About the Moon , Reds and El Clasico

Salam , Hello and Greetings to all.

Last night was a memorable night for me. I was looking forward for it since last few days. It was a night fill with excitement from dusk till dawn.  It started off with the lunar eclipse which is the second one in 2011 ( I missed the June 15^th ). I had to rush home before 7 pm to witness it from the beginning. As my preparation for the lunar eclipse, I browse through the internet to get some information about it. Here is some information that I would like to share with.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes behind the Earth so that the Earth blocks the Sun's rays from striking the Moon. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, a lunar eclipse can only occur the night of a full moon. The type and length of an eclipse depend upon the Moon's location relative to its orbital nodes. 

Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a certain relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of the Earth. A lunar eclipse lasts for a few hours, whereas a total solar eclipse lasts for only a few minutes at any given place, due to the smaller size of the moon's shadow.

The shadow of the Earth can be divided into two distinctive parts: the umbrapenumbra. Within the umbra, there is no direct solar radiation. However, as a result of the Sun’s large angular size, solar illumination is only partially blocked in the outer portion of the Earth’s shadow, which is given the name penumbra. and

The full moon passed right through the Earth’s dark umbra shadow last night to showcase a total eclipse of the moon for 51 minutes. Before and after totality, the moon was partially eclipsed for about one hour and 20 minutes, so the whole lunar eclipse from start to finish is about three and one-half hours.

In Malaysia we saw the entire lunar eclipse at these following times:

Partial eclipse begins: 7:46 pm
Total eclipse begins: 9:06 pm
Greatest eclipse: 9:32 pm
Total eclipse ends: 9:57 pm
Partial eclipse ends: 11:18 pm

The Moon does not completely disappear as it passes through the umbra because of the refraction of sunlight by the Earth’s atmosphere into the shadow cone; if the Earth had no atmosphere, the Moon would be completely dark during an eclipse. When it was at total eclipse, the moon appeared to be in coppery-red. The red coloring arises because sunlight reaching the Moon must pass through a long and dense layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, where it is scattered. Shorter wavelengths are more likely to be scattered by the air molecules and the small particles, and so by the time the light has passed through the atmosphere, the longer wavelengths dominate. This resulting light we perceive as red.

I took some pictures during the eclipse using my Canon EOS 600D. I am not a professional photographer and I have never taken any pictures of the moon before this. Some of the pictures that I took are at the bottom of this post. By the end of it, my whole family enjoyed witnessing the eclipse.

Did I mention red somewhere just now? The next excitement of the night is watching the live telecast of BPL game between Liverpool and QPR. The game started at 11 pm and coincidentally almost the same time after the eclipse. Liverpool went into the game not on a high note after losing at Craven Cottage last week.  3 key midfield players Gerrard , Lucas and Spearing were not available and also the Reds are win less in Anfield in the last 4 games. They also are win less against the newly promoted side so far. So the Reds have to win in order to be in contention with the other top 6 teams.

As usual, the Reds dominated the entire game with more than 60% possession and have more than 20 shots on goal. Suarez was excellent, Maxi and Kuyt worked hard while Adams and Henderson controlled in the middle. It was stalemate at the half. Liverpool took the lead early in second half through Suarez header from Adams pin point cross. Liverpool piled on the pressure but Rangers defense and particularly the keeper Cerny kept the score line. In the end the game ended with the Reds wining 1-0. With Newcastle losing, Liverpool remained at 6^th place in the standing. The game plus post game show ended around 1.30 am and I went to bed but I set my alarm at 5 am. I had to wake up to watch the much anticipated game, the El Clasico.  

 

El Clásico (English: The Classic, Catalan: El Clàssic), also known as El derbi Español, is the name given in football to a match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. It is contested twice a year in the Spanish La Liga competition, and more often if the clubs meet in other competitions. Other than the UEFA Champions League Final, it is the most followed club football match in the world, watched by hundreds of millions of people.

 

The rivalry comes about as Madrid and Barcelona are the two largest cities in Spain, and the two clubs are two of the richest, most successful and influential football clubs in the world. FC Barcelona has 77 official trophies and Real Madrid 74. Together with Athletic Bilbao, these are the only three clubs in La Liga to have never lost top-flight status. They are sometimes identified with opposing political positions, with Real Madrid viewed as representing Spanish nationalism, and Barcelona viewed as representing Catalan nationalism. The Rivalry is argued by many to be the biggest in world football.

This is the seventh El Clasico in 2011 and this time the game was played in Santiago Bernabéu, and as expected it was filled with excitement. Real took the lead just 22 seconds in to the game through Benzema then Barca leveled the score through Sanchez on the half hour mark. Two more goals from Barca in the second half secured 3-1 win. The victory sends Barcelona level on points with Jose Mourinho's men and to the top of the Liga table due to their superior head-to-head record against Madrid, who have a game in hand.

