Sunday, May 27, 2007

Jejak Sahabah dan Rasul

Jejak Sahabah dan Rasul

Terdapat beberapa lagi makam para Nabi dan sahabah yang tidak sempat kulawati semasa di Jordan. Rupa-rupanya ada banyak lagi makam Nabi dan sahabah di sana.

Di antaranya:

1) Makam Nabi Harun a.s yg terletak di atas salah sebuah bukit di Petra.

2) Makam Nabi Khidir a.s. - dekat Ajloun

3) Makam Nabi Nuh - dekat Kerak

4) Makam Nabi Yushak -
dekat barat Salt

5) Makam Nabi Ayub - dekat barat daya Salt

6) Nabi Seth - Dekat Tafilah

A half-hour drive northwest from Amman lies Salt, once briefly the capital of Jordan. During the time of Ottoman rule, Salt was the chief administrative centre for the surrounding area. Here, there are picturesque streets and houses renowned for their long-arched windows. In and around Salt are several tombs of prominent figures of Islam and others mentioned in the Holy Quran. Within the modern mosque in Wadi Shu’ayb lies the shrine of the Prophet Jethro(Nabi Syuaib), the father-in-law of the Prophet Moses; while to the west of Salt is another mosque housing a shrine to the Prophet Yusha (Joshua), who was the apprentice of the Prophet Moses and later his successor. Meanwhile, southwest of Salt in an area known as Khirbet Ayyoub, are the archaeological remains of a building believed to be the resting place of the Prophet Job. Also near Tafilah is the shrine of the Prophet Adam’s third son, Prophet Seeth, who was credited with inventing arts and crafts
Info taken from : http://www.miceonline.net/jordan/relegiousTourism.htm

Para sahabah:

1) Sahabah Abu Darda' yg terletak dekat Irbid.

3 sahabat yg gugur syahid dalam peperangan Mu'tah, tempat nya bernama Mu'tah di Jordan iaitu:

2) Zaid Bin Harisah
3) Ja'afar Bin Abi Talib
4) Abdullah Bin Rawahah

(The most significant and fiercest battle fought during Prophet Muhammad’s time was the Battle of Mutah, which took the lives of his closest companions. It is possible to visit the tombs of the Prophet’s companions in Kerak, namely Zaid bin Harithah, Ja’far bin Abi Talib, and Abdullah bin Ruwahah. In and around Kerak are other shrines of significance to Islam, including the shrine to the Prophet Nuh (Noah), and the shrine of Zaid bin Ali bin Al-Hussein – the great-great grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and a religious leader celebrated for his righteous and knowledgeable manner.)

5) Amir Bin Abi Waqqas

In the north of the Jordan Valley is the tomb of the venerable companion Amir bin Abi Waqqas, the maternal cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, and the 11th man to convert to Islam. He fought in the battle of Uhud and was later entrusted with carrying messages from the commanders of the Muslim army to the Caliph in Medina.

6) Ka’b bin Umayr Al-Ghifari

In the southern part of Jordan, near Ras Al-Naqab, lies Humayma – the base of the Abbasid Dynasty from where they planned their seizure of the Islamic Caliphate from the Umayyads. The Prophet Muhammad sent his venerable companion Ka’b bin Umayr Al-Ghifari to the Abbasid tribe to ask them to embrace Islam. Instead, they murdered him and his co-travellers and now his shrine is located in
Salmani, in Tafila province.

7) Al-Harith bin Umayr Al-Azdi

8) Farwah bin Amr Al-Judhami

Such martyrdom is also recognised over in Tafilah, where the Prophet Muhammad sent his messenger Al-Harith bin Umayr Al-Azdi to carry a message to the ruler of Busra in Syria, asking him to embrace Islam. When Al-Harith arrived in Tafilah, he was captured and beheaded – an act, which led to the Muslim military campaign and famous battle of Mutah. His tomb can be visited in a modern building, 20 kilometres south of Tafilah. Also near Tafilah is the shrine of the Prophet Adam’s third son, Prophet Seeth, who was credited with inventing arts and crafts. The shrine of Farwah bin Amr Al-Judhami is also in Tafilah near Afra water springs. Farwah Al-Judhami was the Roman-Byzantine governor of Ma’an district until the Byzantines crucified him for converting to Islam.


