[Islam] News in BBC about Kenya's 'Koranic fish'

Kenya's 'Koranic fish' recovered
By Odhiambo Joseph
BBC, Mombasa


The tuna fish with what looks like Arabic writing on its side

Enlarge Image
A fish with markings that resembled a Koranic text has been found by Kenyan officials after vanishing from the fisheries office where it was stored.

The tuna fish, which had provoked intense interest from Muslims, had apparently been stolen by people posing as National Museum officials.

The fish was found at the shop where it had first come to public attention.

The fish was being studied to find out if the Arabic inscription "You are the best provider" was natural or a hoax.

Sceptics say the writing was the work of someone who caught the fish and then threw it back into the sea.

But others say this would be impossible, and local imams are said to have been talking in the mosques about the fish.

Heritage

The owner of the Takaungu Fish Shop in Mombasa's old town is being questioned by police, who are also seeking another man in connection with the alleged theft.

Close up of the marking on the tuna fish (Picture taken by the BBC's Odhiambo Joseph)
The text is close to the Koranic verse: "Wa anta khair al-raziqin"
The shop-keeper said a man had brought the fish to him for preservation.

Over the weekend, people thronged to the shop after the owner noticed the tuna fish's remarkable markings.

It had been caught by fisherman Said Ali at the end of last week at Vanga, a small fishing port on the Kenyan coast, 50km south of Mombasa.

For safekeeping, the 2.5 kg (five pound) fish was moved to the fisheries department.

After being asked by Muslim leaders in Kenya, Kenya's National Museum had offered to take custody of the fish and preserve it for the country's heritage.

The reported theft followed numerous attempts by locals and Muslim scholars to buy the mysterious fish.

An official at the fisheries department in Mombasa said someone had even offered to pay as much as $150.

Under normal circumstances the fish would fetch not more than $6.

[My Family] BOYZ ii MEN

[Nirwana]

Next Sunday, December 17th 2006 - we will have a small party to celebrate all three boys after circumsition surgeries.

Zaki, Noval and Oki will be the center of attention for a day, where family, neighboor and friend mingle for this event.

Yes, you are also invited.

[Indonesia] Spirit Yahudi di Indonesia {menjawab persiapan pemerintah mengubah UU perkawinan}

[Tanjung Barat]
Teriring doa yang tulus untuk saudaraku Teh Ninih, Teh Rini dan Aa Gym beserta keluarga. Semoga Allah menjadikan sebuah keluarga yang Sakinah di dunia dan akhirat. Sesungguhnya setiap celaan adalah berkah dan rizki di akhirat, dan pastinya yang mencela tidak lebih baik daripada yang dicela. Tabah lah, sesungguhnya kaum munafik dan kafirin tidak akan senang seseorang melakukan Islam dan sunnah Rasul dengan baik. Sesungguhnya, cukup bagi kita Allah lah pelindung kita dari makar mereka terhadap Islam. Saya meyakini Islam sebagai ajaran yang benar dengan segala aturannya. Tidak tahukah mereka bahwa Allah sangat membenci terhadap orang yang mengambil sebagian dan menolak sebagian lainnya dari ajaran Allah.

Sore ini, aku membaca berita di Islam Online http://www.islamonline.net dan Eramuslim http://www.eramuslim.com tentang tokoh Yahudi AS yang menolak penggunaan Al-Quran dalam pengambilan sumpah seorang anggota Kongres yang muslim. Terbersit di benak saya, seorang menteri atau presiden yang dengan sigap menyikapi suatu masalah dengan cepat dan keliru … tentang perkawinan kedua saudara kita yang halal dan sah. Tentang penetapan aturan untuk mempersulit poligami, atau Dosen IAIN yang dengan lantang seakan menganulir sunah rasul tentang poligami -- bahwa Al Quran tidak pernah menghalalkan poligami. Saya menyamakan perilaku yang dilakukan di Amerika sejatinya sama dengan yang terjadi di Jakarta --- melawan hak manusia melakukan ajaran agamanya. Ya… spirit yahudi ada diantara kita.

Terbersit, begitulah perilaku manusia yang menetapkan aturan manusia di atas aturan Sang Raja Manusia. Mereka merasa lebih mengetahui fitrah dan hak asasi manusia dari pada Sang Pencipta manusia itu sendiri. Suatu perilaku yang sejak dahulu dilakukan oleh Yahudi, ketika di berikan perintah untuk merawat seekor sapi oleh Nabi Saleh a.s. Yahudi menanyakan dengan detail sebuah perintah yang sudah jelas dan mudah, dan akhirnya perintah itupun dilanggar dengan membunuh sapi tsb. Apakah sebagai seorang menteri bahkan presiden berani membuat aturan yang melawan aturan dari Tuhannya, ataukah seorang dosen sudah merasa pintar sehingga menafsirkan Al Quran tidak pernah menghalalkan poligami (Sedangkan Rasul s.a.w., sang Al Quran hidup --- kata Aisyah r.a., melakukannya dan membiarkan sahabat-sahabat melakukannya).

