Koran by Heart
I watched Koran by Heart last night. The bug had finally bitten me. Being an ASTRO subscriber which only subscribed to the almost minimum package paid, I didn't get the chance to watch this on HBO channel when it was first aired.
Now only after months aired, I was able to view it via YouTube.
Koran by Heart follows the story of 3 young children at the age of 10 whom Arabic wasn't their native language but they took the effort to memorise the Quran and compete against others in the international Koran recitation contest in Cairo. The three children are Djamil from Senegal, Rifdha from Maldives & Nabiollah from Tajikistan. The documentary offers insight onwere conducted on how the contest was conducted during Ramadhan on which age isn't a matter in this contest where children as young as 7 years old up to teenage years competed with each other.
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| Rifdha from Maldives |
As much as these children were celebrated in Cairo, you would certainly find it heartbreaking on their struggles especially the moment it was revealed that Nabiollah, despite the fact that he's the most well versed and has the perfect memory on the Quran recitation is illiterate - he couldn't write & speak and his school was closed due to the government fear that his school was grooming Islamic extremists. Or the fact that Djamil came from a family which technology is so far off and he was alone for the whole duration in Cairo and was trying to contact his parents but were unable to. And Rifdha, the among few girls who questioned everything and more liberated than her father.
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| Nabiollah from Tajikistan |
Insights from their parents, especially Rifdha's father was so heart touching when he truthfully admit that he had strayed from the path of Islam for 30 years and when it was his father in the death bed, then he only realised that Islam is the only way and made him dedicated to raise his family to become good Muslims, and his determination in ensuring that his children get the best education & willingness to migrate to Egypt seeking Islamic knowledge.
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| Djamil from Senegal |
I almost teared up when I saw Djamil crying when he couldn't understand what the judges wanted and his score was low and he wasn't eligible for the next round.
The documentary focused on these children and in hindsight, I believe in open the eyes of the non-Muslims on Islam especially when Islam is synonym to terrorism. There's no narration except interviews with the non-Muslim expert in Quran recitation, the children's parents, the organisers and the imam conducting the event.
Book review: Bidadari Hujan
Bidadari Hujan
by
Noor Azzahra
Kasihan itu salah satu cabang cinta!
Tanpa diduga tatkala hujan sedang turun pada suatu pagi, aku terpanah dek kasmaran untuk pertama kali.
Dia Bidadari Hujan yang memayungi aku dengan payung cintanya! Aku terpesona pada kejelitaannya.
“Harap-harap esok pagi hujan lagi!” kataku sambil menghadiahinya senyum.
Matanya memanah hatiku dengan busur arjuna. Lalu hari-hari selepas itu, aku bukannya lagi Raimy Haidar yang dulu.
Hujan mencurah lagi. Diberinya aku sekaki payung.
“Macam mana saya nak pulangkan?”
Langkah dia terhenti. Aku menanti. Perlahan-lahan dia berpusing kembali menghadap aku.
Oh, dia bukannya Bidadari Hujan aku yang dahulu. Tingkahnya penuh pekerti senyumnya penuh erti.
“Simpanlah andai awak rasa mahu menyimpannya. Buanglah andai awak rasa mahu membuangnya.”
Apa jawab hati aku pada saat ini
Resensi:
Kasihan itu adalah salah satu cabang cinta!
Dia bukannya bidadari hujan impian Raimy, dia berusaha membalut lukanya. Dan dia berusaha untuk membahagiakan orang lain. Sehabis mungkin, dia cuba menjadi isteri yang baik. Sehabis mungkin, dia berusaha memecah tembok si suami yang mengaku tiada langsung hati padanya walaupun dianggap muka tembok. Raimy dalam keserba salahan terpaksa memilih dia, bukannya Qamalia, bidadari hujan impiannya yang dicipta kepungan awan harapan. Betapa tinggi pengorbanannya hingga dia menangis dalam sendu, tanpa diketahui sesiapa pun.
Bila satu peristiwa yang merubah hidupnya berlaku, dia meminta dilepaskan secara baik, dan Raimy nanar. Baru Raimy tahu, bila Rafique berkata, "Kasihan itu adalah salah satu cabang cinta!"
Kalaulah sebuah buku ini mampu berkata dan kalaulah ini sebuah cerita realiti, pasti saya tidak mampu menahan perasaan. Walaupun ini sebuah fiksyen, air mata saya tumpah membacanya. Plotnya memang klise, cerita kahwin paksa, dan si suami berubah hanya setelah sebuah peristiwa besar berlaku tetapi saya memang tabik dengan penulisnya kerana mampu menulis dari kaca mata seorang lelaki. Bukan mudah untuk menelusuri perasaan seorang lelaki malahan 'berbahasa' pula dengan makhluk berlainan jantina.
Saya larut dalam sebuah cerita dan akhirnya, taktala menghela nafas ketika tamatnya sebuah pembacaan, baru saya sedar sesuatu, penulis dapat membawakan sebuah cerita yang sangat baik sehingga saya lupa yang penulisnya seorang perempuan.
Rencah buku ini bagi saya secukup rasa, ada rasa manis, pahit, payau, malahan kelakar pun ada. Sesekali saya tergelak membaca lawak Raimy, namun ada masanya saya seperti nanar kerana faham perasaan Raimy yang memohon kemaafan dari Sufi. Dan kita tidak pernah tahu dan menelusuri perasaan Sufi sebaliknya semuanya diceritakan dari persepsi Raimy.
