It is God who kindles the light of dawn

Quran, Al-An'am, Surah 6:96

It is God who kindles the light of dawn. He has made the night for rest, and the sun and moon for reckoning the time. This is what God has ordained; he is supremely powerful, and knows all.

~ Quran, Al-An'am, Surah 6:96

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

YPCS AGM

Young Professionals Consultative Society

How you do you define young?

Never fear that old age will invade that city; never fear that this inner treasure of all reality will wither and decay. This knows no age when the body ages; this knows no dying when the body dies. This is the real city of Brahman; this is the Self, free from old age, from death and grief, hunger and thirst. In the Self all desires are fulfilled.

~ Chandogya Upanishad. Excerpted from The Upanishads

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

HUMOUR: Riddle

Biblical Babysitter

Question: Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?

Answer: David. He rocked Goliath into a very deep sleep.

BAD JOKE DISCLAIMER: We recognize that religious humour can be risky. It is our hope that by laughing at ourselves (and others) we can make this subject more approachable. If you find any of these objectionable, we apologize. Many were passed along via email and others spotted on other websites. As with most jokes, the original authors are unknown -- but we thank them.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Darkness departs

and rapture rushes in...

The delusion which mistakes the unreal for the Real
Is the genesis of woeful births.
For those of undimmed perception, free from delusion,
Darkness departs and rapture rushes in.
To those who have dispelled all doubt and perceive Truth,
Heaven is nearer than earth.
~ Tirukkural, 36:351-53

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

HADITH: Finest Conduct

as reported by Abdullah bin Amir

The most upright among you are those who
carry themselves with the finest conduct.
~ The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as reported by Abdullah bin Amir

Also, note:

One avoids vain talk, and abstains from it.
One speaks at the right time, in accordance with facts,
speaks what is useful, speaks of the law and the discipline;
one's speech is like a treasure, uttered at the right moment,
accompanied by arguments, moderate and full of sense.
This is called Right Speech.
~ Adapted from the Aguttara Nikaya

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

HUMOUR: Marriage Jokes

Take note guys!

A newlywed couple had only been married for two weeks. The husband, although very much in love, couldn't wait to go out on the town and party with his old buddies.

So, he said to his new wife, "Honey, I'll be right back."

"Where are you going, coochie cooh?" asked the wife.

"I'm going to the bar, pretty face. I'm going to have a beer."

The wife said, "You want a beer, my love?" She opened the door to the refrigerator and showed him 25 different kinds of beer, brands from 12 different countries: Germany, Holland, Japan, India, etc.

The husband didn't know what to do, and the only thing that he could think of saying was, "Yes, lolly pop... but at the bar... you know... they have frozen glasses..."

He didn't get to finish the sentence, because the wife interrupted him by saying, "You want a frozen glass, puppy face?"

She took a huge beer mug out of the freezer, so frozen that she was getting chills just holding it.

The husband, looking a bit pale, said, "Yes, tootsie roll, but at the bar they have those hors d'oeuvres that are really delicious... I won't be long, I'll be right back. I promise. OK?"

"You want hors d'oeuvres, poochie pooh?" She opened the oven and took out five dishes of different hors d'oeuvres: chicken wings, potato wedges, mushroom caps, fried ikan bilis, etc.

"But my sweet honey... at the bar... you know... there's swearing, dirty words and all that..."

"You want dirty words, cutie pie?

"LISTEN UP, DICKHEAD! DRINK YOUR FUCKING BEER IN YOUR GODDAMN FROZEN MUG AND EAT YOUR MOTHERFUCKING SNACKS, BECAUSE YOU ARE MARRIED NOW, YOU AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE! GOT IT, ASSHOLE?"

...and, they lived happily ever after.

