[Ramadhan Series] Day 6 : Longest Day Time in Taiwan during Ramadhan is a Good Day

Today I got information from my Taiwanese friends that today is gonna be the longest day time on summer. And... it's on Ramadhan. I'm not sure how many minutes longer than usual but it feels like I'm going to have a hot summer day today. hahaha

But even it's not longest day time in Taiwan, I would definitely get one. Because today is the last day of one of my class and I had to present my final project in front the class. It's not like an usual presentation, it's different. I had a hard time to do it so I'm really nervous and afraid that I couldn't do it better.

Instead of making myself funny in front of the class, fortunately I can make it through. Alhamdulillah... what I've been think of all this time not realized. hehe I'm afraid Prof will ask us about the network but he just asked us about how we make the network because we used a huge amount of data, not like others in the class. Another miracle of Ramadhan for me from Allah.

What I've been realized all day after I reviewed today activities are... I did something hopefully useful for my friends on lab. InshaAllah.

When first I came at school, I met with my lab mates on lab and we talked for a bit about our friend's engagement surprise. And it came out to a topic of Ramadhan because one of them asked me to go for lunch together. I told her that I was fasting and can't eat during the day until sunset. She already knew about Ramadhan because she is familiar with Islam things, she said. haha But another friend of mine at that time, he didn't know anything about Ramadhan. So, I decided to explain to him about it.

He asked me why do you have to fast for 1 month? 

I answered to him that this month is the month of blessings and Allah stated that we have to fast in this month. There are many benefits for our body and mind actually.

We need fasting for our body to rest after a year eat many kinds of food and need to heal themselves from any kind of disease.

We need fasting for our mind and mental state because we have to be patient, cannot angry, and discipline throughout the day.

So, what time do you have to do fasting?

Start from before Fajr prayer ( I have to explain to him that we have to pray 5 times a day) around 3.30 AM until sunset around 6.45 PM.

Is it have to be that time?

No. it depends on the sun. Sometimes we will eat iftar at 7 PM if the day time is longer than before. And of course summer time is longest time to fast rather than in winter time.

Is Ramadhan always in June / July ?

No. Because Ramadhan is in Islamic Calendar which is similar with Chinese calendar, that depends on the moon. And every year, usually Ramadhan will be move 1 month earlier. Like for example in this year Ramadhan is in June and July, and next year will be in May - June.

After he got all of that information and understand...he said "Waow...It's so special."

I'm happy to hear that I can explain to him about Ramadhan, so that he will understand more about Islam and Muslims.

Another thing that interest me the most was when one of my friend (after class) joking around to my Indonesian labmates that she will make him angry because he is still fasting and I said to her that if she did that she will go to hell. haha it's just joking, but another friend of mine ask me about Hell.

She thought that Hell is always an American joke, like "go to hell" or something like that. And she also didn't believe anything about heaven and hell. SO, I decided to give her an explanation about this.

I asked her whether she knew Adam and Eve, and she didn't know. So, I started with... what happened when human is not yet known.

Allah created Shaitaan (I used term Satan to her because it's more familiar) and put them in Heaven. Then, Allah created human which are Adam and Eve, and He told shaitaan to worship them. But shaitaan said to Allah that they didn't want to because they think that they are better than human. So, shaitaan told Adam and Eve to eat a forbidden apple in heaven. That apple caused them banned from heaven by Allah, because they already told by Allah to not eat that apple, but they still ate that due to shaitaan's whisper. Allah then put shaitaan into Hell and Adam and Eve to earth. Shaitaan didn't like it and even they already successfully make Adam and Eve out of heaven, they still said to Allah that they will make Adam, Eve, and their descendants (which is us, human) to not pray to Allah and drag them to hell until the end of the day (doomsday) to be their friends on hell.

After I explained to her, she became sooo excited. She said to me that she never heard that story before. I felt a little bit shocked because it's a story that any religion had. Like christian, catholics, and jews...they had that story in their book. But, how come she didn't even know that story?

I just realized that it might because she doesn't have any religion. And...most of Taiwanese are like that. So, it makes sense that she and some others of my friends didn't know that story.