Mungkin ada sesiapa lagi dari Jordan yang tahu mengenai makam2 para Nabi dan sahabah yang tidak kuketahui.

InsyaAllah jika umur panjang dan dimurahkan rezeki, aku ingin berkunjung lagi ke Jordan dan melawat makam2 Nabi dan sahabah yang belum sempat kulawati sebelum ini. Ameen.

Desert Castles

Selain drpd makam Nabi dan para sahabah, terdapat juga beberapa buah istana padang pasir peninggalan semasa pemerintahan Islam Umayyad yang dibina sekitar tahun 661 - 750 AD.

Ianya terletak di sebelah timur Amman. Di sekitar kawasan padang pasir hitam basalt yg di beri nama Azraq. Sebenarnya terdapat beberapa istana padang pasir, tetapi yang paling kerap dilawati dan masih elok kekal binaan asal ialah Qasr Azraq, Qasr Kharana dan Qasr Amra'.
(Qasr bermaksud istana dalam bahasa Arab).

Qasr Amra telah dinobatkan sbg salah sebuah daripada 3 buah kawasan di bawah UNESCO World Heritage Sites di Jordan(2 lagi ialah Petra dan kawasan arkaeologi Um Er- Rasas). Ini adalah kerana istana ini masih mengekalkan bentuknya yang asli dan unik.

Qasr Amra'

(http://www.goworldtravel.com/ex/aspx/

articleGuid.586e7eae-844b-4df6-a466-
3c7ca42cc581/xe/print.htm

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

30th March 2007 - Saat -saatTerakhir di bumi Jordan

30th March 2007 - Saat -saat Terakhir di bumi Jordan

Selepas melawat makam Bilal Bin Rabah, kami pun terus menuju ke Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Queen Alia, di Amman. Kami sampai lebih kurang pukul 3:00 ptg. Cukup masa untuk ku check-in sebelum penerbangan ku pd pukul 4:30ptg.







Namun begitu sebaik sahaja aku meletakkan beg di atas troli, Hisham bertanya kepada salah seorang pekerja yang mengumpulkan troli2 di lapangan terbang tersebut mengenai penerbangan ku, iaitu Qatar Airways.




Oh...flight ku telah di tunda 1 jam lewat! bermakna ianya akan berlepas pada pukul 5:30ptg.. kalau ku tahu memang kami akan tunggu semasa di mesjid Nabi Syu'aib, sehingga selepas habis solat Jumaat. Supaya kami dapat masuk dan melihat makam Nabi Syu'aib dengan lebih dekat lagi...

Tapi itu kita manusia hanya merancang, Allah yang menentukan.





Queen Alia International Airport, Amman, Jordan







Namun begitu, aku mengambil kesempatan itu untuk meluangkan masa bersama-sama Asma'.

Kami menunaikan solat jamak Zuhur dan 'Asar di bilik sembahyang yang disediakan di lapangan terbang tersebut.

Duduk menunggu waktu untuk check-in. Di airport ini berlainan dgn KLIA, jika kita sudah check-in barang2 maka kita tidak boleh lagi keluar menemui sesiapa yang menghantar kita. Check-in dan terus menunggu di gate untuk boarding.

Dan akhirnya....bye..bye Asma'... InsyaAllah panjang umur dan diizinkan Allah kita akan berjumpa lagi.. Asma' paling tabah aku perhatikan, dia tidak menangis, mungkin menahan dalam hati, sedangkan aku yang menangis... kerana sedih akan meninggalkan anakku di sini. Namun aku kuatkan semangat.

Kembara Asma' bukan sebarang kembara, tapi kembara menimba ilmu.... seperti lagu nasyid ini... 

Kembara Ilmu

kembara ilmu selaut cahaya
milik Tuhan tiada bertepi
diselam tak jejak ke dasar
ditimba tak luak setitis

30th March 2007 - Jejak Sahabah & Rasul VII

30th March 2007 - Jejak Sahabah & Rasul VII

Akhirnya selesailah perjalanan ku menjejak sahabah dan rasul di bumi para anbiya ini. Kami pun menaiki teksi dan Hisham meneruskan pemanduan dengan berhati-hati kerana jalan yg kecil dan berliku-liku turun-naik bukit....Namun mata dihidangkan pemandangan yang cantik di kiri kanan jalan. Pohon-pohon Zaitun tumbuh segar di sepanjang perjalanan, disulami dengan bunga-bunga kecil berwarna kuning, putih dan merah tumbuh meliar di celah-celah rumput dan batu, cuaca yang terang, awan yang memutih dilangit biru...hurm.... the smell of spring is everywhere...soo refreshing...

