A Story of Me, My Car, and the Students

Salam

Ramadhan has almost ended. it feels too short. especially because this time around I had to spend the first week of ramadhan in Ampang, the next two weeks in Temerloh, and the remaining week in Ampang again. Phew, that's a lot of traveling! May there will be a next year for us all.

Now, back to the topic. the first time I drove a car to go to the campus in Ampang was waaay back during my first year. It was an old dark blue Honda car which I parked at the roofed parking lot labeled USIM in Sri Pandan. Well surprisingly, one morning I found a note slipped under the car wiper. It says that I'm not the rightful owner of the parking lot, so I'm supposed to move out my car and park it somewhere else. Haha, veeery funny. I could guess who wrote the note for they left clues of who they are. But, it's kinda embarassing to say that it was written by U*** students because it wasn't a nice note and quite unpleasant to read. Hmm, simply put, it was an impolite note. 

I didn't drive a car from the 2nd year until last year, when I started the Community Health Posting.

Then, I got another note from a different person this time, regarding the parking lot AGAIN. This time, it was full of CAPITAL LETTERS and EXCLAMATION MARKS!! What a rude note! The one who wrote the note called me upon learning that I drove the car and said sorry. 

Oh, dear! I have done nothing wrong and I have to read these offensive notes?  

And then, when I came back from my vacation to start the new semester, the note has been upgraded into a clamp. Yes, this time, my light blue Honda car was clamped (this is a different car than before). That idiot clamped my car because I didn't call him and ask for his permission to park my car there. It seem to me that he didn't make much effort to confirm that the car isn't a student's car as he didn't see the USIM-labeled lanyard that I purposely hang at the interior rear view mirror. Well, maybe part of it was my mistake and I won't mind taking the blame (if it really is mine). Hold on, I'm confused. why should I ask for HIS permission? I believe we paid the same amount of hostel fees. Or did he paid more? And other people have to ask for his permission to park there? Well, if that is really the case, I won't mind paying more.

But the truth is, that parking lot belongs to someone who rarely came home and not ours. So, in reality, he doesn't have any right to clamp my car at all. Well, I guess I have to settle down with the fact since I've paid the office to un-clamp my car already. I though the matter was settled when that fellow sent a stupid SMS blaming me for his mistake. Haha...he's making a fool of himself and we (several friends, a senior, and me)  had a very good laugh. We think that's very silly. 

Now, the moral of my story is, people who seem kind and nice could actually be quite rude and annoying. Nice, yet rude. I know it is not fair to label people (especially budak sekolah agama) like that. But it's because of the few people who act harshly and seen by the outsiders. Yalah, sebab nila setitik, rosak la susu yang sebelanga tu, kan? 

Malaysia memang maju. Tiap-tiap tahun bertambah bilangan pelajar yang berkereta. Aaah, I see...no wonder I always get those notes. The car that I drove is just an old 1989 car, unlike other people who drove brand-new cars, or their parents' luxurious cars. 

Sekadar mengingatkan perkara yang mungkin terlepas pandang. It's true that budak-sekolah-agama are just human, but I believe it is their responsibility to act accordingly and not to hope that people would understand them. My story might not be applicable to all, so I'll apologize in advance to the others.

Makanya, sempena Ramadhan yang hampir pergi, saya titipkan sepuluh jari memohon ampun dan maaf atas kekasaran dan kesilapan. 

The Battle of Yarmouk

Salam.

Here is a continuation about my journey in Jordan. One of the historical places in Irbid is the battlefield of Yarmouk. It was a major battle between the Muslim Arab forces of the Rashidun Caliphate led by Khalid Al-Walid and the armies of the East Roman-Byzantine Empire. The battle started on 12th August 636 A.D. (6 Rajab 15 Hijri), but only during the last five days from 13th August 636 A.D., the heavy fighting of the decisive.

