My Chemical Remymberance

Risliani

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 00:12:00 +0000

Perhaps it's the sun

shining across the horizon hues

perhaps it's the sea

that turns watercolor blue

perhaps the golden sands

are made soft by the morning dew

perhaps it's the heart

that beats at the sight of you

The sun,

the sea,

the sand

all look different now

Perhaps it's a dream

that will never come true

perhaps it's just me

trying to get over you

Risliani, your name is as subtle

as the sun,

the sea,

the sand

and I truly hope

that you are still a friend

-remykm

Hijab lady in One Direction music video

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:21:00 +0000

was listening to One Direction's 'get out, get out, get out of my head' song when i spotted a hijab lady in the music video... hehe.

"Shot me out of the sky,
You're my kryptonite..."

- may Allah protect my father, my mother and those performing umrah this season #insylh

MCR disbanded

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:18:00 +0000

Perhaps Gerard saw it coming. Much earlier. I had much respect for him and the My Chemical Romance project. They were one of my favorites. The band have announced their break-up via a posting on Friday night (March 22) on the band’s official website. In a direct and concise note, the band’s statement on their website reads as follows:

"Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We’ve gotten to go places we never knew we would. We’ve been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We’ve shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure.”

It is almost apocalyptic. I only realized the news about the band's break-up today April 3rd when I stumbled upon my other fan blog, "The Academy's Umbrella" - a tribute to Gerard's comic, The Umbrella Academy. Much like the fiction-based superheroes who run into conflicts while trying to save the world, Gerard's parting message about the band's break-up is fairy-taled with a poignant comic book ending. In his lengthy essay that he posted via Twitlonger, he began telling about how he woke up in the morning still dreaming and not fully aware..."the sun poked through the windows", touching his face, and then a "deep sadness" overcame him, immediately, bringing him to life and realization that his 'idea', the band My Chemical Romance had ended. He continued writing about how he walked downstairs to do the only thing he could think of to regain composure - which is making coffee. This symbolic sobriety in Gerard's handling of the situation is metaphorically synonymous to The Umbrella Academy's Apocalypse Suite recurrent theme about coffee-drinking as an alternative to alcohol to 'drown sorrows'. Dr Pogo, a character in the comic occasionally drinks coffee reflecting composure and calmness amidst tense moments in the story. Other characters such as Spaceboy, The Rumor, Number Five and Inspector Lupo were also found drinking coffee while having deep conversations.

Gerard's subtle reaction towards what is considered to be a sombre event is a tongue in cheek, alternative answer to the precarious fate of every rock and roll band. I wouldn't want to make any reference to Guns and Roses, Nirvana or even Queen. A rock band usually got disbanded because of disputes, dangerous lifestyles or emotional suicidal tendencies but My Chemical Romance is none of that. Gerard is projecting the innocent and soberness side of a rock star. He wrote further, "There are many reasons My Chemical Romance ended. The triggerman is unimportant, as was always the messengers- but the message, again as always, is the important thing. But to reiterate, this is my account, my reasons and my feelings. And I can assure you there was no divorce, argument, failure, accident, villain, or knife in the back that caused this, again this was no one’s fault, and it had been quietly in the works, whether we knew it or not, long before any sensationalism, scandal, or rumor..."

Frank Iero, MCR's guitarist wrote his reflection on the band's break-up beginning with this statement, "greetings friends and acquaintances, on-lookers and rubberneckers, enemies and indifferents, believers and fakers..." Frank has written, deleted and rewritten his parting note way too many times. He doesn't believe in holding back one's feelings or emotions until it is too late.. "and if you did not appreciate someone or something while they were still here then you have no business expressing cute anecdotes when they are no longer around to enjoy them."

Perhaps the most poignant portion of the responses thus far comes from Gerard ending statement,

"My Chemical Romance is done. But it can never die.
It is alive in me, in the guys, and it is alive inside all of you.
I always knew that, and I think you did too.

Because it is not a band-
it is an idea.