Sedang Hisham memandu laju, tiba-tiba kelihatan satu papan tanda di tepi jalan..Opppppss... "Hisham, can you please reverse back please...," I asked. Alhamdulillah he didn't mind. So, he stopped the cab and reversed a few meters back.

This is what we saw, "Shrine of the Venerable Companion Bilal Bin Rabah The Prophet's Own Muazzin (caller for prayer)"

We felt so excited, Hisham also didn't know that there is a shrine for Bilal Bin Rabah here in Jordan! So, he said, "ok, let's go and visit this shrine". Even though I myself felt so afraid that I couldn't make it to the airport in time, but lastly I said, "Ok..just spend 5 to 10 minutes only here..".





So, off we go up the hill but still couldn't locate the place. We stopped at the road side , then there was a car passing by. Hisham waved at the driver and he stopped. After Hisham spoke to him (in Arabic and I guessed he must be asking for the direction to the shrine). Then the driver asked Hisham to follow him, he will show the way.






Lastly on top of the hill we saw a few houses and at the end of the road there is a mosque. We thought this must be it. After saying "Syukran" to the driver who led the way just n
ow, we entered the mosque's courtyard.









Then there was an old man (I bet he must be the guardian of the mosque and shrine) approaching us. He led us to another building (looked like a monument) outside the mosque and opened the key. Then only we realized that the shrine of Bilal Bin Rabah is in there.



We went inside and then say our prayers for the sahabah. Rasa sungguh terharu dapat berada di situ.


Bilal Ibn Rabah, the first Muazzin of Islam
, was one of the most trusted and loyal companion of Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).He was a true model of the morals and customs of Islam. He cherished unbounded love for the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and was deeply devoted to Islam.

As in Mecca, so in Medina, Bilal could not endure separation from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).He always accompanied the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) in all the Holy wars that look place during the Holy Prophet lifetime. He also remained with the Prophet (S.A.W.) in the course of all journeys he undertook. It was for this reason that he was appointed the first Muslim of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).

Bilal (R.A.A.) continued to the post of Muazzin of the Prophets Masjid till the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) left this world for his heavenly abode He was preferred over all the Mauzzins during the Prophets lifetime, the cause of this preference being his precedence in embracing Islam, his rich and melodious voice and his excellent utterance. When he recited the call of prayer and wished to inform the Prophet (S.A.W.) that the time for leading prayer had come, he would stand by the door of the Prophets room and would shout "Hasten to the prayer, Hasten to well-being. O Messenger of Allah, prayer." Hearing his these words the Prophet would come for leading the prayers. Bilal (R.A.A.) would say Iqama before the prayers commenced. While going to Salat-el-Eid or Salat-Istisqa (prayer for rain), Bilal used to walk ahead of the Prophet(S.A.W.) holding a spear and would pitch it on the ground one or two yards away from the place where the Prophet (S.A.W.) wished to lead the congregation of the prayer. The spear was one of those three, sent by the King of Abyssinia in homage to the Prophet(S.A.W.), The Prophet (S.A.W.), gifted one of the three spears to Umar (R.A.A.) and kept the third one with himself, Thus Bilal had the honor of keeping the Prophets spear throughout his lifetime.

21 May 2007 Kenaikan Gaji Terbaik Kakitangan Awam

21 May 2007 Kenaikan Gaji Terbaik Kakitangan Awam... Adakah kualiti kerja turut meningkat???

Sejak semalam rata-rata perbualan yang paling kerap didengar di kalangan kakitangan awam di Malaysia ialah mengenai kenaikan gaji yang diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri sempena sambutan Hari Pekerja Kakitangan Awam.

Datang saja ke pejabat rakan sudah bertanya, "You dah tau ke berkenaan kenaikan gaji?"... I jawab ," Tau lah dia orang nak umumkan hari ni, tapi tak tau lah pulak utk kita pensyarah ni berapa peratus naik"...

