#issue01 by Perkemas

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a

Photographed By AHMAD SHAHID BIN ZAMRI

Photographed By IMRON RUSHDIE BIN TUKIMAN

CLOCK WISE FROM LEFT: ABDULMONEIM RIADH MOSQUE PHOTOGRPAHED BY AHMAD RUSHDY BIN ARIFF. HURGHADA TRIP WITH PERKEMAS FEBUARY 2016.

aybe it‟s the Bawean blood in me, but truly I live to explore. Sail the endless seas and explore the unknown. To land in a foreign place and meet people of limitless experiences. The thrill of exploration. This newsletter itself is like a brand new exploration. My team and I head to the open seas without expectations, just plain naïve university students with

Photographed By AHMAD SHAHID BIN ZAMRI

Top Picture THE EDITOR WALKING AROUND THE DESSERT IN HUGHADA tons of free time at their disposal (laughs). We faced head-on to conquer this new territory. To learn fast and tame the bull. My mind muddied around the first issue. I thought long and hard for the theme. In the end, I decided on voyage for this issue. For the first time in PERKEMAS history, we welcomed our friends from other Middle Eastern universities as well as Malaysia late last December. Even more convenient, we have our students travelling all over Europe and the Mediterranean. So I went ahead and jump with the theme. There is so much lessons to be learn from travelling. I did my very own journey years ago. Stuck in the Israeli desert for 7 hours during Sabbath. Nothing but sand and the beating sun on my back. I even made a video capturing my overly dramatic fall into insanity.

Travelling can be tough. To explore the strange and weird. Sometimes you have a vision in your head of what the country is, but in reality is an entirely different thing. I remember back when I first arrived in Egypt. Back in Madrasah Al-Junied AlIslamiah, they talked about the grand sheikhs and the majesty of Al-Azhar mosque and the kindness and humbleness of the Egyptian people. Almost like a perfect society. But now in my fifth year in Egypt, all I can say is, no comment. What I know for sure is, to explore the world with an open heart and mind. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x;t focus on the boarders that divide people, but celebrate the cultures and languages and the heart that unites us all. -MUSTAFA ROSLAN

aptured while on a lorry en route back to the hotel from the famous snorkelling location- the Blue Hole of the Red Sea, in Dahab, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt. Sinai is definitely one of the must-go places in Egypt, hours away from the hustle and bustle of congested Cairo. The view is spectacular all day, with panoramic views of mountains, desert and sea. The sunrise and sunset paint the sky in an ombre of blue, orange, pink and purple. Once dark sets in, billions of stars sparkle against the pitch black sky. Its simplicity is just what a city girl like me needed. Minimal traffic, pollution and noise. Worries were put at the very back of my mind. I wonder, do the locals appreciate the greatness that Allah created around them, or are they so accustomed to it, it no longer becomes beautiful. I guess this is why people travel. To break away from the normality of their daily lives and look at the world in a different light. A traveller‟s eyes see beauty in everything, even the littlest thing. He overlooks the flaws and cherishes each moment, very much aware that they are only temporary.

PICTURE ABOVE:

The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬once said, "‫"كن في الدنيا كأن غريب أو عابر السبيل‬ Be in this world as though you are a stranger or a wayfarer. Let us always live as a traveller of this Earth, even without crossing borders, and may we forever be content. - MASAYU UBAIDAH MOKHTAR

NEWSLETTER Editor in Chief Leading Editor Creative Editor Creative Advisor Art Editor Photo Editor

Head Editor Assistant Editor

Cover Art Art Scholar TOP 10 InDars

Travel

Exco Representives Contributors

The editors and writers from left. KAIYISAH NAJLAA BINTE KAMALUDIN, MASAYU UBAIDAH BINTE MOKHTAR, NABILAH BINTE MOHAMAD JUMLI, NUR RASHIDAH BINTE SABANI, TAHIRAH BINTE SYED SULTAN, SITI MARAHAINA BINTE AMRAN

NABILAH BINTE MOHAMAD JUMLI A witty -too short for her age- 20 year old, who has passion for fashion,writing and...soccer. Aspires to be an influential journalist or public speaker in the near future, insyaAllah.

NUR RASHIDAH BINTE SABANI Tahirah Binte Syed Sultan A strong-minded ailurophile that enjoys reading, baking and delving into Islamic Theology, Tahirah aspires to be a public speaker and Daiâ&#x20AC;&#x; in the future.

A reserved, idealistic perfectionist who lives off historical fiction literature and ungracious amounts of tea a day, Rashidah finds the utmost happiness in writing and believes that tomorrow is a better today.

MASAYU UBAIDAH BINTE MOKHTAR

AHMAD SHAZLY BIN MOHAMAD ARIFF "If people talk behind your back, just fart." Shazly is an avid marathoner and a sports enthusiast. A freshman in Al-Azhar University, he is a student of the faculty of Arabic Language and Literature creating legacies.

