Jogja 05 Silver

From the batik industry we proceeded to the silver industry.

We visited the one called HS Silver
It was a low single-storey building.
It was hot & sunny because the sky was blue.
If the sky is white, then it will be cooler, as it means the sky is covered with clouds.
But bright hot sunny weather is good for photography.

HS is hort for Harto Suhardjo.

Ok here you see another Dutch spelling.

In Dutch "DJO" is pronounced as "J" in English.Hence, in pronunciation of this shop is

"Harto Suharjo".

That is why, I was saying in Jogja 01 that, it is not that easy for any Singaporean Malay tounderstand Indonesian Malay. We have not considered the colloquail slangs yet.

The resident guide of HS started with an introduction of the raw material used in their industry.

I got the chance to see raw pure silver, brass and many other items used in silverware processing.

I also got to see this pure boraks.

No...no...no....this is not "borak" which in English means "a lie", but it is a kind of powder used for polishing silverware.

They had for display some traditional accessories,which were better known as costume jewelleries.

In those days these jewelleries were worn outside their clothings. Even in the old photographs of our ancestors of the Singaporean Nonya and Peranakan families, we observed that they wore their accessories over their dress. So men had no chance to see parts of the women body.

But nows-a-days, as many womens exposed their body, the accessories are worn over the raw flesh and can be seen by the naughty eyes of men.

I also caught the close up of the traditional silverware used in ancient Indonesian life.

I must say they are marvellous and majestic.

The Holy Quran mentions repeatedly that the dwellers of Paradise, will get to drink numerous kind of drinks serve in silver cups.

My friend, Akram, who was a surveyor, in the Changi Airport MRT Line, and switched professionas a promoter of AP300 US health products, once explained to me that, silver can help to prevent us from many disease.

He showed me a couple of products that had silver contents. I asked him shockingly,

"Akram...you mean we can consume silver...!!!???

"Yeah...but with prescription. Don't go and swallow your silver jewelleries or siver plate. That can be fatal...!!!" he said and continued explaining that...it was exactly the reason why our ancestors had silverware as their household utensils.

Their cups and saucers, pots and woks, basins and jugs were all made of silver.

I gathered later that it was precisely the reason why the Holy Quran mentions silver in its verses which were the revelation from The GOD Al-Mighty.

GOD is encouraging us to take benefit from silver,thru HIS hints in the revelations.

It is for us to manupulate raw silver and convert it as utensils or for consumption.

One of the benefit of silver is a cure for gastric.So guys drop at the nearest Pharmacy and ask the pharmacists if they have such a prescription for gastric..

Do you guys know that silver in Chemistry is given its chemical code as "Ag", the way oxygen was given it's code as "O2" and Calcium as "Ca". I learnt them in school in 1969.

O how wonderful were those secondary schooldays.

By the way, I was from Naval Base Secondary School.

Wat.......!!!! you never heard of such school????


Guys....it was at Chong Pang Road just outside
the gate of The British Naval Base barracks
along Canberra Road.

Now it is in Yishun Housing Estate.

Coincidentally, we from the Class of 1969,
will get together this coming 31 July 2009 at
Swiss'otel Stamford to reminische the past.

Back to Jogja.

While we were browsing, my wife & I bumped
into our relatives. She came with her family,
but joined a different travel agent. Her
group of about 10 person, just arrived from
a 16-hour trip by coach from Jakarta.

After parting with them I had the urge to
visit the loo.

After parting with them I had the urge to
visit the loo.

I confessed that they had clean and fresh
fragrant toilets.

From the loo I walked out to the nearby road.

There was a madrasah just across the road.

Madrasah is an Islamic school. This one was
managed by the non-government organisation
called Muhammadiyah and it offer an upper
secondary level of education.

Long before the coming of the colonials,
Indonesia had many such schools. It showed that
Indonesians and all the Malays within
its Archipelago called Nusantara, were educated
people and were never illiterate as fausely
recorded by the colonials in their history books.

