One of the most important lessons of the journey of Al-Israa' and Al-Mi`raj (Night Journey and Ascension) is that it highlights the high status that Al-Aqsa Mosque has in the Muslim Ummah. It was to Al-Aqsa Mosque that the Night Journey of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was made and from it that the Prophet's ascension to the Heavens took place. The journey of Al-Israa' was a sign that the leadership of the world would move to the Muslim Ummah. Such leadership was based on mercy and justice, not on oppression and aggression.

Another significant lesson of Al-Israa' and Al-Mi`raj is knowing the importance of prayer; it is through prayer that one can directly communicate with his Almighty Lord.

The eminent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi sheds light on this issue:

Al-Israa' was a land-to-land journey that Allah Almighty caused His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to make from Makkah to Jerusalem, that is, from Almighty Allah's Sacred House to Al-Aqsa Mosque. (Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place of Worship to the Far Distant Place of Worship the neighborhood whereof We have blessed)(Al-Israa’ 17: 1) [The Inviolable Place of Worship mentioned in this verse refers to Allah's Sacred House and the Far Distant Place of Worship refers to Al-Aqsa Mosque.]

Mind that Allah Almighty had blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and its neighborhood and referred to it even before even the Prophet's Mosque was built, as the Prophet's Mosque was established after his immigration to Madinah.

Mind also that when Prayer was ordained on the Muslims, Al-Aqsa Mosque was the qiblah to which they were to turn during Prayer. They would turn their faces in Prayer towards it for three years in Makkah, and for 16 months in Madinah before the qiblah was changed to Allah's Sacred House.

Besides, Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the three mosques to which Muslims are required to dedicate time for visiting; the other two mosques are the Sacred Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. This shows that Jerusalem is the third sacred place after Makkah and Madinah in Islam.

Allah Almighty wanted to establish and emphasize the significance and sacredness of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Muslims' hearts so that they do not cede it for anything. They are to hold it as sacre d as both Allah's Sacred House and His Prophet's Mosque. That was why the Muslims [when they were strong] were zealous to keep Al-Aqsa Mosque under their rule and protection. Hence, Muslims must realize the importance of Jerusalem in their history and the significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque in their religion and life.

Allah Almighty wills that we remember the importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque when we celebrate the anniversary of Al-Israa' and Al-Mi`raj. This is to remind us of the gravity of the circumstances in which Al-Aqsa Mosque is in this age. We must not give up our responsibility in defending Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem. This is a sacred issue to fight for. Brothers and sisters, we should not, under any circumstances, give up our role in that regard.

The Jews dreamed of establishing a state (in the land of Palestine) and managed to achieve that dream. That being so, we at least must not give up hope that one day we will again have Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem under our control. We should not lose hope of that at all, even if we see surrender embodied everywhere in our status quo. We must believe that Allah Almighty is with us and that He Almighty will grant us victory and make Islam prevail, as He, Most High, always supports the true believ ers.

Imams Ahmad and At-Tabarani reported on the authority of Abu Imama Al-Bahilai (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "A group of my nation will keep being in the side of right and victorious over its enemy; no party of their enemy can cause them harm; the only harm that may afflict them is (physical) exhaustion. They would be like so until the Day of Judgment." The Prophet's Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked, "Where would they be, Allah's Messenger?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "In Jerusalem and the surrounding vicinity."

The second most important lesson that we are to learn from Al-Israa' and Al-Mi`raj is concerning Prayer (salah). It is known that Prayer was ordained on that great night. It is because of the great importance of Prayer that Allah Almighty ordained it in heaven. He Almighty sent His Messenger to mankind (peace and blessings be upon him) and caused him to go on a night journey and ascend to heaven and the Lote Tree to inform him (peace and blessings be upon him) of the ordinance of Prayer.

Mind that all other ordinances were decreed on the earth. This indicates how important Prayer is in Islam. It symbolizes ascension to heaven; it is the Muslim's spiritual ascension to heaven. Thus, Prayer is the gift that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) brought with him from that journey to all Muslims so that they can worship Allah Almighty through it.

Prayer had to do with Al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Aqsa Mosque was the first qiblah in Islam. If it is true that Al-Israa’ took place in the tenth year of the Prophet's mission, this would mean that the Muslims' qiblah in Prayer was towards Al-Aqsa Mosque for three years before the Hijrah to Madinah and 16 months after it.

