Michael's Heart for Gaza

As Salaamu‘alaykum and peace to all,

That day, I was listening to the IKIM.fm, an Islamic radio when the DJ suddenly played a good song We Will Not Go Down,an inspiring song written by a heartful artist on the consequences that have been happening lately to the poor palestinians. They are being thrown with bombs by Israelis and massacred. Most of the civillians murdered with cruelty are women and children in schools. Make the Prayer for Palestinians...and spread the word. That was the first time ever I heard the song since the song has been produced early this January. I surf the YouTube and downloaded the video clip along with the lyrics.

Perhaps, this is not a nasyed song ,but the lyrics is really touching and meaningful .It’s like all the English Nasyeed songs that ever listened before such as Queen of The Land, Mu'allim, I’m Not Afraid To Stand Alone and Better days. My interest on English Nasyeed songs was started a year ago, overwhelmed with the amazing journey of Yusuf Islam who turn to music industry after many years. Most of his songs even before became a Muslim are great and teach about life, perhaps his song that brought him to new way of life, Islam.

Here is the song, We Will Not Go Down. Please listen to it carefully….

Composed By Michael Heart
Production of Music Video By Ahmed Alkhawaja
Documentary Clips from "Death in Gaza"

WE WILL NOT GO DOWN (Song for Gaza)
(Composed by Michael Heart)
Copyright 2009


A blinding flash of white light
Lit up the sky over Gaza tonight
People running for cover
Not knowing whether theyre dead or alive

They came with their tanks and their planes
With ravaging fiery flames
And nothing remains
Just a voice rising up in the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Women and children alike
Murdered and massacred night after night
While the so-called leaders of countries afar
Debated on whos wrong or right

But their powerless words were in vain
And the bombs fell down like acid rain
But through the tears and the blood and the pain
You can still hear that voice through the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Who is Michael Heart?

Michael is an unsigned singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles. He has just released his Pop/Rock debut CD titled "Unsolicited Material", in March 2008.

Michael’s background is as diverse as can be. Born in Syria and raised in Europe (Switzerland and Austria), the Middle East and the United States, he has lived a multi-cultural life and absorbed the music of different parts of the world (although his current CD release is purely categorized as Pop/Rock).He started out on piano and guitar at age 10.Shortly thereafter, he began dabbling in songwriting and eventually made the natural progression towards recording.After earning his audio engineering degree from Full Sail (recording school), he moved to Los Angeles in 1990 and spent the past 18 years working on the local studio circuit both as a session guitarist and a recording engineer. In that time, he has worked with such artists as Brandy, Will Smith, Toto, Natalie Cole, The Temptations, Phil Collins, Patty LaBelle, The Pointer Sisters, Earth Wind & Fire, Ricky Lee Jones, Lou Rawls, Jesse McCartney, Hillary Duff, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Paige, Al Jarreau, K-Ci & Jojo, Deborah Cox, Monica, Taylor Dayne, Keiko Matsui, Steve Nieves, Luis Miguel and Tarkan. Michael’s fluency in French was definitely an added bonus when he also worked in the studio with French artists like Calogero (The Charts), Marc Lavoine and Veronique Sanson. Other projects also included work with producers Rodney Jerkins, Philippe Saisse and David Foster. (note: on most of these recording credits, Michael is credited as “Annas Allaf”, his real name, Michael Heart being the stage name). Although most of Michael’s work has been in the recording studio, he also done some touring (notably back in the early 90’s, when he toured as a Flamenco guitarist in a guitar trio with Juan Manuel Canizares, opening for Dire Straits). He has also recorded and toured with the smooth jazz band Jango.

Michael is also a producer and studio guitarist, currently producing tracks in his home studio, for various local artists in the Los Angeles area.

He has also recently written and recorded a song about the horrific situation of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The song is called "We will not go down".


::Written by Faisal
::8:51 p.m
::Sunday,February 22, 2009

I've Been Tagged

As Salaamu‘alaykum and peace to all,

i've been tagged by my classmate, sueharun few days ago. Because of the buzy, only today, i can answered the questions.

