The story of the jar.

A professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. 

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. 

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. 

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. 

He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. 

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. 

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. 

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.' 

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. 

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 

'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.' 

The golf balls are the important things - family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. 

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car. 

The sand is everything else - the small stuff. 

If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. 

The same goes for life. 

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

 So... pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. 

Play with your children. 

Take time to get medical checkups. 

Take your partner out to dinner. 

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. 

Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. 

Set your priorities. 

The rest is just, sand.' 

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. 

The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked. 

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Read more »

NPMSS 2012 Video

Here we present to you our own newest NPMSS 2012 Introductory video!

Wanna know who we are and what we do in this CCA?

Have a look at this video and feel our experiences,

It will show everything about us,

Oh, wait, not everything though!

Unless you join us in the journey! ^.^

Read more »

NPMSS Columnist | Life: An enduring run.

At times I find myself preoccupied with school work and life I find myself stuck in the rut. I feel like giving up with every moment passing by. The stress that piles up on my shoulders seem to burden me and I feel hopeless. Despite the challenges in life, I've been advised, encouraged by people around me not to give up - on life. Furthermore, my love for running gives me the edge to turn the tides of life. Just a single hobby and you can derive a thousand and one lessons from it. Alhamdulillah. 

I don't know about the rest of you but  I see life as a repetition. We're given 24 hours a day, everyday. We wake up to the same daily routine: fajr, school, home. Of course this is succinct but I'm sure if elaborated our schedule would be more complex.

"How then, life is a repetition?" One might ask.

As Muslims, we've been told to worship the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, to obey to his commands and avoid whatever He has forbidden. Some muster the courage to overcome these challenges and succeed. Others, though they try their best, fail at certain tasks/challenges. It is normal to fail in life. Some take it as a lesson while others fail to learn from their failure. If they could widen their minds and look at life at a different angle, perhaps it could change everything.

Repetition. Everything that needs perfection requires repetition. Practice makes perfect they say, but how perfect is the practice if there isn't proper focus and will towards the repetition done? Often we see top runners achieve excellence through repetition of focus and determination. What made them achieve what they wanted? One can say preparation and a clear definite goal set in their mind pave the way towards success for them. It is true. We often overlook certain aspects of life without much introspection. I for one, enjoy running and I recall once when I had won first in a marathon. I remember how  the time and effort put in the competition was set; I made early preparation for it and I had a clear goal set in mind. Thus, the focus and determination came in naturally. The reward was satisfying, as I felt every drop of sweat produced was worth the sacrifice.

I see life the way I see running itself. I've learnt a lot from engrossing myself with sports, especially running. I thank Allah for the opportunity given, to see life from a different point of view - for a clearer view. Life is a repetition that we need to excel each and every day. We should know our purpose and objective in life; a clear and definite purpose and make an early preparation for the betterment of our souls. Time and health: This is perhaps the greatest gift we've been given from Allah. In this day and age, we are bound to be careless towards our time and health. Pause for a moment and ask yourself: Have I been doing everything for the pleasure of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He)? Utilizing these two benefits provide productivity for one's soul and in turn create happiness.

I know, every individual has their own set of problems to solve every single day, but if we keep reminding ourselves of our true goal and stay focus, we can be motivated to achieve perfection. "You are what you do repetitively" is an adage we can put in our hearts, because if we do good regularly, we receive good! As for the other, it can be said the same.

Early planning --> Early preparation --> Clear goal in mind --> Practice (Repetition with focus and determination) --> GOAL

We are still in our youth, let's make the best of everything to plan and prepare for the real purpose in life. We're not perfect but we can strive for perfection.

Life is an enduring run everyone is facing. Look up and keep running towards the Goal, for winners never quit and quitters never win! (Jannah for the winners and Jahannam for the quitters!)

May Allah bless each and every one who reads this and May Allah grant us the Strength to implement what we have learnt in life. Ameen.

And with the new Islamic year and new Islamic month, Awal Muharram coming our way, let's rectify and purify our intentions and renew the engine of our hearts. Let's try to achieve greater heights in life Insya'Allah! Start with Bismillah, end with Alhamdulillah! :)

- The Yellow Glass

Read more »

Lounging with Kimball Gallagher

A thousand pictures worth a song
An altruist's journey. Come along!
Hear from voices that say then do
And show you ways which you can too.

