Why Do We Read Quran, Even if We Can't Understand a Single Arabic Word...??

An old man lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur'an. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Granpa! I try to read the Qur'an just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?" The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The Grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and send him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his Grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water, I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough." and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew that it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!" The old man said, "So you think it's useless? Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

"Son, that's what happened when you read the Qur'an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That's the work of Allah in our lives."

This is a beautiful story. May our hearts be openned by it.

Another Interview...+ Drawing Test.

Interview : BSc(Architecture)
Venue : FSPU a.k.a Fakulti Seni Bina, Perancangan dan Ukur,UiTM Shah Alam
Time : 8.30am
Date : 13 April 2008

I walked out from my home at 7.00am. My parents and I stopped to have breakfast for a while after we reached in Shah Alam. After finished eating, we continued our journey to UiTM Shah Alam. We thought maybe we could arrived there before the time, but there're a small traffic jam before we entered the UiTM's main gate(traffic jam exactly at the main gate)... Then, we lost for a while in there(tersilap gi FSSR a.k.a Fakulti Seni Lukis dan Seni Reka). My father thought I'll be interviewed in FSSR because there're so much people attend there for interviews there (Sbnrnye bdk yg nk amik seni bina dgn seni lukis interview pd hr yg same cuma tmpt yg lain). So, sahlah pagi2 lagi dah kene exercise turun naik bukit(sbb FSSR and FSPU tu kt ats bukit especially FSPU). After exercise naik turun bukit, then exercise naik tangga lak. Kat FSPU tu tangganye punyala tinggi. Semput gakla..

After arrived in the front of FSPU building, all candidates required to queue to register at the counter...according to course. Because not BSc of architecture only held there, there're much more such as Quantity Surveying, Town Planning, Diploma in Building, Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design. So, of course there're a very long queue. Lucky me, my dad ask a candidates politely to let me queue in front him(sebab silap baris, cek gi berbaris kat counter Diploma Bangunan bkn BSc Archi). Reached at the counter, the person in charge ask me to show the interview letter, then she gave me a coupon-like paper written my turn number.[Session 3, 10.30am, no.3]. Then, she instructed me to get inside the building and wait under the canopy that were prepared for us(hujan rintik2 pagi tuh)

After, salam with my parents, I sit at the place she asked. Then, suddenly Nailah greet me.(actually dah tau die ade interview gak hr tu, cume igtkan die dh msk bilik interview) So, we have a conversation there. She said that she will take the drawing test at 9.30am(the drawing test will be held first without considering the difference of courses before the interview according our courses was held). Then, at 9.30am, Nailah stepped into the drawing test's place while I went to the cafeteria with my parents to have some drinks. About 10.45am, I sat back under the canopy(sepatutnye pkl 10.30 start drawing test, tp asyik tunda je, so ktorg start kul 11.30am)

At 11.30 am, an instructor called us(session 3 candidates) to go to a room to complete the drawing test(punyelah nervous waktu tu, mcm2 dlm otak;nk design bgnn camne ek). In the room(bilik kuliah yg pastinya), we're asked to sit far from each other. Leave a chair empty between 2 people. On the small desk, an A3 paper with a form were put. Then, we're asked to complete the form. The instructor give briefing and told us the rules(no rulers and its 'siblings', no colours only 2B pecils with a rubber only can be used).Then, he told us what we had to draw.(cheh, rupe2nye die bg satu bende;silinder,2 sfera,cube,pyramid,kuboid yg tlah disusun jd cam satu combination...lukis balik bende tu je. Punyela cek nervous, igtkan suruh lukis ikut imaginasi sendiri rupe2nye die bg dah...so selamatla sbb waktu tu mmg otak tgh blank) So, I start drawing. While drawing,the instructor made an announcement,"Jgn lukis kecik cam semut. Camne org nk nilai kalo lukis kecik2. Masa diberi 1 jam, so lukislah dan buatlah yg terbaik. Ini adalah peluang terakhir anda."(cek xfhm ape yg die maksudkan dgn 'ini adalah peluang terakhir anda.' Tp, waktu tu tgh melukis,mmg xhirau ape dah). So, I do my very best in the drawing(lebih2 lagi sbb waktu f4 dulu Ust Idris pernah bg ujian PSV lebih kurang camni cume die letak jug and mug). So, I use all techniques that I've learned;the shading,toning,rubbing,sketching and etc.

