Sincerity

Hi guys. Tonight, I just want to share my opinion regarding sincerity or ikhlas. Basically, sincerity is the degree of genuineness of your self-expression. It is also a virtue of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy. Sincere people act truly about feelings, beliefs, thoughts and desires. Honesty is the basis of sincerity since you need tell the truth in order to not to be hypocrite. In Islam, ikhlas is the main pillar of all the ibadah that we perform. We should devote ourselves to Allah SWT by literally being sincere as His servant. We were created to serve but not to walk on this Earth with ego and hypocrisy. Since Islam is a religion of honesty and sincerity, why we are still 'pretending' as Mukmin?

There are many ways to practise sincerity in our lives. Firstly, we should act the same way as we do when in the presence of others. Try to develop a monopersonality and do not try hard to develop things that people want to see in you. But, behaving in a situation and adapting yourself are not hypocrisy. It is just a method of controlling yourself and may help you in developing good akhlak.

Other than that, we should do things from our heart. Don't expect rewards (including non-materialistic rewards) from others. When you give without expecting the boomerang effect to occur, the giving becomes an act of sincerity and an expression of your genuine concern for and interest in others. Allah will surely reward you in Jannah in the Hereafter. Don't expect reward from people since we can get more from The Creator. Be hospitable to let yourself in a willing mode.

Then, we should understand that sincerity should be from the deepest valley of your heart. You cannot say yes to something you hate. This may cause you to develop a severe mental abuse which can lead to hatred etc. You cannot be sincere when you compliment someone but deep inside you keep hatred on him or her. You cannot be sincere when you apologize just for the sake of disarming the person that you offended, with the motive of future revenge, but you can be sincere if you are truthful to yourself. Remember that a sincere man is a man who is willing with his heart to do something. 

Last but not least, do not over-polish things. Sincerity is about immediacy, spontaneity responses that comes from your genuine self. Polishing responses (whether by e-mail, speech, letter or otherwise) often removes the sincerity and replaces it with caution, attempted perfectionism and maybe even sugar-coating. This is totally jeopardizing sincerity since the real intention may be distorted.

Being sincere is hard but being dishonest in your good deeds is unacceptable. A small deed may become great due to the intention behind it, and a great deed may become small, due the intention behind it. I know it is totally hard to become sincere in everything since we were given challenges by Allah in many forms. But, what are the challenges for? To test us, am I right? So, lend me your hand and together we try to develop ikhlas in our deeds by remembering that we were striving for eternal happiness instead of temporary compliment.

Family / Kazoku / Ohana

Assalamualaikum to all my dear readers. First of all, I would like start my post with several questions. Do you love your family? Who do you seek for when you are feeling terribly down? Who are the one who are ready to support 24/7 ? Who will never leave you alone and do not replace you with any strangers in their life? For me, the answer is always FAMILY.

Since I was a child, I depended on my family to get access to social protection. This kind of protection is not the one when you are guarded by hunky bodyguards which surely cost a bomb. It is also not the one which is caused by my inability to stand by own feet. In the contrary, my life during my childhood really taught me about independency and maturity. The social protection that I got helped me to reduce my social anxiety and inferiority complex. Yeahh... currently, I am in my recovery phase to keep my inferiority to the lowest. A lots of things can happen in one's childhood which can distrupt one's self-esteem in the future.

Sincerely, I admit that I don't have much friends. It is not because I am so egoistic to not to mingle with others. But, I tend to become more universal and mingle with different kinds of friends. I don't mind to be called forever alone by having a minute social circle. I am not really tightly-bonded to my family but I just feel comfortable to share my depressive problems to my family members especially to my mum. She is a great woman in my eyes since she is the only one who can wipe my implicit 'tears'. Although my parents have humble education backgrounds, they know how to educate us well. I am totally proud of my parents to take care of us who always making chaos in the family. I respected my dad for his determination. I can see his effort to find ways to give us a good living WITHOUT asking from others. Both my sisters taught me on how to face the cruel world which can make me slip and drown into the sea of destruction.

Ohana will never leave you alone in the alley of loneliness. Although you are surrounded by joy laugh, sometimes you can feel the feeling of loneliness. You may find you cannot fit in and you may find you are just a puppet in a hypocrisy game. Sometimes, you are just being used by others for their own sake. They seek for you when things get complicated and they tend to forget you when they are in their euphoria mode. You may radiate 'Boredom Aura' but it is NOT a logic reason to make you being neglected. Family is the only saviour who can take you out from this vortex of misery. A phone call to or from your family members can make things much easier.

