It is a small village in the kecamatan of Tambusai, Kabupaten Rokan Hulu in the Province of Riau, Sumatra. During the Padri Wars of 1830's , Tuanku Tambusai (aka known as Fakeh Hj Muhammad Salleh ) fought the Dutch forces together with Imam Bonjol and Tuanku Rao in West Sumatra and in Northern Sumatra .The last defence was in Benteng 7 Lapis,Daludalu which fell in 1838. He escaped capture and came to Malaya. He was buried in Rasah in 1882.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Earthquake and Tsunami on 30 September 2009
If one were to recall what happened in Indonesia more than three decades ago, the term " Gestapu" meant something which could never be erased in the history of Indonesia, when the whole country was engulfed in another bloodbath causing the death of top Generals at Lubang Buaya or " Crocodile Hole", and it marked the rise of another strongman, viz; General Suharto who succeeded Sukarno as its second President of the Republic. Come September 30th 2009, the world got another shock which was carried over the satellite TV channels across the world, namely Tsunami in the tiny islands of Samoa in the Pacific and the earthquake in Padang, Sumatra. Malaysia too felt the tremors of the quake and it was felt as far as Kota Bharu on the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Actually Malaysians are a blessed lot because we have been spared the natural disasters unlike our neighbouring countries of Indonesia and the Philippines. We should be thankful to ALLAH S.W.T. that so far we have not suffered natural disasters to the magnitude which Padang and Pago Pago had gone through. With the ferocious swath of the Typhoons hitting Luzon right up to Vietnam, I begin to wonder is this a final warning of global warming and the much touted climate change which many think is just wishful thinking. Actually there is a verse in the Al-Quran which says that all the calamities that befall Mankind is due to their own hands, and if we continue to ignore this, then we only have ourselves to blame. I spoke to a guy named Simon recently about what has happened to our rivers and our pristine jungles which we had taken for granted before and perhaps it will not be long that these will perish owing to the greedy hands who think of nothing but money. Amongst we believers, there is a term called " Kiamat Kecil" which is meant as the " Mini Doomsday". Death is one of them, but it is more apt to be associated with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes which can cause havoc and untold damage to mankind and the environment. I emphatise with those people who have lost their loved ones, their homes and property due to the natural disasters that befell them the past few days. I hope the people of Malaysia shall render whatever help that can be given to relieve even a bit of the suffering the people of Padang and the other places which have been hit the hardest. We could not be so complacent as to think that disasters only happen to others but not ourselves. Only when we go through such calamities do we know what it is like to be in such a situation. May ALLAH S.W.T. grants this nation of ours His protection from all disasters, Amin!
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4 comments:
OP Halimshah,
I was trained to say Alhamdullillah, when ever i see any disaster befalling others.
An example, when i see a man with any deformity, be it being blind or one legged.
This was not done in jest but in pity, so that i learn to appreciate that i am much blessed that i am not in the same state.
However, my training stopped only there.
Now that i am more matured, i sometimes lends a helping hand other than just uttering my blessed ness.
Over the years i have discovered that i have not done much beyond the utterance of the phrase and having some 'feelings'...
I wonder whether i am amongst the few or the many?
OP Azudin,
As believers we all have been told at one point of time or another, all good thoughts begin with the "Nawaitu" and followed by our words and action. No matter how small the good deed be, even the size of an atom will be recorded by Atib and Ratib, the two angels.
Regardless of which number is greater, always remember ALLAH S.W.T. is closer than your own jugular whenever you think of HIM. We are all human, and we must be doing better everyday, even as miniscule as a " feeling " then sen and ringgit if you can spare it so much the better.
Abdulhalimshah'
After posting pictures of your expanded family, gathered happily for hari raya, you presented a contrasting picture of world desasters - a mood swing. But of course we ought not go on merrily without appreciating,by comparison, how lucky that we have our family to enjoy.
Pakcik
Dear Pak Cik,
Your observation is most appreciated. I have always told my family members that we should express our gratitude to ALLAH S.W.T, for the peace and prosperity that is bestowed on us and we must be generous to help those who are suffering the calamities that befall them. Only then we prove our thanks to our Creator, ALLAH ALMIGHTY.
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