Finished drawing, we're called out from the room by course. Then, we're lead to the interview place. And, of course, when it came to an interview, my nervous level become very very high. SO, I wait for my turn(lambat gler, waktu dh habis drawing test tu, br no.22 dr 48 org sesi 2 msk bilik interview. Mine is no.3 sesi 3). I wait for a very long time, so I get new friends, Shikin and Nadzatul. I went to have a Zuhr pray. Then, sit in front of the room again, waiting. My turn is around 3.30pm. Then, I walk into the room with all my documents and the drawing that I've done in the morning. The room have 3 couples of interviewers, the couples were separated by temporary walls so that 3 peoples can do the interview simultaneouly in the room. My interviewers is a man and a woman. The man started to talk first. 'Introduce yourself" (so, cek hntmla, i gave my name,home,school,parents' work,co-curriculum achievement).

She asked me, ' why architecture?' What else I can say, I just say, because I like sience especially physics and arts. With architecture, I can applied both simultaneously because besides designing building, an architect also must calculate the structure and construction. Then, the man interviewer asked whether my school is an Islamic school. And, I agreed. He asked, whether I can speak in arabic. I said a little. Then, he asked me ' What is my responsibility as a Muslim in architecture?' I replied by saying that i'm hoping that by designing a building, i also can 'design' the society. The woman interviewer hoping that I can decide seriously. Then, they asked, why UiTM, why not UIA(die ckp, uia kan lagi dkt dgn rmh,lg islamic). So,hntmla.... because my father said that UiTM has been established in architecture school. Actually, dia ade mintak keje kursus psv tu, tp xsmpt nk amik kt sek,so xtunjukla...juz tunjuk sijil psv tu je. Then,habis...

I hope they can make the best decision for me whether they're accepting me or not(sbb dorg cm bleh je tolak cek msk uia which is my 2nd choice). And, I will pray for Allah to give me the best offer(doesn't mind if it from uia or uitm) because all we do if just planning, and Allah is the One who decide......

Interview...

On 28th March 2008, saya sesaje je bukak web jpa sebab lepas dapat result SPM tu, saya ada apply PILN. So, juz nak tengok sama ada dah boleh check ke tak.. Then, keluarla statement yang berwarna merah yang berbunyi, "Semakan Keputusan Panggilan Temuduga bagi Program Ijazah Luar Negara(PILN)2008". Berdebarla gak(Sebenarnya saya lagi takut dapat dari tak dapat..hehehe) Then, saya pon masukkanla no ic...Tahniah! Anda telah dipilih untuk menghadiri temuduga.Sila cetak surat temuduga anda. I've printed it out. Guess.... I am the first batch for the interview which was held on 1st Apr 2008(i'll be interview on 1st Apr while others on 2nd,3rd and 4th Apr). As you all know, I'm not well prepared for the interview because the time gap was too short. There were only three full days for me to prepare all things. Dengan sijilnye,cari maklumatnye..manala sempat sebab hari sabtu dan ahad adalah cuti umum then tak boleh nak buat apala....kene tunggu isnin gak. Pasal nak cari info tu pula memang tak sempat gak sebab sabtu tu sehari suntuk pergi rehearsal and takrim. Hari ahad tu pula ikut ayah pergi Low Yatt, repair laptop(coz i'm the 'owner' of the laptop so i should know where and what happened to my father's laptop)

On Monday, 31th March 2008, memang kecoh sangat...I went to school to take my co-cu certs. When I reached at school, I met my fellow friend, Hazimah who will be interviewed too but hers is on 4th Apr.. Then, my father met the principal because he wanted to discuss something about certifying the copies of the certs..(saya dengar pihak kerajaan je yang berhak sahkan, not our school which is a private school) while I tried to call Ust Isha to take the certs. All my club's certs were ready but my JPA3 certs... So, I went home because Ust Idris is absent(for a while). My mother and I went to school back at 2.00pm. After I got all my certs, I copied it....and send to my father's office(he knows some friends who work with government). The certs was settled, but my preparation's not... After I arrived at my home, I just read what I could at that time...newspaper,online info(of course jpa's website). After I realized that I am too weak to do anything, I pray for Allah's blessings and strength so that at least I will have a little strength to talk in the interview.

