Few days ago, I have found a disturbing notion from a man of intellectual stating that reading novels are nothing more than dreaming. He used 'berkhayal'. In the Malaysian context, the word 'berkhayal' is often used to refer day-dream, hallucinating, or in a major crime of heavy drugs. This word is used to refer a negative portion of imagination.
I couldn't agree more (if);
If the novels are purely belletristic, unsophisticated, no moral values of all sort, then it benefits almost nothing to the reader, when all it offers is plain sensuous imagination to feed our lust and desire.
But in defense of novels and all other didactic writings, the notion has served injustice. The undivided negative bias towards books creates unnecessary rejection from the mass onto the intellectual diverse the didactic writings have.
Hence, here are 2 benefits of didactic writings to readers;
1. It builds up the creative imagination.
In this prospect, creative imagination gives room for our mind. This is the opposite of sensuous imagination that feeds emotions which deceive the safeguard of our nafs. Creative imagination, however, does feed our emotion but not to the extent of leading us to do unwanted physical or emotional reactions.
2. It gets you into critical point and gives you solution
We can always choose to read for leisure. But as readers, we always want something more. A critical point is a space for intellectual discussion. When you read something, there's something more to it but what is it? Often when I read, I find myself the question concerning my life. "Why did he do that?", "How could she do this!?", "What now?". And often too, these questions reflect the questions in my mind. When it reaches the mutual agreement between you and the author through these questions, we need answers. The book now has the responsibility to give answer through the stories. The answer is important. It either create solutions or creates more problems. Hence, that's why authors need to project good ideas in their writings.
"A book that kills should not be published."
These are my two points of view. Reading novels can always be beneficial and it doesn't necessarily leads us to 'berkhayal', day-dream, or hallucinating. All we need is a good book.
-----
Nafs - Nafs (نَفْس) is an Arabic word occurring in the Qur'an and means self, psyche ego or soul.
Belletristic - having a purely aesthetic function
Didactic - intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
Showing posts with label Islamic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Islamic. Show all posts
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Phonetics and Phonology, and Islam
Assalamualaikum
Today, I have been thinking a lot on the subject paper I have answered few hours ago for final examination which is ENGL 2040 Phonetics and Phonology. I have been struggling since the introduction to linguistics to understand the basic of phonetics study in which, I concluded as I have reached this phase, very beautiful, easy and very practicable.
For a starter, I am not a student equipped with a foundation in phonetics knowledge. I am directly immersed in this artistic field from an opposite scientific field which is engineering. Hence, why I am struggling in the first place. But that's only in the beginning and later as I progress, it's more and less like calculus with symbols and all, application and a lil bit of basis from other fields.
To understand phonetics, we have to understand the very basic of explanation on how do human produce speech sounds (Articulacy Phonetics), how sounds travel through air and passing sound waves (Acoustic Phonetics) and lastly, how human hear and perceive speech sounds (Auditory Phonetics). Each part of these phonetics study incorporate both biological knowledge and physics concepts.
Yes, to break the stereotype of English studies equal to grammar, or arts as in poetry or drama, this could be an eye opener to other people who don't understand the major studies in English Language and Literature.
Through understanding the anatomy of speech and human speech mechanism (respiratory, phonatory and articulatory systems), the study explains how human create various speech sounds such as /p/, /b/, /u/, /k/, and other sounds as well.
Later, speech sounds produce from the human articulatory system travel as sound waves. Now, physics takes charge! Relatively, we can listen to pitch, intensity of voice, or emphasise stress on any words (prosody!). Through the deeper analysis in acoustic phonetics, each of these items can be analysed and describe to produce physical properties such as frequency, amplitude, intensity and others things that explain sound waves as well.
Lastly, sound waves that travel in the air hits the eardrum of hearer, creating vibration within the muscles and wires (not literally!) of the ear membrane which later creates electric signal passes to the brain. Our magical brain, later, translate, transcribe and understand the signals as words that are understandable in our vocabulary registers.
Back to understanding the study of phonetics, now we all know, to understand phonetics, it takes a lot of different fields of knowledge to create a sophisticated and clear distinguished set of symbols which the International Phonetics Association called as the International Phonetics Alphabets (IPA). The alphabets (or symbols) chart consists of various sounds that exist (or doable) in this world, mostly existed in many languages while some are exclusive to one language, or another way around.