Friends can be part of family too. But, we as human being, tend to forget and seek for better friends. You cannot expect everybody that you know to be on your side everytime you need them. Seriously, friendship is a serious matter that should not be discussed publicly. We should not declare friendship especially bestfriendship explicitly to avoid misunderstanding. Emotional pain is worst than physical abuse indeed. Don't leave your family no matter how they treat you. Without my family, I am not who I am today. All my success are my family's success. They deserve all the appreciations. But, a family does not share the success. They celebrate it! Not necessarily to be in an extravagant way but in such a way that they appreciate each other.

Atkins?

Hi everyone. Today, I am keen to share my experience regarding Atkins Diet. This diet really helps me to shave few pounds of ‘burden’ which took space below the dermis of my skin. I managed to eat good foods but still undergoing the slimming course. Atkins diet is mainly about avoiding carbs, consuming more proteins and vegetables and not to forget, COOKING PRACTICE!!! Yeahh, you literally become a chef to prepare Atkins menu for yourself to avoid hidden carbs and additives.

First of all, this diet was formulated by Dr. Atkins, a cardiologist. Atkins diet was proved to be superior than low-calorie diet which does not consider net carbs intake. The key was understanding that everyone’s metabolism can use 2 different types of fuel-sugar or fat. Typical diet does not reduce weight effectively because the people constantly cycle between sugar ‘’highs’’ and sugar ‘’lows’’. Atkins limits carbs, so the body will burn fat.

The Atkins Diet is a 4-phase plan. Firstly, the person has to undergo phase 1 (induction). At this stage, carbs intake are limited to 20 grams per day for 2 weeks. The 20 grams have to come from leafy vegetables. Drastic weight lost and physiological changes such as bad breath and body odour will occur. Then, one should proceed to phase 2 (balancing). One can slowly add nuts and diversify low-carb vegetables and fruits intake in their menu. After that, we reach phase 3 (fine-tuning). Add more complex carbs when you are very close to your desired weight. Lastly, the phase 4 (maintenance). One can enjoy carbs but cautions need to be taken to avoid simple carbs. Those who are undergoing this diet, they should drink a lot of water. The ratio is 1:25, which is 1L of water for 25kg of weight. Water is vital to increase metabolism, reduce water retention and detoxification.

I would like to share my daily regime during my times. Eggs became by routine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Since my mum cooked foods for us everyday which mainly consist of nasi berlauk, I only had the lauk since rice is a big NO. I drank 3 litres of water everyday. 2 litre of plain water and 1 litre of green tea. Both refrigerated to increase metabolism. I consumed greens and cucumber like rabbit. Hahahaha…. . Sometimes, I cooked soups for my dinner. There are several ‘taboo’ which I commited such as consuming processed food such as sausages and consuming dishes with a lots of onions and shallot (the carbs are relatively high though). This can slow the process actually. I also consumed alfalfa and lecithin for extra effects. For detox, I took one tablespoon of Cholorophyll Plus with a glass of cold water. To make things faster, I did some star jump and other pain-free exercise.. :P …. Some of the recipes that I had cook are cauliflower fried rice and flax seed pancake. To reduce your sugar craving, you can try putting stevia in your drinks or dessert. Oh yeah… pure fat such as pure butter, oil and cheese is totally consumable but the portions have to be in considerate amount.

In the end, I lost about 15kg after undergone this diet. I lost another 10kg when I furthered my study. Stress liao.. hahaha…. I strongly prohibited those students who want to undergo Atkins during study time. You can easily pass out and feel extremely fatigue since your body’s glucose level is low. So, do this when you are free enough.

Miracle Green

Hello everyone! It’s me, the Boring-Naqib again….  Tonight, I would love to spread somethings about green tea. Yeahh.. green tea. This classic East Asian-native beverage which has been a renowned culture for centuries.  Scientifically (in Dr Jamal’s voice tone), green tea is made from Camellia Sinensis. It is the same tea species to make the Black Tea which is the staple tea of Malaysia actually. Green tea is differentiated from others by undergone minimal oxidation during the processing. There are several varieties of green tea which differs in growing conditions, horticulture, production processing, and time of harvest. Although green tea is frequently associated with Nippon, it is actually originated from China. The spread of the green tea culture to Japan is mainly due to the cultural connection between the two regions. It was brought to Japan by Myōan Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist priest who also introduced the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Teas from Japan may be referred to as "Japanese tea" (日本茶 nihoncha). Unlike Chinese green teas which are pan-fired, Japanese green teas are steamed giving them a more "vegetative" or "leafy" taste which in turn giving the clean and fresh aroma.