Below is the answers for all questions. May you satisfy with it.

1.What have you been doing recently?
Thinking about my future

2.what do you think about yourself?
I always think what people think about me, whether I;m good, bad or awesome guy

3.how do you know that something is wrong with u?
When I feel tension, isolated, depress and etc

4.When did you last cry?
I’m not sure. Perhaps few weeks ago when I saw Palestinian childrens on tv.

5.how do u relax urself?
Normally by taking rest, now I’ve a new way, go to the swimming pool and swim

6.What do you want in your life now?
I want something that I’m searching for long time. But I couldn’t find it yet…

7.Do you carry an umbrella when it rains or just put up your hood?
I don’t know

8.what makes you happy?
When I get what really I want and when I see other people happy

9.what do people envy about you?
I’m not sure…

10.What's the nicest things in your inbox?
I’m not sure

11.Do you tend to make the relationship complicated?
no

12.Are you wearing anything borrowed from anyone?
no

13.What was the last movie you caught?
I forgot

14.What are you proud of?
I’m proud to to be 3m (muslim,malay and Malaysia). I;m proud of my mother too,
who working to feed and give education to me and my siblings.

15.how do u define success?
As my friends said; life is not about success but it’s about patience

16.What was the latest song u listened?
Irsyadee-Taubat Seorang Hamba, very good song I ever listen

17.Do you have any nicknames?
I used difference name in the internet such Jason,faizalislam, jfaisal, mikaeel
and a peacemaker.all these name show who I’m..

18.Who is your bestfriend?
I think I have but I don’t want to mention here. Most of the time , I befriend
with everybody. Some people misunderstood who I'm , thinking that me as a shy guy…
really?

19.Who was the last person to make you laugh?
Not sure

20.Are you currently happy?
Not really. Every semester, since last three years, I’m searching something that
did not know, something that will bring happiness in my life.

21.Who gives you the best advise?
Not sure

22.what makes you confident?
When I read the autobiography of great people and history of the civilization such
Uthmaniyah Empire.

23.have you ever make someone sad? if yes, why?
I think so, but I don’t know why

24.Is something bugging you now?
I’m not sure

25.Who are you?
A muslim young man who always searching for happiness. In Searching of Happiness,
A Lonely Men in the Desert Island....

26. Tag 3 people to do this quiz.
Nuyui
Thanie
Azhar

::Written by Faisal
::1:20 p.m
::Friday,February 13, 2009

Politik..oh...Politik

As Salaamu‘alaykum and peace to all,

Saya sebolehnya tidak mahu bercakap tentang politik, tetapi memandang betapa geram , marah dan kesalnya terhadap apa suasana politik yang berlaku di Perak, saya gagahkan juga menaip bait-bait ayat ini. Bercakap tentang politik Malaysia kadang betul-betul memeningkan kepala memandang pertelingkahan adalah sesama umat islam ,tidak seperti politik antarabangsa , isu Palestine Israel yang jelas melibatkan umat islam dan kafir, dan dengan mudahnya kita akan terus menyokong rakyat Palestine. Tetapi , dalam hal politik Malaysia ni, sebagai seorang yang tidak memihak mana- mana parti politik , agak sukar untuk mengjangkakan siapa sebenarnya di pihak yang benar.

Saya bukanlah pemimpin pelajar, bukan juga ahli mana2 pertubuhan politik dan barangkali penampilan saya juga tidak menunjukkan yang saya seorang yng berkepimpinan, tetapi politik bukanlah sesuatu yang baru. Jika orang lain mula memnunjukkan minat semasa di universiti, minat saya terhadap politik sudah bermula sejak di sekolah menengah lagi.Dan saya rasa selama saya mengenal politik ni, inilah kali pertama di mana selepas hampir setahun pilihanraya, isu politik masih lagi menjadi topik hangat di dada-dada akhbar.Hari demi hari, kenyataan, spekulasi baru dikeluarkan. Nampaknya ahli-ahli politik kita lebih berminat tentang kuasa daripada kebajikan rakyat dalam keadaan ekonomi yang a semakin merudum .