Then Almighty Allah decreed that the qiblah be changed towards the Sacred Mosque. Allah Almighty says:(So turn thy face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship, and ye (O Muslims), wheresoever ye may be, turn your faces when ye pray) toward it.)(Al-Baqarah 2: 143)

When the qiblah was changed, the Jews raised doubts about that. Allah Almighty says:(The foolish of the people will say: What hath turned them from the qiblah which they formerly observed?)(Al-Baqarah 2: 142)

The Jews spread rumors that the Muslims' Prayer [to the first qiblah] was invalid and so would not be rewarded. Allah Almighty refuted their claims as He, most High says: (And We appointed the qiblah which ye formerly observed only that We might know him who followeth the Messenger from him who turneth on his heels. In truth it was a hard (test) save for those whom Allah guided. But it was not Allah's purpose that your faith should be in vain, for Allah is full of pity, Merciful toward mankind.)(Al-Baqarah 2: 143) According to this verse, "your faith" refers to Prayer, as Prayer is a symbol of one's faith.

To sum up, Prayer is the spiritual means through which Muslims can ascend to their Lord. If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ascended to heaven (once), we, brothers and sisters, could spiritually ascend to there as much as we can through Prayer.

Allah Almighty says in a qudsi (divine) hadith: "I have divided the Prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks. When the servant says, 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe,' Allah the Most High says, 'My servant has praised Me.' And when he (the servant) says, 'The Most Compassionate, the Merciful,' Allah the Most High says, 'My servant has lauded Me.' And when he (theservant) says, 'Master of the Day of judgment,' He Almighty remarks, 'My servant has glorified Me.' And when he (the worshiper) says, 'Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help,' He Almighty says, 'This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.' Then, when he (the worshiper) says, 'Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray,' He (Allah Almighty) says, 'This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.'"

Why Did the Chicken Cross The Road? What they have to say.

Kindergarten teacher:

Because it wanted to look for food on the other side.

Sammy Vellu:

kita sude bikin banyak jembatan, itu ayam musti guna jembatan untuk lintas itu jalan lagi pun kalu itu ayam mau pigi jalan-jalan, beritau sama saya juga, saya bolley buat lebbey banyak toll....itu jambatan mesti ada tahan 100 tahun. Lain kali bole kasi tutup..kita bole survey mana ada rosak.

Karam Singh Walia(TV3):

Seperti yang saudara dapat lihat, kelihatan ayam-ayam itu sedang melintas jalan. Mereka bukan sahaja melintas jalan, malah membuang najis di atas jalan dan ini adalah pencemaran yang paling hebat di maya ini. Bapa-bapa dan ibu-ibu ayam haruslah mengambil inisiatif untuk melatih ayam-ayam agar menahan najis sewaktu melintas jalan, sekian saya sudahi dengan.........

Ayam di jalan di lintaskan; Ayamdi reban mati tak makan.

Wan Kamarudin(Edisi Siasat NTV7):

Ape kejadahnyer ini semua, KL dah jadik reban ayam, mak bapak ayam asyik menganga saje.Ayam semua dah besar kepala,..dan dah tak nak duduk reban...dan bertambah biadap dan buat perkara yg tak masuk dek akal!

Zainal Ariffin Ismail(TV3 Kisah Misteri):

Ada saksi menyatakan yang mereka dapat melihat ayam-ayam ini melintasi jalan-jalan di kampung ini pada waktu malam. Ada yang menyatakan ayam-ayam ini merupakan penyamaran jin. Dan ada juga mengaitkan ia berkaitan dengan peristiwa silam di kampung ini. Apakah sebenarnya maksud tersirat ayam-ayam ini melintas jalan? Oleh itu saya akhiri, "Jangan biarkan hidup anda diselubungi misteri........."

Zainal Alam Kadir(Wayang Kita Astro):

"Ayam siapa kalau bukan ayam kita..."

Sisters in Islam:

We abhor the thoughts of the rooster enslaving the hen that is why female chicken must be brave and know their rights before they cross the road,....and some cross to escape the master/slave marriage....but this Taliban minded syaria court is no help to the grieving hens...all chicken hens should not vote for IFL!

