It's easy to find colourful jilbab around this town.

Assalamualaikum and good afternoon to all my dear friends, readers and visitors.

It is a weekend for many of us but I'm working as usual on Saturday. Anyway, while I was browsing through my photo albums, I came across some interesting photos that I forgot to share them here. 

I think most of you know that I'm selling black abayaat from the Middle East and I am not selling colourful jilbabs, however, I always like helping friends finding and buying the jilbabs for them. 

And I am living in a town where colourful abayaat or we call them 'jubah' can be found easily especially during the Friday religious lecture in Jalan Dato' Pati. 

Let's have a look at what I've found.

Aren't you interested?

Colourful choices.

I know some of the vendors and they love it when I took pictures of their goods. I wish I can open a stall like them too but the place is already too crowded and no space available for me.

Women loved this kind of stalls.

Tourists both local and foreign love visiting this place on Friday. The main attraction is the lecture which was held on the main road which was closed for nearly 6 hours. You can only see and experience this events in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

The Night Beauty at the Qaryah Ramadhan

Assalamualaikum and Ramadhan Mubarak.

How's everyone today? Hopefully all of you are high in eeman and great in health. I'm doing fine, alhamdulillah and trying to think what will I share here today. I'm going to my bookshop in about an hour because we are having a SALE today and one of  my assistants just texted me that she's on EL.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna share some photos taken from the official facebook page of the Chief Minister of Kelantan. Since it was in a public page so I think it's ok for me to use the photos. Before that, I'd like to inform that every year since maybe 3 or 4 years ago, the state government has spared a special place in front of the state museum stadium as a Qaryah Ramadhan.

What is it, you might ask? Well, it is a place like this:

Part of the Qaryah Ramadhan.

The women's section under the aircond-ized tents.

Our beloved Chief Minister.

Men's section. The lucky ones who came early can find a place inside the close tents.

After the prayers, people want to shake and kiss his hand.

The visiting imaams from Egypt.

Look, who's here - Imam Muda Hizbur.

Bring along your children so that they can learn lots of Islamic value.

Foreign visitors can also experience the breaking of fast at the Qaryah Ramadhan.

What a nice view to see.

During solat.

That is how we translate Qaryah Ramadhan. This place is use day and night but nigh time is the best. I'd love to give my thanks to all the friendly photographers who have shared the nice photos that they've taken at the Qaryah. Without them I would not be able to write this entry.

Welcome to Kelantan everyone! You'll experience 'living Islam'.

Visit Qaryah Ramadhan here: Dataran Stadium Sultan Muhammad Ke-IV, Kota Bharu

My State Government introduces Gold Currency as an Alternative

Assalamualaikum. Happy Ramadhan everyone and have a nice weekend.

Recently, my state government has introduced an alternative money as an alternative in a barter trade system. They are dinars and dirhams. I believe most of Muslims have heard about dinar and dirham because we have read the seerah or maybe we read the Islamic history.

Well, I am not a knowledgeable person in this financial area be it Islamic or civil but I am a person who believed in the ability of my state government. So, as for now, I'm going to support them while I'm educating myself more on this issue.

The central government is especially the Deputy Finance Minister is not happy with the act and he's been condemning the state government's action. Despite all that, this is the current news on the gold currency in Kelantan.

'Gold rush' in Kelantan as dinar goes on sale

Harakahdaily

KOTA BHARU, Aug 20: When was the last time gold sold like hot cakes in Malaysia?

In spite of the relentless attacks by Barisan Nasional over the PAS state goverment's move to introduce gold currency in Kelantan as an alternative to the barter trade system, there has been a rush to acquire the new coin which comes in several denominations and subject to the current price of gold.

The gold dinar and silver dirhams went on sale Wednesday, with national news agency Bernama reporting that Kelantanese were 'storming' into Islamic pawn shops Ar-Rahn, the authorized representative for dinar and dirham.

However, some buyers were reportedly sticking to the only thing they had known about gold's usage - as personal ornament.