Muhd afiq bin anwar 1

The finest tea brewers can be found in Turkey and it is not much of a distinction marked by tea brewers in Egypt as well. One can only conceive how the finest tea would taste like if he has travelled abroad far out from his own comfort circle and have lived deep within the roots of another community. Travelling opens up new horizons of knowledge in a person and breaks away old habits of adhering to obsolete ideas inveterated in him from a young age. Travelling infringes on the convenience of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x;s own falsified presumptions to bring about a much more accepting and broad-minded view of a civilization.

Here, I present to you a juxtaposed view of two countries which I considered as home - Turkey and Egypt. The contrast in the roots and culture from both civilisations share minimal differences and yet they share a strong relationship with Islam in its relevance to its ethical and cultural value which is apparent up to this modern times. 'Amr ibn Al-'As and Fatih Mehmet Sultan were the conquerors and notable protagonists who went on to claim victory for these two nations and were the reason that Islam strives up until today

Residing in Turkey and Egypt opened my eyes to the cultural differences between the two countries. Egyptians as a whole are far much more rushing in the way they always act and behave, hurrying along everything and demanding undeserved 'rights' in the most inappropriate manner. It exasperates people to the extent that tension and conflict can spark anytime over the slightest matter, moreover to those who aren't used to being hustled and bustled. The locals are mostly ignorant and always wanting things to go their way. Rebelling against them will only result in shouting in disagreement or in some extreme cases, fights. In contrast to the Egyptians, the Turks - who are progenies to the long line of the Ottoman ancestry have a calming lifestyle and are much more subtle in their intermingling with people around them. They are much more hospitable and much friendlier compared to the Egyptians. The Turks would rub their shoulders with anyone who they encounter in the middle of the street, and one would immediately be comfortable and be immersed in a conversation like long lost friends. It has been ingrained in their innate behaviour that they have to make people they are having conversations with be comfortable and welcomed in their presence. If their invitation to a simple cup of tea was turned down, they will not be at ease until the invitee finishes up the stylish yet modest bardak (Turkish teacup) of tea. Those are some notable scruples worthy of being appraised as they embody the persona of a true Muslim. A Turkish dish is not void of zeytin (olive) and it is either served as alone or in its oleaginous form; a much healthier fix because of the several nutritional factors it offers contributing to its cathartic wholesomeness to the body. Each dish is served on separate plates for every meal because unlike our own local cuisine, the dishes are presented all on one plate, with a few exceptional meals served with a gravy roundup. They generally taste bland and they also try as much as possible to stay away from any spiciness. The famous kebap or a dĂśner in TĂźrkĂ§e; sliced chicken served with salad (which includes zeytin as well) in a flatbread wrap much like a tortilla is one food that deserves adulation because of its allroundness which boasts simplicity in its preparation and a healthy scrumptious meal that satisfies the heart. Meanwhile an Egyptian delicacy is of salty and floury texture. The typical falafel (to'miyyah in colloquial terms) is an example. An oval-like mixture moulded out of beans deep-fried in oil. 1

he most commonly consumed hot beverage that both cultures share is the traditional tea with both having their own unique ways of preparing them. Turkish tea is offered in a vase-like tea cup and it is held at the rim with the fingertips to avoid being scalded because it is served boiling hot. Its teapot is also in the form of a two-tier kettle with the tea brewed on top and the boiling water heated below. When serving, the tea is poured first before the boiled hot water so it could set in and be evenly mixed to give out a delectable aftertaste. Meanwhile a typical Egyptian tea is prepared using the traditional method of steeping black tea in boiled water and letting it set in for a few minutes. It is then sweetened with a copious amount of cane sugar and is often flavoured with fresh mint leaves. Turkey is a modern Islamic state and is classed as first world country in terms of its development state. It has succeeded in blending adherence to the faith and Islamic social values with economic progress and is widely admired by Islamic countries alike. Akin to its systematic implementation of traffic laws and regulations, its infrastructure is also built up on meticulousness and immaculacy which led to a remarkable progress; both balancing modernity and history. It's unfortunate to point out that albeit Egypt being an Islamic country, its building infrastructure is not really looking up because superficially its not well up in shape. There are scores of dark alleyways and uninviting streets filled with traffic and crowds. Rubbish and strong odious odour of gasoline from cars and food carts lingered in the air; the kind that makes my skin want to crawl in disgust and repugnance. Buildings and landmarks are covered in sand and dust which is probably due to the harsh climate factors and the torrid hot weather. The sanitation is absolutely terrible and there's litter and rubbish everywhere; All-in-all, the maintenance upkeep is inconsistent; I weep for the street cleaners who have to deal with this day in day out. A friend used to tell me that Egyptians believe that to keep things in motion is a blessing. Thus, the rowdy lifestyle and as if to belabour the obvious, the system and penal code of the country are not well implemented. Crimes are prevalent everywhere and they go uninformed and manage to slip by police and patrols unnoticed every time they take place, which resulted in Egypt being one of the countries which has the highest and a staggering number of crime rates. Henceforth, when discussing about a country, it's always inevitable to omit out the people in it.

