Key holder to the Ka'bah passes away

Source:Arab News/harakahdaily

MAKKAH, Nov 8: Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheibi, the keeper of the Holy Ka'bah's key, passed away Sunday morning. He was 82. His body was buried in the Maalla cemetery after funeral prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Al-Sheibi family has been holding the position of the Ka'bah key keeper since the time of jahiliya (pre-Islamic period). It was inherited by the eldest member of the family and did not transfer from father to son. Age was the basis for the key’s inheritance.

All Muslim rulers have respected Al-Sheibi family being the custodian of the Holy Ka'bah and its key. The family of the present custodians is linked with Sheiba bin Othman Abitalha who lived during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Al-Sheibi family has been holding the position since the time of Qusay bin Kilab who lived before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). King Faisal gave the Ka'bah key to Sheikh Ameen, brother of Abdulaziz. Sheikh Abdulaziz has been keeping the key for the last 16 years. Al-Sheibi family has been serving the Holy Ka'bah for the last 15 centuries. There are 370 members in the family and most of them live in Makkah.

The Holy Ka'bah is cleaned twice a year; once in the middle of the lunar month of Shaaban and the second in the middle of Dul Qaada using Zamzam water mixed with rose water and perfumed with Oud.

According to Abdulaziz, the Holy Ka'bah was kept open three times a month for people to enter and pray inside. But when the number of people seeking to enter the holy edifice increased it was stopped.

The key of the Ka'bah does not change with the change of its door. During the time of King Khaled, the door was changed but the key remained unchanged. The Holy Ka'bah’s door is 2.40 meters high and 1.70 meters wide. The present door is made of pure gold.

Elder kids and Charity Week

'Mak, somebody asked me to coordinate a charity week at Cathays High',one day my eldest daughter prompted me with that statement. 'that's good for you, good exposure!' my husband intervened our coming-back school chatting. In most cases, I would be normally the first person to respond to the children's issues, but not this time. Back in my mind...it's a big event and she never had the experience to lead... as followers, she's good in that. Though, I consider her to be the most vocal and expressive as compared to the other three of my elder kids, even to us sometimes...

Indeed, it's going to be a good exposure for her and the other two as well. Furthermore, this is the first time their school is participating in such an event. So, more work need to be done by her and her team. Fortunately, there'll be some help and assistance from her seniors who had such kind of experience. On top of that Islamic Relief Cardiff is willing to provide some guidance and help as well. So, eventually, their collections will be going to orphans - a relief programme by the Islamic Relief.

There you are...this week is the Charity Week in their school. I wasn't that aware though my facebook has been flooded with messages of Charity Week in Cardiff University. I wasn't sure myself if it is a coincidence.They were very excited sharing their experience at school with us especially my eldest as she's the coordinator. So, it seemed that everything went well and the support from her friends and teachers are very encouraging. Nothing great, I would say in terms of the activities. Simply cake sales, fancy dress, legged walks, sponsored silence, sports and makeovers for the girls...but what I do admire most are their spirit and commitments, regardless of who they are. All activities are carried out during lunchtime only and few after school, which mean their normal school activities are not interrupted. And yet they managed to collect in total of £500++ for the week, which means £100 per day. On average, I would say every pupil and staff contributes at least 50p a day for the charity event. Well done!

And I believe this must be one of the most unforgettable memories during her time here. She simply enjoy doing it. Another big thumb up from me! Hope this will give her and the other two an opportunity to see the new perspective of life and be forever with all of you!

Obama-Coalition-Pakatan

Seperti biasa, antara itinery pagi sesampai di 'pejabat' Cardiff University ialah baca emel dan rangkaiannya 'mukabuku'. Hmmm... tak ada emel yang menarik! Pun begitu dalam 'mukabuku'. Posting biasa...next item is newspaper scanning. Huh! menarik juga bila bukak The Guardian online. Baru saya teringat semalam (3 Nov) midterm election in US. Apalah nasib Barrack Obama? Apa sudah jadi pun di seberang sana pun tahu, kita hanya melihat dari jauh. Republican dah took over the House of Representatives (macam Parlimen di Malaysia!) tetapi parti Obama (Demokrat) masih mengusai House of Senate. Menarik! Tapi mesti pening untuk Obama dan yang pastinya bakal memberi kesan keatas pentadbiran US. Apa-apa usul/bill/legislation pun perlukan approval from both houses. Antara kesan yang dijangkakan akibat 'angin baru' ini ialah reformasi ekonomi US bakal tergendala dan mungkin kesannya akan di rasai oleh sekutu-sekutu US (semua oranglah tu!)sekurang-kurangnya sehingga 2012 iaitu tahun penentu Obama sebagai presiden. Yelah dah kalau 2 kepala dalam tu, bukan senang nak dapat mutual agreement on critical government issues. Apa-apapun ini pengajaran untuk Obama, orang kata wake-up call that the public should not be underestimated in any decision.