Love,
Gerard"

wallahu'alam, Allah knows best
_____________________

My only regret is that I am awful with names and bad with goodbyes.
But I never forget a face, or a feeling- and that is what I have left from all of you.
- Gerard Way

Farris Rahman - Atlet Papan Luncur Singapura

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 05:08:00 +0000

I actually wrote this article in Bahasa Melayu for a proposed Berita Harian cover story:

Atlet Papan Luncur Singapura mendapat tajaan Red Bull
Oleh Remy Mahzam

Farris Rahman, 18 tahun merupakan atlet papan luncur Singapura yang pertama mendapat tajaan eksklusif dari jenama minuman sukan yang terkenal, Redbull. Tajaan ini meletakkan pelajar Repablik Politeknik tersebut dalam pasukan atlet elit yang terunggul dalam acara-acara sukan ekstrim yang lasak di dunia. Siapa sangka, pemuda yang pada mulanya hanya menggunakan papan luncur murah yang dibeli di pusat serbaaneka Carrefour sewaktu dahulu, sekarang telahpun mencipta namanya tersendiri.

Farris juga merupakan salah satu atlet yang disenaraikan dalam 50 jaguh papan luncur antara bangsa yang terhebat di dunia. Kejayaan ini merupakan hasil titik peluhnya menceburi dalam sukan ekstrim ini. Farris telah bertanding dalam pelbagai pertandingan terkemuka termasuk KIA Asian X-Games 2011 di Shanghai, Mettle Games 2011 dan Converse City Carnage di Singapura. Pencapaian Farris terkini adalah mendapat tempat ke-enam dalam kategori Mini-Mega Ramp dalam pertandingan Maloof Money Cup di Afrika Selatan 2012.

Di dalam negeri, Farris sudah pun dikenali ramai di antara penggiat sukan papan luncur. Bermula bermain papan luncur pada usia seawal 4 tahun lagi, Farris merupakan salah satu daripada tiga adik beradik lelaki yang turut aktif dalam sukan ekstrim tersebut.

Abangnya Firdaus Rahman dan Feroze Rahman merupakan atlet papan luncur yang mendapat tajaan kasut terkemuka, Vans. Ketiga adik-beradik ini sudah mula menubuhkan perniagaan jualan papan luncur jenama ciptaan mereka sendiri, Sotong Skateboards.

Menjadi atlet tajaan Redbull telah mendewasakan Farris dalam sukan ekstrim yang diceburinya dan beliau sekarang akan menjalani latihan bersama pelatih sukan peribadinya dan pakar terapi sukan. Pencapaian Farris mengharumkan lagi nama Singapura dan beliau menjadi inspirasi bagi ramai orang muda yang ingin berjaya dalam dunia sukan lasak.

_____________________________________________

Penulis merupakan pensyarah di Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (ITE) Kolej Central dan ketua kumpulan papan luncur (ITE College Central - Ang Mo Kio Skates Sports Club) di kolej tersebut. Penulis boleh dihubungi menerusi emel: Remy_Mahzam@ite.edu.sg

Nadiah

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:52:00 +0000

Sometimes you wish
your crush would google up
her name
and stumble upon it
on your random blogpost

You hope she would notice
how difficult it is sometimes
to keep one's feelings
to one self
no one else knows

So I ask her one day
"What's your full name?"
even checked to see
if the spelling is right
or different from other roses

Our conversation is limited
by a "Hi" and a smile
nothing about wanting
to meet or say goodbye
camouflaging the truth

I discovered that she is
already engaged
and perhaps that explains
the awkward silence,
the useless affection

"Nadiah", perhaps you are
as fictitious as your name
fairy-tale and fantasied,
your inexistence is what
that has kept me alive

- remykm

First posting for 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:10:00 +0000

This will be my first post in 2013. Hurray.

While searching for my resume in my Gmail message box, I stumbled upon an old email conversation I had with Bro Ahmad Salik way back in 2007, subhanallah. The wonderful thing about technology, it archives what you wrote and think - almost like a time machine, I was brought back to the past.