Isu Melompat
Disini saya paparkan artikel dari ustaz zaharuddin(www.zaharuddin.net) tentang lompat

Ini isu pertama yang patut kita fikirkan. Isu ini sangat hangat diperkatakan sejak dimulakan oleh Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim menjelang 16 September 2008, dan kemudiannya 24 Sept 2008 dan terus tertangguh.
Reaksi rakyat adalah pelbagai menjelang 16 September 2008 yang lalu, ada yang : -
• mencela ‘lompat' sebagai keji, tidak bermoral dan khianati pengundi
• tidak bersetuju tetapi tidak begitu membantah,
• ada yang tidak bersetuju tetapi menyerahkan kepada keadaan
• ada yang bersetuju, tetapi kurang selesa,
• ada yang sangat setuju,
• ada yang masih konfius dan mengikut keputusan pimpinan masing-masing tanpa berfikir
• dan macam-macam kelompok lagi.
Apa sebenarnya pendirian anda dan mengapa anda berpendirian begitu?

Kebiasaannya, pihak yang mendapat manfaat beserta penyokongnya akan bersetuju dan mempertahankannya. Namun demikian tidak dinafikan ada sebahagian penyokong dan pendokongnya yang termasuk dalam salah satu kelompok di atas tadi.

Pihak yang akan menerima kesan negatif pula kebiasaannya akan menentang habis-habisan. Namun ada juga penyokong dan pendokongnya dari kelompok di atas juga.

Sebelum kita berbincang lagi berkenaan pendirian wajar atau tidak. Ditaqdirkan Allah swt, tarikh 16 dan 24 September 2008 menemui kegagalan secara fizikalnya, namun justifikasi segera pemimpin PR mengatakan mereka tidak gagal malah berjaya iaitu menembus minda rakyat untuk terbayang kerajaan persekutuan boleh berpindah tangan. Tidak mustahil atau paling kurang memberikan sedikit ‘feel'. Sama ada justifikasi ini rasional, bertaraf tadika atau bertaraf dunia, terpulang kepada anda semua untuk menentukan. Ia bukan tujuan artikel ini ditulis.

Apa yang berlaku tiba-tiba adalah pada awal bulan Februari 2009, beberapa orang ADUN Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Perak pula melompat parti sehingga membawa kekecohan yang masih panas hingga ke hari ini.

Majoriti kelompok pendokong dan penyokong Pakatan Rakat tentunya berang bukan main, dan seribu satu macam hujah dan rasional dihamburkan bagi mengecam tindakan keempat-empat ADUN terbabit [ 3 PR + 1 UMNO (PKR) ]

Hasil pembacaan saya di pelbagai media di internet termasuk pendapat perseorangan dari kem Pakatan Rakyat dan Kem BN, mendapati empat perkara kerap dan menarik iaitu:
1)Double Standard ; Pimpinan PR mengamalkan sikap ‘double standard' ; kerana bila dahulu dikempen dan diusahakan lompatan 16 September 08, dipersetujui mereka, namun bila berlaku di Perak, mereka kutuk dan kecam. Bermakna, lompat masuk PR adalah terpuji, tetapi lompat masuk BN adalah celaka dan khianat. Adakah wajar ?
2)Strategi makan tuan ; strategi menubuhkan kerajaan hasil ‘lompatan' YB yang dipopularkan oleh DSAI dikatakan makan tuan apabila isu di Perak berlaku.
3)Mandat pilihan patut diberikan semula kepada rakyat : iaitu bubar DUN dan pilihanraya semula di negeri Perak. Secara asasnya saya setuju dengan cadangan ini tetapi artikel ini hanya akan menyentuh sedikit sahaja berkenaan perkara ini.
4)Isu perlembagaan; Isu lompat bukan yang paling utama, tetapi isu utama adalah MB Perak tidak dijatuhkan melalui saluran undang-undang yang sah menurut perlembagaan. Sultan tiada kuasa eksekutif memecat Menteri Besar tetapi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) adalah tempatnya melalui undi tidak percaya. Isu ini juga tidak saya tumpukan dalam artikel ini. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah menjelaskan :
The Constitution is the highest law of the land. It is the foundation and source of legal authority, and the Rulers are sworn to protect and uphold it. According to the Constitution, Dato' Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is Menteri Besar until he resigns of his own accord, or is removed by a vote of no-confidence in a formal sitting of the assembly. The Constitution makes no provision for his removal by any other means, including by petitions or instructions from any other authority. (sumber )


