Tabligh Akbar Ahlussunnah di Masjid Al Ukhuwah - Juli 2017

Menara Masjid Al Ukhuwah Bandung

Alhamdulillah, Sabtu kemarin aku berkesempatan berkunjung ke Masjid Al Ukhuwah untuk menghadiri tabligh akbar dari Ustadz Muhammad bin Umar As Sewed dari Cirebon. Sejak belum lama ini, aku memang mulai merasa cocok dengan kajian-kajian beliau, walaupun biasanya cuma dengar via internet. Karena itu, ketika aku tahu beliau berkunjung ke Bandung, aku sudah niatkan untuk menghadiri kajiannya.

Menarik sekali mendengarkan kajian dari ustadz semacam beliau. Kajiannya mungkin anti-mainstream buat kebanyakan orang, tapi buatku pribadi sering kali mencerahkan dan memberikan cara pandang baru, yang sulit  terbantahkan karena disertai penjelasan dan dalil-dalil yang kuat.

Sebetulnya ini bukan pertama kalinya aku menghadiri majelis ta'lim beliau. Sebelumnya, sekitar 3 bulan yang lalu, yaitu di bulan April, untuk pertama kalinya aku menghadiri kajian beliau secara langsung. Cuma waktu itu tempatnya lumayan jauh dari rumahku, yaitu di Masjid Al Husaeni Banjaran. Perlu tekad yang cukup kuat untuk mengatasi rasa malas dan segan untuk melakukan perjalanan jauh melalui jalanan yang sempit, padat dan rusak berat ke sana.

Karena itulah, waktu aku tahu kajian yang terakhir ini diadakan di jantung kota Bandung, tentu saja tidak kusia-siakan kesempatan emas itu. Alhamdulillah, semoga di masa depan semakin banyak kajian seperti ini di pusat kota sehingga memudahkan penduduk Kota Bandung untuk mendapatkan ilmu yang bermanfaat.

Halal Food in the Philippines

Finding a halal restaurant in a country like the Philippines is not an easy job. When you can get one, especially if it's just a walking distance from your place, then it would be like finding an oasis in a desert.

Halal Restaurant at Saint Francis Square, Pasig City

I was prepared only to buy fruits, vegetables, and fish from the supermarket and then do my own cooking at that time. That was until I ran into two ladies with head scarf at two different occasions when I walked to my project site.

The two ladies went into Saint Francis Square, a small and packed shopping complex in Pasig City just across SM Megamall, where they sell anything from cellphone, accessories, clothes, shoes, food, and so on. Intuitively, I went inside to do my survey.

My finding was a very good surprise! It didn't take me too long to finally see, in one corner at the back of the shopping complex, a very humble halal restaurant. I learned later that there are quite a number of local moslem workers in that building.

Technical Details:

How did I get this?

Where? Ground Floor, Saint Francis Square, Pasig City 1600, Metro Manila, Philippines
When? From July 2011 to May 2012 (hopefully)
How Much? Between PHP 90 to PHP 160 for a meal

How to Balance Your Life

Be grateful and be patient. I was reminded of those two complementary attitudes on the night of August 22, 2011. I suddenly became so into it and was determined that this has to be part of my way of life.

Be grateful of whatever you have, especially for the joy and hapiness, no matter how small it is. On the other hand, be patient of whatever is not going as you expected.

Do not complain, do not curse, do not blame anyone (including yourself). You can't make everything runs as per what you want. And, most of all, you can't guarantee what you want is the best for everyone!

Have a good day!

Technical Details:
How did I get this?
Where? Attaqwa, Bandung, Indonesia
When? August 22, 2011
How much? Priceless