Following Kelantan's announcement that the gold dinar will be made legal tender, Deputy Finance minister Awang Adek Hussin slammed the PAS-led state government for trying to introduce its own currency, and warned that currency matters came under the purview of the Federal government and Bank Negara Malaysia.

Denying Awang Adek's claim, state economic planning, finance and welfare committee chairman Husam Musa said the dinar was meant to be an alternative in the barter trade system only.

“I do not see why this issue has to be blown up following Kelantan introducing the use of the dinar, as it has been around since the beginning of Islam,” said Husam.

Operating manager of Ar-Rahn, Siti Azian Ibrahim, said a total of 344 pieces of dirham and 50 pieces of dinar were opened for sale yesterday.

“Looking at the situation, at the beginning we did not expect the dinar will be well received as many who disagreed with its usage in everyday business," she said.

"But on the first day of sale at Ar-Rahn, the people are showing intense interest to buy it," she said, adding that most customers said they wanted to make the dinar into personal jewellery.

High grade gold

Five types of dinar were on sale at different prices based on the current value of gold in the market.

At press time, half-a-dinar cost RM296, one dinar at RM592, two pieces at RM1,184, five dinars RM 2,960 and 8 dinars at RM 4,736.

The silver dirham sold at RM13, two dirhams at RM26, five dirhams RM65, ten dirhams RM130 and 20 dirhams at RM260.

Siti Azian added that the dinar was produced using high grade of gold normally used for jewellery, adding that buying gold had always been a trend in Kelantan due to its stable market value.

Those interested to acquire the dinar may get more information at http://islamicmint.com.my/ or from Ar-Rahn outlets.

It was reported earlier in Sinar Harian that 1000 business/shopping outlets in Kota Bharu have agreed to accept dinar and dirham in their businesses. That's interesting. And I am planning to get a dinar and a dirham for my personal use. I'd like to experience the gold currency.

However, I need to understand more about this because I might get confuse with the current money system.

Kelantan - Soul Campus Part 1

The whole state is an education campus.

Assalamualaikum to all dear friends, readers and followers. Starting from today, I'll be sharing with you an article entitled KELANTAN - SOUL CAMPUS which I copied from QIADAH, the official corporate magazine of the Kelantan Chief Minister Incorporated or shortly known as PMBK in Kelantan. Let's start today with the first part of the article.

Qiadah, 5th. Edition

Bismillah.

As a whole, Kelantan could be seen as an open campus or to be more precise, 'a life-long educational campus', I cannot figure out ig this is the right term or an inappropriate terminology to be used - but what I mean is; one knows any campus has its spatial demarcation. Under the leadership of Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat as the Chief Minister - that is exactly what the whole Kelantan is, it is an 'educational campus'.

Praying before starting his journey to Makkah for umrah. He's still there.

source: BBCKelantan.com

Why do I say that? Firstly, the Chief Minister Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz himself is different from other Chief Ministers - significantly different. Probably due to the fact that he himself has been a Tuan Guru ('Tuan Guru' is a highly respected prestigious religious title bestowed by the masses upon someone for his high religious stature), an ustaz (a religious teacher) and a preacher long before he became a Chief Minister, and as such he has been delivering religious lectures and sermons. Unless he is unavailable due to sickness or has gone out-station, it has since been his daily routine every morning to lead the congregational subuh (early morning) prayers and deliver its post-prayer lectures at 'his' mosque which is attached to his traditional Malay wooden house in Pulau Melaka.

Tok Guru's house in Pulau Melaka

source: Khamleng

In his formal Chief Minister attire.

source: mediakelantan

After his inauguration as a Chief Minister of Kelantan, his lifestyle and daily routines remain unchanged - he remains a Tuan (Tok) Guru, teaching Islamic religious knowledge and preaching at various mosques and suraus (small mosques). His lectures and sermons are not complete without those enriched dosages of pedagogic reminders, the belief in Allah and the duty of Man to heed the well-being and the wellness of his soul in this world and the Hereafter.

