The Mindtripper

The People Most Tested

2010-04-28T13:24:00.000+08:00

Bismillahi walhamduliilahi 'alaa rasulillah,

Some companions asked the Prophet SAW “Who are the people most tested?” The Prophet SAW said “The rightly guided people.”

Allah tests people according to the strength of their faith. As you increase in iman, your tests become tougher and tougher.

Allah tests everyone, even non-believers. So if you’re going to be tested, be tested for fleeing to Allah and the truth.

The Prophet SAW once said: “O people! Do not wish to meet the enemy, and ask Allah for safety, but when you face the enemy, be patient, and remember that Paradise is under the shades of swords.”

Jihad (fighting) in the path of Allah is the highest peak–the most reward for personal actions after the five pillars. Khalid bin Walid, may Allah be pleased with him, once said “Not a day made me more happy, not my marriage to a virgin nor my news of a son, but that cold, bitter day on the battlefield.”

So why did the Prophet, peace be upon him, say that? Because nobody knows the state in which they will be when the trials hit–will you be steadfast, or will you run? Will you succeed, or will you fail? Will you rise, or will you fall? In battle, specifically–on the battlefield, people dying to the right and left, blood and heat and severed body parts, fear–that’s the test. If you turn your back, it’s one of the greatest sins. So the Prophet says: don’t wish to be tested, because you may fail.

And seek Allah’s protection. When He tests you, that’s when you need it.

When fitna (trials) of little benefit knock on your door, leave them. You don’t want to be tested. And safeguarding yourself is more important then this project or that organization.

May Allah protect us from the trials of the dunya, the trial of the Dajjal and the trials of the grave.

Satu tribute untuk as-Syahid Dr Abdul Aziz Rantisi

2010-04-15T18:32:00.003+08:00

Pada 17 April 2004 pulanglah seorang syahid menemui Kekasih yang didambakan. Satu tribute untuk as-Syahid Dr Abdul Aziz Rantisi

Kita sering tercari-cari siapakah di kalangan manusia pada hari ini yang pantas dijadikan contoh ikutan dalam perjuangan menegakkan kalimah al-Haq. Kita mahu mencontohi beliau baik dari sisi istiqamahnya, baik dari segi tsabatnya, baik dari segi jihad, kesungguhan dan pengorbanannya. Nah! Salah seorang dari insan yang pernah memiliki sifat-sifat ini ialah as-Syahid Dr Abdul Aziz Rantisi. Pada 17 April 2004 ini genaplah enam tahun as-Syahid meninggalkan kita semua. Beliau dibedil oleh helicopter Apache Zionis Israel dengan peluru berpandu Hellfire yang juga telah mengambil nyawa as-Syahid Syeikh Ahmad Yassin dua puluh enam hari lebih awal.

Sebelum kakinya melangkah keluar dari rumah kerana menziarahi keluarga selepas waktu isya, beliau dengan hati penuh harap berkata ‘Semuga Engkau masukkan kami ke dalam syurga mu Ya Allah. Inilah puncak harapanku..” Tidak beberapa langkah dia meninggalkan rumah, kedengaranlah bunyi ledakan. Ternyata helicopter Apache telah siap menunggu dan menganugerahkan apa yang didambakan oleh as-Syahid. “Ia adalah kematian samada dengan pembunuhan atau barah. Tidak ada yang berubah samada dengan Apache atau sakit jantung. Dan aku memilih Apache..” Bukti bahawa as-Syahid gembira dengan anugerah ini tergambar dari senyuman yang menguntum dari bibirnya dan darah yang terus mengalir setelah 24 jam beliau syahid yang menghamburkan bau harum kasturi. Semua yang hadir menziarahi jenazah as-syahid yang mulia melihat kebesaran Allah dan benarnya janji Allah dan Rasulnya. “Jangan kamu menyangka mereka yang mati syahid itu mati, bahkan mereka hidup dan diberi rezeki, hanya kamu tidak mengetahuinya.”

Pendirian As-Syahid Abdul Aziz Rantisi terhadap perjuangan, cintanya terhadap tanah-airnya bumi Palestin dan Baitul Maqdis yang suci telah sedia kita maklumi. Dia mengabdikan seluruh hidupnya untuk jihad dan untuk al-Quds. Inilah yang digambarkan oleh isteri as-syahid Ummu Muhammad, beliau adalah gambaran ayat Allah ‘Sesungguhnya tidak dijadikan manusia dan jin melainkan untuk menyembah Dia.’ Sebagaimana juga as-Syahid syeikh Ahmad Yasin yang mendahului beliau, Israel tidak pernah merasa aman dengan beliau yang tidak pernah mengenal erti mengalah dan lemah. Tidak seperti pemimpin-pemimpin Palestin secular yang siap untuk menggadaikan prinsip dan tanah air atas nama rundingan damai, As-Syahid Abdul Aziz Rantisi tidak pernah berganjak dari keyakinan bahawa bumi Palestin tidak mungkin ditukar ganti dengan apapun. Pilihan yang ada pada Israel hanya satu iaitu keluar dari bumi Palestin yang mereka jajah dan kembalikan hak rakyat Palestin yang mereka rampas. Jika mereka gagal untuk melakukan ini maka bersedialah untuk berhadapan dengan api jihad yang akan terus bersemarak membakar jiwa-jiwa para mukmin sehingga akhir. Hasrat Zionis untuk melihat lumpuhnya HAMAS dengan terbunuhnya dua pemimpin utama dalam selang 4 minggu meleset sama sekali. Bahkan kematian dua tokoh ini menyuburkan lagi jihad di bumi Palestin dan kini setelah enam tahun kedua mereka meninggalkan kita, Palestin terus berdiri teguh berhadapan dengan segala macam kekuatan yang ditalakan dunia ke atas mereka. Bukan sahaja mereka diperangi oleh senjata-senjata terkini bahkan mereka dikepung dan di kelilingi oleh tembok-tembok kematian serta dikhianati pula oleh saudara-saudara seagama yang bersekongkol dengan musuh-musuh untuk mencengkam Gaza dan Tanah suci al-Quds. Inilah karamah yang terbit dari kehebatan as-syahid Syeikh Ahmad Yassin dan as-Syahid Dr Abdul Aziz Rantisi.

‘Di belakang seorang lelaki yang agung pastinya seorang wanita yang mulia’, demikianlah ungkapan yang disebut kepada isterinya Ummu Muhammad. Namun Ummu Muhammad segera menyanggah kata-kata ini. Sebaliknya beliau memuliakan ibu as-syahid yang mana di atas didikan kemuliaan dan kehebatan dari almarhumah ibunyalah lahir as-syahid Abdul Aziz Rantisi. Beliau digambarkan oleh isterinya sebagai seorang suami, ayah dan datuk yang bukan sahaja melimpah dengan kasih-sayangnya terhadap isteri, anak-anak dan cucu-cucu bahkan kasih-sayang itu akan segera diluahkan sebaik sahaja ada ruang dan kesempatan. Bahkan ketika dikelilingi oleh tugasan yang banyak termasuk ketika melayan para tetamu dan wartawan beliau akan berhenti sebentar untuk menegur anak-anaknya dengan penuh kemesraan. Lantaran itu tidak seorangpun dari anak-anaknya dan cucu-cucu (14 orang semuanya) yang tidak merasakan kemesraan ayah dan datuk mereka sehingga mereka semua bercita-cita untuk mengikuti jejak langkah as-syahid dalam perjuangan.

Kelembutan as-syahid terhadap keluarga digambarkan oleh Ummu Muhammad dalam satu pengalaman di mana beliau tersinggung peti televisyen sehingga pecah skrinnya. Beliau begitu bimbang kerana sekatan ekonomi tidak memungkinkan mereka menggantikan TV yang pecah itu. Tetapi as-Syahid yang melihat kebimbangan Ummu Muhammad telah memujuk beliau dan berkata “Qadarallah maa syafaa’a fa’al” (Setiap sesuatu itu ada tempoh akhirnya). Semuga contoh-contoh kecil dari tokoh besar ini membekas di hati kita semua dan menjadikan kita berjiwa besar dan tidak terikat dengan dunia. Sesungguhnya membebaskan diri dari kesempitan dunia lah yang menjadikan seseorang itu mendambakan kehidupan akhirat yang kekal abadi.

Ketegasannya di dalam perjuangan tidak dipersoalkan. Sewaktu as-Syahid Abdul Aziz Rantisi diusir bersama 416 oarng pejuang oleh Israel di selatan Lubnan pada tahun 1992, beliau didatangi oleh seorang wartawan media barat mengajukan soalan ‘Kenapa HAMAS enggan iktiraf Israel’. Jawapan yang diberikan oleh as-Syahid Abdul Aziz Rantisi meninggalkan wartawan tersebut sendiri kebibungan. Israel yang mana? Israel 1948? Atau Israel 1967? Atau Israel 1981? Atau Israel 1993? Atau Israel 2000? Hakikatnya Israel adalah entiti palsu yang tidak punya sebarang sempadan yang hakiki. Bagaimana mengiktiraf sebuah Negara haram yang tidak punya sebarang ketentuan sempadan kerana ia didirikan di atas Negara orang lain yang dirampok dan dirampas semaunya dan sekehendak hati mereka. Lantaran itu as-Syahid Abdul Aziz Rantisi berikrar “Israel tidak akan mengenal keamanan, kami akan memerangi mereka sehingga Palestin dibebaskan, dibebaskan seluruhnya.”

Inilah gambaran orang-orang beriman yang digambarkan oleh Allah SWT ‘…Mereka kasih kepada Allah dan Allah kasih kepada mereka, mereka berkasih sayang sesame mukmin (izillah alal mu’mimin) dan tegas terhadap golongan kafir (a’izatul alal kafirin), mereka berjihad pada jalan Allah dan tidak takut kepada celaan orang-orang yang mencela…”

As-syahid Abdul Aziz Rantisi dilahirkan pada 23 Oktober 1947 berhampiran Jaffa (Yaffa) dan syahid pada 17 April 2004.

Dr Hafidzi Mohd Noor
Pengarah PACE

sumber : http://lambaian-islah.blogspot.com/2010/04/pada-17-april-2004-pulanglah-seorang.html

"Andailah aku seperti sirap!"

2010-04-14T15:21:00.003+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

Tak ada yang lebih gusar melebihi makhluk Allah yang bernama gula pasir. Pemanis alami dari olahan tumbuhan tebu ini membandingkan dirinya dengan makhluk sejenisnya yang bernama sirap.

Masalahnya sederhana. Gula pasir merasakan selama ini dirinya tidak dihargai manusia. Dimanfaatkan, tapi dilupakan begitu saja. Walau ia sudah mengorbankan diri untuk memaniskan teh panas, tapi manusia tidak menyebut-nyebut dirinya dalam campuran teh dan gula itu. Manusia cuma menyebut, "Ini teh manis." Bukan teh gula. Apalagi teh gula pasir.

Begitu pun ketika gula pasir dicampur dengan kopi panas. Tak ada yang mengatakan campuran itu dengan 'kopi gula pasir'. Melainkan, kopi manis. Hal yang sama ia alami ketika dirinya dicampur berbagai adunan kek dan roti.

Gula pasir merasa kalau dirinya cuma diperlukan, tapi kemudian dilupakan. Ia cuma disebut apabila diperlukan oleh manusia. Setelah itu, tak ada penghargaan sedikit pun. Tak ada yang menghargai pengorbanannya, kesetiaannya, dan peranannya yang begitu besar sehingga sesuatu menjadi manis. Berbeza sekali dengan sirap.

Dari segi kewujudan, sirap tidak hilang ketika bercampur. Warnanya masih terlihat. Manusia pun mengatakan, "Ini air sirap." Bukan air manis. Bahkan tidak jarang sebutan diikuti dengan yang lebih lengkap, "air sirap mangga, air sirap lemon" dan seterusnya.

Gula pasir pun akhirnya mengeluh kepada sirap, "Sekiranya aku seperti kamu."

Analogi gula pasir dan sirap merupakan pelajaran tersendiri buat mereka yang giat berbuat banyak untuk umat. Sedar atau tidak, kadang ada keinginan untuk diakui, dihargai, bahkan disebut-sebut namanya sebagai yang paling berjasa. Sama perihalnya seperti yang disuarakan gula pasir.

Kalaulah gula pasir faham bahawa sebuah kebaikan kian bermutu ketika tetap tersembunyi. Dan kalaulah gula pasir sedar bahawa setinggi apa pun sirap dihargai, asal usulnya juga dari gula pasir.

Kalaulah gula pasir faham bahawa sirap terbaik sebenarnya berasal dari gula pasir asli.

Kalaulah kita yang mengaku sebagai du'at memahami kekeliruan gula pasir, tidak akan ada ungkapan, "Andailah aku seperti sirap!"

Wallahu 'alam

*** **** **** **** **** **** ****

Nothing is more upset over the creatures of God who called sugar sand (coarse sugar). Natural sweeteners from sugar cane processing plant was comparing himself with other similar beings called syrup.

The problem is simple. Sand sugar feels if he was not respected amongst human. Utilized, but forgotten. Although he had sacrificed himself to sweeten hot tea, but people did not mention him in a mixture of tea and sugar. Humans just mentioned, "It's sweet tea." Not tea sugar. Moreover, sand sugar tea.

So even when the sugar is mixed with hot coffee. Nobody said it was mixed with 'coffee sugar. " Rather, sweet coffee. The same thing he experienced when he mixed a variety of cakes and bread dough.

Sugar sand felt he was just like an unsung warrior. He just called when humans need. After that, there's no reward whatsoever. No one appreciates his sacrifice, loyalty, and whom can turn something to sweet and tasty - in contrast to syrup.

In terms of existence, the syrup is not lost when mixed. The color is still visible. Man himself has said, "This is syrup." Not sweet drinks. Not even the title is rarely followed by a more complete identity, "mango syrup, lemon syrup" and so forth.

Sugar syrup was eventually told, "If I was like you."

The figure of sugar and syrup is a separate lesson for those who actively do much for people. Conscious or not, sometimes there is a desire to be recognized, valued, and even mentioned his name as the most meritorious. Just like that voiced by sand sugar.

If only sand sugar understand that a good quality of something is when it is remains hidden. If only to realize that sugar syrup valued as high as any, yet it also came from sand sugar.

If only sand sugar understand that the best syrup instead of sugar derived from the original.

If only the good activists understand the fallacy of cane sugar, there will be no expression, "If only I was the syrup!"

Pearls

2010-04-11T22:46:00.003+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Aisha got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbour and asked Aunty Jamshed if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Aisha loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday madressa classes, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

aisha had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story from the Quraan. One night as he finished the story, he asked Aisha , "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you." "Then could you give me your pearls." "Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favourite."

"That's okay, Aisha, daddy loves you. Allah-hafez." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss. About a week later, after the story time, Aisha's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then could you give me your pearls." "Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper. "That's okay. Sleep well. May Allah bless you & protect you, Aisha. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Aisha was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

What is it, Aisha? What's the matter?" Aisha didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, daddy, this is for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Aisha's daddy reached out with one hand to take the cheap necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Aisha.

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.

So it is with our Allah Almighty. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures. Isn't Allah great?

Are you holding onto things that Allah wants you to let go of? Are you holding on to a harmful (or 'haram'ful) partners, or unnecessary relationships, habits and activities that you have come so attached to that it seems impossible to let go?

Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing ... Allah will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.

a remembrance for myself..just wanted to share it with you..;)

What Matters Most

2010-03-20T18:44:00.001+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

When you wake up every morning, you kneel by your bed, or sit on the edge of it, and pray this: "God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving you and loving other people-because that's what life is all about. I don't want to waste this day." Why should God give you another day if you're going to waste it?

The importance of things can be measured by how much time we are willing to invest in them. The more time you give to something, the more you reveal its importance and value to you. If you want to know a person's priorities, just look at how they use their time.

Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.

It is not enough just to say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time in them. Words alone are worthless. "My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action." Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is "T-I-M-E."

The essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves. Men, in particular, often don't understand this. Many have said to me, "I don't understand my wife and kids. I provide everything they need. What more could they want?" They want you! Your eyes, your ears, your time, your attention, your presence, your focus-your time.Nothing can take the place of that.

The most desired gift of love is not diamonds or roses or chocolate. It is focused attention. Love concentrates so intently on another that you forget yourself at that moment. Attention says, I value you enough to give you my most precious asset-my time." Whenever you give your time, you are making a sacrifice, and sacrifice is the essence of love.

Relationships are what life is all about. The greatest gift you can give someone is your time.

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. "God so loved the world that He gave...." Love means giving up-yielding my preferences, comfort, goals, security, money, energy, or time for the benefit of someone else.

THE BEST TIME TO LOVE IS NOW

Sometimes procrastination is a legitimate response to a trivial task. But because love is what matters most, it takes top priority. It says, "Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone." "Use every chance you have for doing good." "Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now."

Why is now the best time to express love? Because you don't know how long you will have the opportunity. Circumstances change. People die. Children grow up. You have no guarantee of tomorrow. If you want to express love, you had better do it now.

Knowing that one day you will stand before God, here are some questions you need to consider: How will you explain those times when projects or things were more important to you than people? Who do you need to start spending more time with? What do you need to cut out of your schedule to make that possible? What sacrifices do you need to make?

The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now.

From "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren - Chapter 16 - What Matters Most

وجبت محبتي للمتحابّين فيّ

2010-02-17T12:50:00.001+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

this is the story of Muadz Ibn Jabal that i'd really like to share, taken from book title "Indahnya Budi Pekerti" trans : "The Beauty of Akhlaq" by Imam Nawawi. it is a booklet of selected hadith/stories of sahabah/sahabiah.

One day, Abu Idris Al Khawlani in Dimshyq (Damascus), went to Masjid Al Kabeer. And in the masjid he saw a group of people sitting around one man. And he described the man as smiling very much and people were sitting around him asking questions. So Abu Idris Al Khawlani asked,

"Who is this man?"

and they answered him saying

"That is Muadz Ibn Jabal RA, the companion of the Prophet(pbuh)."

So Abu Idris Al Khawlani came the next day early in the morning before Salaatul Fajr, and he thought that he was the first one to enter the masjid but there he found Muadz Ibn Jabal RA praying in the masjid before Salaat. So Abu Ibris came to Muadz and sat behind him and waited for him to complete his prayer. After Muadz completed his prayer, Abu Idris went to him and said to him,

"Oh Muadz! I love you for the sake of Allah SWT!"

Muadz Ibn Jabal RA pulled Abu Idris closer and he asked him,

"Aal la hu Lillah?" "By Allah do you love me only for the sake of Allah SWT?"

So Abu Idris said, "Yes!"

So Muadz Ibn Jabal RA smiled and pulled him closer and said to him,

"Let me give you the good news for verily I heard the Prophet (pbuh) say, "Allah SWT said,

وجبت محبتي للمتحابّين فيّ
"Wajabat Muhabbati Li Mutahaabina fiya"
"My love is wajib upon those who love for my sake"

[rawahu Malik]

A Prayer For You

2010-02-16T16:11:00.002+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah

teringat tentang puisi ini yang saya hadiahkan buat suami selepas menerima proposal kahwin dari beliau 2 tahun yang lalu..to be exact on this very date (15th February 2008) - terpaksa bubuh translation sebab nak kasi dia paham..hehe..
:)

Satu Doa Untukmu - A Prayer For You

Selalu dalam simpuh
(as i bowed after prostration)

Selepas salam disampaikan
(after bidding my salaam upon the angels..)

Diantara begitu banyak permintaan saya,
(amongst du'aas poured for Him)

Sentiasa ada kamu..
(there is always about you)

Semoga keselamatan selalu melapisi letupan semangat yang hangat berpijar
(may Allah always protect you within your brave spirit)

Semoga basuhan air menyejukkan kebaikan hati yang siap menerangi dunia
(may Allah lights your heart to torch others)

Semoga keluarga dan orang-orang pilihan kamu selalu berada dekat dengan kamu
(may Allah keeps you surrounded by your beloved family and mates)

Semoga Tuhan menyayangi kamu, yang sudah menghadiahkan ketenangan pada saya
(may Allah shower you with all His love, as peace embraced my heart upon your presence)

Tapi diatas semuanya saya berdoa,
(but above all,i ask from Allah)

Semoga kamu hidup sebagai lelaki yang bahagia
(that you will be the happiest man)

Terkadang terselip satu penutup yang malu terucap
(but as a women im shy to ask)

Keinginan untuk mendampingi
(my desire to always be with you)

Keinginan untuk juga berbagi
(my desire to company you in happy or sad)

Namun kalau Tuhan tak berkenan pun tak apa
(but if He refuse to grant my wish, i will accept it)

Keadaan begini pun bagi saya seperti baik-baik saja
(this meaningfull of ukhuwwah that has been created between us is far good enough for me..alhamdulillah)

Biar Dia yang sampaikan
(i will let Him tell you)

Biar Dia yang lantunkan
(and i let Him whisper my wish for you)

Biar Dia yang lafazkan senandung rindu tanpa henti yang mengiringi langkah saya sepanjang hari
(may He inspire your heart towards me, in each steps of my journey of life everyday)

Menitipkan separuh kasih sayang pada Sahabat yang Maha Kuasa,
(being friend of Khalilullah (you))

Sudah jadi anugerah yang luar biasa
(is the best gift ever)

Menitipkan kamu pada Nya, adalah ungkapan kasih terbesar
(leaving you in His hand, is infinite expression of love)

Mendoakan kamu agar selalu dalam penjagaan Nya, adalah bentuk cinta termegah
(asking Him to take a very good care of you, is unexplain, purest form of love)

Memohon kesihatan kamu selalu dilindungi Nya, adalah rasa sayang paling lembut
(praying for your 'aafiah, is the most tender care i've ever gave to a man)

saya tiada punya apa-apa untuk ditawarkan
(and i have nothing to offer you, my dear..)

hanya itu saja..hanya itu saja..

(that is all..that is all..)

أَحَبَّكَ الَّذِي أّحْبَبْتَنِي لَهُ

May He for Whose sake you love me, love you too

[ rawahu Abu Dawud ]

Ya Allah, bless my mom...

2010-02-15T20:18:00.001+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah...

Ya Allah,
bless my mom for always be so forgiving
even when I make mistakes,
she continues to give from what she has
and she always wants the best for me.
She sacrificed a lot
to give us food, shelter, and clothing,
and always sticking by us
even thogh we gave her a hard time
and its not easy raising children as a single parent.

Ya Allah,
bless my mom because she makes duaa for me
even if she is upset
knowing that her duaa will be answered.
(my siblings and I are given blessings from Him because of the duaa of our parents.).
she cares for me more than I care for myself,
and she does dua for me more than I do for myself.

Ya Allah,
bless my mom because she's always there for me,
whenever I upset her she forgives me
and never mentions it ever again.
she does so much and at the end of the day
she does not complain
which is true blessing from Allah.
she loves me unconditionally,
and she always cheers me up,
and taught me never to give up from an early age.

Ya Allah,
bless my mom for putting up with my behavior,
and the times I made her worry,
she taught me how to be tough,
and then how to be gentle at the same time,
because only mothers know how to do that well,
and she teaches by practice not by preaching,
and for supporting me in all trials and tribulations

Ya Allah,
bless my mom because of her soft heart.
she has been through many great fitnahs
and she still holds on to islam with strength and great patience.
She raised, taught and still gave me knowledge
even with all the fitnahs and difficulties in her life.

Ya Allah,
bless my mom for being generous to others,
and always tried to do the right thing,
she always wants the best for everyone,
she gave us the best she had,
she always thinks good of others,
she always loved her children and showed it,
and she is one of the reasons I aim so high

Ya Allah,
bless my mom because being a mother is the scariest job in the world
and I think she did pretty well with Your help, alhamdulillah.
and bless her because she married me to the most amazing man whom keep me safe(and still) in my deen, alhamdulillah:)

Ya Allah,
bless my mom because she loves You
and raised us to love You.
all praise due to You because she is the mother you chose for me
and please make it easy for me
to be as wonderful a mother as she is someday.

ps : May Allah SWT grant our mothers the highest Jannat and forgive us when we neglect them, ameen thumma ameen...

************************************************

On the authority of Abu Hurairah RA, who said, the Messenger of Allah (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "A man will be raised some degrees in Paradise and he will say, 'For what reason am I receiving this?' He will be told, 'Because of your son asking forgiveness for you'"

InshaAllah

2010-02-06T11:50:00.004+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

“Bilamana Allah s.w.t. membuat makhluk liar terhadapmu (menyusahkan atau menyakitimu), maka ketahuilah Dia ingin membuka buatmu pintu berjinak-jinak hanya denganNya”.

Siapa yang mendakwa hidup ini sentiasa menggembirakannya setiap detik bererti telah dusta dalam dakwaannya. Tiada siapa yang tidak pernah merasa susah, sedih, kecewa dan derita khususnya dalam menghadapi makhluk di sekelilingnya.

