Sajakkini

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), in the Year 11, on the 27th day of the month of Rejab, experienced a journey of a lifetime. The journey that he took is now known as Israk Mikraj ~ The Journey by Night.

After about 10 years of dakwah (missionary work), two people that were the closest to him died. They were Abu Talib, his beloved uncle and his wife, Siti Khadijah. Muhammad (pbuh) consoled himself through prayers and supplications to God.

How the Messenger prayed was like how his former predecessors prayed. The first prayer ever was performed by the prophet Adam. When he was cast out of heaven, and landed in Sarandib (Sri Lanka), he was directed by God to walk towards Mecca, and build the Ka’abah.

When that was completed, he performed thawaf, circumvating around the Kaabah seven times and prayed two rakaat. Thawaf is the practise of the malaikats – angels – that circumvate the Baitul Makmur in the seventh layer of the sky. Each action of the prayer is an ode to God, and revelling in His creations. (more…)

KJ John

I love the new advertising campaign by Telekom Malaysia to reflect her new identity. Neither are they paying me to write this piece.

The News Straits Times (NST) reported that they are spending RM9million on this re-branding exercise through their advertising campaign. On the inside of the first pull-out cover page of their advert was the picture of many Malaysians, each with their uniqueness recognised individually, personally and some professionally and the words of the advert read, ‘You are anything but a number’ in answer to their ad’s own question ‘Are you treated like a number?’

The final promise to all the readers is … ‘Time for a change’. Their promise to the nation, of change and for change, I suppose. If not to the nation, then at least to the readers of such an advertisement. (more…)