Isn't that a sweet story?

~~~::(",)::~~~

New Lingo for an Old Priest

There was an old priest who got sick of all the people in his parish who kept confessing to adultery. One Sunday, in the pulpit, he said, "If I hear one more person confess to adultery, I'll quit!"

Everyone liked him, so they came up with a code word. Someone who had committed adultery would say instead that they had "fallen." This seemed to satisfy the old priest and things went well until the priest passed away at a ripe, old age. A few days after the new priest arrived, he visited the mayor of the town and seemed very concerned. "Mayor, you have to do something about the sidewalks in town. When people come into the confessional, they keep telling me they've fallen." The mayor started to laugh, realizing that no one had told the new priest about the code word. But, before he could explain, the priest shook an accusing finger at him and shouted, "I don't know what you're laughing about, because your wife has already fallen three times this week!"

BAD JOKE DISCLAIMER: We recognize that religious humour can be risky. It is our hope that by laughing at ourselves (and others) we can make this subject more approachable. If you find any of these objectionable, we apologize. Many were passed along via email and others spotted on other websites. As with most jokes, the original authors are unknown -- but we thank them.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

HUMOUR: Black and White

Wedding Joke

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white?"

"Because white is the colour of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life."

The child thought about this for a moment, then said, "So why is the groom wearing black?"

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

astrological profile

Astrological Profile
for Azlan Adnan

Azlan Adnan's astrological profile

Sun in Virgo

When Azlan Adnan was born, the Sun was in the Sign Virgo, the Craftsperson. Azlan Adnan has an infinite desire to improve a relationship, and an astonishing capacity to notice every detail about the partner and the couple. Living up to one's potentials is high on Azlan Adnan's list, and he doesn't easily accept a careless, catch-as-catch-can attitude. An ideal mate understands the importance of personally fulfilling work in Azlan Adnan's life, and that when he isn't content with his job, he may not be very content with anything else, including, possibly, the relationship. In return, Azlan Adnan may need to recognize that no person, situation or relationship is ever perfect, and that there's a point beyond which striving for impossible standards can frustrate and alienate the partner.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Negative feelings

such as violence, are damaging to life...

Negative feelings, such as violence, are damaging to life, whether we act upon them ourselves, or cause or condone them in others. They are born of greed, anger, or delusion, and may be slight, moderate, or intense. Their fruit is endless ignorance and suffering. To remember this is to cultivate the opposite.

~ The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 2:34

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

All creatures on earth will pass away

Quran, Ar-Rahman, Surah 55:26-30

"All creatures on earth will pass away. But the face of your Lord will endure forever, in all majesty and glory. Which of the Lord's blessings would you deny? All who dwell in the heavens and on the earth, look to God for help. Each day God engages himself on some new task. Which of the Lord's blessings would you deny?"

~ Quran, Ar-Rahman, Surah 55:26-30

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

A Chat with God

Edifying Stuff

God: Hello. Did you buzz me?

Me: Buzzed you? No... who is this?

God: This is GOD. I heard your prayers. So I thought I will chat.

Me: I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually busy now. I am in the midst of something.

God: What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.

Me: Don't know. But I can't find free time. Life has become hectic. It's rush hour all the time.

God: Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

Me: I understand. But I still can't figure out. By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on Instant Messaging chat.

God: Well, I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to reach you through the medium you are most comfortable with.

Me: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?

God: Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

Me: Why are we then constantly unhappy?

God: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. That's why you are not happy.

Me: But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?

God: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

Me: But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty...

God: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Me: If suffering is optional, why do good people always feel pain?

God: Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don't suffer. With that experience their life become better not bitter.

Me: You mean to say such experience is useful?

God: Yes. In every sense, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Me: But still, why should we go through such tests? Why can't we be free from problems?

God: PROBLEMS are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free of problems.

Me: Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don't know where we are heading...

God: If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Your eyes provide sight. Your heart provides insight.

Me: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do?

God: Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock.

Me: In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

God: Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessings, not what you are missing.

Me: What surprises you about people?

