Rude Guard smearing the image of the Masjid Jamek

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Recently, Brother Haji Kamarudin Abdullah, Chairman of the Islamic Propagation Society International, complained to me about the way a certain guard by the name of Zainal had been rudely chasing away tourists and visitors who came to the historic Masjid Jamek.

As his complaint was voiced out through the phone and I had no idea as to the identity of the person concerned, I advised Brother Kamaruddin to lodge an official complaint to the masjid's administration committee for they would be in a better position to solve the matter.

Yesterday, 18th of November, I had gone to the masjid after my meeting with YB Tn Hj Zulkifli Noordin and a few other bloggers to discuss how to solve the 'Tauliah' @ Religious Credentials issue which has been sparked off by the Selangor Islamic Department's arrest and subsequent charging of the former Mufti of Perlis Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin of 'teaching without credentials' in the State of Selangor!

A preposterous case indeed.

Coming back to the subject of this posting.

I reached the Masjid Jamek just after Zohor and rented a locker to store my boots. I paid the locker rental fee of just a ringgit and enquired as to whether the guard would mind my notebook bag and jacket while I went to pray?

He didn't want to accept any such responsibility and asked me to bring my belongings with me to the main masjid praying area.

Okay, fine enough. I understood his position and went about my way to the ablution area and then went to the main prayer hall and performed my Zohor prayers.

Alhamdulillah!

When I returned to the guard post and wanted to return the key to the locker and reclaim my boots, I heard some loud voices outside.

I saw the guard talking in very poor English trying his best to stop some Chinese tourists from entering the masjid grounds.

His excuse was that it was raining and he didn't want the tourists to wet the visitors robes and also due to the fact that the masjid was having some refurbishing work replacing the ceiling lights at the outer area of the masjid's flanks.

Usually the tourists just walk around the masjid building, take some photos and will be on their way after checking out the oldest masjid of Kuala Lumpur.

No big deal.

The problem with yesterday's incident was that the guard was ill equipped to handle such guests to the masjid in a decent, acceptable manner.

The guard in question was having a hard time making himself understood.

I went to his rescue and asked him what was the matter?

Sensing his inadequate command of even the simplest of English, I spoke to the visitors and found out that they were Taiwanese.

I spoke to them in Hokkien and explained the situation.

Then came this guy by the name of Zainal and he was just bloody rude to the other visitors.

There came a group of tourists and he was rudely and loudly chasing them out. Saying the masjid was closed, bla bla bla!

I advised him not to be so and reminded him that these were guests to the masjid and one should not disrespect them!

He was stubborn and kept speaking like an uneducated imbecile, in capable of hearing good advice.

I invited the tourists to take shelter under the awning provided besides the guard post and ABIM brochure stand and explained to them that the reason the guard was being so offensive was because of his fear of the visitor robes getting wet, etc.

That however was not an excuse for the fellow's rudeness to the visiting tourists in the first place!

After the tourists left, I proceeded to go and meet my friend, one of the masjid's administration committee member who also happens to be a prominent Indian Muslim philanthropist business tycoon and related the incident to him.

He acknowledged that there has been many similar complaints about that particular rude, uncouth guy but they, the masjid's administration are hard pressed because they can't find any replacement due to the low salary that they are paying for such a job?

RM600 per month.

Any of you know any decent Muslim who can speak good English and other languages, know basic knowledge of Islam and willing to take over from that uncouth chap, please give me a call and I will get you or the person you are recommending that post?

We need to get that fella packing! He is spoiling the good name of the Masjid Jamek Bandaraya!

Upsy Daisy, I Look, I See Children's Song about the Masjid

A simple but crystal clear Children's video clip about the wonderful place that a masjid can be if we just take the time to be there with all our fellow Muslims from all walks of life and ethnicities?

Good effort by the videographer.

Pending the setting up of the Centre

Assalamualaikum.

The proposed setting up of the MJKL Islamic Centre is still on the documentation process and the onus is on me to get the papers ready.

I do however want to raise the finances needed to run the centre on my own and do not wish to have to depend on any outside sources for the time being.

Setting up the centre is just an administrative measure but the finances necessary for the purchase and installation of the office equipments, stationaries, furnishings, audio visual equipment and accessories, general refurbishings, interior decorations, publications, computers and printers, telecommunications units and miscellaneous items necessary to run a proper centre worth its name requires finances and I hate to go and ask for funds from anywhere.