Saya tidak tahu sama ada, ada lelaki setabah Raimy, tetapi saya tahu ada perempuan seperti Sufi. Bidadari hujan yang hatinya hancur berdarah tetapi masih sanggup dilukai berkali-kali. Dan kedegilan Sufi itu juga dapat saya dakap dan rasai. Benarlah kaum Hawa ini nampak lembut, tetapi hati mereka kental.
Walaupun ada lompang seperti plot yang agak klise, saya merasakan novel ini hidup kerana watak yang kuat terutamanya Raimy. Berkali-kali masih terasa kagum dengan penulisnya kerana saya langsung tidak reti membaca perasaan seorang lelaki.
Terima kasih Jemari Seni kerana memberikan perkhidmatan terbaik. Saya memilih buku ini kerana rata-rata orang merekomendasikan buku ini sebagai buku 'wajib baca' Jemari Seni. Buku ini sampai di atas meja saya tengah hari semalam. Dan saya menghabiskan buku ini dalam satu malam sahaja, how about that? :)
Review: Basil Thai Nudle Bar, Bangsar Village
Farrah's review:
5 out of 5 stars
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| ngapppp.. |
Yati's review:
5 out of 5 stars
it’s ice blended mocha highly recommended! Very the creamy with a nice blend of coffee taste.
Aida's review:
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| Menu |
4 out of 5 stars
Excellent selection of Thai food. Great ambience for friends to hang out. Price is on the high side, but service is with smile.
Aini's review:
4 out of 5 stars
Cuma service slow sikit sebab kita demanding customer..ahaha
Kak Tie's review:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Smah's review:
Food: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Ambience: 4 out of 5 stars
Basil = Flying Chilies = Amarin (yg beza cume suasana).. dan Basil hari ni siap ada orang tuangkan dan bahagi-bahagikan sama rata tom yum.. Adakah adik itu mmg baik ? Atau dalam fikiran dia “kakak kakak nih.. kecoh kecoh.. kang kecoh plak berebut tom yum nih.. baik aku bahagi siap siap” .. lalalalala. Adik itulah jugak yg blurr bile kitorang request nak daun kaduk extra… dan sekali lagi blurr bile kitorang request nak daun salad pengganti daun kaduk yg dah abes wlpn kat dapur Basil. Siapa la supplier daun kaduk nih ? isk isk.. ade plak tak cukup.. Ape nih ? daun salad.. daun kaduk ? Aiyohh pening nak review..
Papepun… it’s still a nice place to hang out with friend.. korang bising la tahap mane pun.. takde orang kesah.. ((ke ade ke?)) err.. macik macik bile dah gossip dan mengenang zaman silam.. mmg la tak ingat doniaa.. lalalala.. :P
Overall 3.5/5 utk makanan.. 4/5 for tempat nak berjimba jimba (bak kata Farrah)
Book review: Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
first published in Goodreads on 8 February 2012
3 out of 5 stars
Mariah White, the mother of Faith was institutionalized in mental hospital because she tried to kill herself after finding her ex-husband slept with another woman. Faith, a daughter who wasn't raised to be in any religion suddenly become a miracle healer and Millie, her grandmother, who woke from the dead. Ian Fletcher, the cynic whom doesn't believe a second on Faith's ability on reviving the ill, and a staunch atheist with PhD from Harvard and as handsome as sin always disappear on Tuesday's mornings. Interesting start. Being a concerned daughter, Mariah decided to seek professionals' help including preist and rabbi.
Halfway through, Colin, the father decided to engage in court battle to gain custody of their child, Faith which then in turn, Mariah made the decision to run away with Faith, but stumbled into Ian. Unexpected events occur to question beliefs especially when Faith related God as a 'she'
Picoult is wonderful in this one especially she tried her best to be apolitical, even though atheism & religions are discussed in this, in doesn't poke on the stand that "You shouldn't be an atheist" or "You shouldn't be a Christian". The author just let it be. As a whole package, Picoult had done a wonderful narrating Munchausen by Proxy (MSP) where parents who wanted to inflict pains in themselves but then their thoughts jumbled with their children causing the children having pains instead. New knowledge!
Plus points:
1. Court scene was excellent
2. Potrayal of Mariah of having insecurities on herself being a mother (I'm not alone :))
Minus: (but can easily overlooked into)
1. Suddenly, Ian doesn't propagat atheism as much, but I was wondering how convincing he can be when he's falling in love with Mariah or the scenes where he met Mariah, doesn't anyone realise it?
2. No further explanation on Faith's ability as miracle worker which is unlike Change of Heart
Still, a good book to read
Aida's review:
first published in Goodreads on 20 February 2012
2 out of 5 stars
I feel like dragging my feet while reading this novel. I just want the author to quicken her writing phase that I even read 2 other books while I was halfway with this one.
I enjoyed 'Change of Heart' better than this one. This novel does not even bother to explain Faith's vision, and I am still confused whether I should believe Faith or not.
Even though the court scene is brilliant, I find Jodi Picoult's writing style for this book is exhaustive and repetitive.
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