Later, the study of phonetics benefits its sister study which is phonology. Phonology explains how these sounds are used in languages, more of an application in context. Because we all know, each region or social strata may have their own the way of speaking and the ways of pronouncing (accents).
Deeper study enables us to distinguished the differences between American English, British English, Australian English and other Englishes. Not to forget, the exclusive Received Pronunciation (RP) which is also known as Queen's English or BBC English. Now, that's sociolinguistics. The study of phonology also helps in transcribing prosodic features that may explain how intonation, higher pitch, stressed syllable and emphasise stress on words give different meanings.
Many may find that this study is just a hassle but little they know that its application is important in various fields. Phonetics and phonology can be used in forensic field (Forensic Linguistics), and clinical application such as speech-language pathology (Clinical Linguistics). While the analysing skills benefit other branches of linguistics such as stylistics and sociolinguistics.
The study of phonetics and phonology takes the smallest unit of sound as the major principle that governs words, sentences, and meanings. But that's not all. We as human could not define major items or anything at a surface level without understanding the tiny bits of anything from the ground. To understand and apply are what we are into.
But imagine other studies that enable duplication such as biology. Many attempts have been done to duplicate or create perfect clones of human or other living things which end as failures. The ability to create a complex compound that lives with perfect systems assisted with 'ilm and 'aql is exclusive, but to whom?
This returns us back to how we are created, how everything in this world was created back then in complex ways but livable. All is made possible because He is the best creator. As mentioned in Quran [23:14]
That is not all of it but I believe in both small and big things in this world. Minor implication can give major impact to the whole existing system in this world. That's phonetics and phonology for you.
p/s: Thanks to my dearest lecturer, Dr. Zurahani Abdul Rahim for giving endless efforts in helping us to understand the subject.
Today, I have been thinking a lot on the subject paper I have answered few hours ago for final examination which is ENGL 2040 Phonetics and Phonology. I have been struggling since the introduction to linguistics to understand the basic of phonetics study in which, I concluded as I have reached this phase, very beautiful, easy and very practicable.
For a starter, I am not a student equipped with a foundation in phonetics knowledge. I am directly immersed in this artistic field from an opposite scientific field which is engineering. Hence, why I am struggling in the first place. But that's only in the beginning and later as I progress, it's more and less like calculus with symbols and all, application and a lil bit of basis from other fields.
To understand phonetics, we have to understand the very basic of explanation on how do human produce speech sounds (Articulacy Phonetics), how sounds travel through air and passing sound waves (Acoustic Phonetics) and lastly, how human hear and perceive speech sounds (Auditory Phonetics). Each part of these phonetics study incorporate both biological knowledge and physics concepts.
Yes, to break the stereotype of English studies equal to grammar, or arts as in poetry or drama, this could be an eye opener to other people who don't understand the major studies in English Language and Literature.
Through understanding the anatomy of speech and human speech mechanism (respiratory, phonatory and articulatory systems), the study explains how human create various speech sounds such as /p/, /b/, /u/, /k/, and other sounds as well.
Later, speech sounds produce from the human articulatory system travel as sound waves. Now, physics takes charge! Relatively, we can listen to pitch, intensity of voice, or emphasise stress on any words (prosody!). Through the deeper analysis in acoustic phonetics, each of these items can be analysed and describe to produce physical properties such as frequency, amplitude, intensity and others things that explain sound waves as well.
Lastly, sound waves that travel in the air hits the eardrum of hearer, creating vibration within the muscles and wires (not literally!) of the ear membrane which later creates electric signal passes to the brain. Our magical brain, later, translate, transcribe and understand the signals as words that are understandable in our vocabulary registers.
Back to understanding the study of phonetics, now we all know, to understand phonetics, it takes a lot of different fields of knowledge to create a sophisticated and clear distinguished set of symbols which the International Phonetics Association called as the International Phonetics Alphabets (IPA). The alphabets (or symbols) chart consists of various sounds that exist (or doable) in this world, mostly existed in many languages while some are exclusive to one language, or another way around.
Later, the study of phonetics benefits its sister study which is phonology. Phonology explains how these sounds are used in languages, more of an application in context. Because we all know, each region or social strata may have their own the way of speaking and the ways of pronouncing (accents).
Deeper study enables us to distinguished the differences between American English, British English, Australian English and other Englishes. Not to forget, the exclusive Received Pronunciation (RP) which is also known as Queen's English or BBC English. Now, that's sociolinguistics. The study of phonology also helps in transcribing prosodic features that may explain how intonation, higher pitch, stressed syllable and emphasise stress on words give different meanings.