Mengikut berita dalam suratkhabar, kenaikan ini adalah yang terbaik dalam sejarah perkhidmatan awam apabila kerajaan memberi kenaikan gaji antara 7.5% hingga 35% kpd pekerjanya berkuat-kuasa 1 Julai ini.

yang paling beruntung ialah anggota PDRM dan ATM... kerana kerajaan memberi kenaikan tambahan sebanyak 20% di atas peratusan kenaikan gaji kakitangan awam.

Rujuk
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2007&dt=0522&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_01.htm

untuk berita selanjutnya.


Selain pemberian kenaikan gaji pokok, kerajaan turut mengumumkan kenaikan Elaun Kos Sara Hidup (COLA) sebanyak 100 peratus bagi menampung kos hidup kakitangan awam yang tinggal di bandar-bandar besar (termasuk lah Shah Alam !!)

Namum begitu apa yg hendak saya sentuh di sini ialah implikasi kenaikan gaji itu sendiri.

1) Adakah produktiviti pekerja turut meningkat? Ini yang paling penting ! Apabila majikan naikkan gaji, mesti ada expectation mutu dan kualiti kerja juga mesti meningkat.... terutama jabatan-jabatan yang memberi servis kpd kakitangan awam spt JPJ, JPN, Imigresen, Pejabat Pos, dll....

2) Kenaikan harga barangan runcit di pasaran? ... minggu lepas dah umumkan harga tepung dah naik...bila harga tepung naik...org jual kuih pun naikkan harga... makanan yg berasaskan tepung juga naik... roti canai kat kedai mamak pun naik harga...dsbnya...

3) Kenaikan harga kos servis prasarana turut meningkat? .. tambang bas sekolah, pengangkutan awam... dll...

.....

Akhirnya selepas tolak, campur, bahagi dan darab, naik gaji tu sama juga seperti dulu... (mungkin ada lah baki lebih sikit utk simpanan..)..... yang penting di sini bgmn bijaknya kita menguruskan kewangan kita...tak kira gaji kecik ke, gaji besar ke.....pepatah orang tua-tua
"BESAR PERIUK BESAR LAH KERAKNYA" mungkin ada betulnya.

Masa gaji kecik, pandai kita berjimat cermat, tapi bila gaji dah besar, rasa kuasa membeli kita pun dah naik, so, dah pandai nak makan lebih sedap, nak pakai baju dan kasut branded, pergi belanja pun dah pandai pilih kedai, kalau dulu di pasar malam, sekarang di pasaraya besar...

WALLAHUALAM... tepuk dada tanya hati...

Monday, May 21, 2007

30th March 2007 - Jejak Sahabah & Rasul VI

30th March 2007 - Jejak Sahabah & Rasul VI

Makam Nabi Syu'aib A.S.

Dari Tugu Peringatan Al-Karamah kami meneruskan perjalanan menuju ke Wadi Syu'aib di mana terletaknya makam Nabi Syu'aib a.s. Di sepanjang perjalanan bentuk muka-bumi sudah berubah dari Lembah Jordan yang rata sayup mata memandang dipenuhi ladang sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan, kini di kiri kanan jalan berbukit-bukau dan jalan nya juga seperti "ular kena palu" menyusur di celah-celah lereng-lereng bukit. Rasa berdebar juga dihati, tetapi memandangkan Hisham memandu dengan berhemah dan berhati-hati, perlahan-lahan rasa gusar di hati hilang.

Mesjid Nabi Syu'aib a.s. kelihatan dari jauh tersergam di atas bukit



Di sepanjang perjalanan juga kelihatan orang-orang Arab ini bersama keluarga masing-masing kelihatan sungguh riang berkelah tidak kira di mana sahaja: di bawah pokok tepi jalan (menghadap ladang sayur), di lereng bukit, di tepi parit, di tepi highway (ini dlm perjalanan nak sampai airport)... boleh dikatakan di mana sahaja tempat yg boleh dijadikan tempat berkelah dan BBQ...

Nabi Syu'aib diutuskan kpd kaum Madyan yang terkenal dgn sifat suka mengurangkan timbangan.

Surah Al-A’raaf (Tempat Tinggi) . Ayat 085.
"Dan kepada penduduk Madyan (Kami utus) saudaranya Syuaib, dia mengatakan: Hai kaumku! Hendaklah kamu menyembah Allah. Kamu tidak mempunyai Tuhan selain daripadaNya. Sesungguhnya telah datang bukti yang terang kepada kamu dari Tuhanmu, sebab itu, cukupkanlah sukatan dan timbangan, dan jangan kamu kurangkan hak-hak manusia itu. Janganlah kamu membuat bencana di muka bumi sesudah ada perbaikan. Itulah yang baik untuk kamu, kalau kamu orang yang beriman."