Boleh jadi orang yang paling diharapkan di sisi kita itulah orang yang telah mengkhianati kita selama ini. Boleh jadi orang yang paling dikasihi itulah sebenarnya paling membenci. Boleh jadi orang yang paling dekat jasadnya dengan kita itulah orang yang paling jauh hatinya dari kita. Teman yang selama ini paling dipercaya, mungkin esok menjadi musuh yang paling merbahaya.

Rumah yang baru dibeli dengan jaminan keselamatan dan kekukuhan untuk tempoh yang lama boleh jadi retak atau roboh sejurus kita mendudukinya. Kereta yang baru dibeli dengan harga yang tinggi itu mungkin juga kereta yang dinaiki menuju musibah. Kawasan yang dijamin selamat dari gempa bumi namun mungkin dibinasakan oleh banjir yang besar. Beginilah makhluk.

Makhluk tidak menentu. Apa yang dari mereka tiada yang pasti. Apa yang dicari dari mereka akan pergi. Apa yang diingini dari mereka tidak pernah kekal abadi.

Ketika menyedari kenyataan “tidak menentu”nya makhluk. Kita hayati hakikat ini setiap kali berinteraksi dengan sekeliling, samada dari kalangan manusia atau alam. Sama sahaja. Semuanya digerakkan oleh Tuhan yang menentukan segalanya dengan kebijaksanaan. Namun, kita yang lalai. Kita rela dibelenggu “rutin” harian daripada melihat interaksi Allah s.w.t. di sebalik setiap pergerakan makhluk.

Oleh sebab itulah, Imam Ibn ‘Atho’illah As-Sakandari menyebutkan bahawa, bilamana Allah s.w.t. membuatkan alam dan makhluk ini serba merungsingkanmu, ianya sebenarnya adalah suatu panggilan agar kamu mencari ketenangan hanya pada kebersamaan denganNya. Bilamana Allah s.w.t. memberi musibah, Dia ingin kamu kembali kepadaNya dengan penuh pasrah dan berserah. Bilamana Allah s.w.t. memberimu ujian, Dia ingin kamu mencariNya untuk meminta bantuan. Bilamana Dia memberimu kesempitan, Dia ingin kamu kembali kepadaNya untuk mencari kelapangan.

Hanya kepada Dia, kamu perlu kembali. Hanya kerana Dia, kamu perlu kembali. Hanya kerana Dia, kamu perlu kembali kepadaNya. Bukan kerana selainNya. Ini kerana, seluruh selainNya adalah khayalan yang sentiasa menghimpit. Makin kamu renggangkan antara keduanya untuk mencari kelapangan dalam makhluk, makin kuat kamu akan dihimpit.

Kalau Allah s.w.t. menyayangi seseorang, Dia akan memahamkan hakikat “seruan kepulangan” ini dalam dirinya di sebalik setiap musibah melanda. Alam adalah interaksi Allah s.w.t. dengan para hambaNya. Namun, kebanyakan mereka lalai dari memahaminya kerana tidak pernah menghadirkan Allah s.w.t. dalam hati mereka.

Kamu perlu sedar hakikat ini. Allah s.w.t. tidak pernah menyusahkanmu, kerana bukan itu tujuan kamu diciptakan. Allah s.w.t. sengaja menyempitkan makhluk agar kita mencari kelapangan pada kebersamaan denganNya. Hanya denganNya. Fahamilah isyarat ini duhai teman, lalu anda akan dapat melihat kebersamaan Tuhan.

sumber : Raja Ahmad Mukhlis bin Raja Jamaluddin Al Azhari

InshaAllah - Maher Zain

Everytime you feel like you cannot go on
You feel so lost
That your so alone
All you is see is night
And darkness all around
You feel so helpless
You cant see which way to go
Dont despair and never loose hope
Cause Allah is always by your side

Insha Allah
Insha Allah
Insha Allah
Insya Allah youll find your way

Everytime you commit one more mistake
You feel you cant repent
And that its way too late
Yourre so confused, wrong decisions you have made
Haunt your mind and your heart is full of shame

Dont despair and never loose hope
Cause Allah is always by your side

Insha Allah
Insha Allah
Insha Allah
Insya Allah youll find your way

Insha Allah
Insha Allah
Insha Allah
Insya Allah youll find your way

Turn to Allah
Hes never far away
Put your trust in Him
Raise your hands and pray
OOO Ya Allah
Guide my steps dont let me go astray
Youre the only one that showed me the way,
Showed me the way
Showed me the way

Insha Allah
Insha Allah
Insha Allah
Insya Allah well find the way

ps: i want to dedicate this song to my beloved cousin, Hamidah Abdullah and my best friend, Melissa Hassim. God knows what is best for us, inshaAllah :)

Tugas Kita, Bukan Sekolah....

2010-02-01T14:26:00.004+08:00

with muhammad ikhwan bin lokman. a.k.a. ah seng :)

Bismillahi walhamdulilahi 'alaa rasulillah

"Di tangan orangtualah anak-anak tumbuh dan menemukan jalan-jalannya. Ajari kebaikan dan pilihkan sekolah agama yang baik"

Jumat malam, menjelang penutupan tahun 2009, seorang teman mengadu. Ia begitu kecewa dengan sekolah tempat anaknya belajar. “Saya sudah bayar mahal-mahal, hasilnya cuma segitu,“ ujar pria, sebut saja namanya Ilham (35). Pekerja super sibuk ini tentu punya asalan mengapa ia begitu marah. Menurutnya, ia sudah memilih sekolah yang tepat, gedung megah, fasilitas lengkap, dan teman-teman terhormat. Semuanya sudah ada. Berkualitas. Kurang apa lagi?

Tapi nampaknya ia kecele. Setelah beberapa tahun perjalanan perkembangan sang anak, ia tak menemui sikap dan tindakan sang buah hati seperti yang diharapkannya. Ia mengaku, anaknya punya nilai akademik di atas rata-rata. Hanya kesopan dan akidahnya di bawah rata-rata.

Ilham adalah seorang manager sebuah perusahaan besar dengan gaji lumayan. Demi masa depan anaknya, ia bekerja banting-tulang dan pulang malam. Hanya sedikit waktu bertemu dengan buah hatinya. Hari panjangnya bertemu anak dan keluarganya hanya hari Ahad. Setiap hari, jika ia datang, ditemui anaknya sudah terlelap. Meski tak banyak waktu yang ia contohkan tentang kehidupan pada buah hatinya, ia tetap berharap, anaknya bisa menjadi anak yang baik. “Masa lalu saya cukup buruk dan tidak mengerti agama, jangan sampai anak saya ikut seperti saya, “ tambahnya.

Tauladan

Anak merupakan amanah dari Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. Karena amanah, maka kelak Dia akan meminta pertanggungjawaban kepada kita atas amanah tersebut.

Jika anak-anak tumbuh menjadi shalih dan shalihah, tentu akan membawa keuntungan dunia dan akhirat bagi orangtuanya. Sebaliknya, jika orangtua lalai dalam mengajar dan mendidik, keberadaannya akan membawa bencana dunia dan akhirat. Banyak orangtua percaya, uang bisa “menyulap” akhlak anak. Mereka memposisikan sekolah seperti pabrik atau penitipan sepeda. Padahal seorang anak adalah manusia. Sering pula orangtua menyangka, nilai akademis selalu sejajar dengan perilaku baik dan akidah yang lurus. Banyak kasus di negeri ini orang-orang bertindah ceroboh, melakukan korupsi dan melakukan kejahatan bahkan dari orang-orang terdidik dan pandai.

Para orangtua menilai dengan menitipkan seorang anak di lembaga pendidikan, semuanya selesai. Sementara di rumah, apa yang anak dapat tak sama dengan nilai-nilai yang diajarkan di sekolahnya. Tak ada keteladanan yang diperolah dari anak menyebabkan mereka bimbang terhadap nilai-nilai. Di sekolah ia diajarkan kebaikan, dilarang berbuat kasar, memaki, berbuat sopan, sementara di rumahnya ibu-bapaknya setiap hari berlaku kasar dan tak mencontohkan nilai-nilai kebaikan.

Lembaga pendidikan hanya institusi menjalankan proses pendidikan dan mengenalkan nilai. Anak hanya mampir sesaat di sekolah. Hari-hari panjang justru berada di rumah. Di sinilah tugas para orangtua mengawal apa yang telah diperoleh di sekolah. Itulah sinergi terbaik antara sekolah dan orangtua. Yang terjadi sering sebaliknya. Para orangtua sering menyalahkan sekolah, padahal kesalahan ada pada orangtua.

Sesungguhnya tugas pendidikan ada pada keluarga dan sekolah. Namun pertanggujawabannya di akhirat, di hadapan Allah SWT tetap para orangtua.

Terkait dengan mendidik anak, di Islam memberikan tuntunan sangat baik. Di bawah beberapa tip dan tuntunan ajaran Islam:

Tanamkan Akidah yang Benar

Ini hal yang sangat penting. Jika anak-anak memiliki akidah yang benar, maka itu lahan subur bagi tumbuhnya kebaikan-kebaikan. Tidak ada kebaikan pada diri anak yang akidahnya melenceng. Penanaman akidah harus dimulai dari orangtua, dari rumah. Tunjukkanlah akidah yang lurus. Jika kita tak memiliki semua itu, setidaknya, pilihkanlah mereka sekolah-sekolah yang baik, di mana Islam menjadi bagian utama dari dasar pijakannya.

Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bersabda, “Wahai anak, aku akan ajarkan padamu beberapa kalimat: Jagalah Allah pasti engkau akan dapati Allah di hadapanmu. Jika engkau meminta, maka mintalah kepada Allah. Ketahuilah bahwa jika seluruh umat berkumpul untuk menolongmu, mereka tidak bisa menolongmu dengan sesuatu kecuali atas hal yang telah Allah takdirkan. Ketahuilah bahwa jika seluruh umat berkumpul untuk mencelakaimu, mereka tidak bisa mencelakaimu dengan sesuatu kecuali atas yang telah Allah takdirkan, pena-pena telah diangkat dan catatan-catatan telah kering.”
(Riwayat Ahmad dan Tirmidzi)

Allah berfirman, “Hai orang-orang beriman, peliharalah diri-diri kamu dan keluargamu dari api neraka.” [QS: At Tahrim ayat 6]

Memohon Pahala

Rasulullah bersabda, “Jika seseorang menafkahkan hartanya kepada keluarganya dengan mengharap pahala, maka baginya adalah pahala sedekah.”
(Riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim dari Abu Mas’ud)

Ingatkan Shalat

Shalat merupakan kewajiban paling utama seorang hamba terhadap Allah. Rasulullah menegaskan, “Perintahkan anakmu untuk shalat saat usia tujuh tahun dan pukullah mereka (jika meninggalkan shalat) saat usia sepuluh tahun dan pisahkanlah tempat tidur mereka.”
(Riwayat Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Hakim, Baihaqi, dan lain-lain)

Menuntun Berakhlak Baik

Mustahil mengajarkan kebaikan jika yang dilihat anak di rumah setiap jam, setiap hari justru keburukan. Di tangan orangtualah anak-anak tumbuh dan menemukan jalan-jalannya. Jika yang dilihat setiap saat buah keburukan, di masa datang, orangtua akan panen keburukan. Begitu pula sebaliknya.

Membiasakan praktik-praktik sunnah dalam kehidupan keseharian. Misalnya makan dengan membaca "Bismillah" dan membiasakan berdoa, mengakhirinya dengan "Alhamdulillah", masuk/keluar rumah dengan “Salam”, dll. Menghapalkan doa-doa sejak sedini mungkin memberikan pengaruh besar dalam perkembangan kejiwaan anak.

Mulailai kebaikan dari diri sendiri sebelum mengajarkan pada anak-anak kita. Sekecil apapun.

Umar bin Abu Salamah Radhiyallahu ‘anhu saat masih kecil dalam asuhan Rasulullah, tangannya ke sana ke mari di atas makanan. Dia bersabda, “Wahai anak, bacalah ‘Bismillah’, makanlah dengan tangan kananmu, dan makanlah makanan yang dekat darimu.”
(Riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim dari Umar bin Abu Salamah)

Tanamkan kepada mereka akhlak-akhlak mulia. Ajari berkata dan bersikap jujur, berbakti kepada orangtua, dermawan, menghormati yang lebih tua dan sayang kepada yang lebih muda, serta beragam akhlak lainnya.

Melarang mereka dalam perbuatan yang diharamkan. Ajarkan sejak sedini mungkin beragam perbuatan yang tidak baik atau bahkan diharamkan. Tidak merokok, berjudi, minum khamr, mencuri, mengambil hak orang lain, zhalim, durhaka kepada orangtua, dan segenap perbuatan haram lainnya.

Memisahkan Tempat Tidur

Memasuki usia sepuluh tahun, pisahkanlah tempat tidurnya. Anak-anak pada usia ini sudah terhitung dewasa dan mendekati masa baligh (puber), gairahnya mulai muncul, maka memisahkan tidur mereka akan mencegah petaka yang tidak diinginkan. Rasulullah bersabda,
“…pisahkanlah tempat tidur mereka.”
(Riwayat Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Hakim, Baihaqi, dan lain-lain)

Berbuat Adil

Tidak bijak bila membeda-bedakan anak dalam berinteraksi dan menafkahi. Perlakuan pilih kasih kerap membawa permusuhan di antara saudara. Hal itu merupakan bentuk kezhaliman terhadap anak.

Rasulullah bersabda, ”Aku tidak akan bersaksi atas suatu kejahatan, takutlah kamu kepada Allah dan berbuat adillah kepada anak-anakmu.”
(Riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim dari Nu’man bin Basyir)

Lemah Lembut, Bermain, dan Mencium

Rasulullah tidak segan mengajak anak-anak untuk bermain, berlaku lemah lembut, serta mendekati dan mencium mereka. Simaklah bagaimana cara Rasulullah memanggil mereka, “Wahai anakku.” Hindari cacian, cibiran, perbanyak pujian.

Tegas Saat Diperlukan

Anak yang tidak pernah mendapat hukuman (saat diperlukan) akan mempunyai tabiat yang kurang bagus. Hendaklah orangtua bisa menunjukkan kepada anak-anak dan keluarganya bahwa dia adalah orang yang tegas dan keras saat kondisi mengharuskan itu.

Rasulullah pernah bersabda, “…pukullah mereka (jika meninggalkan shalat) saat usia sepuluh tahun.”
(Riwayat Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Hakim, dan Al-Baihaqi).

Juga, “Gantunglah cambuk di tempat yang bisa dilihat oleh anggota keluargamu, karena hal itu akan menjadi sebuah pelajaran.” (Riwayat Bukhari dalam kitab Al-Adab Al-Mufrad)

Selain yang terurai di atas, hendaknya para orangtua tampil menjadi teladan bagi buah hatinya, lalu mengajari ilmu yang membawa kemanfaatan dunia dan akhirat, serta tidak mendoakan yang buruk kepada mereka (anak-anak).

Pertanggujawaban

Dan di dalam hadits yang diriwayatkan oleh Al-Imam Al-Bukhari dan Al-Imam Muslim, Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam bersabda, “Setiap di antara kalian adalah pemimpin dan akan dimintai pertanggungjawaban.” Mudah-mudahan kita semua selamat di dunia dan di akhirat untuk mengantarkan anak-anak kita ketika kelak dihadapkan pada mahkamah Allah.

semoga bermanafaat, wallahu 'aalam bissawab

sumber : forwarded email from hidayatullah.com

SNAP VIA MIRROR CONTEST

2010-01-30T13:48:00.005+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah ..

terjumpa mengenai entry ni di blog ukhtie khairunissa bt saad :

SNAP VIA MIRROR CONTEST

err..sound interesting since saya ni minat bab menggambar nih..gambar ni saya ambik masa baru lepas kawen dan time tu pulak kena duk jauh dari suami sebab proses menguruskan visa sedang berlangsung..huhu..sudahnya takdop kerja..maka abis la litip mak saya saya tenyeh kat cermin..(mak saya tak baca blog..hahah..:P) sebab saya tak suka menenyeh litip kat bibir..huhu..

untuk penganjur kontes ni..err..saya mencadangkan supaya blog anda :

background tu tukau le kaler yang suci sikit..(easy on eyes gitu) ni nak carik button follower pun konpius sebab banyak nau benda lip lap kat situ..kesian tau warga tua cam ...hehe
tulisan plak pun kena kasi besar skit..terutama kat blog butik tu sebab kastemer cam saya ni kan..alahai..lens mata tak sampai 1 megapiksel nak oii...hehe..
widget tu susun elok2 la skit sebab banyak nau..hehe..kalau kurangkan sikit pun takpe..macam blog yang di follow tu buat dalam bentuk tab menu..supaya tak menyemak sangat di situ..hehe..

errr..nak 2 je kan..aku bagi 3..kalau nak lapanblas lagi karang le ye..hehhe..nasib baik ko buat contest ni dik, ade gak modal aku nak update blog..hahaha

ps: details about the contest, here.

Happiness in Front of Your Eyes

2009-10-30T10:41:00.000+08:00

Time comes and goes, life slips and goes forth, what is to come? No creation knows.

Sometimes, things Allah SWT takes it away, because in His infinite Wisdom it is something which is not good for you. However, what is to say that same thing is not good for you later in life? Time can go by, a jewel can accumulate dust, but with a blow of the mouth and a brush of the hands, it sparkles like new just as it was before. Allah may very well take you away from a danger or a calamity which may be bad for you at that time, but that same ‘danger’ or ‘calamity’ could be hope and goodness for you later in life.

The point is, it is in The Will of Allah the believer should find his or her rest, because it is the plan of Allah that prevails in the end.

وَمَكَرُواْ وَمَكَرَ اللّهُ وَاللّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِين

"And they planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners"
[Suratu Al-Imran, verse 54]

At the same time, don’t give up hope due to past problems. Because, it could be that the past hope was not good for you but it is what shines a light for you in darkness today. You may come across people that you didn’t like before but now are your best of companions. It could be that the people and things which you have shunned away from before are the torch of light that will bring life to the heart and soul today.

اللّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُخْرِجُهُمالظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّوُرِ

"Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light…"
[Suratu Baqarah, verse 257]

True happiness is right in front of you but you need to take off your dirty glasses first to see the light which is present abundantly.

وَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ
“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.”
[Suratu Baqarah, verse 216)

Adakah anda seorang yang Berani?

2009-10-27T07:57:00.000+08:00

Seorang yang berani, sentiasa bersedia melakukan sesuatu yang penting bagi kecemerlangan hidupnya,
meskipun dia belum berpengalaman
meskipun dia tidak memiliki wang untuk itu
meskipun banyak orang meragukan akan hasilnya
meskipun telah banyak orang gagal dalam upaya yang sama
meskipun sama sekali tidak ada jaminan
meskipun sebetulnya dia sangat ketakutan
dan meskipun lebih mungkin baginya untuk gagal.

Anda tidak bisa membina kehidupan yang luar biasa dengan keberanian yang biasa.
Kerana keberanian adalah sebuah kualiti yang boleh memaksimakan.

Jika anda berani, anda akan memaksimakan kebesaran dan ketinggian dari yang ingin anda capai.
Yang selain itu, adalah pembatasan kebebasan hati.

Jika anda berani, anda akan memaksimakan upaya anda untuk mencapai yang anda inginkan.
Yang selain itu, adalah pembatasan kesediaan bekerja.

Jika anda berani, anda akan memaksimakan tanggungjawab yang anda pikul.
Yang selain itu, adalah pembatasan potensi.

Jika anda berani, anda akan memaksimakan ukuran dan nilai dari sumbangan anda.
Yang selain itu, adalah pengkerdilan hak untuk menerima.

Jika anda berani, anda akan memaksimakan peranan yang anda minta dari Tuhan.
Yang selain itu, adalah pengecewaan tujuan hidup anda.

Remember the Sabra and Shatilla Tragedy on 16th September 1982

2009-09-16T01:25:00.004+08:00

16hb September in History

If 16th September is the date to commemorate the formation of Malaysia, on the same date twenty years later, a tragedy has unfolded on the Palestinian people. On that infamous day in 1982, a grim massacre took place in the camps of Sabra and Shatila, in Lebanon.

The background

Sabra and Shatila

Sabra is a Lebanese residential area on the southern end of West Beirut. Shatila is a Palestinian refugee camp, run by UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). The refugee camp of Shatila has existed since 1949 in the aftermath of the creation of the illegitimate state of Israel in 1948. By 1949 more than 100,000 Palestinian took refuge in Lebanon including at Shatila.

Since Sabra and Shatila lie side by side, the close interactions between residents in these two poor areas eventually lend the name ‘Sabra and Shatila camp’.

Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO)

PLO was formed in 1964. It is an umbrella organization that brought together a number of Palestinian resistance organizations including Fatah, the dominant group that controls PLO.

Al-Fatah (and PLO) had been under the leadership of the late Yasser Arafat . These organizations has agreed to join forces under PLO for a common goal i.e to liberate the whole of Palestine from the Zionist occupation.

In 1969, at a meeting in Cairo, the then Lebanese Prime Minister has given the permission for PLO to use Lebanon as a base to launch it’s operation against Israel. PLO grew in strength in Lebanon by the presence of many PLO fighters who were driven out from Jordan in the early 70’s. This situation did not only bring troubles to Israel but also lead to clashes with the local residence and militia groups including the Phalangists of the Maronite Christians.
From Southern Lebanon, PLO fighters launched continuous attack on Israel.

Israel attack Lebanon

To deal with the attack and threats on Israel from Southern Lebanon, especially from PLO, Israel launched a series of military operations. This culminated in the massive attack on Lebanon on 6th June 1982. Israel claimed the attack was in retaliation to a failed assassination attempt on its ambassador in London. It was estimated around 60,000 Israeli troops entered Lebanon even though the move recieved strong condemnation by the UN security council.

The main reason behind the attack was to remove the PLO from Lebanon. To meet this objective, Israel was aided by a number local militias including the Phalangists.

By June 18, Israeli troops had encircled beleagured PLO fighters in West Beirut. A major humanitarian crises awaited the PLO fighters and the local population if Israel decide to launch the final strike.

Ceasefire and Betrayal

Two months into the siege, in mid August 1982, through the mediation by Philip Habib, from the US government, a ceasefire agreement was concluded between Israel and the PLO.

Under the provisions of the “Habib Roadmap”, ordinary PLO fighters and their commanding officers agreed to lay down their arms and depart from Lebanon. They were also required to close down and cease all office operations and PLO infrastructures. The withdrawal process was to be monitored by an international force comprising of the Italian, the French and American forces. The international force was scheduled to stay over a 30 day period from their arrival. They were also responsible to ensure the safety of the inhabitants of Sabra and Shatila including the families left behind by the fighters. Israel on the other hand has agreed to stop its advance to Beirut.

The withdrawal of PLO fighters commenced on August 24th and completed by 1st September 1982. Two days later, Israel started to place its troops around the perimeters of the two camps. Shortly after, the international forces began to withdraw, much earlier than the scheduled timetable.

Massacre

On 11th September 1982, Ariel Sharon, Israeli Minister of Defense who orchestrated the attack on Lebanon made an announcement that there were 2,000 Palestinian terrorists hiding among the refugees in the camps around Beirut. On Wednesday, September 15th 1982, a day after the assassination of Bashir Gemayil, Lebanese President candidate, Israel troops entered Beirut and surrounded Sabra and Shatila. By midday, the whole area was besieged by Israeli tanks and soldiers. Military checkpoints were set up to monitor every movements in the camp. By the evening of the same day, they started shelling the two camps.

Around noon thursday 16th September 1982, a group of up to 150 Phalangists, Israel allies, moved into the camp area. Witnessed by the whole world, within the next 40 hours the Phalangist militias engaged in an orgy of rape and murder of unarmed civilians. Most victims were women, children and the elderly. They could not escape as every exit has been blocked by the Israeli army.

The killing spree continued until 18th Sepetember.

The death toll estimates varied from 700 (official report of Israel) to 3500 people. The report by the International Red Cross put the figure at 2,400.

Until this day, no one has been charged for such a gross crime against humanity, conducted in the clear view of the Israeli army.

Triggered by the September 11th 2001 attack, the US has launched the war against terrorism.

Under the pretext of fighting terror, two countries, Afghanistan and Iraq became the target of American military might.

Compare this to the reaction of the US and the world on the massacre of Sabra and Shatilla on 16th September, 2003. The victims were supposed to be under the protection of an international peacekeeping force, through a security arrangement mediated by the US. Yet they were mercilessly murdered in cold blood.

No actions nor no condemnations were forthcoming from The United Nations. Islamic countries despite of the presence of OIC failed to address the tragedy. The victims of Sabra and Shatila were forgotten, just like the countless other tragedies the Palestinians have endured since 1948.

