Posted by Hazman Aziz On December - 25 - 2008Comments Off
One of my free times at home, that I love to do is to spend myself in the kitchen. Invite a close friend for dinner (or a simple meal), cooked for them a couple of simple dishes, and the rest was catching up with the times over the dinning table. This is really simply Hazman Aziz, when he was really free. He picked up this set of skills when he was doing his undergraduate in Wollongong.
Today, he decides to share one of his simple favourite recipe called the Oven Baked Chicken. He cooked his dinner for one of his best mate who he know since undergraduate days, Imam Kautsar. Imam is also his business venture partner from Jakarta. Imam currently doing his intense research in micro-financial using Web 2.0, the possible implementation for Indonesia’s environment.
Well, let’s get back into the recipe …
2 (3 lb.) fryers, cut up (personally, I used half of the chicken; the top and the thighs)
Olive oil (I have just over coated the chicken with olive oil)
Seasoned salt
1 Red Onions (chopped)
1 Garlic (chopped)
Carrots
Tomatoes
Potatoes
Instructions:
All mixed into a big bowl.
Season with salt.
Place in shallow baking pan.
Do not crowd.
Bake in 325 degree oven for 1 hour, until golden brown.
This set of dishes it great to eat with plain white rice or butter mixed vegetable rice (not fried). And, over with the mayonnaise sauce (or sour cream sauce) and chill sauce or ketchup. Well, I guess children will love this dish well.
Posted by Hazman Aziz On December - 22 - 2008Comments Off
Hazman Aziz shares and launches Hazman Aziz, Photo Labs Inc.
The Photos application is one of the most popular applications on Facebook. Users can upload albums and photos, allowing them to upload an unlimited number of photos, compared with other image hosting services such as Photobucket and Flickr, which apply limits to the number of photos that a user is allowed to upload. Most of my photos are hosted in Facebook’s Photos application. To check out my photos, here is the url: http://hazmanaziz.com/new-media/photo-labs/.
How does this works?
Most of these photos are actually hosted in Facebook Photos. These photos will be touch up first by Hazman Aziz, before publishing it out to this site, which runs on Wordpress platform. This integration is done by using Fotobook. You can check out many of my photo collections library.
Hazman Aziz, Kitchen Inc.
One of my favourite pastime is spending in the kitchen. Kitchen is one of my favorite place in the house beside my room, where I really let my tension and stress off. There new dishes, I will try to create out my creativity. Here, I am sharing some of my creation, from Wollongong to Singapore too.
16 photos
And, there are more to come …
Can Librarians (or educators) benefit from such integration (Photos >> Facebook >> Wordpress) ?
Yes, you can, if you installed your subject library blogs with Wordpress and using the application called Fotobook by Aaron Harp. You will then benefit from server space and also at the same time, doing a marketing within the Facebook sphere. Just imagine that these photos are your library promotion banners.
Cool right, killing two jobs into one.
Do share with us, what do you this of this action.
Posted by Hazman Aziz On December - 15 - 20084 COMMENTS
Juffri Supa’at, a reference librarian at LKC Library & a good friend, shared with me about the note of “The Alchemy of Happiness”. (Juffri blogs on this site called: Juffri Supa’at (http://juffrisupaat.wordpress.com/).I didn’t know that in Islam, we have such this knowledge and though of finding the book in my library. Anyway, yesterday was Sunday, and my library is closed. So, I search and drill into the treasures of the Internet’s gold mine.
Below is a preface of the “The Alchemy of Happiness” and I decided to open a short project to share about “The Alchemy of Happiness” with a little bit of twist using Web 2.0 tools.
