Shooting great vacation photos, even with that new digital camera, takes smarts and know-how. To help you make the most of your digicam on your next trip, Microsoft At Home asked top photo gurus for their professional tips. Badly taken vacation snaps can be awfully disappointing, but good ones are a lifelong treasure.
Power up
Learn to manage power—dead batteries ruin great photo ops. Always take two sets of batteries and a charger, says Jorge DaSilva, manager of Henry's School of Imaging. Use one set in the camera while the other charges.
Or, invest in a super-long-lasting, clip-on, rechargeable Lithium Ion power pack like the DigiPower DPS-9000, which can be used with most digital cameras, suggests photo instructor Larry Frank, a senior product specialist at photo wholesaler DayMen Photo Marketing Inc.
Find out what kind of power adapter you need for foreign parts—possibly a transformer, more likely just a plug adapter—and get it before you leave, says freelance nature and travel photographer Danny Catt. If you can't tell what you need from the camera's manual, ask the retailer where you bought it.
The digicam's LCD screen is a power hog—turn it off and use the optical view finder most of the time, Frank says.Hint: Do use the LCD when shooting close-ups to avoid inaccurately framed shots.
Protect your gear
Digicams are very susceptible to water damage. After one of Catt's cameras got a little damp, "it was toast," he says. Stay away from water and carry your camera in a waterproof bag.
Add a pack of silica gel to reduce moisture further, DaSilva suggests. You can buy one in camera stores.
When going through airport security, put memory cards in the plastic tray provided to avoid x-rays, metal detectors, or anything with a magnetic field.
Pack enough memory
The camera's manual should tell you how many shots at a given size and quality you can store on your memory card. Use this information to calculate the storage required for each picture, then multiply by the number of pictures you expect to take.Hint: Biggest size = highest resolution for making jumbo print enlargements.
Conserve by using lower resolution for shots you know you'll only want to print small or e-mail, says DaSilva.
Buy all the storage you need and maybe a little more before you travel, Catt says, so you can be sure it works.
Exploit your digicam's greatest feature: edit as you go—delete shots that don't work.Hint: Take the camera's AV cord (virtually all come with one), and plug it into a hotel room TV to get a better look at the pictures. If you travel a lot, get a camera that has playback for different television systems around the world.
Know your camera
Most digicams don't take the picture the split second you click the shutter, Catt notes. Try to anticipate the shot. Then check the LCD to make sure you got it. If not, shoot again.
When setting exposure, if in doubt, err towards underexposure (too dark), Frank advises. Overexposed digicam shots are prone to burnouts—bright parts of the picture rendered as pure white.Hint: Avoid shots that include the sun, Catt says.
Understand and exploit creative manual options, Frank says. "Use a fast shutter speed to stop action, for example, or a slow shutter speed to create a pleasing blur when shooting a waterfall or something with implied movement."
Also understand and exploit advanced digital features, Catt urges. Many digicams help you shoot pictures you can later "stitch" into panoramas using a computer. Many will also apply special effects black and white, sepia tone, polarization. "Sometimes you have to think outside the photographic box," he says.
Compose carefully
Make the main subject BIG, says Frank. "Assume your audience has the attention span of a three-year-old."
More often than not, avoid placing your main subject dead center. Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid overlaying the picture frame, DaSilva suggests. Try to place the subject at one of the grid's intersections.
When shooting landscapes and sunsets, Catt says, decide which is pictorially more important: land or sky. If land, place the horizon in the top third of the picture, if sky, place it in the bottom third seldom in the middle.
Look for natural frames in the scene to better compose the main subject, Da Silva says a church spire framed by the arches of a cloister, for example.
Look for lines in the scene, Catt suggests a road or footsteps in the sand and try to frame the picture so the lines lead the eye from the left toward your main subject.
What to shoot—and when
Shoot more often in the half hour to two hours before and after sunrise and sunset. The low-angle light at these times produces dramatic and pleasing results, says DaSilva.Hint: When shooting in low light—outside or in—always use a lightweight mini tripod to hold the camera steady for the slower shutter speeds required, DaSilva says.
"Try and look below the surface" when photographing your travels, Frank explains. Look for shots that capture something of the local ambience and culture.
Check calendars ahead of time for festivals and other special events you can shoot. Check out harbor areas and amusement parks. Shoot farmers' markets early in the morning when locals are shopping.Hint: Learn a few words of the local language and always ask people before taking their pictures. Most happily agree.
Organize and share what you shoot
Photo collages celebrate important events and themes in our lives. Pick a folder, press a button, and in a few minutes Microsoft AutoCollage presents you with a unique memento to print or e-mail to your family and friends.
Learn about more innovative ways to make the most out of your photographs on the Microsoft Professional Photography site.
Tell your vacation story. That's right, your vacation is a story, with a beginning, middle, and an end. Capturing your photos in a way that tells the story is the first step in really taking your vacation home with you and sharing it with others.
Use Windows Live Spaces to share your photos with family and friends.
Add stunning photo effects
Microsoft Photosynth transforms regular digital photos into a three-dimensional, 360-degree experiences. This new service changes the way you experience and share photos.
Combine black and white and color in one image and other cool effects. With many of today's digital imaging software packages, like the ones on the Microsoft Professional Photography site or Adobe Photoshop Elements, you can apply amazing effects to your photos that used to be available only to professional photographers. Hint: Before you start, make a working copy of your original image by saving it with a new file name. You can do this by opening the image and typing a "bw" at the end of the filename when you save it to differentiate the working image from the original. For example, if the image file name is "Leaf," save the image as "Leafbw." By doing all your work on your working copy of the image, you can always start over with a fresh copy of the original if you don't like the results.
You can easily convert color photos to black and white by using your favorite image-editing program. With some camera models you can even do this in the camera before downloading the image to your computer. Once the image is on your computer, you can use your image-editing program to adjust contrast and brightness to create a photograph that's reminiscent of an Ansel Adams.Hint: Silhouettes look terrific in black and white, as do old buildings. The effect adds drama. But be sure to reserve this technique for landscapes or buildings. Photos of family members in black and white may not be as warm as you want them to be.
Fill the frame for dramatic effect. By tilting the camera down about a third of a frame, you can create a much different effect than simply capturing a landscape. Look carefully at the picture you're framing before you click the button. Experiment by moving the camera up and down, side to side. Tilt the camera to various angles and see what it shows you. Fill the frame with the object that interests you most. If your digital camera has an LCD screen, you can use it to improve your sensitivity to the entire scene.
Get up close! Most people see a group of flowers, say "Wow!", and snap a shot of the whole bunch. Don't settle for this canned shot; zoom in on the details. Almost every camera has a magnify or macro button that lets you get close and create a much more interesting photo.
Change your perspective. Most people stand up and shoot their photographs at a 45-degree angle. Try bending over, getting down on your knees, or standing above your subject.
Article written by Gerry Blackwell and adapted from an original piece from Microsoft Home Magazine.
Extracted from HERE
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Aktiviti Hari Sabtu (27 Jun 09)
Pagi:
Pergi ofis management di tingkat 7 untuk ingatkan diorang pasal program hari ni.
Mula Ops Bungkus sebab orang maintenance akan datang lepas lunch.
Tengahari:
Ops Bungkus selesai and bersiap untuk keluar (lepas solat Dzuhur).
Tinggalkan kunci dengan Pak Guard. Orang maintenance kata, pukul 8 malam baru boleh masuk rumah balik.
Nasib baik ada jemputan makan tengahari kat Sharjah (nasi kerabu, roti Sweetie dll).
Lepas Asar bertolak dari Sharjah ke JLT, melawat sahabat yang baru dapat baby.
Malam:
Lepas Maghrib, bertolak balik dari JLT. Rancangannya nak jumpa sahabat di area Karama... Tapi sebab jammed teruk, bagitau diorang, tak boleh nak jumpa. Jadi diorang datang ke rumah je la.
Dari Karama, terus balik ke rumah. Ambik kunci dengan Pak Guard dan terus check kerja diorang tengahari tadi. Hmmm, ok jugak walaupun masih lagi ada yang hidup.
Tengah bagi re-inforcement kat kerja diorang tengahari tadi, sahabat telefon... Dah sampai kat bawah dah.
Bawak family turun jumpa diorang, pok, pek, bla, bla kejap then salam-salam, naik atas balik.
