As I type out this post I feel very overwhelmed. Earlier today, I graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Science Degree.
I had looked forward to this day for as long as I can remember. I had always envisioned myself in the academic robes and cap receiving my degree during a commencement ceremony. And today was the day it happened. I put on my academic robes today. I went for my commencement ceremony today. I received my degree scroll today. I became a graduate.
When one approaches such a milestone, one cannot be helped but be lost in his thoughts. The sheer magnitude of graduation leaves one in awe of the opportunities he has been given over the years to develop himself.
I think back to all the people who have helped me along the journey and I offer my sincere thanks to God for having met them and learn from them. Aqa Moula (TUS) of course, has been my light throughout my journey. My parents, family, close friends, mentors, teachers, professors and students have all played a big part in my life, helping me develop into the person I am today. To all of you, thank you so much. Such journeys of life can never be undertaken alone. I am so glad and so thankful that all of you wonderful people were there along the journey. I really really couldn't have done it without all of you.
The past 3 years in NUS have been amazing. I have met so many wonderful people, had so many amazing experiences, been in so many insightful classes and learnt so so much. Most of all, I have made so many new friends who I am sure are gonna be lifelong buddies. But I have started to miss all of it terribly. I am missing the whole NUS experience so much. It is a wonderful place which will forever hold so many memories for me.
I met Dr Barbara Ryan today and took photos with her. She told me that this by no means is the end but is the start of an amazing journey. Right now, I am at the doorstep of the journey of the rest of my life. The road isn't very clear but it seems to be exciting and full of promise.
Oh goodness, I am like chatting with friends online now, and seriously, everything is so overwhelming. On top of clearing and archiving my NUS email account. I think I'll continue tomorrow.
Just so many thoughts....
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Yesterday morning was the first time in ages that I went for sabaq (cell group/small religious class) and it felt amazing. It was refreshing and rejuvenating. Of course Aamil Saheb (the priest) had to remind me to go for Sabaq the night before during a Darees (prayer session) but I'm glad he did. I forgot how intellectually stimulating Sabaqs are and how much I enjoy them.
I was telling my cadets during the SNCO course last month that it is importnat to renew onself in 4 areas constantly to ensure personal effectiveness as a leader. One of the four areas was spiritual renewal. And ironically I had not been following my own advice.
Must make sure I pay more attention to this renewal thing. So here are a few resolutions:
Body: Jog on the treadmill for 15 minutes everyday. And play badminton once a week (thanks to Gerard who has offered to be my badminton partner....haha)
Mind: Do research to write my next paper on education.
Heart: Continue volunteering at NCDCC :) Yes!!!!
Soul: Attend Sabaqs every week and read a chapter of the iqtebasat everyday.
And people, leave a tag!!!!
Hozefa
I was telling my cadets during the SNCO course last month that it is importnat to renew onself in 4 areas constantly to ensure personal effectiveness as a leader. One of the four areas was spiritual renewal. And ironically I had not been following my own advice.
Must make sure I pay more attention to this renewal thing. So here are a few resolutions:
Body: Jog on the treadmill for 15 minutes everyday. And play badminton once a week (thanks to Gerard who has offered to be my badminton partner....haha)
Mind: Do research to write my next paper on education.
Heart: Continue volunteering at NCDCC :) Yes!!!!
Soul: Attend Sabaqs every week and read a chapter of the iqtebasat everyday.
And people, leave a tag!!!!
Hozefa
I think being in power and having a conscience at the same time is a very difficult state of being. It is certainly the ideal of state of being but I think it is a most difficult state of being. Not having a conscience allows a person to be popular, gain comforts, ensure his/her own continuity, giving up responsibility and basically enjoy the position of power in which one is in. Perhaps this is the reason that many people who gain power even with the best of intentions eventually get corrupted. As the old adage goes, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
I was faced with a dilemma two days ago to do something which was in the best interest of one of my charges but wasn't certainly the most popular decision. In having to remain impartial and objective as well as looking out for the person's welfare, I had to adopt a tone that was rather strict but at the same time fair. The decision was certainly not met with a lot of happiness and I am pretty sure that I have lost his admiration and even friendship. Whether I still have his respect is another matter altogether. Is this what leadership is all about? I always thought that leadership gets easier with more experience but many times more experience leads to more responsibilities which in turn leads to more learning opportunities, both pleasant or otherwise.
Today is the Milad Mubarak (Birth Anniversary) of Moulana Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS). He was the Wasi of the prophet Mohmammed (SAW) and was the latter's trusted lieutenant. Just a few weeks back I was standing at the sephulchre (tomb) of Moulana Ali (AS). Inside the Mausoleum it felt as if one had entered a heavenly presence. Every minute I spent in there praying was a pure moment of spirituality. Moulana Ali was a person who believed in peaceful settlement instead of war. When he became the Caliph, he didn't lead a life of grandeur. Instead, in the service of God, he spent his time looking after the welfare of the people using his own money to sponsor meals for the people while he himself ate very little and meagrely. He is the true example of what a leader should be. His motivation was only God's happiness and God's will, his inspiration was the spirit of Islam and his work was the upliftment of his people. If Islamic leaders truly want to lead in the spirit of Islam, they should follow the example of Moulana Ali instead of playing politics all the time.