“RENAN, whose easy-going mind was the exact antithesis to the intense earnestness of Ghazzali, calls him “the most original mind among Arabian philosophers.”[1] Not with standing this, his fame as a philosopher has been greatly overshadowed by Avicenna, his predecessor, and Averroes, his successor and opponent. It is a significant fact that the Encyclopædia Britannica devotes five columns to each of the others and only a column and a half to Ghazzali. Yet it is doubtful whether it is as a philosopher that be would have wished to be chiefly remembered. Several of his works, it is true, are polemics against the philosophers, especially his Tehafot-al-falasifa, or “Destruction of the philosophers,” and, as Solomon Munk says in his Melanges de philosophie Juive et Arabe, Ghazzali dealt “a fatal blow” to Arabian philosophy in the East, from which it never recovered, though it revived for a while in Spain .and culminated in Averroes. Philosopher and sceptic as he was by nature, Ghazzali’s chief work was that of a theologian, moralist, and mystic, though his mysticism was strongly balanced by common sense. He had, as he tells. us in his Confessions, experienced “conversion”; God had arrested him “on the edge of the fire,” and thenceforth what Browning says of the French poet, Rene Gentilhomme, was true of him …”
Please note:
The original posting is found on this address: http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/tah/index.htm. This is just a Web 2.0 project in the effort to morph this piece of knowledge into a mobilisation mode, by Hazman Aziz and his knowledge management team on scared knowledge.
More tools will be added this to make this sacred more interactive and interesting to share and read.
Posted by Hazman Aziz On December - 9 - 2008Comments Off
On this blessed morning, let us increase our level of taqwa to our Lord Almighty, and let us show our gratitude to Him for all His blessings. Let us advice one another to become good servants of Allah s.w.t. Perform all of Allah’s commands and be patient in refraining from all that He has forbidden.
On this blessed morning, it is the best time for us to say the takbir, in praising the greatness and oneness of Allah s.w.t. It reminds us about the true meaning of life, that we must always stay humble to His greatness. At this very moment, some of our friends and relatives are performing the fifth pillar of Islam, the hajj pilgrimage. Their journey requires them to make sacrifices, such as time, energy, wealth and for them to leave their loved ones back at home, all for the sake of Allah s.w.t. Let us pray for the pilgrims, may their pilgrimage be accepted as hajj mabrur, which its reward is non other than God’s paradise.
On every Eidul Adha, we are reminded of the story of sacrifice involving Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ismail ‘alaihimas salaam. But what is the meaning of sacrifice? What is its objectives?
Allah s.w.t. says in surah al-Hajj verse 37:
It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, it is your piety that reaches Him, He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His guidance to you: and proclaim the good news to all who do right.
It is clear from this verse that taqwa and sincerity are the real purpose of our sacrifices when we perform the Qurban ritual. Sacrifice comes from a person’s sincerity, and his love for Allah s.w.t. and His Messenger s.a.w.
Sacrifice is our readiness to leave something for a bigger and more important goal or purpose. If you were to perform the hajj pilgrimage, then you would have made a sacrifice to undergo and experience the hardship and pain of traveling. Leaving behind the comfort of our own homeland, in the pursuit of Allah’s pleasure and acceptance. If you work hard in your daily job to earn a good and halal income, so that you may have enough money to put food on the table, and provide good education for your children, then you have made a sacrifice. If you are willing to forego a chance to buy an expensive luxury item, and instead make use of your affordability to help others who may be in dire need of financial support, then you have also made a sacrifice.
There is possibly no better or more suitable time for us to talk about the meaning of sacrifice than today, when the world is currently facing multiple challenges. Challenges on peace and secutiry, on the economy, and challenges regarding our faith. All of these challenges will definitely help us to realize the true meaning of sacrifice in life.
In facing these challenges, sacrifices mean that we need to make changes and then try to adapt those changes to our lives. Surely, change is not something which all of us are comfortable with. But it is needed in order to face the challenges effectively. This is our sacrifice, in hopes of leading a successful and prosperous life on earth and in the hereafter.
The first step is for us to have a positive mindset and attitude. Because a positive attitude will help us in finding the goodness and the opportunities that lie behind every challenge or problem. There are many opportunities that we can leverage on during this challenging period.
Secondly, we also need to keep on striving to find ways and solutions that will get us out of the burden and eventually overcome the challenges effectively.
Lastly, apart from having a positive attitude and striving hard, we also need to have faith in Allah’s assistance. Remember that Allah s.w.t. is the Most Divine. He is the One who gives us the challenges, and He is the One who shows us the way out of them.
