The Freedom of Choice

This morning, we have a CPC (clinical pathological case) in the morning entitled: Uterine artery embolization, 'Another Choice'. There's something which triggered me on the important of the word of CHOICE, as highlighted by the chaiperson. In this life, t's all about the choice we've made that matters. We have many options and decisions need to be done everyday, every minutes and seconds in life but in the end, it will all depend on the choice that we've decided to do, right?For example:




We may woke up early in the morning at 5am but it is our choice to go back to sleep and miss our qiamullail...

We may have the all night free but it is our choice to watch a movie instead of read books...

We may have the opportunity to ask questions but it is our choice to be silent, afraid of being labelled as a fool...

We may have the free time but it is our choice to go for shopping instead of clerking patients in wards...


Phew, it's all stiking me back on what choices I've made in this life. But I've got this phrases from a book that really inspired me:

"It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliott.

I've also remembered on a poem I've learned when I was at high school: The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost. It illustrates that once one takes a certain road, there is no turning back. Although one might change paths later on, the past cannot be changed. Therefore, the choice one took is very important, and need to be considered cautiously.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

As a Muslim, I also believe that Allah alone is the One Who has the Power of Creation, Knowledge and Choice and there is no one who can dispute with Him in that or reverse His judgement. Allah already mentioned in the Qur'an that everyone will be judged in the heareafter based on what the've done in the life with their own choice, and each one should be responsible for their own doing. For example, the choices being given to the people of Saba' as mentioned in the Qur'an:

And We placed, between them and towns which We had blessed, town easy to be seen, and We made the stages (of journey) between them easy (saying): “Travel in them safely both by night and day.” But they said:”Our Lord! Make the stages between our journey longer,” and they wronged themselves; so We made them as tales (in the land), and We dispersed them all totally. Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast, grateful (person). (Saba’: 18-19)

Therefore, freedom of choice is not a TOTAL freedom to do whatever we want to do. Instead, it must be guided by the divine teaching as to not deviate from the staight pathway of this life. Listen to your heart, doesn't necessarily means listen to your needs or interest... Some things that u want most may be not good for you and some things that u least want may be good for you.

…and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know. (Al-Baqarah: 216)

O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, and you will meet (the results of your deeds which you did). (Al-Inshiqaq: 6)

I- Quest (15th – 17th August 2008)

This is my first week in 2^nd posting as a final year medical student. But this time was not as difficult as before to get start and ‘on the go’. I rather reserve my experience in Psychiatry posting till the end of this 7 weeks posting coz I’m sure there will be lots of interesting and lessons could be taken from this unpopular posting.

What is going on in our campus IIUM Kuantan, which I like to highlight here. We are having an open day, called I-Quest. I supposed it stands for Islamic Kuantan Festival. But the letter ‘Q’ is more suitable for the name (Quest) than the letter ‘K’. It is a big program, though not as big as in Gombak Campus. But the crowd and activities are lot better than last year, a very encouraging improvement. I’m glad how this isolated and quiet place becoming merrier and well-known to the society. As all the courses in this campus are science based, a theme was created: ‘Reviewing the Science, Revival of Islam’. Initially I thought this theme will be too high ambitious and may be difficult for outside people to understand and digest. But Alhamdulillah, after attending the forum last night, I’ve understand the spirit it tries to convey. Well done to all the committee in charge!

In International Islamic University of Malaysia, we have been exposed with Islamic Input and very familiar with term of islamization and islamicization. It means that we correlate the science knowledge we’ve gained (mainly from the west nowadays) with Islamic knowledge toward better understanding our nature, the environments and most important of all: our Creator, Allah s.w.t. So it is true that by learning science, we are actually getting closer to Him rather than deviate and becoming arrogant. Allah s.w.t mentioned in the Holy Book of Qur’an:

“We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur’an) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?” (Fussilat: 53)

Maybe this sounds a bit theoretical and academic, but how to apply? I’ve once read a very interesting story from the internet in this matter of science and faith:

An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty. He asks one of his new Muslim students to stand and.....
Professor: You are a Muslim, aren't you, son?
Student : Yes, sir.
Prof: So you believe in God?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Prof: Is God good?
Student : Sure.
Prof: Is God all-powerful?
Student : Yes.
Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?
(Student is silent.)

Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student :Yes.
Prof: Is Satan good?
Student : No.
Prof: Where does Satan come from?
Student : From...God.. .
Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student : Yes.
Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.
Prof: So who created evil?

(Student does not answer.)
Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student :Yes, sir.
Prof: So, who created them?
(Student has no answer.)
Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.
Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student : No , sir.
Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student : Yes.

Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.
Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof: Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof: Yes.
Student : No sir. There isn't. (The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where theargument is going.)
Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class is in uproar.)

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain? (The class breaks out into laughter.)
Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?....No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable. )
Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student : That is it sir.. The link between man & god is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.

So, is science is the ultimate answer for everything in this life? Does evidence based medicine is the explanation for all diseases and ailments of the people? Let us ponder and reflect then…

What money will buy:

A bed but not sleep
Books but not brains
Foods but not appetite
Finery but not beauty
A house but not a home
Medicine but not health
Luxuries but not culture
Amusements but not happiness
Religion but not salvation

(Poem from book: ‘Kuliah Tauhid’)

Petikan ucapan Ustaz Hj. Akil Hayy Rawa

Di dalam hidup manusia, yang penting ialah BERKAT.
Bila hidup kita berkat, diri ini akan selamat.
Apabila diri selamat, rumahtangga jadi sepakat.
Apabila rumahtangga jadi sepakat,

masyarakat jadi muafakat.

Apabila masyarakat jadi muafakat,

negara kita menjadi kuat.

Apabila Negara menjadi kuat,

negara luar jadi hormat.

Apabila negara luar jadi hormat,

permusuhan pun tersekat.

Apabila permusuhan tersekat,
pembangunan pun meningkat.

Apabila pembangunan pun meningkat,
kemajuan menjadi pesat.

TETAPI AWAS, apabila pembangunan meningkat,

kemajuan menjadi pesat,
kita lihat bangunan naik bertingkat-tingkat.
Ditengah-tengah itu, tempat maksiat tumbuh macam kulat.

Apabila tempat-tempat maksiat tumbuh macam kulat,

KETIKA ITU manusia mula mengubah tabiat.

Apabila manusia telah mengubah tabiat,
ada yang jadi lalat ada yang jadi ulat.
Apabila manusia dah jadi ulat,

sembahyang makin hari makin liat.
Apabila sembahyang jadi liat,

orang baik ada yang bertukar jadi jahat.
Apabila orang baik bertukar jahat,

orang miskin pula nak kaya cepat.
Apabila orang miskin nak kaya cepat,

orang tua pula nak mati lambat.
Apabila orang tua nak mati lambat,

tak dapat minum madu telan jerla minyak gamat.

Yang lelaki, budak budak muda pakai seluar ketat.
Semua nak tunjuk kuat.
Bila berjudi, percaya unsur kurafat.
Tapi hidup pula yang melarat.
Tali kasut dah tak berikat.
Rambut pun jarang sikat.

Yang perempuan, pakai mini sekerat.
Suka pakai baju ketat.
Suka sangat menunjukkan pusat.
Hingga tak pedulikan lagi batasan aurat.
Pakai pulak yang singkat-singkat.
Kadang-kadang ternampak benda 'bulat'.

Bila jadi macam ini, siapa lihat pasti tercegat.
Silap gaya jadi gawat, bohsia bohjan lagi hebat.
Duduk jauh berkirim surat .
Bila berjumpa, tangan berjabat.
Kemudian pakat lawan peluk siapa erat.
Masa tu, nafas naik sampai tersekat-sekat.
Usah peduli agama dan adat.
Usah takut Allah dan malaikat.
Yang penting apa kita nak buat?
Kita 'bukti' lah kita buat.
Akhirnya perut kempis dah jadi bulat.
Apabila perut kempis dah jadi bulat,

maka lahirlah pula anak-anak yang tak cukup sifat.
Bila anak-anak tak cukup sifat,

jam tu kita tengok bayi dibuang di merata tempat.
MAKNANYA KETIKA ITU, IBLIS MULA MELOMPAT.
Dia kata apa? Habis manusia dah masuk jerat.
Habis manusia telah tersesat.
Inilah dia fenomena masyarakat.
Oleh itu wahai saudaraku dan para sahabat,
Marilah kita pakat mengingat,
Bahawa dunia hari ini makin singkat,
Esok atau lusa mungkin kiamat,
Sampai masa kita semua akan berangkat! .
Berangkat menuju ke negeri akhirat.

Di sana kita akan ditanya apa yang kita buat.
Masa tu, sindri mau ingat.

Umur mu banyak mana mu buat ibadat...?
Zaman muda mu, apa yang telah mu buat...?
Harta benda anta, dari mana anta dapat...?
Ilmu anta, adakah anta manafaat...?

Semoga ianya dapat mengingatkan kita supaya segera
meninggalkan maksiat dan memperbanyakkan ibadat.