Photograph By AHMAD SHAZLY BIN MOHAMAD ARIFF The key component is the people who cultivate a society and run along all the systems and traditions, making a civilization successful. In addition, to always nurture the citizens first hand with good moral ethics makes a productive and systematic country; they are like windows which portray the good and bad things that happen in the eyes of a viewer. Being in Turkey and Egypt shows me a whole new paradigm of how a society and their community run in an environment alien to my own, learning the different kind of human behaviours and their cultures as well. I was given the opportunity to pick up a lot of new and worthwhile lessons along the way and it broadens my previous views of only being stringent towards the prospective perimeters of my own country to a whole new perspective of the world at large. It is as though a makeshift of once a rigid and obsolete ideology to an open-minded and more accepting one..

They say all is good in love and war but I think in this context we need to appraise the people of what both countries have become of today.

‫تحيا مصر‬ -AHMAD SHAZLY BIN MOHAMAD ARIFF

Istanbul long transit on the way to Egypt. I arrived at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport at dawn. The pubs at the airport took me by surprise, it was not a usual sight in a Muslim majority country. I already had a picture of Istanbul painted in my mind. Istanbul is the capital and the city of calligraphy and calligraphers. Almost every square inch of the country is adorned with calligraphy. The past Ottoman ruling thundered in the country, be it in the structure of buildings, the signboards and a lot of other beautiful treasures. These impacts trickled down in Egypt, but the difference was, it is carefully preserved in Turkey. I visited the Mosque of Sultan Al-Fatih by train and alighted at a place called EminĂśnĂź. I was impressed by a huge calligraphy by the calligrapher named Mustafa Raqim, and caught myself staring at it for quite a moment. I managed to visit the shrines of a few renowned calligraphers and paid my respects. Mehmet As'ad El-Yeseri and his son Mustafa Izzet Yeserizade. Two legendary figures amongst the exceptionally prominent figures in calligraphy, especially in Ta'liq writing. As'ad's was even considered to be near the Head of Chain in the Ta'aliq script.

Photographed By MUHD „ALAWI BIN AHMAD SHAMSUDDIN soon arrived at another mosque. I approached the shrine of Sultan Mehmet Al-Fatih. Right ahead was the shrine of his wife, and right beside it was the shrine of the renowned calligrapher, Samii Effendi. Something special about these calligraphers is that their tombstones were painted in green and gold. The other tombstones were not painted. Heading back to the airport, I stopped by a huge store named Karin, selling tons and tons of calligraphy supplies. Everything related to calligraphy was there. It was a glimpse of heaven on earth. In Istanbul, wherever you turn you could literally see the link with calligraphy. A country where a huge number of the pioneers of calligraphy lived their entire life, and then laid to rest. Something worth visiting, not just once. The visit to the shrines of the calligraphers left me feeling blessed, a humbling opportunity to be in their majestic presence. They discovered the secrets of calligraphy and spent their lives continuously writing and perfecting their scriptures. To make everyone at awe by the words of Allah. This is a form of da‟wah. "Vahi hicaz 'da inmis, ve Kahire de okunmus, ve Istanbul 'da yazilmis.“

he ultimate yearning of the human soul is to return to its Lord in a state where he is pleased with his servant and his servant is pleased with his master. This book offers a unique insight in the journey to the light of God. Hikam Ibn Atai‟llah is a book that discusses Sufism. A Sufi is someone whose sole purpose in life is to know God and get closer to Him. How do we get closer to God? How does one submit to God and repent to Him? This book answers all of these questions.

Located near the Citadel of Salahudin El-Ayyubi, the Sultan Hassan mosque and madrasah provides an ambience of early Islamic history. Sheikh Muhammad Mohana is the perfect teacher to discuss this book. He has the ability to relate one‟s daily life to the way of the religion. He makes the class easier to understand by using the formal Arabic language also known as Fushah, which is a great convince amongst university students. Reflection is a marvellous form of worship that advances us on our path to God and helps us realise on our spirituality. The prophet PBUH said, “reflection for one hour is better then praying for sixty years”. Even though the hadith is “weak” in terms of authenticity, its meaning is correct. This is because a person who takes the time to reflect on God and His creation for one hour is actually worshiping God through deep knowledge, with sincere feeling, and spiritual light AN OLD SKETCH OF SULTAN HASSAN MOSQUE

