BruSton National Day Celebration :D

Salams and Greetings to all!

Sorry for the lack of updates and notifications on the blog but it's been hectic. BUT, last weekend BruSton celebrated Brunei's National Day filled with food, games and FUN :D

Thank you for the photos from the various photographers that were around:)

Charades!

The teams!

Alhamdullillah, it was a good day! Despite the hail storm and rain :) Thanks all again for coming!

-sass1g08

British High Commission's Digital Scrap Book project

Salams and Greetings!

Note the competition description below :

Readers are reminded that the competition to find the best video about the Bruneian experience of UK education, the so-called “Digital Scrap Book”, is on for another month. The competition, organised by the British High Commission, involves making and posting an online video of up to three minutes in length, documenting the UK experience for Bruneian students. It is open to all those in Brunei who are studying or have studied in the UK. The winner will get an iPhone 4 while other prizes include an iPad, an iPod Touch and an iPod nano.

The British High Commissioner, His Excellency Rob Fenn said:
“I hear delightful stories about the ups and downs of campus life for Bruneians at British universities. Stories which illustrate how much Bruneian students contribute to British education, and the strategies they use to get the most out of their time in the UK. This competition is my chance to bring those stories together, in a way which will help British universities learn how to cater for Bruneians even better than they do already. Our Digital Scrapbook can be a showcase for the story-telling talents of Bruneians of all ages who have something to share about British education. Though the prizes on offer include the latest high-tech gadgets, it won’t require slick cinematography to win this competition. The winners will be those with the most interesting things to say - from whom British education has most to learn.”

The deadline to submit entries is on 28 February 2011
Further information on the competition can be found here.

-sass1g08

BruSton National Day Event

Salams and Greetings to all!

The committee members have decided to celebrate Brunei's National Day on the 27th of February, it is on a Sunday afternoon 1pm-5pm and will be held in the University main campus (whereabouts tbc).

We will be collecting money to buy food along with the Society funding. We also plan to make quizzes and lucky draws on the day of the event. Any suggestions of what else we could is most welcomed. :)

Fees to be paid:-
Members: 3.50 pounds
Non-Members: 4 pounds

You can pay to the society account, which will be posted again one of these days :)

Name: Bruneian Southampton Society
Account No.: 18172960
Sort Code: 30-97-58
Reference: Nat/(YOUR FIRST NAME)

Any other questions regarding this event, please ask any of us.

Also, we would really love it for the juniors to come and the Winchester students to be there too! The more the merrier :)

Please confirm your attendance here.

Hope to see you guys there!

-sass1g08

News from BSU

Latest News from the BSUnion and Affiliated Societies.

Brunei Student’s Union, in collaboration with BruManch and UPP, will
be organising Lagu Dakwah Competition 2011 between societies.
The competition is held in conjunction with Brunei National Day 2011.

For more information and to register:
http://bsunion.org/2011/01/13/lagu-dakwah-2011/

-sass1g08

2011 and exams

Salams and greetings to all BruSton:)

Happy New Years! It's that time of year again, exams are upon us and revisions becoming boring! There are a few dua's that iA will make it easier for us all, and I pray that we are all granted success in the upcoming exams, and in all that follows iA. Ameen :)

* Du'as before/during study:

1
اللَّهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلاً وَ إنْتَ تَحْعَلُ الْحزْنَ إذَا شِئْتَ سَهْ

Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja'altu sahla, wa 'anta taj-alul hazna idha shi'ta sahla
O Allah!

There is nothing easy except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy if it be Your Will
[Ibn Hibban]

2
اللَّهُمَّ الْطُفْ بِىْ فِىْ تَيْسِيْرِ كُلِّ عَسِيْرٍ فَاِنَّ تَيْسِيْرَ ; كُلِّ عَسِيْرٍ عَلَيْكَ يَسِيْرٌَ

Allahumma Tufiltuf bi fi taysiri kulli 'asirin, fainna taysirra kuuli 'asirin 'alaika yassirun

O Allah! Make easy for me every difficult thing, with Your special favour and Kindness, for it is easy for You to make every difficult thing easy

3
أللِّهُم النّفَعنِي بِمَا عَلَّمتَنِي وَ عَلِّمنِيِ مَا يَنفَعنِي

Allahumma infa'nii bimaa 'allamtanii wa'allimnii maa yanfa' unii

O Allah! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me.

4
اللهم اني اسالك العفو والعافية

Allahumma inni as'alukal 'afuwawal-afiya

O Allah! I seek your forgiveness and well being (meaning in examination, memory, and concentration etc)

5
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا , وَ رِزْقًا طَيَّبًا , وَ عَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً

Allahumma inni as'aluka 'Ilman naafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan

O Allah! I ask You for knowledge that is of benefit, a good provision and deeds that will be accepted.
[Ibn Majah and others]


6
اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى اَسْئَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّه عَاجِله وَ اجِلِه مَا عَلِمْتُ مِنْهُ وَ مَا لَمْ اَعْلَمْ

Allahumma inni as'aluka min al khairi kullihi 'ajilihi wa ajilihi, ma 'alimtu minhu wa ma lam a'alam

O Allah! I ask You for all the good which is in the present or in the future, which I know and which I do not know