Abdul Fatah Haron(PAS Rantau Panjang):

Ayam-ayam yg melintas ini semua adalah kerana mereka ayam-ayam yang GATAL......

Md. Said Yusof(BN Jasin):

Apa salah nya...biarkan mereka lintas...tutup sebelah mata ajelah...ayam-ayam terlebih besar sikit shj.Lagi pun semua nya itu ayam saya.

Shahrir Abdul Samad (ex Pengerusi BBC):

Ini adalah prinsip saya. Ayam-ayam tak boleh dibenarkan melintas jalan. Kalau beginilah, maka ia nya bertentangan dgn prinsip saya, maka saya RESIGN.

Bill Gates:

I have just released the new Chicken Office 2000, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Microsoft will pledge a billion for research on chicken AIDS.

Dr M:

You know, I am tired of all this...'apa-nama' chicken-chicken bisnes...you know that it is our right to build the bridge on our side of the straits....so why are we chicken out?

Pak Lah:

Ini semua adalah khabar angin sahaja...jangan percaya khabar – khabar angin ini semua... biasalah ini adalah taktik pembangkang untuk memecah belahkan perpaduan ayam-ayam semua... jangan percaya... we've decided to scrap the scenic bridge for the best interest of the people...nothing to do with chicken. And of course others have the right to express their opinion....ini biasalah.

*50 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU'RE AN "ASIAN"

(*The NEW List from the 1st to 1.5 Generation Perspective*)*

1. You were/are a good student with very high GPAs.
2. You majored in something practical like engineering, medicine or finance.
3. You have more than one-college degree, especially more than one Master's.
4. If you play a musical instrument, it must be piano.
5. You have a vinyl table clothe on your kitchen table.
6. Your stove is covered with aluminum foil.
7. Your kitchen has a sticky film of grease over it.
8. You beat eggs with chopsticks.
9. You always leave outdoor shoes at the door.
10. You use the dishwasher as a dish rack.
11. You keep a Thermos of hot water available at all times.
12. You boil water before drinking.
13. You eat all meals in the kitchen to keep your dining room clean.
14. You don't use measuring cups when preparing foods.
15. You save grocery bags and use them to hold garbage.
16. You have a rice cooker.
17. You're a wok user.
18. You fight over who pays the dinner bill.
19. You wash rice 2-3 times before cooking it.
20. You make sounds when you have a bowl of soup.
21. You don't dry-clean clothes, even if they need to be dry-cleaned.
22. You iron your own shirts.
23. You like congee with thousand year old eggs.
24. You always cook yourself, even if you hate it
25. You use credit cards, and pay monthly bills in full.
26. You do soccer, swimming, badminton, volleyball, basketball, or ping pong, and have an obsession with making the Beijing Olympics.
27. You buy Christmas cards after Christmas, when they are 50% off.
28. When you hand wash dishes, you only use cold water.
29. You hate to waste food:

1. Even if you're totally full, if someone says they're going to throw away the leftovers on the table, you'll finish them.
2. You have Tupperware in your fridge with three bites of rice or one leftover chicken wing.

1. You don't own any real Tupperware-only a cupboard full of used but carefully rinsed margarine tubs, takeout containers, and jam jars.
2. When toilet paper is on sale, you buy 100 rolls and store them.
3. You have a collection of miniature shampoo/conditioner bottles and little soap bars that you take every time you stay in a hotel.
4. The condiments in your fridge are either Price Club sized or come in plastic packets, which you save every time you get take out or go to McDonald's.
5. You carry a stash of your own food whenever you travel (and travel means any car ride longer than 15 minutes).
6. You spit bones and other food scraps on the table.
7. Your dad thinks he can fix everything himself.
8. When you go to a dance party, there is always a group of guys surrounding the dance floor trying to look cool.
9. Your house/apartment is always cold in winter, and hot in summer.
10. Your Mom drives her Mercedes to Foodtown, or Shoppers Food Warehouse Regardless how far it is, even if the dairy is next door.
11. You always look phone numbers up in the phone book, since calling Directory Assistance costs 50 cents.
12. You only make long distance calls after 11pm or during weekends.
13. You prefer your shrimp with the heads and legs still attached.
14. You never call your parents just to say hi.
15. You think ONLY Japanese can make good CARS!
16. You use a colored face cloth every morning.
17. You starve yourself before going to all-you-can-eat places.
18. Almost all your money is in a savings account
19. You never discuss