The email conversation was concerning a sister that I kinda 'admired' back then - who is of course now happily married with 2 kids (pardon the specifics). In an instance, I was reminded of my past innocence. Bro Salik played a mature figure trying to reconcile things between me and the sister - and I felt blessed to have someone like him around. Though he wanted this conversation to be of the 'strictest confidential', I do hope one day, if he ever were to google and stumble upon this. I just wanted him to know that his help was much appreciated.

Somewhere out there, over the rainbow, I really wish the sister would think of me - but that's just too fairy-tale-ish and unlikely to happen in this life. I remembered crying and prayed that our hearts would unite in heaven.. god willing.

- remykm

_______________

Dan terjadi lagi
Kisah lama yang terulang kembali
Kau terluka lagi
Dari cinta rumit yang kau jalani
Aku ingin kau merasa
Kamu mengerti aku mengerti kamu
Aku ingin kau sadari
Cintamu bukanlah dia
Dengar laraku
Suara hati ini memanggil namamu
Karena separuh aku
Dirimu....
- Ariel, Noah

The irony of technology

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 03:38:00 +0000

Technology makes us selfish people at times - we are overtly concern about our own selves. We get anxious over an unreplied email or unliked photo or uncommented posting which was sent just one hour ago and we see people whom we sent the message to, so active on Facebook ironically, ignoring our very own existence

-remykm

___________

Out into the cold night
Stare into the dark sky
Do you sleep forever
Or burn alive
Or linger in the half light
Fade into the dark night
Do you find contentment
Do you find your peace
- "Burn Out"

The 'Eid that left me

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:40:00 +0000

It is always nice to see Fariheen 'liking' my FB sharings. Things have come a long way. While I'm still struggling to find a soulmate, most of my friends by now are probably busy thinking for their own children, their wives as well as bread & butter issues.

Sometimes I look up to the sky and ask why.

The 'Eid that left me was the same one who said goodbye - too many times before.

- remykm

Eid Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 07:17:00 +0000

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The journey to Malaysia with family was pretty tiring but worth it. One of the houses I would look forward to is to meet these three little cuties. They would rush to me and seat on my laps. Adam as usual would be the first to ask to use my phone, Aisyah Tasneem would toy around with my Nikon camera and Salleh the smallest would just make random faces! Msylh, he was even trying hard to sing "Balik Kampung" by Allahyarham Sudirman Haji Arshad in his raw childish tone.

May they grow up remymbering me and become excellent individuals who would contribute to the well-being of the ummah, ameen. <3 p="p">
-remykm

_____________

Perjalanan jauh tak ku rasa
Kerna hati ku melonjak sama
Ingin berjumpa sanak saudara
Yang selalu bermain di mata

- "Balik Kampung", Sudirman Hj Arshad

The Ramadan Bookshop

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 04:32:00 +0000

Went back home smiling yesterday only because something literally sweet happened. Alhamdulillah, in every Ramadan everyone is hoping to take home a consolation gift or reward. We are at our 24th day - a period of time where many will be flocking to the masjids to perform tarawih and qiyam with the innate aspiration of meeting Lailatul Qadr. Although there are indicative signs as of what the Qadr should look like or feel like, I believe the experience is unique for every individual. One needs to have the sheer longing in wanting to see it before he or she is permitted by God Himself to experience it.

My mini Qadr encounter this Ramadan is perhaps experienced in this little "Ramadan Bookshop" - a name I coined to instill this mystery surrounding the event itself or perhaps just a memorable, undefined location. There has been a previous phobia of entering this bookshop partly because it concerns an incident. Whenever I walked pass it, a nostalgic imagery flashed in my mind - her smile, the subtle frown, the book which I borrowed, the rejected flower. On other ordinary days before this Ramadan, I sometimes walked into the building with such heaviness as I was reminded by the pain of perhaps un-reciprocated feelings.

