Islamic Banking - Because the Muslims don't know

Subject:  Islamic Banking
by Syed Akbar Ali

I recently attended a talk on "Contemporary Islamic Finance". The speaker was a young man with a PhD in Islamic Banking and Finance (UK). He was from an outfit linked to INCEIF ( International Center for Education in Islamic Finance).

Islamic banking or Islamic finance exists because the religious folks have succesfully inculcated the idea that bank interest is riba and therefore haram. The Quran states clearly that riba is haram but nowhere can we derive the injunction that bank interest is riba. The two are not the same.

Anyway the religious folks have created 'islamic finance' and 'islamic banking'. To cut a long story short there really is no such thing. Islamic finance and Islamic banking are just arabised versions of conventional banking. There is nothing islamic about it. Neither is there anything un-islamic about conventional banking either.

If you take a housing loan from a conventional "haram" bank you pay a monthly instalment. If you dont pay, the bank will auction your property. If you go to an 'islamic bank' you still have to pay monthly instalments which can be more expensive than the conventional bank. If you don't pay your instalment, the islamic bank will still auction your property too. What is so islamic or unislamic about that?

The conventional 'haram' bank will charge you interest say 10% a year.

The 'islamic bank' charges you what they call a 'profit rate' which will also be 10% or more a year. Kira-kira semua sama, tapi ini halal, itu haram. This is called pulling the wool over peoples' eyes.

Talking about the pricing of his Islamic banking products, the young man with the PhD in Islamic banking made no bones about it. He said it quite loudly and clearly 'we want to be the same as the market'.

I discovered this islamic banking trick years ago when we were handling the earliest stages of Islamic banking in Malaysia . At that time we called it an 'Islamic window' - Maybank did not yet have a full fledged Islamic banking license. But three months Islamic Bankers Acceptances (IABs) were priced exactly the same as three months conventional BAs. And so on. Tak ada beza pun.

A colleague who wore a kopiah to work had volunteered to go and work in the Islamic banking part of the bank. After a while he became even more confused. He said the calculations were all the same. In Islamic banking you add an 'Al' prefix to everything. Al Wadiah, Al Murabahah, Al Mudharabah, Al this and Al that. Other than the 'Al' its all the same.

Then the speaker dropped a bombshell. There is a famous case where an Islamic bank was suing a borrower for non payment of a housing "loan". According to Islamic banking the bank does not give you a "loan". The bank first buys the house from you at the market price. Then it sells the house back to you at a higher price over the period of the "loan" say 10 years, 15 years etc. Its just a deferred payment scheme with a 'profit rate' factored in.

The Islamic bank determines the selling price by compounding the "profit rate" (say 10% - copycatting the conventional banking system - 'we want to be the same as the market') for 10 years or 15 years. For those of you who have financial calculators (and if I still remember my financial computations), this is just the Future Value (FV) of an annuity at 10% starting with Present Value (PV) being the price of the house today and going forward 10 years, 15 years, 20 years etc. The Casio calculator will give you the 'islamic' answer in seconds. Does that make Casio 'islamic' too?

In a conventional 'haram' bank, if you default on your 20 year housing loan say after just three years, the conventional bank will ask you to pay back the principal amount of the loan plus 10% interest compounded for three years. The islamic bank cannot do that. The islamic bank will ask you to pay the full selling price of the house (based on 10% for 20 years) - even though you defaulted only after three years.

This is what the Islamic bank was claiming. However the very wise judge of the High Court Abdul Wahab Patail, the brother of our present AG, made a landmark decision. He ruled that the Islamic bank cannot charge the borrower the full amount for the full tenure of the "loan" when the borrower had defaulted just a few years into the "loan".

This decision by Justice Abdul Wahab Patail still stands until today and it has not been overturned. It also destroys a huge chunk of Islamic banking because the Judge has essentially ruled that the islamic banking system in Malaysia is actually unjust. It is worse than riba.

So how does INCEIF and the Islamic bankers handle this situation? This is where the speaker dropped the bombshell - and with a great big smile too. He said "the Muslims dont know" about Justice Abdul Wahab Patail's decision. Well dear Muslims, I hope that now you know. Please do spread the word quickly.

The speaker said that 'Islamic banking can still go on in our country because the Muslims dont know the decision by Abdul Wahab Patail'. In other words the islamic bankers are not going to tell the Muslim borrowers either. They will keep it quiet. Shhhhh ! ! And this is Islamic?