Of course, they followed the Arabic and Islamic
curriculum, which were the source of the
western education. This subject is too long
to continue it here.

So back to Jogja. Yes I saw that many madrasahs and
universities in Jogja are managed by Muhammadiyah.

There are many other secular government universities
in Jogja, as it is well-knowned for its progressive
education programs designed by the Sultan of Jogja.

Mr Sidek Sanif, our ex-Senior Minister used to study
in University Gajah Mada in Jogja in the early 60s.
I saw it when we were going for lunch.

013-1e The Cave 18:46 Better Source of Hope

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.


The meaning of Verse 46


Wealth and children are the decorations of life in this world.
But consistent good deeds and right actions,
are far better in the eyes of your Lord
and a far better source of hope.


====================================================

Imam Jalalain commented that :-


Examples of good deeds are remembering GOD by reciting


"Subhallah wal hamdulillah wa laa ilaaha illallah wallahu akbar
wa laa haula wa laa quwwata illaa billaahi"


which means,


"Glory to ALLAH and all praises to ALLAH
and there is no god other than ALLAH
and ALLAH is the GREATEST
and there is no capability
and there is no strength
other than with (the help of) ALLAH"


***


Harun Yahya eloborates that lasting right actions are defined as good and beneficial deeds that comply with the Quran's morality and are pleasant to ALLAH


These consistent actions are signs of patience, devotion and seriousness in religion.


The intentions of these right actions must purely be for the sake of gaining the pleasure of ALLAH.


If there are other intentions along with them,then they are not the right actions.


The same is true for charity. It must only be for the sake of GOD and not to impress people or for recognition [or for rebate in Income Tax].


These actions must be consistent, and not just on the spur of a moment. For example, charity, in the form of zakat (taxes on wealth) must be contributed annually.


All these right actions are for the benefits of each individual and does not at all affect the Power and Greatness of GOD.


Even if there is no one performing them, GOD will not lost his respect and power.
And if everyone perform these right actions, GOD will not become greater than before.


GOD is always GREAT at all times.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


My Observations


GOD is the RICHEST.


HIS RICHNESS will never be reduced, when HE rewards all HIS creatures,
and will never be increased, even if all HIS creatures submit to HIM.


Our sincerity to ALLAH will benefit other creations. If we are not sincere doing things for the sake of GOD Al-Mighty, then, our actions will cause damages to other creations.
That is why sincerity for the sake of gaining GOD's pleasure is important in religion.

-------------- -------------------- ----------------

To Pacify Our Stressful Life

Have you try to find this book, Muhammad by Karen Armstrong, in the bookstore?

Not yet?

Can't find it?

I found it at Jurong Point 2. A medium size bookstore infront of NTUC 24hrs Fairprice Hypermart.

Well let's continue , a little bit more to fish your interest to buy it and keep it for future reading.

I would like to invite you to start reading this kind of philosophical and religious book, as it can help us to pacify our stressful life.

007-2e The Cave 18:28 Do not be influenced by pride and desire

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of verse 28.

Be patient in the company of those who call their Lord

in the morning and evening in seeking HIS pleasure.

Do not turn away from them,

in seeking the luxury of this worldly life,

and do not follow those people whom

WE have made their hearts forget to remember US,

and who only follow their desire.

Such are acts of extremely over the limits.

Commentary by Jalalain.

Be patient with the company of your poor followers,

as they are unable to give you any worldly benefit.

Do not leave them for the sake of worldly luxury

and do not join those who were not interested in the Quran,

i.e. Uyaynah ibnu Hishn and his friends,

who do things as they please, especially in idol worship,

which is an act of extremely beyond limit.

Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

The true servants of GOD are those whose hearts are

turned to HIM morning, noon and night.

They seek only GOD's Grace and HIS Nearness.

The poor followers are rich in spiritual satisfaction than

worldly grandeur.