Humility is a basic trait of the journeying to God and a characteristic that every servant should keen on maintaining. Arrogance is the opposite of humbleness and is a serious flaw. The prophet PBUH said: “He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance shall not enter paradise”. The companions said: “But a man likes to wear a nice robe and nice sandals.” The prophet replied, “ This in not arrogance, Arrogance is denying the truth and injustice to people. Some people behave humbly with others, but at the same time, they think and feel as though they are superior to them! This is arrogance and has nothing to do with humbleness. Humbleness comes from the heart. The sheikh explained that a person who is humble with others thinks that he is indeed inferior to them. God announced that this life is worth very little. So, if he deprives a person of a wordly life or part of it and guides him to repentance, he bestows on him his mercy and paradise instead. This is a great gift! If the servant of God repents to him, relies on him and purifies his intentions to him, reflects on him, and seizes time, the light of faith will shine in his heart and his journey will draw him closer to God.

After attending this class I feel motivated to know more about God. The first step to know more about God is by change. Changes can be made by submitting to the will of God, being more sincere in one‟s actions, constant self-criticism followed by reflection and being a more grateful and a humble servant. - MUHD AFIQ BIN ANWAR

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he last time I read a book about prayer was probably in my early primary days. Mari Sembahyang (Laki-laki) a thin guide with simple illustrations on how to pray, and what to read in your prayers. Nothing wrong with it. In fact I believe the majority of Malay Muslims in Singapore grew up with the book. Seindah Solat Nabi is a detailed and more upgraded version of such books. Written in simple Malay by the esteem ustaz Mohammad Yusri Yubhi Bin Md Yusoff, Seindah Solat Nabi is a great joy to read. Entertaining with plenty of stories about the ustaz‟s quirky experiences working as an imam, and colourful with its numerous real live pictures of people performing the prayer.

eindah Solat Nabi doesn‟t just tell you about how to pray, but why you pray. Moving with plenty of references from the Quran and Sunnah and also other important books on Islamic Jurisprudence, Seindah Solat Nabu expands the readers‟ minds to the numerous forms of prayers and also serves as a guide on what to read during these prayers. Seindah Solat Nabi is definately Ustaz Yusri at his best, but the real triumph is his book that I can foresee will be a staple for every Malay Muslim in the future. - MUSTAFA ROSLAN

OF IBN BATUTTA

THE TRAVELS

bu Abdallah Muhammad Bin Abdallah Al-Lawati, widely known as Ibn Batutta, was a Medieval Muslim traveller and scholar of Berber descent. Ibn Batutta was born in Tangier, Morocco and is widely known as one of the greatest travellers of all time. He began his travels in 1325, at the age of 20, with the intention of going on a Pilgrimage in Mecca. After completing his Pilgrimage, he continued travelling for another 30 years, visiting as many as 44 different countries which were then mostly under the governments of Muslim leaders of the "Dar Al-Islam” . Upon Ibn Batutta‟s return to Morocco in 1354, the Sultan of Morocco dictated a scholar, Ibn Juzayy, to account his journey through 75,000 miles and countless experiences. Together they produced a book containing the recollections of Ibn Batutta‟s travels, which extended to North Africa, the Horn of Africa, West Africa and Eastern Europe, and to the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and China. - TAHIRAH BINTE SYED SULTAN

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Applicable to any form of carrier; be it luggages, backpacks and even sling bags, this famous tip really does wonders. You‟ll never imagine how much space you‟ll save by following this method!

While packing, make full use of your shoes by stuffing your socks in them to save space. For a final touch, wrap your shoes with a shower cap for it is both lightweight and affordable

Often overlooked, these simple compact containers contribute a lot in organizing loose items such as personal medications, clips, jewelleries as well as brooches and pins for us Muslimahs.

Doesn‟t it bother you when your cables and chargers get tangled with the other items in your bag? Placing them in glass cases not only save the condition of these wires but also make your bags more spacious and neat.

Save yourself some money! Research shows that flights departing on both these days are generally cheaper.

Be sure to pack an empty plastic water bottle before your flight to make passing through security a breeze as well as refilling it afterwards to save on budget.

Both available online and in application, this local company is getting more recognition as one of the most trusted trip advisor for Muslim travellers, providing information on local mosques, halal food outlets and even in-flight prayer time calculator for Muslims who are on-board planes!

This trending website provides homes and private rooms with reasonable prices from owners who are renting them out, most of the time offering better accommodations than hotels.

Be sure to scan and make a copy of all your personal documents (i.e: passport, visa, flight ticket, credit card) and email them to yourself in case of theft and emergencies.

Not only will you avoid overpriced tourist restaurants, you will also get the chance to taste the authentic local flavours and cultural experience!

