Kindness

It is reported in the Sahihayn that Allah's Messenger said to Mu`adh and Abu Musa when he sent them to Yemen:

"Treat the people with ease and don't be hard on them; give them glad tidings and don't fill them with aversion; and love each other, and don't differ."

The Most Excellent Manner of Seeking Forgiveness

Shaddaad ibn Aws from the Prophet (SAW) that he said, "The noblest and most excellent manner of seeking forgiveness is that the servant says:

‘O Allaah, You are my Lord. None has the right to be wrshipped except You. You created me, and I am Your slave/worshipper. And I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as far as I am able. I seek Your refuge from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge before You all the favours that You have bestowed upon me. And I confess all my sins to You. So forgive me, since none can forgive sins except You.'

The Importance of Azaan

I have deleted the entry I posted here, please follow this link.

I ask Allah's forgiveness for my sins and negligence. May Allah increase us all in knowledge and distance us from all innovations and fabrications.

To Anonymous: Jazakallahu khayran.

Four Things

The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him & his progeny) said:

1) Four things that make your body sick:

a) Excessive talking
b) Excessive sleeping
c) Excessive eating and
d) Excessive meeting other people

2) Four things that destroys the body:

a) Worrying
b) Sorrow (Sadness/Grief)
c) Hunger
d) Sleeping late in the night

3) Four things that dry the face & take away its happiness:

a) Lying
b) Being disrespectful / impudent (insisting on something wrong knowingly)
c) Arguing without adequate knowledge & Information.
d) Excessive immorality (doing something wrong without fear).

4) Four things that increases the wetness of face & its happiness:

a) Piety
b) Loyalty
c) Generosity (being kind)
d) To be helpful to others without he/she asking for that.

5) Four things that stop the Rizq (Sustenance):

a) Sleeping in the morning (from Fajr to sunrise)
b) Not Performing Namaz or Ir-regular in Prayers
c) Laziness / Idleness
d) Treachery / Dishonesty

6) Four things that bring / increase the Rizq:

a) Staying up in the night for prayers.
b) Excessive Repentance
c) Regular Charity
d) Zikr (Remembrance of Allah / God).

Supplicate to the Sustainer, The Provider

O Allah, make me self-sufficient with that which is halal (lawful) so that I am not compelled to go for what is haram (unlawful); make me self-sufficient with obedience to You so that I am not led to disobedience; make me self-sufficient with Your favor so that I do not need to look for favor from others!

Drinking

(From http://www.inter-islam.org/Actions/manners.htm)

There are five sunnats of drinking:

1. Never drink from a bottle (carbon dioxide is released in the bottle).

2. Do not drink from the mug's cleft and do not breathe in the beverage.

3. Drink in three drafts. (sips). The Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him has said: "The water quenches the thirst and is sanitary."

4. Invoke Allah (s.w) when you drink and praise him when you finish. It is reported in a hadith that the Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him said: "Do not drink the water in one draft just like camels but drink it in one or three gushes, and invoke Allah (s.w) when you drink and praise him when you finish."

5. Do not drink while standing up. The Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him used to drink while sitting. This way was his usual guidance. It was true that he prohibited a person to drink while standing and infact he ordered the standing drinker to vomit this water as he drank it while standing up. One group of people have stated that this order was just to guide people and to adopt the best option. Drinking Zam Zam water is permissible while standing up as the Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him did because this is a case of necessity.

The Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him has prohibited us to drink water lying our faces downwards, as he prohibited us from drawing water with the hands, saying: "Do not lick the water like a dog and do not taste the water at night before examining it out of fear that the recipient is covered during the night."

If a person drinks by the mouth while standing up from an elevated basin, there would be no difference between drinking with the hand or by the mouth, because drinking with the mouth is very dangerous if the drinker is lying faced down on his venture.

Learn the Quran

The Last Prophet (PBUH) said: "Verily the one who recites the Qur'an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses (because he doesn't know how to read it but is trying to), then he will have TWICE that reward."

Gentleness

From Abû Hurayrah (radiyAllâhu 'anhu) who said that Allâh's Messenger (salAllâhu 'alaihi wa'sallam) said:

"Indeed Allâh is gentle and loves gentleness, and gives due to gentleness that which He does not give to harshness."

