Questions? Answers.

Not enough time?

Make schedule. Plan your time.

Too much to do?

Alhamdulillah, praise to Allah that we have a lot to do. That's a lot better than not having anything to do.

Can't balance between family and work?

When we are doing family activities, cherish our moments together. Don't think about work. When we are doing our work, finish it fast and finish it well so that when we are home with our family members, we can enjoy every moment of it.

Not happy with our current job?

There are worst jobs. Beggars can't be choosy. If there are other options then go for it. But if things doesn't work either then don't blame the jobs, blame ourselves. Our reactions determine how everything around us appears to us. Not the other way round.

Spouse doesn't understand us?

Understand our spouse first. Study what makes him/her ticks, sad, happy, etc. Before we can ask, we have to give first. We can't change the world but the world will change when we change ourselves.

Envy what other people have/achieved?

Remember, there are something about us that other people envy too. We must appreciate ourselves first to be happy.

Life is not about what we have or don't have. LIFE IS ABOUT ALL THE CHOICES THAT WE MAKE.

May Allah bless us all.

The girl

She was outstanding to me among the many students that were under detention by the school's discipline teachers. She was nursing her bruises that was still red, exposing her inner skin. I sat down beside her and asked her how did she got the wound. She fell down from a motorbike that was driven by her friend. I asked her if she perform her daily prayer. As expected she said no. She strike me as a girl who colored her hair and wear a veil to school to cover her hair from the discipline unit. School kids are not allowed to color their hair.

Slowly I said to her how much Allah loves her. Have it ever crossed her mind that she fell down from motorbike as a reminder from Allah for her to change? She said her parents had said the same thing to her.

I asked her how much bruises did she have and where? She showed me a few parts which showed that she was badly hurt. When asked why she didn't stay at home she said she had previously signed an agreement with the discipline unit not to skip school anymore since she had problem with her school attendance. I told her the more bruises she have shows the more Allah loves her because the bruises is a reminder for her to chance to a better person. She was very lucky to have such reminder I said. She agreed with what I said and convey her determination to change to a better person. Before leaving, I asked her not to skip her daily prayer and to always ask Allah for guidance.

I hope I have planted a seed inside her. Hopefully the seed will grow in the future if not today. Youngsters will go away from us if we are negative about them. I don't want to judge her. It's not my job. It's Allah's prerogative. My duty is to spread the words of Allah. May Allah bless my efforts.

May Allah bless us all.

prerogative - the right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class : owning anautomobile wasstill the prerogative of the rich.

The power of questions

Having to teach 3 subjects (Mathematics, English and Economics) sometimes has its toil on me. But I love the challenge of delivering the best for my students.

Yesterday I taught about external factors that affect the demand of a product. I made them think like a businessman or an economist or the governor of a national bank. What would they do if they were to make a national policy. Among the questions that I asked my students, if they want to control inflation (high prices of product), will they increase or decrease the personal tax rate? That was the first question in a series of directed questions that is designed for students to come out with the solution themselves. Then I asked if they decide to increase the rate of personal tax, will people's income increase or decrease? Everybody answered 'decreased'. OK, will they then spend more or less? 'Less' was the unanimous answer. How will this affects prices? 'Prices will go down'. So if you are the government, to reduce inflation what will you do, increase or decrease the rate of personal tax? 'Increase!' came the excited answer from my students.

One of my teaching strategy is to make my students see how things are connected to each other like a big web. When they can see the overall picture, they know where does everything belongs to.

My six year old Aiman is a bubbling child. He is always curious about anything and everything. He will ask questions all the times. Sometimes his questions will drown me. So I will turn the table on him. I will ask him back the same question he asks me. Then he will ponder for a while and come out with a logical answer. Bravo! Mission accomplished. He can think on his own.

My mission is to produce creative and critical thinking kids. Whether it is my own kids or my students. May Allah help me in my mission.

My Allah bless us all.