49. Your love life with your parents.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

50. You take this message and forward it to all your Asian friends

*TOP TEN REASONS WHY THERE WON'T BE AN ASIAN PRESIDENT ANYTIME SOON*

1. White House not big enough for in-laws
2. Engineering, medicine, and law always preferred over politics
3. Oval Office has bad feng shui.
4. Can't find decent roast duck inside the beltway.
5. Secret service can't handle nagging from mother.
6. Dignitaries are generally intimidated by chopsticks at state dinners.
7. No chance for promotion.
8. Lactose intolerance not considered politically correct.
9. Senior aides won't take off shoes before coming in.
10. Air Force One: No frequent flyer miles.

*HOW TO BE THE PERFECT ASIAN AUSTRALIAN PARENT (From the second generation perspective)*

1. Be a little more lenient on the 7:00 p.m. curfew.
2. Don't ask where the other point went when your child comes home with grade on his/her report card.
3. Don't "ai-yah" loudly at your kid's dress habits.
4. Don't blatantly hint about the merits of Habad (Harvard), Yeil(Yale), Purinsiton (Princeton), or Stamfud (Stanford).
5. Don't reveal all the intimate details of your kid's life to the entire Asian community.
6. Don't ask your child, "What are you going to do with your life?" if he/she majors in a non-science field.
7. Don't give your son a bowl haircut or your daughter two acres of bangs.
8. Don't try to set your kid up on a date in anticipation of their poor taste or inept social skills.
9. Incorporate other phrases besides, "Did you study yet?" or "When are you getting married?" into your daily conversations with your children.
10. Don't ask all your kid's friends over the age of 21 if they have a boy/girl friend yet.

*"YOU KNOW YOU ARE INDONESIAN IF...*

1. when u talk really fast, with rapid tongue movements
2. when u wear thongs! or sandals everywhere, yes even in winter!
3. following above, always get bagged for wearing sandals
4. mie goreng is in the top 5 of your favorite foods
5. if you love taking photo studio pics
6. u like travelling in big group of frens, and talkin VERY loudly irrespective of your surroundings
7. almost a weekly ritual to go to church

*YOU KNOW YOU ARE JAPANESE IF...*

1. You're obsessed with you hair, your car, and your clothes.
2. You want to marry a Korean American or Chinese American woman! (males); or you want to marry a white guy (females).
3. You're afraid of black people.
4. You only drive Japanese cars.
5. You know you are superior to all other Asians.

*YOU KNOW YOU ARE KOREAN IF...*

1. You smoke and drink too much.
2. You wear pink Polo collar shirts, have loose beige pants, and have blonde highlights in your hair.
3. You know what a Dalki, Pucca or Mashimoro is?
4. You're afraid of black people.
5. You drive a Hyundai even though you won't admit it
6. You know you are superior to all other Asians.

*YOU KNOW YOU ARE CHINESE IF...*

1. You think you're the smartest people in the world.
2. You have a mobile with you at all times.
3. You know the abbreviation of a.b.c. (Australian Born Chinese)
4. Today's steamed rice is tomorrow's fried rice.
5. You're afraid of black people.
6. A bicycle was a good form of transport before.
7. You know you are superior to all other Asians.

*YOU KNOW YOU ARE VIETNAMESE IF...*

1. You MUST have fish sauce with every meal.
2. You eat at a restaurant that has "Pho?" on the signage.
3. Guys wear green mircofibre pants with Nike sneakers, and girls wear their flared black pants over their high sole shoes.
4. You know the abbreviation of f.o.b.
5. You have some relative who is Chinese.
6. Cabramatta makes you feel home sick.
7. You're afraid of black people.
8. You're fond of 2nd hand Japanese import cars.
9. You know you are superior to all other Asians.