I'm happy that I can explain to my friends a little bit about Islam, from time to time. Not a whole in a day but a little bit a time. Because I know that they have to know Islam as general first, and if they want to know more, I will explain more. It's important for them to understand what Islam and how Islam in Muslims' life so that they can respect Muslims and doesn't have any misunderstanding about Islam because of wrong-sided media.

Wish that I can do more on this Ramadhan and do da'wah even more to my friends in Taiwan. InshaAllah.

[Ramadhan Series] Day 5 : Learn How to be Productive at Work / School on Ramadhan

So, today I got a chance to join a webinar by ProductiveMuslim.com entitled Work Productive on Ramadhan. When I got an email from them that I can join this webinar for free, I got very excited because this is what I need the most.

Of course everybody know that we have to fasting in Ramadhan and some (or most) people thought that it will decrease our energy level and can't be productive, so then it's okay to be lazy around and not doing something productive. Unfortunately, non-muslims tend to relate Ramadhan with the laziness of muslims. we don't want to be related with lazy, right?

So, I want to give the summary of the webinar into this article and hope it can help you guys a lot in your daily basis on Ramadhan and get the most out of it.

There are three kinds of Muslims on Ramadhan :

1. The Career Focus

Muslims who focus on their career or school activity on Ramadhan, just like on other months. And not make the most out of Ramadhan. So, their ibadah is less than their work.

2. Ramadhan Focused

Muslims who focus on Ramadhan only. They focus on gaining relationship with Allah SWT. They didn't do their job like usual or go to school. Only ibadah on this month.

3. The Survivors

Muslims who can balancing between The Career Focus and Ramadhan Focus. So, they tend to do both in balancing time. But, mostly, not related with each other.

Which one do you think is you?

So, there is another term that ProductiveMuslim.com have, which is The Productive Muslim Workforce

In Islamic point of view, Work is inside Spirituality. Why?

Work is a means to our sustenance to help us fulfill our obligations and live a dignified life. As an example, Prophet Daud a.s. who was the richest man, he works then became rich, Rasulullah Muhammad SAW also an entrepreneur who works to fulfill his duty as the man in the family and live a dignified life.

Work is a testing ground for our Islamic manners and ethics.  We already knew how to be a great Muslims not only from Qur'an but also Hadist. But, we can't only 'know' that but we have to implement all of those manners and ethics. That's what one of the purpose of work. How we develop relationship with others, be discipline, etc.

Work is where we add value to humanity. We work to do something for the company, instead of building a product or managing something. All of that is because company want to make something that can be sold to people. That product is of course might be useful for others. So, working is one way to be useful to others.

The next question is... your work is a Job, Career, or Calling? 

Imam Al-Ghazali ever mentioned three types of people :

1. Distracted by the Dunya

2. Distracted by the Akhira

3. Dunya supports Akhira and Akhira supports Dunya

Indeed, I believe many people is one who distracted by the Dunya ( only works and live the life on eart and never think about life in akhira) or distracted by the Akhira (only ibadah and forget to work and be the man of the family). And I also believe that all Muslims in the world want to be in the 3rd category. But how Dunya supports Akhira and Akhira supports Dunya?

We have to know the meaning of Ibadah. Ibadah is not only Pray 5 times a day and sunnah prayer, recite Qur'an, become Hafidz / Hafidzah, help others in need, Hajj, always in mosque, etc. But working is also ibadah. Go to school is also ibadah. Provide foods and money for family is also ibadah. Be discipline at work is also ibadah.

So, with that state of mind... we can start to balance ibadah for Akhira and ibadah for Dunya.

There is a question that might be helped you understand... How is your work part of your spiritual development? think about this for a moment.

So, How Ramadhan boost your work productivity?

Basically you have to understand first that Ramadhan is the month of Barakah. The month of blessings that Allah gave to us. So, why don't we ask Allah to give blessings in our work or our opportunity or our business or anything ?

Ramadhan is actually can help us to learn to be focus on what we did. Maybe some people might not agree because they might think that because they didn't eat they will loose focus. But, that's not what Ramadhan meant. Before Ramadhan, we tend to do things that unnecessary in life like watch movies, listening to music, and eating. But during Ramadhan, we decrease all of that. Allah gives us more time to focus on our ibadah in our work and Ramadhan is the month to learn focus.