HOLA! PHOTOGRAPHED BY NUR AKMA BIN ANUAR

Located only 5 hours away from Egypt by air, Spain is a must go for everyone. Moreover, its cheaper to fly there from the middle east than from Singapore. My friends and I travelled across 5 different cities for 12 days - Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Madrid and Barcelona. As soon as we landed in Madrid, we made our way to Seville. Throughout the 6 hour drive, we were accompanied by greeneries, mountains and herds of sheeps. The sceneries were magnificent, and indeed words are not enough to describe how beautiful they were. Road to Seville was easy with the help of the GPS. We arrived in Seville late evening and headed straight to the centre of the city to find some halal food before heading to the hotel. Since Muslims are the minorities in Spain, halal food is scarce and it is not easy to find. We were on a mission to try various foods from different origins and we ended up starting off with Moroccan food. Language was an issue for us as none of us knows how to speak Spanish. Imagine communicating with the locals using Google Translator as a mediator. Lucky for us, the people of Fez restaurante - the Morroccan restaurant - speak English.

Seville is well known for it's cathedrals which one of them happens to be the largest Gothic cathedral of it is kind and the third largest church in the world. For only 9 euros, it takes around 3 hours to tour the whole compound and also to reach the top of the bell tower. Apart from Catedral de Seville, the bull ring - Plaza de Toros - is also an attraction worth visiting for just 4 euros. After spending two days in Seville, we headed to Cordoba which is only 2 hours away. As soon as we arrived at Cordoba, we checked in our hotel and found a halal restaurant for dinner. Located just next to Catedral d Cordoba is a small humble restaurant owned by a Pakistani named Laor Kebab which prepares the most amazing briyani and pakistani tea for only 10 euros. A day in Cordoba was enough as a pitstop before heading to Granada. Granada began life as an Iberian settlement in the Albayz铆n district. After the fall of C贸rdoba and Seville, Muslims sought refuge in Granada. Upon reaching Granada, we headed to Mezquita de Granada for our prayers. Lucky enough for us, we got to witness how the azan was commenced. Calling the azan from the top of the mosque's

tower without any speaker or microphone attracted the attention of not only the muslims but also nonmuslims. From the humble yet gorgeous mosque, we were able to see the main star of Granada, the Alhambra mosque. The Alhambra palace is located at the top of hill in Granada. Bulit in 1889 as a small fortress, the Alhambra was so called because of its reddish walls, and was rebuilt in the mid 13th century by the Moorish emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar of the Emirate of Granada, who built its current palace and walls. It was converted into a royal palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada. It took a total of 3 hours to complete the touring of the whole of Alhambra palace, from the Genaralife to the Alcazaba to the Nasrid Palaces. Its location makes it the ideal spot to take pictures of the whole of Granada; 14 euros well spent indeed. With the car it was really convenient for us to roam around the town as the local transportations are costly and the places are quite far way. After the tiring walk, we headed to a thai restaurant located in the centre of Granada named Phadthai Wok. It felt great to fuel ourselves up with some asian food after days of feasting only on Moroccan and Pakistani food. The next day, we headed to Alcaiceria. Similar to Hussien in Cairo but only smaller, they sell a wide variety of Arab souvenirs from spices to night lamps. We ended our day spending our night in a Moroccan cafe called As-Sirat located around Albaicin, sipping different types of hot teas and oriental delicacies. The tourist hotspots besides Alhambra Palace and Alcaiceria is Seirra Nervada. Only an hour away from the centre of Granada, Seirra Nevada is well known for its breathtaking high peaks that is teeming with skiing facilities. Although we didn't ski, we took the cable car to go to the higher parts of the mountain which provided us with an overview of Seirra Nevada and the town of Granada far below. We left for Madrid the next day and arrived 5 hours later. As soon as we arrived in Madrid, we headed for brunch before going to Bernebeau Stadium, home of Real Madrid FC, one of the best soccer teams in the world. It would have been so much better if we were given the chance to watch a live soccer match, but instead we went for the tour of the stadium which lasted around 3 hours. We spent a day in Madrid before heading to Barcelona by bus. We spent 8 hours by bus just to visit Camp Nou, home of the Spanish league giants and rivals of Real Madrid FC. After were satisfied visiting both stadiums, we headed back to Madrid for our flight back to Cairo. Adios! - NUR AKMA BIN ANUAR

HELLO HURGHADA. A POSTCARD FROM PARADISE.

Photographed By AHMAD RUSHDY BIN MOHD ARIFF

six hour drive from busy Cairo. If Cairo was the colour brown, Hurghada would be the colour blue. From afar, you could see the never ending stretch of the Red Sea. So vast and endless you would have thought it would merge with the cloudless blue sky at one point. Hotels lined up from every corner of the beach city, from cheap affordable hotels that cater to university students seeking a good deal, to grand palatial-like hotels that reached thousands of Egyptian pounds per room, all just a short distance from one another. Despite the unlimited options, one thing remained sure, you are never far from the beach. Picturesque beaches. Almost too beautiful. The kind you see in postcards but never imagine seeing it with your own eyes. Water so clear you could see schools of tiny fishes swimming by the shore. Soft and warm sand that tickles your feet at every step. The beach is the official icon of Hurghada. If you‟re already bored of Hurghada‟s perfect beaches, hop on a fabulous yacht and go island shopping. Jump into the cold waters of the Red Sea with the sun beating rays on your back, and snorkel around the countless fishes and the colourful corals. A whole day will swim by and the next thing you know, its time to head back to land. e.