Prepare untuk tidur... Sebab rumah macam tongkang pecah, anak beranak tidur kat ruang tamu. Penat gila... Besok kerja... Lagi 5 hari, lepas tu... Yee Haa!!!
Sent from MY BlackBerry® device
Pergi ofis management di tingkat 7 untuk ingatkan diorang pasal program hari ni.
Mula Ops Bungkus sebab orang maintenance akan datang lepas lunch.
Tengahari:
Ops Bungkus selesai and bersiap untuk keluar (lepas solat Dzuhur).
Tinggalkan kunci dengan Pak Guard. Orang maintenance kata, pukul 8 malam baru boleh masuk rumah balik.
Nasib baik ada jemputan makan tengahari kat Sharjah (nasi kerabu, roti Sweetie dll).
Lepas Asar bertolak dari Sharjah ke JLT, melawat sahabat yang baru dapat baby.
Malam:
Lepas Maghrib, bertolak balik dari JLT. Rancangannya nak jumpa sahabat di area Karama... Tapi sebab jammed teruk, bagitau diorang, tak boleh nak jumpa. Jadi diorang datang ke rumah je la.
Dari Karama, terus balik ke rumah. Ambik kunci dengan Pak Guard dan terus check kerja diorang tengahari tadi. Hmmm, ok jugak walaupun masih lagi ada yang hidup.
Tengah bagi re-inforcement kat kerja diorang tengahari tadi, sahabat telefon... Dah sampai kat bawah dah.
Bawak family turun jumpa diorang, pok, pek, bla, bla kejap then salam-salam, naik atas balik.
Prepare untuk tidur... Sebab rumah macam tongkang pecah, anak beranak tidur kat ruang tamu. Penat gila... Besok kerja... Lagi 5 hari, lepas tu... Yee Haa!!!
Sent from MY BlackBerry® device
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Hadith Palsu Tentang Bulan Rejab
Artikel ini merupakan Himpunan penulisan Dr Mohd Asri Bin Zainul Abidin yang terdahulu dicadangkan untuk bacaan bersempena bulan Rejab.
Agama wajib dipelihara ketulenannya supaya tidak berlaku campur aduk antara rekaan manusia dan perintah Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Jika agama boleh direka cipta, maka wahyu sudah tentu tidak diperlukan, juga Rasul tidak perlu diutuskan. Oleh itu Islam mengharamkan pembohongan di atas nama agama.
Dalam persoalan hadis, ramai kalangan kita yang begitu tidak berdisiplin dalam memetik hadis-hadis Nabi s.a.w., begitu juga dalam menghuraikannya. Sebahagiannya langsung tidak mengambil berat persoalan kethabitan iaitu kepastian di atas ketulenan sesebuah hadis.
Apa sahaja yang dikatakan hadis terus sahaja dibacakan kepada masyarakat tanpa meneliti takhrij dan tahqiq (keputusan) para ulama hadis terhadap kedudukannya.
Lebih malang ada yang menyangka apa sahaja yang dikatakan hadis maka pastinya sahih dan wajib diimani.
Dengan itu apa sahaja yang mereka temui daripada buku bacaan, yang dikatakan hadis maka mereka terus sandarkan kepada Nabi s.a.w. tanpa usul periksa, sedangkan mereka lupa akan amaran yang diberikan oleh baginda Nabi s.a.w. dalam hadis yang mutawatir: "Sesungguhnya berdusta ke atasku (menggunakan namaku) bukanlah seperti berdusta ke atas orang lain (menggunakan nama orang lain)."
"Sesiapa yang berdusta ke atasku dengan sengaja, maka siaplah tempat duduknya dalam neraka." (Riwayat al-Bukhari, Muslim, dan selain mereka).
Berbohong menggunakan nama Nabi s.a.w. adalah satu jenayah yang dianggap sangat berat di dalam Islam. Perbohongan atau berdusta menggunakan Nabi s.a.w. adalah menyandar sesuatu perkataan, atau perbuatan, atau pengakuan kepada Nabi s.a.w. secara dusta, yang mana baginda tidak ada kaitan dengannya.
Ini seperti menyebut Nabi s.a.w. bersabda sesuatu yang baginda tidak pernah bersabda, atau berbuat, atau mengakui sesuatu yang baginda tidak pernah melakukannya.
Maka sesuatu yang dikaitkan dengan Nabi s.a.w. sama ada perkataan, atau perbuatan atau pengakuan, maka ia disebut sebagai al-hadis.
Namun menyandar sesuatu kepada Nabi s.a.w. secara dusta, bukanlah hadis pada hakikatnya. Cuma ia disebut hadis berdasar apa yang didakwa oleh perekanya dan ditambah perkataan al-Maudu', atau al-Mukhtalaq iaitu palsu, atau rekaan. Maka hadis palsu ialah: "Hadis yang disandarkan kepada Nabi s.a.w. secara dusta, ia tidak ada hubungan dengan Nabi s.a.w." (lihat: Nur al-Din Itr, Manhaj al-Nadq fi 'Ulum al-Hadis, m.s.301, cetakan: Dar al-Fikr al-Mu'asarah, Beirut).
Perbuatan ini adalah jenayah memalsu ciptakan agama, kerana Nabi adalah sumber pengambilan agama. Seperti seseorang yang memalsukan pasport di atas nama sesebuah kerajaan. Ia sebenarnya melakukan pembohongan dan jenayah terhadap kerajaan tersebut.
Kedudukan Nabi s.a.w. tentunya lebih besar dan agung untuk dibandingkan. Oleh itu dalam riwayat yang lain Nabi s.a.w. menyebut: "Jangan kamu berdusta ke atasku, sesiapa berdusta ke atasku maka dia masuk neraka." (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim). Kata al-Hafizd Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani (meninggal 852H) dalam mengulas hadis ini: "Ia merangkumi setiap pendusta ke atas Nabi s.a.w. dan semua jenis pendustaan ke atas baginda."
Mendengar
Maksudnya: "Jangan kamu sandarkan pendustaan ke atasku (menggunakan namaku)" (rujukan: Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, Fath al-Bari, jld 1, m.s. 270, cetakan: Dar al-Fikr, Beirut).
Bukan sahaja membuat hadis palsu itu haram, bahkan meriwayatkannya tanpa diterang kepada orang yang mendengar bahawa ia adalah hadis palsu juga adalah sesuatu yang haram.
Kata al-Imam Ibn al-Salah (meninggal 643H): "Tidak halal kepada sesiapa yang mengetahui ia hadis palsu meriwayatkannya dalam apa bentuk sekalipun, melainkan disertai dengan menerangkan kepalsuannya." (Ibn al-Salah, 'Ulum al-Hadis, m.s. 98)
Misalnya di tanah air kita, didapati apabila munculnya bulan Rejab dan Syaaban maka hadis-hadis palsu mengenai bulan-bulan tersebut akan dibaca dan diajar secara meluas. Antaranya hadis: "Rejab bulan Allah, Syaaban bulanku dan Ramadan bulan umatku."
Ini adalah hadis palsu yang direka oleh Ibn Jahdam. (lihat: Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah, al-Manar al-Munif fi al-Sahih wa al-Dha'if, m.s. 95, cetakan: Maktab al-Matbu' at al-Islamiyyah, Halab, Syria). Nama penuh Ibn Jahdam ialah Ali bin Abdillah bin Jahdam al-Zahid.
Ibn Jahdam meninggal pada tahun 414H. Beliau adalah seorang guru sufi di Mekah. Dia juga dituduh membuat hadis palsu mengenai solat Raghaib (iaitu solat pada Jumaat pertama bulan Rejab). (lihat: al-Imam al-Zahabi, Mizan al-'Itidal fi Naqd al-Rijal,. 5, m.s. 173, cetakan: Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyyah, Beirut).
Sebab itulah al-Imam Ibn al-Salah (meninggal 643H) menyebut: Ada beberapa golongan yang membuat hadis palsu, yang paling bahaya ialah puak yang menyandarkan diri mereka kepada zuhud (golongan sufi).
Mereka ini membuat hadis palsu dengan dakwaan untuk mendapatkan pahala. Maka orang ramai pun menerima pendustaan mereka atas thiqah (kepercayaan) dan kecenderungan kepada mereka.
