Last Sunday NurIkhwan organised a hike at McRitchie. Did some ice breaking. Food was good. Got to know more about one another. It was a day well spent. It was more casual compared to the hike NYPMS organized 2 years ago. It gave the participants more opportunity to mingle. The tasks were fun.
I learnt something about myself in the process. A 'weakness' of mine. I suppose I have to learn to conform to the majority when doing certain things.
Being in McRitchie, and the fact that the rain poured around the same time as it did 2 years ago brought back memories. People who were in NYPMS and the people who are in it now. The way that I saw NYPMS and the way that I see it now.
I see myself taking a different role in NYPMS soon and pass it down. There's still some loose ends to tie. I pray that I can pass it down in a good condition.
It has been uploaded and hopefully it will be able to create a ripple, if not, a wave in cyberspace. We learnt a lot from this experience and insyaAllah, we will better our efforts for future videos.
Albeit a little late at releasing the video, I must congratulate the entire team for their enthusiasm especially, and the time that they have put into this video. I feel that it is a decent end-product for a first attempt within a short time frame.
Went shooting at Geylang Serai on Monday for NYPMS network's video on Eid Adha. We want to find out the public's view of Eid Adha and raise awareness in some areas regarding the joyous festival. I was there with the cameraman, none other than Azmi. Our interviewers Huda and Syaheer. Azhar was there after his class.
On Tuesday, the members came to my place to do the editing. Appreciate their help. Azmi came first. Then Aminah and Huda. Followed by Ishak, then Syaheer. Hilwan popped by after his work. Appreciate every help that you guys put in, at the same there's a lot that I learnt from this experience.
We'll have a postmortem of this project real soon. Actually, I'm rendering out the movie as I am typing this.
On Wednesday, I had to rush things trying to finish the video by 5pm. We wanted to have a launch of the video during a overnight camp in conjunction of Eid Adha. Unfortunately, the camp didn't materialize. Had a great experience working under pressure though. Did a 'private' screening and got some feedbacks.
And today... I should have started sending the videos to everyone. I tried to improve the video from the feedback that we received since it carries the brand name of NYPMS network. Pretty pleased with the end result. Currently playing the waiting game of rendering and compressing and will be uploading it on youtube.
I was surfing youtube with the intention of inspiring myself with Islam. Here's what I found...
NYPMS Network can do something like this to change the general perception of Islam. Current Affairs Department... something for you guys to think about.
Yesterday, by far, was the most meaningful meeting that we had as a club. Started the meeting at 8.30am. I am really glad that you guys are willing to share your hopes and then some more. Delegated jobs to be done but still lots to be done in the near future.
Finally, we got to change the carpets on blk L and blk E mussolah to rubber tiles. I believe we got a good price for the rubber tiles thanks to Siti. Siti only brought a sample. Therefore we needed to get more. Syaheer suggested that the two of us go get more supply. I think it's more because he was ever so enthusiastic to get a chance to pillion on my bike. We took the chance to brave through the dark clouds towards Toa Payoh Lor 1.
It drizzled a bit when we made our way back to school. I'll say this again, "Sorry for the visorless helmet Syaheer." He took some hits from the rain. Haha.... all for a good cause. The day in school ended by around 4pm. Glad that was done and over with. Looking forward for more challenges.
wednesday Last Wednesday, broke fast at Republic Polytechnic with NYPMSN peeps. It was pleasant and I wish I could have stayed longer.
saturday Last Saturday, my grandmother flew to perform Umrah. It's a mini pilgrimage. It can be done at any time unlike the Haj which is done during its season. The family saw her off at the airport. I remember when I went for Umrah with her back in 99. I was ignorant then. Oblivious to many things in many ways. During that Umrah we made a stop to Palestein as well. A memory I hold on to very dearly. The highest sought piece of real estate in the world.
That very piece of land is the center stage for the bigger things that are in motion in the world.