GOD's Grace is always satisfying.

On the other hand, resisting the Quran and following your own lust

will left you abandoned and hopeless in false pride.

Commentary by Muhammad Asad.

And contained yourself in patience by the side of

all who at morning and at evening invoke their Sustainer,

seeking His countenance,

and let not your eyes pass beyond them

in quest of the beauties of this world's life [36],

and pay no heed to any, whose heart,

We have rendered heedless of all remembrance of US [37]

because he had always follow only his own desires,

abandoning all that is good and true [38]

[Footnote by Muhammad Asad]

[36] Several years before the Muslims exodus to Medina, some of the the pagan chieftains at Mecca wanted to accept Islam on condition that Prophet Muhammad dissociate himself from the company of the former slaves and other poor people among his followers.

[37] The well-knowned commentators, Zamakhshari and Razi explainthe Arabic verb 'aghfalna' is agreeable with the Quranic doctrine and means "whom WE have found to be heedless".

[38] Rejecting all bounds of what is right.

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.
Asbabun Nuzul of verse 28

In the name of The God Most Compassionate Most Merciful

Ibnu Murdawih brought forward a hadis from the chain of narration of Juwaibir from Dhahhak from the companion Ibnu Abbas that is related to His commandments:

"and do not follow those people whom WE have made their hearts forget to remember US"

[Al-Kahfi 18:28]

Ibnu Abbas said that the above verse 28 was revealed in relation to Umayyah ibnu Khalaf Al Jumahiy.

That is because Umayyah suggested to ProphetMuhammad to do things that the Prophet did not like to do, that is, to ask his poor followers to go away from him, so that, the leaders of the pagan Meccan people will be attracted to come near to the Prophet.

After that incident the above verse was revealed.

Ibnu Abu Hatim brought forward a hadis from Ar Rabi' who narrated that, Prophet Muhammad narrated to us, that one day he met Umayyah ibnu Khalaf who persuaded him, while the Prophet, at that time, was not paying attention to what was meant by Umayyah; thus the above verse was revealed.

Ibnu Abu Hatim brought forward another hadis from the chain of Abu Hurairah who narrated that, one dayUyainah ibnu Hishn came to Prophet Muhammad, while Salman, the Prophet's companion was by his side.Uyainah said,

"When we come, ask this person to go away, and then invite us to come in"

Thus the above verse was revealed.

[Apparently, Salman, is one of the 70 poor companions of Prophet Muhammad.]



===will be continued with the grace of GOD===

006-4e1 Continuation of the Historical events on The Cave

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

So the 2 delegates returned to the unbelievers Quraisy people and said,"We return to you with matters between you and Muhammad."

Then the Quraisy went to meet Prophet Muhammad and asked him the 3 questions.

Prophet Muhammad replied,

"I will tell you the answer tomorrow." without saying, if GOD wills.

Then they went away and Prophet Muhammad was silent for 15 days waiting for revelation from GOD for the answers, but, the angel Gabriel did not come down with the revelation and answer from GOD. There were commotions among the Meccan people.

Meanwhile, Prophet Muhammad was in a sad and difficult situation because the revelation has stopped coming to him with the answers.

Then, the angel Gabriel came with the revelation of this Chapter 18 of the Quran.

In these verses are the answers to the 3 questions regarding the history of the 7 youths who went for seclusion in the Cave and the man who conquered the Far West and Far East.

However, the verse for the answer about the spirit was categorised as a verse in

Chapter 17 - Al Isra' Verse 85.

"They asked you about the spirit. Tell them that the spirit come from my Lord and you will not understand its nature as you have been granted very little knowledge."

*Note
[Both Muhammad Asad and Abdullah Yusuf Ali were of the opinion that, by the spirit, it was meant to be the nature of the revelations that were brought down by angel Gabriel, and not meant to be the soul, as it was generally understood, by other commentators.]