Love and hate moderately

From Abû Hurayrah (radiyAllâhu 'anhu) who said that Allâh's Messenger (salAllâhu 'alaihi wa'sallam) said:

"Love the one whom you love to a certain degree (moderately), perhaps one day he will be someone for whom you have hatred, and hate the one for whom you have hatred to a certain degree (moderately), perhaps one day he will be one whom you love."

Actions are by intentions...

From 'Umar ibn al-Khattâb (radiyAllâhu 'anhu) who said that Allâh's Messenger (salAllâhu 'alaihi wa'sallam) said:

"Actions are but by intentions and there is for every person only that which he intended. So he whose migration was for Allâh and His Messenger, then his migration was for Allâh and His Messenger, and he whose migration was to attain some worldly goal or to take a woman in marriage, then his migration was for that which he migrated."

Smiling is an act of kindness

The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

"Do not dismiss certain acts of kindness by deeming them to be insignificant, even if (such an act) is to meet your brother with a smiling face (for that is a deed which might weigh heavily in your scale of deeds)."

"Mother! My Best Friend"

And your Lord decreed that you should worship none but Him and that you be dutiful to your Parents. If one of them or both attain old age in your life, then do not say to them uff (a word of disrespect), nor shout at them, rather address them in terms of honour / And lower for them the wing of submission and humility through mercy.
And say, “My Lord! Grant them Your Mercy as they brought me up when I was small.” [Qur'an - Al-Israa’ 17:23-24]

For many of us, our friends are more precious to us than our Mother and Father. Forgetful we are of the time a man came to the Prophet - Sal Allahu alayhi wa Sallam - and asked him who is more worthy of his dear companionship. He - Sal Allahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, “your Mother!” The man asked again and again, and the Prophet - Sal Allahu alayhi wa Sallam - replied, “Your Mother! Your Mother!” Until on the fourth time he - Sal Allahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, “Your Father.” Today, when the common question is asked, “Who is your best friend?” How many people would say, “my Mother!”

O Allah, forgive us and our parents, and reward them with the finest reward. O Allah, elevate their position in the hereafter and this Dunya; make that which befalls them an expiation for their sins. O Allah, grant them residence in Firdows, the highest level of Jannah, with the Prophets, the Siddeeqeen, and the Martyrs.

Ameen.

[Excerpts from "Mother! My Best Friend" by Muhammad al-Shareef]

“Leave for you are freed”

The slave of al-Mansour bin Mahran approached him with a hot drink and (unintentionally) spilt it on him. When he felt its heat, he gazed at her. So she said “O teacher of good, remember the words of Allah”.

He replied: “And what are they?”

She said: “{Those who….repress anger}” 3:134

He said: “I have controlled it”

She said: “And remember {Those who…pardon men}” 3:134

He said: I pardon you.

She said:”And remember {verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the gooddoers).}” 3:134

He said: “Leave for you are freed”.

[al-Imta’ wal Mu’nasa (2/129)]

"Short Stories from the Lives of the Pious by Ibn El-Sheikh El-Misri"

"A Story of Friendship between a Muslim and a Christian" at yolynne.wordpress.com

Yolynne, mi ultimo amiga, is maintaining a blog at wordpress. I'm so touched reading about our friendship in one of her February posts. What more can I add to this:

http://yolynne.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/a-story-of-friendship
between-a-muslim-and-a-christian/

except:

Dyahe! My eye bags are so prominent in the pictures. I really need to undergo an eye bag treatment ASAP. Save... save... save.... sigh....

---o0o---

Hey neh! Thanks for the post ha. You're one of the bestest colors in my rainbow of friends :)

LeArNiNg

There is more to training than the technical know-how or the skills and knowledge that a trainer imparts. I realized that in the end, what makes you smile is the thought that you met new faces, laughed with them, learned from their stories, and made a friend.

You smile because you remember that you made them smile too.

I owe this one

Zeus here it is, as promised (late nga lang hehe).

These pics are the only mementos i have of BBES and I'm keeping it for life =)

Grade 3

Grade 4

Should you or should you not?