God: When they suffer they ask, "Why me?" When they prosper, they never ask "Why me?" Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth.

Me: Sometimes I ask, "Who am I?, Why am I here?" I can't find the answers.

God: Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.

Me: How can I get the best out of life?

God: Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Me: One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

God: There are no unanswered prayers. At times, the answer is NO.

Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I am so happy to restart at the middle of the year with a renewed sense of inspiration.

God: Well, keep the faith and drop the fear. Neither believe your doubts nor doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that took our breath away!

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

John Kerry

Just as Idiotic as Bush?

This is funny. Wednesday was the last day you can give money to John Kerry. In an effort to convince you that Kerry is worth a little of your money, here are some excerpts from a recent Kerry speech:

On Minimum Wage and Living Wage
"The minimum wage is the lowest it has been in America since Harry Truman was president in 1949 and we hear the same old arguments we've heard since 1949. And every time we've passed an increase in the minimum wage, America's done better, notwithstanding those arguments."

When I'm president, the first thing we're going to do is start to raise that minimum wage to $7 an hour and allow people in America to be able to work and get out of poverty for the work that they do. But it's not limited to minimum wage: you've got to start talking about a living wage that so many mayors are beginning to talk about."

On Health Care as a Right
"We're the only industrial nation in the world that doesn't yet understand health care is not a privilege for the wealthy or the elected or the connected. It is a right for all Americans and we're going to make it available to all Americans. And George Bush, he's had four years as president to offer leadership. He doesn't even talk about it. He doesn't even have a fake plan, ladies and gentlemen, which is normally where they are. He has no plan. And so we've got 44 million Americans who have no care and we have costs going up for everybody in the country! I'm going to make certain we put in place the principle that the health care that senators and congressmen give themselves and you pay for -- it ought to be available to every American."

On Disenfranchising African-American Voters
"Don't tell us that it's the best we can do [when] in the last election... ...2 million votes weren't even counted. Don't tell us that, when voters who were duly registered and they turn up to vote and they find out that their names have been purged wrongly from the list, or when they show up to vote and they're told, we don't have you registered because the registry makes mistakes. Don't tell us that people who are harassed and intimidated from going to the polls, something we thought we resolved in the 1960s and it still happens in the dawn of the 21st century! We can do better, and we will do better this time."

On Unemployment and Underemployment
"African-American unemployment is now at 10 percent, double the rate for whites. In New York City, 18 up to 30, 50 percent, the African-Americans are unemployed. We can do better! America's increasingly being underemployed. And while they're being underemployed, this administration's fight is not to create the new high-value added job that lifts people up. This administration's fight, unconscionably and wrongly, is to try to reduce Americans' ability to win overtime pay. And we're not going to lose a 40-hour work week in the United States of America."

On Economic Fairness
"If you look at the share in America -- workers shares in America of the national income is at the lowest level in American history. That's just stunning. I read that the other day and I just scratched my head, and I said, "What is going on?" And the spread between the haves and the have-nots is getting bigger. There are more working poor in shelters today. There are more working poor. There are more homeless. And you have to ask yourself: How can we be the richest country on the face of the planet and be pushing backwards against the right of an American worker to be able to actually do better in life?"

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Action Alert

Every day in America, 2,000 more kids become addicted to tobacco - one third of whom will die prematurely. If you are as concerned about this fact as I am, help protect our children by sending a free letter to the President Bush.

I'm helping to launch an Internet campaign to tell President Bush to say no to special protection for Big Tobacco. Will you help? Just click here to send a free message to President Bush:

DontPardonBigTobacco.org

To make matters worse, Big Tobacco has given over $26.5 million in political donations since 1997. Now the tobacco industry wants President Bush to kill the federal lawsuit against the tobacco industry.

Big Tobacco doesn't deserve a presidential pardon. Tell President Bush to hold the Tobacco industry accountable and support the federal government's tobacco lawsuit, which would force the tobacco industry to stop deceiving the public and marketing to kids.

It only takes a minute to help. And if you forward this message to your friends and family, we'll really get the ball rolling.

Thanks for your help,

Carter Headrick
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Compassion

A few quotations

Allah is compassionate and loves compassion in all things.
~ The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as reported by Aishah binti Abu Bakar

Such human qualities as morality, compassion, decency, wisdom and so forth have been the foundations of all civilizations. These qualities must be cultivated and sustained through systematic moral education in a conductive social environment, so that a more humane world may emerge.