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

{page 2 of the above continuation}

Ibnu Murdawaih brought forward a hadis from Ibnu Abbas, a companion of Prophet Muhammad, who narrated, that, one day there was a meeting of the unbelieving Quraisy people.

Among them were Atabah ibnu Rabi'ah, Syaibah ibnu Rabi'ah, Abu Jahal ibnu Hisyam, An Nadhr ibnu Harits, Umayyah ibnu Khalaf, Al Ashi ibnu Wa'il, Al Aswad ibnu Abdul Muthalib and Abu Buhturi.

Seeing that, Prophet Muhammad was very heavily saddened by their rejection of his call. Thus GOD reveal to him the following verseof the Quran,

"So perhaps you will destroy and kill yourself, in grief, after they turn away from you and do not believe in the explanation of the Quran, because you are sad, as you really wanted them to believe."

[CHAPTER 18 - AL-KAHFI Verse 6]

GOD is giving us some kind of counselling on how to live in this world. All that GOD wants from us is to convet the message, but we do not have to ensure that people will listen and follow our mission.

Accepting the message of GOD is purely with the will of GOD himself. HE will choose who among mankind will believe and follow.

Of course GOD can change what HE has decided on. HE has HIS wishes. HE can make us go to Heaven, if we really work very hard for it, even after HE has decided that we go to Hell.

HE is the MOST POWERFUL GOD. HE does what HE likes. You and I cannot question HIM.

Our duty is live this life a good way. The rest is all in the hands of GOD.

Do not be depressed of what happen in this world.

Do not be angry with what other people do, but be mindful about what we do.

006-3e Historical events of The Cave

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

We pause for a while to focus on the historical events relating to the revelation of the Sleepers of the Cave. In short the unbelievers of Mecca did not believe that Prophet Muhammad is a prophet. This chapter in the Quran revealed to them and to us that Prophet Muhammad is a prophet to lead mankind to the real success in this world and the Hereafter.

Allow me to call you to reflect on the purpose why we live in this world. This life on Earth is temporary, just as what was told to us by Prophets Abraham, Eshmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. We will return to the Kingdom of GOD, in the Hereafter, when this world and the universe come to an End.

Somehow, some people in history changed the evidences and created differences between the religion brought by the prophets mentioned above.

Let us be united again as one mankind because the END of the Worlds is very near around the corner. Let us be saved and returned to The Almighty God, Lord of the Worlds with HIS acceptance.

Yeah....I agree with you. Who is GOD?

I have no answer for you. You have to find HIM on your own. It starts with your sincere eagerness and dedtermination to find HIM in your pure hearts.

Lets now look back into the Commentary in Tafsir Jalalain.

Asbabun Nuzul [1] on Chapter 18 The Cave.

In the name of The God Most Compassionate Most Merciful

Ibnu Jarir brought forward a hadis [2] via the narration of Ibnu Ishaq who received it from a Syekh in Egypt, who received it from Ikrimah, and Ikrimahreceived it from a companion of the Prophet, Ibnu Abbas, who narrated that, once the unbelieving Quraisy peoplesent An Nadhr ibnul Harits and Uqbah ibnu Abu Muithas delegation to the Jewish Rabbis in Madinah.

The Quraisy requested the 2 delegates to ask the Rabbis,"Ask them about Muhammad and the news that he brought, because they were the first community to be given the Holy Sciptures. They had the knowledge about the prophets which we do not have."

When the 2 delegates reached Madinah they immediately asked the Rabbis about Muhammad's claim as a prophet and some of what he said.

The Rabbis advised the 2 delegates,
"Ask Muhammad about 3 things. If he can answer them, then he is a true prophet. If he cannot answer them, then he is a fake. Ask him about the youths of the past who went for seclusion from their people, ask him about a man who conquered the Far West and Far East, and ask him about the spirit, What is spirit?"



- - - - will be continued with God's will- - - - - - - - -

Footnote:

[1] Asbabun Nuzul can be understood as the historicalincidents or events that occured before or after a certain verses of the Quran was revealed. Literally, it means "reasons for coming down".