The Battlefield

The battlefield lies about 65km south-west of the Golan Heights, an upland region currently on the frontier between Israel, Jordan and Syria.. The battle was fought on the plain of Yarmouk, which was enclosed on its western edges by a deep ravine known as Wadi-ur-Raqad, around 200m deep. This ravine joins the Yarmouk River which runs in the Yarmouk Valley. It forms part of the northern borders between Jordan and Syria. the Yarmouk River meets River Jordan slightly south to the lake of Tiberia. Strategically there was only one prominence in the battlefield; a 100m elevation known as Tel al Jumm'a (Hill of Gathering). The Muslim troops concentrated there, having a good view of the plain of Yarmouk. Logistically, the Yarmouk plain had enough water supplies and pastures to sustain both armies. The plain was excellent for cavalry manoeuvers.

The battlefield viewing point

Tourists will be brought to the lands of the village of Saham  Al Kfarat, overlooking the central location where Yarmouk Battle took place. The battle ground include Khalid's Hill, named after Khalid Bin Al Waleed, who was leading the Muslim army, and the slopes of the Golan Plateau (Al Wakowsa) where the Byzantines descend to the river bed. We could also see a stretch of the Yarmouk River where the main battle took place in its final days.

The plains of Yarmouk where the battle took place

The Battle

The Muslim army, numbered only about one third of the Byzantine army (40 000 Muslims to 125 000 Byzantines). The Byzantines descend into the river bed followed by the Muslim army, and the fighting spread along the Yarmouk River all the way from north of Mukheibeh, to Wadi Qwaylbeh (Abila). The battle ended by the Muslim fighters chasing the Byzantines in the many ravines and valleys in the immediate vicinity. The leader of the Muslim army, Khalid Bin Al Walid, chased one of the main leaders of the Byzantines (Mahan) and killed him. As for their other leader, Hercules, he managed to escape to Antioch, saying his famous sentence "Farewell to Syria, for the last time". In this battle, about 80 000 fighters from the Byzantines were killed, compared to only around 4000 Muslims fighters. 

Yarmouk was a decisive battle in the Islamic history. The Arab historian, Al Tabari, stated "There was never a battle as that of Yarmouk".

Epilogue

The Battle of Yarmouk is seen as an example in military history where an inferior force manages to overcome a superior force by superior generalship. Even though the Imperial Byzantine commanders had the obvious advantages of the favoured battlefield and bigger troops of army, they were at no substantial tactical disadvantage. 

Khalid Al-Walid on the other hand, although he commanded a numerically inferior force, he nevertheless had the confidence and foresight to dispatch a cavalry regiment the night before his assault to seal off a critical path of the retreat he anticipated for the enemy army. When he decided to take the offensive and attack on the final day of battle, he did so with a degree of imagination, foresight and courage that none of the Byzantine commanders managed to display. 

Khalid Al-Walid as a leader, understood very well the potential strengths and weaknesses of his mounted troops. His strategy in using the mobile guard that could move quickly from one point to another made the Byzantine commanders confused and they were unable to use the advantage of their bigger army effectively.  Although they were on the offensive five days out of the six, their battle line remained remarkably static. 

This all stands in stark contrast to the very successful offensive plan that Khalid carried out on the final day, when he re-organised virtually all his cavalry and committed them to a grand manoeuvre that won the battle. His leadership quality made the Muslims fighting alongside him placed a great trust in him as their leader. And of course, the biggest factor to their victory is the strong faith to Allah which led to their bravery.

George F. Nafziger, in his book Islam at war, describes the battle as:

"Although Yarmouk is little known today, it is one of the most decisive battles in the human history...Had Heraclius' forces prevailed, the modern word would be so changed as to be unrecognizable"

Silat Lagenda

Salam.

