The spirit of Idilfitri is almost gone .

We had our Idilfitri open house last Sunday 28th.November 2004.It was just a modest one , attended by family members,neighbours and a few close friends.Any way all the food were devoured within a few hours hardly anything left for the late comers. They had to be satisfied with just the biscuits and some left-overs .

Malaysians are lucky for we have ample food to eat .During the Syawal month there are so many open houses so much so we do not have the time to attend to all . Food are lavishly prepared as if they are competing among each other . It is not something cheap because to hold an ordinary open house (by city standard )one have to spend several hundred ringgits and can even reach to several thousands of ringgit depending on the menu and number of invitees .The spirit of visiting friends to renew friendship are almost gone .Now a days people are waiting for open houses invitations before they can make visits .What about those who can't afford to have the open houses ? Does that means that no one would visit their houses ; except perhaps only for close relatives .

I am not against open houses but we should not be too carried away with it as if there is a competition for doing it . Do it in a modest way and must not waste. According to Islam wastage is a friend of the satan .The most important thing is to have a good intention or 'niat' so that whatever we do is in the name of 'ibadah' .

I was in my class last Saturday and the Prof. lectured us on the true meaning of 'ibadah' . I am glad that my perception on ibadah is the same as that of his .Whatever we do in this world with a good intention( niat ) and for the good of mankind are all 'ibadah' . It is not just limited to praying ,fasting , reciting the Quran ,giving of alms etc. And so is my attending the university to learn knowledge which is useful to mankind is also an 'ibadah' and if I die while pursuing that knowledge ,I'll die a 'syahid'. It's a hadith sahih by alBukhary .

We will be going to Kangar again on 3rd.December 2004 to fetch our daughter Ezrin Farina from her hostel . Since she is finishing her school she has a lot of things to bring home . We will be staying in Kangar for 1 night and then proceed to Penang for a short holiday .