The state leaders under Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz.

source: Palestinhood

Tok Guru Nik Abdul Aziz's concept of administration also differs from those of the other state learders. His is based on the 'Kepimpinan Ulama' - a leadership which has paramount anchorage on the belief of the Almighty and the returns of the Hereafter, whilst teh Qur'an and the Sunnah (the Ways) of the Prophet act as its fundamental guidance. This is indeed a new philosophy and direction in the state's administration and development.

source: Miz Jana, FB

Since taking over the leadership of Kelantan on 22nd. October 1990, Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz and his team spearheaded the above changes using the above-mentioned concepts of leadership. To achieve his mission, he embarked on a comprehensive, integrated yet gradual explanatory-training sessions to all concerened. This is to ensure that the public at large would understand what it means to be governed by 'Kepimpinan Ulama'.

What is our reason for saying that the State of Kelantan is an 'educational campus'? We say so because in order to achieve the intention of 'Membangun Bersama Islam' ...

Here when one speaks of education it does not only refer to the form of education which one normally receives in schools. Here education includes extra curricula activities aimed at teaching, moulding, training and disseminating all relevant information to the society at large. The activities include teaching the children Qur'anic reading and the basics of 'Fardhu Ain'; giving lectures and sermons in mosques and suraus to adults and youths; implementing 'praying' campaigns through courses, seminars, forums and others. All these are institutionalized under a department known as 'Dakwah Halaqat'.

... to be continued. 

Kelantan International School

Assalamualaikum and good afternoon everyone.

It's another short entry. This is the Kelantan International School which is located within walking distance from our library. Everyday I will pass by this school on my way to work and back home. I'm actually interested to get inside the compound and better if I am allowed to have a look inside the school. 

It's intriguing to have an international school nearby yet I know nothing about it except for looking from outside the fence.

If you are thinking og migrating to Kelantan, insyaallah you can schooled your children here. They have kindergarten until high school level here. And it's in Kota Bharu! The capital of the State.

I hope this will be helpful. 

This is the life of a Chief Minister of Kelantan on every Friday

Assalamualaikum to all dear friends.

May all of you in good health and high in imaan.

Today I have a special entry about the life of my beloved and respected leader, the Chief Minister of Kelantan, Tuan Guru Hj. Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. The pictures that I'm gonna post below are from someone in facebook which I'll credit at the end of this entry.

Since we are neighbour, I can certainly guarantee that all these pictures are the truth. Trust me.

Every morning, Tok Guru will walk a few steps from his house in Pulau Melaka to the kampung mosque, Masjid Pulau Melaka to imam the Subh solat.

After Subh, he will give a half - 1 hour kuliyyah. He never misses this session.

Usually every Friday morning many parents bring their new born babies to be tahnik by Tok Guru. More than 10 babies are the norm.

At 9.30 am, Tok Guru will be at the middle of the Kota Bharu town, at a place called Dataran Ilmu or Medah Ilmu to give aweekly Friday religious lecture. I was there this morning.

Later on, Tok Guru will be the Khatib of a Friday prayer at any mosque around Kelantan.

At his house whenever he has visitors, he himself will take care of the drinks and serves the guests.

And again he will be at Masjid Pulau Melaka for Maghrib and a religious lecture after solat. Previously he teaches every night but recently, due to his pack schedules, he only gives religious talk on Wednesday and Thursday night.

Sometimes he took a short rest in the mosque after a day full of activities while his followers massage his tired body. What a humble leader. That's why many Malaysian love him.

Pictures credit to Akhi Fairuz Al-Jengkari

What a beautiful mosque.

Source: Mohd. Taufek Abd. Ghani

This is Masjid Beijing, one of the new mosques built around Kelantan. It's actual name is Masjid Sultan Ismail Petra but Kelantanese called it Masjid Beijing because of the architecture and structure of the mosque which looks like a Chinese Pagoda.

The Islamic Government wants to tell people that we should stop racism. So far most mosques were built in the Malay communities because most Malays are considered Muslim. However, nowadays more and more Chinese have embraced Islam and they deserved to have mosques built and have influence from the Chinese culture. It's nothing wrong even though there are some people who do not agree.

Source: blog.amirez.com

If you come to Kelantan, make sure to visit Rantau Panjang and drop by this Masjid Beijing for solat.