My efforts in earning an income from my http://zainking.ui2u.com E-commerce and Business Networking is sure bound to give me the funds I need to go about it and my business partners in the business are asking me as to how much I need, etcetera.

It's just a matter of time where I will be able to do just that and it might take another month or two to see to it that this centre is up and running. Insya Allah.

Those of you who have volunteered will be notified soon of any developments relating to the centre. I hope you will stay committed to your objectives in running this centre together with all the others and make our dreams come true soon.

All the best to you in your careers and in the meantime, brush up on your Islamic Knowledge pending your entrance into the World of Dakwah al Islamiah. Insya Allah.

Wabillahi taufeek walhidayah. Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Your fellow Caller to Islam,
Zainol Abideen.
Mahaguru58

In the Name of Allah, God Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

In the Name of Allah, God Most Merciful, Most Compassionate, this is the proposed Islamic Centre of Masjid Jamek Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur.

This building contains the hall of the mosque and I plan to turn it into a fully functional Islamic Centre of Knowledge and Understanding of Islam, in this part of the capital city of Malaysia.

It already has library cabinets in place, plus tables and chairs.

Insya Allah, with the help of my fellow Muslims, I will see to it that audio visual facilities are added to it to make it a proper centre, able to cater to the needs of our mosque's visitors, both Non Muslims and Muslims alike. Insya Allah.

This meaningful scene shows a father leading his son in prayer to Almighty Allah, Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.

In the sanctuary of the cool, marbled floors of the oldest mosque in the heart of the sprawling metropolitan capital city of Kuala Lumpur, such a sight is a panacea to one's heart.

To this blessed masjid, comes many a visitor and tourist from all over the world, curious to learn about what is it about Islam, that makes hundreds of thousands of people embrace this faith that is said to be oppressive, backward and out of touch with today's modern lifestyles yet so many go flock to the very centres of Islamic Knowledge such as this mosque amongst the millions of mosques all over the world!

The Islamic Centre which I have proposed to be set up in the Masjid Jamek Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur is intended to cater to the visitors to this mosque who have not been properly attended to all these hundred over years since the mosque has been established!

Not an easy task, I assure you. To have a fully functional centre, I need to have the full blessings of the mosque's Administration Committee and also a dedicated team of volunteers, capable of running the centre from now on if and when I am no longer alive on this Earth.

I am preparing the proper working papers on this project after getting the green light from the Admin Committee of the mosque last week, Alhamdulillah!

I have received about half of the biodata's of the 15 volunteers so far and will need to get the balance from the rest of the blessed Muslims and Muslimats who have volunteered to run this centre!

In these times when people complain of being too busy to even break into a smile, here are 15 blessed souls who have sent in their applications to be the first ever team of volunteers for this centre!

May Allah bless these kind souls and sincere folks who have answered my call to help me run this centre and be the pioneer Da'ee's and Da'eeyah's of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala and take part in the most noble of efforts on Earth, that is to help share their knowledge and faith of Islam with all those who come daily to this blessed mosque wanting to learn about Islam!

To the following Muslims I express my sincere gratitude and appreciations:

• Brother Zulkifli bin Ahmad,
  
• Brother Mohd Suhaimi bin Abdul Aziz,
  
• Brother Wan Adnan bin Wan Chik,
  
• Brother Zainal Abidin bin Baharom,
  
• Brother Mohd Nazri bin Mohd Yusof,
  
• Brother Abdun Nizar bin Ahmad,
  
• Brother Hasni Marjumat,
  
• Brother Ismat Abdul Qayyum bin Jamaludin,
  
• Sister Mrs.Marlina binti Amir Hamzah,
  
• Brother Ganeematullah Baharudin,
  
• Sister Asmah binti Ibrahim,
  
• Brother Zainudin bin Hj Ismail,
  
• Sister Rusmimy binti Rosli
  
• Sister Noorasyikin binti Asrorie

Ya Allah, bless all these wonderful people, Your servants who have answered your call and commandment as in Surah An Nahl, Chapter 16 Verse 125, Al Quran Al Kareem

" Invite (all Mankind O Muhammad Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam) to the Way of your Lord (Islam) with Wisdom and Beautiful Preaching and Reason (discuss, argue, debate) with them ( Non Muslims and Muslims -deviant, innovators, liberals, alike) in a Way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Knower of those who are guided."

May this Islamic Centre come into being, befitting it's status as a centre of learning and understanding for us , the Children and Descendants of Our Father, the Prophet Adam Alaihis Salam ( May Allah be Pleased with him) ! Ameen.