From one of my teacher,
Assalamu'alaikum wrh wbkt
I am writing this email to you in the last days of this Blessed Month of Ramadhan. Here is some advice on what to do in these last days. It is long email, so only read on if you have the time.

The last days of Ramadhan

1) Feel the intense sadness that Ramadhan is leaving us, together with its blessings and forgiveness and barokah.

2) Feel the regret about the time wasted in this Holy Month, and double - no, triple - all efforts to do as much ibadah as humanly possible in these last days, and nights, right up to the last night.

3) Pray to Allah, that we be amongst those who will meet the next Ramadhan to come, and make a sincere intention to improve further, the standard of our fasts, in the coming Ramadhan.

4) Pray to Allah, that He accepts whatever little we have sent forth in this month by His Infinite Grace and Mercy, and that He allows us to leave this month, sin-free and with an improvement in Taqwa and Iman. Ameen.

On the night of Hari Raya

1) There is no terawih on this night.

2) Instead, we are to do the takbir -
Allahu akbar (three times), Lailaha illalhu Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillahil hamd.
The recital of this takbir may be done until the end of the Hari Raya prayers the next day.

3) This is a VERY SPECIAL NIGHT, one of 4 during the entire year, according to Sayyidina Ali (ra). One who is in ibadah on this night, his heart will not die, when the hearts of others do, says Rasulullah (saw).

So spend the night in prayer and supplication (doa). Do tahajjud, Qur'an reading and taubat,

Thank Allah sincerely for giving you the blessings of Ramadhan - so many have died from disasters before and during Ramadhan, yet our country is peaceful and you are still alive to peace and wonderful ibadah. Alhamdulillah wa Syukrulillah, thank Allah, and He will add more blessings upon His grateful servants.

4) Make a sincere intention to continue practising the good amalan that you have done in Ramadhan - like eating less, talking less, backbiting less, praying more and reading Qur'an more - good deeds that you have picked up in Ramadhan. Also make intention to leave all bad amal that you have left in Ramadhan - like backbiting, overeating, laziness, overspending, time wasting etc.

5) DO NOT GO SHOPPING ON THIS NIGHT - whether at Geylang Bazaar or elsewhere. Not when Allah is handing out the gifts and blessings all night long. When does a worker get paid for doing his job? At the end of his job, right? Would any worker be dumb enough to leave before being paid? Obviously, no. Allah asks that same question to His angels on that night - What should a worker get at the end of a job well done? So it's payment time, in the form of blessings and forgiveness, and it would be so unimaginable if you were shopping in Geylang at that moment.

On Hari Raya Day itself

1) Check the timing of the Solat Eidul Fitri, as it is different in different parts of Singapore. Given the choice of praying at the mosque or at a Multi Purpose hall, stadium or open space, choose the latter. The Prophet (Saw) did not perform Solat Eidul Fitri at the Mosque, he held it at the open ground, so it is a Sunnah to do that.

2) Before going to the prayer, bathe (mandi Sunnat hari raya). Put on perfume and EAT A LIGHT MEAL BEFORE GOING. That is also Sunnah. It is forbidden to fast on this day.

3) Women and children are also encouraged to join in the festivities by going to the Solat Eidul Fitri. Even menstruating women may go, and although they cannot pray, they can listen to the Khutbah Hari Raya.

4) In the Solat Hari raya, the Khutbah is after the prayer (unlike Friday prayers when the Khutbah is before solat). DO not talk during the Khutbah - listen respectfully, as if it were the Prophet (saw) speaking to you from the mimbar.

5) The Solat Hari raya is a two raka'at prayer. It is identical to any other 2 raka'at prayer except that there are some extra takbirs (Allahu akbar) inserted in each raka'at. In the first ra'ka'at, between the Takbiratul ihram and Suratul Fatihah, there are 7 additional takbirs. In the second raka'at, before reading Suratul Fatiha, there are 5 additional takbirs.You may say the niat for the prayer in Malay
or English - that is allowed. Simply said, it is as follows - I am performing my Sunnat Eidul Fitri prayer, 2 raka'at, for the sake of Allah.

6) After the prayer and khutbah is over, do stay for a while to make doa.

7) Return home by a different route from which you came. This is also a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw).

8) If you missed the prayer at the mosque because you woke up late, you may pray this Solat Hari Raya at home, on your own. Just make the niat, and pray a two raka'at prayer, remembering to add the 7 extra takbirs in the first raka'at, and the 5 extra takbirs in the second raka'at. The prayer can be done anytime from 7am to just before the azan of Solat Zuhur. Once past the azan, the time for the Solat Hari Raya has lapsed.

9) Seek forgiveness from family and friends all day long. Forgive all those who have hurt you in any way too. (You can start forgiving now, no need to wait for Hari Raya). Give priority to parents, in-laws, grandparents, elders, ustads, teachers and senior members of a family, when visiting.

10) You have spent Ramadhan in isolation, uzlah and iktikaf, so spend this day in visiting, and joining family ties.