 As I mentioned earlier, all these three events started from dusk and ended at dawn. I supposed these are worthy for me to write. Hope you enjoyed sharing my view.

That’s all for now…..thank you for spending your time reading

Have a pleasant day.

December Feast

Salam , Hello and Greetings to all.

It has been quite a while since I last wrote. It’s now in the month of December, and when I think about December, there are few things that come to my thoughts…. School holidays, Exams, Heavy rain, Flood, Shopping, Sightseeing and of course Kenduri (it’s a Malay word meaning Feast)

It’s a custom in Malay culture to have a kenduri (Feast) as a form of celebration, thanksgiving or gratitude for certain occasion or ceremony. In the month of December, feasts are for either wedding ceremony or circumcision ceremony.

Circumcision….what is that? Never mention that word to a 6 - 12 year old boy. It’s a nasty thought that has been in the back of their mind through their childhood. It’s due to the ignorance and naivety of circumcision. The notion of having their precious body part to be cut off really frightens them.

Let me try to write a bit on that. I’ve search through the net on some of the facts about circumcision and I want to share it with you. Here goes… This word has two parts; circum which means around and cision which is short for incision, meaning to cut. Circumcision is a surgical procedure that involves partial or complete removal of the foreskin of the penis. The first evidence of circumcision comes from early Egyptian wall paintings that are more than 5000 years old. All boys are born with a sleeve of skin called the foreskin covering the head of their penis which is an acorn shaped part named the glans. The foreskin hides the glans for most of the time so it can't be seen. When a penis is circumcised, the foreskin is cut off, so the glans is always seen. Normally the foreskin can be pulled back for a few moments for washing and urination

Worldwide, people circumcise their boys to show they belong to a particular religion, race or tribe. Boys in the modern countries, circumcise because it's cleaner and prevents or cures health problems. It's neat and tidy without loose skin over the end and it helps you to pee better. Reasons for circumcision fall into three broad groups:  for an immediate medical indication, to prevent future disease and as an act of religious dedication.

In the teaching of Muslims, circumcision is exercised because the cleanliness and purity is very important as part of the ritual for prayers.  The space under the foreskin around the glans is naturally a bit wet because after peeing with the foreskin forward, some pee creeps back there and become trapped under the foreskin. All this soon makes it smell and if it is left unwashed, it can start an infection.

Circumcision for a Muslim is done before the boy reaches puberty. It is common in Malaysia for boys in the age of 8 – 12 to be circumcised in December. This is because of the long school holiday which is about 6-7 weeks. The wound due to the circumcision can heal between 3-4 weeks.

In an effort to persuade the kids, the parents would promise gifts and make a feast. People who come will contribute to these boys.  The trend now is that, circumcision ceremony is held in a group.  The more, the merrier. This is to make the boys feel less frighten and have more confident. Such gatherings help create a cheerful atmosphere.

As for me, I have 2 boys, an 8 year old and a 2 month old. I’ve started to slowly preparing my 8 year old son for it. I always take him to the circumcision ceremony feast and trying to persuade him in doing it. I don’t know yet what to get (bribe) him but by the age of 10 I hope I can get him circumcised.

That’s it for now………..thank you for spending your time reading.

Have a pleasant day.

The Hijrah Calendar

Salam , Hello and Greetings to all.

Here is another interesting information that I would like to share. Since we are still in the midst of celebrating the Islamic New Year , I found an interesting info about the origin of the Islamic calender.

Muslims measure the passage of time using the Islamic (Hijrah) calendar. This calendar has twelve lunar months, the beginnings and endings of which are determined by the sighting of the crescent moon.

Years are counted since the Hijrah, which is when the Prophet Muhammad and is fellow Muslims (known as Sahabah, the Companions)migrated from Mecca to Madinah (approximately July 622 CE). The emigration took place after thirteen years of persecutions by the disbelievers of Makkah.  By the command of God, the Prophet left the city with his companion Abu Bakr Siddique (R.A.) and escaped a death threat by the disbelievers. The event marks the beginning of a second phase of the Islamic movement. It is the phase when Madinah became the center of an Islamic state.

The Islamic calendar was first introduced by the close companion of the Prophet, 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab. During his leadership of the Muslim community, in approximately 638 CE, he consulted with his advisors in order to come to a decision regarding the various dating systems used at that time. It was agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijrah, since it was an important turning point for the Muslim community.

The Islamic year has twelve months that are based on a lunar cycle.

Islamic months begin at sunset of the first day, the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, so the months rotate backward through the seasons and are not fixed to the Gregorian calendar.

The names of the twelve Islamic months are as follows:

1. Muharram
2. Safar
3. Rabiul-Awwal
4. Rabi-uthani
5. Jumadi-ul-Awwal
6. Jumadi-uthani
7. Rajab
8. Sha'ban
9. Ramadan
10. Shawwal
11. Dhil-Q'ada
12. Dhil-Hijja 

I know my birth date of the Gregorian calendar , but I don't know the date based on Islamic Calendar. I'll find it out  soon and also for my wife and my three children. I did take note of the date my new baby boy was born based on Islamic Calender since it was about 7 weeks ago. 