Let us reflect back on the story of Sayidatina Siti Hajar, the mother to Prophet Ismail a.s. She sacrificed and strived hard to help find water for her infant son who was thirsty. With great effort, she ran tirelessly up and down the hills of Safa and Marwah. All that while, she never forgot about Allah s.w.t. and kept on praying for His divine help. Eventhough she did not get what she was looking for in the beginning, she never gave up and kept on going. Finally, due to her strong heart, willpower and perseverence, Allah s.w.t. granted her with what she was looking for.
Siti Hajar’s positive attitude motivated her to keep on going. And due to her strong belief, Allah s.w.t. rewarded her sacrifice with the Zam-Zam water which has lasted till this very day for the use and benefit of millions of people. Siti Hajar kept on seeking for Allah’s assistance and she never gave up on Him.
There is a very important lesson that can be learn from this story. For those of us who are often faced with challenges, stay positive and optimistic, always believe in Allah’s divine assistance after we have thought of solutions and put in our efforts..
In the economic crisis that we are facing today, some of our jobs may be affected. For example, we may not be given the opportunity to gain extra income by working overtime. Instead of brooding over it, we should look at the positive side of the challenge.
There is a hidden wisdom behind each difficulty and challenge that is thrown to us. This is the promise of Allah s.w.t. in his Holy Words:
So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief: Verily, with every difficulty there is relief. Therefore, when thou art free (from thine immediate task), still labour hard, And to thy Lord turn (all) thy attention. [Surah Al-Insyirah verses 5 until 8]
We can take this opportunity to take advantage of the time we have in our hands to indulge in activities which we previously did not have the time for; such as increasing our acts of worship, equipping ourselves with Islamic knowledge like reading and learning the meanings of the Qur’an.
The extra time that we have can also be used to spend more quality and constructive time with our family and those dear to us. Simple activities can go a long way in nurturing strong family values and bonding.
We can change each difficulty into an opportunity. This is the time for us to give more attention on what matters most to us, such as our relationship with our Creator, and more quality time with our family.
In trying times, financial constraints can sometimes become the main concern in families. Most of the time, it can be a reason for arguments and disagreements that would lead to something worse. Thus it is vital to inculcate good spending culture among family members. At the same time, this culture can create an awareness among family members that their willingness to minimize luxury items is a form of sacrifice which can develop values of self-discipline and altruism.
Muslims must be wise in planning ahead, preparing for any uncertainties that may come. This can be seen in the example of Prophet Yusuf peace be upon him. When the King of Egypt had a vision of seven undernourished cows eating seven large cows, and seven stalks of wheat and seven dry stalks in his dream. He then asked Prophet Yusuf the meaning of this dream. Prophet Yusuf, with the wisdom that had been granted to him by Allah s.w.t. gave his counsel on the matter, as it has been described in Surah Yusuf verses 47-49:
(Joseph) said: “For seven years shall ye diligently sow as is your wont: and the harvests that ye reap, ye shall leave them in the ear,- except a little, of which ye shall eat. “Then will come after that (period) seven dreadful (years), which will devour what ye shall have laid by in advance for them,- (all) except a little which ye shall have (specially) guarded. “Then will come after that (period) a year in which the people will have abundant water, and in which they will press (wine and oil).”
From these sacrifices of wealth and emotions, we can instill positive values which are important in the shaping of our religious identity and strong resilience. Educate our family to be grateful to all that we have been granted. Bring them to be aware of other peoples’ sufferings and hardships, and the understanding that there are many others in who live in worse conditions. Those are key values to be nurtured in our family.
Indeed behind each sacrifice, of time, money, emotions as well as efforts, there are abundant benefits which we can gain from them, such as spiritual up liftment, stronger family ties, and greater awareness of the challenges faced by others in the community.
The present high-competition job market also calls for continuous upgrading in areas of skills and knowledge. The knowledge that we have can benefit anybody, as long as it is guided by the ethical values taught by Islam. For example, employers may evaluate our performance based on our skills and qualifications. A hard-working employee who constantly upgrades and retrains himself will gain the trust of the employer.