Surah Hud (Nabi Hud as) . Ayat 084.
Dan kepada Madyan (Kami utus) saudara mereka Syuaib. Dia mengatakan: Hai kaumku! Sembahlah Allah! Kamu tiada mempunyai Tuhan selain daripadaNya. Dan janganlah kamu mengurangi sukatan dan timbangan. Sesungguhnya aku melihat kamu dalam kekayaan, tetapi aku cemas, kalau kamu akan ditimpa seksaan di hari pengepungan.


Sampai di kawasan Mesjid Nabi Syu'aib kelihatan sudah banyak kereta memenuhi segenap ruang parking dan kawasan sekitarnya. Baharu kami ingat, hari ini hari Jumaat, sewaktu kami sampai sudah tengahari dan Imam mesjid sedang membaca khutbah Jumaat. Oleh itu kami tidak dapat masuk ke dalam bilik yang menempatkan makam Nabi Syu'aib kerana ditutup. Namun begitu kami dapat melihat makam tersebut dari luar cermin.

Kaum Madyan tidak menghiraukan peringatan drpd Nabi Syu'aib a.s. malah mereka terus mempersendakan Nabi Syu'aib seperti dalam Surah As-Syuara' :
"Mereka menjawab: Sesungguhnya engkau ini (hai Syuaib) hanyalah salah seorang dari golongan yang kena sihir. Dan engkau hanyalah seorang manusia seperti kami dan sesungguhnya kami fikir engkau ini dari orang-orang yang dusta. Oleh itu, gugurkanlah atas kami ketul-ketul (yang membinasakan) dari langit, jika betul engkau dari orang-orang yang benar!"

Dengan kesombongan kaum Madyan ini, maka Allah turunkan bala ke atas mereka.

Surah Hud (Nabi Hud as) . Ayat 095.
Seolah-olah mereka belum pernah tinggal di situ. Ingatlah, binasalah Madyan, sebagaimana Tsamud telah binasa.

Marilah kita semua mengambil pengajaran dari seerah para sahabah dan Rasul ini. Ingatlah walau apapun yang kita lakukan, semuanya akan berbalik dan merujuk Tuhan Empunya alam ini, Allah SWT.

Hisham mencadangkan agar kami tunggu sehingga habis khutbah dan solat Jumaat agar kami boleh masuk ke dalam bilik yang menempatkan makam Nabi Syu'aib, tapi memandangkan kami memerlukan 1 hingga 1 1/2 jam lagi perjalanan dari situ ke airport di Amman dan jam pd waktu itu menunjukkan sudah pukul 1 tghr , maka kami memutuskan tidak dpt tunggu lama. Estimate masa pukul 3 mesti sampai airport kerana penerbangan ku ialah pada pukul 4:30 ptg.. Tak mahu sampai lewat nanti bimbang apa-apa yang terjadi...

Kami pun meneruskan perjalanan ke terus ke Queen Alia International Airport di Amman...
... hati mula terasa sgt sayu kerana masa ku bersama Asma' semakin singkat...sebentar lagi akan meninggalkannya di bumi para anbiya' ini...
..

Thursday, May 17, 2007

30th March 2007 - Jejak Sahabah & Rasul II

30th March 2007 - Jejak Sahabah & Rasul II

Hari terakhir ku di Jordan!

Flight pada pukul 4 ptg berlepas dari Queen Alia International Airport di Amman, Jordan.
Luggage telah selamat dikemas, Alhamdulillah akhirnya dpt juga memasukkan hampir semua barang2 yg dibeli untuk dibawa balik ke Malaysia. Saya katakan "hampir" kerana ada juga sedikit barang2 yang tidak dapat dibawa balik kerana tak muat beg dan juga kerana rasa dah berat sangat...contohnya: 4 pasang baju kurung ku terpaksa ditinggalkan, (bagi Asma' saja pakai), 2-3 helai blaus (pun bagi Asma' saja...kalau dia muat lah...) dan souvenirs yg kubeli untuk diri ku sendiri...(ini tak pa lah...nnt suruh Asma' bawa balik bulan Ogos apabila dia balik cuti nanti...InsyaAllah...)