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T JOIN CIPYML

During the training, you will constantly get:

1. homesick/lovesick
2. sleepless nights
3. headaches
4. puffy eyes

and you will need:

1. lots of vitamins
2. a variety of handy medicines
3. COFFEE

After the training when you are already back home, you will:

1. oftentimes be pensive
2. sometimes write journals (like what I am doing right now)
3. text a lot
4. sometimes laugh alone
5. oftentimes smile alone

Now, see why you shouldn’t join? Because you just can’t help but get CRAZY!


ON THE OTHER HAND, HERE ARE SOME REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN CIPYML

Aside from the:

1. In-depth training on policy making and governance;
2. Tours and Visits;
3. Socializations; and
4. Laptop

You will have the chance to meet and know someone like JOZEN and I tell you, it’s worth all the craziness you’ll go through!

In reply to Jozen's letter

Tayaaaan!

How's everything out there? How’s Anne?

You're right, CIPYML is over and we are now in another stage of our life. I just wish accepting it is as easy as saying "it's finally over".

Again you're right, there will be changes between and among us... because we need to move on. But no matter what these changes bring, nothing can change that we were once teletubbies... we were once Charlie's angels... and we will always be the three kisses of toblerone :-)

I miss everything about CIPYML. But I miss you the most :-(

You're right we're destined to meet.

I think in this life you will meet somebody who can make a big difference in your life.

I met you. We've become pals... then became friends... and finally became indispensable in each of the other's life (I would like to believe). Now I know what true friendship means.

If there is what they call soulmates in love, I guess you are my soulmate among my circle of friends.

Yes you are!

I know the intensity of ‘missing’ we are feeling right now will soon come to an end. Sad but true… let us just face it like two rational adults (if I may quote from before sunrise :-)

But you know what? No matter how much of a rational adult I will turn out to be… and how much burden life would put on me… I will always keep you…

I will.

Why I hid a tear reading Jozen's mail

tayan salam...

how r u now? its 10mins b4 midnyt and hir i am making my journal, este, joke lng po tayan! making my letter for u. haha! indeed, cipyml is over na nga pla...

gee tayan! i never thought missin' you and our fellows is as sad as this...ur ryt, naging senti na rin me! my sis nga is laughing at me evrytym i rcivd a msg cmng frm u.. coz my eyes are becoming teary-eyed wyl reading! haha! corny no? pero i dont care if its corny, bsta im expressing how i feel... hehehe!

tayan, it may be hard to accept but i know, and u know, things will gonna change na between us. and i hate it! really, i do! huhuhuhu! cant we do somethin' abt it? life is sometimes cruel nga ano and unfair! how come ur der and i am hir? y cant we be in one place again and do the same things we do back in our cipyml days... see? im talkin' of past na tayan! cipyml days!!!!! aggghhhhh! i hate this tlga tayan, but what can i do? the only constant thing here on earth nga is CHANGE dba? but how come its hard to face it, much more accept it dba?! hay naku, hir i am again, whining!
seems dat i always whine dis past few days.. hehehhe! im so bad! tayan, really im being emotional tlga wen i think of u guys, kya nga likewise i always keep myself busy or i sleep all day na lng so dat my mind wouldnt think of u, guyz!!!! hehehe!

tayan, my eyes are getting wet again! & i dont wanna cry hir in the cafe! haha! :-) oa na tlga c jozen! ewan ko ba tayan! im not lyk dis naman before eh. i can control my feelings! well, it just shows how special u r to me, together wid d adma's family, hehe, bro haron, kya darex, kya bong and the others.. forget the 'u know'!!! hahaha!

nway, my mail is getting longer na tayan and i dont wanna stop writing kya magdusa ka! haha! rid my long letter to u, otherwise...... hehe! otherwise ull regret it! joke tayan! tayan, puro na lang me how i wish! i know nmn na ala rin mapapala ung mga how i wish ko! ;-)

tayan, im wonderin' wen will we see each other kya ano? wat will happen kya? or will destiny be kind and good enough to meet us once again? wat will be our destiny kya tayan? here i go again, askin' too many questions.... questions that is hard to
answer....

we will not make any vows or promises tayan to each other, bsta ill try my very best to hold on to you and to the other fellows that what we once had is very special to me and that one of the happiest and grandest thing that ever happened so far in my
life! ayan, im getting oa again tayan! hehe! :-)

basta tayan, i luv u so, so much! its hard to explain basta life is much nicer now that i met someone as superb as u! walang biro tayan! as in! u dont know how much it meant to me the things we did back there in manila, the good times and the bad times
weve had, and ive learned a lot of things from u tayan! :-) thats y im so thankful to ALLAH for giving me the chance to meet you, spend time with u and know u......