Such is the importance and emphasis on knowledge in our present time. Apart from our daily work, we must have a goal to upgrade ourselves through knowledge. The importance of knowledge in Islam is beyond question, especially when the word ’ilm’, which means knowledge and the encouragement to seek knowledge is mentioned in the Qur’an 865 times.
As a Muslim, we believe that each conscious effort we take to seek knowledge is a form of ibadah. By seeking knowledge, insyaAllah, He will Ease a Muslim’s path to success in this world and in the hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. has said:
He who follows a path to seek knowledge, Allah will Ease his path to heaven. (Riwayat Abu Daud dan Ibnu Majah)
We would all have to realise that one sacrifice after another may be needed in the coming years. However, with a strong self-confidence and resilience, accompanied by knowledge and an unyielding faith in Allah, we will be able to rise above every challenge with patience and perseverance that will lead to the success of both worlds, insyaAllah.
Posted by Hazman Aziz On December - 8 - 2008Comments Off
The Friday sermon on November 21, 2008 really ponders me in my thoughts about the importance of truthfulness in life. I always have been trying my best to stay my professionalism in my work to be truthfulness in life. Even to the relationship between my folks and my love one. But, lately, it is the truthfulness that lead my morals down and hurt deep me insight. But, after hearing this sermon, God, Himself still wants me to be truthful to myself despite the incidence which has happened. Even, we all aware that living in denial always lead to the dark side. Only humble to the force of truth faith and the hope to attain happiness in life. Let’s me share, the sermon below.
Till today, I am still pondering .. but my faith is still strong towards his paths
Let us has become truly conscious of Allah s.w.t.through taqwa. Beautify ourselves, as men and women, with the values taught to us by the Holy Prophet s.a.w. and shown to us through his life. Start with ourselves. Let us become good examples and role models to our families. When we carry the values of mercy (rahmah) and peace in us, we can show evidence for our love for the Prophet s.a.w. May this love place us with him together in Allah’s paradise Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
Alhamdulillah, for the last two weeks, we have discussed the basic attributes of the messengers of Allah. Such is the importance of truthfulness and trustworthiness in life. If someone has these values, we can trust them. Wisdom is also important, as it allows one to make a fair and equitable decision in various matters.
Insya Allah, today, we will look at another very important attribute in life; truthfulness. This value not only allows others to trust us, but it is the proof and evidence of the fact that the Prophets and Messengers only conveyed what came to them from Allah s.w.t. i.e. they were truthful in imparting duty given to them by God. It is also the evidence that they did not add nor change the revelations from God. Truthfulness also brings about a peaceful and blessed life.
This value flows through the lives of the prophets and messengers of Allah. This is very evident in the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., as the chief of all messengers and prophets. The truthful life of the Prophet and his honourable character was a powerful attraction to everyone, including his enemies. He had asked everyone to only speak the truth, because only the truth will bring success. Allah s.w.t. says in surah Al-Ahzab verses 23-24:
“Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah: of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still) wait: but they have never changed (their determination) in the least. That Allah may reward the truthful for their truth, and punish the hypocrites if He please or turn to them (mercifully); surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
Hence, no one can doubt the Prophet’s truthfulness. Even his enemies witnessed his truthfulness. When the Prophet s.a.w gathered everyone near the hill of Safar and spoke to them “O people of Quraisy, if I tell you that an army is coming from behind the hill to attack us, do you believe me? They replied “Of course we do, because you do not lie!”
Such was their resounding testimony to the truthfulness of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Even his staunchest enemy, his uncle Abu Jahal, ever claimed, as reported by Ibn Ishaq “O Muhammad, I do not accuse you of lying, but I do not believe the truth of the message that you bring.”
Because they do not doubt the Prophet’s truthfulness, he had asked them to think about his message. As Allah s.w.t. describes this in surah Yunus verse 16:
“Say: If Allah had desired (otherwise) I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have taught it to you; indeed I have lived a lifetime among you before it; do you not then understand?”
