:: Islamisation of the world.. or not? ::

Based on a published report quoted by a Malaysian newspaper, it was reported that:

1. The total number of Muslims in the world is now 1.57billions (ie. second place behind the largest group: Christians, about 2.25 billions)
2. Germany has much more Muslims compared to Lebanon, China has more compared to Syria, and Russia has more compared to Jordan and Libya
3. 60% of Muslims live in Asia
4. About 20% live in West Asia and Northern Africa
5. About 15% live in African sub-Sahara
6. About 2.4% live in Europe, while about 0.3% in the USA
7. One fifth of the total Muslim populations live in countries where they are the minorities
8. There are 10 countries which has more than two-third of their populations being Muslims: Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, Maghribi (Morocco) and Nigeria

So, is there a cause for Islamophobics to be more worried, and do something about this?
Or is it a good time for those so called 'warriors' of Islam to shout 'God is Great' and rejoice?

Nope. Sorry guys, I don't think so.

Why?

1. The study indicated the number of world's population that reported themselves as Muslims. BUT, most likely, this is done through government agencies, and bear in mind that most of the governments (countries in which 80% of the Muslim population resides) doesn't take conversion out of Islam as an option, or something to be recorded in their survey. THUS, NO REAL INDICATION OF THE REAL NUMBER OF WORLD'S POPULATION WHO ACTUALLY PROFESS ISLAM AND PRACTICE ITS TEACHINGS.

2. The study tried to find out how many of the percentage is either Sunni or Shiite. Well, I say, it's a good thing, but won't you agree with me that the better sub-groups choices should be: "practising", "non-practising", "don't care (it's just a family's religion)"...?

3. What difference that it makes that Muslims is the second largest group when they control almost nothing?
Politics? Just take a look at Hamas and Fatah fighting, can't even have a peaceful rule in a small strip of land. OIC? Damn, putting aside leaders like Mahathir, Gaddafi and Ahmadejinedad, I don't see any vocal Muslim leaders anyway.
Culture? Pfft, tell me honestly, anywhere on Earth where Islamic culture prevail? The only thing that makes non-Muslims realize Muslims are there is only when you see girls with tudung/hijab around you. And honestly, how many would actually wear, and how many more would rather don something hot/sexy to follow the Western culture?
Technology? You make me laugh if you answer this. Apart from having the oils, they don't seem to know what to develop with those money.
Economy? This is even funnier. With all the money, maybe some of them think that it's better if they just hire someone else to do things for them. Hire and never learn how to do the trade. In fact, the only time they had shown their economic power was when the oil price went crazily high due to some embargo a few decades ago. Why they can't control this? I think, the answer is because the have no political or technological advantage over others.

More like lotsa bubbles on the sea. Nothing much ado, except for the huge number that consume products and technologies which came from non-Muslims.

4. And if you'd like to spend a bit more time at those countries with the Muslim majorities, I'm pretty sure that you would notice that all of them are befuddled with issues such as:
i. Extremism / terrorism
ii. Lack of a stable education and welfare system
iii. High flow of attacks/spread of secularism (eg. Indonesia, which supposedly has the biggest number of Muslims are in fact host to too many celebrities whose sexiness could actually make those 'secular Westerners' become awed and shocked. Yeah, this is true, go online, search and whack your weapon to those pictures.. Heh, so much for being the country with the biggest number..)
iv. Political instability, or some sort of regime/dictatorship in power
v. Undeveloped, or economically crippled!

So, again, any reason why anyone should worry or rejoice about these numbers?

I seriously think it doesn't mean a thing to me..

For further reading (the first article is in Bahasa Melayu), please go to:
Utusan Malaysia (9 Oktober 2009)
The original source: The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
Link to download full report PDF (10MB)
USA Today's Global report
WSBTV.COM
UK's Telegraph

:: Saudagar mimpi ::

Kali ini, saya akan tulis dalam Bahasa Melayu, moga-moga Encik Jono faham bila membaca. It's a challenge for you, mate! Let's see how far you can use your Indo knowledge to understand this! I'll use italics for English, and underlines for road-style Malay..

Tulisan kali ini adalah mengenai mimpi.
Apa itu mimpi?
...Mimpi itu mainan tidur, kata orang tua-tua.
...Mimpi itu salah satu dari cabang kenabian, kata sesetangah orang, sesat atau tidak, tidaklah saya pasti.
...Mimpi itu dream, kata para banana (yellow on the outside, white on the inside kind of people)
...Mimpi itu ada yang betol, ada yang bukan, ada yang menarik, dan ada yang pelik, ada yang berilhamkan agama, ada yang basah, kata seorang Encik Maer yang terer lagi ensem...