I took my first sip of green tea when I was seven years old. The tea was not really pure since it was the JUSTEA packeted drink. I still remembered the aroma which was similar to hair product since the scent of jasmine was overwhelming. Silly me…. Years passed and green tea was reintroduced to me by my sisters. Since then, it has became my family’s favourite.

The benefits of the green tea are no longer secrets since it is now can be considered as one of the superfoods.

1.       Excellent anti-oxidant

It is loaded with polyphenols like flavonoids and catechins, which function as powerful antioxidants. These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals are known to play a role in aging and all sorts of diseases. It is well known that oxidative damage contributes to the development of cancer and that antioxidants can have a protective effect. So, you can keep your aging process at minimal and maintain your juvenile face!

2.       Increases metabolism

In one study in 10 healthy men, green tea increased energy expenditure by 4%. Another study showed that fat oxidation was increased by 17%, indicating that green tea may selectively increase the burning of fat. However, I’d like to point out that some studies on green tea don’t show any increase in metabolism, so the effects may depend on the individual. I also practiced this along my Atkins Diet to cut down several pounds. Hahahaha…

3.       Improves dental health

Streptococcus mutans is the primary harmful bacteria in the mouth. It causes plaque formation and is a leading contributor to cavities and tooth decay. Studies show that the catechins in green tea can inhibit the growth of streptococcus mutans. Green tea consumption is associated with improved dental health and a lower risk of caries.

4.       Reduce cardiovascular-related diseases risk

Green tea has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol, as well as protect the LDL particles from oxidation. Observational studies show that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

There are more benefits which I can’t afford to include. First timers may find green tea is a big NO for them but for me, I think green tea symbolizes the scent of nature and the taste of freshness. Enjoy green tea in the ways you like.

Refreshing Lemon Green Tea!

Silky Milk Green Tea

Indulge yourself with a slice of matcha cheesecake

Zen-style ice-cream, anyone?

Choices

Assalamualaikum and hi!!! It's me again. After been through life's obstacles especially as a student and as a humble servant of The Almighty, I noticed that I already made several choices in my plain life despite my own negative perception towards myself. The processes in making the choices are really bewildered, perplexed and fulled of doubts.

 First of all, every single student has been in a situation whereby you are stucked in a junction of ways which probably can lead you to different profesions which distincts to each other. You may face the consequences of choosing the path which does not satisfy the pride lust of others. Some person are just materializing others to get the dirty fame of success. You just need to set your road based on your hopes, ambitions and situations. I don't want to be a hypocrite by saying the cliché phrase over again. Yes, I admit that we should not choose our path to be somebody solely on your ambitions. Sometimes, you need to include others in your circle of concern and put aside your self-centredness. A choice without much consideration will become a bad one and even it is profitable, you cannot indulge the happiness in your entire life since you have neglected the feeling of others. Feeling cannot be defined in a simple word. 

I admit that a single, simple choice can really transform your entire life. A pair of twin, been separated and asked to make choices regarding their education, love etc will totally become two distinct persons. But then, it doesn't matter to choose the lesser glamour choice which may lead to lifetime inferiority. The choice can become a very good guru to implement virtues in you. Mingling with the commoners with average backgrounds can teach us the value of modesty. At the other side, this situation can become a good platform to improve yourself since the sense of competition is not vivid.

As for me, making choices really make me know the definition of maturedness. You have to be really independent to make such a vital decision in your life. When something bad happens, you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you. So, choose your path wisely since you are the one who will face the obstacles in it.

Ilmuwan Tawaduk

Assalamualaikum and hi to all my blog visitors. Today, I will do some sharing to all of you regarding on modest scholar. First, I would like to give credits to Majalah Al-Islam for the references. This entry will be in Malay so that it will become more meaningful and easier to digest especially with some of the terms.