Seharusnya presiden dan menteri memikirkan lebih keras perzinahan atau segala kemaksiatan di bumi yang menjadi tanggung jawab mereka, dan tidak mengurusi aturan yang sudah ditetapkanNya. Karena kelak dikemudian hari, setiap jiwa akan ditanyakan atas sesuatu yang menjadi tanggung jawabnya.

Teh Ninih, yakinlah bahwa janji Allah adalah pasti dan benar adanya. Surga sebagai balasan seorang istri yang ikhlas karena cinta kepada Allah semata adalah cukup dan sangat cukup. Allah, melalui hadis Rasul s.a.w., juga mengancam seorang suami yang berlaku tidak adil.

Aa Gym, maka bersikap adillah niscaya itu jauh lebih baik di sisi Allah.

[Indonesia] Another Sick Story [tanggapan atas dua berita besar]

[Nirwana]

Hari-hari ini beredar dua berita yang menyangkut publik figur berhubungan dengan wanita. Salah satu tokoh dengan segala "kehormatan" dan "kemulyaan"nya sebagai wakil rakyat dan terlebih dari mantan ketua organisasi kepemudaan Islam, tertangkap melakukan perbuatan nista (untuk standar awam dan agama) yang secara sengaja/tidak tersebar luas ke masyarakat. Yang bersangkutan sudah memiliki seorang istri yang sah. Heboh satu lagi adalah seorang ustadz yang mengawini seorang janda beranak tiga sebagai istri kedua. Sengaja saya tidak menyebut nama, karena selayaknya pemberitaan tidak boleh menyebutkan nama kecuali kelak di persidangan untuk pembuktian, karena kita tetap harus menjaga nama baik seseorang bagaimanapun sesungguhnya.

Saya tidak tertarik dengan detail cerita apa dan siapa atau bagaimananya, saya lebih tertarik dengan reaksi atau respon dari masyarakat atau pemimpin kita.

Organisasi kepemudaan yang bekas pimpinannya mengajukan gugatan ke Kepolisian karena dianggap mencoreng nama baik dari organisasi tersebut!!! Suatu hal yang absurd, tapi jauh lebih baik dibanding Dewan yang "terhormat". Bahkan partai tempat dia bernaungpun masih membelanya dan tetap menjadikannya sebagai anggota dewan. Apapun tingkatan yang dia dan sang penyanyi lakukan, masyarakat seharusnya mengutuk. Ataukah masyarakat kita begitu terbiasa dengan kemaksiatan dan itu adalah hal yang biasa, meskipun jangankan berdua di kamar, mendekati perbuatan tsb saja sudah terlarang.

Berita tersebut pun dibumbui sebagai pertarungan politik di partai tersebut, atau polisi menganggap orang yang menyebarkan sebagai pokok permasalahan dan bukan orang yang menjadi "aktor" dan "aktris" kemaksiatan. Yang secara pelan dan pasti mengecilkan kejadian keji tersebut.

Lain halnya ketika berita kedua, tentang seorang ustadz yang mengawini dengan sah seorang janda beranak tiga. Melakukan dengan halal dan sesuai aturan agama dan pemerintah, dengan akad nikah dan ijab kabul disaksikan oleh orang lain. Kebanyakan orang menuntut dan menghujat perbuatan halal tersebut.

Di dalam Islam, poligami adalah diperbolehkan dan saya menyetujui, karena itu adalah hukum Allah yang Maha Tahu fitrah ciptaannya. Lebih detail tentang Islam dan Poligami bisa dilihat di situs ini. Islam menghalalkan poligami setelah zaman sebelumnya poligami dilakukan dengan tanpa batas, nabi-nabi terdahulu (Nabi Sulaiman a.s. memiliki istri lebih dari seratus orang) ataupun siapa saja bisa memiliki istri berratus-ratus (bahkan sampai sekarang seorang raja di Afrika memiliki istri lebih dari seratus orang). Nabi Muhammad s.a.w setelah sekian tahun hidup monogami dan menduda, atas perintah Allah mengawini delapan perempuan mulia dengan beragam fisik mereka (hanya satu yang gadis). Buat umat Islam, poligami diperbolehkan hanya empat dengan syarat yang berat... Adil. Bahkan ancaman untuk suami yang mencintai lebih salah satu istrinya, di akhirat mendapatkan ancaman yang tegas.

Saya yakin poligami sudah sesuai fitrah kita, begitupun juga sang ustadz di atas. Tetapi saya melihat sebagian rakyat kita lebih mengagungkan monogami dengan segala perselingkuhannya dibanding poligami yang halal. Pria yang berpoligami dengan benar adalah contoh pria bertanggung jawab. Dan saat ini saya belum mampu melakukannya.