Indeed, it has never been easy for any shared/coalition government to manouvre the state administration. As simple as each party must have its own principles, priorities, mission and not least to mention is its political direction. Bercakaplah atau berjanji apapun masa berkempen...bila dah form government...hampeh! (Sorry to use this word!)The tolerance of the parties within the coalition government will always be sceptical. To what extent each of them would be willing to give up their principles as they have their own political milestones. Being a political entity, you could never put aside that from your main priorities, politics. The present British Conservative/LibDem coalition government is experiencing this. In putting up policies that thought to be of their best interest to the public, instead result to confusing priorities and thus perceived as ridiculuos by the public.

Not to mention the so-called longstanding of our National Front (Barisan Nasional, the bond among the parties within the coalition is just so fragile...on the tip of the horn (macam telur di hujung tanduk!). Memang selalu dinafikan oleh pemimpin tapi rasanya rakyat taklah sebodoh yang disangka... Used to be kept warm under their blanket, but has now started be openly discussed. Panas tu lama-lama bawah selimut yang sama bertahun-tahun!

Pakatan pun begitu juga... I guess the basis of the coalition pun not very clear and in fact the difference in aspiration is just so diverse among them. One is socialist and the other is Islamic based which one would find just impossible to compromise. Not to mention the PKR, which is still not firm in its direction within the Malaysian politic. Sebab tu lah banyak frog-leapping and this situation has jeopardised the trust of the public.

Jangan disangka ber'pakatan' akan memudahkan jalan kedepan...makin kusut mungkin. The process of give and take must be undertaken in a civilised spirit. The extent of compromise need to be seriously thought beforehand. Selalu jugak saya rasa penat membaca janji-janji mereka yang tidak jelas dan membingungkan rakyat jelata. Kesana janji ini dan kesini janji itu. Be steadfast with your aspiration. So much politicking, anyway, does not help the development of the nation and civilisation of the ummah. Maknanya kalau satu katakan satu, kalau Islam katakan Islam. Believe in His promise, one day you'll be in success.

Cardiff City-Bola-Hafiz

Saya memang bukan peminat apa-apa sukan pun. Baik bolasepak, rugby, golf... kalau ada pun tennis... Mungkin saya tidak di latih untuk berminat dengan apa juga sukan. Pada zaman kanak-kanak, orangtua selalu cakap... daripada nonton/dengar sukan, baiklah pergi kebun, adalah hasil! Kami memang orang susah, setiap waktu dan detik sangat berharga untuk kami, versi moden orang sekarang...'time is money'.

Namun, sebagai tidak menjadikan diri ni buta sangat mengenai perkembangan sukan... adakalanya ambil tahu jugak mengenai sukan, sekurang-kurangnya players yang dikatakan hebat! Sekadar untuk tahu siapa Tiger Wood, David Beckham, Belammy (!!!), sapa lagi ya... Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Williams twin.

Dan hujung minggu baru-baru ini dan berlarutan hingga ke minggu ini masyarakat pelajar di Cardiff ini telah diserang oleh demam bola... Alkisahnya, kelab Cardiff City ni dah diambilalih (dibelilah!) oleh tycoon Malaysia, Vincent Tan. Maka di setiap kali perlawanan pun setelah pengambilalihan tu, adalah bendera Malaysia tergantung...tapi tak taulah dalam stadium ada ke tak, tapi yang pasti di gate dan pagar-pagar stadium memang ada.Cuma baru-baru ni Cardiff City bagi tiket free kepada masyarakat pelajar yang berminat untuk menonton perlawanan Cardiff City-Norwich, ini adalah atas inisiatif Sdr Taufiq yang bernegosiasi dengan pengurusan CC.Jangan tak tau, 250 dapat tiket free! Dengan takdir, menanglah pulak! Maka berceritalah segala media di tanahair mengenai kemenangan CC ni... TV3 ada, The Star ada, NST ada... cuba tengok gambar dibawah ni... menarik jugak, pakai baju melayu dan first announcement was in Malay!




Kebetulan, Hafiz pulak di sekolah dah mula dengan dengan football club pada hari ini. Hmmm...mula tendang bola dalam rumah! Mula pulak sebut Tores (betul ke ejaan tu). Hope he merely plays for fun and nothing else.

It was and is still a joke about me talking about football...how idiot they are (players) exhausting themselves just for A ball, where they can have loads outside! What more of the spectators! My kids was saying 'It's too much of your PhD mak!'

Dunia Hafiz - Dinosaur

Kami sendiri tidak sedar bila minat Hafiz terhadap dinosaur bermula. Tapi yang pasti setelah kami berulangkali 'shopping' di CBS (Car Boot Sales). Setiap kali terjumpa apa jua barangan yang berkait dengan dinosaur, memang dia tidak akan berganjak sehinggalah kita beli untuknya. Sehingga kekadang saya pun merungut...'bukan ke dah ada kat rumah?'...'No, that's different, this is xxxsaurus (saya memang tak ingat dan kurang minat makhluk ini!. Dalam hati...'mujurlah di CBS!


