Read! Read! But he could not read..

Talk! If you can't read.

One day, a man came to see an optician.

Patient: Doctor, could you make me a pair of reading glasses because I can't read without it.
Doctor: OK, then. I'll be happy to help you.

So, the doctor prescribed for him reading glasses. But then the man came to the clinic again..

Patient: You must have gave me a wrong prescription!
Doctor: Why? I'm sure i gave you the right one.
Patient: My vision doesn't improve and I still can't read on using it.
Doctor: That is strange. Anyhow, do you know how to read?
Patient: That's why I asked you to prescribe me reading glasses!



Oh, dear! A pair of reading glasses never can help someone who is simply does not know how to read. So, the man above has a disease called 'illiteracy'....not so a disease after all. He is called as illiterate. Actually, millions of people all over the world are illiterate. Even in industrialized western countries as UK and the USA, approximately 20% of the population has 'low literacy level'. Surprised, huh?

You And I See

Who seeks joy in paradise will unite within for you and me.

This afternoon was very bright. Sun shone down on my head, lighting up my soul with hope. With the Noble Mushaf in my hands, I walked out from the hospital wetting my tongue with Surah Al-'Alaq. Al-'Alaq means The Clot.

Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), Has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has taught (the writing) by the pen [the first person to write was Prophet Idrees (Enoch)], Has taught man that which he knew not.

(Quran 96: 1-5)

Nawal was patiently waiting for us on the Ground Floor. We felt sorry towards her but we had to finish our practical course. Again, sorry my dear Nawal! Then the four of us: Azzahra', Amal, Nawal and me went for a taxi to Maghrabi Eye Hospital right away after the class. It was 1.30 in the afternoon...sure tiring...but we had to be in the OT there. As soon as we reached the famous private hospital, we went upstairs and were welcomed warmly by the hospital attendants. Each of us supplied by a surgical suit and were directed to an Operation Theater after changing into our new attires.

Ophthalmology and humanity

I woke up early this morning as for today is the first day I enter the 4th year of medicine. The distance between my new lecture hall and my house is now a few steps nearer than before. Well, that makes a lot of change! We don't have to run from the main gate to the faculty. We don't have to climb to the 6th floor for lectures. And also, we don't have our Malaysian Room here. Oh, we are going to miss that room! To tell you the truth, I've missed ophthalmology classes several times because the lesson began on 3rd October 2009. Despite of being late for a fortnight, I tell myself to be positive and give my full concentration during the class.

What I like best the lecture today is the lecturer himself. He enters the classroom, greets the students with a smile on his face and brings us some candies! He distributes each one of us a candy before he starts his lecture and during two-minutes-breaks in between lectures. He treats us like small kids and that's very cute!

Hide and seek

It's been a while I haven't post something here. I'm still in Malaysia, by the way. Yeah, you know...enjoying my so-called-holiday...tasting hometown's cuisines...visiting teachers and relatives...having fun under the sun and not to forget the sea! We collect a lot of...'remis' some kind of animal that i don't know it's name in English. There are so much of theme by the seashore and you can simply collect them without having to dig the shore. They say that those 'remis' are having 'headache' and float because of the earthquake in Padang. Believe it or not, it's up to you! After all, Allahu a'lam.

But believe me, IT'S LOVELY! What else do you need than having your loved ones by you side? They make me feel all right. They make me feel wanted. It is just a bond that would never break, biiznillah. Spending about one month at home, with mama (Cik Yah sends you her regards!) and Mat Wey and Wanie and Leilin and Big Baby...is never going to be enough. A moment with each of them is the moment I treasure. Thank you Allah, The Merciful.


We sing lively, we laugh out loud, we joke silly jokes and we get angry with each other. Funny and sweet! We even play hide and seek. A game that you used to play when you were in kindergarten. The game that we like so much and usually lasts for a few rounds. But with a condition, we have to play hide and seek at night, in the pitch dark. Very exciting and...well...challenging! Yeah, why not? The seeker has to look for the other members with the whole house lights off, except the kitchen...where no one will be a fool hiding in there.