Then I learned something else too. While the speaker was talking about murabahah (one method of islamic financing), the Chairman at the talk was getting quite agitated. The Chairman was a foreigner from the Middle East and is an internationally acclaimed Islamic scholar himself. Suddenly he interrupted the speaker and made a clarification. He said that according to the Hanafi madhab (I think he is a Hanafi) murabahah was riba. Meaning murabahah was haram.

He then said that the Islamic banking practised in Malaysia was according to the Shafie madhab. Madhab means sect. Only then did it dawn upon me that in Malaysia we dont have generic islamic banking. It is "Shafie banking", according to the Shafie madhab.

A Muslim friend with a PhD from Cambridge later explained that this is partly the reason why there cannot be an "international Islamic capital market". One madhab's murabahah is another madhab's riba. One madhab's al bai al bithaman ajil is another madhab's riba also.

When a borrower defaults (or prepays) a 20 year housing "loan" say after just three years, the islamic bank can do what is called 'ibrar'. (In the old days they called it muqassa - I dont know why the change). 'Ibrar' means to refund the balance owing but not yet due. In other words 'buah belum masak lu jangan kira lah'. But there is no fixed or detailed idea about 'ibrar' among the islamic bankers.

So defaulting borrowers have no choice but to fight it out in the Courts with the Islamic banks. The speaker said that todate there are 3,500 unresolved cases of islamic banking BBA housing loans (Al Bai Al Bithaman Ajil) being disputed at the Courts in KL.

 

And one judge, a Dato Rohana, has been assigned to handle all these cases. Well good luck Justice Dato Rohana. She will become an expert in Al Bai Al Bithaman Ajil calculations - maybe faster than Casio.

If it is a conventional housing loan, all these 3500 cases can be resolved by a Casio calculator. (Ya Allah, why do the Muslims like to create all these strange things and end up tying themselves in knots?)

During the talk, the speaker put up a slide that had the arabic word 'zulm'. Zulm in Malay is zalim, meaning oppressive. The meaning was that Islamic banking should not be zalim or oppressive like the 'conventional' banking system with its interest based practises.

But how is the islamic bank less oppressive than the conventional bank? You charge the same rates - quite unashamedly saying 'want to be the same as the market'. The terms and conditions are the same except when the 'loan' turns bad. Then the islamic bank can become worse than Shylock the Jewish moneylender. They want their pound of flesh. And the conventional bank is still 'haram'?

There is another danger lurking. Talk is some ignorant do gooders are thinking of legislation where Muslims will be barred from using the conventional banking system. They can only go to the Islamic banking system. That is how we end up in the Club of the Doomed.

END-

ARTICLE 2:
Saturday June 26, 2010

Bank Negara: Islamic financing rebate is mandatory


KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara has ordered syariah banks to give
borrowers a rebate for early settlement under new rules designed to
prevent legal disputes and restore confidence in Islamic financing
contracts.

The ruling from Bank Negara’s syariah advisers will standardise the use
of rebate, or ibrar, in bai bithaman ajil and murabaha financing contracts
which are widely used in Malaysia’s US$95bil Islamic finance market.
In practice, Islamic banks can grant a rebate to waive their right to the
unaccrued sum but such discounts are discretionary, resulting in legal
disputes. If a rebate is not given, syariah financing contracts can be more
costly than conventional loans.

“In line with the need to safeguard maslahah (public interest) and to
ensure justice to the financiers and customers, Islamic banking
institutions are obliged to grant ibrar to customers for early settlement of
financing based on buy and sell contracts,” the ruling said. The ruling,
effective June 7, requires the right of rebate to be specified in contracts.
— Reuters

The method of computing the rebate will be determined by the central
bank. - Reuters

ARTICLE 3: 
Clerics declare Islamic banking haram
By ranigee
Lahore : Pakistan | Jan 28, 2009


LAHORE: As many as 31 top Islamic clerics and scholars of the country have declared the present Islamic banking system 'Hara'am' and 'Ghair Sharai' and termed all the dealings with such Islamic banks un-Islamic as they are based on interest.

The scholars declared the Islamic banking against the Islamic teachings and values, saying that all the business with these so-called Islamic banks was not Islamic. They gave a 'fatwa' and urged the Muslims not to deal with these so-called Islamic banks.
They agreed on the final judgment after having deep thinking and consultation that no Islamic bank was lending interest-free loans and instead of issuing Qarz-e-Hasna, every institution is involved in interest-based business.