Kemudian bangkitlah tokoh-tokoh hadis mendedahkan keburukan mereka ini dan menghapuskannya. Alhamdulillah. (Ibn al-Salah, 'Ulum al-Hadis, m.s. 99)
Golongan penceramah, imam, khatib, dan media massa pula, ada menjadi ejen menyebarkan hadis-hadis palsu mengenai amalan-amalan yang dikatakan disunatkan pada bulan-bulan tersebut.
Kata al-Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah (wafat 751H): Hadis-hadis mengenai solat Raghaib pada Jumaat pertama bulan Rejab kesemuanya itu adalah palsu dan dusta ke atas Rasulullah s.a.w.
Begitu juga semua hadis mengenai puasa bulan Rejab dan solat pada malam-malam tertentu adalah dusta ke atas Nabi s.a.w. Demikian juga hadis-hadis mengenai solat pada malam Nisfu Syaaban (kesemuanya adalah palsu).
Solat-solat ini direka selepas empat ratus tahun munculnya Islam (Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Manar al-Munif, m.s. 95-98).
Sebenarnya hadis sahih mengenai kebaikan malam Nisfu Syaaban itu memang ada, tetapi amalan-amalan tertentu khas pada malam tersebut adalah palsu.
Hadis yang boleh dipegang dalam masalah Nisfu Syaaban ialah: "Allah melihat kepada hamba-hamba-Nya pada malam Nisfu Syaaban, maka Dia ampuni semua hamba-hambaNya kecuali musyrik (orang yang syirik) dan yang bermusuh (orang benci membenci)" (Riwayat Ibn Hibban, al-Bazzar dan lain-lain).
Al-Albani mensahihkan hadis ini dalam Silsilah al-Ahadis al-Sahihah. (jilid 3, m.s. 135, cetakan: Maktabah al-Ma'arf, Riyadh).
Hadis ini tidak mengajar kita apakah bentuk amalan malam berkenaan. Oleh itu, amalan-amalan khas tertentu pada malam tersebut bukan dari ajaran Nabi s.a.w.
Kata Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi dalam menjawab soalan berhubung dengan Nisfu Syaaban: "Tidak pernah diriwayatkan daripada Nabi s.a.w. dan para sahabat bahawa mereka berhimpun di masjid untuk menghidupkan malam Nisfu Syaaban, membaca doa tertentu dan solat tertentu seperti yang kita lihat pada sebahagian negeri orang Islam."
Bahkan di sebahagian negeri, orang ramai berhimpun pada malam tersebut selepas maghrib di masjid.
Mereka membaca surah Yasin dan solat dua rakaat dengan niat panjang umur, dua rakaat yang lain pula dengan niat tidak bergantung kepada manusia, kemudian mereka membaca doa yang tidak pernah dipetik dari golongan salaf (para sahabah, tabi'in dan tabi' tabi'in). Ia satu doa yang panjang, yang menyanggahi nusus (al-Quran dan sunah) juga bercanggahan dan bertentang maknanya.
Ibadat
Perhimpunan (malam Nisfu Syaaban) seperti yang kita lihat dan dengar yang berlaku di sebahagian negeri orang Islam adalah bidaah dan diada-adakan. Sepatutnya kita melakukan ibadat sekadar yang dinyatakan dalam nas.
Segala kebaikan itu ialah mengikut salaf, segala keburukan itu ialah bidaah golongan selepas mereka, dan setiap yang diadakan-adakan itu bidaah, dan setiap yang bidaah itu sesat dan setiap yang sesat itu dalam neraka. (Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, fatwa Mu'asarah jilid 1, m.s. 382-383, cetakan: Dar Uli al-Nuha, Beirut).
Inilah kenyataan Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, seorang tokoh ulama umat yang sederhana dan dihormati.
Namun dalam masalah ini beliau agak tegas kerana ia bercanggah dengan apa yang dibawa oleh Rasulullah s.a.w.
Justeru, hadis-hadis palsu mengenai Rejab dan Syaaban ini hendaklah dihentikan dari disebarkan ke dalam masyarakat. Kita perlu kembali kepada agama yang tulen.
Hasil dari memudah-mudahkan dalam hal seperti ini maka muncullah golongan agama yang suka mendakwa perkara yang bukan-bukan.
Dengan menggunakan nama agama segala rekaan baru dibuat untuk kepentingan diri dan kumpulan. Islam tidak pernah memberi kuasa kepada golongan agama, atau sesiapa sahaja untuk mendakwa apa yang dia suka kemudian menyandarkannya kepada agama.
Agama kita rujukannya ialah al-Quran dan al-sunah yang dipastikan kesabitannya mengikut yang diputuskan oleh para ulama hadis. Kata al-Syeikh Muhammad bin Muhammad Abu Syahbah (seorang ulama hadis al-Azhar): "Masih ada para penceramah yang tidak ada ilmu hadis, sama ada ilmu riwayat atau dirayah (mengenai teks hadis)."
Mereka hanya membaca hadis apa yang mereka hafal dan dari tulisan-tulisan tanpa mengetahui kedudukan hadis tersebut.
Apa yang mereka pentingkan hanyalah reda orang ramai. Lalu mereka menyebut perkara yang berlebih-lebih, pelik dan ajaib yang Islam tiada kaitan dengannya.
Mereka ini sepatutnya dihalang dari berceramah, memberi nasihat dan bertazkirah. (Abu Syahbah, al-Wasit fi Ulum wa al-Mustalah al-Hadis, m.s. 322, cetakan: Dar al-Fikr al-Arabi, Kaherah).
Saya menyeru diri sendiri, para penceramah, ustaz-ustaz, media elektronik dan cetak, bahkan semua pihak yang membaca sesuatu hadis memastikan kesahihannya dahulu. Semoga Rejab dan Syaaban tahun ini tidak dibaluti dengan pembohongan terhadap Nabi s.a.w.
Hadith Rejab Bulan Allah, Sya'aban Bulan Nabi
Agama wajib dipelihara ketulenannya supaya tidak berlaku campur aduk antara rekaan manusia dan perintah Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Jika agama boleh direka cipta, maka wahyu sudah tentu tidak diperlukan, juga Rasul tidak perlu diutuskan. Oleh itu Islam mengharamkan pembohongan di atas nama agama.
Dalam persoalan hadis, ramai kalangan kita yang begitu tidak berdisiplin dalam memetik hadis-hadis Nabi s.a.w., begitu juga dalam menghuraikannya. Sebahagiannya langsung tidak mengambil berat persoalan kethabitan iaitu kepastian di atas ketulenan sesebuah hadis.
Apa sahaja yang dikatakan hadis terus sahaja dibacakan kepada masyarakat tanpa meneliti takhrij dan tahqiq (keputusan) para ulama hadis terhadap kedudukannya.
Lebih malang ada yang menyangka apa sahaja yang dikatakan hadis maka pastinya sahih dan wajib diimani.
Dengan itu apa sahaja yang mereka temui daripada buku bacaan, yang dikatakan hadis maka mereka terus sandarkan kepada Nabi s.a.w. tanpa usul periksa, sedangkan mereka lupa akan amaran yang diberikan oleh baginda Nabi s.a.w. dalam hadis yang mutawatir: "Sesungguhnya berdusta ke atasku (menggunakan namaku) bukanlah seperti berdusta ke atas orang lain (menggunakan nama orang lain)."
"Sesiapa yang berdusta ke atasku dengan sengaja, maka siaplah tempat duduknya dalam neraka." (Riwayat al-Bukhari, Muslim, dan selain mereka).
Berbohong menggunakan nama Nabi s.a.w. adalah satu jenayah yang dianggap sangat berat di dalam Islam. Perbohongan atau berdusta menggunakan Nabi s.a.w. adalah menyandar sesuatu perkataan, atau perbuatan, atau pengakuan kepada Nabi s.a.w. secara dusta, yang mana baginda tidak ada kaitan dengannya.
Ini seperti menyebut Nabi s.a.w. bersabda sesuatu yang baginda tidak pernah bersabda, atau berbuat, atau mengakui sesuatu yang baginda tidak pernah melakukannya.
Maka sesuatu yang dikaitkan dengan Nabi s.a.w. sama ada perkataan, atau perbuatan atau pengakuan, maka ia disebut sebagai al-hadis.