The journey

Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo.

Flying from the ‘City of 1000 Minarets’ took about 12 hours to reach the ‘City of Lights’. I looked at the clouds outside. Clean and white. The sky was blue. It felt like a dream. I never dream that I would be back to Malaysia this year. Subhanallah. Allah The Creator:

He Who created the seven heavens in layers. You will not
find any discrepancy in the creation of the All-Merciful. Look again-do you see
any gaps? Then look again and again. Your sight will return to you dazzled and
exhausted!

(Qur'an, 67:3-4)

He is Al-Khaaliq. He creates the sun, the moon and the lovely sky. Also the land , the hills and the mountain high. Imagine a huge planet with its surface completely empty. There are no humans or animals, no plants or insects. He has made us and everything- the beasts, the fowls and birds that sing.

Blessing of pain

"Come home for me, Along," she said on the phone.

"I want to see you, I want to have your courage! Bring me your smile, Along," her voice trembled in her tears. My tears were rolling down my cheeks like rain. "I am sorry, mama, for abandoning you," I replied. Guilty. That evening, we cried together as much as we wanted, as though we were hugging each other long and warm hugs. Letting the tears swept away the fears.

I sat on my chair. Still. Listened to her inner feelings at the end of the line. Saying nothing. If only I could fly in the air, I would be there for her. Distance has separated us. In different continents, separated by Indian Oceans between Egypt and Malaysia. Poor, mama! She had been through a lot of setbacks in her life. But she is strong, no, stronger than I imagined. I always look up to her. She is my source of courage; keep telling me that Allah is never gonna let me go astray. She is my alive diary; I can pour to her anything I’ve been through in my days…my ups and downs. She is my role model, keep providing me good examples to cope with life. She is always near whenever I need her. That moment, I felt her pain. There’s nothing more painful than to let her feelings take her down.
 

Can I be multilingual?

" U changed me. the Malaysians," said a local Egyptian who teaches us Arabic lesson. My friends and I looked at each other, puzzled. Then he began his story, how he started to concern about standard Arabic and English language. We listened to him, doozed.

During his schooling, he learnt English and Arabic as other students would do, to excel in examinations. As he entered Al-Azhar University, the oldest university in world, he started to take both languages for granted. Until that day, the day he met a Malaysian student.

"He was a nice friend. He can't communicate using General Arabic that is spoken in Egypt. But his English and Standard Arabic surprised me," he continued.

Quest of maghfirah

Last night was a bright night. The moon shone fairly down to the earth. Moderate temperature. Tranquility was in the air. This morning was a bright morning too. The birds chirped happily. A bleesed day!

Today is seventeenth ramadhan of 1430, the day of Nuzul Quran. The day Al-Quran was settled down to our noble Prophet (s.a.w). It contains beautiful words arranged in wonderful manners. Subhanallah! Moreover, it was perfected in the second phase of ramadhan, quest of maghfirah. It’s the phase of forgiveness from Allah the All-Forgiving. Amazing, huh? Ar-Raheem sent Al-Quran as rahmah and forgiveness for the believers!
 

A warm welcome

Violet Garden, 'Garden of Courage'.

Violet orchid. Specially chosen name, immortalizing the most favourite flower of my beloved mother. Her fondest floras are from Orchidaceae family. Orchidaceae is the largest plant’s family, estimated up to 35 000 species.

This exotic flower grows wild but indeed very sensitive. Orchid represents love, beauty and refinement of the persona. No wonder why my admired mother has chooses orchids decorating her blessed garden. As for Violet, it symbolizes aristocracy, self-respect, strong spiritual and hidden knowledge. Violet Orchid apparently produces a unique equivalent combination, and I should leave the evaluation to you, my honoured readers.

Hopefully you’ll continue visiting Violet Orchid again and again. Who knows you might pick something precious while strolling around my humble garden. And yeah, a footstep will delight me a bit more.

Mama, even if your orchids wither for autumn is in the air, yet I, your Violet Orchid stay!