That's all for now.....thank you for spending your time reading.

Have a pleasant day. 

The significance of Hijrah

Salam , Hello and Greetings to all.

Today I got a day off since the national public holiday of the Islamic New Year falls on Sunday. I suppose might as well I spend my time reading and browsing some of the sites on Hijra. I came across a few good ones , and one of them is written by Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph. D. President of Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc. and I want to share it with all of you.  His paper tells about the significance of Hijrah.

 

The significance of Hijrah (the migration of Prophet Muhammad to Madinah) is not limited to the Islamic history or to the Muslims. The Hijrah not only reshaped - socially and politically - the Arab Peninsula, but also had its impact on worldwide civilizations.

Throughout the history of Islam, the migration was a transitional line between the two major eras, regarding to the message of Islam; the era of Makkah and the era of Madinah. In its essence, this signified a transition from one phase to another, as follows:

Transition from the position of weakness, to the position of strength.

Transition from spreading Islam through individual, to the spreading of Islam through institutionalized, initiated by the state.

Transition from a position where Muslims represented a small group of people, to the position of a regional power with a strong central leadership.

Transition of Da'wah from regionalism, to the phase of universalism.

Transition from being a simple Islamic group of believers, to being the Islamic Ummah (nation).

Transition, which is most significantly for early Muslims, to the phase in which Islam was not only the act of worship, but a way of life. This was the first time when Islam was looked upon as a comprehensive religion.

There is no doubt whatsoever that the migration of Prophet Muhammad to Madinah was the crucial event, which established the Islamic civilization. This was a civilization that thrived for many centuries.

When the Prophet made the Hijrah from Makkah to Madinah, he did not just transfer his residence or took shelter in another city, but as soon as he arrived in Madinah he began the transformation of that city in every aspect.

Among the transformation that the Prophet did in Madinah as stated in the history are :

1. Mosque: The Prophet first established a Mosque for the worship of Allah..

2. Madrasah: The first school under the supervision of the Prophet was the school of Suffah.

3. Mu'akhah: He established brotherly relations between the Muhajirun (Muslims who migrated from Makkah) and the Ansar (residents of Madinah who helped the Prophet and his Companions).

4. Intercommunity and Interfaith Relations: Prophet also established good relations with other communities living in Madinah.

5. Cleaning the City: Yathrib (previous name of Madinah) was a dirty city. When the Sahabah (Prophet's Companions) came from Makkah to Madinah, many of them got sick and did not like that city. The Prophet asked them to clean the city and remove its dirt and filth. `

 
6. Water System in the City: The Prophet asked the Sahabah to dig wells in different parts of the city of Madinah and there was enough clean water for everyone.

7. Agriculture and Gardening: The Prophet encouraged the Sahabah to cultivate the land and make gardens.

8. Poverty Eradication: In a short period of time it happened that there were no poor people in Madinah.

9. Safety, Security, Law and Order: Madinah became the safest city in the world.

In short, Hijrah teaches us that wherever Muslims go, they should bring goodness to that land. Muslims should work for both moral and material goodness of the society.

In Malaysia , the celebration of the Islamic New Year is known as Maal Hijrah. Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin launched the national-level Maal Hijrah celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

The national-level celebration carries the theme of "Persefahaman Asas Perpaduan Ummah" (Understanding the Basis for Unity of the Community) with the aim of strengthening ties within the multiracial society of Malaysia.

Here are some of the important messages delivered by Yang di-Pertuan Agong in his speech :

Always exercise moderation in all their practices.

People should act in a civil manner in anything, and not act rashly and cruelly towards anyone.

People should also not blow up small disagreements and instead resolve them amicably.

Noble values such as mutual love and respect being fostered and practised from the home so as to create a loving, united society with a high level of mutual understanding and strong sense of oneness.

The spirit of good neighbourliness and oneness will flourish again so that the people in this country can go through their daily lives in a state of increased harmony and love for one another.

Country's multiracial, multicultural and multireligious people have to understand each other's needs and to respect the dissimilarities. Country's peace is closely linked to unity of the ummah, as it's impossible for a country to be peaceful if there is chaos in its society.

As for me, there are still a lot of things that I need to change and I hope that I will be able to do so. 

That's all for now....thank you for spending your time reading.
Have a pleasant day.

Intro

Salam , Hello and greetings to all.

This is my first entry to my new blog. Appropriately I decided to start my blog on this day 27^th November 2011 which is the first day of Muharram 1433 Hijri the first day on Muslim calendar.  I would like to take this opportunity to wish Happy New Year to all Muslim.

This is my first blog and to start things up, I’ve asked my two daughters and son to set up this blog for me, which includes the signing up and the designing of the blog. They also teach me the basic things about blog. Thank you Aina , Alis and Adil for your help and patience.