New Arrivals March 2010
March 24, 2010
“If you are seeking closeness to the Beloved,
love everyone.
Whether in their presence or absence,
see only their good.
If you want to be as clear and refreshing as
the breath of the morning breeze,
like the sun have nothing but warmth
and light for everyone.”
- Nobody, Son of Nobody, Shaikh Abu-Saeed Abil-Kheir
New Titles
Al-Ghazali: The Path of the Worshipful Servants (Minhaj al Abidin)
Nobody, Son of Nobody: The Poems of Shaikh Abu-Saeed Abil-Kheir
The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust (Illustrated Book)
Evil in Modern Thought
Islamic Philosophy: An Introduction
In the Land of the Ayatollahs, Tupac Shakur is King
Familiar Strangers (Muslims in China)
You Are Not A Gadget: A Manifesto
Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man – Critical Edition | McLuhan
Foundations of the Deen 5-CD set | Zaid Shakir & Abdullah Ali
The Way Ahead 6-CD Set | Hamza Yusuf, Zaid Shakir & Yahya Rhodus
Restock
Love Is the Wine
Living and Dying With Grace
Why the French Don’t Like Headscarves
Agenda to Change Our Condition (New Edition)
In-Store Event
Gedung Kuning: Memories of a Malay Childhood
Drop in to the store on 27 March 2010 at 2pm for a chat with the author, Hidayah Amin.
I think there will be door gifts.
Musings on Neil Postman
March 8, 2010
On Saturday 6 March, Amran Noordin was at Wardah Books discussing the thoughts of Neil Postman. It was a small, intimate session and the discussion was lively. We discussed the need to have a ‘conversation’ with technology, to be wary of its application in all spheres of life. On education, we discussed the dangers of bureaucracy, the uncritical use of computers, and the the need for a (or lack of a) narrative.
Postman says in his book Technopoly: Technopoly eliminates alternatives to itself in precisely the way Aldous Huxley outlined in Brave New World. It does not make them illegal. It does not make them immoral. It does not even make them unpopular. It makes them invisible and therefore irrelevant. And it does so by redefining what we mean by religion, by art, by family, by politics, by history, by truth, by privacy, by intelligence, so that our definitions fit its new requirements. Technopoly, in other words, is totalitarian technocracy.
Do join us for future in-store discussions.
March in-store events at Wardah Books
March 2, 2010
Mark your calendars. We’ve lined up an eclectic mix of events for our dear readers.
Saturday 6 March 2010, 2pm
Neil Postman: Education, Technology and other Musings
A session with Amran Noordin
Saturday 13 March 2010, 2pm
Story-and-Song with Oni & Tengku Adil
Kak Oni reads ‘The Old Woman and the Eagle’
Saturday 27 March 2010, 2pm
Gedung Kuning: Memories of a Malay Childhood
The author, Hidayah Amin will be speaking about her book
See all of you there
Reading Everywhere
February 18, 2010
Whether you are waiting at a bus stop, lining up at a taxi-stand, sipping coffee at your favourite hangout or sitting on a bench at a crowded mall, dive into a good book and be transformed by the experience of the printed word. Nothing preserves, announces, expounds and transmits knowledge across time and space quite like a book. Blogs, ebooks and tweets come and go, but the book on your shelf is a constant, unassuming companion.
Our little bookshop started in 2002 and over the years we have become part of the community, hosting events and book-readings. Wardah has become a shared living room where people come, linger and browse.
At Wardah, we are advocates of literacy, enabling effective reading, thinking and writing. We also believe that there is much to read (and so little time!). So pick up a book today.
Neil Postman: Education, Technology and other Musings
February 11, 2010
In-Store talk at Wardah Books
Dear Friends
Its no secret that we at Wardah love the writings of the late Neil Postman, a social commentator. We are glad to have Educational Consultant Amran Noordin share and discuss Postman’s views about technology and education. Amran will also relate these ideas to Singapore and to the Muslim community.
You can read Wardah’s reviews on Postman’s ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ and ‘The Disappearance of Childhood’ in this blog.
Date: Saturday, 6 March 2010, 2pm
Qasidah al-Burdah at Wardah Books – Videos
December 28, 2009
Salaam
For those who missed the Qasidah al-Burdah event with Habib Hassan al-Kaf on 26 December 2009 at Wardah Books, here are the videos:
‘Qasidah: An Introduction’ Videos
December 24, 2009
‘Qasidah: An Introduction’ by Maadihul Mustafa at Wardah on 19 December 2009 was a wonderfully inspiring event. We would like to share the videos of the event with you here:
Part 3: Thola’al Badru and Nadzam Seka
Part 4: Qasidah in Nadzam Jiharka
Qasidah al-Burdah at Wardah
December 21, 2009
Dear Friends,
The Qasidah al-Burdah of Imam al-Busiri is celebrated throughout the Islamic world and is held in such high esteem that it is engraved in its entirety on Masjid Nabawi (the Mosque of the Holy Prophet in Medina). The Qasidah al-Burdah has been the hallmark of traditional Islamic communities from Moluccas to Marakkesh, serving as a beacon for all followers of the Prophet of Mercy, Muhammad (s.a.w).
On Saturday, 26 December at 2pm, Habib Hassan al-Kaff from Solo will be at Wardah Books to recite a selection from the Qasidah al-Burdah and to give a short introduction about it in Bahasa Indonesia. Everyone is welcome.
The CD of Habib Hassan’s recording of the Qasidah al-Burdah is available at Wardah Books.
Qasidah: An Introduction
December 9, 2009
Dear Friends,
The Maadihul Mustafa ensemble will be singing qasidah and will be speaking about qasidah at Wardah Books on 19 December 2009 from 2pm to 3pm. All are welcome.
Briefly, qasidah is a Sufi poetry form. Almost all are devotional and bear the themes of Divine Oneness and love for the Beloved Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.). Qasidah are sometimes incorporated in Mawlid and sometimes sung on its own as is the famous Qad Kafani of Al-Imam Al-Habib Abdullah Bin Alawi Al-Haddad that is sung in munajat (sincere supplication).
Qad Kafani of Al-Imam Al-Habib Abdullah Bin Alawi Al-Haddad
My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing
For my du’a and my agonising supplication
is a witness to my poverty.
For this secret (reason) I make supplication
in times of ease and times of difficulty
I am a slave whose pride
is in his poverty and obligation.
O my Lord and my King
You know my state.
And what has settled in my heart
of agonies and preoccupations.
Save me with a gentleness
from You, O Lord of Lords.
Oh save me, Most Generous
before I run out of patience (with myself)
My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing
O One who is swift in sending aid
I ask for aid that will arrive to me swiftly
It will defeat all difficulty
and it will bring all that I hope for
O Near One Who answers
and All-Knowing and All-Hearing
I have attained realisation through my incapacity,
my submission and my brokenness
My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing
I am still standing by the door, so please my Lord
have mercy on my standing.
And in the valley of generosity, I am in i’tikaf (solitary retreat)
So, Allah, make my retreat here permanent.
And I’m abiding by good opinion (of You)
For it is my friend and ally.
And it is the one that sits by me and keeps me company
All day and night.
My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing
Story-and-Song Clip
December 6, 2009
Dear friends, we had a wonderful session at Wardah Books on 5 Dec 2009 with Oniatta Effendi and Art Fazil. Oni read The Boy With No Name, and Art sang from his Syair Melayu album.
For all those who missed the event, here is a short clip.