Many may find that this study is just a hassle but little they know that its application is important in various fields. Phonetics and phonology can be used in forensic field (Forensic Linguistics), and clinical application such as speech-language pathology (Clinical Linguistics). While the analysing skills benefit other branches of linguistics such as stylistics and sociolinguistics.
The study of phonetics and phonology takes the smallest unit of sound as the major principle that governs words, sentences, and meanings. But that's not all. We as human could not define major items or anything at a surface level without understanding the tiny bits of anything from the ground. To understand and apply are what we are into.
But imagine other studies that enable duplication such as biology. Many attempts have been done to duplicate or create perfect clones of human or other living things which end as failures. The ability to create a complex compound that lives with perfect systems assisted with 'ilm and 'aql is exclusive, but to whom?
This returns us back to how we are created, how everything in this world was created back then in complex ways but livable. All is made possible because He is the best creator. As mentioned in Quran [23:14]
Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!It is His exclusiveness that creates perfect simple beings through careful complexity bounded with reasons. The smallest act of studying knowledge creates ideas and application. With reasons, it gives purposes to society and ummah as a whole.
That is not all of it but I believe in both small and big things in this world. Minor implication can give major impact to the whole existing system in this world. That's phonetics and phonology for you.
p/s: Thanks to my dearest lecturer, Dr. Zurahani Abdul Rahim for giving endless efforts in helping us to understand the subject.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Prayers and Dramas
Assalamualaikum and greetings fellow readers.
How's your third day of fasting in Ramadhan? Well then, write it down and keep it in a journal.
Here, I have a story for you. A story of a lil kid learning how to pray.
When I was in pre-school, I was a kid and I don't know how to perform Subooh prayer the right way. Well, probably because Subooh has du'a qunut. That's all, but it was a big deal to me.
Clearly, I was following blindly. My dad performed solat sunat qabliyah for Subooh and I followed. I was confused, as I thought that he's doing his Subooh prayer, but no. Plus, why did he pray by himself? He should pray all together, with the whole jemaah in the masjid.
Straight to the point, I put my hands on prayer, while reciting Al-Fatihah.
Few minutes later, the bilal recited the iqamah, and everyone completing the saff, takbir and performed their Subooh. Now, I'm worried. Cause, I had my Subooh just now. That's what I thought. Heh.
Few days later, I told the story to my ustadz in school and asked him. Giggled with his hand covering his mouth, he told me what'd happened. =_=
Why do I have to tell you this story?
Nowadays, there are so many videos in Facebook, videos of people praying, the way that they have never seen before and wrong, or that's what they think it is.
The problem is not on their prayer, entirely.
Instead of approaching them, we record and post it on Facebook
with a caption,
"The fastest prayer I've ever seen"
"What is this? Syiah"
"Look the way he did his rukook"
and more!
Now, you think it stops here? People will comment and share. You know the rest, it's all collateral damage. A continuous thread of hatred, and ignorance.
Alhamdulillah, during my time, nobody recorded the way I did my Subooh prayer, well maybe because nobody cares about Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Hahaha. It's a shameful memory of my childhood, but I learnt my lesson.
Happy fasting. Salaam Ramadhan Kareem. :D
Monday, June 30, 2014
Ramadhan Shout Out
Assalamualaikum
To all readers, happy fasting on this blessing month of Ramadhan Kareem. Don't forget to make use of it! Month of Ramadhan is full of rewards for those who wants it.
So, why the wait, gloomy all day, sleeping and lurking in the room doing nothing? Get up and be productive!
Happy Fasting to all muslims and everyone who's trying. :D
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Sesuatu yang Pasti
"Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned."
Assalamualaikum readers...
MATI...
Siapa mampu menduga saat nafasnya terhenti?
atau sembunyi tatkala Izrail datang?
Ahh...
Benarlah. Mati yang paling dekat dengan kita. Kerana yang pasti, semua yang bernyawa akan ada noktah hidupnya. Tidak kira, pangkat, harta dan juga kepercayaan.