But yesterday 12 August 2012, 23rd Ramadan 1433H was different. For some reason, a different air greeted me when I entered the bookshop. I extraordinarily asked for permission to enter it although by default any customer or book lover is permitted to come in and explore.

To cut a long story short, we talked and conversed. It was perhaps the longest conversation that we had after a long time of not meeting each other in person. It is not as if this was planned. And it is not as if we are lovers in a 'relationship'. We are strangers still but at that point of time I felt that I had known her for so many years.

I brought along a book which I borrowed with the intention to return it back to the owner. The owner was kind enough to see beyond my anxiety and gave the permission to hold on to it still. There was another person who accompanied us in the conversation and I felt blessed. From the question about qiyamulail in the last 10 nights, to the well-being of her family members, to the past year BIRKH exam papers and to the bottle of honey which I bought before leaving the bookshop - the conversation was memorable.

Occasionally, customers of the bookshop would intervene and I will remember the old pakcik who asked about the Qur'anic stylus reader, an Indian guy inquiring about an Indian Qur'an, a marooney shirt chap passing a box of dates which were meant for Dr Mariam, my good friend, Iskandar Zulkarnain Lim - a Chinese Muslim revert looking for a tafseer book and another good friend of mine Ihsan Juma'at who entered the scene 'knowing' what was going on.

The conversation had to stop eventually and if I was not mistaken, I heard her last words, "You don't give up that easily do you?"

"Lailatul Qadr" for me is perhaps this short, sweet transient moment. It happened at the "Ramadan Bookshop". Metaphorically, the Qadr is meant for those who are looking out for answers, looking out for miracles and eventually attain it not through just hard work of 'ibadah but also a strong yearning in wanting to experience it.

I thank God this - alhamdulillah

- remykm

____________________

Innaa Anzalnaahu Fiy Laylatil Qadr
Wa Maa Adraaka Maa Laylatul Qadr?
Laylatul Qadri Khayrum Min Alfi Shahr
Tanazzalul Malaaikatu War Ruuhu fiyhaa Bi Idhni Rabbihim Min Kulli Amr (4)
Salaamun Hiya Hattaa Matla’Il Fajr
(Al-Qadr 97: 1-5)

You look lovely

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 01:18:00 +0000

One of my favorite scenes in an otherwise controversial teenage drama. Not just because Nurul Nabila is on it but because of it's creative injection of moral education. There has been an outcry amongst Facebook netizens against the screening of Anak Metropolitan and Cinta Ixora-alike shows. While the portrayal of Malay youth lifestyle in these dramas is misleading at times, discounting it and dismissing it as a pointless showcase of youth misconduct is to me rather a bit too harsh.

Studies by the Ministry of Home Affairs have shown that teenage gangsterism has generally decreased - between 2005 and 2009, rioting cases fell from 489 cases to 283 cases. Between Jan and Sep 2010, there were 214 rioting cases.The downward trend is believed to be a result of effective police supervision and perhaps public awareness. The trending concern however lies in the fact that 45% of rioting cases in 2010 involved youths with 32% of rioting cases had secret society connotations.

But gangsterism is not the only problem that we faced in our society - we have drugs, rising trend in pre-marital sex, abortion cases and fatherless or motherless children. In an alarming discovery of our country's teen sex life, 46% of youths think it is okay to have sex before marriage, and 55% of youths feel that life will not be complete if they do not get married and have children (based on Singapore Polytechnic survey in 2007).

Dramas like Anak Metropolitan and Cinta Ixora are perhaps directed to address the above issues especially the impact it brings on the Malay-Muslim community. But these dramas should not stand alone. We have Jejak Jenayah (Crime Watch) and Anakku Sayang, an 8-part drama series that revolves around the challenges of step-parenting and informal parenting, with content and script formulated by the subject-matter experts at PPIS Vista Sakinah, Singapore’s only specialised hub for remarriages and stepfamilies. Critics should see this effort of correcting our youths as a whole and not just pinpointing on one drama alone.