[2] hadis = saying of Prophet Muhammad

006-2e The Cave 18:26 - Only YOU know how long

For my new visitors, this series of the meaning of the Holy Qur'an taken from an authentic source of Tafsir Jalalain. I was translating it into English. May this small effort brings the favour of GOD on all mankind. I fetched the meanings from other translations of the Qur'an as well, to make sure I am on the right track.

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of verse 26.
Say GOD knows best about their stay. To HIM belongs the unseen of the heavens and earth. HIS vision of them is Most Clear and HIS hearing is Most Sharp. They have no protector other than HIM. And there is no any partner in HIS rule.

Commentary by Jalalain.
Say, ALLAH knows best how long they stayed in the cave, than the people who were talking about them. To HIM belongs all the knowledge of that which are hidden in the heavens and earth. How clear is HIS sight and how sharp is HIS hearing, and HE sees, HE hears and HE knows everything. There is no protector for the inhabitants of the heavens and earth other than HIM. And HE does not appoint any assistant in making HIS decision, as HE does not need any partner.

Commentary by Muhammad Asad.
Say "GOD knows best how long they remained there. HIS alone is the knowledge of the hidden reality of the heavens and the earth. How well does HE see and hear! No guardian have they, apart from HIM, because HE allots to no one a share in HIS rule."

Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
Say "ALLAH knows best how long they stayed. With him is the knowledge of the secrets of the heavens and the earth. How clearly HE sees, How finely HE hears, They have no protectors other than HIM. Nor does HE shares HIS command with any person whatsoever.

005-9c The Cave 18 : 23 - 24 - Do not be over-confident

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of verse 23.
And never say of anything, "Certainly, I shall do that tomorrow."

Commentary by Jalalain.
'ghadan', the last word in this sentence means atime in the future.

Commentary by Muhammad Asad.
And never say about anything,"Behold, I shall do this tomorrow."

Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
Nor say of anything,"I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow."

Commentary by Muhammad Taqiuddin & Muhsin Khan
And never say of anything,"I shall do such and such thing tomorrow."

======================================================

Literal Translation of verse 24.
Except, "if God wills it". And remember your Lord. When you forget, then say,

"May my Lord shows me nearer to this Truth."

Commentary by Jalalain.

Except by saying, "if God wills".

Which means that we surrender the execution of the matter in the hands of God.
And remember your Lord. If you forget, meaning if youhave forgotten in the beginning and then realize it later, and Al-Hasan said that if you are still withinthe same incident, then, say,

"May my Lord guide me to a nearer truth than this."

Which refers to the story of the Men of the Cave,to show the truth of my prophethood, and Allah didshow the Truth.

Commentary by Muhammad Asad.
Without adding "if God so will" And if you forget, thencall your Sustainer by saying
"I pray that my Sustainer guide me, even closer than this, to what is right."

Muhammad Asad wrote in his footnote that, according to almost all commentators, verses 23 & 24 was primarilyaddressed to Prophet Muhammad, who, on being asked by the pagan Quraysh as to what really happened to the 'Men of the Cave', is said to have replied,

"I shall give you my answer tomorrow."

As usual, the Prophet was expecting revelation from God to answer them. However, revelation was temporarily withheld from him in token of God's disapproval.

In the second instance, this exhortation expresses ageneral principle addressed to all believers. That is, we must always say "if God so will" when making promises and/or commitments.

Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

Without adding "So please Allah!"

And call your Lord to mind when you forget and say,

"I hope that my Lord will guide me closer than this to the right road."

Verses 23 & 24 are parenthetical. We must never relyon our own resources as much as to forget God. If by any chance, we do forget, we must come back to Him and keep Him in remembrance, as did the Companions of the Cave.

In Geometry, the perfect circle is an ideal. Any givencircle that we draw, is not so perfect, that we cannotdraw one closer to the ideal.
So in our life, there is always hope of drawing closer and closer to God.