Hj. Ridzuan Harun
Senior Fellow Researcher
PACE
Palestine Centre of Excellence

Berhentilah Menjadi Gelas!

2009-07-16T01:30:00.000+08:00

Seorang guru mendatangi seorang muridnya ketika wajahnya belakangan ini selalu tampak murung.

“Kenapa kau selalu murung, nak? Bukankah banyak hal yang indah di dunia ini? Ke mana perginya wajah bersyukurmu?” sang Guru bertanya.

“Guru, belakangan ini hidup saya penuh masalah. Sulit bagi saya untuk tersenyum. Masalah datang seperti tak ada habis-habisnya,” jawab sang murid muda.

Sang Guru terkekeh. “Nak, ambil segelas air dan dua genggam garam. Bawalah kemari. Biar kuperbaiki suasana hatimu itu.”

Si murid pun beranjak pelan tanpa semangat. Ia laksanakan permintaan gurunya itu, lalu kembali lagi membawa gelas dan garam sebagaimana yang diminta.

“Coba ambil segenggam garam, dan masukkan ke segelas air itu,” kata Sang Guru. “Setelah itu coba kau minum airnya sedikit.”

Si murid pun melakukannya. Wajahnya kini meringis karena meminum air asin.

“Bagaimana rasanya?” tanya Sang Guru.

“Asin, dan perutku jadi mual,” jawab si murid dengan wajah yang masih meringis.

Sang Guru terkekeh-kekeh melihat wajah muridnya yang meringis keasinan.

“Sekarang kau ikut aku.” Sang Guru membawa muridnya ke danau di dekat tempat mereka. “Ambil garam yang tersisa, dan tebarkan ke danau.”

Si murid menebarkan segenggam garam yang tersisa ke danau, tanpa bicara. Rasa asin di mulutnya belum hilang. Ia ingin meludahkan rasa asin dari mulutnya, tapi tak dilakukannya. Rasanya tak sopan meludah di hadapan mursyid, begitu pikirnya.

“Sekarang, coba kau minum air danau itu,” kata Sang Guru sambil mencari batu yang cukup datar untuk didudukinya, tepat di pinggir danau.

Si murid menangkupkan kedua tangannya, mengambil air danau, dan membawanya ke mulutnya lalu meneguknya. Ketika air danau yang dingin dan segar mengalir di tenggorokannya, Sang Guru bertanya
kepadanya, “Bagaimana rasanya?”

“Segar, segar sekali,” kata si murid sambil mengelap bibirnya dengan punggung tangannya. Tentu saja, danau ini berasal dari aliran sumber air di atas sana. Dan airnya mengalir menjadi sungai kecil di bawah. Dan sudah pasti, air danau ini juga menghilangkan rasa asin yang tersisa di mulutnya.

“Terasakah rasa garam yang kau tebarkan tadi?”

“Tidak sama sekali,” kata si murid sambil mengambil air dan meminumnya lagi. Sang Guru hanya tersenyum memperhatikannya, membiarkan muridnya itu meminum air danau sampai puas.

“Nak,” kata Sang Guru setelah muridnya selesai minum. “Segala masalah dalam hidup itu seperti segenggam garam. Tidak kurang, tidak lebih. Hanya segenggam garam. Banyaknya masalah dan penderitaan yang harus kau alami sepanjang kehidupanmu itu sudah dikadar oleh Allah, sesuai untuk dirimu. Jumlahnya tetap, segitu-segitu saja, tidak berkurang dan tidak bertambah. Setiap manusia yang lahir ke dunia ini pun demikian. Tidak ada satu pun manusia, walaupun dia seorang Nabi, yang bebas dari penderitaan dan masalah.”

Si murid terdiam, mendengarkan.

“Tapi Nak, rasa `asin’ dari penderitaan yang dialami itu sangat tergantung dari besarnya ‘qalbu’(hati) yang menampungnya. Jadi Nak, supaya tidak merasa menderita, berhentilah jadi gelas. Jadikan qalbu dalam dadamu itu jadi sebesar danau.”

(From : Suluk – Blogsome)

A Robbers Advice

2009-07-06T14:43:00.000+08:00

IMAM GHAZALI’S (R.A.) EXPERIENCE

That is why the experience of Imam Ghazali (r.a.) is a valuable lesson. Ayuhatullab! Listen carefully!

Having completed his studies, Imam Ghazali (r.a.) was en route back home. On the way the caravan in which he was travelling was waylaid by robbers. Together with his co-travellers, Imam Ghazali (r.a.) was dispossessed of all his goods. Amongst his possessions were the carefully written notes of the lectures delivered by his ustads. These notes were also taken by the robbers. Imam Ghazali (r.a.) sought out the leader of the band of robbers and pleaded with him: “Your men have taken all my possessions except for the clothes I wear. You may keep the extra clothes and other valuables - I do not lament their loss. However, please ask your men to return the papers they have taken.”

The leader of the band of robbers was amazed at this unusual request. This young man was not worried about clothes and valuables, but he was asking for some pieces of paper to be returned!

Very curious, he asked: “What papers are these?”

Imam Ghazali (r.a.) explained: “I am a student returning home after completing my studies. When my teachers used to lecture, I used to make notes. These are those very pages of ‘ilm that I am requesting to be returned to me.”

The leader of the robbers said, “What you have just said fills me with great sorrow and regret. Young lad! Is your ‘ilm on pieces of paper when it should have been in your heart? Papers can get lost. Papers can be destroyed by fire, become parched by the sun, get eaten by moths, become damaged with damp, etc., etc. You are dependent on papers? It fills me with great pity. Your ‘ilm should be in your heart! Be that as it may, your papers will be returned.”

He summoned one of his men and ordered him, “Give back to this boy his papers.” The notes were retrieved and returned to Imam Ghazali (r.a.).

Imam Ghazali (r.a.) was of noble character. He was, moreover, a dedicated student. The words of the gang-leader were like a knife piercing his heart. On reaching home, he lost no time in memorising all his notes!

omong kosong...

2009-06-29T22:51:00.002+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

owh..sekian lama tidak mengupdate blog..al maklom lah baru saja ada internet kat rumah..and this is my first entry since i moved here, ala-ala berhijrah la kununnya..

ramai kawan-kawan bertanya bagaimanakah kehidupan di negara orang, bla bla bla...well hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri, baguih lagi kat negeri sendiri..wallah!

beberapa bulan pertama saya disini agak sukar, (even until now) saya sangat merindui keluarga, rakan-rakan, suasana berusrah, rindu nak berprogram ke sana kemari..kerana kehidupan disini memang totally different dengan kehidupan di Bintulu. kalau kat bintulu, sehari tak nampak saya di mana-mana, orang suspect saya ni sakit..hehe..tapi kat sini, saya hanya keluar rumah seminggu sekali ..tu pun sebab nak beli barang dapur..the most 3 jam lah kot..then saya takde sorang kawan pun kat sini melainkan incik suami dan anak-anak sahaja..komunikasi agak terhad memandangkan anak-anak boleh le paham bahasa omputeh tapi saya tak paham bahasa omputeh diaorang..eheh..jadi nya macam alien lah sikit di rumah sendiri..bagi yang kenal saya, agak aneh kalau saya jadik pendiam..namun itulah hakikat yang saya terpaksa tempuh di sini..ohhh..nak bercakap..dengan Allah je la kot time semayang..huhu..

time tulis ni pun tengah sedih je rindukan usrah dan program yang saya pernah lalu di Bintulu, kat bumi Oman ni sangatlah terhad harakah Islamiyyah kerana kekangan kerajaan terhadap golongan ikhwan..saya faham saya kena tinggalkan (or lupakan???) past time saya di bintulu kerana skarang saya ada komitmen terhadap keluarga (itu menurut incik suami lah) namun sebagai manusia, mana je la saya mampu nak padamkan memori ..bukan macam hard disk tekan delete semua sudah hilang..

wah..sori la kerana entry ini agak merepek..saya cuma luahkan apa yang terbuku di hati selama beberapa bulan ini...huhu..inshaAllah entry akan datang akan berunsurkan ilmiah seperti sediakala..

Story Of Love...

2009-02-14T00:48:00.007+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,
First of all, it is by His will i write this story of love on Valentine's Day..i didn't celebrate that kind of day(and as Muslim, we shouldn't), but it is just something i would like to share because this is amongst the best love story ever, wallahi :)

Hazrat Huzaifah reported:
"Many Muslims were martyred in the Battle of Yarmouk. I was seeking to give water to my cousin in the battle field. When I found him, I gave him water to drink. Just at that time, a man by his side raised a cry - water...water. My cousin told me to give water first to that man. When I came to him with water, I recognised him and he was Hisham ibn A's. I said : I am giving you water. Just at that time, another man was crying : Water...water, Hisham then give signal that he should first be given water. Before I came to him with water, he breathed his last. Then I came to Hisham with water only to find that he also had expired. Then I came to my cousin with water only to find that he also had expired."

Now look at ourself. Is that how we treat our brothers/sisters in Islam? prioritize them more than ourself? That story of the matyrs of Battle of Yarmouk, I see as true love fillah. :)

Just something to ponder, from Suratu 'Imran verse 92 :

"By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (piety - righteousness --here it means Allah's reward, i.e Paradise), unless you spend (in Allah's cause) of that which you love, and whatever of good you spend, Allah knows it well"

ps : i did not remember who narrate this story. anyone? :)

We Will Not Go Down Tonight (A Song For Gazaa)

2009-01-14T14:20:00.001+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

Ibn `Umar RA reported: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alaihi wassalam said:

“A Muslim is a brother of (another) Muslim, he neither wrongs him nor does hand him over to one who does him wrong. If anyone fulfils his brother's needs, Allah will fulfil his needs; if one relieves a Muslim of his troubles, Allah will relieve his troubles on the Day of Resurrection…"
[Bukhari and Muslim].

In another Hadith, Abu Hurairah RA reported: The Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam said:

"He who removes from a believer one of his difficulties of this world, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and he who finds relief for a hard-pressed person, Allah will make things easy for him on the Day of Resurrection; he who covers up (the faults and sins) of a Muslim, Allah will cover up (his faults and sins) in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah supports His slave as long as the slave is supportive of his brother…”
[Muslim]

Now the situation arises for us to help our fellow Muslims out - our brothers and sisters in Palestine are struggling very very hard right now, don’t hesitate whether to do it or not - especially boycotting the israeli and american's goods, don’t think or have the attitude ‘What will I get out of it?’ Just rememeber the words of Your Prophet Muhammad sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam, when he said:

“Allah supports His slave as long as the slave is supportive of his brother…”
[Muslim]

So, never leave them standing after asking for your help, if they is in need of your help… help them fisabilillah...For it is YOUR DUTY to do so, and it is a RIGHT they has over you.

ps : be a "khairunnas anfa uhum linnas.." may all your efforts in any kind of forms be blessed and repaid with manifold favours by Allah, ameen ya rabbal 'alameen..:)

We Will Not Go Down Tonight (A Song For Gazaa)
Micheal Heart

A blinding flash of white light
Lit up the sky over Gaza tonight
People running for cover
Not knowing whether they're dead or alive

They came with their tanks and their planes
With ravaging fiery flames
And nothing remains
Just a voice rising up in the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Women and children alike
Murdered and massacred night after night
While the so-called leaders of countries afar
Debated on who's wrong or right

But their powerless words were in vain
And the bombs fell down like acid rain
But through the tears and the blood and the pain
You can still hear that voice through the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight

We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

There is No God But Allah

2009-01-10T15:39:00.006+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

this was happen to be my most favourite nasheed for the time being, along with this video i want to share one short tazkiyyah that may benefits us, inshaAllah :)

Mu’adz ibn Jabal RA said, that the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam asked him :
"Oh Muaadh do you know what is the right of Allah Subhana wata 'alaa upon his servants and the right of the servants upon Allah?"

he responsded "no"

and the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said to him :
"that Allah’s right upon the servant is that he be worshipped without associating any partners with him and the right of the slave is to be granted Jannah for whoever worships Allah alone."

[saheeh bukhary]

We spend so much time in cleansing our homes which is the center of our living, it is where we receive our guests but where we need to spend time cleaning is the dwelling of our emaan - our soul...so renew it by saying " Laa ilaha illallah" as many time as you can!

ps : Anas bin Maalik used to tell his children:

O my children! Secure the knowledge by writing it down! :

[ from Sunan An-Nisaa'i [Kitaab Al-Ilm], authenticated by Al-Albaani in Silsilat Al-Ahadeeth As-Saheehah # 2026]

The Du'aa of Light

2009-01-10T14:00:00.004+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi ‘alaa rasulillah,

Ibn ‘Abbas RA reports that he once stayed the night as a guest of Maymuna RA, who was his aunt, and the Prophet sallalahu ‘alaihi wassalam. They slept on their blanket lengthways, and he slept at the end, crossways. After they had all slept for a while, the Prophet sallalahu ‘alaihi wassalam rose in the middle of the night to pray the tahajjud prayer, and Ibn ‘Abbas RA joined him.

They both did wudu’, and he prayed eleven rak'aats with the Prophet salllalahu ‘alaihi wassalam. Then they both went back to sleep again until dawn.

Bilal RA called the adhan and the Prophet sallalahu ‘alaihi wassalam did another two short rak’aAts, before going into the mosque to lead the dawn prayer.

Ibn ‘Abbas RA said that one of the du’aa that the Prophet sallalahu ‘alaihi wassalam made during this night was:

“O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light behind me, light in front of me, light on my right, light on my left, light above me and light below me; place light in my sinew, in my flesh, in my blood, in my
hair and in my skin; place light in my soul and make light abundant for me; make me light and grant me light.”

[narrated by Bukhary and Muslim – saheeh]

ps : i really adore Syeikh Mishary Rashid Al Affassy's recitation..hah..have to learn how to recite like him then!

The Holy Book - It's All For Us!

2009-01-08T15:43:00.004+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulilahi 'alaa rasulillah,

When we read the Quran, cultivate the mentality that every single surah, verse, aayah, and letter was revealed for us, personally.

Verse addressed to Banu Israeel (Jews)? Maybe Ahlil Kitaab (people of the book)? Or maybe An-Naas (humankind)? Or even the obvious, to those who believed? Yes, it addresses them, but it also addresses us. Learn from their past, their triumphs and their defeats, their actions and their mistakes, their joys and their pains.

And remember, there is nothing without purpose in the Quran if we don't feel like we benefit from any of it, grab a volume of tafseer (maybe Fii Ziilalil Quran?) and read up on the meanings.

May Allah cultivate in our hearts a love of this great and fundamental basis of our deen, ameen!

ps : i am working on "Aayaatu As-Sabr" in Quran" - my other half think it will be useful for a lecture on Sabr and for those who are in need of Sabr. Truly, Quran makes everything easier when life gets hard..;)

Perceiving Isn't Reality

2009-01-06T14:22:00.004+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulilahi 'alaa rasulillah,

Remember that the outcome of our actions are in the Will of Allah and nothing else. Our efforts do not convey a certainty towards the outcome whatsoever.

There are times where you plan for something, but it didnt happen. Then there are times you may just briefly sit and didnt think too much, but it happen, as for instance my marriage.

Is it by luck?

No.

This shows that Allah is The One in control. We should put our efforts in, but know that the result is in the Will of Allah . It's miraculous, because there will be times (and I know many of my friendss have seen this) that we tried so hard, expect this and that, but actually you didnt score, i mean you did not achieve what you expected. Thats Allah at work, and know that it is Allah, and nothing else.

كتب عليكم القتال وهو كره لكم وعسى ان تكرهوا شيئا وهو خير لكم وعسى ان تحبوا شيئا وهو شر لكم والله يعلم وانتم لا تعلمون
البقرة - آية 216

"Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, ye know not."

[Suratu Baqarah verse 216]

Times come where we perceive something to be bad for us, but Allah sees goodness it in. And there are times where we perceive something to be good for us, but Allah finds badness in it. We do not know what is best for us, and so it is always important to look to Allah for everything we do, and put our trust in His judgment. For who knows better then The All-Knowing, The Wise?

ps : jazakallahu wa khairan katheera to my beloved zauj for the gift of verse from suratu baqara :-)

Two for the price of one

2009-01-06T14:11:00.002+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

Allah says in the Qur'an:

"So verily, with the hardship, there is relief; Verily, with the hardship, there is relief!
[Suratu Inshirah, verses 5-6]

Two for the price of one! How's that for a deal?

So if you find yourself in a position of hardship, ask yourself: What ease am I forgetting?

And also, the use of with, shows that the two are so closely related as to be companions--they are together!

And Allah is the source of peace, As-Salaam.

Islamic Phrases For Daily Use

2009-01-05T16:14:00.004+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

The following are some of the phrases that are in everyday usage. Try to use them more often to increase in your remembrance of Allah. And when you use these phrases, remember the meaning--don't just say it!

source : here

When Used	Arabic Term	Translation
When starting to do something	Bismillah	In the name of Allah
When greeting or parting from someone	Assalamu-Alaikum	Peace be unto you
When replying to a greeting	Wa alaikum-us-Salaam	And unto you be peace
When intending to do something	Inshallah	If Allah wills
When something is being praised	Subhaan-Allah	Glory be to Allah
When in pain and distress	Ya-Allah	O Allah!
When expressing appreciation	Mashallah	Whatever Allah wills
When thanking someone	Jaza-kumullahu khayr	May Allah reward you with goodness
When awakening from sleep	La-Ilaha-Illallah	There is no God but Allah
When taking an oath	Wallahi or Bellah	By Allah
When sneezing	Alhamdulillah	All praise is due to Allah
When someone else sneezes	Yar-Hamokumullah	Allah have Mercy on you
When repenting of a sin	Astagh-Firullah	I seek Allah’s forgiveness
When giving to charity	Fi-Sabi-Lillah	In the path of Allah
When having love for someone	Lihub-Allah	For the love of Allah
When getting married	Amantu-Billah	I believe in Allah
When a problem appears	Tawakkaltu-'ala-llah	I trust in Allah
When unpleasantness occurs	Na-Uthu-Billah	We seek refuge in Allah
When pleasantness appears	Fata-Barak-Allah	May Allah bless you
When participating in prayer	Ameen	Let it be so
When news of a death is received	Inna-lillahi-wa-inna-ilahi-raji'un	From Allah we came and to Him is our eventual return

THIS is what we will ask from Him

2009-01-04T15:58:00.006+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

Looking at the best examples in history, we can see incident of when Ibrahim AS left his family in the barren valley of Mecca. What did Ibrahim AS desire for them? Upon departing them, he makes the following du'aa to Allah:

"O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks."

[Suratu Ibrahim, verse 37]

He does not ask for the food and shelter first, even though he leaves his family in a place without cultivation. He asks for their guidance first and foremost. That they worship Allah alone and establish salaah. Then he desires good companionship and food for them. This part of his du'aa would be listed in the worldly needs. But even when he desires for them the worldly good, he connects his du'aa to ibadah, he requests from Allah to give them the fruits in this world so that they may be thankful to Him! And thus obtain the reward for ibadah even then.

Truly, that was an amazing du'aa! so now When Baba, Ummi and Mama make du'aa for you guys, THIS is what we will ask for, inshaAllah...its not only for the best in this world, but also the best in the eternal hereafter. May Allah bless all of you, my beloved kids, to obey and submit to Him alone, and make you guys thankful for all the blessings that are bestowed upon you..ameen :)

ps : and make du'aa for Baba, Ummi and Mama too. This is a sign of true love for us - if you guys should know :)

Allahumma inni as'aluka ilman naafian, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbilan.

"Oh Allah! Give me ilm (knowledge) that is beneficial, and rizq that is clean/pure/halal, and deeds that are accepted"
...ameen!

Be an Utrujjah (Orange)?

2009-01-03T23:24:00.005+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

i came across this hadeeth while reading Fadhailul 'Amaal earlier tonight. At the same time, it reminds me very much of my other half, how he loves to eat small/mini oranges very much :). Now i know why he was so addicted to that fruits ;)

from Abu Musa Al Asy'ari RA, Allah’s Messenger sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam said :

"The example of a believer, who recites the Qur'an and acts on it, is like an orange (utrujjah) which tastes nice and smells nice.

And the example of the believer who does not recite the Qur'an but acts on it is like a date that tastes sweet but has no smell.

And the example of a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'an is like a colocynth (bitter apple) which tastes bitter and has a bad smell."

And the example of the hypocrite who recites the Quran is like a sweet basil (raihanah)which smells good but tastes bitter."

[rawahu Bukhari, Muslim, Nasa'ii and Ibn Majah]

So inshaAllah, we should all strive to be like the believer who is like an orange : the one who is emanating beauty because of his/her attachment to the Qur'an. And may Allah protect us from being like the hypocrites, ameen!

ps : striving for orange...nang rasa oren ..he he he..:)

Oman..here i come...

2009-01-02T15:05:00.005+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasuulillah,

"Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad, akan firmanKu ini, kepada orang-orang yang berakal sempurna itu): Wahai hamba-hambaKu yang beriman! Bertakwalah kepada Tuhan kamu. (Ingatlah) orang-orang yang berbuat baik di dunia ini akan beroleh kebaikan (yang sebenar di akhirat) dan (ingatlah) bumi Allah ini luas (untuk berhijrah sekiranya kamu ditindas). Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang bersabarlah sahaja yang akan disempurnakan pahala mereka dengan tidak terkira. "

Say, “O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allāh is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.”

[Az Zumar verse 10]

kebelakangan ni banyak sangat ujian melanda..hari-hari hati ni terusik ..namun alhamdulillah "bayang-bayang baru" aku sentiasa optimis dan tak putus-putus memberi kata-kata perangsang agar aku sabar..

"sabran ya Nurrr..friends of Allah never grieve of despair. My strength is in your strength. Inna ma'al usri yusra..inna nasrallahi qareeb.."

how grateful i am because He gifted me such a wise and optimist husband ..hamdan lillah ;)

well the point is, all of us are in some kind of hardship or test. At the time when the hardship strikes it is extremely hard to be patient and you keep wishing that you could just go somewhere where no one would know you. Allah reminds us that everything is under His control and the earth is spacious. Those who will be patient and follow Allah commands He will make it easier for them and guide them in this world and in the next they will have countless reward. When were down or not....we should return gratitude an thanks to Allah for lifting spirits at all costs and for favours bestowed..because with hardship comes ease, with pain comes glory...inshAllah..just make sure you have TRUST in Allah and His ability to grant you what is best and His ability to solve your problems the instant you make du'aa..

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

enough about obstacles and yang sewaktu dengannya.. :)

Bintulu banyak melakarkan sejarah sepanjang usia hidup aku..(well what can i say..i am here for almost forever..haihhh...) but i will never forget what i gained sepanjang aku menjalani proses "tumbesaran" ku disini..dari kanak-kanak ke zaman akil baligh dan skarang dah dewasa..he he he..dari zaman badan sekeping hingga "bermuscle" seperti skarang..hamdan lillah kerana pengalaman pahit itu lah yang banyak menjadikan aku seperti skarang..

well to everyone that knows me, minta maaf zahir batin sekiranya selama ini, aku banyak error kat korang..minta halal segalanya dan yang mana aku ada hutang kat korang tu, please email aku untuk tuntut [zaitihamdan@gmail.com] other than that, doakan agar aku selamat segala-galanya and hopefully hijrah aku dari Bintulu ke Oman dalam sisa usia aku ni akan ditaburi dengan segala bentuk keberkatan..ameeen..

Oman..here i come..;-D

ps : jazakallahu wa khairan katheera, beloved for non-stop inspiring tazkiyyah/reminders each and every day. truly you are my savior :)

" Wahai Tuhanku, turunkanlah daku di tempat turun yang berkat dan Engkau adalah sebaik-baik Pemberi tempat."

"O my Lord! enable me to disembark with thy blessing: for Thou art the Best to enable (us) to disembark."

[Al Mu'miinuun verse 29]

Du'aa for Our Brothers and Sisters in Gaza...

2008-12-29T19:40:00.001+08:00

اللهم عليك باليهود والمنافقين

اللهم يا قادر يا قاهر يا قوي يا عزيز ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على نبيك محمد .
اللهم عبادك المستضعفين في غزة تجبر عليهم اليهود الملاعين والمنافقين الحاقدين
اللهم فانصرهم على أعدائهم وفرج كربتهم وارحمهم ،
اللهم من يجيرهم سواك ومن يرأف بهم إلاك
اللهم بك نثق وبقوتك نؤمن اللهم شرد اليهود والمنافقين واشدد وطأتك عليهم
اللهم شتت شملهم واجعل تدبيرهم تدميرهم يا الله يا الله
يا ذا القوة والملكوت ليس لنا رب سواك يا ملجأ المستضعفين دمر الصهاينة وآلاتهم ولا تذر منهم أحدا
ومن عاونهم يا قدير يا جبار ،
سبحانك تقبل منا دعائنا واحم أعراضنا وثبت أقدامنا وانصرنا على القوم الكافرين وردنا لدينك ردا جميلا يا أكرم الأكرمين .اللهم خالف بين كلمتهم وألق في قلوبهم الرعب وألق عليهم عذابك
ورجزك إله الحق اللهم اهزمهم وزلزلهم يا عزيز يا متين يا الله يا الله يا الله
أنج المسلمين في كل مكان.

اللهم عليك باليهود ومن عاونهم
اللهم عليك باليهود ومن عاونهم
اللهم عليك باليهود ومن عاونهم

:: بيانٌ في وجوبِ نصرةِ غــزَّة ودعمِ الجهادِ الفلسطيني ::
:: (دعاء مميز لغزة للشيخ العفاسي) ::
:: هدية لشهيد غزة الأبية::
:: كلمة الشيخ ناصر العمر حول أحداث غزة ::

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Segala puji bagi ALLAH yang Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang, Yang Maha Tinggi lagi Maha Perkasa, Yang Maha Menguasai Segala-galanya dan Tiada Tandingannya. Segala puji bagi ALLAH yang menguasai hidup dan mati kami, keluasan dan kesempitan kehidupan kami, kesenangan dan kesusahan hayat kami. Segala puji bagi ALLAH yang pada tanganMu terikat segala-galanya, yang pada kudratMu terkawal segala-galanya.

Selawat dan salam atas kekasihMu, Muhammad Rasulullah SAW, seluruh ahli keluarganya, para sahabatnya, serta semua mereka yang mengikuti mereka dari semasa ke semasa hinggalah pada hari yang KAU janjikan akan hancur segala-galanya.

Ya RABB, Ya JABBAR, Ya QAHHAR, Ya ‘AZIZ, KAU mendengar segala bicara kami, KAU melihat segala apa yang berlaku pada kami, KAU mengetahui segala-galanya, lebih dari apa yang kami ketahui. Hanya kepada KAU sahajalah kami tunduk menghinakan diri, hanya kepada KAU sahajalah kami sujud taat merendah diri, hanya kepada KAU sahaja yang kami adukan segala masalah kami,hanya kepada KAUsahaja segala pertolongan kami pinta, hanya kepada KAU sahaja tempat kami bergantung dalam segala hal dan perkara.

Maka bantulah kami, maka bantulah kami, maka bantulah kami.

Ya ALLAH, Ya ALLAH, Ya ALLAH,

Saudara-saudara kami di Gaza dan seluruh Palestin sedang menderita dihentam oleh kaum yang pernah mengkhianatiMu. Saudara-saudara kami di Gaza dan seluruh Palestin sedang teruk diserang oleh musuh-musuhMu yang hendak memadamkan deenMu. Saudara-saudara kami di Gaza dan seluruh Palestin sedang tersepit dan terhimpit atas tindakan kaum Yahudi yang ingin memusnahkan deenMu.

Sesungguhnya KAU ya ALLAH, lebih tahu apa yang berlaku terhadap saudara kami di Gaza khasnya, dan di seluruh Palestin amnya. Maka kepada KAU sahajalah yang kami mampu adukan hal kami dan hal mereka. Sesungguhnya Ya ALLAH, tangan dan kaki kami terikat dari membantu mereka. Hanya doa dan aduan kepadaMu sahaja yang mampu kami lakukan.

Ya ALLAH, KAU perkuatkanlah saf pejuang-pejuang yang mempertahankan deenMu di Gaza dan seluruh Palestin. Ya ALLAH, KAU bantulah hamba-hambaMu yang sedang bermatian mempertahankan deenMu di Gaza dan seluruh Palestin. Ya ALLAH, KAU bantulah hamba-hambaMu yang sedang dihimpit oleh musuh-musuh yang ingin memadamkan deenMu.

Ya ALLAH, KAUlah tuan kepada Masjidil Aqsa, KAUlah tuan kepada tanah suci Baitul Muqaddas, KAU jugalah tuan kepada nyawa-nyawa saudara kami yang sedang bermatian bertahan dan berjuang di Gaza dan seluruh Palestin. Maka dengan penuh hina, kami HAMBA, memohon kepada KAU, TUAN kepada segala-galanya untuk membantu segala benda yang menjadi milikMU. Bantulah hamba-hambaMu ya ALLAH, bantulah mereka, bantulah mereka.

Ya ALLAH, Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum, Ya Zal Jalali Wal Ikram,

Satukanlah saf pejuang-pejuangmu di Gaza dan seluruh Palestin. Kuatkanlah kaki-kaki mereka. Bantulah mereka dengan tentera-tentera yang KAU pernah turunkan di medan Badar pada masa dahulu, hantarkanlah angin taufan membantu mereka seperti KAU hantarkan ketika perang Khandaq, bantulah mereka dengan tentera-tentera tak terlihat seperti KAU lakukan ketika perang Hunain, jagalah mereka ya ALLAH, sebagaimana KAU menjaga tentera-tentera muslimin ketika Perang Mu’tah. Pertahankanlah mereka ya ALLAH, sebagaimana KAU menjaga RasulMu di medan Uhud.

Ya ALLAH, Ya ALLAH, Ya ALLAH,

Tangan kami pendek tak tercapai ke sana, tanganMu jugalah yang berada di atas kekuatan kesatuan mereka. Bantulah mereka saudara-saudara kami di Gaza itu ya ALLAH. Bantulah mereka Ya ALLAH.

Ya ALLAH,

Sesungguhnya Yahudi dan segala kuncu-kuncunya, dengan segala manusia yang bersekongkol dengannya, telah melampau-lampau. Mereka telah membunuh ramai para nabi dan RasulMu, mereka juga menyakiti hati Rasulullah SAW kekasihMu. Hari ini mereka hendak memadamkan ummat Rasulullah SAW kekasihMu. Sesungguhnya mereka adalah kaum yang menderhaka kepadaMua tanpa henti. Telah KAU hantar ratusan utusan untuk mereka, tetapi tidak mereka ikuti. Hinggalah hari ini ya ALLAH, mereka telah menyakiti saudara-saudara kami, mereka hendak memadamkan deenMu ya ALLAH....

Sesungguhnya Ya ALLAH, KAU jugalah pemilik nyawa dan hati mereka, KAU jugalah pemilik kekuatan dan keperkasaan mereka. Pada tangan KAU lah terletak segala perancangan dan kemampuan mereka.

Kami memohon kepadaMu ya ALLAH, agar KAU tarik segala keperkasaan mereka dan berikan kepada mujahidin yang berjuang atas jalanMu, tariklah segala keberanian mereka, dan berikanlah kepada mujahidin yang berjuang atas jalanMu, tariklah segala kekuatan mereka, dan berikanlah kepada mujahidin yang sedang mempertahankan deenMu.

Ya ALLAH, KAU lah pemilik ketakutan dan kelemahan, KAU lah pemilik kehancuran dan kehinaan. Maka campakkanlah ketakutan atas hati-hati pejuang yahudi dan kuncu-kuncunya. Lemahkanlah segala kekuatan mereka. Hancurkanlah segala keperkasaan mereka. Hinakanlah segala kemuliaan mereka.

Ya ALLAH, hancurkanlah mereka dengan segala kekuatanMu. Ya ALLAH, hantarkanlah api dari langit yang pernah KAU turunkan atas kaum ‘Ad, hantarkanlah teriakan yang pernah KAU hantarkan pada kaum Thamud, hantarkanlah taufan yang pernah kau hantarkan pada Kaum Nuh, tenggelamkanlah mereka seperti mana kau tenggelamkan Firaun dan Haman. Ya ALLAH, gegarkanlah bumi mereka, bunuhlah semua tentera mereka sehingga tidak tertinggal seorang pun dari mereka.

ALLAH.. ALLAH.. ALLAH..

Kami ini lemah, mungkin kerna dosa kami maka saudara kami diuji sebegini rupa. Maka kami sujud menghina diri, kami meletakkan dahi kami ke tanah memohon kepadaMu RABBI, agar KAU maafkan dan ampunkan dosa-dosa kami. Ya ALLAH... KAMI hambaMu memohon ampun, KAMI hambaMu memohon maaf atas segala kesilapan dan kelalaian kami. Mungkin kerna kelalaian kami maka saudara kami diuji. YA ALLAH...

Ya ALLAH, KAU sahajalah yang sentiasa bersama-sama hamba-hambaMu. Kami memohon kepadaMu ya ALLAH, sentiasalah KAU berada di sisi pejuang-pejuang yang mempertahankan deenMu di Gaza dan Palestin. Ya ALLAH... kasihanilah mereka. Andai dosa kami besar sehingga KAU tidak memandang kami, maka KAU pandanglah darah-darah yang tersembur dari tubuh pejuang-pejuangMu di Gaza dan Palestin sana. YA ALLAH.. kasihanilah mereka. Ya ALLAH, kasihanilah mereka.

Ya ALLAH, bantulah mereka dan bantulah kami. Kuatkanlah saudara-saudara kami di Gaza dan Palestin itu dan kuatkanlah kami. YA ALLAH, musnahkanlah musuh-musuh mereka dan musuh-musuh kami. YA ALLAH, bantulah saudara-saudara kami dan bantulah diri kami.

YA ALLAH yang sentiasa mendengar doa, ya ALLAH yang lebih dekat dari urat nadi kami, ya ALLAH yang telah berjanji kepada kami,

“Berdoalah kepadaKu, nescaya akan AKU perkenankan”

Ya ALLAH yang telah berkata kepada kami,

“Kalau hambaKu bertanya kepadamu mengenai AKU, sesungguhnya AKU amat dekat...”

Maka kami menuntut janji-janji itu. Perkenankanlah doa-doa kami. Bantulah kami. Bantulah saudara-saudara kami. Sesungguhnya kami yang lemah ini hanya mempunyai kekuatanMu sebagai payung dari hujan kejahatan musuh-musuh kami dan musuh-musuhMu.

Ya RABB... YA RABB... YA RABB..

KAU Sahaja tempat kami mengadu atas kesusahan kami dan kelemahan kami

KAU makbulkanlah doa ini atas doa hamba-hambaMu yang soleh, KAU makbulkan doa ini atas amalan soleh yang telah kami lakukan secara sengaja atau tak sengaja. KAU makbulkanlah doa ini atas cinta dan kasihMu kepada Rasulullah SAW...

Ya ALLAH... Ya ALLAH... Ya ALLAH...

Selamatkanlah kami hamba-hambaMu ini dari tangan-tangan yahudi dan segala kuncu-kuncunya.

Sesungguhnya KAU sahajalah penjaga kami, kepada KAU sahajalah kami berharap, kepada KAU sahajalah kami bergantung harap.

Tinggikanlah ISLAM, tinggikanlah ISLAM, tinggikanlah ISLAM.

Segala puji kami rafa’kan kepadaMu Yang Paling Besar, Yang Paling Kuat, Yang Paling Perkasa, Yang Paling Agung. Selawat dan salam kami utuskan kepada Rasulullah SAW, seluruh ahli keluarganya, seluruh sahabatnya, dan semua mereka yang menuruti mereka hingga masa ke semasa hingga ke hari kiamat.

Amiiin...

A'am Hijri Jadeed wa Saeed 1430!

2008-12-28T22:21:00.001+08:00

Its only twenty pence?

2008-12-24T11:52:00.004+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah, this was something i found today - one from thousands of my archive of tazkiyatun nafs :)

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Several years ago an imaam moved to London. He often took the bus from his home to the downtown area. Some weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the same bus. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him twenty pence too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'you better give the twenty pence back. It would be wrong to keep it'.

Then he thought, 'oh forget it, it's only twenty pence. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company already gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from Almighty Allah and keep quiet'.

When his stop came, the Imaam paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the twenty pence back to the driver and said:

"Here, you gave me too much change."

The driver with a smile replied:

"Aren't you the new Imaam in this area? I have been thinking lately about going to worship at your Masjid. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change."

When the Imaam stepped off the bus, his knees became weak and soft. He had to grab the nearest light pole and held for support, and looked up to the heavens and cried:

"Oh Allah, I almost sold Islam for twenty pence!"

Bottomline: We may never see the impact our actions have on people... Sometimes we are the only knowledge of the Quran someone will read, or the only Islam a non-Muslim will see. What we need to provide, Insha Allah is an example for others to see. Be careful and be honest everyday, because you never know who is watching your actions..

From Hollywood to Hajj

2008-12-23T13:36:00.002+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

this was sent by my other half few minutes ago. May Allah accept all the Hajj of all the Hujjaj and earn a Hajj Mabroor inshaAllah ameen...

Our Wishes..

2008-12-17T19:33:00.004+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah..

saya nak share du'aa yang telah dibacakan oleh adik Hijjaz b Hamid semasa waleemah kami tempoh hari..may Allah granted all our wishes dan sentiasa menggumpulkan kita semua dalam kebaikan..ameen ...

Bismillahir rahmanir rahiim,

Segala puji-pujian hanya kepada Allah, Tuhan Sekalian Alam.
Selawat dan salam kesejahteraan kepada junjungan mulia kami, Nabi Muhammad SAW,
juga kepada seluruh keluarga dan para sahabat baginda.

Ya Allah,
Kami berkumpul pada hari ini,
Untuk sama-sama meraikan pembentukan sebuah lagi bait al muslim
Kami menadah tangan kami dan memohon kepadamu dengan penuh rendah hati
Sekiranya pada diri kami ini masih ada kelemahan dan dosa
Janganlah perkara ini menjadi penghalang
Pada tertunainya doa kami yang terbit dari hati yang ikhlas
Dan dari jiwa yang sentiasa mengharapkan keredhaan serta keampunanmu.

Ya Allah,
Dari setinggi dan seluas kasih sayangMu,
Kau limpahkan rahmat, redha dan ampunanMu
kepada pasangan Syed Bashir Ahmad bin Syed Habibullah dan Nurzaiti bt Hamdan.
Berkatilah majlis yang diadakan dengan segala bentuk keberkatan
dari permulaan hingga pengakhirnya.

Sesungguhnya pertemuan ini adalah dengan izinMu,
Sempurnakanlah agama mereka dengan berkat ikatan ini.
Kurniakanlah keduanya ketenangan, kebahagiaan
dan jiwa yang tabah menghadapi setiap dugaanMu.
Mudah-mudahan perkongsian hidup yang dibina berkekalan hingga ke akhir usia
dan kurniakanlah kepada mereka zuriat yang soleh dan solehah.
Dengan taufik dan hidayahMu
beruntunglah keduanya dalam kehidupan di dunia lebih-lebih lagi di akhirat

Ya Allah,
Keep them from pettiness and let them be thoughtful in words and deeds
Help them to put away pretense and face each other in DEEP TRUST
without fear and self-pity,
Help them to guard against fault-finding
and quick to discover the best in each other and in every situation,
Guard them from ill-temper and hasty-judgement,
ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE TIME FOR ALL THINGS,
GROW CALM, SERENE AND GENTLE,
Help them to be generous with kind words and compliments,
Teach them never to ignore, never to hurt, never to take each other for granted,
ENGRAVE CHARITY AND COMPASSION ON THEIR HEART..

Ya Allah,
Engkau mengetahui hati-hati ini telah berkumpul kerana mengasihiMU,
bertemu untuk mematuhi perintahMU,
bersatu memikul beban dakwahMU,
hati-hati ini telah mengikat janji setia untuk mendaulat dan menyokong syariatMU,
maka eratkanlah ikatannya...

Kekalkanlah kemesraan antara hati-hati ini akan jalanNYA yang sebenar,
Penuhkanlah hati ini dengan cahaya RabbaniMu yang tidak akan malap,
Lapangkanlah hati-hati ini dengan limpahan iman
dan keyakinan dan keindahan tawakkal kepadaMU,
Hidup suburkanlah hati-hati ini dengan pengetahuan sebenar tentangMU,

Jika Engkau mentakdirkan mati,
maka matikanlah pemilik hati-hati ini sebagai para syuhada dalam perjuangan agamaMU,
Engkaulah sebaik-baik sandaran dan sebaik-baik penolong,

Ya Allah,
You know this hearts meet by the love of You,
gathered by the obedience to Your commands,
united to Your will and promise to do Your syariah ,
so strength it Yaa Allah, the binder,
make the love eternal, show the path,
fill it with Your light that won't off,
wide the chests by faith in You and total surrender to You.
Live it by knowing You and let it die by syaheed in Your path.
You are the best guard and the best helper.

Ya Allah!
Bless our beloved prophet Muhammad sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam and his family
and shower them with peace…

Ya Allah!
We are knocking on Your door.
Please answer our prayers...

Amen ya rabbal alameen....

ps : credits to Hijjaz..semoga kitak menjadi salah seorang mujaheed..ameen...ya baruk "terrer" :-)

sakeenah..

2008-12-15T10:30:00.007+08:00

bismilllahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

hari ni genap 10 hari saya bergelar Mrs. Bashir, alhamdulillah :)

ramai gak yang tanya apa perasaan setelah bergelar isteri..saya boleh describe ni je kot :

SAKEENAH...:-)

"astaghfirullah min qillati sidq bi qauli astaghfirullah. ..

Your mercy enlightened our soul;
we found our purpose, and our reason,
You are our treasure, our light and our only hope, our tears of anguish,
bring sweetness to our sorrows,

we fear Ya Allah,
happiness in this world, may take us away from Your remembrance,
we seek struggle, only to call out to Your Mercy,
our tears for You, are like the diamonds to our treasure,
Your appearance is unknown to us,
yet we have already felt so much of your beauty,
our soul was starving without Your rememberance,
and Your Mercy only filled it with sweetness,
and brought us back to life,
You are the happiness of our soul,
and it was the hearing of Your Mercy and Love that set it a light,
our attachment to this Duniya, is our longing and yearning to reach close proximity to You, For if, by Your mercy we enter Jannah,
we would reminisce on the times we felt your beauty through our worship,
even when you were veiled from our eyes,

The vain pleasures of this Duniya are only temporary and a deception,
and our struggle against them with Your rememberance,
and feel the coolness in our soul,
could never amount to what the pleasure we turned away from could give,
our longing to see Your face,
is our Jannah in this world,
nothing can bring harm to it, or take it away but by our disobedience to You,
Help us to remain firm Ya Allah on the Sirat-Al-Mustaqeem,
and hold strong to Your rope,
for if we are detached from You,
we will lose our reason to live,
and we will lose our precious Jannah that we carry with us,
Help us to remain sincere and earn nothing but Your pleasure,

O Allah!
You are free of all needs and worthy of all worship,
grant us Your good pleasure and admit us into Your mercy..
admit us into Your mercy..
admit us into Your mercy...

O Allah!
Please please please bind our hearts in Your love.
Please assist us in loving You,
in loving the people that You love,
in loving the deeds that makes us closer to You.

O Allah!
Make our love for You the most beloved thing to us,
And our fear for You the most fearful thing to us,
And remove from us all worldly needs and wants by instilling a passion for meeting You,
and when You have given the people of the world the pleasures of their world,
make the coolness of our eyes (pleasure) in worshipping You.
our desire is only to be amongst of your Beloved..

O Allah!
Bless our beloved prophet Muhammad sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam and his family
and shower them with peace.

O Allah!
We are knocking on Your door.
Please answer our prayers...
Ameen ya rabbal 'alameen..."

and this was taken from a poem with title "angelic butterfly"(yang mana saya modified sesuai dengan mood saya..ha ha ha....), but i dont know who wrote it :)

"With all that I've done wrong,
I must have done something right,
I couldn't ask Him for more,
Being with you, Bashir dear,
is truly what love is ..."

Uhibbuk jiddan katheera, my beloved zauj :).
and jazakallahu wa khairan katheera for the gift of verse 8 from suratu tahreem. inshaAllah we will eat a lot of fruits in Jannat together..:) (including the nenas and rambutans!)

*for more wedding pictures, please visit http://www.friendster.com/xettydgreat

@Kuburia on 01122008

2008-12-02T08:41:00.002+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah..

malam tadi, lepas maghrib, aku, fatin, dan 2 orang adik aku (bakh dan fatma) pegi dinner di satu spot makan yang agak well-known di Bintulu..a.k.a. kuburia. well nak dijadikan cerita, masa tu adik aku bakh tengah duk jauh sikit kat bendul jalan (sebab dia tak smoking depan aku) and all of sudden, dia panggil fatma. kitaorang dengar jugak conversation diaorang sebab takde la jauh sangat pun tempat diaorang bediri dengan meja makan aku dan fatin

"cuba ko tengok bulan dan bintang kat langit tu..."

"ye la..macam orang tengah senyum.."

aku tanya dari meja makan, amende la yang diaorang dok usha kat langit tu..rupanya..ada satu bulan sabit dan 2 bintang yang menggambarkan seolah-olah orang tengah senyum ..yang mana view tu boleh je nampak dari tepi jalan..

dan yang tak disangka pulak, rupanya satu bumi sedang menyaksikan fenomena yang luar biasa tu..subhanallah...

sila klik di sini , sini dan sini

aku sertakan video yang aku dapati dari youtube..credits to the guy who captured this magical phenomenon dan telah upload video ni untuk kita sama menyaksikan keagungan Allah..subhanAllah :)

Wedding Invitation to All

2008-11-25T15:26:00.001+08:00

Children See, Children Do

2008-11-22T13:23:00.001+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

aku baru pas baca satu e-book tentang parenting. then terjumpa pulak video ni (sebenarnya ada dalam archieve aku - aku download dari youtube suatu masa dulu.) so sad, aye?

Hajj - the marvellous legacy of Abraham

2008-11-16T19:15:00.005+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

I found some Hajj stuff that i think i want to share with you guys :)
May Allah accept all the Hajj of all the Hujjaj and earn a Hajj Mabroor inshaAllah ameen...

Hajj - The Sacred Pilgrimage

2008-11-15T12:32:00.004+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasuulillah,

this video is dedicated to my beloved cousin, Halimah bt Adam and her husband, Awangku Kasumajaya b Awang Mahran.

"selamat menyambut lambaian kaa'abah..semoga mendapat haji yang mabrur..dan kami di Bintulu mendoakan agar anda berdua selamat pergi dan kembali ke pangkuan keluarga..inshaAllah ameeen.."

May Allah forgive us all and grant both of you an accepted hajj and highest level of paradise (ameen wa ajma'een) and please keep us in du'aas … May Allah forgive us too (Ameen)!

Few Things Are Worth Crying Over

2008-11-10T09:40:00.000+08:00

"Very few things in life are worth crying over."

Ponder it. Very few things in life are worth throwing a fit over or complaining about. In Islamic work, especially, people attach importantance to things that aren't issues, tempers rise, fights break out, and brotherhood dies. And in the end, Allah controls over all things.

So sit back, chill out, and let it run by you. No harm done, right?

Wallahu ta'ala 'alam bissawab.

The Sea, the Boat, and the Governers

2008-10-29T11:33:00.001+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

Imagine you are a boat, and the dunya is the sea. Far off in the distance, is land -- the akhira.

"You are a boat. You sail the waters of the dunya towards the lands of Jannah."
[Abdur-Rahman]

What happens if the sea floods into the boat? You sink.

So be like the best Muslim leaders: they ditched the dunya for the akhira.

In particular, I refer to the governers in the time of the Khulafa Rashideen (i.e. in the first 30 years after the death of the Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam.

In the time of 'Umar RA, he looked at the list of people to give zakaah to (because they were poor), and at the top on the list was one of his own governers. Subhanallah, how little did they love the dunya--not like today's presidents and government officials, who live in golden houses, glut themselves on rich foods, and own expensive trifles.

So 'Umar gave them the zakaah money, and the governer came home one day to tell his wife. Their conversation went (to the approximate meaning of):

Him: Something bad happened.

Her: What? What happened? Did the Khalifa die?

Him: No, worse. A fitnah has come upon us. Will you help me get rid of it?

Her: Yes.

So they took the money and gave it away fisabillillah (in the path of Allah, the Most High).

That's eiman. May Allah enter them, and us, into Jannah, and guide us from their outstanding examples of selflessness, ameen.

Four Empowering Beliefs from ibn Al-Khattab

2008-10-28T11:55:00.006+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

Brothers and sisters rahimakumullah,

'Umar ibn al-Khattab RA, the second khalifa, had four beliefs that made it easier for him to bear calamities:

1. The situation could have been worse.
2. It didn’t strike him in his religion.
3. Allah will reward him with Jannah in return inshallah.
4. When he remembered the hardship of losing the Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam everything else faded away.

Subhanallah, these are profound beliefs from the second khalifa that we can all benefit from! Reflect on them often inshallah in times of ease and hardship, until they spring to mind automatically.

One more thing that might relate to the story of ibn Al-Khattab above, just try to take a look around you, we can see that all people on Earth seek happiness--whether it's through wealth, or love, or piety. Few realize that perfect happiness does not exist in the dunya.

When you think about it, you'll find that hardship and pain exist with moments of great happiness. For example, you ate your favourite meal after a long time, but you feel over-full and you become tired and lazy. Or, you enjoy a wonderful hike through the woods, minus the insect bites and that bee that flew into your ear.

So be aware, and aim for higher than dunya happiness.

This is a mercy of Allah, if you found the perfect happiness, and subhanallah, someone talked to you about paradise, you might say "who cares? I've found the perfect happiness here."

Brothers and sisters rahimakumullah, true happiness exists ONLY in Jannah.

May Allah unite us all in Jannah and grant us all al-Firdaus, out of His mercy...ameen ya rabbal 'alameen ;-)

ps : the picture above, was my beloved 'umar... may he be like 'umar ibn al khattab RA, inshaAllah ameen ..:)

Divine Light Emanating From The Sanctified Oil

2008-10-26T11:36:00.006+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

according to my other half, my name perhaps came from this verse of Quran, but the real thing is its a wrong-typo. it was supposed to be NURBAITI - light of our house :)

anyways, i think he explained that very well, too, jazakallahu wa khairan katheera :)

*** *** *** *** ***

One of the first things that attracted my attention (besides the gun) was the name Nurzaiti. My mind (as I suppose any Arabic knowing person familiar with Quran would have) straight away went to this Aayat.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم....

الله نور السماوات والارض مثل نوره كمشكاة فيها مصباح المصباح في زجاجة الزجاجة كانها كوكب دري يوقد من شجرة مباركة زيتونة لا شرقية ولا غربية يكاد زيتها يضيء ولو لم تمسسه نار نور على نور يهدي الله لنوره من يشاء ويضرب الله الامثال للناس والله بكل شيء عليم.

(النور: 35) صدق الله العظيم

Allah is the Light (Nur) of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil (zait) would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.

So, in brief (نُوْرُ زَيْت) is the divine light emanating from the sanctified oil of the blessed tree. In other words I could imagine that this name must have been coined by a person well versed in the Quran and dreamed this baby become the source of the divine light.

It could be that you were given this name by chance or as you said by typo mistake, but Arabs say رب رمية من غير رام (many times a right shot is shot by someone who does not know shooting). The also say: رب صدفة خير من ألف ميعاد (many times a coincidental meeting is better than thousand appointments).

I Complain Only To Allah!

2008-10-19T21:14:00.006+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah

Asalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatahu,

I start by asking a very simple question: Where does patience stand within our lives today?

SubhanAllah, what a beautiful trait it is yet we rarely see the implementation of it. Such a beautiful tree by which the sweetest of fruits cultivate and bless our lives, yet we just let it slip away as a "thing of the past".

Sabr (patience) comes from a root word meaning to detain, refrain, and stop. Applying this to our lives as Muslims, it means to stop ourselves from despairing and panicking and to stop our tongues from complaining. O Slave of Allah! Why do you despair when you know your Lord is the Most Merciful? Why do you panic when you know Allah is your Protector? O Slave of Allah! Why do you complain to the people, when your Lord is All-Hearing and is able to do all things? O Slave of Ar-Rahman! Be like Yaqub 'alaihi salam when he said:

He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not."

(Surah Yusuf Verse 86)

Or be like Musa 'alaihi salam who prayed to Allah saying:

"O Allah! All praise is due to You, and complaint is made only to You, and You are the only One from whom we seek help and in whom we put our trust, and there is no power except by Your help"

Or be like our beloved Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wasalam:

"O Allah! I complain to You of my weakness and helplessness"

These were the greatest of people that ever stepped foot on this earth and they were a people who only complained to the Lord of all the worlds. Why? Because complaining to Allah is of great benefit while complaining to people is of no benefit. Complaining to Allah is a form of true patience, worship, and great reward while complaining to the people is the opposite.

May we CAN implement the 'ibrah of those stories to truly come closer to Allah by practicing true patience.

Abu Bakr RA and his request

2008-10-13T21:03:00.010+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

What do you make of the amazing incident when the best of the sahabaa RA came to the best of the Prophets sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam to ask for a du'aa to make in his prayers?

عن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهماـ أن أبا بكر الصديقـ رضي الله عنهـ قال للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: يا رسول الله علمني دعاء أدعو به في صلاتي قال: «قل اللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلما كثيرا ولا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت فاغفر لي من عندك مغفرة إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم»
رواه البخاري-

Narrated Abu Bakr As-Siddiq RA

I asked Allah's Apostle sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam to teach me an invocation so that I may invoke Allah with it in my prayer. He told me to say,

Allahumma inni zhalamtu nafsi zhulman katheera
Wa laa yaghfiru dzunuba illa anta faghfirlii
Maghfiratam min 'indika war-hamni innaka
Antaghafurur raheem

[saheeh bukhari]

So? what's so special about this du'aa?

For starters, the one who requested the du'aa is the best of all the companions of the Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam - Abu Bakr RA. The one who entertained the request is the seal of the Prophets and the leader of mankind sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam. So this du'aa was given to the best, by the best…and what is the content of the du'aa?

"Oh Allah! I have wronged myself greatly!"

Subhan Allah! If Muhammad sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam and Abu Bakr RA have wronged themselves greatly, where do we stand? If the two of the finest of Allah’s creation: the first being the leader of mankind sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam, the other whose eiman is heavier than the eiman of the entire ummah combined RA. If they have wronged themselves and they were so adamant in seeking the forgiveness of Allah and begging for the mercy of Allah then really, where do we stand?

How much more have we wronged ourselves in comparison to Rasulullah sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam and Abu Bakr RA, yet we don’t have the same drive to ask Allah’s forgiveness and Allah’s mercy!

We should make it a habit of making this du'aa in our prayers after tashahhud (i.e. when sitting at the end of the prayer), and at other times too. May Allah forgive us our sins and bestow upon us His Mercy, ameen.

ps : credits goes to beloved zauj for the hadeeth - jazakallahu wa khairan kathira :)

Six Days of Shawal

2008-10-09T17:59:00.002+08:00

Now that Ramadhan's over, many of us feel sad--we miss the spirituality, the eiman rush, the amazing strength that we all demonstrate in Ramadhan. So what can you do to bring those feelings back?

One thing is to keep performing the deeds you performed in Ramadhan--and this is one of the signs that Allah accepted your deeds.

Another act you can perform is to fast six days of Shawal, the month right after Ramadhan. Check this hadith out:

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari RA reported Allah's Messenger sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam said: He who observed the fast of Ramadhan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawal. it would be as if he fasted perpetually (the whole year, every year).

[narrated by Muslim ]

Why perpetually? Well, we know the reward for good deeds counts as at least ten. Ramadhan is one month, so we get the reward of ten months of fasting. Plus six days (times ten; sixty days, or two months), that equals a whole year!

And remember, if you missed completing Ramadhan, you need to make those days up first, before you fast any optional fasts. Because Ramadhan fasts are fardh --they take precedance over mustahab fasts.

May Allah accept all our good deeds from Ramadhan and year-round and help make us to make ourselves strong all year around, not just once a year. ..ameen!

The Parable of Garments

2008-10-08T11:17:00.005+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

I always amazed how Allah uses amazing parables in the Quran that strike fear, awe and amazement in the hearts of the believers. Throughout the Qur'an, Allah draws parables for us to convey the importance of certain topics, to extract lessons from them and so that we may ponder and reflect over them. We hear many times of the examples of the hypocrites, the mushrikeen (pagans) and the believers. But there is one parable that Allah puts forth that increases the love and mercy between a husband and wife, and this parable is one of the most eloquent and striking in the Qur'an. Allah describes the spousal relationship in Surah Al-Baqarah, when He says:

هن لباس لكم وأنتم لباس لهن

"They are your garments and you are their garments."

[Surah Baqarah, verse 187]

SubhanAllah, Allah compares the relationship between a husband and wife as clothing. Allah says that both the husband and wife are "libaas", garments, for each other. This shows the equality that Allah places between spouses and how each partner has a role in the relationship.

Remember again that Allah puts parables in the Qur'an so that we may ponder, so let's ponder on how a spouse compares to clothes:

1. Clothes are close to you, behind your clothes is your bare skin. A spouse is close to you in that manner, emotionally and physically.

2. Clothes protect your skin from the outside. A husband is the maintainer of his wife and the wife protects her husband's home and property.

3. Clothes beautify you. A husband and wife compliment eachother, in this life and the next.

4. Clothes are comfortable. When one is around their spouse, they feel at ease and their hearts are at rest. One can relax around their spouse and find comfort in them and their words when they are in difficulty.

5. Clothes hide and screen you. A husband and wife should not discuss each other's faults to the outside or complain to others about their spouse.

SubhanAllah, indeed our Lord is Ar-Ra'uf (the extremely Compassionate) for placing this tranquility between spouses. Many may feel embarrassed that this verse is mentioned in the Qur'an, but subhanAllah, this is just another beautiful example which shows that our deen is truly complete and that Allah have given us guidance through His Book for every aspect of our lives, and for this we should be thankful alhamdulillah.

This parable between a spouse and a garment is one of the many parables in the Qur'an that we should ponder and reflect over, and this is from the Ultimate Wisdom and Mercy of Allah that He explains His verses and signs to us in a manner that is most fitting to our intellect.

Wa lillahil hamd.

Build us a House...in Jannat!

2008-10-07T20:20:00.005+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah..

One of the things that I’m trying to do to maintain a steadily increasing level of eiman is making a habit of praying my sunnah prayers regularly...(and i am still trying!) Here’s why - The Messenger of Allah sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam said,

“Allah will build a house in Paradise for whoever is diligent in observing 12 sunnah rakaat (as follows):
4 rakaat before and 2 after the Zuhr Prayer, 2 after the Maghrib, 2 after the Isha Prayer, and 2 before the Fajr Prayer.”

[Reported by Tirmidhi and others]

We all know that if we miss a sunnah prayer, then there is no sin. But what do we lose as a result of missing sunnah prayers regularly?

an easy way to earn a house in Jannah and a means of earning Allah’s love..!!!

“My slave does not draw near to Me with anything I love more than what I have made obligatory on him. And my slave continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory actions (e.g. the sunnah prayers) until I love him.”

(click here for the complete hadith)

a means of closeness to RasulAllah sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam in Paradise :

“I ask for your companionship in Paradise”, said Rabiaah ibn Kaab RA

“Is there anything else?”, said RasulAllah sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam

“That is all”, said Rabiaah ibn Kaab RA

“Then help me with respect to yourself by multiplying your prostrations (i.e. increase your prayers)”, said the Beloved of Allah sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam

(click here for complete hadith)

a strong shield against shaitaan - the reason for establishing prayer is the remembrance of Allah as stated in Suratu Thaha verse14, and the best shield against shaitaan is the remembrance of Allah. Therefore, establishing prayer is a sheild against shaitaan.

Bottom line - if we don’t have a really, really good reason, then there is NO reason to miss the sunnah prayers! So let’s be diligent in observing the sunnah prayers, inshaAllah. Just look at all that we’re missing out on!

Now thats a mortgage deal that you cannot beat (and halal too!). Funny how much sacrifice we make to get a house on earth (i.e. busting our backs to pay haram mortgage!) but simple things like this we dont do.

and Allah knows best ;)

he is "kalimatan tayyibah" :)

2008-10-06T21:38:00.004+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

each and every night, i eagerly wait for him to have a conversation even a short one because he always reminded me of the "tree of eiman". a tree that has a firm foundation, trunk is very straight, and the branches and leaves tower up into the sky.

"Do you not see how Allah makes a metaphor of a good word (kalimatan tayyibah): A good tree whose roots are firm and whose branches are in heaven? It bears fruit regularly by its Lord’s permission. Allah makes metaphors for people so that hopefully they will pay heed. The metaphor of a corrupt word is that of a rotten tree, uprooted on the surface of the earth. It has no staying power."
[suratu Ibrahim verse 24-26]

Talking to him in a our online halaqah, learning about the deen of Allah – he become my eiman-rush, my heart just flutters with tranquility. With satisfaction. With humility. With peace.

Why do I only feel this way in our "gatherings"?

surely Allah subhana wa ta'ala provides the answer in Suratu Ra’d verse 28:

"Those who have believed and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, it is the remembrance of Allah which provides tranquility to hearts."

** ** ** **

(Adapted from an audio lecture: The Fruits of Eiman by Yasir Qadhi)

The kalimatan tayyibah in this ayah is a beautiful phrase. The phrase of La illaha illa Allah that there is no deity worthy of worship except for Allah. The phrase of eiman. The example of the kalimatan tayyibah is like a beautiful tree. The foundations of this tree will be firmly established. The branches of this tree will tower in the skies. The tree of eiman has firmly established roots and its branches tower up in the skies.

This tree, the tree of eiman, gives its fruits at all times by the permission of its Lord. And Allah makes parables for mankind so that they can ponder over them. A beautiful, tall, glorious, noble, and majestic tree whose foundations and roots are firm. And so too is eiman. Once eiman enters the heart, it is firmly established in the heart, and it will never leave after that.

And this is the way of the believer… The branches of this tree of eiman tower in the skies as does eiman once it exists in the heart then it cannot remain hidden. It will be seen by everyone, just like a tall tree is a landmark for everyone around it. Everyone can see it towering in the skies. So too is eiman when it exists in the heart it will be seen in the actions. It will be seen in the characteristics, the akhlaaq, in the muamalat, how you treat one another, in the worship to Allah subhana wa ta ala, it will not remain hidden.

This tree of eiman gives it fruits at all times by the permission of its Lord. You can always pluck fruits from this tree of eiman wherever you are. At any time and at every occasion. This is in contrast to other trees because all other trees give their fruits once a year, twice a year, or maybe once every two years. But they never give their fruits year round. But the tree of eiman is different. Wherever you are, in any situation, in any circumstance, anytime if you have this tree of eiman, you can pluck fruits from this tree. You can benefit from this tree of eiman. And this is example that Allah subhanahu wa ta ala gives of eiman so that we can ponder of this parable.

And Allah knows best ;)

gift from my beloved ;-)

2008-10-06T20:56:00.003+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

this was today's gift from my other half..may He rewards you for all good deeds you gave me with the highest Jannat....ameen..truly, this gift was soooooo precious, even mountains couldnt hold that!! mashaAllah...;-)

*** *** *** *** ***

Dr. Syed Bashir Ahmad to me

This is the reward for your love:

دعاء مرتب حسب ترتيب المصحف الشريف

الرقم الاول هو رقم السورة والرقم الثانى هو رقم الاية

ربنا تقبل منا انك انت السميع العليم (2/127) ، وتب علينا انك انت التواب الرحيم (2/128)، ربنا اتنا في الدنيا حسنة وفي الاخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النار (2/201) ، ربنا افرغ علينا صبرا وثبت اقدامنا وانصرنا على القوم الكافرين (2/250) ، ربنا لاتؤاخذنا ان نسينا او اخطانا (2/286) ، ربنا ولا تحمل علينا اصرا كما حملته على الذين من قبلنا (2/286) ، ربنا ولا تحملنا ما لا طاقة لنا به واعف عنا واغفر لنا وارحمنا انت مولانا فانصرنا على القوم الكافرين (2/286) ، ربنا لا تزغ قلوبنا بعد اذ هديتنا وهب لنا من لدنك رحمة انك انت الوهاب (3/8)، ربنا انك جامع الناس ليوم لا ريب فيه ان الله لا يخلف الميعاد (3/9)، ربنا اننا امنا فاغفر لنا ذنوبنا وقنا عذاب النار (3/16)، اللهم مالك الملك تؤتي الملك من تشاء وتنزع الملك ممن تشاء وتعز من تشاء وتذل من تشاء بيدك الخير انك على كل شيء قدير (3/27) ، تولج الليل في النهار وتولج النهار في الليل وتخرج الحي من الميت وتخرج الميت من الحي وترزق من تشاء بغير حساب (3/27) ، رب هب لي من لدنك ذرية طيبة انك سميع الدعاء (3/38)، ربنا امنا بما انزلت واتبعنا الرسول فاكتبنا مع الشاهدين (3/53)، ربنا اغفر لنا ذنوبنا واسرافنا في امرنا وثبت اقدامنا وانصرنا على القوم الكافرين (3/147)، ربنا ما خلقت هذا باطلا سبحانك فقنا عذاب النار (3/191)، ربنا انك من تدخل النار فقد اخزيته وما للظالمين من انصار (3/192)، ربنا اننا سمعنا مناديا ينادي للايمان ان امنوا بربكم فامنا (3/193)ربنا فاغفر لنا ذنوبنا وكفر عنا سيئاتنا وتوفنا مع الابرار (3/193) ، ربنا واتنا ما وعدتنا على رسلك ولا تخزنا يوم القيامة انك لا تخلف الميعاد (3/194)، ربنا اخرجنا من هذه القرية الظالم اهلها واجعل لنا من لدنك وليا واجعل لنا من لدنك نصيرا (4/75) ، ربنا ظلمنا انفسنا وان لم تغفر لنا وترحمنا لنكونن من الخاسرين (7/23) ربنا افتح بيننا وبين قومنا بالحق وانت خير الفاتحين (7/89)، ربنا افرغ علينا صبرا وتوفنا مسلمين (7/126) ، انت ولينا فاغفر لنا وارحمنا وانت خير الغافرين (7/155) ربنا لا تجعلنا فتنة للقوم الظالمين ونجنا برحمتك من القوم الكافرين (10/86) ، رب اني اعوذ بك ان اسالك ما ليس لي به علم والا تغفر لي وترحمني اكن من الخاسرين (11/47) ، انت وليي في الدنيا والاخرة توفني مسلما والحقني بالصالحين (12/101)، ربنا انك تعلم ما نخفي وما نعلن وما يخفى على الله من شيء في الارض ولا في السماء (14/38) ، رب اجعلني مقيم الصلاة ومن ذريتي ربنا وتقبل دعاء (14/40) ربنا اغفر لي ولوالدي وللمؤمنين يوم يقوم الحساب (14/41) رب ادخلني مدخل صدق واخرجني مخرج صدق واجعل لي من لدنك سلطانا نصيرا (17/80)، ربنا اتنا من لدنك رحمة وهيئ لنا من امرنا رشدا (18/10)، رب انى وهن العظم منى واشتعل الراس شيبا ولم اكن بدعائك رب شقيا (19/4) ، رب اشرح لي صدري ويسر لي امري واحلل عقدة من لساني يفقهوا قولي (20/25)، رب زدني علما (20/114)، لا اله الا انت سبحانك انى كنت من الظالمين (21/87) ، رب لا تذرنى فردا وانت خير الوارثين (21/89) ، أني مسني الضر وانت ارحم الراحمين (21/83)، رب انزلنى منزلا مباركا وانت خير المنزلين (23/29)، رب اعوذ بك من همزات الشياطين واعوذ بك رب ان يحضرون (23/98)، ربنا امنا فاغفر لنا وارحمنا وانت خير الراحمين (33/109)، ربنا اصرف عنا عذاب جهنم ان عذابها كان غراما انها ساءت مستقرا ومقاما (25/65)، ربنا هب لنا من ازواجنا وذرياتنا قرة اعين واجعلنا للمتقين اماما (25/74) ، رب هب لى حكما والحقنى بالصالحين واجعل لى لسان صدق فى الاخرين واجعلنى من ورثة جنة النعيم (26/89) ولا تخزنى يوم يبعثون يوم لا ينفع مال ولا بنون الا من اتى الله بقلب سليم (26/89) ، رب نجني واهلي مما يعملون (26/169)، رب اوزعنى ان اشكر نعمتك التى انعمت على وعلى والدى وان اعمل صالحا ترضاه وادخلنى برحمتك فى عبادك الصالحين (27/19) ، رب انى ظلمت نفسى فاغفرلى (28/16) ، رب انصرنى على القوم المفسدين (29 /30)، ربنا وسعت كل شيء رحمة وعلما فاغفر للذين تابوا واتبعوا سبيلك وقهم عذاب الجحيم (40/9) ، ربنا وادخلهم جنات عدن التي وعدتهم ومن صلح من ابائهم وازواجهم وذرياتهم انك انت العزيز الحكيم وقهم السيئات ومن تق السيئات يومئذ فقد رحمته وذلك هو الفوز العظيم (40/9)، ربنا اكشف عنا العذاب انا مؤمنون (44/12) ، رب اوزعني ان اشكر نعمتك على وعلى والدي وان اعمل صالحا ترضاه واصلح لي فى ذريتى انى تبت اليك وانى من المسلمين (46/15) ، ربنا اغفر لنا ولاخواننا الذين سبقونا بالايمان ولا تجعل في قلوبنا غلا للذين امنوا ربنا انك رءوف رحيم (59/10) ، ربنا عليك توكلنا واليك انبنا واليك المصير (60/4)، ربنا لا تجعلنا فتنة للذين كفروا واغفر لنا ربنا انك انت العزيز الحكيم (60/5)، ربنا اتمم لنا نورنا واغفر لنا انك على كل شيء قدير (66/8)، رب ابن لي عندك بيتا فى الجنة (66/11) ، ونجني من القوم الظالمين (66/11) ، رب لا تذر على الارض من الكافرين ديارا انك ان تذرهم يضلوا عبادك ولا يلدوا الا فاجرا كفارا (71/27) ، رب اغفرلى ولوالدي ولمن دخل بيتى مؤمنا وللمؤمنين والمؤمنات ولا تزد الظالمين الا تبارا (71/28) .

صدق الله العظيم

There Is No "I" Or "You"

2008-10-06T14:47:00.001+08:00

There Is No "I" Or "You"

I don't love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as certain dark things are loved,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom and carries
hidden within itself the light of those flowers,
and thanks to your love, darkly in my body
lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you simply, without problems or pride:
I love you in this way because I don't know any other way of loving

but this, in which there is no "I" or "You",
so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,
so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.

... Pablo Neruda

Eid celebrations in Oman and worldwide

2008-10-02T00:21:00.000+08:00

Although there are similarities between all Muslim cultures world over, in the form of festivity, cheerfulness, paying of Zakat al Fitr, wearing of the best affordable dresses and preparing the best possible cuisine, Eid in the Sultanate of Oman has its own colours and aroma, according to Dr Syed Bashir Ahmed, who translated Sergey Plekhanov’s famous book A Reformer on the Throne. Towards the final days of the month of Ramadhan, all major towns witness fervour around the “Habtah” markets, wherein people make purchases of their requirements for their celebration — from clothes to livestock and gifts to perfumes and Halwa to Bukhoor.

The atmosphere of celebration becomes euphoric when the new moon of the month of Shawwal is sighted. It is the time to bid farewell to the blessed month of Ramadhan and to get ready for the great day of celebration. During the three days of Eid people relish special Eid delicacies like Shawa, Mashaakeek, Mafoor, Harees and Thareed. Elders distribute monetary gifts called Ayood to juniors and especially to the children. The social and collective aspect of the Omani life reverberates most during the Eid. The hustle and bustle of family visits and social gatherings is everywhere in the air.

Collectively people organise chaste traditional dances and other forms of folklore, which vary in their format from region to region. The most popular among these are Razha, Haboot, Aazi, Meedan and Raboobah. The most outstanding among the celebrations is the much awaited occasion of catching a glance of His Majesty the Sultan participating with his faithful subjects in offering the congregational Eid Prayers in open. A curiously watched event is a wonderful occasion for all and an astounding gesture by His Majesty by being amongst the common folk. Certainly that is one of the inspiring occasions of life in Oman — when the ruler of Oman gives a practical lesson of simplicity in the simplest form.

Message of Eid
“Eid” means “recurring happiness” and “Fitr” means “alms” for needy and oppressed people. Every member of a Muslim household is under religious obligation to give alms to needy people before proceeding to join the Eid prayer. The head of the family pays this amount on behalf of each person in the family. If a person cannot fast permanently in the month of Ramadhan (for instance, because of illness) they have to pay alms for each fasting day. The essential constituents of Eid Al Fitr are “paying of Zakat al Fitr, offering Eid prayers, Chanting Takbeer and being happy for graduating from the seminary of Ramadhan”.

Eid is a thanksgiving festival for having efficiently refrained from food and drink and abstained from otherwise legitimate conjugal intimacy (during the fasting time); for having tamed the self to the service of Allah, the Most Exalted and Glorified, for having cared for the poor and the needy; for having strengthened the ties of kinship with the near and the dear ones; for having gained synergy between the mind, the body and the soul; for having triumphed with buoyancy and a cleaner conscience; for being invigorated with a sense of integrity and courage to carry forward with a positive attitude aspiring for higher levels of attainment and ultimate salvation.

This is reflected through continuous chanting of Takbir on the day of Eid: Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la illaha illaAllah, wa Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillahilhamd, which means Allah is the Greatest, ….., There is none worthy of worship except Allah, ………; and to Allah goes all praise” Eid al Fitr is never a time of dance and music or drinking of intoxicants. Upon completing the rigorous training throughout the blessed month, the faithful do not indulge in permissive deeds or lax celebrations, says Dr Bashir. Instead, early in the morning of Eid, on the first day of Shawwaal (the month following Ramadhan), they collectively turn to Allah, to offer prayers of gratitude to the Almighty. Dressed in the best available costumes, men, women and children, without any exception, head to the special Eid prayer congregations chanting the mesmerising Takbir of the day of Eid.

After the Eid prayers, greeting and pleasantries are exchanged. People embrace each other. This is the time to forgive and forget the grudges and bitterness of the past. All enmities and bitter feelings are let gone. From there people proceed to visit the elders and the loved ones and this continues for three days. Bonds of kinship are strengthened; neighbours exchange sweets and delicacies. No intermediaries are sought to reconcile in the atmosphere of spontaneity of goodwill brought by Eid. This is the occasion when the ears keep hearing, Kullum ‘Aamin Wa-Antum Bi-Khair (may this occasion return every year with your welfare); Asaakum min Awadihi (May you live till the next return of this festival); Eid Mubark (blessed be the Eid for you).

One of the underlying aims of all Islamic festivals is to build the bonds of brotherhood, strengthen the foundations of unity and create goodwill in society. Eid al Fitr embodies Islam’s message of love, peace and unity. On this special day, the faithful also remember the departed souls by visiting the tombs of their near and dear ones and offering prayers for their souls. They remember the needy by extending a hand of help to them, the grieved by showing sympathy and consolation, the sick by cheerful visits and utterances of good wishes, the absentees by sending colourful greeting cards and email messages.

Eid is worldwide festival. Thanks to the growing appeal of Islam to world masses, every third country and every fourth persons on Earth is Muslim. Eid al Fitr is also the celebration of cultural identity and diversity. The people attending Eid prayers in Oman and celebrating the festival include almost all the tribes, races, complexions and every skin hue from Siberian white to African ebony and every dialect, nationality and language.

Islam calls for justice for all

2008-09-30T12:33:00.000+08:00

30 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

AMONG the things to which Islam calls with the aim of welfare of the humankind, is establishment of justice between all peoples. Justice of Islam is not for Arabs alone; it is for all peoples of the world without any exception.

While mentioning the objectives of heavenly religions, Allah says: “We sent aforetime our apostles with Clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice...” ( Al-Quran: Al-Hadid: 25)

Thus it stands established that deputation of the Messengers and revelation of the books were basically aimed at achieving a basic objective, which is that the people accomplish justice i.e. fairness to ensure that everyone, without exception, gets his deserved right.

Allah says: “God doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; And when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice…” (Al-Quran: An-Nisa’: 58) The command is lucid in its message that when you judge between “people” — not only Muslims — that you judge with justice. Allah has commanded the believers to stand forth firmly for Justice. They should not be obstructed by emotion of love for the near ones or by dislike or hatred of those who may not be near or dear. Justice is above emotions of love and hate; it must be for Allah alone. Allah says: “O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin,…” (Al-Quran: An-Nisa’: 135)

This is the justice to the loved ones, whether it is the parents or the nearest of kith and kin or even ones own self. Allah also says: “O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do”. (Al-Quran: Al-Ma’idah: 8)

This is the justice to those, whom one might dislike for their hatred, abhorrence and animosity towards him. In spite of the dislike, faithful are not supposed to commit transgression, because Allah does not like those who depart from justice nor does He guide them to the right path, as such people never succeed — neither in this worldly life nor in the hereafter. Muslims applied this justice with all peoples; they applied it in the lifetime of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), during the time of the rightly guided caliphs and generally during the early centuries.

We know of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab ordering the aggrieved Coptic Egyptian to avenge from the son of the governor on Egypt — ‘Amr Ibn-Al-’Aas. The history then registered his historic statement: “Oh ‘Amr, when did you enslave the people whilst their mothers delivered them only free?” This concise spontaneous statement of Omar became the opening statement of the formal documents on human rights and of constitutions of advanced states in modern times.

During the caliphate of Ali Ibn-Abi-Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), the judge appointed by him passed his verdict against Ali himself — the Commander of the faithful — and in favour of a Christian subject, because Ali could not refute the claim against him. Upon seeing this Islamic uprightness and fairness of the Islamic justice, the Christian could not resist to declare publicly his faith in Islam and confess that Ali was right and had been framed, adding that such verdicts were nothing less than prophetic.

For more inquiries e-mail: drbashirahmad@hotmail.com

Farewell oh Ramadaan

2008-09-29T23:31:00.007+08:00

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah...

" Departure now presents itself
My eyes are both filed up with tears
My heart within me cries out aloud
O' devoted month farewell, farewell.

If life remains we'll meet again
Or otherwise a sad regret
Alas From us taken leave
O' glorious month farewell, farewell

I could not do much of good deeds -
Now I am only offering few tears of sadness
Only this much is my whole asset -
farewell O' Ramadaan farewell O' Ramadaan.."

So ramadhan is about to end. How much did you take benefit of this month of mercy? Yeah, we all need to reflect on that. Personally, I am sad. I could have spent more time in devotion. Who knows if I am gona be alive to see this month again!

We bid farewell to the month of good manners, farewell to the month of generosity, farewell to the month of mercy.The masjid was full of worshipers at every solah, all standing together and bowing down to the Greatest Lord , with humility and devotion, with fear and hope, with prayers and thankfulness.

It had become easy to do good, had become easy to wake up early and stay awake late standing before Allah, with tears in our eyes seeking His mercy and forgiveness and such a blessed month is leaving us, will I be alive to witness another ramadhan ? or will this be my last ramadhan and no more ? did i make the most of this month ? some questions really arising in my mind as this month is fading away with the crescent moon of Shawal shining bright in the night sky in the company of the innumerable twinkling stars, I feel the warmth of Allah's mercy around me. I wish I had the taufeeq to make the most of this month, and wish I was successful in seeking Allah's mercy and blessings and wish my body is programmed enough to keep this eiman and spirit alive till the coming of next ramadhan so that I may increase further my eiman and learn to love Allah more and fear Him more and obey Him more, ameen.

Lets make a pledge that we will stive hard to keep this spirit of ramadhan alive in our lives in all the coming months, because we are Muslims throughout the year and not only in ramadhan. What is good in ramadhan is also good and compulsary in other months for a Muslim, like solah, charity, honesty, humility and the spirit of sharing. May Allah help us realize this eternal truth and lead us on the path of those who receive His blessings and Mercy and save us from the path of those who deserve His wrath and punishment, ameen..

I wish all the Muslims all around the world a very blessed Eid. Please do not forget our brothers and sisters who are facing oppression from the kafr oppressors even in this month, our brothers and sisters who are not fortunate enough to celebrate this wonderful occasion. Please remember our brothers and sisters in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Palestine, Philippines, Kosovo, etc, please make dua to Allah for them and their families and dua is the least thing we can do to help them, and after dua if you are in a position to help them, please do it in the name of Allah, May Allah reward you for all the goodness you bring to the world.

goodbye ramadhan, may we meet again, insyaAllah..

TaqabbAllahu minni wa minkum wa astaghfiruAllah..

Al-Muhsineen

2008-09-29T15:50:00.006+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah..

“Verily, he who fears Allaah with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allaah makes not the reward of the Muhsinoon (good‑doers) to be lost”
[Yusuf 12:90]

“And verily, Allaah is with the Muhsinoon (good-doers)”

[al-‘Ankabut 29:69]

someone told me this - few days before : if a woman accepts that and treats her husband and the other wife well, she will have the reward of al-muhsineen

..i want to be that woman.."the muhsineen" :)

he added, women should follow the good example of the wives of the Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam and his companions, who were patient and sought reward even though many of them felt jealous. If your husband goes ahead and takes a second/third/fourth wife then you have to be patient and content and treat him well so that you can attain the reward of the patient and the doers of good.

Note that this life is the life of trials and tests, and how quickly it ends. So congratulations to the one who is patient in obeying Allaah in this life until he attains eternal delight in the gardens of Paradise.

hence, He said in Holy Book :

“Is there any reward for good other than good?”

[al-Rahmaan 55:60]

I FEEL SOOOOOOOOO GOOD about His "plan of life" over me, WALLAHI.. :)

And Allah knows best ;)

Islam on brotherhood and equality of all human beings

2008-09-29T12:20:00.000+08:00

29 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

FROM fruits of the Islamic belief in absolute unity of Allah, is the human brotherhood. Of the prerequisites of the human brotherhood is the equality of humans. In his famous book, Gateway to Knowledge about Islam, Shaikh Yusuf al Qaradhawi says, “This brotherhood is based on two factors”: Firstly, by virtue of the call to belief in unity of Allah, all the humans are slaves or servants of the same single Lord; He created them and made them equals, so they enjoy sameness in the status of servitude to Allah.

Secondly, they all are sons of the same parents — Adam and Eve. Whatsoever the colour of their skins may differ or wherever their homelands may be located, or their tongues may vary or their classes may be disparate, they still remain the sons of Adam.

They are on par in their status of affiliation to Adam. This is what the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) communicated to his nation on the occasion of the Hajjatul Wadaa' (the Farewell Haj). In his sermon to the large congregation, he said, “O people, the Lord of all of you is one; the father of all of you is one; all of you belong to the Adam; Adam was created from the dust; an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab — except by piety” (1 Narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad: 5/411 — through Abu Nadhrah; considered authentic by Albani).

Allah, the Most Exalted and Glorified, says: “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)”. (Al-Quran: Al-Hujurat: 13)

Imam Ahmad has narrated through Zaid Bin Arqam that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to invoke Allah after every congregational prayer with the following three supplications: “Oh our Allah — our Lord and the Lord and Owner of everything —, I bear witness that you are the one and only deity who has no associate”. “Oh our Allah — our Lord and the Lord and Owner of everything —, I bear witness that all humans are brethren”.

This brotherhood is the broad human brotherhood. And certainly, brotherhood embodies three elements of love, equality and co-operation. Some people may say that Allah says — in the Quran — “the Believers are but a single Brotherhood” and that His Messenger — Mohammad (PBUH) — says, “a Muslim is the brother of another Muslim”, which means that the basis of brotherhood is nothing but religion and faith. We say that the religious brotherhood based on faith is the very special and deepest brotherhood, but it does not conflict with other types of brotherhood, like national or ethnic brotherhood — as mentioned in the following Quranic verses: “To the 'Ad People (We sent) Hud, one of their own brethren....” (Al-Quran: Hud: 50)

“To the Thamud People (We sent) Salih, one of their own brethren.…( Al-Quran: Hud: 61) “To the Madyan People (We sent) Shu'aib, one of their own brethren” …( Al-Quran: Hud: 84) Thus, the Quran confirms existence of brotherhood between those Messengers and their people; even though they rejected them and rebelled against them, they still belonged to them and were not alien to them. That is the ethnic brotherhood. And there is the bond of human brotherhood between the descendants of Adam in general. That is what we mentioned above in light of the prophetic supplications.

e-mail: drbashirahmad@hotmail.com

To be continued

A Story of Opportunity :)

2008-09-27T16:45:00.003+08:00

Assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu,
bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

Have we estimated Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala correctly? Life is about people who take advantage of their opportunities to win the love of Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala and Laylatul Qadr is one of them.

Abu Dahda RA was one of those who found an opportunity and won that which is greater than the heavens and the earth. An adult companion of the Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam cultivated his garden next to the property of an orphan. The orphan claimed that a specific palm tree was on his property and thus belonged to him. The companion rejected the claim, so the orphan boy went to the Messenger of Allah sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam to complain. With his justness, the Messenger of Allah sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam measured the two gardens and found that the palm tree did indeed belong to the companion. The orphan erupted crying. Seeing this, the Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam asked the companion, “Would you give him the palm tree and to you is a palm tree in Jannah?” However, the companion in his disbelief that an orphan would complain to the Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam, missed the opportunity and went away angry.

But someone else saw the opportunity – Abu Dahda RA. He went to the Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam and asked, “Ya RasulAllah, if I buy the tree from him and give it to the orphan shall I have that tree in Jannah?”

The Messenger of Allah sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam replied, “Yes.”

Abu Dahda RA chased after the companion and asked, “Would you sell that tree to me for my entire garden?”

The companion answered, “Take it, for there is no good in a tree that I was complained to the Prophet about.”

Immediately, Abu Dahda RA went home and found his wife and children playing in the garden. “Leave the garden!” shouted Abu Dahda. “We’ve sold it to Allah! We’ve sold it to Allah!” Some of his children had dates in their hand and he snatched the dates from them and threw them back into the garden. “We’ve sold it to Allah!”

When Abu Dahda RA was later martyred in the battle of Uhud, RasulAllah sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam stood over his slain body and remarked, “How many shady palm trees does Abu Dahda now have in Paradise?”

What did Abu Darda lose? Dates? Bushes? Dirt? What did he gain? He gained a Jannah whose expanse is the heavens and the earth.

Abu Dahda RA did not miss his opportunity, and I pray to Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala that we do not miss our opportunity of standing to Allah on Laylatul Qadr, inshaAllah ameen :)

source : Youtube lecture by Shaykh Saeed Rageah

Significance of Islamic morals in politics

2008-09-27T12:48:00.000+08:00

27 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

IN his famous book, Gateway to Knowledge about Islam, Shaikh Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi says, as Islam has pegged economy with ethics, it has done this concerning politics too. Islamic politics is not Machiavellian politics wherein ends justify means, whatsoever their characteristics may be.

Islamic politics is the politics of principles and values, which must be adhered to and not relinquished even in the gloomiest situations or in perplexing times, whether it be in relations of the Islamic state with its citizens or in the external relations with countries and groups.

Islam vehemently rejects dirty means even if those are intended to reach to noble ends: “Allah is noble and accepts nothing but fair.” (Narrated by Muslim in Sahih) Unscrupulous means are unacceptable just like vicious ends; inevitably, there must be clean means to achieve noble ends.

Concerning relation of the state with its citizens, Allah calls upon those entrusted with authority to govern the affairs of Muslims with honesty and justice, saying: “Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; And when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice: Verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth you! For Allah is He Who heareth and seeth all things”.

(Al-Quran: An-Nisa’: 58) Hence, returning back of trusts of different material and moral types to whom they are due and judging between all people with justice, is the obligation of the Muslim state towards its citizens. It is not lawful for the Muslim ruler to favour anyone of his relatives or cortege and commission him with something unduly while depriving the deserving. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) reckoned to such a state of affairs as being the sign of approaching of the hour of doom for the Muslim nation.

Once someone asked him about the timing of the day of judgement and he replied saying, “When the trust is squandered, anticipate the hour. He was asked: how will the squandering of trust take place. He replied: when authority will be entrusted to the non-deserving, anticipate the hour”. (Al-Quran: An-Nisa’: 58)

It is also illegitimate to drop a prescribed punishment against anyone deserving the punishment for his lineage or status or for being near to the ruler. Regarding this, Hadeeth testifies: “Verily those before you were made to perish, because when the highborn amongst them stole, they spared him and when a powerless stole, they imposed the penalty upon him; By Allah, if Fatimah — the daughter of Muhammad — were to commit theft, I myself would chop off her hand.” (Al-Quran: An-Nisa’: 58)

The internal Islamic politics must be grounded on the foundation of justice, fairness and equality between all with regards to in rights, responsibilities and penalties. It must be based on truth with the people and frankness to them about the reality, without any deception, imposture or delusion. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said that one of the three to whom Allah shall not look on the day of resurrection, nor exonerate them and for whom there shall be awful punishment shall be the untruthful ruler. (Narrated by Muslim — The Book of Faith — from Abu Hurairah )

With regard to international relations, the Islamic state must fulfil the treaties and all the commitments and respect its own word. Allah says: “Fulfil the Covenant of Allah when ye have entered into it, and break not your oaths after ye have confirmed them; indeed ye have made Allah your surety; for Allah knoweth all that ye do. And be not like a woman who breaks into untwisted strands the yarn which she has spun, after it has become strong. Nor take your oaths to practise deception between yourselves, lest one party should be more numerous than another: for Allah will test you by this; and on the Day of Judgment He will certainly make clear to you (the truth of) that wherein ye disagree. If Allah so willed, He could make you all one people: But He leaves straying whom He pleases, and He guides whom He pleases: but ye shall certainly be called to account for all your actions”. (Al-Quran: An-Nahl: 91-93)

In these two Quranic verses, Allah emphatically enjoins upon the faithful to respect treaties and pacts by relating covenants to Himself (i.e. the Covenant of Allah). He warns against breaking of oaths after the ratification of agreements, which amounts to the act of that foolish woman who puts in a great deal of effort into spinning of her yarn, but once the yarn gains strength upon processing, she imprudently breaks her own produce it into untwisted strands. He urges for basing treaties and agreements between nations upon insincerity and genuineness of intentions, without mendaciousness and swindling intended to take undue advantage and to gain more than the other party does; benefiting inappropriately at the cost of the other party. That is exactly what we notice in treaties and agreements of our times.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the paramount ideal in respecting of agreements and honouring of treaties, even when at times his companions believed that therein was unfairness towards Muslims — for example in the treaty of Hudaibiyyah. During one of the military expeditions against Quraish, when a man wanted to join the Muslim army, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not accept his request, as he had pledged to them that he would not fight them from the ranks of their enemy.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) rather ordered him to honour his word, saying to him, “We are sufficient for them; we seek Allah’s help over them”. (Narrated by Muslim, Ahmad and others) If some people thought that politics knows no morals, such a notion is farthest from the Islamic politics, which is essentially based on justice, faithfulness, truthfulness, integrity and noblest of the morals.

e-mail: drbashirahmad@hotmail.com

Significance of morals & economy in the message of Islam

2008-09-25T12:27:00.000+08:00

25 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

A Muslim trader should not hide or cover up the defects and drawbacks of his merchandise and highlight its merits and advantages in an exaggeratory manner so that the deluded customers pay a price higher than what is really reasonable. This is known as swindling and the Prophet (PBUH) has said about this: ‘He who swindles is not from amongst us’ Islamic morals have their reach and impact on financial and economic affairs too, whether in production or in distribution or in delivery or in consumption.

In his famous book, Gateway to Knowledge about Islam, Shaikh Yusuf al Qaradhawi says, economy cannot grow, as some may want, without checks and balances, without being pegged to values or without adherence to ideals.

A Muslim is not supposed to produce whatever he may want without being concerned whether it is harmful, materially or morally, to his fellow human beings even though he was to gain heavily and profit profoundly from that production.

Cultivation of tobacco, hashish or other narcotic plants and production of harmful substances may lead to hefty material returns, but Islam prohibits its believers from trying to earn and gain from

loss and damage of others. Transformation of grape juice into wine may lead to high earnings and ensure high returns to vineyard owners and wine producers, but Islam demeans such gains against the immense wrongs caused and enormous harms inflicted by alcohol on minds, bodies and morals, manifested in the form of decadence and deterioration in the lives of individuals, families and groups.

The Quran says:
“They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: “In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit...”.( Al Quran: Al Baqarah: 219) Even in exchange of merchandise, a Muslim must not take buying and selling of wine, pork, dead meat or idols as his trade, nor should he sell something to someone whom he knows will use it in evil deeds, depravity or causing damage and harm to others. For instance, one cannot sell grape juice or even grapes to someone who is known to use these for preparing wine; one cannot sell arms to someone who is known to murder the innocent or to use them for brutality and aggression.

A Hadeeth of the Prophet (PBUH) puts it thus: “When Allah forbade something, He forbade its price too; whoever withholds grapes during harvesting season to sell it later on to a Jew or a Christian or to whoever transmutes grapes to wine — ie even if it was to a Muslim, surely he deliberately plunges himself into hellfire.” A Muslim cannot monopolistically hoard foodstuff or similar (basic) items needed by the people with the intention of selling it for twice or more of its price. Authentic Hadeeth states it thus: “No one other than a wrongdoer (ie sinner) hoards monopolistically.” Allah, the Exalted says:

A Muslim trader should not hide or cover up the defects and drawbacks of his merchandise and highlight its merits and advantages in an exaggeratory manner, as is normally done through present-day advertising, so that the deluded customers pay a price higher than what is really reasonable. This is known as swindling and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said about this: “He who swindles is not from amongst us.” In distribution and possession of wealth also, it is not lawful for a Muslim to possess wealth through wicked means. He is not permitted to acquire through aggression nor by deceit what he otherwise does not deserve.

For this reason, Allah has prohibited usury, gambling, devouring of people’s possessions by false pretences, all forms of unfairness, harming and undue Impairment of all sorts. As far as consumption is concerned, Islam has not let the reigns free for a believer, so that he could spend according to his whims and fancies without being concerned about the interests of his own self and the interests of his family and his nation. It has rather restrained it by moderation and temperance. The Quran reads: “Make not thy hand tied (like a niggard’s) to thy neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach, so that thou become blameworthy and destitute”. (Al Quran: Al Isra’ : 29)

“… eat and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters”. (Al Quran: Al A’raf : 31) It has deplored extravagance and indulgence in luxuries and vain pleasures. It has prohibited all of sybaritic manifestations, like using utensils of gold and silver, and barred their use for men as well as for women. Similarly, it has forbidden wearing of gold and silk for men. All these guiding principles characterise and distinguish the Islamic Economy with the great peculiarity of being “ethical economy”. Many of the fair-minded scholars and honest researchers confirm this reality.

French writer Jacques Austeroi, writes in his book, Islam and Economic Development (Translated to Arabic by Dr Nabil Taweel): “Islam is simultaneously a system of practical life and of idealistic moral values. As these two aspects are interlinked and inseparable, we can say that secular economy is unacceptable to Muslims. Economy that derives its strength from Quranic revelation must certainly be an ethical economy. “These moral values are capable of redefining the concept of ‘value’ and to fill the intellectual void that is on the verge of emergence as a result of the mechanism of industrialisation.

He has denounced the harmful consequences of development of the depraved industrial civilisation in the west. Economy today faces threat arising from domination of ‘values of appetite’ over the genuine values. The West has started comprehending harmful consequences of the economic trends leading towards an unstable world, wherein man finds himself suddenly terminated from his job; wherein machines have become the master; wherein there is extremism in gaining possession of luxuries, like cars; wherein the attention is focused on absurd things. “The West never bothered to decelerate the enmity of machines towards the humans, although they occupy an important place in today’s civilisation.

“This convergence of morality and economy has not been out of the blue in Islam, the faith that knows no schism between materiality and spirituality. (Those who may be interested in extensive details on this subject may refer to my book The Role of Values and Morals in Islamic Economy (Pages: 440/ Published by Maktabat Wahbah — Cairo). If we examine the functional reality, we shall find the effects of this conjugation of economy and ethics very lucid and deep rooted in history of the Muslims, especially when Islam was the foremost influencing factor in their lives and the master pilot of their activity and behaviour.

e-mail: drbashirahmad@hotmail.com

Thought of the Day...

2008-09-25T10:49:00.003+08:00

"My servant ceases not to draw nearer to Me with supererogatory devotions until I love him, when I love him I become his eyesight with which he sees, his hearing with which he hears, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot on which he walks.When he asks of Me, I grant him; and when he seeks My protection, I protect him."

this hadeeth has caused an unusual unsettling feeling in my heart. My du'aa for respite and guidance this remaining nights of Ramadhan.

Each moment contains
a hundred messages from God:
To every cry of "Oh Lord,"
He answers a hundred times,
"I am here"
... Maulana Rumi

Islamic practices of worship and the morals

2008-09-24T12:26:00.000+08:00

24 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

ALL major Islamic practices of worship have very clear 1moral objectives. Salat (the obligatory Prayers), which is the foremost daily ritual in the life of a Muslim, plays a vital role in building the self-driven deterrent and in cultivating the devout conscience: “… Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do”. ( Al-Quran: Al-’Ankabut: 45)

These prayers amount to moral reinforcement for the believer. He resorts to these while confronting the difficulties of life: “O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere”. (Al-Quran: Al-Baqarah: 153) Zakat (the mandatory charity), which has recurrently been mentioned alongside Salat (the obligatory Prayers), is not just a financial tax collected from the rich and passed onto the poor. In the domain of morals, it is rather the medium to purify, whereas in the field of finance, it makes an important instrument of collection and development. “Of their goods, take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them...” (Al-Quran: At-Taubah : 103)

Fasting in Islam is aimed at training the self on abstention from its own wicked desires and on revolt against its own habitual inclinations. In other words, it prepares the self for piety, which is the core of Islamic morality. “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint”. ( Al-Quran: Al-Baqarah: 183)

Likewise, Haj in Islam is meant to train the Muslim on cleansing the self, on devotion and on rising above the vanities, extravagances, commotions and conflicts of life. That is the reason why Islam prescribes the Ehram (simple attire of pilgrimage) denoting entering into a life founded on simplicity, modesty, peace, seriousness and abandoning of pomposity of the worldly life. “For Haj are the months well-known. If any one undertakes that duty therein, Let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Haj...” (Al-Quran: Al-Baqarah: 197)

When these Islamic practices of worship lose these denotations and fail to achieve the desired goals, their significance is lost along with essence of their mission. Thereupon these practices turn to become corpses having no soul. No wonder that many sayings of the Prophet of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) emphasise upon this reality in very eloquent and unequivocal terms.

For example, “He whom his prayers do not prevent from wicked deeds, his prayers are void. How many an awake (in discretionary night prayers) gains from his vigilance nothing but burning of the midnight oil”. About the fasting too he said, “He who does not give up spurious talk and acting upon it, Allah is in no need for him leaving his food and drink. How many a faster there is, who gains noting from fasting except hunger and thirst”.

To be continued ...

e-mail: drbashirahmad@hotmail.com

Sarawak Layer Cake

2008-09-24T05:25:00.005+08:00

assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu,

someone said this to me earlier "I am always, always fascinated at how in the whole wide world the Sarawakians do it. Their layer cake (kek lapis) I mean.

The complexity of the mixtures giving it a variety of distinctive taste not to mentioned the beauty of it. I must say, only when you put your own hands into it you begin to appreciate the art even more. It is a long and tedious process that took up to about 4 hours for a single cake.(i saw my mother baked those before!)

ps : me myself, always sat and stared for a long time into one, more in wondering how actually they come out with such an intricate colorful and batik-ful cake with questions like how do they actually put the colors in between like they'd colored the cake box by box..so intricate the design. Must be tedious…!!

Significance of morals in the message of Islam

2008-09-23T18:19:00.001+08:00

23 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

ISLAM in its essence is a moralistic message, with all depth and comprehensiveness of the subject. This is not merely, because Islam vigorously motivates for moral excellence and strongly cautions against depravity, demands highest level of compliance in this regard, and associates utmost degrees of retribution — in reward and penalty — both in this world and in the life hereafter.

This is also not just because Islam intensively cares about morals to the extent that when the Quran commended the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), the most eloquent expression to affirm his paramount status was: “And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.” (Al-Quran: Al-Qalam: 4) Even the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), summarises with succinct eloquence the purpose behind his message: “I was sent to perfect the nobility of character.”

Morality is not a characteristic of Islam merely for this or that reason. Besides these reasons, it is because of the fact that morality circulates like blood in whole of the Islamic system and in Islamic teachings. It even flows in its beliefs, in acts of worship and in dealings, and goes into polity, economics and even into principles of peace and war.

Islamic beliefs and the morals: Islamic beliefs are founded upon monotheism, the antonym of which is polytheism. From here, we discover that Islam ascribes a moral manifestation to monotheism and considers it a matter of justice, which is a moral virtue. On the other hand, it treats polytheism as a matter of injustice, which symbolises moral depravity: “… False worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing” (Al-Quran: Luqman: 13) The Quran rather regards disbelief, with all its types as being injustice. Allah, the Exalted, says: … Those who reject Faith they are the wrong-doers. ( Al-Quran: Al-Baqarah: 254)

When Islamic faith becomes consummate and bears fruits, it assumes the form of moral virtues, which have been mentioned at length in the Quranic verses and in the prophetic tradition, for example: “The believers must (eventually) win through,- Those who humble themselves in their prayers; Who avoid vain talk; Who are active in deeds of charity; Who abstain from sex, Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess, — for (in their case) they are free from blame, But those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors; — Those who faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants. And who (strictly) guard their prayers; — These will be the heirs, Who will inherit Paradise: they will dwell therein (for ever) (Al-Quran: Al-Mu’minun: 1- 10)

“For, Believers are those who, when God is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened, and put (all) their trust in their Lord; Who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance: Such in truth are the believers: they have grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous sustenance”. (Al-Quran: Al-Anfal: 2-4)

“Only those are Believers who have believed in God and His Apostle, and have never since doubted, but have striven with their belongings and their persons in the Cause of God: Such are the sincere ones”. (Al-Quran: Al-Hujurat: 15) “And the servants of (God) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace!”; Those who spend the night in adoration of their Lord prostrate and standing; Those who say, “Our Lord! avert from us the Wrath of Hell, for its Wrath is indeed an affliction grievous, — “Evil indeed is it as an abode, and as a place to rest in”; Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just (balance) between those (extremes); Those who invoke not, with God, any other god, nor slay such life as God has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit fornication; — and any that does this (not only) meets punishment”. (Al-Quran: Al-Furqan: 63 — 68)

Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) too link moral virtues with the faith and regard them as its exigencies and fruits. For example: “He who believes in Allah and in the day of judgement, should brace the bond of kinship; He who believes in Allah and in the day of judgement, should refrain from hurting his neighbour; He who believes in Allah and in the day of judgement, should either utter good or keep quiet”.

“Faith has more than seventy branches, and the highest amongst these is declaration of faith — that “there is no god but Allah” — and the lowest amongst these is elimination of harm from the pathway. Prudent shame (too) is a branch of the faith.” “While committing fornication, the fornicator ceases to be faithful; while committing theft, the thief ceases to be faithful; while drinking intoxicant, a drinker ceases to be faithful.” To be continued ...

e-mail: drbashirahmad@hotmail.com

http://omanobserver.com/23/index.htm

Blessed be the children

2008-09-21T15:14:00.002+08:00

If you wish to become a saint, change your character into the character of children. Children have 5 qualities, and if adults had these same qualities, they would attain the rank of saints :

1. they do not worry about their daily bread

2. when they fall sick, they do not complain night and day about their misfortune

3. whatever food they have, they share - lovely!

4. when they fight or quarrel, they do not keep grudges in their hearts, but make up quickly ;-)

5. the slightest threat makes them frightened and brings tears to their eyes.

[ Imam al-Ghazali ]

Night of Power

2008-09-18T11:54:00.008+08:00

salamullahi 'alaikum warahmah wa barakah,

since we are getting nearer to the last 10 days of Ramadhan, we want to wish all the muslims "Happy Hunting the Al Qadr" - may He shower us with loads of baraka wa rahma this Ramadhan, inshaAllah ameen :)

ps : dont forget to recite this du'aa taught by saidatina 'Aisha r.anha if you people meet the Al Qadr - please insert my name(nurzaiti hamdan) into your du'aa, jazakallahu wa khairan kathira!

Dalam sebuah hadis daripada 'Aisyah r.a.berkata:
"Ya Rasulullah bagaimana kalau saya bertemu Lailatul Qadar? Apa yang harus saya ucapkan pada malam itu?'' Baginda bersabda: Ucapkanlah: "Ya Allah kami bermohon padaMu, sesungguhnya Engkau Maha Pengampun, suka mengampuni (hamba-hambaMu), maka ampunilah (dosa-dosa) kami.''
(Riwayat Tirmizi, Nasa'i, Ibnu Majah dan Ahmad)

'Aisha R.A reports:
"I said 'O Rasul of Allah (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wassallam) , should I find myself the Laylatul Qadr, what shall I ask of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) ? Rasulullah (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wassallam) replied, 'Say, "O Allah, You are the One who grants pardon for sins, You loves to pardon, so pardon me.""
(Narrated by Tirmizi, Nasa'i, Ibnu Majah and Ahmad)

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ، فَاعْفُ عَنَّا ياكَرِيْم

Advantages of Islamic worship

2008-09-17T17:31:00.002+08:00

17 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

THE Islamic meaning and scope of worship has auspicious effects on self and life, such as: 1. It dyes the life and actions of a Muslim with the divine paint. It keeps him tugged with Allah in every worldly act in such a way that he performs these acts with the intention of a devout adorer with a humble and pious soul. This creates meaning and significance in every act of the Muslim.

This perception beckons him towards excellence, meticulousness and perfection in his worldly deeds, as he does so with the perception of submission to the Glorious Cherisher and with the intention of seeking His pleasure and pleasant recompense. 2. It grants to a Muslim focus of direction and unity of purpose in the whole life. In every coming day and passing night, he strives to please the only Lord and strides towards Him with all his worldly and religious endeavours. There is no schism or conflict nor duplicity neither in his personality nor in life.

The Muslim is not one of those who worship Allah in the darkness of the night and worship the “society” in the daylight. He is not one of those who worship Allah within the walls of the mosque and worship the “world” or the “matter” in the arena of actual life. He is not one of those who worship Allah on a specific day of the week and worship other things and beings throughout the week.

Certainly, he is not of that lot! He worships only Allah and Him alone wherever he is, however he is and in whatever job and circumstance he may be. Observation of Allah does not part with him in any work, state, or time: “To Allah belong the east and the West: Whithersoever ye turn, there is the presence of Allah. For Allah is all-Pervading, all-Knowing”. (Al-Quran: Al-Baqarah: 115)

Thus, all his attention turns towards Allah, his heart concentrates on Allah; the integrity and harmony of his life, thought, motivation and passion do not disintegrate in various directions, trends and schisms. The whole life of a Muslim is an indivisible single unit; his course therein is the worship of Allah; his purpose therein is seeking pleasure of Allah; his guide therein is the revelation of Allah.

Worship embraces the whole personality
As worship in Islam incorporates the whole life, it also embraces the complete human personality. A Muslim worships Allah with his intellect; he worships Allah with his heart; he worships Allah with his tongue; he worships Allah with the senses of hearing and vision and with all other senses, he worships Allah with his whole body; he worships Allah by spending his wealth; he worships Him by dedicating his life; he even worships Him by parting with his nearest and dearest and by departing his homeland.

A Muslim glorifies Allah with his intellect by reflecting over his own self and over the universe, by contemplating the wondrous kingdom of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is therein, by pondering over the revealed signs of Allah and on the guidance and wisdom therein, and by mulling over the destiny of nations, the events of history and the lessons and warnings therein.

Purpose of Worship
We know now that the mission of the human being on the face of this earth and within this existence is to worship Allah alone. We know that the worship represents utmost submission blended with ultimate love for Allah. We know that the worship in Islam encompasses the whole life. A question that may be asked by some as to why do we worship Allah? In other words, why did Allah make His worship and obedience incumbent upon us, while he is in no need of it?

The answer is that in fact the worship of any of His slaves avails no benefit to Him (Praise be to Him) nor does turning away of any arrogant from Him harm Him in any manner. The Quran narrates to us the statement of Solomon (PBUH): “… (Solomon) said: “This is by the Grace of my Lord! — to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! and if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own soul; but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of all Needs, Supreme in Honour !”… ( Al-Quran: Al-Naml:40) The Holy Quran also says: “O ye men! It is ye that have need of Allah: but Allah is the One Free of all wants, worthy of all praise”. (Al-Quran: Fatir: 15)

Nourishment of the soul
Human being is not just the physical shroud that we feel and see, and that demands its portion of the earthly food and drink. The essence of the human being rather lies in that precious substance, by which he became venerated as human being and as master of all creation on the earth. That substance is nothing but the soul that derives its vivacity and purity from intimate discourse with Allah (the Mighty and the Majestic). Worship of Allah provides sustenance and nourishment to this soul and dispenses its daily requirements, never running out nor depleting.

If negligence and ignorance accumulate on this abstract substance and if oxidation of repudiation and suspicion rust it, sentiments in times of ordeals may breeze up and dislodge the accumulated dust; fire of hardship and suffering may erupt and eliminate the corrosion. Right then does the human being instantaneously return to Allah, calls out to Him and humbles himself before Him.

The human heart always feels the need for Allah, the Originator of all that exists. This feeling is so pristine and veritable, that its vacuum cannot be filled by anything in the existence except by a strong bond with Lord of the Existence. This exactly is the role of worship when performed aptly.

Road to freedom
Furthermore, absolute servitude to Allah is actually the selfsame of freedom. It is the road to real sovereignty. It alone releases the heart from serfdom of the created. It alone liberates the heart and mind from submission and servitude of all sorts of gods and idols besides Allah, who subjugate the people and enslave them by means of the worst forms of subjugation and enslavement, even though in their appearance and form, they may, appear to be sovereign rulers.

For more inquiries e-mail at drbashirahmad@hotmail.com

http://omanobserver.com/17/Daily/Feature.htm

Islamic perspective of worship

2008-09-16T21:54:00.001+08:00

16 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

THE exigency of human worship to Allah alone is that you submit all your affairs to the Will of Allah and to His approval, whether it be beliefs, words or deeds. You must customise your life and behaviour according to the requirements of the divine guidance and specifications.

When Allah commands you to do something or prohibits you from doing something, when He legitimises something for you or forbids something for you, your stance should be: “… We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys…” (Al-Quran: Al-Baqarah: 285)

The distinction between a believer and an infidel is that the believer sets himself free from the bondage of his own self and from the slavery of the created beings for the bondage of his Creator alone; he moves out of the obedience of his whims and fancies to the obedience of Allah.

A believer is not like a stray animal, so that he can follow his own vagary or someone else can set the course for him. A believer is not a slave to society. A believer is, rather, obligated by an agreement that he must honour, by a sacred covenant that he must conform to. The covenant of faith implies that the faithful handover the reins of his life to Allah, so that His genuine and truthful Messenger can lead it on the right track and he be guided by the impeccable divine revelation. The covenant of faith makes it imperative that when the Lord says, “I order and I forbid”, the slave must say, “I heard and I obeyed”. The covenant of faith requires that the human being set himself free from the bondage of vagaries of his own self to the law of his Master.

Hence, he does not worship Allah, who says, “I worship, fast and perform Hajj, but I am at liberty to eat pork, drink intoxicants, deal in usury; I am free to reject those statutes of the Shariah that don't appeal to me, and to adopt thereupon norms other than the norms of Shariah”. Similarly he does not worship Allah, who assumes that the servitude to Allah does not go beyond the walls of the mosque, and that when he enters the diverse fields of life outside the mosque, he is the slave of his own self; in other words, he considers himself free to follow his own lusts or the lusts of other created beings like him.

Islam has broadened the scope of worship and expanded its compass to accommodate a multitude of deeds that no one could imagine to be recognised by religion as deeds of worship and means of endearing oneself to Allah. Every beneficial social work is acknowledged by Islam as being amongst the best acts of worship, as long as the intention of the doer is benevolence rather than hunting for praise and admiration.

Every sincere deed wherein a human being wipes a drop of tears of a grief-stricken fellow human being, or lightens the agony of an agonised, or swathes in bandages the wounds of the afflicted, or allays the hunger of a destitute, or supports an oppressed, or raises a powerless from a fall, or pays off the debt of an impoverished person, or lends a helping hand to a modest needy breadwinner, or guides a bewildered, or teaches an unlearned, or provides shelter to a stranger, or wards off ordeal from a living being, or removes a harmful thing from a passageway, or provides succour to a needy, is essentially a feat of worship and a vehicle for achieving closeness to Allah.

Islam effectively rendered a whole host of such deeds to the status of worship of the Gracious Allah, to being the ramifications of faith and means of achieving remuneration from Allah. So prayers or fasting or remembrance or invocation and supplications alone are not logged as deeds of worship that qualify for reward, certainly not! During the course of a day one can append his balance sheet with many deeds of worship and virtue — whatsoever insignificant those may appear according to the worldly standards - that carry their credence and worth in the rating scale of Allah, the Exalted.

In this perspective the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned about those who strive for reconciliation between adversaries, “Shall I reveal to you something more substantial than fasting, prayers and charity? The companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said, for sure, please reveal to us. He said, It is reconciliation between adversaries.

Emphasising upon the significance of visiting the ailing and sick, and explaining its importance in the form of alleviation and consolation, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) says, “He who visits a sick person, an angle calls out to him from the heavens: be delighted, may your walking bring delight to you, and may you be granted an abode in paradise”. (Narrated by Tirmizi). In fact, Islam deems these social works as daily obligation upon every Muslim.

Breadwinning too is worship

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarded the worldly deeds carried out by the human being for his own livelihood and his endeavours for himself and for his family as worship. A farmer in his farm, a worker in his factory, a trader in his store, an employee in his office and every person in the field of his profession can turn his toil for his own livelihood into prayers and into struggle for the cause of Allah, if the work done is legitimate according to Islam. Those deeds that are disapproved by Islam, like working in usury, pubs and ball rooms are not and shall never be treated as worship.

Allah is good and accepts nothing but good. The work should be anchored in righteous intention: the intention of safeguarding himself, providing sufficiently for his family, benefiting his nation and making the earth flourish, as ordained by Allah. The job is done with perfection and excellence. In this context, the Hadeeth says: “Allah has prescribed excellence in every regard”and “Allah likes that whenever anyone of you does any job, that he does it with perfection.” (Narrated by Muslim from Shaddad bin Auws)

Fulfilment of sexual appetite: Even more wonderful than all that preceded above, is the fact that worship includes even the basic needs fulfilled by a Muslim in response to the human instinct. Eating, drinking, sexual interaction of husband and wife, and all such things are enfolded by Islam in the broad spectrum of worship if the “intention” is righteous. The “intention” is the wondrous magical substance that when added to unforbidden deeds and habits, turns them into acts of piety and devotion.

The most unequivocal witness to this effect is the following explanation of the Messenger of Allah to his companions: “Even your having intercourse is (an act of) charity”. The companions asked: “Does it mean that when one of us fulfils his carnal appetite, he will deserve a reward for that?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: “do you realise that if one would indulge in an illegitimate sexual intercourse, he would carry a sin?” The companions said: “of course”. He said, “Exactly the same way, when he has sex through the legitimate ways i.e. with his wife. he deserves a reward!”
(To be continued)

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Mission of Man in This Existence

2008-09-15T12:27:00.002+08:00

* all the article shown with date are written by my other half :)

10 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

FROM the Islamic point of view, any ignorance, however grave it may be, can be forgiven, except the ignorance of a human being about the purpose of his life, says Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi, a renowned Islamic scholar and author of Gateway to Knowledge about Islam.

The worst ignominy for this creature — the human being, who has been given the intellect and will — is when he lives incautious, eats and enjoys like cattle and does not reflect over his destiny nor becomes cognizant about his own self and about his role in this life, until the death suddenly comes about.

In view of this, it is incumbent upon every prudent human being to ask himself with all earnestness: Why have I been created? What is the purpose of my creation? To these questions from us, Allah will reply with same answers that have been mentioned in His timeless book, the Glorious Quran, that He created the human being to be His vicegerent on the earth. This fact is very clear from the story of Adam, how angels envied him for the status granted to him by Allah: “Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said: “Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? — whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?” He said: “I know what ye know not.” (Al-Quran: Al-Baqarah: 30)

The first thing among the prerequisites of this deputyship is that the human being should recognise his Lord very well and must worship Him comprehensively. Allah says: Allah is He Who created seven Firmaments and of the earth a similar number. Through the midst of them (all) descends His Command: that ye may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah comprehends, all things in (His) Knowledge. (Al-Quran: At-Talaq: )

In this Quranic verse, recognising Allah and serving Allah has been described as the purpose of the creation of the heavens and the earth. Recognising Allah means understanding His creation ie laws of nature. Serving Allah means serving the mankind. Some experts say there is no better means of understanding the Creator than science and no better means of serving humanity than technology. So going for science and technology with the intention of seeking Allah’s pleasure is in a way worship of Allah.

Allah, the Exalted, says: “I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me. No Sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me. For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance, — Lord of Power,- Steadfast (for ever).( Al-Quran: Az-Zariyat: 56-58)Anyone who ponders over this universe, wherein we live, finds everything in it existing and living for the service of others. We see that the water is for the soil, the soil is for the vegetation, the vegetation is for the animals, and the animals are for the human being. For whom then, is the human being himself? This is the puzzle.

The human being is for Allah, for knowing Him, for worshiping Him and for discharging his duties. It is not conceivable that the human being can be for anything else found on the earth. Hence worship by the human being of forces of nature, whether above him or below him, like the sun, the moon, the stars, the rivers, the animals, the trees etc, has been a reversal of the natural placement and a horrendous retrograding of his status. Naturally and logically thus the human being is for Allah the Glorified, not for anyone else other than Him; he is for the worship of Allah alone, not for the worship of any fellow human, or stone, or animal or tree, or the sun, or the moon.

And worship in its broadest terms means understanding Allah’s creation and appreciating and praising Him and carrying out His commandments which ask us to serve humanity. In Islam every lawful act done with the intention of seeking Allah’s pleasure is workship. That means, for example, working in office to earn a livelihood for your family and visiting market is a part of workship. “Did I not enjoin on you, O ye Children of Adam, that ye should not worship Satan; for that he was to you an enemy avowed?, and that ye should worship Me, (for that) this was the Straight Way?” (Al-Quran: YaSin: 60-61)

Essence of Worship
Every obedience to Allah on account of submission and humility is worship. Worship is a kind of subordination that is deserved only by the benefactor of the highest benefactions, like life, comprehension, hearing and vision. Besides its linguistic meaning — which implies highest degree of obedience and submission — adoration is also a key component of worship. It implies extreme humbleness to Allah out of deep adoration for Him.

The basis of submission to Allah is the conscious awareness about His unity and about His paramount omnipotence over all and everything in the existence. Every existing thing is His creation and is His slave; everything is in His hand, under His control and within His authority. In this perspective, the Quran states: “Whatever beings there are in the heavens and the earth do prostrate themselves to God (Acknowledging subjection), — with good-will or in spite of themselves: so do their shadows in the morning and evenings. Say: “Who is the Lord and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth?” Say: “(It is) God.”

Say: “Do ye then take (for worship) protectors other than Him, such as have no power either for good or for harm to themselves?” Say: “Are the blind equal with those who see? Or the depths of darkness equal with light?” Or do they assign to God partners who have created (anything) as He has created, so that the creation seemed to them similar? Say: “God is the Creator of all things: He is the One, the Supreme and Irresistible.” (Al-Quran: Ar-Ra’d: 15-16) The basis of submission to Allah, the Almighty, is the self-consciousness about the indigence to one who possesses harm and benefit; one who controls death and life; to whom belongs the creation and the command; in whose hands is the governance of all things.

The more the human being gains the knowledge about his own self and about his Creator, the more these presentiments increase in clarity and strength. The more we seek knowledge, the more our trust in Allah increases, the more is our orientation towards Him, more is his reliance on Him, more frequent is he in resorting to Him, more natural is our servility of Him, more spontaneous we are in stretching our hands in supplication towards Him and the more we knock at His door in invocation and penitence.

On the contrary, when a human being is unconscious of his own worth and ignorant of the significance of the Creator Almighty, these presentiments do not die, but deviate and mutate and search for a deity to which the person turns, submits, and for sure, unconsciously, pursues that wrong course. The person may not call his submission to such an unconsciously sought after deity as his submission or obedience to a deity or to a god.

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Philosophy of Islam is peace and harmony in all affairs of man

2008-09-15T12:18:00.002+08:00

06 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

IN his famous book, Gateway to Knowledge about Islam, Yusuf al Qaradhawi explains how Islam reforms the individual and society at large by addressing the issues of their soul and heart by making them the stimulus for change for a better world around them. Al Qaradhawi says science facilitated repairing exterior of the human being, but it failed in reforming his essence.

It has not been able to penetrate deep to the conscious, the cognizant, the sensitive and the susceptible “divine delicacy”, that which when is sound, leads to soundness of the human being; that which when deteriorates, leads to deterioration of the human being; that what is known as the heart or the self or the soul. Whatever that may be termed, that verily is the essence of the human being!

Science granted the human being tools to triumph over some of the forces of nature, but it did not give him means to prevail over his own self: over his desires, his distrust, his anxiety, fear, perplexity, while in conflict within himself and in clash with the society. Modern medicine and surgery have advanced to their farthest frontiers, in this century. Physicians have started saying that the science can eradicate all diseases, except death and old age! In spite of this, diseases have been proliferating, ramifying and spreading at an astonishing speed.

Out of these, “nervous and psychosomatic diseases”, are nothing but consequences and symptoms of the terrible contradiction, through which the individual and the society are passing. The secret of this is that the material knowledge, with all its diversity and discoveries, has not been able to know the reality of the human being. One, who knew the matter and its laws, could not know his own self. No wonder, that this situation led a great scientist like Alexis Carrel (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1912) to pen his famous book Man, the Unknown.

Hence, modern science tried to nurture all material aspects of the human body, but it failed to nourish the human-self along with its contents of conscience, aspirations and will. This led to tall and stout bodies with brawny muscles, but the other side, which is the essence of the human being, ended up suffering from arcane lot of crisis.

Modern psychology affirms that among the root causes of psychosomatic diseases are hatred, malice, fear, fatigue, despondency, dismay, distrust, selfishness and annoyance with the surroundings. All these relate directly to a life characterised by deprivation of faith in God. Islam indeed, is the most magnificent revolution of the human history. It is the revolution for liberty of every human being from servitude and submission to anyone other than his Creator. It is a revolution in the areas of thought, conscience and perception. It is a revolution in the world of reality and application.

The title of this revolution is the august expression and declaration of monotheism “laa ilaaha illallah” (there is non worthy of worship except the one and the only God, Allah). Thus, people are equal. No one should be allowed to enslave others nor should people tyrannise one another. If someone oppresses, tyrannises and perverts, others should obstruct his way and seize his hands, or else they will be considered accomplices in the sin and deserve the just retribution from Allah.