Namun menyandar sesuatu kepada Nabi s.a.w. secara dusta, bukanlah hadis pada hakikatnya. Cuma ia disebut hadis berdasar apa yang didakwa oleh perekanya dan ditambah perkataan al-Maudu', atau al-Mukhtalaq iaitu palsu, atau rekaan. Maka hadis palsu ialah: "Hadis yang disandarkan kepada Nabi s.a.w. secara dusta, ia tidak ada hubungan dengan Nabi s.a.w." (lihat: Nur al-Din Itr, Manhaj al-Nadq fi 'Ulum al-Hadis, m.s.301, cetakan: Dar al-Fikr al-Mu'asarah, Beirut).
Perbuatan ini adalah jenayah memalsu ciptakan agama, kerana Nabi adalah sumber pengambilan agama. Seperti seseorang yang memalsukan pasport di atas nama sesebuah kerajaan. Ia sebenarnya melakukan pembohongan dan jenayah terhadap kerajaan tersebut.
Kedudukan Nabi s.a.w. tentunya lebih besar dan agung untuk dibandingkan. Oleh itu dalam riwayat yang lain Nabi s.a.w. menyebut: "Jangan kamu berdusta ke atasku, sesiapa berdusta ke atasku maka dia masuk neraka." (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim). Kata al-Hafizd Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani (meninggal 852H) dalam mengulas hadis ini: "Ia merangkumi setiap pendusta ke atas Nabi s.a.w. dan semua jenis pendustaan ke atas baginda."
Mendengar
Maksudnya: "Jangan kamu sandarkan pendustaan ke atasku (menggunakan namaku)" (rujukan: Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, Fath al-Bari, jld 1, m.s. 270, cetakan: Dar al-Fikr, Beirut).
Bukan sahaja membuat hadis palsu itu haram, bahkan meriwayatkannya tanpa diterang kepada orang yang mendengar bahawa ia adalah hadis palsu juga adalah sesuatu yang haram.
Kata al-Imam Ibn al-Salah (meninggal 643H): "Tidak halal kepada sesiapa yang mengetahui ia hadis palsu meriwayatkannya dalam apa bentuk sekalipun, melainkan disertai dengan menerangkan kepalsuannya." (Ibn al-Salah, 'Ulum al-Hadis, m.s. 98)
Misalnya di tanah air kita, didapati apabila munculnya bulan Rejab dan Syaaban maka hadis-hadis palsu mengenai bulan-bulan tersebut akan dibaca dan diajar secara meluas. Antaranya hadis: "Rejab bulan Allah, Syaaban bulanku dan Ramadan bulan umatku."
Ini adalah hadis palsu yang direka oleh Ibn Jahdam. (lihat: Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah, al-Manar al-Munif fi al-Sahih wa al-Dha'if, m.s. 95, cetakan: Maktab al-Matbu' at al-Islamiyyah, Halab, Syria). Nama penuh Ibn Jahdam ialah Ali bin Abdillah bin Jahdam al-Zahid.
Ibn Jahdam meninggal pada tahun 414H. Beliau adalah seorang guru sufi di Mekah. Dia juga dituduh membuat hadis palsu mengenai solat Raghaib (iaitu solat pada Jumaat pertama bulan Rejab). (lihat: al-Imam al-Zahabi, Mizan al-'Itidal fi Naqd al-Rijal,. 5, m.s. 173, cetakan: Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyyah, Beirut).
Sebab itulah al-Imam Ibn al-Salah (meninggal 643H) menyebut: Ada beberapa golongan yang membuat hadis palsu, yang paling bahaya ialah puak yang menyandarkan diri mereka kepada zuhud (golongan sufi).
Mereka ini membuat hadis palsu dengan dakwaan untuk mendapatkan pahala. Maka orang ramai pun menerima pendustaan mereka atas thiqah (kepercayaan) dan kecenderungan kepada mereka.
Kemudian bangkitlah tokoh-tokoh hadis mendedahkan keburukan mereka ini dan menghapuskannya. Alhamdulillah. (Ibn al-Salah, 'Ulum al-Hadis, m.s. 99)
Golongan penceramah, imam, khatib, dan media massa pula, ada menjadi ejen menyebarkan hadis-hadis palsu mengenai amalan-amalan yang dikatakan disunatkan pada bulan-bulan tersebut.
Kata al-Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah (wafat 751H): Hadis-hadis mengenai solat Raghaib pada Jumaat pertama bulan Rejab kesemuanya itu adalah palsu dan dusta ke atas Rasulullah s.a.w.
Begitu juga semua hadis mengenai puasa bulan Rejab dan solat pada malam-malam tertentu adalah dusta ke atas Nabi s.a.w. Demikian juga hadis-hadis mengenai solat pada malam Nisfu Syaaban (kesemuanya adalah palsu).
Solat-solat ini direka selepas empat ratus tahun munculnya Islam (Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Manar al-Munif, m.s. 95-98).
Sebenarnya hadis sahih mengenai kebaikan malam Nisfu Syaaban itu memang ada, tetapi amalan-amalan tertentu khas pada malam tersebut adalah palsu.
Hadis yang boleh dipegang dalam masalah Nisfu Syaaban ialah: "Allah melihat kepada hamba-hamba-Nya pada malam Nisfu Syaaban, maka Dia ampuni semua hamba-hambaNya kecuali musyrik (orang yang syirik) dan yang bermusuh (orang benci membenci)" (Riwayat Ibn Hibban, al-Bazzar dan lain-lain).
Al-Albani mensahihkan hadis ini dalam Silsilah al-Ahadis al-Sahihah. (jilid 3, m.s. 135, cetakan: Maktabah al-Ma'arf, Riyadh).
Hadis ini tidak mengajar kita apakah bentuk amalan malam berkenaan. Oleh itu, amalan-amalan khas tertentu pada malam tersebut bukan dari ajaran Nabi s.a.w.
Kata Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi dalam menjawab soalan berhubung dengan Nisfu Syaaban: "Tidak pernah diriwayatkan daripada Nabi s.a.w. dan para sahabat bahawa mereka berhimpun di masjid untuk menghidupkan malam Nisfu Syaaban, membaca doa tertentu dan solat tertentu seperti yang kita lihat pada sebahagian negeri orang Islam."
Bahkan di sebahagian negeri, orang ramai berhimpun pada malam tersebut selepas maghrib di masjid.
Mereka membaca surah Yasin dan solat dua rakaat dengan niat panjang umur, dua rakaat yang lain pula dengan niat tidak bergantung kepada manusia, kemudian mereka membaca doa yang tidak pernah dipetik dari golongan salaf (para sahabah, tabi'in dan tabi' tabi'in). Ia satu doa yang panjang, yang menyanggahi nusus (al-Quran dan sunah) juga bercanggahan dan bertentang maknanya.
Ibadat
Perhimpunan (malam Nisfu Syaaban) seperti yang kita lihat dan dengar yang berlaku di sebahagian negeri orang Islam adalah bidaah dan diada-adakan. Sepatutnya kita melakukan ibadat sekadar yang dinyatakan dalam nas.
Segala kebaikan itu ialah mengikut salaf, segala keburukan itu ialah bidaah golongan selepas mereka, dan setiap yang diadakan-adakan itu bidaah, dan setiap yang bidaah itu sesat dan setiap yang sesat itu dalam neraka. (Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, fatwa Mu'asarah jilid 1, m.s. 382-383, cetakan: Dar Uli al-Nuha, Beirut).
Inilah kenyataan Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, seorang tokoh ulama umat yang sederhana dan dihormati.
Namun dalam masalah ini beliau agak tegas kerana ia bercanggah dengan apa yang dibawa oleh Rasulullah s.a.w.
Justeru, hadis-hadis palsu mengenai Rejab dan Syaaban ini hendaklah dihentikan dari disebarkan ke dalam masyarakat. Kita perlu kembali kepada agama yang tulen.
Hasil dari memudah-mudahkan dalam hal seperti ini maka muncullah golongan agama yang suka mendakwa perkara yang bukan-bukan.
Dengan menggunakan nama agama segala rekaan baru dibuat untuk kepentingan diri dan kumpulan. Islam tidak pernah memberi kuasa kepada golongan agama, atau sesiapa sahaja untuk mendakwa apa yang dia suka kemudian menyandarkannya kepada agama.
Agama kita rujukannya ialah al-Quran dan al-sunah yang dipastikan kesabitannya mengikut yang diputuskan oleh para ulama hadis. Kata al-Syeikh Muhammad bin Muhammad Abu Syahbah (seorang ulama hadis al-Azhar): "Masih ada para penceramah yang tidak ada ilmu hadis, sama ada ilmu riwayat atau dirayah (mengenai teks hadis)."