[a comprehensive du'a taught to Aisha by the Prophet (saws)]


* Du'as for anxiety/difficulty:

1
اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَ الْحَزَنِ ، وَ الْعَجْزِ وَ الْكَسَلِ ، وَ الْبُخْلِ وَ الْجُبْنِ ، وَ ضَلَعِ الدِّيْنِ وَ غَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Allahumma inni a'udhubika minal hammi wal hazan, wal 'ajzi wal kasal, wal bukhli wal jubn, wa dhala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir rijaal

O Allah! I seek refuge in You from grief and sadness, from weakness and from laziness, from miserliness and from cowardice, from being overcome by debt and from being overpowered by men (other people)
[Sahih al-Bukhari 7:158]

2
اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي اُنْزِلُ بِكَ حَاجَتِىْ وَ اِنْ قَصُرَ رَابِىْ وَ ضُعْفَ عَمَلِى افْتَقَرْت ;ُ اِلى رَحمَتِكَ

Allahumma inni unzila bika haajati wa-in qasuura rubbi wa du'fa 'amali iftaqartu illa Rahmatika

O Allah! I ask You to answer my needs, though my intellect is weak, and my actions are defective, O Allah! I am in need of Your Mercy

3
حَسْبِيَ اللهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

HasbiyAllahu wa ni'mal wakeel

Allah is my availer and protector and the best of aids.

4
رَبِّ اِنِّىْ مَغْلُوْبٌ فَانْتَصِرْ

Rabbi inni maghlubun fan-tass-ssir
O Allah! I am overpowered, so help me.

[surah al-Qamar, 54:10]
This was the du'a of sayyidna Nuh (alayhis salam) after 950 years of preaching to a stubborn people.


* Du'as for Knowledge:

1
اللَّهُم¡ اِنِّى اَسْئَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَجِيْحًا

Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman-naaji'han

O Allah! I ask You for useful Knowledge

2
سُبْحَانَكَ لاَ عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلاَّ مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

Subhanaka la 'ilma lana 'illa ma 'allamtana 'innaka 'antal-'Alimul Hakim

Glory be to you, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise
[surah Baqarah; 2:32]

3
رَبِّ زدْنيِ عِلْماً وَ رْزُقْنيِ فَهْماً

Rabbi zidni 'ilman war zuqni fahman

O Allah! Advance me in Knowledge and true understanding

4
يَا عَلِيمُ عَلِّمْنِىْ

Ya Alimu, alimni

O All-Knowing, grant me knowledge

5
رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا

Rabbi zidni ilma

O my Lord! Advance me in Knowledge
[surah Ta-Ha; 20:114]


* Du'as after studying:

1
اَللَّهُمَّ ذَكِّرْنِِىْ مِنْهَ ، وَ عَلِّمْنِىْ مِنْهُ مَا جَهِلْتُ

Allahumma zakkirni minhu, wa 'alimni minhu ma jahiltu

O Allah! Assist me to remember it, and teach me whatever I am ignorant of it

Allahhumma inni astaodeeuka ma qara'tu wama hafaz-tu. Faradduhu 'allaya inda hagati elayhi

O Allah! I entrust You with what I have read and I have studied. (O Allah!) Bring it back to me when I am in need of it.

2
صلى الله على محمد وال محمد اللهم اني أسألك يا مدخر الخير وفاعله والآمر به ذكرني ما انسانيه الشيطان

SallAllahu 'ala Muhammad wa 'aali Muhammad. Allahumma inni as'aluka ya Mudhakkiral khayr wa faa'ilahu wal-aamimira bihi dhakirni ma ansaanihi-shaytan

Blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and his progeny. O Allah! I ask You, The One who mentions goodness and actualizes it and commands it, Remind me of that which the shaytan makes me forget

3
اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعَنِىْ بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِىْ وَ عَلِّمْنِىْ مَا يَنْفَعَنِىْ

Allahummanf'ani bima 'allamtani, wa 'allimni ma yaufa'uni

O Allah! Let the knowledge that You have granted me, be useful for me, and teach me whatever can be fruitful for me

4
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Rabbana ta-qabbal minna 'innaka 'Antas-Sami-'ul-'Aliim

Our Rabb! accept from us. You indeed, You are the all-Hearing, the all-Knowing.
[Surah Baqarah, 2:127]


* Study Tips:

1. Do the prayers at their correct times.

2. Pray a 2 rakat nafl prior to exam

3. Write " بِسْمِه تَعَاَلى " - In the Name of the Most High - (instead of Bismillah...) at the top of the page or cover.

4. Say بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind) - before commencing the exam - indeed before anything that you do.

5. Recite some du'as (like the ones listed above), and keep in constant dhikrullah (i.e. the daily dhikrs when waking, dressing, eating, sleeping, etc)

6. Come home and pray 2 rakat nafl after the exam for shukr (offer thanks to Allah) for granting you the strength and persistence and ability to complete the exam and accomplish goals inshaAllah

7. Increase in your reading and listening of the Qur'an and performing more ibadah (worship) (i.e. nafilah (voluntary) prayers and deeds). Keep away from bad actions and deeds - Follow up a bad deed with a good deed, to cancel it out.

8. Revise hard!!!

All the best!

-sass1g08