Kita sering mendengar kejayaan orang-orang pintar dan ilmuwan yang penuh ilmu di dada. Adakah kejayaan itu merupakan kejayaan abadi dan mutlak? Tidak salah mempunyai minda yang cerdas menghitung formula ilmu hisab. Tidak salah mempunyai minda manipulatif dalam arena sains. Tetapi, adakah semua ilmu itu disandarkan kembali kepada Maha Mengetahui? Ilmu itu cahaya. Cahaya itu tidak akan hadir dalam kegelapan. Persoalannya sekarang, apakah modus operandi prima yang perlu diterapkan untuk mencuci hati yang kotor dengan daki keegoaan dan keriakkan? Jawapan yang mutakhir adalah dengan menjadi seorang ilmuwan tawaduk.

Bijak pandai yang tawaduk tidak akan cuba menjadi perfectionist. Hal ini kerana manusia diciptakan dengan sifat lemah dan tidak terlepas daripada gua kesilapan. Namun, manusia dipertanggungjawabkan untuk berjihad dalam semua perkara yang dikerjakan.

Ilmuwan yang tawaduk bersifat tegas dalam perkara-perkara dasar dan pokok serta bersifat longgar terhadap hal-hal ranting dan titik bengik. Konsep mengutamakan perkara utama dan mengemudiankan perkara yang kemudian dapat memastikan masa tidak tlaerbuang dan kerja tidak tertangguh.

Orang pandai yang tawaduk adalah ilmuwan yang sentiasa terbuka untuk berubah ke arah positif. Mereka tidak takut dihina bodoh dan tidak takut dicerca serta dimaki. Keengganan untuk berubah adalah satu kejahilan dan keegoan explisit kerana merasakan bahawa dunia tidak mengalami penuaan.

Ilmuwan tawaduk bersikap kreatif dan inovatif. Mereka tidak hanya berada di takuk yang lama serta senantiasa inginkan pembaharuan. Orang tawaduk juga berguru dengan dengan kesilapan lalu. Mereka tidak membiarkan diri mereka tertipu dengan kesilapan lampau.

Bijak pandai tawaduk berfikir secara sistematik, metodologi, rasional dan kritis. Mereka tidak menerima sesuatu pandangan atau berita tanpa usul periksa. Orang pintar mementingkan perihal tersirat berbanding perkara yang tersurat. Berfikir secara spekulatif dan emosional adalah suatu tanda kebodohan.

Seorang ilmuwan mencari dan mengejar ilmu sebaliknya orang jahil mengorbankan penat dan keringat mengumpul harta. Orang yang mengejar dan menghimpun harta menjadi binasa kerana dunia kerana, ‘Dunia adalah hamba yang baik tetapi tuan yang jahat’. Perkara yang paling utama ialah ilmuwan tawaduk sentiasa berasa dirinya kerdil di hadapan Allah yang Maha Mengetahui. Ilmu yang dimiliki makhluk hina bergelar insan ibarat setitis air daripada 7 lautan.

Oleh itu, kembalilah kita kepada fitrah manusia yang lemah segala-galanya. Contohilah resmi padi, semakin berisi semakin menunduk. Orang berilmu tidak bererti dia tahu segala-galanya tetapi sedar betapa rendah martabat dirinya yang masih perlu belajar banyak perkara.

Assalamualaikum

Assalamualaikum to all my silent readers and never-settle-down stalkers (and haters too). It may not a very good yet condusive time to give this blog a dosage of fabulousness. But then, I think this is a good chance for me to introduce myself with humble voice.

Firstly, watashi no namae wa Naqibu desu. Yup... my name is Naqib and I'm totally proud of my name although there are dozens of people out there misspelled my name (Najib la Naquib la bla bla bla)... According to wikipedia (read this with an old professor voice with English accent), Naqib means "he who investigates, verifies". Mmmmm..... no wonder............ (stalker alert)...... and don't forget my dad's name- Huzil..... Ever heard about it???? No, isn't it? I have been searching for decades regarding my dad's name. His nickname back when he was in kampung is literally much better.

I was born in a typical Malay family... One dad, one mum, two sisters ( sistars?)........ We conversed in Malay and sometimes we converse in rojak pattern (speaking English in sarcastic ways)... My sisters......nantilah cite :P..... Malacca is my current place whereby my villa (lah sangat) is situated. No butler no maid etc....

Nothing special about me. Rich brat is totally not me. I love weird stuff and I'm the one who is quite professional in escaping P.E. classes back in my high school years (seram plak teringat)..... I think this is enough for today since one of my friend is totally eager to read my first post ,,, haisshhhh... K... bye.... dah pi tido...