If water sports is not your cup of tea, then head to the desert located just a few minutes away from the main town. Ride the spider buggies and escape in your inner Mad Max fantasy, or if you‟re feeling really daring, ride an ATV through the desert to the Nubian village. See how the desert nomads live their daily lives, the medicines they make using only the desert‟s finest and bask in the famous nomadic hospitality. There is more to Hurghada than just its waters and desert. Take a stroll down Sheraton Street and buy yourself a souvenir or two, a handmade plush camel doll or an intricate canvas bag, there is something for everyone. Then eat your heart out at the countless eateries and restaurants that lined up the street. Be sure to take pictures of the colourful lights that adorn the street in the evening. Hurghada is alive even at night! A week later, return to Cairo tan and fully relaxed, ready to face another term in the brown city, keeping in mind that Hurghada is always a greeting away. - MUSTAFA ROSLAN

Photogrpahed by KAIYISAH NAJLAA BINTE KAMALUDIN

he daily commute through Appollonos St was often met with disapproving stares, as so I would think. Thank goodness for the universal sign of courtesy and conveying friendliness, a sincere smile. This weapon succeeded in resonating through the hearts of the Athenians, thus toning down the stares my hijabi mother and I received. Recently engulfed in economic crisis and an influx in the number of Syrian refugees streaming in on one of the Greek islands, the Lesvos, the Athenians became sadly unwelcoming of Syrian refugees, hence the general perception of donning on the hijab equating to a Syrian refugee. May Allah protect the Syrians and Muslims all over the world, ameeeeen. Despite the rather grim treatment, it did not tarnish the overall beauty of Athens, for I was continuously awed by the vast amount of nature, the timeless neo-classical architecture and the unique blend of historical density against boundless modernity. Many correlate Greece to its native island Santorini, (did not get a chance to visit, saving it for my honeymoon :p) but I can assure you that its capital Athens does not fall short in terms of charm and photo opportunities!

Named after Athina, the Greek goddess, it comes as no surprise that this city takes pride in its mythology, with monuments built by the ancient Greeks as tributes to its mythical Gods Zeus and Poseidon. Mythology aside, Athens helms as the birthplace of prominent ancient Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Philosophy was very much celebrated and evolved into a „culture‟ in recent years. Modernday Athenians adopted this „culture‟ and created the term „Philosofa‟, an act where one socializes and philosophizes, which combines two of their essential life rules. Here are a few examples of the places I visited, coupled by their captivating qualities that simply took my breath away. Where we resided, which also happens to be the hub of fashion and youth. There is also a square opposite the shopping district, where outspoken locals hold protests during the day and musically-inclined, performances at night. The Hellenic Parliament (one of the most photographed buildings in Athens) is a few steps away from the square.

: Secure a seat at the square, people-watch, and count the number of sloppilydressed individuals, and then realizing there are none, because everybody has their own eccentric fashion sense! The view of the beautiful Acropolis ruin nestled atop a hill greeted us upon our exit from the metro station, and a walk down the historical Adrianou St lead to a stretch of taverns, alongside the ancient Agora, where pivotal events were held, boasting an enchanting mix of modern and history. Visit Monastiraki at night and capture the vibrancy of the night on your video camera, as well as the lighted Acropolis. Also walk in the footsteps of Socrates from the foothill of Agora till the Agora itself. Made our way to the second highest peak of Athens to feast our eyes on the magnificent overview of the city alongside Acropolis and Parthenon, the two gems of Athens. Wear comfortable shoes and climb up the Areopagus hill and join locals for a laid-back session and taking in the sights. : My personal favourite! Located on the foothill of Acropolis, it is defined by narrow alleyways sandwiched between rows of neo-classical buildings, cobblestone walkways, grapevines entwining on lampposts, all in its intricate glory. The temple of Zeus is located just down the road.

Get a necklace/wristband with your name customized in Greek, and get in on the cafe culture of Plaka. Never stop snapping pictures! An essential destination for every Muslim traveller, as this is where the halal food joints are. An afternoon walk from Syntagma to Omonia would take about 30 mins, inclusive of picture-taking along the Greek trilogy, and passing by the International Book Fair. And alhamdulillah for the presence of some Muslims, being able to say the salam again felt so reenergizing! : Stop by different restaurants each day, and get frozen Greek yoghurt on the way back! With that, I would like to say Efharisto Athens, you served well :) - KAIYISAH NAJLAA BINTE KAMALUDIN

Where we resided, which also happens to be the hub of fashion and youth. There is also a square opposite the shopping district, where outspoken locals hold protests during the day and musically-inclined, performances at night. The Hellenic Parliament (one of the most photographed buildings in Athens) is a few steps away from the square.