I'll make doa that I will be able to perform my Haj in due time.
The family prayed maghrib at Darul Ghufran and somehow ended up at Kampung Chai Chee after driving around to find a place to break fast.
sunday The next day, after my weekly religious class, broke fast with the nypmsn peeps and alumnis at Chai Chee Seafood. All I'm saying is that there's a lesson we learnt.
Yesterday, I started the day by meeting a representative of Al-Huda mosque. Al-Huda intends to make an iftar collaboration with NYPMSN. I was briefed how the event would run. With a little more planning things should go as planned insyaallah. My main concern is to get the number of youths who would participate in this particular event.
We were thinking of having another iftar, but I am having a little reservation if we should have it. Unless it's another collaboration, I fear that we may not have enough manpower.
Then I left for the Ngee Ann Poly for a talk organised by NPMSS. Its a talk titled, 'I'm proud to be a Muslim and a Poly student.' It was another one of those think big, think of the future kind of motivational talks. I love those kind of talks. It recharges me to think big of my own future.
I also asked the question that had bogged me down for so long. Prior to this talk, I had already made up my mind that animation is okay. It's just that I will be restricted from doing a lot of things; which to me still sucks cause it means that I would never seen as the best(perfectionist trait of mine). But I supposed that I could make it work by being the best in my area, for educational purposes and mainly kids.
In the talk, Ustaz Haron was saying that we should take our learning as learning the knowledge of Allah. Back to my question, I was relating that our government is supporting new media and if muslims could be animators(I am concerned about the hukum for drawing living objects). I resisted from asking this question to any ustazs before this as I would need to ask opinions from other ustazs before coming to my conclusions and I expected that there would be 2 different answers which eventually lead to my own decision. But I had to ask the question this time as the topic was pretty much related to what I had to ask.
But what I failed to realise was that these ustazs would have more knowledge to base their final conclusion on, unlike me. I make my decisions only based on my limited experience and knowledge.
I got an answer which pleased me and put my mind at ease. He pulled out a point which I had missed totally. It's back to the intention. If a person draws something with the intention to outdo Allah's creation, then it would be haram. It is agreed by contemporary ulamaks that if the animation is done with the intention of good, then it is permissible. And I have to agree that the media is a very powerful tool in which, we, as muslims can spread the light of the truth. Once again I felt recharged but there would still be restrictions that I would have to abide to as an animator.
I was also inspired to continue my fight in life when he was saying that he was from secular school but was learning about the religion at the same time. I have come to a conclusion that I should work just as hard for my religious knowledge as to my secular academics. Only then would I be balanced and not be fooled by the materialistic world. And so, I reaffirmed my believe in a balanced pursuit for knowledge. (Azhar's father was saying the same thing about an ustaz friend of his back at Al-Huda mosque earlier). And he was also saying that he was reading at least a book a day. Reading, something that I wish to pick up again at a regular basis.
After the talk, I went back and got ready to go for my tahfiz class. The rest of the day had been inspiring, but I was put to a challenge this time round. I felt that I had tried had to memorize for the week. But somehow, it did not seem to show in the class. Maybe, I was already feeling drained and sleepy. I thought to myself: The concept of pursuing for religious knowledge is both noble and beautiful but the actual process would be a challenge. I just have to be patient about it.
After class, I slipped in a talk that was going on by Ustaz Ahmad Dahri. He was probably concluding the topic about changing ourselves to be better. He was touching on the part of 3 types of patient. I thought to myself, I have to be patient in the choice that I made. I take it as an ibadah and one must be patient in ibadah(this got me thinking of my tahfiz class). He was also saying that if one wants to get his television fixed, he would find a professional to fix for him. When it comes to religion, I should also find an expert to help him out(this got me thinking about the question I asked at the talk).
I enjoy having one of the days whereby lessons are put right in front of you. It makes you think and you feel guided by Him. Of course, you must set in your heart that intention of seeking knowledge for the sake of Allah.