Dr Azizul Bari, a research economist, said that Islamic banking system did exist in Islam but there was no proper platform available for the purpose. "There is a need to introduce a new banking system different from the existing one for the 'real Islamic banking system," he said, adding that ulema, clerics and religious scholars must be consulted for finalising the theory.

He said without getting an expert opinion from the Islamic scholars, Islamic banking system, in its true spirit, could not be introduced and implemented. Commenting on the bank-lending system, He said the proposed banking system should not be devised to earn profit rather it must have the idea to support the borrower.

He, in his verdict regarding existing Islamic banking, said that Islam presents a complete code of life and similarly, in the money lending and borrowing, presents a set of rules but there is no platform present in the prevailing situations. "Furthermore, the rules presented for the system are not being used accurately," he added.

He said government should arrange discussions on Islamic economic system so that the practical shape of the Islamic system could emerge, adding, "We have moved from the divine path owing to which, we have indulged into a severe financial crisis. The nation is facing a financial crunch that was tarnishing the social and economic system in our society."

While referring to the responsibility of the parliament, he said that it was the prime responsibility of the parliament to debate on the issue of Islamic banking and to find a practical way out of the interest-based banking system. On the other hand, the grievances of borrowers must be redressed as no body was hearing against the interest charging on the borrowed amounts.

Islamic economist Abdul Wadood Khan said that no Islamic bank was lending interest-free loans, rather these banks were charging hefty amounts in term of profit against the lent money. He further said that Islamic banks were earning interest by lending and borrowing money on interest, adding that if interest-free lending is introduced, the prices of commodities would decline as the interest amount has been added in the prices of all items. He said Islamic banking was neither Islamic nor banking at all because there is no concept of interest in Islam.

The religious leaders who signed the 'fatwa' includes Maulana Salimullah Khan of Jamia Farooqia Karachi, Maulana Mufti Ghulam
Qadir of Akora Khattak, NWFP, Mufti Hamidullah Jan of Jamia Ashrafia, Lahore, Maulana Mufti Ahtashamullah of Makran,
Balochistan, Maulana Mufti Abdul Majeed Dinpuri of Jamia Banoria, Karachi, Maulana Mufti Saaduddin of Lakki Marwat, NWFP, Mufti
Maulana Abdullah of Multan, Mufti Gul Hassan Bolani of Quetta, Maulana Zarwali Khan of Karachi, Maulana Saeed Ahmed Jalalpuri
of Karachi, Maulana Mufti Hamid Hassan of Kabirwala, Punjab, Maulana Mufti Rozi Khan of Balochistan, Mufti Habibullah Sheikh of
Karachi, Mufti Abdul Qayyum Dinpuri of Karachi, Mufti Nazir Ahmed Shah of Faisalabad, Mufti Saeedullah of Balochistan, Maulana
Mufti Inamul Haq of Karachi, Maulana Mufti Ahmed Khan of Karachi, Maulana Mufti Imdadullah of Sindh, Mufti Amanullah of Karachi,
Maulana Kalimullah of Sindh, Mufti Ahmed Khan of Sindh, Mufti Abdul Ghaffar of Sindh, Maulana Dr Manzoor Ahmed Mangal of
Karachi, Mufti Asim Abdullah of Karachi, Mufti Samiullah of Karachi, Mufti Shoaib Aalam of Karachi, Mufti Rafiq Ahmed of Karachi

It’s getting way too costly to own a home

The Star Online: OPINIONS: Friday October 1, 2010


SOURCE: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/1/focus/7140931&sec=focus

It’s getting way too costly to own a home

AS I will be getting married next year, I have been looking forward to
owning my first home. However, it is really painful to witness the everincreasing
prices of houses which is outpacing my income growth.

Recently, I walked into the sales office of a new condominium project and
the sales person told me the developer is giving a special eight per cent
discount for units on the lower floors. The person told me that I only had
to put down two per cent to secure a mortgage, as they will report to the
banks the full price of the condominium, and give me the eight per cent
discount without the bank’s knowledge.

Coupled with ever higher loan-to-value ratio, it sure is a sign that the
market is now beyond the reach of most genuine home buyers.
Otherwise, why resort to such tactics to entice buyers to sign on the
dotted line?

This reminds me of the hey-day before the 2008 crash in Britain. Just
before the crash, British banks were lending up to 110% of the value of a
property. Any form of affordability test was circumvented by mortgage
advisors who encouraged buyers to “self-certify” their income levels to
declare an inflated income.