Minatnya telah memaksa kami sekeluarga mengambil tahu mengenai makhluk purba ini. Hafiz mempunya koleksi dari sekecil-kecil dino sehingga sebesarnya. Kami pun menjadi sentiasa sensitif dengan apa saja berkait dengan makhluk dinosaur ni... terutama bila pergi ke CBS... akan menjadi salah satu barangan yang dibeli.... baik patung, majalah ataupun buku-buku mengenai dinosaur. Ditambah lagi dengan minatnya suka membaca, Hafiz boleh mengingat nama-nama dinosaur yang bukan sikit! Kalau program TV berkait dengan dinosaur ada... jangan harap orang lain boleh tengok program mereka. Di komputer, youtube dinosaur jadi pilihan dia... Muizlah menjadi peneman setia Hafiz!

Mujurlah, semua abang dan kakak-kakak dia boleh tolerate... kenalah mereka meredah Dinosaur Park di Swansea, muzium dinosaur di Oxford University serta Natural History Museum di London hanya semata-mata kerana dunia Hafiz! Tapi sekurang-kurangnya sekarang kami dah aware jugaklah dengan mahkluk dinosaur ni!

Muiz sudah di Reception Year

September 2010...Muiz sudah melangkah ke Reception Year. Ini bermakna dia sudah diiktiraf sebagai pelajar sepenuh masa sekolahnya. Pembelajaran hariannya bermula pukul 9am hingga 3pm (6 jam). Lamanya kan? Memang lama, tapi alhamdulillah setakat ini dia belum lagi bosan untuk kesekolah setiap pagi cuma dia sering menyebut-nyebut guru dia semasa di nursery tahun lalu. Tentu ada yang istimewa pada Mrs Davies ni...yang pasti untuk menambat hati anak-anak kecil, guru kenalah seorang yang caring...sehinggakan menjadikan seorang anak kecil seusia 3 tahun rasa selamat di bawah asuhannya! Aktiviti Nursery lebih untuk mengajar anak-anak membawa (handle) diri seperti belajar bergaul dan berinteraksi dengan rakan sebaya. Di bawah ni gambar Muiz semasa masih dalam Nursery.




Sekarang semasa dalam tahun Reception, dia mula belajar mengenal huruf dan nombor. Setiap hijung minggu dapat 'book bag'. Guru akan membekalkan dengan buku cerita tanpa tulisan. Ibubapa perlu bersama anak bercerita berdasarkan gambar. Tujuan proses ini adalah untuk membina 'vocabulary' anak. Setakat ni memang Muiz sangat teruja dengan aktivit ini. Berulang-ulang dia minta untuk bercerita bersama. Cuma Muiz masih belum begitu mengenali huruf dan nombor. Ini cabaran baru untuk saya. Seperti sekolah-sekolah di tanahair disini mereka guna sistem phonic. Hai... zaman saya dulu guna sistem mengeja...anak-anak yang terdahulu lebih banyak di ajar oleh guru-guru di tadika mereka. Hafiz pulak, memand minat semulajadinya 'membuku', jadi dia tak perlu sangat bimbingan kami. Saya pun cuba melayari internet dan youtube... wah banyak sungguh resources... dan yang ini agak menarik http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/index/load.htm?f. Cubalah... Anak-anak zaman sekarang memang suka belajar guna ICT dan it helps parents a lot. Dia seperti biasa suka aktiviti lasak....

Tiga bulan di tanahair (April-Jun 2010)

Tujuan utama balik ke tanahair ialah untuk urusan pengajian, lebih tepatnya ialah urusan pengumpulan data. Memang dah ada dalam rangkakerja pengajian, cuma bila nak balik yang bergantung pada jadual kerja...orang selalu tanya sebab apalah nak cari data kat Malaysia, lepas tu kena tinggal family di Cardiff, bukan sekejap 3 bulan...kadang2 goyang juga dibuatnya...selamba aje jawapannya...dah banyak duit gomen abih...buatlah sesuatu yang dapat menyumbang kepada negara!

Dengan jawapan itu sebenarnya besar impaknya terhadap skop dan tajuk pengajian. Explorasi! Maka kenalah mencari maklumat ke seluruh tanahair, dari utara ke selatan, barat ke timur bahkan menyeberang Laut China Selatan. Sendirian bertemankan rawakkal 'ala Allah. Perit! Berlakulah proses penagihan simpati dari pegawai-pegawai yang ada maklumat yang di kehendaki. Mereka bukan tidak mahu menolong tapi...memang depa ssssibuk. Alhamdulillah dan terimakasih atas kesudian semua yang meluangkan masa untuk ditemubual walau kadang-kadang kena drive up and down the towns, tunggu kat pintu ofis seawal 7 pagi....alhamdulillah...insya Allah kita akan kongsi maklumat ini nanti.

Gambar-gambar di atas adalah sebahagian dari tempat-tempat yang di 'serbu' untuk tujuan 'pencarian maklumat'.