Seek the blessings of your parents, if they are alive, and their forgiveness for your shortcomings towards them.

8. Increase your du`aa’ and commitment to your daily duties and obligations.

Let us pray that we come out of Ramadan with our faith recharged, gaining strength in our faith and commitment and relationship with Allah.

Allow me to share this beautiful hadith about Ramadan.

Salman radiallahuanhu reports: “On the last day of Syaaban Rasullulah s.a.w addressed us and said, “O people, here comes over you a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than one thousand months. It is a month in which Allah has made compulsory that the days should be observed by fasting. And he has made sunnah the Tarawih by the night. Whosoever intends drawing nearer to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for him shall be the reward like him who had performed a fardhu in any other time. And whoever performs a fardhu, for him shall be the reward of the seventy fardhu in any other time. This is indeed the month of patience and the reward for true patience is Jannah (paradise). It is the month of sympathy with a fellowman. It is the month wherein a true believer’s rizq (benefits) is increased. Whosoever feeds another man who are fasting, in order to break the fast (at sunset), for him there shall be forgiveness for his sins and emancipation from the fire of jahannam (hell), and for him shall be the same reward as him (whom he fed) without that person’s reward being decreased in the least”.

Then we said, “O Rasulullah, not all of us possess the means whereby we could give a fasting person food to break his fast”.  Rasulullah replied, “Allah grants this same reward to him who gives a fasting person food to break his fast even for a mere dates or a cup of water or a sip of milk”.

“This is a month, where the earlier portion of the month brings Allah’s mercy, the middle part of the month of which brings His forgiveness and the last portion of the month which brings emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell)”.

“Whosoever lessens the burden of His servants (bondsmen) or workers in this month, Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of Jahannam”.

“And in this month four (4) things you should continue to perform in great number, two (2) of which shall be to please Allah while the other two (2) shall be those without which you could not do. Those which to please Allah, are that you should in great quantity bear witness that there is no deity to worship except Allah (i.e. recite the Kalimah Toyibah: LAA ILAAHA IL’LAL LAAH) and make much ISTIGHFAAR (beg of Allah’s forgiveness with ASTAGHFIRULLAH)”.

“And as for those without which you could not do, you should beg of Allah, entrance into Jannah (paradise) and seek refuge in Him from Jahannam (hell)”. 

• http://www.submission.org/ramadan/about-R.html
• http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/story.htm
• http://www.ramadan.co.uk/index.php
• http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0609-3120
• http://www.islamonline.net/english/ramadan1422/2001/world/article14.shtml
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
• http://www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/09.asp (The beautiful photo is from www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/)

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Yesterday I was at Parit Buntar attending the burial for my uncle who passed away on Friday 12;35am. I went there with my parents for a day trip and came back to Kuala Lumpur safely at 6;30pm yesterday. While stopping at Tapah rest area yesterday I has a glimpsed on the Star to read about the coming Malaysia Cup final which is tonight at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. I used to go to the stadium in my childhood days to watch any interesting matches at the stadium but I never been there since the last 10 years or so. Not because I have no passion about the game anymore but it is simply the atmosphere in today’s game and the status of Malaysian football today. Those days were the prime days of Malaysian football but now sadly Malaysia is no where when compared to the world standing in the world footballing fraternities even to the Asian we are way behind. It is certainly a painful experience for people like me who had seen the best of the best of Malaysian football in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

So since today is the D-Day for Selangor and Kedah, I would like to refresh my memories with this event here. For the record, Selangor is the best ever team in Malaysia for this prestigious Cup. They have won the Cup for 32 times. The Malaysia Cup is a highly-prestigious annual soccer tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia. Read the History of Malaysia Cup here.

For this year, the 2008 Malaysia Cup edition, on paper Kedah start as favorite to lift a second consecutive Malaysia Cup but Selangor are expected to give the holders a run of their money at the National Stadium tonight if their proud history in the Malaysia Cup is anything to go by. As I said earlier Selangor have won the prestigious tournament 32 times but Kedah are the team to beat in this year edition.