The view of the beautiful Acropolis ruin nestled atop a hill greeted us upon our exit from the metro station, and a walk down the historical Adrianou St lead to a stretch of taverns, alongside the ancient Agora, where pivotal events were held, boasting an enchanting mix of modern and history.

My personal favourite! Located on the foothill of Acropolis, it is defined by narrow alleyways sandwiched between rows of neo-classical buildings, cobblestone walkways, grapevines entwining on lampposts, all in its intricate glory. The temple of Zeus is located just down the road.

THE

HONEY OF

YEMEN Photogrpahed by MUHD IDRIS BIN RIFAIE

ever have I tasted honey so sweet. Like liquid gold. Bountiful flavours that erupt like colourful fireworks in your mouth. Leaving an undeniable impression. Something truly rare. Egypt‟s dusty skies slowly disappeared as we flew towards Oman. The three of us -two Singaporeans and a Indonesian- two of them had already visited the country before, while this would be my first. I was nervous. Finally heading to the land so deeply imbedded into Madrasah Al-Junied‟s rich history as well as the history of Muslims in Nusantara. I remember back in school the black and white photos of the founders of Madrasah Al-Junied hung proudly in the trophy room. A row of scholars seated in front of a historical school, in plain white shirts, kain pelikat and the ever important songkok. They were Hadhrami. We transited at Doha airport, meeting a fellow Yemeni living in Indonesia, Luqman Al-Attas. One of the first students of Habib Omar. We soon reached Salalah airport in Oman. A modern style feature in a country bordered by three different countries.

The weather was hot and dry, a complete flip from the cold and windy of Egypt. We had to stop at Oman because no flights were flying to Yemen, and take a bus from Oman to Yemen. I entrusted my complete faith in the other Singaporean who numerously travelled to Hadhramaut. “Insyallah everything will be fine.” Luqman‟s house in Oman was as I imagined a Hadhrami house would look like. The exterior was simple. Dusty dark brown and a mixture of grey, square with hard lines. But the inside was a completely flip, the house was beautifully decorated. Rich textiles hung as curtains at every room and there were pretty embroided pillows everywhere. We sat down on the carpetted floor by the edge of the room, sitting on the floor was more customary than sitting on a high chair. For a while I listened as the family conversed in Yemeni Arabic, softer and more formal than the Egyptian dialect. The Yemenis pronounced their Qof as Ga, something different in Egypt. Egyptians pronounce their Qof as aah.

e spent the next twelve hours in the bus to Al Ghaydah, the boarder between Yemen and Oman. Mountains and sands stretched for as far as the eye can see. Only another twelve more hours to Tarim. When I first arrived at Tarim, all I could do was be awed by the sheer majesty of the gargantuan mountains that flank the city. Most of the houses in Tarim were low leveled, square and made of mud. Something far different from the skyscrapers of Singapore or Cairo. Tarim is famous for its unrivalled application and practice of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. The Ba‟alawi Mosque in Tarim, a structure completely built free from any form of trepidation and suspicion. Tarim holds true to the teachings of the Prophet, and firmly practice these teachings to the very best, even to the tiniest detail. Even the doors were similar to the structure that of the Prophet‟s. The streets were quiet with only a few motorbikes on the road. The shops irregularly opened, and would close indefinitely during prayer times. The locals were dark skinned, kind and well-mannered. They walked around in simple white garments and kain pelikat instead of pants. No one left their head uncovered. It was uncustomary. People will greet you with Salam and smile as you walk by, even to strangers. Tarim is rich in kindness. We arrived on a Friday on the first of Rabii‟ Al-Awwal . The mosque was filled with people dressed in white - a favourite of the prophet. I was awed by the sermon of Sheikh Omar Hussein. In just a short few minutes, the sheikh reminded about the importance of humility and discretion. He also advised to not hold ourselves at hightowers no matter how successful we are, and to always reflect in the greatness of God who has given us wealth as oppose to reflecting on the greatness of the wealth itself. We met another Singaporean, an old friend back in Madrasah Al-Junied. He invited us to another fellow Singaporean home. We ate and talked harmoniously, about twenty of us Singaporeans altogether. I could feel being the odd one out. They sounded so mature and at peace with themselves. Eating and sitting as the prophet would do. They spoke softly and clearly. And conversed around many topics. They had breathed the air of Tarim for years, while I was only on my first day. We followed with a maulid after lunch.