11) Leave all family fueds behind. Be the first to visit, never feel that someone must visit you first, because you are senior. The Prophet (saw) said that the better of 2 brothers is the one that gives the salam first. So be the first to bury the hatchet and to join family ties. The Prophet (saw) said, "Shall I show you an amal that will increase your sustenance (rizqi) and lengthen your life? Join the family ties."

12) Spend the day in good acts, like zikir (as you jalan-jalan), charity and ensure that you perform all your fardhu prayers. So many people skip prayers on the pretext that it is inconvenient to pray while on the move. Do not destroy your Ramadhan's amal in a day!

The effect of performing a Haji or Umrah, is seen when the person returns from the Holy Lands - has he turned for the better? Similarly, the effect of Ramadhan is seen when a person finishes Ramadhan - has he become more obedient, more fearful of defying Allah - or is he the same? You be the judge of your own Ramadhan.

13) Many ladies dress provocatively on this day, so as to look 'attractive' for visiting. Dress modestly, and Islamically.

The end of Ramadhan marks the re-appearance of Iblis and Syaitan, and they are very very upset to see all their hard work gone - as Allah has forgiven His servants and has given them His blessings.

So Iblis and Syaitan then vow to work extra hard from this first day of Syawal to drag us back into sin and into Allah's wrath. Remember, Iblis is your enemy, why take his advice over Allah's? Allah teaches women to dress modestly in the Qur'an, but Iblis says, flaunt what you have. Who's advice will you take?

14) The Prophet (saw) summarised how we should spend Hari Raya in a beautiful hadees, "Decorate your Hari Raya with Takbir (Allahu akbar), Tahmid (Alhamdulillah), Tahlil (Lailahaillallah) and Tasbih (Subhanallah)."

Adab of visiting

1) Do check with the host when it is convenient to visit. Do not surprise people.

2) Do not make the host wait - if you have promised to be at his house at 2pm, be there at 2pm. The host may himself wish to visit others, and by being late, you are inconveniencing the host.

3) Do not go with the intention to collect money. The intention is to join family ties and to spread love and forgiveness.

4) Do not comment on the amount of money given to you or your children. Some people say things like,"Oh, what a stingy guy, he gave my son $2, but we gave his daughter $5." Such words are evil back biting and also destroys your amal.

Be sincere in giving, and expect nothing in return. Remember, many people are out of a job now in Singapore, so they may not be able to give as generously as before.

5) Do not over eat. Remember, your body has been fasting for one month, and is not ready for a sudden, massive increase in food.

6) Finally, do not overstay your welcome, as the host may have plans to go visiting too. So do politely check with the host, if you wish to stay on.

Adab in Syawal

1) Do fast (puasa sunnat) 6 more days in Syawal. You may fast on Mondays and Thursdays so as to get added pahala and you may even niat to pay back any fast you have missed at the same time. So that's a 3 in 1 fast - niat puasa Sunnat Syawal + niat puasa Sunnat Isnin or Khamis + niat puasa Qadha.

2) Do not fast when visiting - it is rude to the host, who may feel offended that you are not eating.

3) If guests arrive when you are fasting, it is best to break your fast and join your guests (you will still get the reward for fasting). Do not make your guest uncomfortable by fasting while they are eating.

4) Finally, start saving money, so that you can participate in the next major Islamic celebration - Hari Raya Haji - where the best amal that can be done on that day (besides performing Haj), is to sacrifice an animal for Allah. So do save up, so that you too can afford to sacrifice an animal.

For those going to perform the Haj (pilgrimage) take this period to do lots of taubat and doa, as preparation for the life-changing journey ahead.


Conclusion
Eidul Fitri means - to return to purity. So that summarises what Ramadhan is all about, and what this celebration is all about - thankfulness that Allah has rightly guided us back to the path of self purification, hence closeness to Allah. Alhamdulillah and Ameen.


There you go, some advice about the post - Ramadhan period. I do apologise for this email being so long. Do email me if you have queries or if you need clarification on any point.

I would like to take this opportunity, for myself, and behalf of my whole family (Shariza, Sakeenah and little Sufyan), to seek your forgiveness on all that we have said, done, thought or assumed about you, both in your presence, or your absence. Ma'af zahir dan bathin, sincerely from the bottom of our hearts. Do find it in your heart to overlook our faults, and to pray for our forgiveness to Allah. Jazakallahu khair, have wonderful remaining days of Ramadhan, Eid Mubarak, and Wassallam.

Khan

A fren of mine, Joshua, who used to be in e same secondary chatted with me just a few moments. He told about our teacher, Mr Nasir who promised to send us what we have wrote 2 years back during our secondary school days. He teached us civic and moral education (CME) and he always don't refer to the CME book.

There was one activity where he asked the class to write a short essay on what we are going to do/be in, in a few years time. Thus, he promised to send us the letter which we wrote. Joshua, just received his letter which he wrote 2 years ago. I guess it was a memorable piece of thing cos we've been through the hard times (lots of maths worksheets from mrs tay and all). I just realised that within that duration, i've moved house so i guess that the letter wouldn't reached my mailbox. I just want to get mypiece of letter back because i`m really curious what big goals i've set and do i achieve it now? Now, we are in poly, all heading towards that diploma cert.