These two coaches are in the center stage tonight at the National Stadium and both have a colorful experience behind them. For the record both are National players in their playing days. Mohd Azraai Khor bin Abdullah or Khor Sek Leng is a Malaysian football coach and former Kedah player and captain, is a former Malaysian national team player. Same goes with the illustrious Dollah Salleh who lives and breathes football. In fact, the former national player has never wanted to do anything but play football since he was little. Born in Melaka on Oct 23, 1963, and raised in Woodlands, Singapore, Dollah recalled that his love for the sport began as far back as he can remember. Read about Top Dollah and know who is Dollah Salleh here, Feared Kallang Roar inspired Dollah.

So guys, if you are football fan especially in Malaysia, give your prediction: Who will prevail tonight? Selangor or Kedah.

In my language, “Perhitungan akhir Selangor - Kedah: Cipta Sejarah“.

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Guys, I think I already discuss this topic sometimes ago but today I would like to share what I discussed with one of my friend yesterday. He is still working with one of the corporate company in Malaysia for more than 10 years now. And yesterday I walked-in into his office to discuss few matters on the current business that I have with his company. While discussing, I noticed via his body language it told me that he have something to ask me. Suddenly my guess is true, he changed the topic and asked me, “What do you think if I quit my job and take care of my business fulltime?”.

Then he told me that he had already been running a company with couple of his friends to do some business but of course not related to his current work. But the business need him to attend for few meetings during office hours and he felt that it is not right for him to divert his time from his 9-5 job to attend to the meetings on behalf of his own company. He felt that he is not sincere to his current employer. What a noble guy to have such a feeling or principle on what is right and what is not. So I told him, “Dear friend, just ask your gut feelings out of it. If it says you have the will power to forgo your current job and concentrate fully to run your business, by all means go for it.” To me it is all in our mind. But I told him to get ready of some important matters. I said, “If in the difficult times or the hard times or the early days of your business, and you forsee yourself could sustain your style of living for at least a year or so, then you are ready to jump into the band wagon of the business world.” This is to me is no. 1 item in your check list.

To do your own business you need a preparation too and let’s start out with a few questions about you, your resources, and your abilities:

1. I can afford to quit my job and live on next to nothing for at least a year or two
2. I can work part time and get my business going on the side until it takes off
3. I have good credit so I can easily get funding for my business for inventory, salaries, etc.
4. I am good at managing my time
5. I like to train and manage others and I am good at managing people
6. I always take responsibility for my own success or failure
7. I have a network of contacts I can use to get supplies and services
8. I have good negotiating skills
9. I am willing to take risks to achieve my goals
10. I know the value of a Business Plan and how to write one
11. I am willing to work very long hours, including weekends and to forgo vacations to get my business up and running
12. I can quickly jump from small tasks to larger planning issues
13. I communicate and work well with others
14. I can do my own bookkeeping and accounting
15. I have the personnel, partners or resources to fill in the blanks where I don’t have the skills to do the job myself AND I will be able to afford to pay these people.
16. I can communicate my passion for my business to bankers, lawyers and customers alike
17. I am a good sales person
18. I like to work hard
19. I have enough assets or money to invest a reasonable amount in my own business
20. I am good at problem solving
21. I am not afraid to learn new things
22. I know how to set goals and measure results
23. I accept setbacks and keep on trying
24. I can work on a ‘shoe-string’ and I am great at managing money
25. I understand the importance of marketing and know the difference between marketing and advertising for a small business vs. a large corporation
26. I am a good God given servant.

If you were able to say ‘YES’ to more than half of these questions, you have starting from a position of some strength. If you were able to get 75% of the items above, you are likely to do well in your business, provided you choose the right business type and the right location.

Are you ready to become your own boss? Be Your Own Boss: The first tip.

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