I just felt like posting something when i finally found this song, ceritera by zainal abidin (I never knew he was the singer until today...haha...)

more than 10 years back, it was like a new phenomenon. but it's a pity that it just faded away by the passing time. moreover, it was never played again in the tv, right? kinda sad.

well, there're 2 songs in this video. have fun!

here's the lyrics:

Tajuk: Ceritera

Penyanyi/Artis: Zainal Abidin

Kurun lalu ada ceritera

Kisah lima pendekar muda

Taat menuntut kehendak raja

Mereka jadi lagenda

Bahan ceritera muda remaja

Satu lagenda yang tak dilupa

Berakhirnya kisah lama

Hilang senjata di dunianya

Timbulnya pula di zaman kita

Senjata di simpan di dalam peti

Ditemani guru yang disegani

Selamat hingga ditemui

Lima pemuda di zaman ini

Mencari dan juga mempercayai

Senjata perlu dikuasai

Kini ia ditemui

Di zaman yang maju teknologi

Kuasa lama mula teruji

Ooh oh Tuah yang mengetuainya

Ooh oh Jebat akur dan menurut

Ooh oh Kasturi, Lekir, Lekiu berjanji

Membantu bila ditandingi

Ini kisah lama orang dagang di Melaka

Anak muda diwariskan keris sakti oh pendekar

It's a sad thing that I can get involved in the Kelab Silat anymore. Well, I don't know what's going to happen to that club in FPSK. Sparring was fun, even though the training was like hell. I'm saying this once only; thanks to the seniors, yes, you seniors, who made it possible for me to participate in the silat tournaments. well, MASUM was a bonus for me. thanks a lot!

oh, yes. Obstetrics written exam is tomorrow. Good Luck friends! (yes, me too)

orang pergi kursus kahwin, aku pergi kenduri kahwin

Salam.

It has been a long time. Idea Scarcity Syndrome...plus some other factors...hehe

It was my cousin's wedding. The first one among the cousins. Everyone was there and it's fun meeting everyone. Plus, I got a new baju kurung.

Everything was handmade

It was a 2 days event. Well, I couldn't be of much help since I had classes and baby deliveries to conduct (macam la org lain tak boleh buat). I'm sure everyone is exhausted and relieved that everything ended well.

the bride and her groom

(Lepas ni dah kena share Kak Yan dengan Abang Mathir...huhu)  

Family members including us, the cousins were supposed to welcome the guests but the best part was, we get to eat as many as we can. I had 3 meals plus 1 take away. Apart from the Hari Raya, this is a good opportunity to meet and know the distant relatives too.

See, everyone got new clothes

Yesterday was windy but hot. Maybe I should drink more yesterday. Now I'm down with mild cold. (Alasan untuk malas buat kerja...huhu). Ah, it's making me sleepy....zzz... 

Mat Saleh celup ni my cousin, ada yang berminat?

This weekend we're going to Batang Kali, the groom's house. Ooh, weddings are fun! Oh yes, but tiring. But still, it's fun.  So, kenduri Kak Yan dah selamat, I wonder who's next on the list? ;p

Oh, what am I doing writing a blog post when I'm supposed to prepare for the seminar this Friday! (haha...not that I'm sorry)

May Allah bless them both and give them strength through thick and thin

Hola!

Salam.

Quite some time passed since I last updated this page. Well, lots of things happened and most important was holiday and raya. If you happen to notice, my blog posts are more when i'm at the hostel, especially when the exam was just around the corner and none when it was holiday.  

picture by aw3rz

The closing day of 3S- Salam, Senyum & Sapa programme was eventful. I had fun (oh, bila mau study ni?). Thanks people! I had my eyes set on the Choral Speaking Competition and Dikir Bersalam. They were hillarious! Watching the performances brought me down the memory lane. It reminded me of US, the 3rd batch. I thought it was just me, but then I found out that I wasn't the only one. It is a pity that a part of us are in Temerloh and another part is in  Ampang. I think we could've took part if we're all in the same place, won't we?

This was one of the earliest project

Initially, I planned to put pictures of us doing performances but there are too many of it. Plus, I don't have the full set of picture with me. Well, maybe next time. We sure did lots of things together. Not just performances, we also had our picnics at the waterfalls and organized programmes together. 

Will there be the next one?