New Year 2012

Here comes a New Year 2012. Many of us have made a New Year resolution. Are we really serious about it (to achieve it) or just a rhetoric practice as others have it?

The New Year certainly has different & new challenges for us. We have to have great determination & will in order to successfully face it. Only some people normally manage to succeed. In order to succeed, we have to get rid all the negative attitudes of our heart & instil the positive attitude instead and never be give up. For Muslims, we should never forget the help of Allah by keep praying (doa).

We should also be good to other species of the creatures on this only earth (animals, plants, environment etc.). They too need conducive atmosphere for survival. We cannot just thinking of ourselves. We must not to be greedy for ourselves. We should consider that not only we alone live here. Whatever we do must have a sense of sharing with other species of the creatures. We cannot simply neglect the importance of symbiosis & stability of the ecology system. Whatever we have done eventually come back to us.

This year also is very important to my family as two of our children will be sitting for the important school examinations. Our eldest, Sakinatul Aisyah will take her Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan examination (STPM – Malaysian Higher School Certificate) and our youngest, Sakinatul Awatif will sit for her Penilaian Menengah Rendah examination (PMR – Lower Secondary Assessment). My pray for both of them to excel in their exam. Our second child, Abdullah Syahiran Arfan awaits his SPM result.

HAPPINESS

   As a human being, we surely want to be happy all the times. Happiness is a must. Is there any real true happiness out there? What can happiness really do to our life? Can it lead us to a quality life? Can a lot of money really buy us the happiness? Can the happiness be achieved by being healthy all the times?

   What is the true definition for happiness? Happiness is somehow defined (by Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary) as a state of well-being & contentment and a pleasurable/satisfying experience.

   No one can really best define what the happiness is. Happiness is abstract & subjective. It totally depends on the spiritual satisfaction of an individual. Happiness is something related closely with our heart & feelings.

   Happiness is not pleasure. Happiness cannot be measured physically. It can only be expressed by the emotional & inner feelings of someone. The happy people always look unstressed & joyful. Happiness comes when we are always being with a positive thinking & attitudes….

“Those who believed, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah (s.w.t.): for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah (s.w.t.) do hearts find satisfaction” [Al-Quran, Ar-Raad, 28]

Soursop

Soursop; Annona muricata

   The soursop tree is a low-branching & short stalked tree. It can reach a height of 7-9 meter. The fruit is more/less heart-shaped, some times irregular or curved. The size ranges from 10-30 cm long, 15 cm width & weighs up to 4.5-6.8 kg. The fruit is compound & covered with a reticulated, tender, inedible, bitter skin & has pliable 'spines'. Its inner surface is cream-colored & granular and separates easily from the mass of snow-white, juicy segments.

   Soursop is a fruit that has the most delectable flavor. The skin is thin & covered with conical nibs. The white pulpy flesh contains black inedible seeds, and has a sweet & acidic taste.

Health & Medical Benefits:

     1.  A natural killer for cancer cell (able to        
       attack    the cancer cells effectively & naturally 
       without any side effects).

2. The seeds (emetic properties) can be used in the treatment of vomiting.

3. The crushed fresh leaves can be applied on skin eruptions to promote healing.

4. The juice of the fruit is a remedy for urethritis, haematuria & liver ailments.

5. An antidote for poisoning (root/bark).

6. An analgesic & antispasmodic.

My father

Eidulfitr 2011

     Sunday 2nd Oct. 2011; my siblings and I have lost a great & most inspirational father. A Retired Police Sergeant 22421 Idris bin Hussain was called to return to the Al-Mighty Allah at about 6.30 a.m., shortly after azan for Subuh (Dawn) prayer. He was suffering from a motor neuron disease & bedridden for years.

    He was so humorous & kind, not only to us, but to all his friends. Sometime, he was so strict to us especially in matter of discipline & school education.

    I received this news at about 7.00 a.m. Quickly I informed my wife & eldest child about it. Soon, we rushed back to Bukit Kuang after packing whatever necessary within our reach. We arrived in Bukit Kuang at about 12.00 p.m., just after the body of my father was completely bathed.

    Father; you’re so humble, so kind. We’re gonna to miss you.  You’re no longer with us. Now, we only have a great loving mother with us.

    Finally, my late father was laid to rest in peace at about 2.30 p.m. O Idris bin Hussain – stay calm over there.

    Ya Allah, Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim. Do accept Idris bin Hussain with Your Unlimited Mercy and shower him with Your Utmost Blessings & Forgiveness.

Durian

Durian; Durio zibethinus   
(The King of Fruits)

Durian tree is normally growing up to 27 meter. The fruit is oblong with a length of 20-35 cm, diameter of 18-22 cm & weighs about 1-9 kg. Its rind  is thick with sharply pointed spines. Inside the fruit, there are normally 5 or less compartments containing the creamy white/yellowish edible pulp. Each durian usually contains 1-7  glossy seeds, about 2-6 cm long. Durian has a distinctive & strong odour. The grafted durian trees produce crop in 4-5 years while seedlings need about 10 years.

Health & Medical  Benefits:

1.        Source for vitamin B, C &  E.

2.        The fruit is a rich source for  B-complex groups of vitamins such as niacin (vitamin B3), riboflavin (vitamin B2), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and thiamine (vitamin B1).

3.        Its leaves & roots can be used for healing fevers & jaundice.

4.        Durian fruit can lower a cholesterol level.

5.        Durian can alleviate anxiety, depression, & insomnia (due to its amino acid, tryptophan), and it also can create  feelings of  happiness by increasing  serotonin level in the brain.

6.        Durian is a good  laxative as it is rich with a dietary fibres.

7.        Durian is a very excellent source of manganese, copper, iron, magnesium & potassium.

8.        Tryptophan in durian can also act as "nature sleeping pill" (it will be metabolized into serotonin & melatonin in the body).

Mangosteen

Mangosteen;  Garcinia mangostana 
(The Queen of Fruits)  

   The height of a tree is about 7-25 meters with a very black dark brown bark. Inside the fruit, there is a translucent white delicious  flesh. The fruit is between 4-6 cm round, with a dark purple/reddish rind. It is multi-segmented, usually with 4-8 segments. The taste of the fleshy fruit is sweet. Its rind is bitter & unpleasant but contains highest concentration of xanthones. The interesting fact about mangosteen is that each contains a type of petals “flower” at the  bottom of the fruit, which normally  indicates the same number of segments in  the fruit. The mangosteen tree takes about 7-10 years to start producing fruits.

Health & Medical  Benefits:

1.       anti aging.

2.       gets rid of free radical.

3.       inflammation & pain.

4.       immune system.

5.       respiratory system.

6.       intestinal health.

7.       cartilage function.

8.       joint function.

Eid ul Fitr/Ramadhan

   Eid ul Fitr & Ramadhan have gone, leaving us as before. Have we really done & achieved something from those? Have we really cleansed & purified our deepest heart away from all bad things? Only we ourselves can answer it.

   Eid ul Fitr & Ramadhan this year are no more with us. We must keep our lives going on. Although these two special events/occasions have just left us, we must always keep the spirit of them inside our hearts & minds.

   May Allah accept our good deeds during last Eid ul Fitr & Ramadhan & shower us with His Great  mercy & blessings…..