It is interesting to note that not everything is perfect even in drama portrayal - one should weigh the good over the bad. I noticed whenever Nurul Nabila Sanif acts, there seems to be a segment where she would don the headscarf (tudung). In "Cinta Ixora" (above picture), in "Di Pinggir Hati" (with my handsome cousin Shah Iskandar Mahfuz), she was spotted to wear a long scarf whilst in Konya, Turkey, in "Jelmaan" while looking at the mirror and in "Anak Metropolitan 3", the scene when she visits the graveyard with Hakim.

I have always embrace a Fiqh concept - "...something which cannot be done in full, should not be abandon altogether." I really hope I could play a part in this effort to promote goodness. My experience working with ITE students and the kids from Rumah Kebajikan Muhammadiyah has shown me that there is really a lot to be done. One has to start somewhere. Somehow.

- remykm

Bila ingin menegur kesilapan seseorang

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:50:00 +0000

Apabila kita melihat seseorang itu melakukan kesilapan, biarlah menegurnya dengan berhikmah. Di antara cara yang terbaik untuk membuat teguran adalah dengan melakukannya secara peribadi dan bukan secara terbuka sehingga kelihatan ramai. Teknologi media sosial memberi kita pelbagai cara untuk berhubung dengan seseorang - cara efektik adalah dengan menulis kepada seseorang itu melalui platfom mesej peribadi, SMS, WhatsApp atau Facebook Message.

Saya akui telah melukakan hati seorang gadis dengan satu komen yang mungkin disalah ertikan ramai. Namun disini, teguran di atas kesilapan saya boleh dilakukan dengan berhikmah dan bukan dengan memberi tuduhan atas saya sembarangan. Apakah fitnah sebenarnya? Fitnah bermula bila seorang itu dikaitkan dengan satu tuduhan palsu.

Komen saya berlandaskan satu gurauan dan bersenda. Ia bukan berniat untuk memburukkan mana-mana pihak. Sekiranya ada yang terkilan membacanya, beritahu saya secara terbaik dan saya boleh memadamkan komen tersebut. Saya juga bersedia meminta maaf.

Sekiranya, saya disuruh memadamkan posting saya yang secara lahiriyyah bertujuan untuk menyemarakkan ukhuwwah diantara kita melalui aktiviti sukan, apa motif sebenarnya? Jika cadangan saya tidak bersesuaian, sila jelaskan secara berhikmah. Saya bersedia memadamkannya.

Hargailah perhubungan kita ini dengan satu adab iaitu saling hormat menghormati. Adab orang muda menegur seseorang yang lebih dewasa daripadanya juga perlu dijaga. Izinkan saya mengongsi satu hadis, "Al-Muslimu 'ahul Muslim, laayadzlimuhu wa laa yuslimuhu.." - Orang Islam bersaudara sesama saudara Muslim yang lain, mereka tidak boleh menganiaya dan membiarkan sesama mereka teraniaya."

Mohon maaf zahir dan batin

When you pray for each other

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 03:32:00 +0000

It is related on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Holy Prophet s.a.w said, "Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His.."

Of these seven groups of people, it was mentioned:

4) The two friends, who love each other for the sake of God, when they meet they meet for the sake of God, when they separate they separate for the sake of God

I really hope we are amongst these seven~

- remykm

Earth Angel

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 01:55:00 +0000

This made me smile (:

- remykm

_____________

Earth angel, earth angel

Will you be mine?

- "Back to the Future"

Day in the life of me

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:24:00 +0000

all my life
there you go
oh please stay
just this once
anyway

- remykm

_____________

"Allahumma bariklanaa fi rajab, wa sya'aban, wa ballighnaa ramadhan..."

Dilara

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:42:00 +0000

First time, I'd ever sang a bday song to a stranger. I was really fond of the show - my cousin is acting in it, my ITE student is in it too. There exist really good people from Konya, Turkey.

Happy bday Dilara - I wonder if my cousin or Nurul Nabila ever get weird fan interactions such as this.