*YOU KNOW YOU ARE PHILIPINO IF...*

1. You want to be a dancer, a singer, or an actor, even though you have a day job as a nurse, an engineer, or an accountant.
2. A member of your family back home is a politician or a movie star or knows one.
3. Guys with jeans and white sneakers anyone?
4. You're always late for any engagement, and practice the art of Philo time?
5. You're not afraid of black people; in fact, you wish you were black.
6. You love your Toyota's and Honda's.
7. You don't care if you are superior to all other Asians or not, because being Filipino is just cool in itself.

*YOU KNOW YOU ARE THAI IF...*

1. People want to pay you for sex
2. No matter what you eat, it's not greasy or spicy enough.
3. You mum seems to workout at the local gym.
4. Without glasses your eyes would be the size of ants.
5. You're not afraid of black people, because in some cases you're just as dark as they are.
6. Any car dump to the **** house is good?
7. You know in your heart that you will never be superior to all other Asians, but you've learned to live with it.

*YOU KNOW YOU ARE MALAYSIAN IF...*

1. You believe everything the Government tells you
2. But are willing to change your mind if someone slips you $50.
3. The whole world (and Soros) is out to suppress you and your country.
4. You think that Mahathir will be around in 2020.
5. You welcome all people (be they black or otherwise) who invest in the MSC.
6. You think you are superior to most other Asians, but $50 can change that too.

*YOU KNOW YOU ARE SINGAPOREAN IF...*

1. You eat, sleep, have sex and smile according to the policies stipulated by the Government in the Red Book they gave you when you were born.
2. The Red Book does not state that you have to be afraid of black people so you aren't.
3. You know you are superior to all other Asians, because it says so in the Red Book.

*YOU KNOW YOU ARE ASIAN AUSTRALIAN IF...*

1. You regret the fact that you did not learn Mandarin or other Asian language properly in Saturday language school.
2. You say you're Australian, totally forgetting your roots.
3. During childhood you didn't have much asian friends, played bullrush or handball and ate 'sunny boys' for lunch.
4. A form of choosing was done by 'dip.dip dog ****?!'
5. You know you have to shop at an Asian grocery store but you have no idea what you are buying nor can you read any of the food labels.
6. You cheer for Australia during the Olympics, know local Australian bands, and know what a VB (beer) is.
7. You can speak fluent English without an accent.
8. Know what a Commodore and Falcon are. Yes..... they are cars!
9. You know you are superior to all other Asians, despite the fact that they beat you in Maths in the VCE, can speak an Asian language fluently and know what they are buying in Asian grocery stores.

KUALA TERENGGANU (2 Aug 2006): the Prime Minister has issued a warning – those who spread untruths and slander on the Internet will face the law. If information in blogs, websites and online portals were incorrect, bordered on slander, caused disturbance or compelled the public to lose faith in the nation’s economic policies, their authors would be detained for investigation, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Star newspaper)

PUTRAJAYA (3 Aug 2006): There will be no censorship of the Internet but bloggers are not above the law for what they publish in cyberspace.

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik said action would be taken against those who disrupt peace and harmony through their postings.

He said there was no censorship of the Internet as promised in the Bill of Guarantee with the Multimedia Super Corridor "but if any bloggers go against the law of the country, they can be charged, whether under criminal law, sedition or whatever law it is"

Bla.. bla… bla.. and bla (NST newspaper)

Hey… helllooooo… where’s my RIGHT! Blog is my last place to express my dissatisfaction with so call government.

This bunch of retarded people think that they are brilliant and we, THE OPPOSITION is stupid. I’m definitely not UMNO, maybe a little bit supporting PAS, DAP and KEADILAN but I am standing to defend what I believe is true. I don’t care who you are. If what you say is stupid, I will tell you that it is stupid ‘coz I ain’t kissing your ass. I’m not a person who loves to kiss government’s ass or sniffing their fart.

If you still using your brain to think, these statements might make you laugh hysterically.

" University students are not allow to involve in politics"

But for ruling party, they have Puteri UMNO in campus.

" We don’t control newspaper"

But reality is that all the paper basically under ruling party. No daily newspaper for opposition.

" We don’t control television"

Then again, all TV are under government. During election is the worst nightmare for opposition. Everything government do is good (excellent, great… what so ever just to kiss asses) and everything the opposition do is bad.

In Malaysia, I think we have nearly 50 radios station but none of them are opposition.

STOP… enough all these… hmmm I might end up in jail… ahaks ahaks

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