Hati berasa sayu kerana selepas 2 minggu berada di Jordan, bersama-sama Asma', hari ini adalah hari terakhirku bersamanya di sini....Asma' juga kelihatan sedih, tapi tabah menghadapi saat-saat ini.


Tepat pukul 9pg teksi yang dipandu oleh Hisham (saudara Dr Eyas dan yang membawa ku menjejak sahabah antaranya Mu'adz bin Jabal) pun tiba di hadapan apartment Asma'. Aku sebenarnya ingin melawat Makam Nabi Syu'aib sebelum bertolak balik. Oleh itu, Hisham pun bersetuju akan membawaku melawat beberapa makam para sahabah dan Nabi Syu'aib sebelum menghantarku ke airport.

Kami bertiga (Asma', Nad rakan serumah Asma' dan aku) ..pun menaiki teksi....
... Selamat tinggal Irbid....


Kami menuju ke Amman melalui jalan kampung di sebelah barat Jordan melalui North Shuna dan Jordan Valley. Kawasan Jordan Valley meliputi kawasan di baratlaut Jordan, bersempadan dgn Syria di utara dan Israel di barat.


Ianya adalah sebuah kawasan yang sangat subur dipenuhi dgn ladang2 sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan yang sayup mata memandang sepanjang-panjang perjalanan. Di antaranya ialah kurma, lemon, anggur, pisang dan pir. Lembah Jordan bukan sahaja subur di Jordan, tetapi suatu masa dahulu disebut sbg sebuah kawasan yg subur di Timur Tengah.

Jalan ini menyusur disepanjang sempadan Jordan dgn Israel. Kelihatan juga Golan Heights yang ditakluki Israel pada tahun 1967 daripada Syria.






Jalan ini akan melalui makam sahabat Mu'adz Bin Jabal, oleh itu Hisham kata akan singgah di makam tersebut. Walaupun aku baru sahaja pergi ke sana beberapa hari lepas, tetapi Asma' dan Nad belum pernah berkunjung ke sana. Kebetulan sudah lalu di sini, maka Hisham akan singgah juga untuk memberi peluang kpd Asma' dan Nad melawatnya. Tambahan pula apabila Asma' mendengar cerita ku bahawa makam Mu'adz Bin Jabal sangat harum baunya. Ialah...beliau adalah antara 10 orang sahabat yang telah dijanjikan syurga.


Kami tiba di perkarangan mesjid Mu'adz Bin Jabal dalam pukul 10 pagi, tetapi makam tersebut belum dibuka kerana hari ini ialah hari Jumaat. Hari Jumaat merupakan hari cuti di Jordan. Oleh itu, kami tidak dapat tunggu lama, bukan rezeki Asma' dan Nad. InsyaAllah lain kali mereka boleh berkunjung ke sana bersama kawan-kawan yang lain (InsyaAllah 4 tahun lagi di Jordan).

Kami meneruskan perjalanan menuju ke makam sahabah Syurhabil Bin Husna (dlm entry berikutnya).

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

28th March 2007 Ceramah Motivasi

28th March 2007 Ceramah Motivasi

Sebelum saya sampai ke Jordan, Ustaz Zaimuddin, atase pendidikan di Jabatan Penuntut Malaysia di Amman, Jordan telah menulis e-mel kepada saya meminta saya memberi satu ceramah motivasi kepada pelajar Medic di JUST semasa saya berada di sana nanti.

Hati ini merasa agak cuak juga kerana tidak berpengalaman memberi ceramah motivasi. Namun begitu tidak sampai hati menolak permintaan Ust Zaimuddin. Saya maklumkan saya akan cuba sedaya-upaya untuk meluangkan waktu di celah-celah kesibukan pelajar-pelajar tersebut dengan kelas dan exam. Saya juga maklumkan kepada Ust Zaimuddin bahawa saya akan melakukannya secara informal sahaja. Ust Zaimuddin juga menyarankan saya memberi ceramah tersebut kepada pelajar perubatan tahun 2 (satu batch Asma').

2-3 hari sebelum bertolak, masih belum berjumpa apakah topik yang akan kusentuh dalam "borak-borak motivasi"( Tidak mahu menganggapnya sebagai satu ceramah...)
Masih lagi mencari topik yang sesuai dengan pelajar perubatan ini. Dalam hati berkira-kira, selalu bagi lecture dalam kelas untuk pelajar Sains Komputer, ini pelajar perubatan...Aduish.. apakah yang hendak kusentuh....????