The whole of the UK was in a euphoria, and everyone was piling into the
“sure-win” property market. Mortgage repossession in Britain has
increased drastically in the past couple of years, probably causing ruin to
the lives of those caught out.

After looking at the property market in the Klang Valley, I am now more
inclined to rent my first home.

I can rent a nice house in a good area for RM2,000, whereas I would
have to pay RM4,000 or more to the banks if I were to buy a similar
property in the same area. Many people say renting is a waste of money.
I don’t see how paying double the rent amount to a bank to service the
interest is not a waste of money.

HAPPY TO RENT,
Petaling Jaya.

Related story: Is Buying or Renting better
http://www.starproperty.my/PropertyGuide/Finance/2139/0/0

MRT will boost property prices

The Star Business, Thursday October 7, 2010

MRT will boost property prices

By SHARIDAN M. ALI
sharidan@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The proposed mass rapid transit (MRT) system is expected to be one of the main contributing factors to boost property prices adjacent to the MRT stations.

CB Richard Ellis (M) Sdn Bhd executive director Paul Khong said the MRT stations generally had a positive impact on nearby property values in most cases.

“Being next to the station works well for lower and middle-end residential neighbourhoods and all commercial offices or retail malls. This basically translates to better public transportation and enhanced accessibility to the relevant vicinities,” he told StarBiz.

“The MRT will benefit the lower to middle-end users the most and it makes travelling faster, cheaper and much easier.”

On the expected quantum capital appreciation due to the MRT stations, Khong said it could be 10% to 15%.

“More importantly, the MRT station must be less than a 1O-minute walk from the properties. Ultimately, being next door and within five minutes away will be a premium.

“Anything more will give less impact in terms of capital values,” he said. “Being next to a MRT station could be the main selling point for a new project, be it a commercial or a residential one. A good example will be Menara UOA in Bangsar.”

But, Khong said, the property prices could be affected if it was alongside the MRT tracks and not the station. “The crucial point is to be close or next to the station if possible,” he said.

The RM36bil MRT system proposal by Gamuda Bhd and MMC Corp Bhd will have up to three main lines. The first line will run through Sungai Buloh, Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur and Cheras (right up to Kajang).

The second line will connect Sungai Buloh, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur and Serdang, while the third line will loop around Kuala Lumpur’s business district – providing a link between the monorail and light rail transit (LRT) services.

The Gamuda-MMC proposal is currently undergoing technical study by a consultant and should be completed by mid-month to be presented to the Government.

At this point in time, there is no information on the exact locations of the proposed MRT stations.

According to property consultancy Khong & Jaafar Sdn Bhd managing director Elvin Fernandez, most of the areas around the LRT stations have been developed and it is axiomatic that accessibility would improve property values.

“But the impact wouldn’t be immediate as the MRT will take time to complete and the effect will be evident only from details of the exact positions of the rails and stations filtering into the market in time to come,” he said.

Based on preliminary details of the MRT, Fernandez said the Sungai Buloh area (the Guthrie Corridor townships) and the proposed Rubber Research Institute Malaysia developments could be among the first beneficiaries because both lines were expected to start from there.

“Kajang and Seri Kembangan are the next areas to flourish as they are on the other end of the line. Additionally, the Cheras corridor also has good prospects,” he said.

Nevertheless, Fernandez said, some developments might be negatively affected, especially residential developments, due to the noise or congestion if they were close to the rail lines or stations.

“But generally, the MRT should bring positive effects to the nearby areas,” he said.

According to a market source, another area that would have potential based on the proposed MRT system was the Kota Damansara corridor.

“The Kota Damansara corridor includes Kota Damansara, Mutiara Damansara, Damansara Perdana and The Curve. Business and financial districts along Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Bukit Bintang and Suria KLCC also have good prospects,” said the source.

PENANG EXCEEDED RM1 Billion in revenue in 2009 - 1st time in 52years

I don't think this good news will appear in our local newspapers afraid that their license may be revoked if they do publish this news.Please circular this email to all in your mailing list so that they know which party to vote  for during the coming 13th General Election. You must take into account  your children and/or grandchildren's future so vote for the right party.
 



PENANG EXCEEDED RM1 Billion in revenue in 2009 - 1st time in 52 years

Congratulations to Penang!!!
Congratulations to all the People of Penang for voting in a better govt.

