10 MUHARRAM...

With the sighting of the new moon the Islamic new year is ushered in.The first month Muharram, is a month of great reward and virtue. Muharram itself means `sacred' and is from those months which have been mentioned as sacred in the Holy Quraan.

Almighty Allah states in the Holy Quraan:

"Four of them ( Zil-Qadah, Zil-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab) are sacre
(Surah At-Tawbah:36)

From out of the four sacred months, Muharram has been blessed with certain specific virtues:-
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) said:

"The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadhan is the fasting of Allah's month of Muharram."

Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are not obligatory, the one who fasts in these days out of his own will and choice is entitled to a great reward by Almighty Allah.

Although the month of Muharram is a sacred month as a whole, the 10 th of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day is named ‘Ashurah'. It is one of the most important and blessed days of Allah in the Islamic calendar.

According to the Holy companion, Ibn Abbas Radhiallaho Anhu, when the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam migrated to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10 th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which the Holy Prophet Musa Alayhis Salaam and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously, and the Pharaoh was drowned in its water. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam said, “We are more closely related to Musa than you.” So the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam directed the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashura. (Abu Dawood)

According to another Hadith, it is more advisable that the fast of Ashura should be either preceeded or suceded by an additional fast. It means that one should fast two days: the 9 th and 10 th of Muharram or the 10 th and 11 th . The reason of this additional fast as mentioned by the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam is that the Jews used to fast on the day of Ashura alone, and the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam wanted to distinguish the Islmaic-way of fasting from that of the Jews. Therefore, he advised the Muslims to add another fast to the day of Ashura. SOURCE: HERE

" I LOVE YOU"

100 LANGUAGES TO SAY " I LOVE YOU "

Afrikaans - Ek Fhet jou lief

Albanian - Te dua

Arabic - Ana behibek

Armenian - Yes kez sirumen

Bambara - M'bi fe

Bangla - Aamee tuma ke bhalo aashi

Belarusian - Ya tabe kahayu

Bisaya - Nahigugma ako kanimo

Bulgarian - Обичам те

Cambodian - Soro lahn nhee ah

Cantonese Chinese - Ngo oiy ney a

Catalan - T'estimo

Cheyenne - Ne mohotatse

Chichewa - Ndimakukonda

Corsican - Ti tengu caru (to male)

Creole - Mi aime jou

Croatian - Volim te

Czech - Miluji te

Danish - Jeg Elsker Dig

Dutch - Ik hou van jou

English - I love you

Esperanto - Mi amas vin

Estonian - Ma armastan sind

Ethiopian - Afgreki'

Faroese - Eg elski teg

Farsi - Doset daram

Filipino - Mahal kita

Finnish - Mina rakastan sinua

French - Je t'aime, Je t'adore

Gaelic - Ta gra agam ort

Georgian - Mikvarhar

German - ich liebe dich

Greek - S'agapau

Gujarati - Hoo thunay prem karoo choo

Hiligaynon - Palangga ko ikaw

Hawaiian - Aloha wau ia oi

Hebrew - Ani ohev otah (to female)

Hebrew - Ani ohev et otha (to male)

Hindi - Hum Tumhe Pyar Karte hae

Hmong - Kuv hlub koj

Hopi - Nu' umi unangwa'ta

Hungarian - Szeretlek

Icelandic - Eg elska tig

Ilonggo - Palangga ko ikaw

Indonesian - Saya cinta padamu

Inuit - Negligevapse

Irish - Taim i' ngra leat

Italian - Ti amo

Japanese - Ai#eru

Kannada - Naanu ninna preetisuttene

Kapampangan - Kaluguran daka

Kiswahili - Nakupenda

Konkani - Tu magel moga cho

Korean - Sarang Heyo

Latin - Te amo

Latvian - Es tevi miilu

Lebanese - Bahibak

Lithuanian - Tave myliu

Malay - Saya cintakan mu / Aku cinta padamu

Malayalam - Njan Ninne Premikunnu

Mandarin Chinese - Wo ai ni

Marathi - Me tula prem karto

Mohawk - Kanbhik

Moroccan - Ana moajaba bik

Nahuatl - Ni mits neki

Navaho - Ayor anosh'ni

Norwegian - Jeg Elsker Deg

Pandacan - Syota na kita!!