by the way tayan, perhaps the three of us (anne, u and i) are teletubbies na way back in r msu days pa coz lukd at our veils during our flyt to mla... we all wore the same color (black).. is it a coincidence? d rn nmn sinasadya ni anne to wear
the same veil... and luk at the first pic weve had during our orientation, u wore the pink veil na hiningi ko sau. and as i see the veils comin' from u and all the pics weve had, its really meant to be anO? we are destined to meet each other and
share a meaningful bond that will mean a lot to me and somehow, trigger a change in my life.... hehe! u know what i mean.... and im so thankful tlga tayan sau!!!!!

i luv u so much...

i will end this na... i cant bear it anymore... im gonna cry na if ill write more... hahaha!!!

luv u so much tayan! as in!!!

hugs and kisses...

gudluck and tc always ha!!!!

mwah...

tayan joz :-)

I need an answer.

I was just like looking for someone to ask about this VB comment yesterday. Fortunately, I got an answer now. For the benefit of those who doesn't know VB, like me, you add comments in VB by using the apostrophe ( ' ). I was told it's only good for a single line comment, what about multi-lines?

Just when I thought...

A student asked me how to add comments in VB. I tried using the C like comments hoping that it would work. Well... thanks to me it did not :/ Grrr... I know nothing about VB. Just made me realized how little I know in this IT world...

Bye bye ads!

Have you ever tried geocities' free web hosting? Don't you just hate it when pop-up ads suddenly distract everything you have created... and covers your "dugo't pawis" masterpiece? Whew! It really sucks!
Now here's a good news for all you design addicts out there! I was trying to figure out how to remove those ads from showing up on my page... and guess what I found out? Exactly! I figured it out! Can't wait to do the same on your web sites? Here's how it's done...

1. In your source code (you can view the source code directly in the file manager) add the following two tags after your closing html tag
<noscript>
<plaintext>
2. Now your code must be the same with this...
</body>
</html>
<noscript>
<plaintext>
3. Save the changes and say...

Bye bye ads!

A genuine gratitude

We are supposed to be grateful to the people behind this free blog's site, and to all those behind the sites that offer free web hosting. I don't know with you... but I am. =) Afterall, I wouldn't be able to have this post if not because of them. Don't you just love free stuffs? Now, considering it's free, these people have all the rights in the world to place their trade marks or links on your page. Hey! It's a free space you're using there so can't you at least pay some credit to them? By letting their trade marks, links, and ads stay on your page, that is.

"So where are those things that you've been bubbling about on your page? I can't see one."

Now that's another part of the story. You see... these people also gave me a new source of learning. I guess that makes me doubly grateful now.

To you guys out there... Thank you! Mabuhay kayo!

This one is tougher: Removing the blogger's navbar

Did I hear you wish of removing the blogger's navbar? The navigation bar and toolbar of the blogger that appears at the top of your page?
Well, your wish is my command...
Just follow this simple trick and you'll be opted out of the blogger's list! =)
Here's how you do it...

1. Go to the Template tab
2. Look for the body tag in the source code
3. Add the <noembed> tag just before the body tag
4. Add the </noembed> after the body tag
5. The code must look like this now...
<noembed>
<body>
</noembed>
6. Try it and you'll be amazed

Got this one from diaphaneity at www.diaphaneity.com (COOL site!)

How to remove the "I Power Blogger" image

Whether it's against the norms of free blogging or not, I just figured out how to remove the "I Power Blogger" image at the bottom of the sidebar (not all of the templates though place this image at the sidebar, some templates just put it at the bottom of your page). As you can see, the image has disappeared on this page. Here's how to do it:

1. Choose Template on the tabs
2. Scan over the template's source code and look for this line:
<p id="powered-by"><a href="http://www.blogger.com"><img src="http://buttons.blogger.com/bloggerbutton1.gif" alt="Powered by Blogger" /></a></p>
3. Now if you spotted the target, delete the whole line and save the changes.
4. That's it!

Easy huh?