Sometimes i feel that i need to go back to my secondary school and pay them a visit so that they will not forget who we are and what good/bad things we have done during our secondary school years.

Just for laugh..no pun intended.

A Singaporean was on holiday in Malaysia..
He was having his coffee, croissants, bread, butter & jam at the hotel's coffee house.

A Malaysian man who was chewing gum, sat down next to him & started a casual conversation.

Malaysian : "You Singaporeans eat the whole bread?"
Singaporean : "Of course."
Malaysian : "We don't. In Malaysia , we only eat what's inside.The crusts we collect in a container, recycle it, transform them into croissants & sell them across to Singapore."

The Malaysian then had a smirk on his face while the Singaporean listened in silence.

Malaysian : "Do you eat the jam with the bread?"
Singaporean : "Of course."
Malaysian (chuckling): "We don't. In Malaysia, we eat fresh fruit for breakfast, then we put all the peels, seeds & other left-overs in a container, recycle them, transform them into jam, before we sell it across to Singapore."

This time, the Singaporean retorted : "Do you have sex in Malaysia?"
Malaysian : "Why, of course we do."
Singaporean : "Do you wear protection?"
Malaysian : "Of course! We wear condoms."
Singaporean : "And what do you do with the condoms once you've used them?"
Malaysian : "Stupid question ! Of course we throw them away."
Singaporean : "We don't. In Singapore, the government secretly puts them in a container, recycle them, melt them down into chewing gum & sell them across to Malaysia & that's the real reason why we banned chewing gum in Singapore."

sometimes i feel that i need to spend time with my family members. especially my sister, she's been working ever since i stopped joking, sharing somethings and stuffs with her. its really quite hard to spend time with a working person. a few moments ago, she sat beside me and i showed all the pictures some of my friends and i took in school. she was so happy to see all those.

my friend have problem, someone wanted her password and took control of everything? they're only friends yet he wanted to control her. its like... sometimes things are not what the way they are.

School passed by real quick. Khai had English class at 10am just now follow by his Gems. Well, he bought his bike at Ubi... Congrats to him and alhamdulillah to me. =) who's khai?

argh. skool time flies so fast. lecture in the morning and tutorial another part till evening. tho its been from 10am-5pm class, it feels that time flies.
site analysis of our new project yet to be done. things have been hectic these days as im working during the weekends, getting ready for tuesday presentation and all.
now, i didn't realise that our hari raya is just few weeks away.
im getting a bike within this week or let say before raya?

she said, "if u were him, its heaven".
=)

I really can't recall when we went to View Road Hospital, an abandoned old hospital off Admiralty. We went there to explore the surrounding as we were bored after our work. I just remembered it was on Friday's night; Thursday.

Azrien, my colleaque at Shell drove us to a place where he knew we could find "ghost". It was about 11pm plus or so. The three of us were waiting for the other members, Shafri at that point of time, was on his way back from Johore with his bike. Thus we set off at ard 1am. With only a US army torchlight which Azrien had in his car, we tresspass the area. The only thing i didn't bring with me was my camera. We went in search for the Thing, anything that came across our minds. However, it turn out to be nothing at the old mental hospital, went to the rooftop, to the toilet as well as to the dirty wards with the help of the light source coming from Azrien's torchlight. I look at my hp to see wat time is it, it was only 3am. Feeling bored, we went to the grave yard. While we were walking out of the hospital, we suspected a police car at the gate parked just behind our car. As usual, they screened us.

After which, we decide to go to the haunted place nearby which i can't remember the name of the place; i guess it was _______ hill. We searched for that ______hill and drove a few rounds at the same area. Even the driver, Azrien had to flip the streetdirectory book a couple of times, making the car stationary first. We got bored searching for the place and we had other ideas on our minds. Thus we headed to Cemetry, Lim Chu Kang. We told ourselves not to disturb the Muslim thus we went to the Christian lawn cemetry. In that moment, Azrien remembered that his friend passed away not long ago, so he decided to search for his name at every thombstone. The only experience we had is when Shafri and i went near a thombstone and the sound gets louder and louder. We back off and ended our journey ard 5am plus.

I had just remembered tat on that very morning i need to start my journey to Tanah Merah ferry terminal with my sister to for holiday at Tanjung Pinang.

--

Now, i am writing this as i wanted to point out something. A few moment ago, Amaka sent me a link. http://adoseoflight.com/overdose/xiaokang.html He told me that this is a story, a story of a guy committed suicide while he took his last 5 frames using an analog SLR camera. I clicked on the first few frames of the pictures, i recognise the place. The place i've been to that very night, View Road Hospital. I didn't knew that someone has committed suicide. We went there that night and nothing happened. It all happened last year. I guess the only reason i forgot to bring my camera along that night is to respect the person, still silently taking pictures for the love of photography. Rest In Peace photographer.