[My understanding is that, God is telling us, not to be over-confident in making promises and commitments, without asking for help and guidance from HIM.]

=================to be continued=====================

005-8e The Cave 18:22 - Three Five or Seven?

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of verse 22.

They will say that there were 3 of them and the forth was their dog, and they will say that there were 5 of them and the sixth was their dog, as their guess of the unseen. Then they will say that there were 7 of them and the eight was their dog. Say,

"My Lord knows best their numbers. None knew their numbers except a few."

Therefore, do not dispute about their affairs, except physical debate only, and do not ask about

it from any of them.

Commentary by Jalalain.

The people during Prophet Muhammad time disputed about the number of the youths in the cave. Some said they were 3 and the 4th was their dog, some others said they were 5 and the 6th was their dog. These 2 opinions came from the Christians in Najran, which were only speculations, as there were no evidence to substantiate their narration.

Then another opinion, among the Muslims, said that they were 7 and the 8th was their dog.

Imam Jalalain explained that the grammatical arrangement of the original Arabic words and sentences, shows that, the third opinion is the acceptable one.

He also narrated that Ibnu Abbas, whom Prophet Muhammad said was well-versed with the knowledge of the Quran, declared that he was among the "few" who knew the correct number

of the youths in the cave, and he said there were 7 of them.

Therefore, do not argue anymore about this matter anddo not ask anyone, not even the people of the book, or the Jews.

Commentary by Muhammad Asad.

And in times to come some people will say they were three and their dog is the fourth. Some others will say they were five and their dog was the sixth, as they idly guessing without any knowledge, until some people will say that they were seven and the eighth of them being their dog. Say,

"My Sustainer knows best how many they were. None but a few have any real knowledge of them. Hence, do not argue about them otherwise than by way of an obvious argument, and do not ask any of those storytellers to enlighten you about them."

Muhammad Asad wrote in his footnote that, the future tense in the first word "sayakuluna" points to the legendary character of the story, and implies that all speculation about its detail is irrelevant to its parabolic, ethical purport. Do not argue about them except for self-evident ethical lesson.

Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

The controversy is after ages about the number of the Sleepers: were they 3 or 5 or 7?
People answered not from knowledge, but from conjecture.

Gibbon's version, which has now become well-known, makes the number of Sleepers seven.

The number is immaterial. We should pay attention to the spiritual lesson.

The true significance of the story is known only to a few. Most people discuss the details which are not in their knowledge.

It is unprofitable to enter into such immaterial controversies, and many other controversies

that have been waged about religion by shallow men from time immemorial.

Yes, if there is a matter of clear knowledge from experience that matters, we must openly proclaim it, so that the world may be brought to listen to God's Truth.

Vulgar story-mongers as such know little of the true significance of stories and parables.

We have a clear exposition in The Quran. What need is there to go into details of the

number of men in the Cave, or of the length of time they remained in it?

Commentary by Muhammad Taqiuddin & Muhsin Khan

Some say they were 3 and the dog was the 4th. Others say they were 5 and the dog was the 6th, guessing at the unseen. Yet others say they were 7, and the dog was the 8th. Say,

"My Lord knows best their number, none knows them but a few."

So debate not except with clear proof. And consult not any of the people of the book, Jews and Christians, about the affairs of the people of the Cave.

Commentary by Harun Yahya

Such speculation is wrong as they were only guessingat the Unseen. Muslims must not arguebut just say that

"ALLAH knows best."

Obviously, there is no point in listening to arguments based on hearsay, conjecture and ignorance.

ALLAH warns against such arguments,


"Do not pursue what you have no knowledge of. Hearing, sight and hearts will
all be questioned"

[Chapter Al-Isra' Verse 36]


However, ALLAH do reveals some of the unseen to HIS messengers.