Discipline is another key. Being discipline is part of Islamic manners and ethics. Ramadhan also taught us to be discipline during our fasting. For example when we are fasting, we have to fast not only for our stomach but also heart. How to maintain our heart is part of the discipline. So, when you want to boost your productivity during ramadhan, being discipline is a key. Discipline to time management.

And how to make it as a routine... How to Build a Productivity Work / Life Routine During Ramadhan?

There are three keys to make productivity lifestyle as a routine, so that it's not only work on Ramadhan but also after Ramadhan.

1. Understand your Roles

We have roles in our life. For example for me, as a wife, daughter, sister, teacher, friend, muslimah, business woman, student, and worker. Too much? maybe not. Because everybody have their own roles in their life. So, what's yours? Understand your roles and how many time you spend for each of your roles, help you manage your daily productivity.

I will make myself as an example in this case.

So, we have to make priority based on roles but doesn't mean the first priority is closing other priority. Roles as a Muslimah is number one because it represents our relationship with Allah SWT. Then, because I already married, the second roles is as a wife, how I spend my time with my husband and my responsibility to him. Third role is as a daughter to my parents, am I already spent enough time with them, am I call them enough, or are they already happy with what I did. Fourth role is a sister, on how my relationship with my sisters and brother, is it need more time to be spent together with and we can be stronger as ever. Next role is as a friend, did I already have a good relationship with my friends, or do I have to have an iftar party for them in our house. Because I'm a student, I have to think about my research and how I spend my time for my research, is it already balanced with other roles. Become a business woman is a challenged because I didn't spent my full time on it, so I have to think again about the meaning in this business. And I also a worker, even it's just a part-time job I have to think about my discipline, did I already good at work or need improvement, is my boss ok with my job or not, and something like that.

So, you get what I meant in here? maybe you can start think first on your roles before you continue reading.

2. Set your Goals

After you understand your roles, you can start to set your goals for each roles. For example, as a Muslimah I want to set goals in this Ramadhan that I want to finish reading Qur'an and understand the meaning of Surah Al-Kahf. As a wife, I want to prepare iftar and sahoor everyday for my husband. As a student, I want to finish my research model this month.

Or you also can set goals based on three things, which are Spiritual Goals, Social Goals, and Physical Goals. These goals can help you stay focus and discipline throughout the month and get ready to continue set another goals when Ramadhan end.

3. Build a Routine

If you try to get your goals on daily basis, it means you build it as a routine. Don't be lazy because it will not going to help you come across your goals.

4. Review Daily

At the end of the day you should review daily on what you already did that day. Is there anything special? How's your life going on Ramadhan? Are you already follow on your routine?

With reviewing, you can see what improvement you already did and what need to be done tomorrow.

I understand that make goals as routine is not easy. I also ever experienced it and I need tools to help me with that. I've ever mentioned in many articles about how to be productive using planners. If you need that, you can download it for free in this link.

Or you also can use several apps for your phone if you don't like papers. Like for example Todoist, Evernote, etc. 

For your Ramadhan, I suggest you to use app called Ramadhan Legacy. It can help you track your daily ibadah routine on Ramadhan.

Okay... so... hope this summary of the webinar on ProductiveMuslim.com help you guys on your work productivity during Ramadhan. InshaAllah.

Wish we can get the most out of Ramadhan and Allah blesses us with Barakah on this month and after.

Jazakallahu Khairan Katsiran.

[Ramadhan Series] Day 3 : Nap Dreams Became Real

Dreams... everyone has dreams when they're sleeping, aren't they? I also have dreams... good dreams or even nightmares. But, this day I got a very unrealistic but real dreams...

If you read my previous article about my first day of ramadhan, I mentioned that I have a final project that everybody in our groups have trouble in interpreting the results. How come it's not a problem when we have pictures of networks and confuse what's this networks all about. Even we already met at that day and discussed, and something came up to lighter our thinking...but we still need more.