Mereka hanya membaca hadis apa yang mereka hafal dan dari tulisan-tulisan tanpa mengetahui kedudukan hadis tersebut.
Apa yang mereka pentingkan hanyalah reda orang ramai. Lalu mereka menyebut perkara yang berlebih-lebih, pelik dan ajaib yang Islam tiada kaitan dengannya.
Mereka ini sepatutnya dihalang dari berceramah, memberi nasihat dan bertazkirah. (Abu Syahbah, al-Wasit fi Ulum wa al-Mustalah al-Hadis, m.s. 322, cetakan: Dar al-Fikr al-Arabi, Kaherah).
Saya menyeru diri sendiri, para penceramah, ustaz-ustaz, media elektronik dan cetak, bahkan semua pihak yang membaca sesuatu hadis memastikan kesahihannya dahulu. Semoga Rejab dan Syaaban tahun ini tidak dibaluti dengan pembohongan terhadap Nabi s.a.w.
Hadith Rejab Bulan Allah, Sya'aban Bulan Nabi
Sungai Linggi Crocs in the News
By Shahrullizan Rusli
PORT DICKSON, June 24 (Bernama) -- While villagers fear the man eating crocodiles in the rivers of Sarawak, in Sungai Linggi in Negeri Sembilan the reptiles have been in peaceful coexistence with the locals since time immemorial.
However, those keen to watch the reptiles in Sungai Linggi are requested to observe caution like stated in the notice board at the PD Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd's ticket counter at Pengkalan Kempas.
Most importantly visitors should not tap the water with their hands or wash their feet in the river. This is a strict prohibition that the locals adhere too.
Another notice board put up by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks at the jetty entrance confirms the existence of the reptile in the river.
The notice board states that "You are prohibited from disturbing the crocodiles under the Act 76 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1976. You can be fined between RM2,000 and RM10,000 or jailed between two and 10 years".
SEE THE CROCODILES IN THE SUN
I was invited recently to participate in the Kembara Zoom Malaysia tour programme under the Jejak Perpatih IV series to cruise along Sungai Linggi and make a stopover at the Kampung Sungai Timun jetty.
Visitors can explore the Sungai Linggi, which branches into Sungai Timun, Sungai Rembau and Sungai Pedas, that is rich in fable and history.
The chairman of Kumpulan PD Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd Datuk Yaacob Hussin noted that; "People like to come and watch the crocodile, its nothing like watching them under the sun on the river bank."
The data from the Wildlife Department denotes the existence of 3,000 crocodiles in Sungai Linggi and where there are crocodiles, there are egrets that adds to the attraction.
Nevertheless, Yaacob who gave the assurance that the cruise along Sungai Linggi is safe advised the writer on the prohibitions and precautions.
FIREFLIES
During the day visitors can view the crocodile and the natural surroundings but during the night the star attraction is the fireflies along Sungai Linggi and Sungai Timun.
This insects converge on the Berembang trees along the river bank and provide a beautiful view, like a lighted Christmas tree.
"Aim the torchlight on the water, and you might see two red dots which is actually the crocodile's eyes", he said.
The one hour "adventurous" ride was daunting to me especially when knowing that behind the mangrove trees the crocodiles were watching our boat.
Other than the crocodile, fireflies and the egret, Sungai Linggi has several historical remnants that is worth taking a look.
SUNGAI LINGGI'S HISTORY
Cruising along the river, visitors will notice the rising banks and the area full of rocks. This is the place where the Raja Melawar, the ancestor of the present Negeri Sembilan royalty, meted punishment on those who rebelled against his rule.
According to folklore, there was once a graveyard along the river bank but it disappeared as the banks were eroded by the flowing river.
Visitors will also notice the site of the building used to collect taxes from boats and ships carrying goods to Pengkalan Kempas.
Sungai Linggi was once an important trade route and the testimony to this is the presence of forts and fortifications along the river, especially at Sungai Rembau and Sungai Pedas.
The river has witnessed a number of confrontations between local warriors and the English troops.
At Pengkalan Kempas, there are interesting places like the Pengkalan Kempas Historical Complex and the grave of an ulema from India who arrived in this small town in the early days.
GETTING THERE
Sungai Linggi is accessible through the Pengkalan Kempas jetty or through a 20 minute boat ride from Teluk Kemang in Port Dickson.
Tha boat rides cost RM18 for adults and RM15 for children and online bookings with PD Travel & Tours can be done through www.kumpulanybh.com or at the ticket counter in Pengkalan Kempas Jetty.
Those keen to watch the crocodiles and egrets can opt for the day time cruise while those who want to watch the fireflies can opt for the after dark cruise.
-- BERNAMA
PORT DICKSON, June 24 (Bernama) -- While villagers fear the man eating crocodiles in the rivers of Sarawak, in Sungai Linggi in Negeri Sembilan the reptiles have been in peaceful coexistence with the locals since time immemorial.
However, those keen to watch the reptiles in Sungai Linggi are requested to observe caution like stated in the notice board at the PD Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd's ticket counter at Pengkalan Kempas.
Most importantly visitors should not tap the water with their hands or wash their feet in the river. This is a strict prohibition that the locals adhere too.
Another notice board put up by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks at the jetty entrance confirms the existence of the reptile in the river.
The notice board states that "You are prohibited from disturbing the crocodiles under the Act 76 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1976. You can be fined between RM2,000 and RM10,000 or jailed between two and 10 years".
SEE THE CROCODILES IN THE SUN
I was invited recently to participate in the Kembara Zoom Malaysia tour programme under the Jejak Perpatih IV series to cruise along Sungai Linggi and make a stopover at the Kampung Sungai Timun jetty.
Visitors can explore the Sungai Linggi, which branches into Sungai Timun, Sungai Rembau and Sungai Pedas, that is rich in fable and history.
The chairman of Kumpulan PD Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd Datuk Yaacob Hussin noted that; "People like to come and watch the crocodile, its nothing like watching them under the sun on the river bank."
The data from the Wildlife Department denotes the existence of 3,000 crocodiles in Sungai Linggi and where there are crocodiles, there are egrets that adds to the attraction.
Nevertheless, Yaacob who gave the assurance that the cruise along Sungai Linggi is safe advised the writer on the prohibitions and precautions.
FIREFLIES
During the day visitors can view the crocodile and the natural surroundings but during the night the star attraction is the fireflies along Sungai Linggi and Sungai Timun.
This insects converge on the Berembang trees along the river bank and provide a beautiful view, like a lighted Christmas tree.
"Aim the torchlight on the water, and you might see two red dots which is actually the crocodile's eyes", he said.
The one hour "adventurous" ride was daunting to me especially when knowing that behind the mangrove trees the crocodiles were watching our boat.
Other than the crocodile, fireflies and the egret, Sungai Linggi has several historical remnants that is worth taking a look.
SUNGAI LINGGI'S HISTORY
Cruising along the river, visitors will notice the rising banks and the area full of rocks. This is the place where the Raja Melawar, the ancestor of the present Negeri Sembilan royalty, meted punishment on those who rebelled against his rule.
According to folklore, there was once a graveyard along the river bank but it disappeared as the banks were eroded by the flowing river.
Visitors will also notice the site of the building used to collect taxes from boats and ships carrying goods to Pengkalan Kempas.
Sungai Linggi was once an important trade route and the testimony to this is the presence of forts and fortifications along the river, especially at Sungai Rembau and Sungai Pedas.
The river has witnessed a number of confrontations between local warriors and the English troops.
At Pengkalan Kempas, there are interesting places like the Pengkalan Kempas Historical Complex and the grave of an ulema from India who arrived in this small town in the early days.
GETTING THERE
Sungai Linggi is accessible through the Pengkalan Kempas jetty or through a 20 minute boat ride from Teluk Kemang in Port Dickson.
Tha boat rides cost RM18 for adults and RM15 for children and online bookings with PD Travel & Tours can be done through www.kumpulanybh.com or at the ticket counter in Pengkalan Kempas Jetty.
Those keen to watch the crocodiles and egrets can opt for the day time cruise while those who want to watch the fireflies can opt for the after dark cruise.