Such is the truthfulness in the Prophet’s life. It becomes an evidence for the truth of his message. In fact, the Prophet s.a.w never said but the truth in his everyday dealings with others. Even when he said what seemed like a joke, he would only speak the truth, such as reported in the following incident:
An old lady came to the Prophet to ask him “O messenger of Allah, please ask Allah that I enter paradise. The Prophet s.a.w. replied “O mother of so and so, the paradise of Allah does not house old people. The lady turned away weeping in sadness (thinking she will not enter paradise). So the Prophet s.a.w told his companions “Please inform her that she will not enter paradise as an old lady, but as a young one. As Allah says “We have re-created them into a new creation; young unwed ladies, loving and equal in age.” (Reported by Imam Tarmizi in Assyamaail)
Such is how the Prophet s.a.w taught us to always be truthful in all things. To say the truth, to do the right things. To be truthful in our intentions. Because when we are truthful in our lives, we will truly live the Islam taught by the Prophet s.a.w.; a religion of love, truthfulness and patience.
Let us all be truthful in our interactions and actions. We believe in all that that comes from Allah and His Prophet. We believe in all his teachings and commands. And we live up to these teachings truthfully in our lives.
Let us be truthful to our Iman in our hearts by doing all that we have been asked to do, and by refraining from those that we have been forbidden from doing. Let us be truthful to the Holy Quran, by reciting it, understanding it, reflecting upon it, and learning from it. Let us be truthful to our promise to the Holy Prophet s.a.w by following his footsteps in beautifying ourselves with the best of attributes and values.
As a worker, we must be truthful and trustworthy, and diligent in all that we do.
As parents, we must be truthful to our children. We set the examples for them. So we must not ever lie to them, even jokingly, or forget our promise to them. Do not do something that we have prohibited them from doing. Our truthfulness will set the nature of their personality and character as they grow up.
As children and teenagers, you must be truthful to yourselves. Follow good ways and paths that will bring good to you. Be truthful to the time and opportunities before you. Make full use of them wisely and truthfully.
This is the concept of truthfulness that should flow in our lives as believers. A mukmin will always be truthful in all matters and will refrain from all forms of deceit and lie. Insha-Allah, when we hold on strongly to this value, we fulfill our promise to love the Prophet s.a.w. and to follow his footsteps in coming closer to Allah s.w.t.
Posted by Hazman Aziz On December - 7 - 2008Comments Off
Basic Info Type: Internet & Technology - Cyberculture
Description: This is a group of New Media Experts, Entrepreneurs, Innovators, Researchers, Practitioners and Students. Not your average Melayu.com.The group exists as a platform for discussion, advocacy and action to uplift, improve, and perhaps solve Singapore Malay issues using New Media.
Research notes: http://hazmanaziz.com/labs/new-media-focus-group-melayu-20/
“The New Media Focus Group – Melayu 2.0, is an initiative of participants of the first 2 dialogue sessions with Malay MPs, organised by Mendaki Volunteer Resources Dept, to touch base with Malays involved in New Media.
This is a ground-up initiative. YOU decide where this is heading. YOU set the agenda. YOU are part of the movement. YOU own the movement. YOUR voice matters. YOUR action counts.
This initiative has yet to formalise any solid objectives, and we need YOUR feedback on what should be the objectives of THIS generation to tackle various Malay issues covering a wide spectrum of concerns, like improving the educational progress of the Malays, improving the financial state of Malay families, curbing teenage pregnancies and divorces etc etc.
We have a couple of threads going on in the Facebook Group, and we need to gather YOUR feedback on them so that Melayu 2.0 has quantifiable objectives to meet, and so that we can truly achieve perpetual, sustainable progress of our community.
This initiative is driven, not by elite Malays. But by normal Malays that has achieved a lot, or will one day achieve something great. People like YOU.”
Let us has become truly conscious of Allah s.w.t.through taqwa. Beautify ourselves, as men and women, with the values taught to us by the Holy Prophet s.a.w. and shown to us through his life. Start with ourselves. Let us become good examples and role models to our families. When we carry the values of mercy (rahmah) and peace in us, we can show evidence for our love for the Prophet s.a.w. May this love place us with him together in Allah’s paradise Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
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