Attractions of Kelantan

Assalamualaikum wr wbt.

Dear friends and readers,
Please be warned that this post will make you want to come to Kelantan and be apart of the community. Am I being riak here? Na'uzubillah. I hope not.

In this post, you will only see image upon image of the attractions of Kelantan. They are to answer some perceptions about Kelantan especially the bad perceptions.

Anyway, please have a look and if you have a a question or two, do not be afraid to leave it in the comment box. As usual, they will be moderated first before I allow for publishing.

Let's see what we have here.

 

A modern state airport for domestic flights.

Some of the mosques that we have in Kelantan.

Women models for any kind of advertisements must be covered properly.

Islamic-wise structures can be found at many places especially around the town, Kota Bharu.

Billboards are use to teach Islam to the public.

Buildings are said to be the image of development. We have them here too.

We have enough shopping malls here suitable for the State. 

 

Islamic High School for girls in the heart of Kota Bharu.

A science tahfiz school for girls and boys .

 

Solat in the State Stadium.

Others would say that, argh... these are nothing but for me, these are something uniquely Kelantan which attracts many visitors and tourist to this State. Feel the different here.

Wassalam.

NOTICE: ALL IMAGES ARE CREDIT TO AKHI ZAM FROM FACEBOOK. THANK YOU AKHI ZAM.

Don't you want to watch a movie in a cinema in Kelantan?

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.

Salawat and salam to our beloved prophet, Muhammad s.a.w.

Dear friends and readers,

Do you know that we do not have a movie cinema/theater in Kelantan? Actually there were a few cinemas 18 years ago but after the Islamic Government took over the running of the State, the cinemas cease to exist. They are allowed to be in business but they need to follow certain rules which were set up by the current Islamic Government of Kelantan. Among the rules is the need of separating male and female viewers in the cinemas which is not very likable by the operators. I think the only cinema left was closed down a few years ago.

Another reason is, I think most Kelantanese is fond of religious lecture and Islam itself and watching movies in cinemas with the normal conditions like everywhere else in this country does not suits the Islamic teaching. That's why there are many person like me who has never have experience watching movies in cinemas. I do not envy people who can go to cinemas at all but if there is a chance of watching an Islamic movie in a cinema-like place like Dewan Balai Islam, I would give it a try.

Why?

Because I know, the organizer will be organizing the screening by following the rules of the Islamic State Government. Because I know, the movie that was chosen to be shown is an Islamic one, selected carefully to obtain certain objectives such as teaching Islamic values in muamalah (relationship, communication) between man and woman, the importance of family's blessings, the importance of knowledge especially Islamic knowledge and so on.

 

Image source: Saifudin Ibrahim

And this month, while others in this world are celebrating valentine's day, we in Kelantan celebrate the month of the Islamic Entertainment. As part of the program, selected movies are shown in a cinema-like hall. The first screening was done on the night of 14th. Feb at Kelantan Trade Center and the film chosen was Ketika Cinta Bertasbih 1 which my husband and I had our first experience of watching movie in a theater.

Since this movie has 2 episodes, the organizer has planned to screen the Ketika Cinta Bertasbih 2 on 28th. Feb at Balai Islam Lundang. Entry is FREE. If you are in Kota Bharu on that day, please give yourself a chance to experience the movie with us at the hall.

 

Image Source: Saifudin Ibrahim

The films are based on the novels with the same titles authored by Habiburrahman el-Shirazy or well known as Kang Abik (pic above) from the neighbouring country, Indonesia. He is the author of the bestseller novels like Ayat-Ayat Cinta, Ketika Cinta Bertasbih, Di Atas Sejadah Cinta on a few more. He was invited to Kelantan by the State Government to be a panelist for the special Forum on Islamic Entertainment and also give a talk about his book and the movie. I have a chance to have a photo with him, so happy.

 

After the movie with Kang Abik, the author.

Well, I'm running out of ideas now so I think I will conclude here. There are so many different things which are so unique in Kelantan and one of them is watching movie the way we think suitable with our Islamic teaching. Who say we cannot watch movies?

 

Pictures after the movie.