Sehari sebelum bertolak, sedang aku melayari internet, tiba-tiba terbaca satu artikel .... Hurm.. hati berkata-kata, "Mungkin topik ini sesuai utk pelajar-pelajar ini...."

Topik yang akan saya sentuh ialah berkenaan "Krisis Sikap di Institusi Kesihatan Malaysia" yang saya petik dari
hidayahnet · eGroup For The Muslim Ummah (Malay)
Saya dapati topik ini sangat sesuai untuk bakal-bakal doktor ini, kerana satu hari nanti selepas selesai belajar mereka akan kembali ke tanahair untuk berkhidmat sebagai doktor di Institusi Kesihatan di Malaysia.

Asma' mencadangkan kepada kawan-kawannya "Borak-borak motivasi" ini akan diadakan pada malam ini di apartment Asma' sahaja (pelajar perempuan sahaja). Lebih kurang dalam 20 orang pelajar yang datang pada sesi "Borak-borak Motivasi " ini.

Akhirnya, sesi "Borak-borak Motivasi" ini berjalan dengan lancar. Alhamdulillah.

Selepas tamat sesi tersebut, kami adakan Happy Advance
Birthday (birthday Asma' 7 April, satu minggu lagi, dan waktu itu, saya telahpun pulang ke Malaysia). Oleh itu, dengan kek yang di taburi dengan melted cheese, yang disediakan oleh Fadhilah Zulemly (pelajar perubatan tahun 4 dan senior Asma' semasa di sekolah menengah dahulu), Asma' pun memotong kek tersebut...

Hurm... tak sangka saya telah pun mempunyai anak yang berumur 20 tahun!!! Bermakna umur saya........ ;-)
"Happy 20th Birthday Asma'"

Monday, May 14, 2007

27th March Umm Qays and Al-Himma

27th March Umm Qays, Al-Himma

Umm Qays

11am Asma' and friends excused themselves to attend their class. So, Dr. Eyas asked me how
was my trip to Jordan. I told him there is another place that I wanted to go but don't know how. The place is Umm Qays. Dr Eyas immediately called his relative who is a taxi driver, later I got to know his name is Hisham, to bring me to Umm Qays. He also suggested to me to go to Al-Himma, a hot springs, near Umm Qays. The round trip to Umm Qays from Irbid will take around 4-5 hours. I estimated latest by 5pm I'll be back here in Irbid.


Umm Qays, situated 110 km north of Amman on a broad promontory 378 meters above sea level with a magnificent view over the Yarmouk River, the Golan Heights, and Lake Tiberias, this town was known as Gadara, one of the most brilliant ancient Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis.







Golan Heights and Lake Tiberias (Tasik Tobari) used to be under Syria but now is occupied by Israel. So, Umm Qays is located at the border of north Jordan, Syria and Israel.


Also known as Sea of Galilee, Lake Tiberias is a freshwater lake located at northern Israel. It is 13 mi (21 km) long and 7 mi (11 km) wide; it lies about 700 ft (212 m) below sea level and receives most of its inflow from the Jordan River. The region has been inhabited for millennia: archaeological finds dating to some 500,000 years ago are among the oldest in the Middle East. In the 1st century AD, the region was rich and populated; Christians know it as the scene of many episodes in the life of Jesus. Today the lake's waters irrigate the surrounding agricultural region. Modern health resorts have grown up, and the baths at Tiberias are among Israel's winter resort attractions (http://www.answers.com/topic/sea-of-galilee)




In ancient times, Gadara was strategically situated, laced by a number of key trading routes connecting Syria and Palestine. It was blessed with fertile soil and abundant rainwater.






This town also flourished intellectually in the reign of Augustus and became distinguished for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, university's scholars, attracting writers, artists, philosophers and poets, the likes of satirist Menippos (2nd half of the 3rd century BC), the epigrammist Meleagros, and the rhetorician Theodoros (14-37 AD).







Archaeological surveys indicate that Gadara was occupied as early as the 7th century BC. The Greek historian, Polybius, described the region as being under Ptolemaic control at the time. The Seleucid ruler Antiochus III conquered it in 218 BC, naming the city Antiochia and Seleucia. In 63 BC, Pompey liberated Gadara and joined it to the Roman league of ten cities, the Decapolis.