- remykm

________________

"Cinta bukan paksaan

Ataupun kebanggaan

Tetapi perasaan,

Oh dari kejujuran

Sehingga suatu waktu

Hati kita bersatu

Begitulah rahsia cinta

Sayangku..."
- Di Pinggir Hati

The Avenger

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:02:00 +0000

Taking revenge towards those who have done injustice to you may not sound right, doesn't it? Since when has religion taught us to be violent and keep hatred within our hearts as time and again, we have been constantly reminded that there is an even powerful force that exists and He is the sovereign Lord (Al-Malik), the Source of Peace (As-Salaam), the Protector (Al-Muhaymin), the Shaper of Beauty (Al-Musawwir), the Opener of solutions to all problems (Al-Fattah), the Judge (Al-Hakam), the Just One (Al-'Adl), the Magnificient (Al-Azhim), the Forgiver and Hider of faults (Al-Ghafur), the Appreciative Rewarder (Ash-Shakur), the Greatest (Al-Kabir), the Loving One (Al-Wadud), the Witness (Ash-Shahid), the Creator of All Power (Al-Muqtadir), the Guide to Repentance (At-Tawwib), the Avenger......

Al-Muntaqim

He will avenge and punish those who have done injustice, persist in revolting and creating disharmony amongst people and relationships

I will leave justice at God's own will, and take no other superhero - not even myself is deem fit to have any feelings of avenging

- remykm

Happy Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:10:00 +0000

"Every king was once a crying baby, every great building was once a map. It's not important where you are today; the most important thing is where you will reach tomorrow..." #adihahs

May this year be better than the previous~

transitions // london

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 03:21:00 +0000

I get on the train and I just stand about
now that I don't think of you
I keep falling over I keep passing out
when I see a face like you
What am I coming to?

- remykm

___________

"Blame it on the black star,
Blame it on the falling sky,
Blame it on the satellite that beams me home..."
Yorke

Sunday Breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:52:00 +0000

If one is not fasting then one can make arrangements to have breakfast to energize himself & herself for the day ahead. It is an important meal as psychologically it gives you a mental advantage - knowing that you are fueled with the right energy, thus preventing yourself from unnecessary cravings throughout the day that may steer your concentration in work.

Alhamdulillah, it was a sweet Sunday breakfast experience. We had the Grand Wedding Tea, sipped freshly squeezed apple juice, shared the warm rustic French-style vegetarian quiche filled with seasonal vegetables accompanied by garden salad and muffins with jelly and whipped cream spread against the backdrop of Italian opera music.

It was pricey, definitely...but the moment was priceless.

Can we do this again?

Looking forward to London & Paris with family insylh~

- remykm

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams...” #seuss

M.V.A.C

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:28:00 +0000

I must say - it was a project started out by a team but savored & appreciated by one person. There used to be an official website but it went 'missing' - because the 'webmaster' decided to lose interest in it.

I begin to learn things the hard way. That having people to like what you believe in is a very difficult task. Our lives with the advent of Facebook, virtually depend on the number of Like(s) and comments. This perception deluded and almost robbed our dignity and misplaced our very sense of belonging.

I posted this on my FB status today ironically:

It is perfectly alright if nobody likes your status update or leave a comment on your postings - being invisible & unnoticed is a strength that only superheroes have... #ymer

To do a social experiment on my social 'friends' - I looked & observed the people who clicked 'Like'. Apparently and almost sadly, the people who 'liked' my status update are those whom I inconsistently interacted in real life.

What is the world coming to... What are our relationships coming to...

M.V.A.C takes on a new meaning and so do life

- remykm

"For a minute there... I lost myself, I lost myself, I lost myself."
Thom Yorke

Heart-shaped feelings

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:53:00 +0000

Why do I always end up this way...

"If you think that you're strong enough,
If you think you belong enough...."
- Nice Dream

You will be missed

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:01:00 +0000

I made a trip to this place yesterday, 16 Feb 2012 and to my dismay it was closed for renovation.