On 1st Apr, I woke at 6am(i think). After I took shower and solat Subuh, I do solat hajat( bukan mintak lulus interview ye, minta diberi ketenangan dan kekuatan hati dan jiwa). Then, I stepped out from my home... Pagi tu memang takde selera nak makan, so memang tak makanla( For other interviewees, Don't do this!) Alhamdulillah, because I departed from my home in such early time, I arrived at PICC earlier. I took about 1 hour 30 mins to arrives there because the traffic was not so good. I arrived there at 9.30am. After my father parked the car, we all went to the interview's venue. First, I checked my name on the board..... Panel 7, Room 18, No 2 . I started to feel very nervous( so, juz selawat dan berdoa banyak-banyak jela). Then, there was an announcement, "Pelajar yang akan ditemuduga pada pukul sepuluh sudah dibolehkan untuk memasuki kawasan temuduga" (lebih kurang macam tula bunyinye, saya bukannya dengar sangat sebab waktu tu tengah dalam toilet). Lepas keluar je, saya terus salam my mother and walked into the place(ayah tak tahula kat mana sebab dia jumpa kawan dia)

In the place(not in the room, but the waiting place). I went to register my name at the counter in front my interview's room but the madam asked me to wait there(on the chair) first because the 8am interview wasn't finished yet. So, I sat on the waiting chair....alone. Then, a chinese girl came to me..I asked her whether she in the same panel with me....And, yes, she was in the same panel with me and her name is Siu Fong( I don't remember her first name). And, we have a conversation there. After a while, an Indian boy came and said his name is Yindra( not his full name, his full name is long). Then, we talked about each other together. Then, we were instructed to rearrange all our documents according to the new arrangement given. After finished rearrange, we were called to register at the counter. After signed the paper, we were asked to put our folder and a set of copies on the table. Then, the instructor grouped us in a group of six. And, the scariest thing happened to me... I'm the only malay student in my group while others were chinese and indian(nasib baikla ada Yindra dengan sorang perempuan cina yang pakai baju kurung,Siu Yi. Kalo tak memang allienated sungguh. At least adala orang yang kita kenal sama kumpulan dengan kita) Then, we got informations about the interview...first, self-intro in bm, then, a group discussion in english, last, answering question in english or another group discussion in bm. After we were grouped into six, each of us get a name tag... and I get no.1.... After got a name tag, we were asked to sit on the sofa in front of the room 18... I tried to get know all of the students in my group... They said that I look really nervous( I just agreed with them....because it's true that i'm nervous. It's not that I'm not trying to calm down). Then, we were called to come into the room.

In the room, the chairs were arranged in semi circle and it faced the interviewers( thank goodness that i got two womans interviewers and both are Muslim,and of course both were wearing tudung. I became a little bit calm than before). Then, we're asked to sit according to our name tag starting from no.1. After we all sat on the chair, the interviewers introduce themselves. Then,one of them asked us to introduce ourselves in bm....starting from me.(juz bagi nama,pekerjaan ibu dan ayah, nak sambung belajar apa, dan nak sambung belajar di mana...that's all. Tapi dia ada tanya, kenapa nak belajar kat UK for an example) Then, she gave a topic for us to discuss....ours was 'What is the Major Achievement in Malaysia after 50 Years of Independent?'. I was really shocked because I didn't read about that things since last year...so I just tried my best to give at least one point( I talked about e-gov). And of coursela banyak tergagap-gagap...cuba bayangkan.. [takde point+in english=??] and what's the answer....of course I'll speak hesitantly(lebih-lebih lagi kalau nak cakap secara spontan)...furthermore, I'm a type of person who think before talk not talk before think... Then, the last question she gave us is, why jpa must choose us??(tang ni memang hantam habisla....kalo dalam bm retila nak cakap apa, but in english..., but anyway, thanks to my beloved friend, Ainul who really helps me a lot......cek guna contoh jawapan yang dia bagila..'I have highly passion on buildings and bla bla bla')

Alhamdulillah,I've passed the interview( bukan lulus tapi dh habis)... Now, I give all to Allah to decide for me.... And my friend,Hazimah don't be too scared.....You Can Do It! Trust me...remember what I have said to you and Thank you for your helps too(about your sis blog) .....And to my helpful friend and neighbour, Ainul, thank you very much...and I'll try to help you as much as I can(I don't care if you say...'oo, pandai ye nak nasihatkan orang balik'...hehehe. I'll try to help...what's friend for,right? Just call me if you want something kay?)

~for other interviewees here are some topics that i heard come out in the interview:
-major achievements in Malaysia after 50 years of independent.
- unemployed Malaysian graduates ( pengangguran graduan Malaysia)
- pricing (kenaikan harga barang)
- oversea's scholarship (Biasiswa luar negara)
*tak berapa pasti sangat tepat ke tak...tapi lebih kurang gitula tajuknya...

~for readers....saya mohon maaf di atas segala kelemahan diri....especially tang in english tu...takut salah grammar ke, spelling ke. I'm still learning..~