Then, I am the one who has responsibility in making the power point presentation for next Monday, which in Sunday night we have to send it through email to our teacher. It became a huge problem for me because I have to make sure everybody in our group understand the results and can present it well.

This day I have to think how to make a good presentation. But it came at that point where I was stuck. I couldn't think about anything that can resolved our problem. I asked several people, including my husband, but no answer. So, after Dhuhr prayer, I decided to take a nap.

It's not only because I was tired to do my assignments since morning, but I also felt hungry. hahaha Yes of course because I have to do fasting. And I wanted to forget about those hunger feeling, so.. that's why I took a nap for a while.

What makes me felt unreal is that when I awake... I remember I had dreams... about doing my power point presentation in the part where I felt difficulty the most. But, I couldn't remember what's that all about. I just remember I did that and put some circles in slides and make some notes.

So, I decided to try it out. After Ashr prayer, I sat down in front of my laptop and started to work.

And... it's done!!

I didn't know how to do it but I felt like more energize and more focus than ever!

I even forget my hunger... because I started being into my work.

Miraculously... I can finish the most difficult part in the presentation. Subhanallah...

It's the miracle of take a nap in Ramadhan. Alhamdulillah...

I knew it's kinda bizarre experience from some people... but it's real and it's happened to me. Maybe there are some scientific reason behind it, like for example...

I took a nap in the right time and moment, where I was sleepy, tired, and loose my focus. But at the same time I knew there's something need to be done but I didn't know how to do it. So, those feeling came across my deep mind without I realized, and straight to my brain when I was sleeping. It turns out to be a dream. But it can be a good dream or nightmares, right? Maybe I even can have nightmare about my assignments. Alhamdulillah that's not what happened... I believe Allah took a part in here where He gave me an insight about what I supposed to do after awake. Allah helped me with that... Alhamdulillah...

You know... I remember when I was learning about Sleep in Ramadhan through Productive Muslim Community. I kept thinking about how can I prove the theory where sleeping actualy can help people to be productive, especially in Ramadhan.

And now... I can prove it. ^__^

[Ramadhan Series] Day 2 : Shocking Hijab Trying from Non-Muslim Friends

My lab is the place where everyone happy, just like our Prof always said to us when we have meeting. It's common when someone mocking others, and no emotions involved.

Without I realized, because I'm not at campus at that day, one of my friend (the craziest one) has an idea to try using hijab by herself with her shawl. She tried to make it as similar as possible with my daily hijab model.  And... it shocked me a lot when I knew it. It's not a bad shock. But, a very good shock. 

I'm very impressed on how she managed to wear it like I used to wear using her shawl. Even her intention at first is to mock me and joke about me that I have no hair and I want to cover it up with my hijab. hahaha

I knew about this from other friends who shown me her photos. And I just kept laugh because she's so cute and beautiful with shawl on her head.

But, the most shocking me was ... when some of my friends who shown me the photo (3 of them), they asked me to have Hijab Day in the lab. They want to try wearing it.

It's... UNBELIEVABLE.

On every year, in campus, Muslim students have an annual activity called International Muslim Culture Exhibition where everyone including non-muslim can try to use Hijab. But as far as I remember, when we had that activity last year, my lab mates didn't come because have classes.

And it's unbelievable for me because that idea is not coming for me. The idea of wearing hijab, is come from them!

Subhanallah... another magic of Ramadhan.

I asked them... why they want to try to use hijab? (still with shocking face)

They said to me that... They want to feel it. Is it hot to wear hijab? will they look more beautiful? is it weird? and the most important thing... they want to know others' perspective when see them using hijab.

And definitely...I said YES OF COURSE.

So, we set a date, on next week... so that everybody (girls) will come to lab and try hijab, I'm the one who will help them wear it. I'm soooo happpyyy... ^__^

When I told my Muslim friends about this... they agree to help me video taping the event. ^^

I hope it can turn out well and another way to do da'wah in Taiwan, even it's only in my lab.

Please pray for us in this activity for next week. I will post the video in this blog as soon as possible, to let the worlds know... 