What a surprise really. I was there exactly one week before together with Haider, Afiq and Bradford (my ex-students) enjoying a euphoric Mix n' Match in a fresh baked waffle bowl served by the sweetest ice-cream lady I've ever met. Let's just call her 'Nurul'.

It was a very strategic location overlooking the fashionably busy people who stride the Orchard street. Especially for someone who prefers spending time alone, reflecting about life, love and everything else over a sweet Chocolate Fudge Brownie blended milkshake.

I miss this place. Even though I've been there just a few times. When you feeling blue & lonely, you tend to find a cosy and warmth spot to seek refuge in.

Oh well. Life is like an ice-cream. You'll try to savor it as much as you can before it melts and disappear.

p.s Ice-cream lady, you will be missed. Just like how I miss the "Di Pinggir Hati (Kisah Di Turki)" series

- remykm

Can I be a superhero?

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:43:00 +0000

The teaser poster blew me away, msylh

How does it feels like being a superhero? When one doesn't know your identity and you take no credits after saving someone else's life...

It must have been a lonely battle... full of dilemmas and adventures awaiting.

But you have someone to love, someone to fight for, someone you can believe in

And most importantly....

you'll have a happy ending.

God wills

- remykm

________________

"We all have secrets..the ones we keep... and the ones that are kept from us." - Peter Parker

She frowned

noreply@blogger.com (Remy Mahzam) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:03:00 +0000

I remembered listening to a Qur'anic surah that starts off with this recitation: عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ ('Abasa wa ta-wal-laa) read by Sheikh Mishary Rashed Alafasy some time ago and it was one of the verses that touched my heart instantly upon hearing its melodious sounding the first time. It was only much later that I realized the meaning of what that has been read.

The surah in the Quran was titled 'Abasa which literally means "He frowned" - with a reference to an incident in which the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w expressed discomfort and had frowned at a blind man by the name of Ibn Umm Maktum. Ibn Umm Maktum had came to the Prophet s.a.w to ask him a question while not realizing that he was actually interfering his conversation with another noble Qurasyh leader.The Prophet s.a.w who eventually informed Ibn Umm Maktum to wait for a while got slightly annoyed at his persistence questioning and inevitably 'frowned' at the blind man and turned away from him.

While the Prophet s.a.w may seem not to be at fault in the above case, Allah specifically pointed out his unwelcoming and unaccommodating body gesture and documented a lesson for all of us to learn in the Qur'an. The blind Ibn Umm Maktum obviously would not have noticed the expression on the Prophet s.a.w's face. But Allah saw it.

Linguistically, 'Uboos عبوس [noun] - 'Abasa عبس [verb] - A frown is described as the bulging of forehead only due to annoyance. It is perhaps the minimal form of expression to indicate anger and displeasure. Yet it only takes this minimum stretch of muscles expressing 'uboos (frown) on the Prophet's face that triggered Allah's admonishment.

The Prophet s.a.w upon getting revelation of the above surah, later on honored Ibn Umm Maktum by calling him (مرحبا بمن عاتبني فيه ربي ) ‘Greetings to him on whose account God reproached me!’, and would lay down his cloak for him.

In our everyday dealings with fellow human beings, we sometimes overlook the way we expressed ourselves in front of others. Without realizing, we might belittle, intimidate or even alienate someone through our small actions, such as turning our body away from that person or frowning.

In the recent Idris Tawfiq's 2012 series talk in Singapore organized by Darul Arqam, I encountered this experience of being 'ignored' by a fellow sister (whom I looked up to and know in person) while trying to buy a book at her booth. It hurts me deeply at the very moment of 'rejection' as she turned her body away from me and pretending not to notice.

I prayed for the sister's well being and her capacity to be very cautious of her own little actions.

- remykm

____________________

To the sister who frowned,
No prophet is worth your smile
Or perhaps you find it sinful
Even to cheer a blind man's heart