Ada ahli psaikologi mengatakan yang mimpi seseorang itu dipengaruhi oleh pelbagai faktor. Contohnya, bagi orang yang amat merindui seseorang, pastinya bermimpi berjumpa orang itu. Mungkin mimpi yang sopan, mungkin mimpi yang ada scene2 tenet, dan ada juga yang mengerikan (contohnya, bila orang kesayangan mengandung dalam mimpi akibat keterlampauan dalam aktiviti tenet tadi).


Dan gaya pemikiran atau lifestyle seseorang boleh mempengaruhi jenis-jenis mimpi individu tertentu. Antaranya, bagi seorang budak kecik, pastinya mimpi bermain-main. Bagi budak yang dah kurang kecik, mimpinya masih melibatkan bermain, tetapi dengan cara dan jantina yang lain, except if the person is homo-/bi-sexual. Bagi yang sudah bukan budak lagi, mimpinya agak diverse, walaupun masih mungkin berakhir dengan kebasahan, walaupun bukan kerana terkencing.

Orang yang hidupnya bahagia, kemungkinan besar akan bermimpi yang indah-indah sahaja. Ada juga yang tak bermimpi langsung, sleeping beauty katanya, or was it 'beauty sleep'?

Anda bagaimana..? Dalam mimpi, anda berbahasa apa? (Jawapan ini penting, kerana 'Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa', kata para pejuang bahasa).

Secara personal, mimpi-mimpi saya jarang sekali yang indah-indah. Dan selalunya, berbagai bahasa yang saya gunakan di dalam mimpi-mimpi itu, contohnya: Bahasa Melayu, Standard English, Aussie-accented language, Malaysian English, Lughatul Arabiah, Nihongo, dan juga bahasa isyarat..! Jadi, makanya, jiwa saya jiwa global.. :)

Jenis-jenis mimpi yang selalu saya alami (not in any specific order):

1. Mimpi mencabar - Jenis yang ada scene gaduh-gaduh, menggunakan silat, tomoi, tinju, karate, aikido, kung fu terbang-terbang pun ada..! Kadang-kadang, mimpi jenis ini melibatkan saya terpaksa melarikan diri, menyeberangi banjir, sungai atau lautan, melompat dari pokok ke pokok, dan melompat dari atas buaya ke buaya yang lain.


2. Mimpi pelik - Jenis yang ada scene berbual atau bertinju dengan makhluk-makhluk halus, di mana selalunya saya terpaksa mengembara untuk menuju ke satu destinasi, atau akan menerima sesuatu. Terutamanya, apabila saya tidur blocking pintu masuk rumah, agak selalu saya akan bermimpi berbicara dengan si makhluk halus yang nak masuk rumah atau nak lalu, walaupun kadang-kadang saya buat derk aja kat mende-mende tuh semua.

3. Mimpi menyeramkan - Jenis yang melibatkan hantu-hantu. Tetapi, selalunya, samada saya akan berlawan dengan mereka, atau saya akan terlibat dalam misi menangkap mereka. Ya, sayalah Ghostbuster dalam mimpi.

4. Mimpi kelakar / kebudak-budakan - Jenis yang kadangkala agak memalukan untuk saya kongsi bersama. Antaranya ialah, mimpi melihat kuda yang ditunggangi oleh Ayah saya untuk pergi berkerja di KL. Yang kelakarnya, kuda itu boleh bercakap dan berjalan menggunakan dua kaki, sebelum bertanya kepada saya: "Bro, tandas mana? Shush, jangan report kat Ayah kau yang aku guna toilet eh? Nanti jalan jem la. Taknak la kantoi nanti. Set? Janji tau, jangan bagitau kat Ayah, tau?"

Anda pula bagaimana? Ada dapat ilham-ilham yang menarik?

Mampu jadi saudagar mimpi?
Mampu jadi sutradara dengan jalanan mimpi anda?



P/s: All pictures are taken from the Internet. They're not mine. Credit goes to:
1. Picture of cat with teddy: http://www.blogiseverything.com/fun-stuffs/various-ways-of-sleeping/
2. Picture of pregnant couples:http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/6098/Pregnant Couple/
3. Picture of fighting: http://f33.aaa.livedoor.jp/~fray/movie.html
4. Picture of horse: can't remember where..

P/p/s: Want to know the similarity between menses and salary?
1. They usually come once a month.
2. They usually last only for a few days.
3. If you missed it once, it is still OK. But if you missed it twice, you're f**ked!
~ credit to Mr. Jono for this one.. ~