[Ramadhan Series] Day 1 : Hard Day for Working... but Worthed

Usually, The first day of Ramadhan, I already at home in Indonesia and lazy around. I usually have thought that "Oh this is Ramadhan, it's fasting day and I need to be lazy around first to make sure I can do fasting without complaining until the end of the month"

But, this Ramadhan, change my perspective, especially it came out in my First Day of Ramadhan this year (18/6/2015)

After sahoor and shubuh prayer, I usually fallen asleep until near Dhuhr prayer. I know it's not a good thing to do, but usually I have excuse to fall asleep because I'm awake in the middle of the night to eat. But, this time, I had to awake at 6 AM and get ready to work.

Yes, this year I'm starting to have my part-time job in Taipei (not in Hsinchu where I live), because I want to give another day for my lab time in campus (which is in Taipei). Usually I just go to school when I have class, but I realized it's not enough, because my life in campus is not only classes but also research and group meeting. So, when this part-time job opportunity arrived, I definitely said yes, so that I can have more reason to go to school after my job. But unfortunately, my job is starting at 9 AM and I have to go to Taipei from Hsinchu at around 6.30 AM.

I know it will be a rough day, because it's the first day of Ramadhan, and it's summer. Night before, I slept late, and awake at 2.30 AM, and slept again after shubuh around 4 AM until 6 AM. Get ready until 6.30 AM, and go to bus station around 6.45 AM. Sometimes, the bus will go around 7 AM and arrived in Taipei around 8 AM.

Because in Taipei I have to commute using public transportation like MRT, Bus, and YouBike, of course I have to walk and need some time to go to one place to another. At 8.30 AM I already arrived at work where the office is near a mosque and before I start my day I went there to pray dhuha.

Alhamdulillah...this day was not as hot as before. Maybe because of the first day of Ramadhan and every creation of Allah in this earth is praying and help Muslims to fasting easily.

I felt terribly exhausted in the office. I felt sleepy all the time, and rarely speaking to my co-worker. I was tired after walk and riding YouBike to office. I also can't focus with everything.

Then, I realized that I have work to do. I have to focus because it's a work that need good communication skill with people who has trouble. I have to not show my tiredness in front of them. At the same time, I have test and need study between my work time.

So, I just tried to focus on everything in front of my eyes and started to work. In my heart, I believe Allah will help me go through this day and something good will happen to me, because it's the month of Barakah, the month of Blessings on everything we ask for.

With Bismillahirrahmanirrahim... I started to work... and I can focus on everything! Alhamdulillah...

After Dhuhr prayer, I finished my work and go to school by bus, followed by YouBike again. Need almost 30 minutes to arrive at school from office. And it's 2 PM. Very hot at that time. The thought of drinking ice is making me crazy... -__-"

I had an appointment with a group study of one of my classes in the afternoon. There are several problems ahead and I couldn't solve it before. I asked my friends about problems in our term project, but they seemed didn't understand at all about how to do it. But, I believe Allah will help me. This is Ramadhan and barakah will always come to people who try hard and patient (Sabr), right?

It's unbelievable when we met at that afternoon, I could focus on my task. I could think clearly about what supposed to do and not. Even at that time, I almost fainted due to lack of sleep and tiredness. But I kept my head straight and do the job. I also couldn't believe in myself when I started to give explanations about what the projects really are to my friends, because the day before I couldn't think that way.

Subhanallah... Allah is beside me all the time...and this Ramadhan is truly Barakah for me.

Fasting is not an excuse for someone to be lazy around and not doing their work. It's a misunderstanding if related Ramadhan fasting with unproductive, but instead during Ramadhan people will be more productive than ever.

I already proven that theory, because in a day I finished my job, I studied for exams, I made presentations for projects, and I could think clearly and focus. 

Those experience in a day, make me realize that whatever happens... if Allah always be in our heart and we always seek His help, Allah will help us and give us His Blessings throughout the day.

My suggestion to you guys... don't be worry to loose your focus on your work or school activities, because Ramadhan is the month of Productivity and the month of Blessings from Allah... Trust Allah, The One who can make your life easier and help you on everything...

Jazakallahu Khairan Katsiran...

Wish we can get the most out of Ramadhan and always get Barakah from Allah...