-- BERNAMA
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Kontrak
Nasib baiklah kontrak aku ada dekat setahun lagi kat sini. Kalau tak, awal bulan depan, aku balik cuti memang terus tak datang balik dah.
Bukannya apa... Kalau dah rasa tak perlu lagi dah khidmat aku kat sini, cakap je lah. Aku seorang professional, jadi aku buat kerja sebagai professional. Ada kontrak, aku ikut... Aku tak lari. Aku hormati kontrak.
Puncanya: masa bentangkan pasal pencapaian kilang yang aku jaga kat negara Parsi tu... Memang bagus sekarang... Banyak pembaharuan dah di buat. Ok lah tu, aku pun tumpang bangga je lah. Tapi bila yang dapat pengiktirafan cuma satu orang je? Apahalnya ni? Mentang-mentang diaorang satu kapal. Diorang tak tau mat-mat ni negara Parsi sana terkial-kial sensorang macam aku dulu. Tapi bezanya, dia dapat sokongan dari orang-orang sekapal dia kat sana. Aku dulu kena buat kerja sensorang.
Bukanlah aku gilakan pujian pun, aku kerja tak macam tu. Tapi seolah-olah apa yang aku buat sejak setahun lepas macam takde apa-apalah. Alahai, bangsatnya rasa.
Tu pasallah aku rasa memang mustahil diorang akan sambung lagi kontrak aku kat sini.
Hmmm, takpelah. Aku pun dah ada macam-macam plan nak buat bila habis kontrak nanti. Banyak benda lain yang aku nak fikirkan.
Yang pentingnya, aku akan teruskan kat sini sampai kontrak habis.
Nasib baik aku ada family kat sini yang aku boleh mengadu. Kalau tak, sayu sendiri je lah....
Sent from MY BlackBerry® device
Bukannya apa... Kalau dah rasa tak perlu lagi dah khidmat aku kat sini, cakap je lah. Aku seorang professional, jadi aku buat kerja sebagai professional. Ada kontrak, aku ikut... Aku tak lari. Aku hormati kontrak.
Puncanya: masa bentangkan pasal pencapaian kilang yang aku jaga kat negara Parsi tu... Memang bagus sekarang... Banyak pembaharuan dah di buat. Ok lah tu, aku pun tumpang bangga je lah. Tapi bila yang dapat pengiktirafan cuma satu orang je? Apahalnya ni? Mentang-mentang diaorang satu kapal. Diorang tak tau mat-mat ni negara Parsi sana terkial-kial sensorang macam aku dulu. Tapi bezanya, dia dapat sokongan dari orang-orang sekapal dia kat sana. Aku dulu kena buat kerja sensorang.
Bukanlah aku gilakan pujian pun, aku kerja tak macam tu. Tapi seolah-olah apa yang aku buat sejak setahun lepas macam takde apa-apalah. Alahai, bangsatnya rasa.
Tu pasallah aku rasa memang mustahil diorang akan sambung lagi kontrak aku kat sini.
Hmmm, takpelah. Aku pun dah ada macam-macam plan nak buat bila habis kontrak nanti. Banyak benda lain yang aku nak fikirkan.
Yang pentingnya, aku akan teruskan kat sini sampai kontrak habis.
Nasib baik aku ada family kat sini yang aku boleh mengadu. Kalau tak, sayu sendiri je lah....
Sent from MY BlackBerry® device
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The Devil is in the digits
It's quite interesting what numbers can do for, or to, you.... they can reveal a lot of things if we dig deeper and look at it from difference perspectives.
By Bernd Beber and Alexandra Scacco
TEHRAN, June 21 — Since the declaration of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s landslide victory in Iran’s presidential election, accusations of fraud have swelled.
Against expectations from pollsters and pundits alike, Ahmadinejad did surprisingly well in urban areas, including Tehran — where he is thought to be highly unpopular — and even Tabriz, the capital city of opposition candidate Mir Hussein Mousavi’s native East Azarbaijan province.
Others have pointed to the surprisingly poor performance of Mehdi Karroubi, another reform candidate, and particularly in his home province of Lorestan, where conservative candidates fared poorly in 2005, but where Ahmadinejad allegedly captured 71 per cent of the vote.
Eyebrows have been raised further by the relative consistency in Ahmadinejad’s vote share across Iran’s provinces, in spite of wide provincial variation in past elections.
These pieces of the story point in the direction of fraud, to be sure.
They have led experts to speculate that the election results released by Iran’s Ministry of the Interior had been altered behind closed doors. But we don’t have to rely on suggestive evidence alone. We can use statistics more systematically to show that this is likely what happened. Here’s how.
We’ll concentrate on vote counts — the number of votes received by different candidates in different provinces — and in particular the last and second-to-last digits of these numbers. For example, if a candidate received 14,579 votes in a province (Karroubi’s actual vote count in Isfahan), we’ll focus on digits 7 and 9.
This may seem strange, because these digits usually don’t change who wins. In fact, last digits in a fair election don’t tell us anything about the candidates, the make-up of the electorate or the context of the election.
They are random noise in the sense that a fair vote count is as likely to end in 1 as it is to end in 2, 3, 4, or any other numeral. But that’s exactly why they can serve as a litmus test for election fraud. For example, an election in which a majority of provincial vote counts ended in 5 would surely raise red flags.
Why would fraudulent numbers look any different? The reason is that humans are bad at making up numbers. Cognitive psychologists have found that study participants in lab experiments asked to write sequences of random digits will tend to select some digits more frequently than others.
So what can we make of Iran’s election results? We used the results released by the Ministry of the Interior and published on the web site of Press TV, a news channel funded by Iran’s government. The ministry provided data for 29 provinces, and we examined the number of votes each of the four main candidates — Ahmadinejad, Mousavi, Karroubi and Mohsen Rezai — is reported to have received in each of the provinces — a total of 116 numbers.
The numbers look suspicious. We find too many 7s and not enough 5s in the last digit. We expect each digit (0, 1, 2, and so on) to appear at the end of 10 per cent of the vote counts. But in Iran’s provincial results, the digit 7 appears 17 per cent of the time, and only 4 per cent of the results end in the number 5.
Two such departures from the average — a spike of 17 per cent or more in one digit and a drop to 4 per cent or less in another — are extremely unlikely. Fewer than four in a hundred non-fraudulent elections would produce such numbers.
As a point of comparison, we can analyse the state-by-state vote counts for John McCain and Barack Obama in last year’s US presidential election. The frequencies of last digits in these election returns never rise above 14 per cent or fall below 6 per cent, a pattern we would expect to see in seventy out of a hundred fair elections.
But that’s not all.
Psychologists have also found that humans have trouble generating non-adjacent digits (such as 64 or 17, as opposed to 23) as frequently as one would expect in a sequence of random numbers. To check for deviations of this type, we examined the pairs of last and second-to-last digits in Iran’s vote counts. On average, if the results had not been manipulated, 70 per cent of these pairs should consist of distinct, non-adjacent digits.
Not so in the data from Iran: Only 62 per cent of the pairs contain non-adjacent digits. This may not sound so different from 70 per cent, but the probability that a fair election would produce a difference this large is less than 4.2 per cent.
And while our first test — variation in last-digit frequencies — suggests that Rezai’s vote counts are the most irregular, the lack of non-adjacent digits is most striking in the results reported for Ahmadinejad.
Each of these two tests provides strong evidence that the numbers released by Iran’s Ministry of the Interior were manipulated. But taken together, they leave very little room for reasonable doubt. The probability that a fair election would produce both too few non-adjacent digits and the suspicious deviations in last-digit frequencies described earlier is less than .005.
In other words, a bet that the numbers are clean is a one in two-hundred long shot. — Washington Post
* Bernd Beber and Alexandra Scacco, Ph.D. candidates in political science at Columbia University, will be assistant professors in New York University’s Wilf Family Department of Politics this fall.
By Bernd Beber and Alexandra Scacco
TEHRAN, June 21 — Since the declaration of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s landslide victory in Iran’s presidential election, accusations of fraud have swelled.
Against expectations from pollsters and pundits alike, Ahmadinejad did surprisingly well in urban areas, including Tehran — where he is thought to be highly unpopular — and even Tabriz, the capital city of opposition candidate Mir Hussein Mousavi’s native East Azarbaijan province.
Others have pointed to the surprisingly poor performance of Mehdi Karroubi, another reform candidate, and particularly in his home province of Lorestan, where conservative candidates fared poorly in 2005, but where Ahmadinejad allegedly captured 71 per cent of the vote.
Eyebrows have been raised further by the relative consistency in Ahmadinejad’s vote share across Iran’s provinces, in spite of wide provincial variation in past elections.
These pieces of the story point in the direction of fraud, to be sure.
They have led experts to speculate that the election results released by Iran’s Ministry of the Interior had been altered behind closed doors. But we don’t have to rely on suggestive evidence alone. We can use statistics more systematically to show that this is likely what happened. Here’s how.
We’ll concentrate on vote counts — the number of votes received by different candidates in different provinces — and in particular the last and second-to-last digits of these numbers. For example, if a candidate received 14,579 votes in a province (Karroubi’s actual vote count in Isfahan), we’ll focus on digits 7 and 9.
This may seem strange, because these digits usually don’t change who wins. In fact, last digits in a fair election don’t tell us anything about the candidates, the make-up of the electorate or the context of the election.
They are random noise in the sense that a fair vote count is as likely to end in 1 as it is to end in 2, 3, 4, or any other numeral. But that’s exactly why they can serve as a litmus test for election fraud. For example, an election in which a majority of provincial vote counts ended in 5 would surely raise red flags.
Why would fraudulent numbers look any different? The reason is that humans are bad at making up numbers. Cognitive psychologists have found that study participants in lab experiments asked to write sequences of random digits will tend to select some digits more frequently than others.
So what can we make of Iran’s election results? We used the results released by the Ministry of the Interior and published on the web site of Press TV, a news channel funded by Iran’s government. The ministry provided data for 29 provinces, and we examined the number of votes each of the four main candidates — Ahmadinejad, Mousavi, Karroubi and Mohsen Rezai — is reported to have received in each of the provinces — a total of 116 numbers.
The numbers look suspicious. We find too many 7s and not enough 5s in the last digit. We expect each digit (0, 1, 2, and so on) to appear at the end of 10 per cent of the vote counts. But in Iran’s provincial results, the digit 7 appears 17 per cent of the time, and only 4 per cent of the results end in the number 5.
Two such departures from the average — a spike of 17 per cent or more in one digit and a drop to 4 per cent or less in another — are extremely unlikely. Fewer than four in a hundred non-fraudulent elections would produce such numbers.
As a point of comparison, we can analyse the state-by-state vote counts for John McCain and Barack Obama in last year’s US presidential election. The frequencies of last digits in these election returns never rise above 14 per cent or fall below 6 per cent, a pattern we would expect to see in seventy out of a hundred fair elections.
But that’s not all.
Psychologists have also found that humans have trouble generating non-adjacent digits (such as 64 or 17, as opposed to 23) as frequently as one would expect in a sequence of random numbers. To check for deviations of this type, we examined the pairs of last and second-to-last digits in Iran’s vote counts. On average, if the results had not been manipulated, 70 per cent of these pairs should consist of distinct, non-adjacent digits.
Not so in the data from Iran: Only 62 per cent of the pairs contain non-adjacent digits. This may not sound so different from 70 per cent, but the probability that a fair election would produce a difference this large is less than 4.2 per cent.
And while our first test — variation in last-digit frequencies — suggests that Rezai’s vote counts are the most irregular, the lack of non-adjacent digits is most striking in the results reported for Ahmadinejad.
Each of these two tests provides strong evidence that the numbers released by Iran’s Ministry of the Interior were manipulated. But taken together, they leave very little room for reasonable doubt. The probability that a fair election would produce both too few non-adjacent digits and the suspicious deviations in last-digit frequencies described earlier is less than .005.
In other words, a bet that the numbers are clean is a one in two-hundred long shot. — Washington Post
* Bernd Beber and Alexandra Scacco, Ph.D. candidates in political science at Columbia University, will be assistant professors in New York University’s Wilf Family Department of Politics this fall.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
One day, maybe it will be my turn...
I just received an email from a friend back in Malaysia.
He said that he will leave the company (after about 20 years in service) at the end of this month due to a conflict of commitments.
He said, "at a certain point of our life, we need to check & balance our life and our priority...".
I guess one of these days, I might have to do the same thing as well. And I know the time will come. And I hope I will do it wisely, insyaAllah.
And to you my friend, all the best of luck. Do keep in touch and thanks for everything.
Sent from MY BlackBerry® device
He said that he will leave the company (after about 20 years in service) at the end of this month due to a conflict of commitments.
He said, "at a certain point of our life, we need to check & balance our life and our priority...".
I guess one of these days, I might have to do the same thing as well. And I know the time will come. And I hope I will do it wisely, insyaAllah.
And to you my friend, all the best of luck. Do keep in touch and thanks for everything.
Sent from MY BlackBerry® device
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Luluih!!!
Alhamdulillah.....cuti den nak balik Malaysia bulan dopan dah luluih....
Boss den ado kek Jopun sebonar eh ni....ado meeting kek sanun....
Tapi, timo kasih kek teknologi VPN (Virtual Private Network), dio bulih luluih an cuti den dari sanun yo.... (Mang ai!!!)
Timo kasih yo Boss... Boss memang oghang yang baik....hehehe
Monday, June 15, 2009
Police break up Iranian protest in KL
I got these photos and news from the Malaysian Insider website. Gosh, I thought they only fire tear gas at violent demonstrators....or opposition party members... or people in the mosque.
Iranians are also not spared? I mean, how violent can they be?
A Reuters photographer even said that the protesters were leaving when the tear gassing started.
I don’t actually know what it’s like at the UN Office, but I think to fire tear gas at a dispersing demonstrators needs some justifications.
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 – Malaysian police used tear gas to break up a crowd of around 500 Iranians demonstrating outside the United Nations mission against Iran's contested presidential election.
The demonstrators gathered on Monday after a landslide victory for hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Friday’s election.
“The protesters handed in a memo and were leaving when the police fired two rounds of teargas,” said a Reuters photographer.
Ahmadinejad beat challenger Mirhossein Mousavi in Friday's poll and the opposition has charged the incumbent with rigging the polls which triggered protests in Iran. – Reuters
Sunday, June 14, 2009
What happened in Iran?
Just got an email this morning from the HR. Business travel to Iran is temporarily restricted?
There're some public disturbances in Iran, due to the dissatisfaction with the Presidential Election results.
I thought Iranian are peaceful people. But from what I heard today, already 19 are dead.
I guess politics can change a lot of things. It can turn man into cannibals, neighbours into murderers, friends into foes.
Now what do we get out of it?
Sent from MY BlackBerry® device
There're some public disturbances in Iran, due to the dissatisfaction with the Presidential Election results.
I thought Iranian are peaceful people. But from what I heard today, already 19 are dead.
I guess politics can change a lot of things. It can turn man into cannibals, neighbours into murderers, friends into foes.
Now what do we get out of it?
Sent from MY BlackBerry® device
I'm ready....We're ready
We are anxiously waiting for the 3rd of July.... After a litte more than a year in tis foreign land. We are going back for my annual Home Leave.
The tickets already issued by my good friend at the Travel Desk....
The leave application is already submitted.... (photo)
Souvenirs for family and friends?.... Of course, but don't expect it would be Gold (yes sure, living above a Gold Souq doesn't mean we can afford to buy them)....
Personally, other than getting to see my family in Malaysia, eating my mother's cooking....and the local fruits..... I'm looking forward for this one date in particular.... 18th of July.....
Haza in the news
Yes.... not yours truly... but the eldest Haza.... my sister (photo)...
I think this is the second time that her stories were in the news....
Previously, it was about her blog... but this time around it's about her bout with that thing called "weight"....
Read the news HERE (in Bahasa Malaysia of course....)
Well, to you Sis.... we are very proud of you... Your spirits and determinations inspired us all....
Updates: HERE's another entry in my Sis's blog about her stories in the papers.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
One year in Dubai
1 year ago todayOne year ago.... came one of the happiest day in my life.... my family, joining me in Dubai....
Our time in Dubai in not that long....I hope they are enjoying every moment of it.....
Monday, June 08, 2009
Akhirnya...
Setelah beberapa bulan "menginginkan" buah beri yang hitam ini, akhirnya terlaksana jua....Tapi terpaksa juga berfikir beberapa kali dan merujuk kepada separuhku yang satu lagi untuk pendapatnya.
