Tests 2

To me, it is the start of the months of tests. Nevertheless, for Muslims, everyday is a test. Good tidings are tests, bad happenings are tests as well. But to me, come Rejab, I start becoming aware of the good that I have to observe. Yes, not so good, really, as if I am neglecting the rest of the year. But that's not true; I try that much harder from Rejab: finish the fast days I missed during last Ramadhan, do sunat ones, read the Quran a little bit more, do extra sunat prayers, take the time to visit people, start buying for people for Ramadhan and Shawal, etc.

Rejab is one of the four months (Rejab, Zulkaedah, Zulhijjah and Muharram) that warring is forbidden. And this can be extended to not to have squabbles as well, I believe. Why these four months? Only Allah knows. And I keep thinking about my fellow Muslims in Urumqi, China. I don't know why I feel so for them, more than the Palestinians. Is it because theirs is a new conflict? No. Theirs is not new. In fact, theirs has somewhat been swept under the carpet both by their own government as well as the international community. But I hope they will be patient and strive on.

One historical event that happened in Rejab was the Isra' wa Mi'raj. 27th Rejab (20th July) is Isra' (Rasulullah's journey from Makkah to Masjidil Aqsa in Bailtul Muqaddis) and Mi'raj (his journey from Masjidil Aqsa to Siddratul Muntaha, somewhere in the heavens) as well as his journey back to earth. Together with him was none other than Malaikat Jibrail. It happened not in Rasulullah's subconscious; but in fact he was very aware of what was happening. He returned to earth on the very same night.

The most significant event that happened during the Mi'raj was that Prophet Muhammad was given orders by Allah for his followers to perform prayers 50 times a day. On his way back to earth, he met several prophets (at different times in his descent) who advised him to ask for further reductions; till he was left with five. Thus the five daily prayers that we do today. The trip down was not as simplistic as I've made it to be, but that's the general essence of it.

In a few days' time will be Shaaban and Ramadhan will follow suit; then, Shawwal. I've just collected my cotton baju raya. So, now's the time to check my mother's ever full freezer and whatever else she needs. She usually needs a helping hand; and that's the greatest test for me: giving her some of my time. I'll see her in a couple of days and I hope we'll spend some quality time together.

Tests 1

It was a long time since I took an examination as a student. That was a paper on evaluation, for my Masters degree many, many years ago. I still remember sitting in the examination hall with other classmates, almost all of whom were very much younger. And there was another paper in that examination hall, for undergraduates. Boy, did i feel aged! As I was answering the questions, I wondered to myself what I was doing, still writing exams. The next time around, I chose papers which only offered assignments by way of assessment.

Lo and behold, now that I am working, I still have to sit for examinations. I sat for one about 5 years back. All the questions required 'recall' type of answers. After the test, I mentioned to one of the exam setters about the 'level' of thinking required in the test: recalling; which is the lowest form of thinking skills. I told him that people of my age are better suited for 'application' type questions and higher thinking order types. Hmm, he must have mentioned it to his team members for the test soon took on a different format. I couldn't recall much really, of theories and rules. What I do now in my work is pretty automatic, just like solat. If you ask me the 13 acts that could nullify solat, I can't rattled them off; but I know. Errm... does that make sense?

The whole of last week I sat for a test, at my own pace and time, online. I spent at least an hour a day doing the test. Test-takers could review the questions ahead, prior to taking the test, but the sequence of the items were changed everytime you logged on. Quite clever, in case people worked together. There might also be one or two different questions each time. It was 'open-book' and test-takers could download notes from the note bank. My kind of test.

What was good was that you only had to pass each module, and to make sure you logged up to 13 credit hours. I have just completed my share.

Another thing that is good about the test is that I now browse the modules that I did not attempt and I'm interested to find out more about the company I work at, and the government policies.