While Pahang which Governed by Barisan Nasional for past 52 years is facing bankruptcy.
Penang is praised by Global Anti-Corruption watchdog Transparency International for its anti corruptions efforts.

What makes Malaysia all of a sudden to be ranked on 47 out 180 countries ?
Answer : The Malaysian People made the right choice by denying 2/3 majority enjoyed by Barisan Nasional all this years. It's a well check and balance by Pakatan on Barisan that led to this 47th position.

If Malaysians wants to enjoy this, then you should know what to do in the next election !!!

Anyway congrats to Pakatan Led by DAP in Penang. In just 18 months CM Lim turned around Penang into corrupt free State. Shame on BN & ex-CM Dr Koh of Gerakan.

As ex-Gerakan President Lim KY had said: "BN/Gerakan has lost Penang forever."

"RM 10 billion in losses from corruption per year is a huge sum and there must be greater commitment from the Federal government towards fighting corruption to ensure that 27 million Malaysians can benefit from this RM 10 billion dividend from successfully combating corruption."

Global anti-corruption watchdog ranks Malaysia 47th least corrupt, praises Penang <http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/38529-global-anti-corruption-watchdog-ranks-malaysia-47th-least-corrupt-praises-penang><http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/38529-global-anti-corruption-watchdog-ranks-malaysia-47th-least-corrupt-praises-penang%3E>

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 24 – Global corruption watchdog, Transparency International (TI), has ranked Malaysia as the 47th least corrupt nation in the world and commended the island state of Penang for its anti-corruption efforts.

Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden was listed by TI as the top three least corrupt countries as measured by the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks countries in terms of the degree to which businessmen and country analysts perceive corruption to exist among public officials and politicians.

Singapore, Finland, Switzerland, Iceland, Netherlands, Australia and Canada rounded off the top least corrupt countries.

Malaysia came in 47th out of 180 countries in the index, tied with Hungary and Jordan.

The CPI is part of TI's Global Corruption Report (GCR) 2009 released yesterday.

In its report on Malaysia, TI highlighted the Malaysian practice of the "revolving door" whereby individuals move from government to business, or business to politics, and back again, and estimated that corruption could cost Malaysia as much as RM10 billion a year.

"Significant government participation in the private sector and considerable business participation in politics means that the movement of gatekeepers to players and players to gatekeepers has a negative influence on the concept of checks and balances," said TI.

"The complexity of the relationships between politics and the public and private sectors means that corruption may take place with impunity. Until drastic action is taken to separate the cozy relationship between government, business and politics, the anti-corruption effort will remain no more than a token gesture," said TI.

Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng says he is "humbled" by the recognition by TI and added that he was concerned over the fact that that corruption could cost Malaysia as much as RM10 billion a year – an amount equivalent to 1 or 2 per cent of GDP as pointed out by the GCR when it cited the findings of the special government business facilitation task force Pemudah and the World Bank.

Additional report contents that were of concern to Lim was Malaysia's per capita spending of only RM5 on anti-corruption efforts and the fact that only about 10 per cent, or just 7,223 potential corruption cases, of the total 71,558 reported between 2000 and 2006 were investigated by the Anti Corruption Agency, the precursor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, with a conviction rate of less than one percent.

"The GCR 2009 concluded that this illustration of the Malaysian government's inaction in the light of the serious corruption allegations, along with its seeming inability to catch the big fish instead focusing on the 'small fry', suggests that what anti-corruption efforts exist are mere tokens," said Lim.

"RM 10 billion in losses from corruption per year is a huge sum and there must be greater commitment from the Federal government towards fighting corruption to ensure that 27 million Malaysians can benefit from this RM 10 billion dividend from successfully combating corruption."

Lim also today announced that the state has managed to cut about RM36 million or 12 per cent of in operating expenditure this year due to its efforts to curb corruption.

"Transparency International' s recognition of anti-corruption efforts by the Penang state government through CAT (Competency Accountability And Transparency) governance is backed up by savings of nearly 12 per cent of the 2008 Penang state budget of RM 36 million from operating expenditure. This RM 36 million savings has allowed the state government to carry out social programs and implement its people-oriented government," said Lim.

TI said that the Penang state is the first Malaysian state government to implement the open tender system for government procurement and contracts.

It also recognized the state government's directive barring administrators and state executive councilors from making any new land applications and efforts to attract professionals to serve on various boards, such as the Penang State Appeals Board.