Pangasinan - Inaru Taka

Papiamento - Mi ta stimabo

Persian - Doo-set daaram

Pig Latin - Iay ovlay ouyay

Polish - Kocham Ciebie

Portuguese - Eu te amo

Romanian - Te ubesk

Russian - Ya tebya liubliu

Scot Gaelic - Tha gra\dh agam ort

Serbian - Volim te

Setswana - Ke a go rata

Sign Language - ,\,,/ (represents position of fingers when signing'I Love You')

Sindhi - Maa tokhe pyar kendo ahyan

Sioux - Techihhila

Slovak - Lu`bim ta

Slovenian - Ljubim te

Spanish - Te quiero / Te amo

Swahili - Ninapenda wewe

Swedish - Jag alskar dig

Swiss-German - Ich lieb Di

Tagalog - Mahal kita

Taiwanese - Wa ga ei li

Tahitian - Ua Here Vau Ia Oe

Tamil - Nan unnai kathalikaraen

Telugu - Nenu ninnu premistunnanu

Thai - Chan rak khun (to male)

Thai - Phom rak khun (to female)

Turkish - Seni Seviyorum

Ukrainian - Ya tebe kahayu

Urdu - mai aap say pyaar karta hoo

Vietnamese - Anh ye^u em (to female)

Vietnamese - Em ye^u anh (to male)

Welsh - 'Rwy'n dy garu

Yiddish - Ikh hob dikh

THE TWELVE KINDS OF LOVE

Most of our complex emotional needs can be summarized as the need for love. Men and women each have six unique love needs that are all equally important.

The Primary Love Needs of Women and Men

Women need to receive

1) Caring

2) Understanding

3) Respect

4) Devotion

5) Validation

6) Reassurance

Men need to receive

1) Trust

2) Acceptance

3) Appreciation

4) Admiration

5) Approval

6) Encouragement

~ JOHN GRAY ~

RUMAH SINAR SALAM : A BEACON OF HOPE FOR THOSE SEEKING A SECOND CHANCE IN LIFE

Afidah Ab Latif, founder and supervisor of Rumah Sinar Salam

Despite the government's continuous effort to give Chow Kit a clean image, the area is still synonymous with immoral activities.

Chow Kit is a notorious 'hangout' for drug addicts and sex workers.

But amidst public's scorn and gibe, there is a place called home for some of these women who seek repentance and want to turn a new leaf in their lives.

With the blessing and financial support from the Federal Territory Islamic Religion Department (JAWI), Rumah Sinar Salam (named after its patron, Yayasan Salam, which provides skill and management assistance), opened its doors last Dec 1, to women who seek to be rehabilitated.

Today, Rumah Sinar Salam has seven full time residents, with about 30 others who regularly drop in to seek counselling and assistance. Some 85 percent of these women are Malays.

WHY CHOOSE CHOW KIT

According to Afidah Ab Latif, founder and supervisor of Rumah Sinar Salam, several Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have previously established shelters elsewhere for women, but these were not effective due to their remote location.

But why choose Chow Kit as the location for Rumah Sinar Salam?

"This area has a notorious reputation. I purposefully chose this place because I believe that the shelter would benefit many of the unfortunate souls who linger here," explained Afidah.

She added that JAWI has given its blessings and has provided an initial RM100,000 grant for Rumah Nur Salam, located at No 6A First Floor, Lorong Haji Taib 3, 50350 Kuala Lumpur.

According to Afidah, she invited JAWI's Director Datuk Che Mat Che Ali together with officers from JAWI and the National Anti-narcotic Agency (AADK) to accompany her in her initial outreach programme around Chow Kit, in July 2007.

"When they saw with their own eyes the myriad of social ills -- including the drug addicts and sex workers -- that has infected the area, they immediately agreed to set up Rumah Sinar Salam.

"For a start, we accept the homeless, HIV sufferers, drug addicts and sex workers who want to turn a new leaf," said Afidah.