Petang tadi telah menyaksikan pertarungan hidup seekor anak kucing. Hidupnya ternyata, bagai telur di hujung tanduk. Hatiku berdegup kencang. Nafas si anak kucing pula, semakin perlahan. Nampak titisan air matanya. Melihat situasi ini seorang diri, untuk kali kedua, tergamam. Tulang rusuk yang patah dan leher yang sudah lembut. Hanya berbekal sedikit ilmu perubatan, aku memberi semangat untuk buat apa yang termampu... Aku rasa bersalah. Kalaulah aku si dokter, mungkin aku bisa memberi sedikit atau lebih masa untuknya. Tapi bukan aku yang menentukan masa tersebut... :'( Tutuplah buku hidup seekor anak kucing. Semoga kau baik-baik di sana, sayangku.
The mother of the kitten keep on meowing til now...
Assalamualaikum readers...
MATI...
Siapa mampu menduga saat nafasnya terhenti?
atau sembunyi tatkala Izrail datang?
Ahh...
Benarlah. Mati yang paling dekat dengan kita. Kerana yang pasti, semua yang bernyawa akan ada noktah hidupnya. Tidak kira, pangkat, harta dan juga kepercayaan.
Petang tadi telah menyaksikan pertarungan hidup seekor anak kucing. Hidupnya ternyata, bagai telur di hujung tanduk. Hatiku berdegup kencang. Nafas si anak kucing pula, semakin perlahan. Nampak titisan air matanya. Melihat situasi ini seorang diri, untuk kali kedua, tergamam. Tulang rusuk yang patah dan leher yang sudah lembut. Hanya berbekal sedikit ilmu perubatan, aku memberi semangat untuk buat apa yang termampu... Aku rasa bersalah. Kalaulah aku si dokter, mungkin aku bisa memberi sedikit atau lebih masa untuknya. Tapi bukan aku yang menentukan masa tersebut... :'( Tutuplah buku hidup seekor anak kucing. Semoga kau baik-baik di sana, sayangku.
The mother of the kitten keep on meowing til now...
Thursday, September 5, 2013
My Two Cents
Uban? Bila masa kau tumbuh? Kau datang tidak nampak dicelah-celah rambut hitamku.
Assalamualaikum wbt and greetings readers
As I'm washing my shoes and suddenly rasa sedikit perasan handsome, I look up and see my face in front of a mirror. I tend to do simple massage on my cheek, always. I look upon my dirty hair and oh wait, something's not right. Ada uban, sehelai atas kepala aku.
Aku tergamam, aku sudah beruban? Perasaan pelik itu bukan hadir dari rambut uban itu sendiri, tapi aku teringat kata-kata orang. Kalau ada uban, maksudnya banyak berfikir. Kurang setuju..
Uban? Bila masa kau tumbuh? Kau datang tidak nampak dicelah-celah rambut hitamku.
Aku lebih setuju bila orang kata, hadirnya uban mengingatkan kita tentang mati. Padahal ada orang rambut putih dari muda lagi. Take it as a positive measure. Orang yang bijak ialah orang yang ingat mati.
Quoted:
Takut. Belum cukup lagi persiapanku. Tarbiyyah diri pun masih merangkak. Macam baby lagi.
Haruslah kita pasang niat untuk berubah. Usaha untuk mentarbiyyahkan diri. Tawakkal and insyaAllah, yakin pada ketentuan Allah.
Salam peringatan untuk diri-sendiri and kawan-kawan.
p/s: Last Tuesday, baru balik ke rumah dari South Korea. Ada program di sana for more than a week. I will share my experience as soon as possible.
Assalamualaikum wbt and greetings readers
As I'm washing my shoes and suddenly rasa sedikit perasan handsome, I look up and see my face in front of a mirror. I tend to do simple massage on my cheek, always. I look upon my dirty hair and oh wait, something's not right. Ada uban, sehelai atas kepala aku.
Aku tergamam, aku sudah beruban? Perasaan pelik itu bukan hadir dari rambut uban itu sendiri, tapi aku teringat kata-kata orang. Kalau ada uban, maksudnya banyak berfikir. Kurang setuju..
Uban? Bila masa kau tumbuh? Kau datang tidak nampak dicelah-celah rambut hitamku.
Aku lebih setuju bila orang kata, hadirnya uban mengingatkan kita tentang mati. Padahal ada orang rambut putih dari muda lagi. Take it as a positive measure. Orang yang bijak ialah orang yang ingat mati.
Quoted:
Yang paling dekat dengan kita ialah mati. Janji Allah, yang hidup yang bernyawa pasti mati. - Imam Al-Ghazali.