Lompat yang dibenarkan
Dibenarkan dalam beberapa keadaan antaranya :-
•Untuk Kebaikan Rakyat : Melompat kerana kepentingan dan kebaikan rakyat, bukan hasil kerakusan mengaut imbuhan untuk diri atau menyelamatkan diri dari tuduhan rasuah atau dakwaan kejahatan yang dilakukan oleh diri sendiri. Lalu kerusi wakil rakyat digadaikan.
•Membawa kepada taat Allah ; Jika menurut fakta, statistik dan pengalaman umum yang jelas bahawa sesebuah gabungan parti itu lebih membawa kepada pelbagai maksiat dan ketidakadilan manakala parti yang lain lagi membawa kepada lebih ketaaatan kepada Allah, lebih kebaikan dan kesaksamaan, maka ‘lompat' boleh menjadi HARUS malah mungkin ada ketikanya ia adalah sunat atau wajib.
•Mengurangkan mudarat ; Jika kedua-dua parti adalah tidak baik, namun demikian satu darinya kurang mudarat dan tidak baiknya. Maka boleh malah wajar untuk lompat kepada yang kurang membawa mudarat untuk diri dan rakyatnya.
•Tiada potensi mudarat lebih besar ; Telah ditinjau potensi bantahan rakyat tidak akan membawa mudarat yang lebih besar. Jika telah dikenalpasti rakyat terdiri dari mereka yang ganas dan boleh mencetus mudarat lebih besar akibat lompat. Maka lompatan wajar dijauhi.
•Pilihanraya korup sepenuhnya atau sebahagian besarnya ; tatkala itu usaha mengajak lompat dibenarkan jika tiada cara untuk menang dalam pilihanraya biasa kerana korupsi amat dahsyat dan rasuah bermahajalela menyebabkan pilihanraya tidak adil sama sekali.
•Pilihanraya dipelopori majoriti pengundi tidak baik ; Melompat dan mengajaknya dibenarkan apabila rakyat dikenalpasti majoriti terdiri dari orang yang sangat cenderung kepada kejahatan dan pastinya akan sentiasa memilih yang tidak baik sebagai wakil mereka. Justeru, bagi menyelamatkan Negara dan kebaikan rakyat sebegini, jemputan dan mengajak lompat adalah dibenarkan.

Malunya melayu

Sebagai seorang melayu , saya tersangat rasa malu dengan sikap orng2 melayu yang telibat dalam 2,000 penyokong Pakatan Rakyat (PR) bagi menghalang majlis angkat sumpah Menteri Besar Perak ke-11 Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir yang berlangsung di Istana Iskandariah pada jumaat lalu.Yang lebih memalukan adalah tindakan penyokong yang menahan Kereta yang membawa Raja Muda Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah selain tururt membaling dengan objek dan cuba dihalang oleh beberapa lelaki yang berbaring di atas jalan.Tindakan sebegini sewajarnya dielakkan memandang ianya tidak selari dengan ajaran islam memandangkan hampir kesemua perusuh adalah orng melayu yang beragama islam. Bukan sahaja imej orng melayu tercalar malah sikap yang selalu dilihat di Negara barat2 ini turut memcalitkan imej buruk tentang islam itu sendiri yg sudah pun buruk di mata orng2 bukan islam.