"On behalf of the Penang state government, we feel humbled by the recognition given by a world renowned body such as Transparency International and would redouble efforts to ensure the anti-corruption reforms are institutionalized and ensure more professionals are appointed to key bodies. Fighting corruption generates savings for the people," said Lim.

He added that the two local authorities in Penang are expected to save another RM34 million over three years from a "transparent" negotiation over the price of solid waste disposal that reduced the rates agreed to by the previous Barisan Nasional administration by a further 42.4 per cent.

Lim said that the savings would go towards the state government's "3E" programme to "enable" the people with skills and knowledge so that they have an equal opportunity to create wealth, "empower" them with fundamental rights and basic freedoms, and "enrich" the people by sharing wealth and economic benefits.

Now it is Penang Boleh - Vote wisely for a better Malaysia.

Don't HIRE Chain Smokers! Why? Read on...

To all Human Resources/Headhunters, DO NOT HIRE CHAIN SMOKERS.  Why?  Read on:


Based on my Today's 1st hand experience (SEEN WITH MY OWN EYE!), here's why Chain smokers' shouldn't be HIRED.


A Chain smoker (my personal definition, anyone smoking more than 50 sticks a day, ie. 2 1/2 packs of ciggies) smokes every 15 minutes on average.  Every 15 minutes, he/she'll take 5 minutes so called Cigarette break.  This means 15 minutes per hour wasted (ciggie break remember?).  Now, an average working hours is 9 hours.  Multiply 15 minutes with  9 hours you'll get 135 minutes CIGARETTE BREAKS per day!  SHOCKING AIN'T IT?


How to spot CHAIN SMOKERS:
1) Look at their Fingers (2nd and middle), gray/black = CHAIN SMOKER
2) Look at their teeth and lips.  Black teeth/lips = CHAIN SMOKER
3) Keep him in the room for AT LEAST 40 minutes.  A Chain smoker will feel Sleepy, Tensed up, agitated, uneasy as he/she needs to smoke every 15 to 30 minutes.


Remember, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

VIDEO: Hillsong: Oceans Will Part.

Another of my top 5 ALL TIME favourite Praise and Worship song by Hillsong.  Hope you enjoy this song as much as me.  This video came with LYRICS...

OCEANS WILL PART:
Hillsong - Oceans Will Part - With Subtitles/Lyrics


Anyway, here's the lyrics:

Hillsong
Oceans Will Part lyrics

Songwriters: Fielding, Benjamin David

Verse 1:
If my heart has grown cold,
There Your love will unfold;
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand.
When I'm blind to my way,
There Your Spirit will pray;
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand,
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand.

Chorus:
Oceans will part; nations come
At the whisper of Your call.
Hope will rise; glory shown.
In my life, Your will be done.

Verse 2:
Present suffering may pass,
Lord, Your mercy will last;
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand.
And my heart will find praise,
I'll delight in Your way,
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand,
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand.


END...

SOURCE:

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Uj_B0KNgU
(FOR VIDEOS).

2)http://www.music-lyrics-gospel.com/gospel_music_lyrics/oceans_will_part_7458.asp
(FOR LYRICS) 



That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.

Video: HILLSONG: Hearts of worship (when the music fades)

This is also one of my TOP 5 ALL TIME favourite Worship Song by Hillsong.

HILLSONG: Heart of Worship (When the music fades...) by Matt Redman

Verse 1
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

Bridge
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

Chorus
I'm coming back to the heart of worhip
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

Verse 2
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath

*Bridge*
*Chorus*
*Chorus*

I'll bring you more than a song
I'll bring you more than a song
More than a song
I'll bring you more than a song
I'll bring you more than a song
You're looking into my heart
Looking into my heart
You're looking into my heart
Into my heart 
 
I'll bring you more than a song
I'll bring you more than a song
I'll bring you more than a song
I'll bring you more than a song
 
END...
 
That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.

SOURCE:

1)http://www.higherpraise.com/lyrics1/Heart_of_Worship.htm
2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PEdlnn7ZGM 

VIDEO: Hillsong: The Desert Song

This is one of my favourite Worship Song.  That's why I post it here in my blog.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

 

Hillsong:
The Desert Song 

VIDEO:

Lyrics

Songwriters: Fraser, Brooke Gabrielle

The Desert Song Lyrics

Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

END-

SOURCE:

1)http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/h/hillsong/the_desert_song.html

2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvgpQiL7YQk&feature=PlayList&p=B3D5624FDC273C7B&index=0&playnext=1