"HE is the Knower of the Unseen, and does not divulge HIS Unseen to anyone -
except a Messenger with whom HE is well pleased, and then HE posts sentinels before him
and behind him"

[Chapter Al-Jinn Verse 26 - 27]



--------------to be continued--------------------

005-5e The Cave 18 : 19 - How long did they sleep in the cave

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of verse 16.
And that was how We woke them up so that they asked one another. One of them asked,

"How long have you stayed here?"

Some of them answered,

"Perhaps a day or half-a-day."

The others answered,

"Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed here. So let one of you go to the town with some silver money, and buy some good food. He must be gentle and should not tell anyone of your affair"

Commentary by Imam Jalalain.
That was what We had done to the People of the Cave. We woke them up so that they asked among themselves of their condition and the period of their stay in the cave. They had entered the cave during sunrise, and they woke up during sunset, so some of them thought that they had been in the cave only for a day.

The Arabic word "wariqikum" means "your silver money". According to an opinion, the town was Tharasus. Good food signify lawful for eating.

+++++++++++to be continued+++++++++++++++++++++++

A Trip to Malacca

View of Jalan Munshi Abdullah, from the hotel window towards direction of Perigi Hang Tuah after and before the heavy rain. Next is the view of the Perigi Hang Tuah. Perigi means well. Bottom is the Emperor Hotel

Morning of 5 Jan 2008, My wife & I drive across the Causeway to Malacca. We took our sweet time with stop over at Pasar Tani to buy some groceries and take-away breakfast in-the car. Then we stop at Kempas Toll gate to top-up our Touch-n-Go Toll Card. We also stop at Machap, about 100km for lunch.

We arrive at Mahad Tahfiz (Quran Memorizing School) Batu Berendam in Malacca at about 2:30pm with a stop at at near-by mosque for our noon prayer. We did Qasr-Jamak of 2 zuhr and 2 Asr prayer. It was so arkward to see a young lady to clean the mosque.

At The Mahad Tahfiz we handed, to the principal, the charity for his Quran Memorizing School which was trusted to us by a friend. This school is dedicated for girls only, ranging from the age of 8 to 22 years old.

After completing the 4-year quran memorizing program , the girls will continue to with Islamic Studies for another 4 years. Some of the girls had completed both term there and one of them is in South Africa and another in England pursuin further studies in Islamic Education.

We chit chat with he principal and his wife and meet up with one of the girls whom we adopted and sponsor her studies there. The principal is our distant cousins.

Then we proceeded to Perigi Hang Tuah, to buy roasted belachan for friends and relatives back home, but felt tired along the way. We checked into Hotel Emperor as shown in above photos. Shortly after check-in, heavy rain started to poured all over Malacca Town, and our trip to Perigi Han Tuah was disrupted. We took the oppurtunity for a short quality nap. We had satay for dinner at the food court across the road.

Next morning, 6 Jan, we proceeded to Perigi Hang Tuah at Duyong District of Malacca. It was about 10km from the hotel.

Hang Tuah was a lagendary Malay hero during the time of Malacca Sultanate around the period of 1500. He made Malacca popular during the time of the Majapahit, Pasai and Acheh Dynasty within the Malay Archipelago. He also fought against the invasion of the Portugese into Malacca. He was said to be an expert in Malay Spiritual Martial Arts and was equivalent to, if not superior than, the Shaolin Monks.

Along with him lived the legendary Hang Li Po and some other Chinese famous figures of Malacca. The Chinese was said to have come to Malacca during the time of the Voyage of Admiral Cheng Ho from China to Malacca. And during the British administration of Malaya, more Chinese migrated into Malacca and other states of Malaysia.

Belachan is a very famous preserved shrimp paste originated from Malacca. It is used as flavoring for Malay and Nyonya cuisines.

With the will of GOD, I will try to continue this episode another day.

004-1c The Cave 18:9 The 7 sleepers of Ephesus

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Translation of Verse 9.
Do you counted that the People of the Cave and the Inscription were wonders among Our signs?