Takut. Belum cukup lagi persiapanku. Tarbiyyah diri pun masih merangkak. Macam baby lagi.
Haruslah kita pasang niat untuk berubah. Usaha untuk mentarbiyyahkan diri. Tawakkal and insyaAllah, yakin pada ketentuan Allah.
Salam peringatan untuk diri-sendiri and kawan-kawan.
p/s: Last Tuesday, baru balik ke rumah dari South Korea. Ada program di sana for more than a week. I will share my experience as soon as possible.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Niche and Paradigm Shift
Assalam and greetings dear readers.
First and foremost, I'm sorry for not being able to update my blog for a month, maybe more. Second, this post is only for readers who can take a chance to leap from a thinking to another thinking, bear with other's reasons, be with another groups, and positively and intellectual person. In other words, I hope my dear readers can be open-minded. : )
Dalam kurang dari sehari, aku akan balik ke Kuala Lumpur bersama 5-9 orang rakan seperjuangan. And the day after tomorrow, on Sunday, kami akan berangkat ke Busan, South Korea untuk menjalankan satu program berbentuk Islami bersama sekumpulan organisasi yang dinamakan Salam Nuri di bawah jagaan Korean Muslim Federation, yang akan bertempat di Seoul.
First and foremost, I'm sorry for not being able to update my blog for a month, maybe more. Second, this post is only for readers who can take a chance to leap from a thinking to another thinking, bear with other's reasons, be with another groups, and positively and intellectual person. In other words, I hope my dear readers can be open-minded. : )
Dalam kurang dari sehari, aku akan balik ke Kuala Lumpur bersama 5-9 orang rakan seperjuangan. And the day after tomorrow, on Sunday, kami akan berangkat ke Busan, South Korea untuk menjalankan satu program berbentuk Islami bersama sekumpulan organisasi yang dinamakan Salam Nuri di bawah jagaan Korean Muslim Federation, yang akan bertempat di Seoul.
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Thursday, July 11, 2013
Ahlan wa Sahlan Ya Ramadhan
Assalam and greetings people
Semalam merupakan hari pertama untuk bulan Ramadhan on this year. Alhamdulillah bagi kita yang masih mampu untuk berpuasa dan berjumpa lagi dengan bulan yang penuh keberkatan ini. :D
Bulan Ramadhan datang bukan selalu. Kadang-kadang ada yang tak sempat pun nak jumpa, sehari sebelum Ramadhan dah pergi dari kita. Yang berkesempatan plak, ambil peluang ans use it to the fullest. Yang takut dengan perubahan, usah bimbang, teruskan, jika ada tomahan, ingatlah pandangan Allah lagi baik daripada kritikan manusia yang tidak membina.
Selamat bersahur, Selamat berpuasa dan Selamat berbuka.
Semalam merupakan hari pertama untuk bulan Ramadhan on this year. Alhamdulillah bagi kita yang masih mampu untuk berpuasa dan berjumpa lagi dengan bulan yang penuh keberkatan ini. :D
Bulan Ramadhan datang bukan selalu. Kadang-kadang ada yang tak sempat pun nak jumpa, sehari sebelum Ramadhan dah pergi dari kita. Yang berkesempatan plak, ambil peluang ans use it to the fullest. Yang takut dengan perubahan, usah bimbang, teruskan, jika ada tomahan, ingatlah pandangan Allah lagi baik daripada kritikan manusia yang tidak membina.
Selamat bersahur, Selamat berpuasa dan Selamat berbuka.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Salam Maulidur Rasul 1434H
Assalamualaikum and greetings readers especially muslim around the globe.
Today marks Maulidrasul 1434 Hijrah. We wake up early to recite more dzikir and salawat to our beloved prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
And remember dear muslims, our love to prophet Muhammad S.A.W shouldn't be on this specific day only. Our love to Rasulullah is everyday's routine. We should recite our dzikir and salawat everyday, every moment.
Wassalam.
Today marks Maulidrasul 1434 Hijrah. We wake up early to recite more dzikir and salawat to our beloved prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
اللهمَّ صلِّ على سيِّدنا محمَّد وعلى آلِه وصحبِه وسلِّم
And remember dear muslims, our love to prophet Muhammad S.A.W shouldn't be on this specific day only. Our love to Rasulullah is everyday's routine. We should recite our dzikir and salawat everyday, every moment.
Wassalam.
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