The shelter is quite willing to take in those who have repented and wants to work as full-time volunteers here, she told Bernama in an interview recently, adding that "they are the ones who know their friends best."

NO FREE MEALS

Rumah Sinar Salam is open to those who seek guidance and assistance, but they have to abide with its rules and regulations if they want to stay there.

"There is no such thing as a free meal here. We have rules and regulations to follow, they cannot simply come and go as they please. We want to supervise their movements so as to prevent them from lapsing into their former habit," she explained.

In addition to a fulltime volunteer and eight part-timers, there is a 'warden' who helps Afidah man the shelter.

Both the warden and fulltime volunteer are women who have turned over a new leaf and now wish to help their wayward friends.

Activities at Rumah Sinar Salam starts as early as 5am and only ends at 11:30pm, whereupon all the lights are then switched off.

"The warden will rouse the Muslim residents in the morning for their subuh prayers. We hold morning meetings with the residents to discuss matters pending, prior to going about with the day's activities.

"They all have a full schedule to follow everyday. We do not want to leave them idle least they start reminiscing on their old ways," said Afidah.

She also told the writer that she is also sourcing for odd jobs such as making crystal bracelets, potpourri or mini popiah, for the residents at the shelter.

Those who are fully rehabilitated and are able to carry on with their life can leave the shelter.

"The maximum stay here is a year. Even if they have left us, we will still monitor their movements and they can return should they need help," she added.

Besides full time residents, Rumah Sinar Salam also opens its doors to those wanting to seek advice and counselling. These 'Touch N Go' customers are welcome at the Home from 3.00pm to 11:00pm daily, Mondays to Fridays.

THERE IS PEACE HERE

Nor (not her real name), in her early 30s, who is from Sabah, chose to come to Rumah Sinar Salam to start a new life after her dreams of making a living in Kuala Lumpur were dashed when she got hooked on drugs.

Nor became so dependant on drugs that she resorted to 'selling' her body to sustain her habit.

"I got fed up with my life and wanted to repent and change for the better. It was not easy at first. My friends still spurned me at times. But I will triumph.

"I find peace here, I have learned how to perform the solat (daily prayers) and get advice," said Nor who embraced Islam a year ago. She hope to become a full time volunteer with Rumah Sinar Salam.

LUXURY BUT NOT HAPPY

For Linda (not her real name), 45, once labelled as a 'pimp' and was running a brothel, becoming a full time volunteer with Rumah Sinar Salam is her way of paying back for her past sins.

She got to know Afidah when the latter was doing her outreach social rounds at Chow Kit. She became interested at helping out.

According to Linda, despite her luxurious life then, she was still not happy.

"When I was detained in the lockup at IPK Bukit Aman for 60 days and interrogated on my involvement in immoral activities, I thought hard about my past life. It dawned on me that I must change my ways, I want to repent.

"At that time, I have not been performing my daily prayers for so long, but now I can do so with a peaceful mind," she added.

Linda admitted that she has encountered numerous challenges in becoming a full time volunteer, especially in trying to gain people's confidence.

Nevertheless, she is even more determined to prove her sceptics wrong.

"I have to work hard to earn that trust. Patience is indeed a virtue," she said.

OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE

Wan Kamariah Daud, 54, is grateful that she did not have to live her old age as a drug addict.

She has been in and out of the drug rehabilitation centre at Pusat Serenti for five times, the last being in 2001 at Pusat Serenti Bachok.

After she completed her rehabilitation programme, she volunteered for the re-entry programme and then joined as Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya (Peer Guide) at Pusat Serenti Bachok for three more years.

Wan Kamariah, who considered herself orphaned, had been using drugs since she was 16 years old..

She is steadfast in helping her friend who are still active drug users.

Her steely determination commensurate her position as warden of Rumah Sinar Salam.

"I feel gratified that I can help my friends who are still living in the dumps. I pray that they too can see the light at the end of the tunnel and not end their lives as drug addicts," said Wan Kamariah.

She added that drug addicts need a lot of determination if they want to quit the habit but stress that it is not impossible to do so.

"The only thing that drugs do is ruin our lives," she stressed.

-- BERNAMA