~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama

We do not rejoice at the punishment meted out to an enemy; we have been taught by the holy laws to have human sympathy.
~ Philo, "Flaccus"


Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

The art of acceptance

a definition

The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favour wish that he might have done you a greater one.

- Russell Lynes

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Moshe Reads an Arab Newspaper

Moshe Reads an Arab Newspaper

A story is told of a Jewish man who was riding on the subway reading an Arab newspaper. A friend of his, who happened to be riding in the same subway car, noticed this strange phenomenon. Very upset, he approached the newspaper reader. "Moshe, have you lost your mind? Why are you reading an Arab newspaper?"

Moshe replied, "I used to read the Jewish newspaper, but what did I find? Jews being persecuted, Israel being attacked, Jews disappearing through assimilation and intermarriage, Jews living in poverty. So I switched to the Arab newspaper. Now what do I find? Jews own all the banks, Jews control the media, Jews are all rich and powerful, Jews rule the world. The news is so much better!"

BAD JOKE DISCLAIMER: We recognize that religious humour can be risky. It is our hope that by laughing at ourselves (and others) we can make this subject more approachable. If you find any of these objectionable, we apologize. Many were passed along via email and others spotted on other websites. As with most jokes, the original authors are unknown -- but we thank them.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Quran Sites

A few I have found useful

http://www.quran.net

http://www.quranweb.com/english

http://www.jannah.org/quran

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

The Monastery on a Cliff

Hanging on faith...

There is a story about a monastery perched high on a cliff several hundred feet in the air. The only way to reach the monastery was to be suspended in a basket which was pulled to the top by several monks who pulled and tugged with all their strength. Obviously the ride up the steep cliff in that basket was terrifying.

One tourist got exceedingly nervous about half-way up as he noticed that the rope by which he was suspended was old and frayed. With trembling voice, he asked the monk who was riding with him in the basket how often they changed the rope. The monk thought for a moment and answered brusquely, "Whenever it breaks."

BAD JOKE DISCLAIMER: We recognize that religious humour can be risky. It is our hope that by laughing at ourselves (and others) we can make this subject more approachable. If you find any of these objectionable, we apologize. Many were passed along via email and others spotted on other websites. As with most jokes, the original authors are unknown -- but we thank them.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

If Misfortune Befalls You

Quran, Ash-Shura, Surah 42:30-31

If misfortune befalls you, it is the consequence of your own actions. Yet God forgives much.
On this earth you cannot escape God; and there is no one apart from God who can protect or help you.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Surah 42:33-44

ASH-SHURA Surah 42:33-44

Read 3 times after subuh
Then doa in your own words

33. In yasha yuskini alrreeha fayathlalna rawakida AAala thahrihi inna fee thalika laayatin likulli sabbarin shakoorin
If He will, He would still the wind and they would be motionless on its back; in that are surely Signs for every steadfast, thankful man; (33)

34. Aw yoobiqhunna bima kasaboo wayaAAfu AAan katheerin
or He would wreck them for what they have earned, but He pardons much; (34)

35. WayaAAlama allatheena yujadiloona fee ayatina ma lahum min maheesin
and He knows those who dispute regarding Our signs; they have no place of escape.(35)

36. Fama ooteetum min shayin famataAAu alhayati alddunya wama AAinda Allahi khayrun waabqa lillatheena amanoo waAAala rabbihim yatawakkaloona
So whatever thing you are given is the comfort of the present life, but what is with God is better and more lasting for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord; (36)

37. Waallatheena yajtaniboona kabaira alithmi waalfawahisha waitha ma ghadiboo hum yaghfiroona
and those who avoid major sins and indecencies, and when they are angry, forgive; (37)

38. Waallatheena istajaboo lirabbihim waaqamoo alssalata waamruhum shoora baynahum wamimma razaqnahum yunfiqoona
and those who answer their Lord, and establish the Prayer; and their affair is by counsel between them; (38)

39. Waallatheena itha asabahumu albaghyu hum yantasiroona
and they expend of that We have provided them; and those who, when aggression is made against them, avenge themselves. (39)

40. Wajazao sayyiatin sayyiatun mithluha faman AAafa waaslaha faajruhu AAala Allahi innahu la yuhibbu alththalimeena
And the recompense of an evil is a like evil, yet whoso pardons and makes amends, his wage is upon God; surely He does not love the wrong-doers. (40)

41. Walamani intasara baAAda thulmihi faolaika ma AAalayhim min sabeelin
And whoso avenges himself after he has been wronged, those ~ there is no way open against them. (41)

42. Innama alssabeelu AAala allatheena yathlimoona alnnasa wayabghoona fee alardi bighayri alhaqqi olaika lahum AAathabun aleemun
The way is open only against those who do wrong to the people, and transgress in the earth without right; those, for them shall be a painful punishment. (42)

43. Walaman sabara waghafara inna thalika lamin AAazmi alomoori
And whoso shows patience and forgives, that is surely an act of resolution in the affairs. (43)

44. Waman yudlili Allahu fama lahu min waliyyin min baAAdihi watara alththalimeena lamma raawoo alAAathaba yaqooloona hal ila maraddin min sabeelin
And whomso God sends astray he has no protector after Him; and thou shalt see the wrong-doers, when they see the punishment, saying, 'is there any way to return?' (44)


Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice