Year: 2012

  • When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

    When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit Book Cover When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
    Judith Kerr
    2009
    192

    Following my previous book review ‘Last Night I Dreamed of Peace’, here’s a pre-war story, one more suitable for children—‘When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.’

    The author of the book, Judith Kerr, wrote it based on her own childhood experiences. It’s considered a semi-autobiographical novel, although some parts are purely fictional.

    Anna, a Jewish girl of nine, led a happy life with her parents and her elder brother Max. Her father was a famous writer who often wrote articles criticising the Nazis, while her mother is a well-to-do housewife, who never had to worry about housework as they could afford to hire people to help them. That gives an idea of how affluent their family were before the Nazis came into power.

    Although Anna’s father was sometimes an impractical man, he had great foresight and knew that should the Nazis be elected, he and his family would be in great danger. Thus, he escaped to Switzerland, and arranged for his family to do so too, right before the elections. It was a wise move, as after they left their property were confiscated. In fact, the title of the book refers to Anna’s favourite toy that was taken away along with everything else.

    As the days passed, the family’s economics became increasingly strained. While in the past they had lived comfortably, now they struggled at the brink of poverty. They had to move from country to country in search of a better life, and the children were forced to adapt to new schools, people and foreign languages. For example, Anna struggled very hard to learn French, but as she finally mastered the language, the family had to move to England.

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  • Al-Fateh Alaf Baru

    Sultan Muhammad Bin Murad Al-Fateh hanyalah manusia biasa. Secara sederhana, beliau hanyalah pelengkap impian moyangnya, Uthman Ertughul…

    Conquer Constantinople and turn it into a rose garden.

    Ustaz Syaari Abdul Rahman telah menulis buku baru bertajuk Berfikir Gaya Al-Fateh terbitan PTS, menunjukkan minat mendalam seputar tokoh berkenaan. Jauh langkah saya ke bumi Ireland untuk menjiwai Al-Fateh menerusi modul beliau, Akademi Mahasiswa Al-Fateh. Menerusi bantuan pihak penganjur dan para fasilitator, modul tersebut dicanai menjadi tema-tema IQ, EQ, SQ, dan dakwah sebagai output kepada bekal 3Q tersebut.

    Adakah kita sudah berinteraksi dengan sejarah dengan cara yang BETUL?

    Soalan menggugat itu ditujukan kepada kami di Perhimpunan Ukhuwwah Insaniyyah Seluruh Ireland (PUISI). Soalan yang tidak menuntut huraian jawapan berkajang-kajang kertas seperti S.P.M tetapi perlu direalisasikan dalam kehidupan.

    Mengapa Al-Fateh, bukan tokoh pemuda lain?

    Istimewanya sosok Al-Fateh kerana beliau berbangsa Turki, bukan Arab seperti Nabi S.A.W namun memenuhi ciri-ciri hadis baginda mengenai sebaik-baik raja dan sebaik-baik tentera yang membebaskan Konstantinopel. Beliau dan tenteranya begitu menjaga amalan ibadah seperti solat fardu berjemaah di samping amalan sunat seperti puasa dan solat-solat sunat yang lain. Beliau hidup pada zaman umat mula bangkit setelah khalifah Abbasiyah dibantai hebat oleh Monggol di Baghdad.

    Membaca sejarah yang tercatat dalam Al-Quran dan hadis tidak terhad kepada pemahaman secara literal. Acapkali qissatul Quran tidak mencatatkan butiran rinci mengenai masa, tempat dan manusia-manusia yang terlibat antaranya kisah Ashabul Kahfi dan kisah Ashabul Ukhdud yang dihurai lanjut dalam sebuah hadis Nabi. Meskipun Konstantinopel telah dibuka oleh Al-Fateh, masih wujud jutaan ‘Konstantinopel’ yang membelenggu umat masa kini untuk dibuka generasi Al-Fateh masa depan.

    Membaca semula sejarah tokoh dan mengikuti program sebegini bukanlah untuk menyemarakkan rasa hero-worshipping. Uthmaniyah dengan segala kemegahan yang mereka capai tidak suci dari sisi hitam mereka sendiri.

    Yang penting kita ambil dari sejarah Uthmaniyah ialah keberkesanan sistem pendidikan dan pentadbiran yang didukung oleh ulama’ berwibawa menghasilkan generasi berkualiti.

    Beruntung benar dapat bertemu dengan Ustaz Syaari Abdul Rahman walaupun datang dan pulang terpaksa membayar harga mahal masa cuti musim sejuk dan tenaga yang terkorban bertarung dengan demam.

    Kafarah 2011, menuju 2012 yang lebih segar.