Sultan dihina

Tindakan Pengerusi DAP, Karpal yang akan menyaman Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah jelas menunjukkan yang beliau langsung tidak menghormati institusi raja yang telah wujud sejak sekian lama. Tindakan beliau biadab, sombong dan angkuh menghina Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah dengan menggugut baginda untuk dibawa ke muka pengadilan benar-benar menimbulkan kemarahan rakyat.Barangkali beliau berlagak memandang beliau seorang peguam yang sudah lama dan amat memahami selok belok undang-undang. Tapi harus diingat orang melayu agak sensetif dan sekali mereka bertindak , buruk padahnya.Sarang tebuan jangan dijolok, ornag melayu belum lagi menunjukkan apa yg boleh mereka lakukan.Kepada Karpal sigh, berhati dengan kata2 kamu, jangan sampai terguris lagi perasaan orng melayu.

Perak bukan Gaza
Saya agak terkejut apabila membaca beberapa blog yang menyamakan kerajaan BN perak sekarang ni seperti Israel yang merampas tanah penduduk Palestine. Mana mungkin anda boleh samakan Israel yng memang sah kafir dengan kerajan BN yg sedaura seislam. Tak kan lah hanyalah kerana masalah poltikakn, sanggup menyamakan orng islam lain yg mengucap syahadah,bersolat 5 waktu dan melakukan amalan2 islam yg lain dengan sikap Israel yang tidak berperikemanusian tu. Perak bukannya gaza, BN bukannya Israel dan penyokong PR bukannya rakyat Palestine yg berjuang menentang kezaliman orng2 kafir yahudi.

P/s: saya bukanlah penyokog mana2 parti politik , Cuma seorng muslim yang sayangkan agama, bangsa dan Negara saya. Proud to be 3M( Muslim, Malay and Malaysian)

::Written by Faisal
::11:32 p.m
::Monday,February 09, 2009

Motivation 1: Embracing Changes.....

As Salaamu‘alaykum and peace to all,

Like the little fish, we always afraid of changes. Fear of change in our life, change in our relationship, change in our environment and every other thing that involve a move toward out of our comfort zone and routine way of living to another that is strange to us. We enjoy dreaming for better lives, but most of us are afraid to face the challenges toward our dreams. We stop short of making it reality. Preferring to stay with the familiar, we avoid taking risk, so that we do not have to change .Embracing changes need to a lot of courage and positive thinking. Avoid change and we stop the process of growth and learning in our lives. Avoiding change is not good since life itself about improvement and can only be achieved if we dare to change our life. As mention in the our Holy Book, al-Quran;

“…Allah does not change the circumstances of any people until they have changes what is within themselves…”-Surah Ar Ra’d ,13:11

Choices are always there for us to decide and the strength to change our circumstances comes from within us. Embrace the changes and do the necessary Hijrah for betterment, we will find Allah swt as our Guide and Helper.




P/s:Extracted from the book, A walk Through Life by Norma Kassim

::Written by Faisal
::1:15 p.m
::Sunday,February 08, 2009

Trouble...in Trouble

As Salaamu‘alaykum and peace to all,

My mind is cloudy
My soul is empty
My heart is broken
My life is in chaos
My faith is shaken
My motivation is down
The road that I’m going through is stick
The mountain that I’m climb is high

I walk on the lonely road
No one standing by my side
No one to hold

Sometimes, I’m afraid of myself
Afraid if I’m loss my life
Loss what I’ve before
At the moment where my dreams
Still in the sky
Far away to reach
Far away from my hand to grab

When the life's storm swept my life
I'm there alone
No one in front to hold me
No one at the back to support me
No one in my left and right
To bring me back to normal

After all, I'm the one who resist the storm
When I won, I thanks to Allah
For give me strength
To face the reality of life
But sometimes I'm failed
Slip to the wrong direction
Slip to same hole that I've slipped before
Doing the same mistake again and again
At that moment
I ask Allah's repentance
By only His mercy and blessing
I can succeed in the world and hereafter

Trouble...I’m really in trouble

Then, what should I do?
I just need keep in my mind that
In what ever I do
Where ever I go
Allah is always with me
Even more closer than my veins
And I will never walk alone



In the name of Allah
The most beneficent
The most merciful
The most deserving of all praise
I pray for better days....

May the future bring the brightest day in my life..insya-Allah

::Written by Faisal
::12:24 p.m
::Monday,February 02, 2009