Pelaburannya besar juga....jadi tak boleh "main sebat"....
Sekarang, dengannya, aku dah boleh baca mel-mel elektronik dan "buku muka"ku.
Dan banyak lagi kelebihannya yg belum aku terokai lagi.
Gambar hiasan
Hmm...rasanya ada satu lagi benda yang belum "terbeli".... untuk separuhku yang satu lagi tu....
InsyaAllah, hujung minggu ini akan terlaksana jua....
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Cantona: The catalyst
There have been longer, less torrid love affairs, but few are burned into the memory as indelibly as Eric Cantona’s five-season fling at Old Trafford. In the week he hits the silver screen in Looking For Eric, ManUtd.com examines why the Frenchman remains one of the club’s most idolised players…
Prior to his signing, the Reds were teetering between nearly men and battle-hardened winners. So much was already in place for success: The unflinching defence, a midfield combining industry and incision, and the blend of brutality and subtlety in attack.
It was a side which could claim to be the finest in the land, yet still missed that telling je ne sais quoi of champions. Cantona’s arrival provided the Gallic afflatus to send United over the tipping point - just as he had with Leeds some nine months earlier as the Whites pilfered the 1991/92 title from under the Reds' noses.
Midway through the following campaign, with the Reds in steady but unspectacular form, a phone call from Leeds chief executive Bill Fotherby provoked a moment of opportunism from Sir Alex. Fotherby had dialled Old Trafford to broach the potential signing of Denis Irwin. Instead, less than an hour later, he and Leeds boss Howard Wilkinson had agreed to send Cantona across the Pennines for a cut-price £1million.
With that spontaneous counter-offer, Ferguson had bought the player who would bring glory back to United. As the manager subsequently admitted in his autobiography: “One of the most extraordinary periods in the history of Manchester United was about to begin.” But beyond simply signing a top class talent who guaranteed more points and prizes, the Reds had snared a man with the mentality and charisma of a champion. Even the manager was taken aback by the immediacy of Cantona’s off-field impact.
At the end of his first training session at The Cliff, Eric strolled up to Sir Alex and asked him for two players and a goalkeeper, so that he may continue to practice. An extra half-hour was spent with the Frenchman volleying crosses from either side. The next day, half the first team squad stayed for the extra-curricular session.
“Many people have justifiably acclaimed Cantona as a catalyst who had a crucial impact on our successes while he was with the club,” said the manager, “but nothing he did in matches meant more than the way he opened my eyes to the indispensability of practice.”
A squad who, hitherto, had little tangible success to back up their glaring promise was revitalised. Over a quarter-century of anguish and near-misses was soon a distant memory as the Reds elbowed their way to the head of a three-way tussle for the title alongside Aston Villa and Norwich City. There was even the flourish of champions – seven straight wins to end the season in style.
The winning habit had started and Cantona, chest puffed, collar upturned, was the charismatic face of the new champions. Previously something of a journeyman, the Frenchman had a loving home at last. He had achieved near-divinity with United supporters, who saw in Cantona the edgy visionary which had lived deep within Manchester’s favourite sons, from Best to Bez.
As the adulation gushed forth from the stands, the trophies were flowing at a similar rate. In his five seasons at Old Trafford, Cantona won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups. Indeed the only season in which the Reds failed to clinch England’s crown, the French talisman was spectacularly sidelined. Had Cantona not taken exception to the baitings of Crystal Palace supporter Matthew Simmons at Selhurt Park and collected a nine-month ban for his troubles, the history books could very easily tell the tale of United’s five successive league titles between 1993 and 1997.
Cantona’s importance during his playing career was obvious - he was team talisman and a phenomenal player. But it’s the seismic shift in mentality he instigated among the players which continues to be felt around Old Trafford. Over 12 years after he retired, the winning habit he championed shows no sign of culmination.
Report by Steve Bartram
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Guess who I met at Dubai Airport in the wee hours
Tired, sleepy...and not in the best of mood.
The EK flight parked at T1 and we had to track back all the way to T3. I was in a hurry to get home....the sight of my family will always lift my spirit.
I was walking towards the DDF store to exchange some USD, when I saw a familiar face near the carousel carrying luggage from Manchester. I looked for a second time....just to make sure.....then looked around if there are more familiar faces....nope, only one.
I went up to him an asked, "excuse me, are you Ryan Giggs?"...."Yes" was his short reply.... Then, out of the blue, I asked, "can I have my picture taken with you?". "Yes, sure...".... That's it...I shook his hand, said thank you....and went on my way...
Well.... thank you Mr Giggs...
The EK flight parked at T1 and we had to track back all the way to T3. I was in a hurry to get home....the sight of my family will always lift my spirit.
I was walking towards the DDF store to exchange some USD, when I saw a familiar face near the carousel carrying luggage from Manchester. I looked for a second time....just to make sure.....then looked around if there are more familiar faces....nope, only one.
I went up to him an asked, "excuse me, are you Ryan Giggs?"...."Yes" was his short reply.... Then, out of the blue, I asked, "can I have my picture taken with you?". "Yes, sure...".... That's it...I shook his hand, said thank you....and went on my way...
Dubai Airport, June 4 09, 1am.....Ryan & me
And I went back with a huge grin on my face all the way from the airport. My bad mood seemed to have disappeared....
Well.... thank you Mr Giggs...
Monday, June 01, 2009
Unfortunate events....the test of one's resolve...
I came back from Tehran last Thursday's afternoon....
We were planning to go the the Books Grands Sales in the Airport EXPO.... after Maghrib, took the family to the basement parking where I parked the Carnival.... Open the driver-side door but the other doors were still locked....o'oh... I smelled something was wrong.
My Carnival... the first breakdown (Jumeirah Rd, 20/03/09)
Got into the driver's seat, stuck the key into the ignition and turned it....nothing happened.... WHAT???!!! Not again....My long experience of driving a car told me that it must be the battery.....and it was....the battery's dead....deader than dead actually.
Called around.....the neighbors were all unavailable....called a nearby friend, he's at work (night shift apparently).
Called another friend.... he had another engagement.....
Called the night shift friend....'"worst case, I'll come over tomorrow morning after work..." Thank you Bro.
Went out and buy a "jumper cable" to crank up the battery....but no suitable car...a Pinoy neighbor offered his small Daihatsu...didn't work....
Pak Guard also tried to help but to no avail....
Ended up dining with the family at the CTI restaurant on the ground floor.
-----
6am.... night shift friend called...."I'm coming over..." Tried to crank up the battery using his 4WD...didn't work as well....
Took out the battery and went to Satwa....luckily there's a workshop open (on Friday morning)... Re-charged the battery...didn't work....
Conclusion....the battery was a lost cause....
Had to attend an EGM after Jumaat.....took a taxi with wife to the meeting...
The day ended.... "Tomorrow....first thing, call the workshop in Rashidiya"....
-----
Call workshop... they will send a "recovery truck"....
While waiting....went to an old friend's car rental service....rented a 2007 Corolla... Had a lunch invitation today (pot luck) and elder daughter had a birthday invitation.
Recovery guy arrived after almost 2 hours.....took the Carnival.... followed the truck in the Corolla.
After signing all the necessaries...went back to pick up family....went to the Ranches for lunch invitation....(we're sorry...actually planned to make some Soto Ayam, but didn't have the time)...
4pm, left Ranches, send daughter to Umm Suqeim.... and went straight to Airport EXPO...
Bought some (actually a lot of) books....
Picked up daughter at Umm Suqeim.....and returned the rental car....paid Aed123.....
Check work email....aha!!...good news from back home (from Sister).....Parents are coming at the end of November....along with the nieces.... at least, there's still a good news somewhere...hehehe
-----
Morning...called workshop....car's ready...only re-charged the battery and that's it....
Ask him....to do a regular service....and will pick up car on Thursday morning....
*****
Went to Iran today.....
Checked in at the hotel....the usual Hotel....
Had a haircut at the Hotel..... and paid IRR200,000 (almost USD20) for a lousy haircut....
Demmmm!!!! My good buddy (Al-Marhum Helmi Kathy) cut hair better than this old guy.....
* I can go fishing in Penyabung Island with that kind of money.....
Morale of the story(ies) -
Turn off all lights before leaving the car.
It's important to have friends around (thank you to everyone).
Cut hair in Dubai only....Aed15 in considered a bargain.
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