Tafsir Jalalain
Or you consider that the Dwellers of the Cave at a certain hill and the Stone Inscription as one of the wonders of Our signs.

According to Jalalain, the names of the Dwellers of the Cave and their genealogy were inscribed on the Stone Inscription. Once the Prophet were asked about them.

Gramatically, this verse means that, do you think that the People of the Cave are more wondrous than the other signs of God? Verily, no, they are not more wondrous.

Tafsir Muhammad Asad
And since the life of this world is but a test, do you really think that the parable of the Men of the Cave and of their devotion to the scriptures could be deemed more wondrous than any other of our messages?

Popular belief is that those youths were true Christians, who did not want to submit to the persecution of the Roman Emperor Decius of the Third Century, and to the people around them who had began to worship other gods.

Another version is that they were young and pious Jews of the Essen Brotherhood who were committed and dedicated to the writings, studying and preservation of the Holy Scriptures, in a secluded place near the Dead Sea. Jesus was believed to belong to this group. After the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, they became known as the Qumran community.

Tafsir Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
There are 4 lessons to be learned from the wonderful story of the Companions of the Cave.

1) the relativity of time.

2) the unreality of persecutor and persecuted.

3) the truth of final resurrection.

4) the potency of faith and prayer.

Such wonder are not more wondrous, as it happens everyday on God's earth.

The unbelieving Quraish people of Makkah were in the habit of questioning Prophet Muhammad in order to discredit him. The Christian legend of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus is one of their question.

Prophet Muhammad told them the main story and pointed out the different variations and disputes among the people regarding the seven sleepers, and emphasized that the story is a parable with spiritual lessons of the highest value.

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Moral Lessons

The truth of Religion and God is not judge by magical powers and incidents but by the plain simple message of being sincere and to GOD. As in the case of Moses and the crossing of the Red Sea, these seven sleepers are simply one of the sign of the greatness of GOD to make things happen out of the scientific reasoning.

You cannot reason how come the Moses and his followers could cross the Red Sea without a boat or a ship! Thus you cannot reason, how come these 7 syouths can sleep in a cave for 309 years??

Therefore the truth is what the prophets had taught us. Anf for us, The Quran is the sign of the greatness of GOD revealed to Prophet Muhammad.

You only need to read and study the Holy Quran to see The Truth.

I have read many other religious books including The Bible and they are not better than the Holy Quran.

003-2c The Cave 18 : 7 - 8 - The Best Specimen

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of Verse 7.
Verily We have made whatever is on earth as its ornaments,to test them, whom among them are of the best conduct.

Tafsir Jalaian.
Verily We have made whatever on earth, such as animals,vegetation, trees, rivers etc. as its decorations,so that We test mankind and observes whom among them has the best conduct in this world, that is, who amongthem are less attach to the worldly matters.


Tafsir Muhammad Asad.
Behold, We have willed that all beauty on earth be a meansby which We put men to a test, showing which of them arebest in conduct.
God lets men reveal their real characters in their respective attitudes, moral or immoral, towards the material goods and benefits which the world offer them. In further analysis, this passage implies that the real motive underlying men's refusal to believe in God'sspiritual message, is almost always their excessive blind attachment to the good of this world, combinedwith false pride in what they regard as their own achievements.

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Literal Translation of Verse 8.
And verily, We will surely make whatever on it to be flattened and barren.

Tafsir Jalaian.
And verily, We will surely make whatever on it to beflattened to the ground level, dry, barren and infertile.


Tafsir Muhammad Asad.
And, verily, in time We shall reduce all that is on itto barren dust

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Moral
We should not be too much attached to these temporary worldly activities and all its fanciful attractions, but, instead we should pay more attention and spend most of our time on the activities that will bring us permanent success and happiness in the hereafter, that is paradise, which is promised by GOD.
Otherwise, we will end up roasted in the burning Fire of Hell.