Soon after, the fortunes of Gadara improved rapidly and building was undertaken on a large scale, carried out for the love of Pompey's freed man Demetrius, who had been born there.




During these early years of Roman rule, the Nabataeans (with their capital in Petra), controlled the trade routes as far north as Damascus.

Unhappy with the
competition, Mark Anthony dispatched King Herod the Great to weaken the Nabataeans, who finally gave up their northern interest in 31 BC. In appreciation for his efforts, Rome rewarded Herod with Gadara.


View of rows of olive orchards in the Jordan Valley

The city reached its peak of prosperity in the 2nd century AD. New colonnaded streets, temples, theaters and baths sprouted. Meleagros compared Gadara with Athens, which testifies to the city's status as a creative center of Hellenism in the ancient Near East.



Christianity spread slowly among the inhabitants of Gadara. Starting from the 4th century, its bishop attended the ecclesiastical councils of Nicaea, Chaleedon and Ephesos.







Despite his
attendance, the city was no longer a seat of learning. During the 6th century, decline set in, and in 636 AD a decisive military clash between Byzantines and Arab Muslims took place not far from Gadara. There is no evidence, however, of widespread destruction in the city.





Umm Qais's charm still lingers today. A large portion of the western Roman Theater has survived history's upheavals. Vaulted passageway supports its rows of seats, built of hard basalt stones.

A row of elaborately carved seats for dignitaries stand near the orchestra, and in the center was a large headless white marble statue of Tyche, goddess of fortune and of the city, now displayed at the local museum.







Across from the
theater is the main colonnaded street (cardo), which was in all likelihood the town's commercial center. Also, near the black basalt theater is the Terrace, which hosts a courtyard, a church and a basilica.






Further west of the Terrace and along the east-west colonnaded street (decumanus), ruins of the Nymphaeum, a bath complex and a well-preserved Roman Mausoleum can be seen. After a few hundred meters one can barely make out remains o
f what was once a Hippodrome.






Gadara was also the resort of choice for Romans vacationing in the nearby Himmet Gader Hot Water Springs (Al-Himma)



Information taken from: http://www.atlastours.net/jordan/umm_qais.html


Al-Himma (Himmet Gader Hot Springs)

From Umm Qays, we went to Al-Himma.

Al-Himma
, a therapeutical hot springs located about 10km north of Umm Qais in Irbid Governorate, was highly regarded by the Romans.

The mineral-rich hot waters of the springs pour into an indoor pool at a privately run complex with a restaurant.



Anyway now the hot springs is closed temporarily due to the management wants to develop it into a tourist resort with a hotel.

According to Hisham, many people used to come here with their family to have a picnic and take a bath in the hot water springs.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

27th March A Night in Irbid

27th March A Night in Irbid

Tonight Asma' and I went to a Halawiyat Shop near her apartment. She wanted to buy for me "Kinafah", a type of Halawiyat that tastes so creamy and sweet.... Orange in colour and they springkle some ground pistachio on it.

So, off we went to the store around 8:30pm. Not so many people around, and most of the stores are already closed.


Near the Duwar Kubbah


Asma' apartment is situated in an area that has a trademark "Duwar Kubbah". Duwar means roundabout (never thought in Middle East has roundabouts like Shah Alam!!! I think Shah Alam is the only city in the Klang Valley that has so many roundabouts) and Kubbah because there is a small monument like kubah in the middle of the roundabout.

In front of the Halawiyat Shop


In the Halawiyat Shop.

In the Halawiyat shop, there is a very big poster of King Abdullah and Queen Rania with their children. I like the poster so much because it portrays the king and queen in a very informal way and happy family. Not like most the posters of our Sultans and Agong here, what we can see usually in a very formal way, with very heavily jeweleries and all the medals...







This is KINAFAH.













Nicely packed halawiyat.










Asma' eating the Kinafah.



I still can imagine the sweeeeeeeet taste of Kinafah.... took sometime to finish just a piece of it. Have to drink a bottle of mineral water after that.






















In another Halawiyat shop near the Duwar Kubbah.














Bought 2 kg of Halawiyat to bring home to Malaysia.












Flower Shop

























It was so windy and cold. So we didn't stay long outside, besides there were not so many people strolling along the street.
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