In Tarim during the month long Rabi‟ Al-Awwal, there would be daily celebrations of the prophet‟s birthday. We would praise the prophet countless times during the day. Hundreds maybe thousands of times. But never was I tired. In fact I felt more energized than ever. People from all different tribes came and celebrated the birth of the world‟s greatest icon. The biggest I had seen a maulid was at Imam Al-Hadad mosque. The size of a regular mosque in Singapore. It was grand and well decorated. Syed Abdul Qadir Al-Hadad, the father of another close friend, was one of the people that spearheaded the refurbishment of the mosque. Imam Al-Hadad mosque was flocked by countless scholars and habaibs. It was almost unbelievable that a large concentration of the successors of the prophet was at the same place as I was. Habib Umar Al-Hafiz, someone who I deeply admire gave a short speech. The students always talked about him. They shared numerous stories like how many years ago the habib would walk around in the night with a simple oil lamp and propagate the message of Islam. For him Islam is the greatest thing on earth and was the right of every human being. The habib talked about the men and women of our generation. How we are so lost in this world and that we need to immediately return to Islam. . The famous Habib whose stories are passed down from students all around the world. He is someone everyone should aspire to be. He‟s wealthy, in a sense that he sees and practices the sunnah everywhere, from visiting the sick in the hospital to helping out in a stranger‟s funeral

he people of Tarim celebrate the birth of the prophet like none other. Almost incomparable how deep their love for the prophet runs in their veins. The Zahaf Farah a large celebration of the prophet‟s life was a testament of that. People from all over the world showcased their love for the prophet. They dressed in ancient costumes, tugging large camels behind their backs to reminisce the days of The Prophet and His companions. In Tarim, people aren‟t ashamed to show their love for The Prophet.

Photogrpahed by MUHD IDRIS BIN RIFAIE

stood there, regretful. Only a few days left. Another fascinating custom about Tarim were the marriages. Interactions between men and women are highly frowned upon. Only allowed in unavoidable situations like education and business. The women wore complete black, covering their faces with opaque veils. They weren‟t oppressed. But highly respected and coveted. Men who feel they were ready for marriage simply go to the habib and state the characteristics they want of their partner, and the habib will choose for them. I even met a fellow Singaporean lady who married an American in Tarim. Education in Tarim is different than any other place in the world. They learn from the ancient texts of the past scholars. To learn about Islam from its very core. Every morning there will be a class on Islamic jurisprudence. We sat down in a circle with the teacher sitting on a raised platform. A halaqah. A method of studying during the prophetic time.

Before it was time to leave, I had to try the famous Sidr honey. We went to a shop not far from our house, only a couple of minutes away by motorbike. As you enter, you will be immediately greeted by the kind salam of the shopkeeper and the sweet smell of honey. Its colour was not dark brown like the kind I‟ve seen in shops everywhere. But a soft shade of gold. The texture wasn‟t thick and dense, but soft and flowed easily. The taste was nothing I‟ve ever tasted before. Perfectly sweet. The flavour just bursts in your mouth. I looked at my partner who looked at me with an amused grin. “This is real honey.” One lesson I learned from my time in Tarim. To follow the sunnah of the prophet to the highest degree. And to live in every second of every day in accordance to the sunnah of the prophet. I will definitely return, because in Tarim there is Islam and Muslimin.. - MUHD IDRIS BIN RIFAIE

Photograph By TAUFIQ BIN ABDUL MAJEED Spain 2015 a forgotten hospital in Singapore, Toa Payoh Hospital.. Was devastated when I found out that I was singled out and the rest of my siblings are proud KKH babies. is the first child to be enrolled in a fulltime madrasah, which was later followed by his elder sister and siblings. meetings with his wife was over mIRC chat room. =) awarded with 2nd place (yes, I am that thankful, even if I was only the a runner-up) in the inter-madrasah syarahan competition in 2001, when nobody expected anything from me to win anything. holding my daughter for the first time. That‟s when I know my life has changed and I need to push further, harder. fact that my English is bad, I've been working for 6 years now in a mostly English language office environment and somehow more able to compose a formal e-mail/letter in English better than I can in Malay or Arabic. I made more friends, I hope. that one day, one of my children will pick my interest and continue the journey I took and develop it further.

is a staff meeting day, at least for another 4 more months. Will update this section again after then (if I am invited). to observe people and places and not to buy souvenirs (which my doesn‟t work well for my family). S is with the people you enjoy being with. You could spend hours standing in 24‫ ج‬and still having a blast because of the company you are with. like that person you love/like but tend to “jual mahal”. You don‟t enjoy staying here at times but can‟t seem not to like it. he would travel back to the days when I can spend hours chatting with my mom over dinner at my folks‟ place. How I miss those simple times. I: think of getting lost in the streets, seeing new sceneries and meeting new people. Until I realize I often travel with my 2 young children and told myself “who am I kidding?” : Look at the world with clean lenses. See the past, understand the present and work in identifying the future. It will be more interesting than shopping. =)

“Glory to Allah who did take His Servant by night from the Sacred mosque to the Farthest mosque”

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