Dengan cara berpikir dari masyarakat kita, saya melihat akan terbentuk masyarakat yang sakit ... Permisif terhadap aturan-aturan yang bertentangan dengan agama ... pelacuran, perzinahan dsbnya. Tetapi sangat garang dengan aturan Allah yang Maha Tahu. Saya cukupkan ulasan saya dan hanya kepada Allah saya berlindung dari perilaku buruk, saya cukupkan Allah sebagai pelindung saya.

[EZ LESSON] The 90/10 Principle Author : Stephen Covey

Have you read this before? Discover the 90/10 Principle. It will change your life
(at least the way you react to situations). What is this principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean?

We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%.

How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light., but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.


Let's use an example. You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just what happened. What happens when the next will be determined by how you react.You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for

knocking the cup over.

She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work.You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is " D".

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both
ended different.

Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive? Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job. The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse. Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.

The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.

The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It CAN change your life!!!

[Me] Time to Learn

[Sheraton Bandara]

Spirit that we still need to maintain is spirit to learn something new, as this is our human character. It was rapidly accelerate, when the day we born, when we were a little toddler and start slows down when we are mature. Imagine, how fast we absorbed the knowledge and the skill when we were young, our first step should be our first graduation as we learned from our fault, we absorbed critics and advice, we felt that we needed other hand, and than we decided ... yes it was the time to make a first step.

All reflects a maturity in a small little body, called a baby, we were observing not only for success but fail, we were always thinking positively, can do attitude and finally when we thought we were ready we made a giant little step, we made decission!!! That's what we were.


Later, we think that we know everything. Specially after graduated from major universities with series of tittle, professional degree or appreciation. But finally, we forgot our human character ... is to learn. We should always think that we are still learning in every aspect.

When we stopped learning, we were dying ... at least in our heart. When we learn one thing, we will found tens or hundreds new unknown.

I link all of those with our 6 day-ASSET training, where we simulated to run a small oil and gas company to implement strategy, expect the unexpected situation, including Political and prices. Six of us from AxP company, a virtual company in ASSET world that we operated, run a company with aggresive and expect progressive growth. Finally, our company produced the highest production 512 mboe compared to the other four virtual companies that produced no more than 399 mboe. Eventhough our gearing ratio was ever the highest 90% (or 10% only equity), finally we could maintain 50% with biggest asset value, share price and other financial parameters.

After 15 years in oil and gas industry, this course opened up my mind about the whole business in E&P and not only production related. I still have big question unanswered in my life, bigger than yesterday and even become bigger and bigger tomorrow.

Above, AxP demonstrated "Saman" dance from Dhang Yeng
Below, all trainees and facilitators posing

[Zaki & Noval] Another phase of their life

[Pondok Indah Hospital]
Friday, November 10 4pm

It was another flexy day for me, means I donot need to go to the office - every another Friday, I can take a flexy day. That day, we had prepared and contacted Dr. Roni, a surgery of RSPI, to conduct circumcision for Zaki (11) and Noval (10). Both were very keen and eager to do this as most of their friends have done this ceremony.

Zaki & Oki, prior surgery

Zaki, the Doctor and a Nurse

"Played" a foot ball game while in the surgery

Zaki wore short after surgery

We arrived in the hospital and went to praying room, musholla, to conduct afternoon praying, shalat ashar, and pray before we did this small surgery. Zaki was underwent the surgery first. He cried when the doctor started injecting the third shot around his and I was beside him to hug to make him warm and secure. After this, I handed over him an N-Gage to let him play the game while the doctor and nurse were doing their job.





The same procession was also held to Noval. The same cry, the same happiness afterward.

It was the time when we were ready to leave the hospital. I found Noval started crying in agony. I kept driving back to home, while kept talking to encourage him and let him cried while kept praying. For this night, I slept with Zaki and watched him if he needed any thing.

[My Family] ... The Thirteen Year At Last

[Nirwana]
Last month, our family celebrated the thirteen year of our wedding anniversary.
As usual, I was aware and will always be the day we married. Again, as usual, I am not romantic guy to celebrate this event. As this will remind me on how old I am and also how old my beatiful wife is.

That morning, I kissed her before leaving home for work... without said anything. On the way back, I got an sms from my sister-in-law: a congratulation and a pray for us.

I was leaving the office about 5pm and arrived at home about maghrib. I saw my kids run to me and said that that day was our anniversary, a day when their parent married. All three were kissed my hand and kissed me - a normal ritual for me when I arrived from work. It must be something had been prepared inside...

We kissed and congratulated for our achievement, navigated this small boat through all sad and happiness, love and hatred ... finally we could and we will keep the boat move toward the end of the day. InsyaAllah...

Inside, yes - there was a small preparation to make small party. We prayed jamaah first and held a small pray. All my kids were busy, brought plates there, moved chair here and put the candles in the cake. While I prepared several shots to freeze this memory digitally.

A picture of happy family ... at least it was for ours.