Ramadhan and Raya 2011

Today is the 7th of Syawal. Notice I do not use the term Raya ke-7 etc because strictly speaking there is no such thing in Islam. Ustaz Hasrizal tweeted even on the 2nd of Syawal about the misconceptions. From what I understand and remember, there are only two rayas in Islam, Eid Fitri and Eid Adha.

Regarding the Adha, recently I read an article descriibing the last month of Prophet Muhammad and among the last ayats said that the religion is then complete. Later a Rabbi read the part and (if I am not mistaken) went to see the Caliph at that time who was Abu Bakar and said, "That was a day that if for the jew, would be rejoiced. We would have celebrated." Apparently the day that ayat was revealed, was Eid Adha, to which Abu Bakar said it was already a day to be rejoiced by Muslim. 

Point is, Eids for us are only two, so let us not be too 'creative' and stop with this raya ke-3, ke-4 etc.

In remembrance of one week ago, when we left Ramadhan, the only month mentioned in Quran, I am sure most have heard how a man is in great loss if he leaves Ramadhan but nothing has changed in him. Hopefully none of us comes into this category.

Regarding the change that Ramadhan brought, it's commonly said it is easiest to change in Ramadhan because the environment is most conducive. People are bent in doing Ibadah, bettering themselves and the fasting during the day sets the body in a more receptive condition. My brother once said there is a reset button in us, and from time to time we reset ourselves. He said that in a week, it is Jumaat, hence the Jumaat prayer while in a year, the reset time for it is Ramadhan. I am not sure in a day, but I think it's in maghrib. Anyway in a logical sense, all this seems to justify the reason and hikmah Allah made Ramadhan to be a fasting month(which resets the body too) and the hadis above.

Furthermore I have noticed(with no study done) that the time of prayer in the Equator gets earlier everyday. This happens gradually which is countered in Ramadhan where the prayer time gets later everyday until the cycle begins again. Is this only in my mind or have anyone else noticed it too?

Raya succeeds Ramadhan. My beraya session with friends were spent in Sungai Petani and Perlis, which took quite a distance to travel. Hence along the way there were "catching up" sessions, or some would correctly call gossiping. Honestly the conversation mostly centred around ourselves in the end and not to my surprise the recurring topic were jodoh  and marriage. It seems at my batch of age, this topic is not that sensitive anymore. Gone are the manner in yesteryears, where any questions regarding this are answered sheepishly or more often deflected with amateurish cunningness. Although not all of whom I met were so open but with a bit of questioning, none would deny their human nature.
Thus most of the conversation were regarding relationships. Since it's a -ship, no travel is similar with the other, so even after to and fro the distance to Perlis, the time was never enough to give one opinion and discuss with one another. I wrote this piece in respect to a friend of mine, something for him to ponder over. I dunno if anyone else might benefit, I don't even know if he'll benefit but nevertheless I wish all the best  in life to him, myself and you.

Butang baju Melayu, hadiah dari Izzudin, cikgu yang bertugas dekat Sabah

If I may say so myself, I have changed this past months but for better or worse, I do not know. InsyaAllah baik. I wish everyone selamat berpuasa 6, and may anything you do will bring benefit to us all.

Thanks for reading!