Aqa Moula (TUS) is a true example of what a leader in islam should be like and he is the true na'ib of Moulana Ali. Aqa Moula (TUS) has rebuilt Moulana Ali's Masjid in Kufa and I was truly blessed to have been able to visit this sacred site a few weeks back. So many important events took place in that Masjid. All the prophets have passed through the land upon which the Masjid stands. Adam, Nu'h, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Mohammed (SAW) have all walked on that land which has made it blessed. And of course, Moulana Ali's final moments were spent in the qibla of that Masjid where when the enemy striked him on his head with a sword while he was praying to God, "Fuzto wa Rabbil Ka'aba", "By the name of the Lord of the Ka'aba, I have won". Aqa Moula wants to visit Kufa soon and inaugurate the rebuilt masjid. may Allah Ta'ala make it possible in the near future and give us the opportunity to visit that holy recess with him and do matam of Moulana Ali. Ameen.
I was faced with a dilemma two days ago to do something which was in the best interest of one of my charges but wasn't certainly the most popular decision. In having to remain impartial and objective as well as looking out for the person's welfare, I had to adopt a tone that was rather strict but at the same time fair. The decision was certainly not met with a lot of happiness and I am pretty sure that I have lost his admiration and even friendship. Whether I still have his respect is another matter altogether. Is this what leadership is all about? I always thought that leadership gets easier with more experience but many times more experience leads to more responsibilities which in turn leads to more learning opportunities, both pleasant or otherwise.
Today is the Milad Mubarak (Birth Anniversary) of Moulana Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS). He was the Wasi of the prophet Mohmammed (SAW) and was the latter's trusted lieutenant. Just a few weeks back I was standing at the sephulchre (tomb) of Moulana Ali (AS). Inside the Mausoleum it felt as if one had entered a heavenly presence. Every minute I spent in there praying was a pure moment of spirituality. Moulana Ali was a person who believed in peaceful settlement instead of war. When he became the Caliph, he didn't lead a life of grandeur. Instead, in the service of God, he spent his time looking after the welfare of the people using his own money to sponsor meals for the people while he himself ate very little and meagrely. He is the true example of what a leader should be. His motivation was only God's happiness and God's will, his inspiration was the spirit of Islam and his work was the upliftment of his people. If Islamic leaders truly want to lead in the spirit of Islam, they should follow the example of Moulana Ali instead of playing politics all the time.
Aqa Moula (TUS) is a true example of what a leader in islam should be like and he is the true na'ib of Moulana Ali. Aqa Moula (TUS) has rebuilt Moulana Ali's Masjid in Kufa and I was truly blessed to have been able to visit this sacred site a few weeks back. So many important events took place in that Masjid. All the prophets have passed through the land upon which the Masjid stands. Adam, Nu'h, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Mohammed (SAW) have all walked on that land which has made it blessed. And of course, Moulana Ali's final moments were spent in the qibla of that Masjid where when the enemy striked him on his head with a sword while he was praying to God, "Fuzto wa Rabbil Ka'aba", "By the name of the Lord of the Ka'aba, I have won". Aqa Moula wants to visit Kufa soon and inaugurate the rebuilt masjid. may Allah Ta'ala make it possible in the near future and give us the opportunity to visit that holy recess with him and do matam of Moulana Ali. Ameen.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
I have often thought about the reasons why I keep doing what I do especially when there challenges arise and cause you to question your own passion and motivations. I was re-reading a book called "The 8th Habit" by Stephen Covey and there were some quotes which kinda gave an answer.
An extraction from "The Paradoxical Commandments" by Kent M. Keith:
In response to a friend's post on his blog:
"It is sad, when our motivation comes from beliefs that are based on studies which show that we are capable of so much more."
I do agree that it is sad if this was the case. However, I think if people are motivated, it is because they know they are capable of so much more and not because their beliefs are based on studies which tell them so. And sometimes, some people need a little help in believing in themselves, myself included. Outliers talk about people being at the right time and place making it big, I say that you create your right time and place. Always believe that your destiny is in your hands and the grace of a superior power. I guess, that's what I really feel.
Anyhoo, I'm getting quite a bit of stuff done, including updating my blog so I guess that's a good thing. Experiences however, are getting more exciting by the day.
Go out and make the world a better place.
And if you read this blog, become an active participant by leaving a tag or comment. Be nice. Haha.
Hozefa
An extraction from "The Paradoxical Commandments" by Kent M. Keith:
- People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
- Love them anyway.
- If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
- Do good anyway.
- If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
- Succeed anyway.
- The good you do today, will be forgotten tomorrow.
- Do good anyway.
- Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
- Be honest and frank anyway.
- The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
- Think big anyway.
- People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs.
- Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
- What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
- Build anyway.
- People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them.
- Help people anyway.
- Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
- Give the world the best you have anyway.
In response to a friend's post on his blog:
"It is sad, when our motivation comes from beliefs that are based on studies which show that we are capable of so much more."
I do agree that it is sad if this was the case. However, I think if people are motivated, it is because they know they are capable of so much more and not because their beliefs are based on studies which tell them so. And sometimes, some people need a little help in believing in themselves, myself included. Outliers talk about people being at the right time and place making it big, I say that you create your right time and place. Always believe that your destiny is in your hands and the grace of a superior power. I guess, that's what I really feel.
Anyhoo, I'm getting quite a bit of stuff done, including updating my blog so I guess that's a good thing. Experiences however, are getting more exciting by the day.
Go out and make the world a better place.
And if you read this blog, become an active participant by leaving a tag or comment. Be nice. Haha.
Hozefa
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