Words and pictures and friends to make, 
A journey you would want to take, 
One thing remains before adieu
An invitation especially for you:

Please join us this day 
on November 15th. Mark it!
ISTAC is your way
From 3 to 5pm. Make it!

+

Find out more on Kimball Gallagher here:
http://www.kimballgallagher.com/

Thursday 15th November 2012
3pm to 5pm
@ ISTAC, off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur http://goo.gl/maps/DEPBQ

** Entry By Donation ( Minimum RM 10)**

Read more »

Motivation 101

Salam everyone!

By the grace of Allah we are able to bring you an event this coming week!

In this session, Sheikh Zahir Mahmood discusses the true meaning of success and the habits possessed by truly successful people – those who, through revelation, were promised Paradise. Habits of Truly Successful People is not only an inspiring and soul energizing program, but a strong reminder and a road map to Islamic excellence.

 As Allah, The Most High said “Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children – like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow, then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the life of this world, but a deceptive enjoyment?”

 ** Entry By Donation ( Minimum RM 10)**

Sheikh ZAHIR MAHMOOD biodata (according to http://www.kalamullah.com/zahir-mahmood.html)
This erudite scholar was born in England and has gained licenses to teach (ijaazas) in many Islamic sciences including Qur'an, Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and Traditions (Hadith) of The Prophet (SAW) from various Shyukh. Following the completion of his secular studies at the age of 16, he enrolled at Dar al-Uloom al-Arabiyya al-Islamiyya, Bury (a satellite college to al- Azhar University), where he initiated his studies of the Alimiya course. Thereafter, he studied 3 years in the presitigious seat of learning al-Jamia al- Islamiyya Karachi, Pakistan.

Read more »

Roses of Peace 2012

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you. The purpose of this event is to spread the universal message of peace and love to all while raising awareness about the true teachings of Islam and our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We aim to spread the message and change the misconceptions that many people have about Islam & our Prophet (PBUH) through several measures: 1) the distribution of 3000 roses with cards attached bearing quotes about peace and love to the general public in Singapore; and 2) the post-event dissemination of information, photographs and videos world-wide via social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. We need passionate volunteers who believe in the same cause and wants to do their part in spreading our message. If YOU are interested, please 'JOIN' our event and fill in the form below: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dE9ON0ttaU9zMUpiN2RUQkFjMVQ3cVE6MQ The dates to take note are: 1) Pre-event volunteer briefing (Compulsory): - Date: 2 November 2012, Friday - Time: 7.30pm-10.00pm - Venue: Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Seminar Room 2.3 (SMU) 2) Pre-event flower packing (Optional): - Date: 9 November 2012, Friday - Time: 10.00am-8.00pm (Own time own target) - Packing and Storage Venue: [TBC] 3) Actual event: - Date: 10 November 2012, Saturday - Time: 2.00-4.30pm - Venues: Island-wide (East, West, North, Central) The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, “Those who are merciful will be given mercy by the Merciful; be merciful to those on the earth and the One above the heavens will have mercy on you.” [Sunan Abu Dawud, Book of Manners, Number 4941, Hasan]

Read more »

Why do women cry so easily?

A little boy asked his mother, 

"Why are you crying?" 

"Because I need to" she said. 

"I don't understand," he said. 

His Mom just hugged him and said, 

"And you never will." 

Later the little boy asked his father, 

"Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?" 

"All women cry for no reason," his dad answered carelessly.

The little boy, still wondering why women cry, finally asked the old wise Shaykh (his Islamic Teacher).

"He surely knows the answer", he thought. 

"Ya Shaykh! Why do women cry so easily?" 

The wise teacher replied, 

"When Allah made the woman she had to be made so special. 

He made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, 

yet gentle enough to give comfort. 

He gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that comes from her children.

He gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up,

and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining. 

He gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances,

even when her child hurts her very badly. 

He gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart. 

He gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, 

but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And lastly, He gave her a tear. 

This is hers and only hers exclusively to use when ever she needs it. 

She needs no reason, no explanation, 

it ’s hers.

You see my son, the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, 

the beauty of her face, or the way she combs her hair. 

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes,

because that is the door way to her heart - 

the place where love resides."

The little boy found the answer and never asked the same question again.

-Leicesterdawah

Read more »