Seminar Pembangunan Karakter Berteraskan Surah Luqman

I attended this seminar last Saturday and Sunday. Knew about it from the last seminar also given by Ustaz Hasrizal Abd Jamil : "Apa Erti Saya Menganut Agama Islam". Because we registered then, instead of RM 200 we were charged only RM 100. We also bought the food coupons for RM 40.

Alhamdulillah, I learned a lot. I must say I've loved Ustaz Hasrizal's delivery since I first heard his talk during Kuliah Rabu in Mesiniaga and the previous seminar also cemented my preference for his kind of delivery. All the way throughout his presentation last weekend I keep telling my Achik: this could be a master thesis! The way he explored and extended the advices by Luqman, connecting the concepts to other verses in the Qur'an and he was even referring to contemporary/mainstream sources. Achik pointed some models/theories are from those developed by psychologists and Ustaz Hasrizal himself even cited Stephen Covey's book as one of his English references.

Usaha "bergambar" dengan Ustaz Hasrizal.

As someone who is writing about how Islamic values are not values that are in opposed of contemporary values, the seminar feels especially close to me. Because after all Islam serve as a guidance for humans, Islamic values therefore must be human values.

My mum had the chance to follow the seminar too, albeit from home via online. Ustaz Hasrizal and Akademi Sinergi graciously shared it FOC in the form of "Webinar" or Web Seminar. She could listen to the seminar and see the slides being used. (Mama was so excited, there was a rare exclamation mark on her text message to me). Alhamdulillah, may God repay the kindness of Ustaz Hasrizal and his team.

On the way home yesterday before sending Nafisah off to KL Sentral, Achik Didi took the long way and made a detour to Dataran Merdeka. I requested this previously because I so wanted to see the people who are not of those categorized by Ustaz Hasrizal to have the characteristic of "Aku Tidak Pedulisme". I've been following their tweets occasionally and while I don't agree with the movement asking that PTPTN be abolished (I am of opinion if you've consciously borrowed, you must pay back), the "Occupy Dataran" movement feels right to me. They want public places to be returned to the public, and also is the extension of the various Occupy Movement worldwide.

Gambar ditangkap tergesa-gesa dari dalam kereta.

Agaknya TIBAI ni pun nak Occupy Dataran.

From the seminar I learned that characteristics of arrogance are labeling truth as insignificant, and thinking lowly of others. May Allah guide us to not ever disregard the truth and from the thoughts that we are better than others. Ameen.