The Holy Quran affirms: “And incline not to those who do wrong, or the Fire will seize you; and ye have no protectors other than Allah, nor shall ye be helped. (Al Quran: Hud: 113) The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) says, “When people notice an oppressor and do not seize his hands, it is the time when Allah is about to punish them all with punishment from him”.

He makes it obligatory upon everyone spotting an oppression or corruption or injustice to strive for changing it with all possible means, “Anyone spotting an abhorrence, should change it with his hand; in case he can’t afford to do so, he should change it with (the communication skills of) his tongue; in case he can’t afford do so, he should curse it in his heart; this is the weakest (level) of the faith”. (Narrated by Abu-Dawud and Tirmizi as authentic).

As for the third step, the smallest possible benefit of this, in the short term, is the disgust with oppressors and does not allow the faithful to participate with them in eating and drinking, nor does he associate or befriend with them. The Prophet (PBUH) regarded resistance to internal oppression and depravation akin to resistance of external invasion and aggression; both are holy struggle for the divine cause. When asked: “which type of struggle is the best?”, he replied: “word of truth in front of a tyrannical ruler.” ( Narrated by Abu-Dawud and Tirmizi as authentic).

He thus regarded this type of struggle as the best and the paramount struggle. This is Islam, which prompts to resistance of oppression until death and regards the one who gives life for this cause, as a martyr of the divine cause. Such a martyr is ranked among the vanguards of glorious martyrs. Islam nurtures consciousness of dignity and self-esteem in a Muslim’s personality and makes it one of the characteristics and impressions of faith: “…honour belongs to Allah and His Messenger, and to the Believers…” (Al-Quran: Al-Munafiqun: 8) “We have honoured the sons of Adam…” (Al Quran: Al-Isra’: 70)

“When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say: “In what (plight) Were ye?” They reply: “Weak and oppressed Were we in the earth.” They say: “Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away (From evil)?” Such men will find their abode in Hell, — What an evil refuge!” (Al Quran: An-Nisa: 97)

Among the invocations, The Prophet (PBUH) taught us is: “O Allah! I seek refuge with You from distress and sorrow; I seek refuge with You from helplessness and laziness; I seek refuge with You from miserliness and cowardice; I seek refuge with You from being heavily in debt and from being overcome by men”.( Narrated by Abu-Dawud, under No: 1555). This invocation to Allah teaches seeking refuge with Allah from all manifestations of weakness that strike the human being, affect him, subjugate him and humiliate him.

Is Islam a threat? Indeed, Islam is a threat to those who do not want peace. The underlying philosophy of Islam is peace and harmony in all affairs of man and in his relationships with the natural world, the fellow human beings and with his own family and soul. Obviously, Islam is a threat to those materialistic powers who want to rule by creating chaos and follow a divide-and-rule policy to ensure their interests. Islam is a threat to those who make arms, promote arms race, like to fish in troubled waters and therefore have no stake in peaceful settlement of disputes. Islam is indeed a threat to oppressors for it stands for the rights of the oppressed and downtrodden people.

The struggle between the forces of good and evil, or truth and falsehood has been continuing since the dawn of time. Islam invites all peace-loving forces to join hands and work for a better world. Islam is the most vigorous of the world ideologies and its impact on the political and social history at the beginning of the new millennium is proving profound. Islam is a living ideology that opposes any kind of aggression and injustice. Hence, hegemonic powers are against it and its teachings. Islam is the only international code of conduct that challenges these powers that want to rule by creating chaos and follow a divide-and-rule policy to fish in troubled waters.

This is Islam, which calls for revolt against injustice, feebleness, helplessness and servitude and incites to advocacy of truth, strength and freedom. Is it fair to say about such a religion that it is an opium of the people and that it benumbs them with promises of bliss in the paradise, so that they keep mum about injustices in this world?!!!

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Man’s mission as the vicegerent of God on earth

2008-09-15T12:10:00.004+08:00

03 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

RAMADHAN is a month of contemplation and concentration on higher things. One of them is the fact that man has been created to be the vicegerent of God on the earth. In his famous book, Gateway to Knowledge about Islam, Yusuf al Qaradhawi explains how Islam grapples with the most basic issues about the purpose and mission of humankind.

Al Qaradhawi says religions based on divinely revealed scriptures contain divine guidance for the humankind. For example, Judaism is based on the Torah revealed to Moses (Peace Be Upon Him), Christianity is based on the Bible that was revealed to Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) and Islam is based on the Quran that was revealed to the last Messenger and the final Prophet of the Almighty, Mohammad (PBUH).

The difference between Islam and other scripture based religions is that Allah protected the foundations of Islam and its sources because of its being the final divine message to the humankind. These sources did not become subject of any distortion nor any alteration. On the other hand, the sources of other religions and their sacred books could not remain secure, but were either distorted and altered or were even lost.

Fundamentally, all the heavenly religions, although their doctrines differ according to the times of their revelation, share common sources for their beliefs. This has been explained and emphasised in the Quran as follows: “The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah — that which We have sent by inspiration to thee — and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus: Namely that ye should remain steadfast in Religion and make no divisions therein” (Al-Quran: Ash-Shura: 13)

The Quran has affirmed that the religion of Allah is one. Through all his books, He revealed the same religion and He sent all His messengers with the same religion. That religion, as Allah, the Exalted, says, is Islam: “The Religion before Allah is Islam, submission to His will”. (Al-Quran: Al-Imran: 19) In that sense, all messengers of Allah were Muslims and called to Islam: “Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian but he was true in faith and bowed his will to Allah’s (which is Islam), and he joined not gods with God”. (Al-Quran: Al-Imran: 67)

Moses called his people saying: “…O my People! if ye do (really) believe in Allah then in Him put your trust if ye submit (your will to His)”. (Al-Quran: Yunus: 84) The disciples of Jesus (PBUH) said to him: “We are Allah’s helpers we believe in Allah and do thou bear witness that we are Muslims...” (Al-Quran: Al-Imran: 52) Mohammad, the final Messenger (PBUH), was sent with Islam — the religion of all messengers of Allah — confirming the previous religions as well as corroborating what their scriptures contained in the form of religious facts and behavioural guidance.

The Glorious Quran was revealed to supersede those books by way of correcting the linguistic distortion or misrepresentation of the meanings of words of God, and to complement the benevolent morals with which the previous messengers had come. The revealed scriptures, thus, culminated in the form of the final book — the Quran — to provide the paramount guidance and the finest moral code while the human race reached its prime and attained its maturity.

Allah, the Exalted, addresses His Messenger, Mohammad (PBUH) saying: “To thee We sent the Scripture in truth confirming the scripture that came before it and guarding it in safety; so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed and follow not their vain desires diverging from the truth that hath come to thee …” (Al-Quran: Al-Maidah: 48)

Need for Religion
The need of a human being for religious beliefs arises, primarily, from his urge to know his own self and the greater existence surrounding him; it emerges from the quest for answers to those questions that have been engaging the human philosophies throughout the history, except that these philosophies have not been able to pronounce anything satisfying.

In the heart of his hearts, a human being keeps asking himself questions like: wherefrom did I come? Where did this universe around me come from? Did I come into existence on my own, or is there a creator who created me? Who is that originator? What is my relation with Him? Did this enormous world around me, with its earth and sky; with its animals, plants, inanimate bodies and universe; come into being by itself or an intelligent designer brought it into existence? What is there after this life … after the death?

After this short expedition to the planet Earth, where does the journey lead? Is the whole story of this life just about, as someone said, “wombs eject and the earth swallows” and the story ends there? How can the destiny of the noble and the chaste, who laid down their lives in the path of truth and righteousness, be like the destiny of the wicked and the crook, who massacred others for their own whims and fancies? Does this life end up with the death; or is there another life wherein those who did bad deeds will be paid in kind of their deeds and those who were righteous be paid rightly? Why did the human being come into existence?

Why, unlike other living beings, was man given the capabilities of intellect, resolve and differentiation? Why was all that is in the skies and in the earth made subservient to man? Is there a purpose to his being? Does he have a mission in life; or was he brought into existence just to eat and drink like cattle and to die and depart from this life like animals? If there is a purpose to his existence, what then is that purpose? How does he realise that purpose?

Such questions have been posing themselves emphatically to the human being in all times and obliging for convincing answers that can quench his rational thirst and satisfy his inner self. However, satisfactory answers to these can be found only by resorting to Islam. Islam only makes you aware, in the first instance, that you did not come into existence by happenstance, nor did you stand up in this form in the midst of this universe on your own; you are rather a creation of a great Creator.

That Creator is his Cherisher, the one who created you in a duly proportionate and orderly form; breathed into you something of his spirit; gave you the faculties of listening, seeing and feeling (in the heart); bestowed upon you His enormous blessings, right from the stage when you were an embryo in your mother’s womb: “Have We not created you from a fluid (held) despicable?, which We placed in a place of rest firmly fixed, For a period (of gestation) determined (according to need), For We do determine (according to need); for We are the Best to determine (things)!” (Al-Quran: Al-Mursalat: 20-23)

This vast universe around you is neither alien to you nor is it your adversary; it is, just like you, Allah’s creation; it does not move haphazardly, nor does it follow its course arbitrarily; everything in it is proportionate and precise; every event and each move calculated and measured. This is a bounty from Allah bestowed upon the human being, so that he may enjoy His blessings, and think over His signs to find a lead to his Cherisher: “Who hath created and further given order and proportion; Who hath ordained laws. And granted guidance”. (Al-Quran: Al-A’ala: 2-3)

“Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day there are indeed Signs for men of understanding”. (Al-Quran: Al-Imran: 190) With this belief, the human being gets connected with the greater existence around him; he gets connected to the Cherisher of the whole existence Himself; he does not live cocooned around himself; neither isolated from his surroundings nor fearful of them. Only religion enlightens the human being about where is he going to go after this life and after death?

It enlightens him that death is not a mere extinction nor is it nothingness; that it is rather transition to yet another phase, wherein every person will be recompensed for all his deeds; that no one’s deeds, whether male or female, will go in vain, nor shall any tyrant or arrogant escape the divine justice: “On that Day will men proceed in companies sorted out to be shown the Deeds that they (had done). Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good see it! And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil shall see it”. (Al-Quran: Az-Zalzalah: 6-8)

Only religion enlightens the human being about the purpose of his creation and about why he has been blessed and chosen. It defines to him the purpose of his existence and his mission therein. He realises that he has been created to be the vicegerent of God on the earth, so that he may exploit and develop it according to His commands, utilise it for what He likes, discover its hidden riches and consume its delicacies, without transgressing over the rights of others, nor forgetful of the rights of the Cherisher.

The first right of his Cherisher is that He alone be worshipped, no partners be to set to Him and He be worshipped in accordance to what He has prescribed and conveyed through His messengers — whom He sent to humankind as torchbearers and teachers and who were harbingers and warners. If he fulfils his obligations in this world, which is surrounded by obligations and ordeals, he will be rewarded in the hereafter: “On the day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done…” (Al-Quran: Al-Imran: 30)

Thus, the human being realises the secret of his existence and he recognise his mission in the life. This cognisance is bestowed upon him by the designer of the universe, the provider of life and the creator of the human being himself. A poet very aptly said: Death is nothing but a journey, a journey from the house of nonentity to the house of permanence. Omar bin Abdul Aziz has said: “we have been created for eternity; we are being transported from one abode to another”.

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Ya Rabbana Lakal Hamd!

2008-09-13T21:53:00.008+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah...

We all know that everything is written and recorded for us in our books. The angles write everything we say. Well, when a servant of Allah SWTsays the following duaa:

ياربنا لك الحمد كما
ينبغى لجلال وجهك و لعظيم سلطانك

Ya Rabbana, lakal hamdu, Kama Yambaghy, Lijalali Wajhika Wa Adzhimi Sulthonik.

Oh Allah, Thanks and gratitude be to You, as much as your magnificence and great authority ought to deserve.

The angels are stumped as to what to write. Why do the angels not know how to write this?

When we say this duaa, and it can be seen from the translation, it is unquantifiable the amount we are thanking Allah SWT, because it is as much as He SWT ought to deserve, and a number or scale cannot be attached to this. So what do the angels do?

They go up to Allah SWT and tell Allah SWT, a servant of Yours has something we do not know how to write. Allah SWT of course knows what we have said, but nonetheless asks the angels what we said. The angels tell Him SWT the duaa. Allah SWT then tells the angels to record it exactly as the servant has said and Allah SWT will reward us when He SWT meets us on the Day of Judgement.

Isn’t this wonderful to hear? Something as simple as saying this duaa, saying it from our hearts will give us a reward that Allah SWT will grant us on the Day of Judgement. Imagine that, Allah SWT will reward us when we see Him SWT for this small dua that has great meaning! This just shows how wonderful and rewarding this duaa is, and that Allah SWT is saving our reward for when we meet Him SWT.

Just thought I’d share… Let’s all try to memorize this and start saying it daily. Instead of just saying Alhamdulilah (thanking Allah SWT once) let us say “Oh Allah, Thanks and gratitude be to You, as much as your magnificence and great authority ought to deserve.”

Hadith Source: Sunan Ibn Majah on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (ra)

Islam liberates mankind from all bondage

2008-09-13T18:15:00.002+08:00

13 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

IN a world that revolves around the material and the finite, Islam calls to a life dedicated to the divine and the eternal. It means that there is more to life than just chasing a higher level of material comfort. The practicing Muslim feels liberated as he/she is not a slave to society; they are slave to what their Lord has asked of them. Islam frees its followers from seeking fulfilment and happiness with the fleeting, transient things in this world. For the Muslim, every day has meaning, every day is an opportunity to put something forward for his account with the Lord.

In his famous book, Gateway to Knowledge about Islam, Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi says the cry of “laa ilaha illallah” (i.e. there is none worthy of worship except the one and only one Allah) raised by the Holy Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) was declaration of rebellion against idols of paganism as well as against all tyrants on the face of the earth; it was and continues to be a revolt against all purported deities and gods taken (for worship) besides Allah. “Laa ilaha illallah” is a universal call for freedom of the human being from bondage of every other human being, from the nature, from all creatures and from the whole creation of Allah.

“Laa ilaha illallah” is the title of a new order, designed not by a ruler or a philosopher, which is the system of Allah, before whom faces humble themselves and only to Whose command the hearts submit and only to Whose authority the minds surrender. “Laa ilaha illallah” heralded the birth of a new society contrary to societies of paganism, a society discrete in its belief and a society unique with its system, wherein there is no racism, regionalism nor any class system, because it belongs to Allah alone and does not owe allegiance to anyone except to Allah.

Pagan leaders and tyrants sensed how “Laa ilaha illallah” was going to wreck the thrones of their authority, eliminate their highhandedness and oppression and support the oppressed against them. Thence, they used all means to silence this call and lurked on every road, threatening and hindering from the path of Allah those who believed in Him, and seeking in it something crooked.

The greatest tragedy of the humanity has been that some of its mortals have been positioned as gods or semi gods for others on earth. People submit to these individual gods, bow to them, prostrate in front of them, yield to them and humble themselves before them. On the other hand, the monotheistic belief of Islam elevated the spirit of the faithful so that no mortal human could remain a deity or a half deity or one third of a deity or son of a deity or a god incarnate.

The crux of genuine human brotherhood and the core of genuine freedom and the essence of human dignity is that no human being prostrates before another human being, no one bows to a human being, nor does anyone kiss the ground in front of a human being. The Holy Quran tells us that alongside faith in the existence of Allah and His oneness, it is essential to attribute to Him absolute completeness appropriate to His bountiful self: “He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him”. (Al-Quran: Al-Ikhlas: 3-4)

“… there is nothing whatever like unto Him, and He is the One that hears and sees (all things)”. (Al-Quran: Ash-Shu’ara’: 11) “Blessed be He in Whose hands is Dominion; and He over all things hath Power”. (Al-Quran: Al-Mulk: 1) Allah is the wise, Who does not create for futility nor does He leave anything purposeless. He does not ordain any statute without acumen; some understand that, while others remain ignorant. To this, the angels bore witness high in the heavens:

“They said: “Glory to Thee, of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: In truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom.” (Al-Quran: Al-Baqarah: 32) The opening statement of chapter of the Quran is: “Bismillahi-rrahmani-rrahem” (meaning: In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful), the fact that emphasises that His mercy is all-encompassing and strengthens the hope in human hearts, even if they might have committed transgression or been sinful. “Say: O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Al-Quran: Az-Zumar: 53)

http://omanobserver.com/13/Daily/Feature.htm

Allah, the Exalted, as introduced by Islam

2008-09-13T18:06:00.004+08:00

09 September 2008

By Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad

ALL scientists and studies hold that behind this universe there is a supreme power that governs it, controls it and oversees it. Someone called this as “the First Cause”, another called it “the First Intelligence”, and someone else called it “the First Motive”, whereas the Holy Quran and the heavenly books named it with the comprehensive name of “ALLAH” that encompasses the attributes of beauty and grandeur.
In his famous book, “Gateway to Knowledge about Islam”, Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi says this supreme power, or in other words, this great deity, cannot be comprehended fully by the human mind, nor can it know its essence.

“That is Allah, your Lord! there is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then worship ye Him: and He hath power to dispose of all affairs. No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things”. (Al-Quran: Al-An’am: 102-103). This God is not for a group of people, nor is He the God of a particular people, nor of a certain region of the globe. In words of the Glorious Quran, He is: “The Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds… Lord of the heavens and of the earth… Lord of the East and the West… Say: “Shall I seek for (my) Cherisher other than Allah, when He is the Cherisher of all things” (Al-Quran: Al-Fatihah: 2 and many other chapters; Al-Kahf: 14; Ash-Shuára’: 28; Al-An’am: 164)

Allah is the divine force and deriving force behind the whole universe. In the words of the Holy Quran: “Allah is the creator of all things” (13:16). Allah’s knowledge and grace is everywhere. “Wherever you turn, there is the face of Allah”. (92:15). “Allah is the Everliving, the Self-subsisting” (2: 255). Let us listen to what the Glorious Quran narrates from the dialogue between Moses and the Pharaoh, so that we can realise the comprehensiveness of His divinity (glory to Him, the exalted).

“Pharaoh said: “And what is the ‘Lord and Cherisher of the worlds’?” (Moses) said: “The Lord and Cherisher of the heavens and the earth, and all between,- if ye want to be quite sure.” (Pharaoh) said to those around: “Did ye not listen (to what he says)?” (Moses) said: “Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers from the beginning!” (Pharaoh) said: “Truly your messenger who has been sent to you is a veritable madman!” (Moses) said: “Lord of the East and the West, and all between! if ye only had sense!” (Al-Quran: Ash-Shuára’: 23-28)

The Glorious Quran has used a variety of approaches to substantiate the existence of Allah: 1. The Glorious Quran calls the minds and the intellects to those signs that are spread across the universe bearing witness to the fact that there is a wise designer behind its creation. That, in fact, is the axiomatic norm of the mind that believes in causality in a natural manner without need for any prescription and evidence: “Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and the day; in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain which Allah Sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they Trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth; — (Here) indeed are Signs for a people that are wise”. ( Al-Quran: Al-Baqarah 164)

This creation certainly must have a creator and this system must have a controller: “Were they created of nothing, or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, they have no firm belief.… (When this message was delivered), (Pharaoh) said: “Who, then, O Moses, is the Lord of you two?” He said: “Our Lord is He Who gave to each (created) thing its form and nature, and further, gave (it) guidance.” (Al-Quran: At-Tur: 35-36; Taha:49-50)

2. The Glorious Quran touches and motivates the innate human character, with which the human being directly realises that he has a powerful and magnificent lord who protects and guards him: “So set thou thy face steadily and truly to the Faith: (establish) Allah’s handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind: no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah: that is the standard Religion: but most among mankind understand not”.( Al-Quran: ArR um: 30)

This innate character may disappear in times of opulence or at bouts of amusement, but it re-emerges upon hardship and torment. It does not take long for the false coating to melt down; instantly the real metal of human-self reveals itself and the innate person reverts to its lord beseeching and invocating: “He it is Who enableth you to traverse through land and sea; so that ye even board ships;- they sail with them with a favourable wind, and they rejoice thereat; then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think they are being overwhelmed: they cry unto Allah, sincerely offering (their) duty unto Him saying, “If thou dost deliver us from this, we shall truly show our gratitude!”. (Al-Quran: Yunus: 22)

This happens when the human being is suddenly confronted with the question about the source of this universe and its controller. At that moment, the innate character cannot withstand pronouncing spontaneously “GOD”: “If indeed thou ask them who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon (to his Law), they will certainly reply, “Allah”… ( Al-Quran: Al-’Ankabut: 61)

“Say: “Who is it that sustains you (in life) from the sky and from the earth? or who is it that has power over hearing and sight? And who is it that brings out the living from the dead and the dead from the living? and who is it that rules and regulates all affairs?” They will soon say, “Allah”. Say, “will ye not then show piety (to Him)? Such is Allah, your real Cherisher and Sustainer: apart from truth, what (remains) but error? How then are ye turned away?”. (Al-Quran: Yunus: 31-32)

3. The Glorious Quran cites from the history of humankind to establish that the faith in Allah and His messengers has always been the ark of salvation for the faithful, whereas belying Him and His messengers has been the warning of wreck and ruin. For example, while narrating about Noah, it says: “But they rejected him, and We delivered him, and those with him, in the Ark: but We overwhelmed in the flood those who rejected Our signs. They were indeed a blind people!” (Al-Quran: Al-A’raf: 64) About Hud it says: “We saved him and those who adhered to him. By Our mercy, and We cut off the roots of those who rejected Our signs and did not believe”. (Al-Quran: Al-A’raf: 72)

And Saleh and His people it says: “Now such were their houses, — in utter ruin, — because they practised wrong-doing. Verily in this is a Sign for people of knowledge. And We saved those who believed and practised righteousness”. (Al-Quran: An-Naml: 52-53) While addressing His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Allah says: “We did indeed send, before thee, messengers to their (respective) peoples, and they came to them with Clear Signs: then, to those who transgressed, We meted out Retribution: and it was due from Us to aid those who believed”. (Al-Quran: Ar-Rum: 47)

Conclusion:
Allah, as introduced by Islam, is “Lord of the worlds” (1:1), namely the creator and the master of the whole creation. Allah, the origin of existence, is uncreated and immortal i.e. Allah has always existed and will continue to exist. “Allah is the first and the Last and the Ascendant and the Knower of hidden things” (57: 3)

Allah has absolute sovereignty and jurisdiction over the whole of creation (2:255). Allah possesses absolute power which is beyond all knowledge and imagination (2:20). Past and future, open and hidden are known to Allah. “Allah is All-seeing” (58:1) According to the Holy Quran: “Say: He is Allah, The One and Only. Allah, the Eternal, Absolute. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him.” (Al-Qur’an 112:1-4)

From this we learn that Allah is the Master of the Universe. What intellectuals and modern scientists find most appealing is that Muslims regard even the greatest universal personality, the Final Prophet of mankind, Muhammad (PBUH) as a creature, slave or servant of Allah. Allah alone possesses all attributes of perfection.

The teachings of Islam began with Prophet Adam (PBUH) and concluded in the last and final testament (the Glorious Quran) revealed to the last and final Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). All prophets and messengers including Adam, Abraham, Enoch, Isaac, Ishmael, Elisha, Job, David, Hud, Moses, Noah, Salih, Jethro, Solomon, Jacob, John the Baptist, Jonah, Joseph, Jesus, and Muhammad (pease be on them all) brought one and the same core message about the Oneness of our Creator.

http://omanobserver.com/09/Daily/Feature.htm

Fajr By Candle Light

2008-09-12T12:47:00.004+08:00

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah..

" When the night is completely dark,

It finds them staying up in the night.

Fear has chased away their sleep.

So they stay up,

While those who feel secure in this life,

Quietly sleep on."

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak

well, when was the last time you prayed the early morning fajr solah in the dark, with no artifical lights, only using one or two candles to light up the room?

I try to do that every so often to remind myself of what it must have been like in the days before electricity, at the time of the Prophet sallallahu 'alahi wa sallam, and in modern times in places that do not have stable supplies of electricity.

It’s a humbling experience, and reminds me to be thankful for the blessings great and small that I take for granted every day.

One of the awe-inspiring thoughts that would often come to my mind was the image of Muslims all over the same geographic locality and community, people I didn’t know and have never met and maybe a few that I did know, in their houses and in masjid are praying at the same time or in the same period of time, leaving off worldly matters to turn in private conversation with their Lord. SubhanAllah.

Another nice thing to do is to call or SMS someone at fajr time, not to chitchat but just to say salaam, alhamdulillah for another day, send short tazkiyah from Quran or Ahadeeth or asalatu khairun minan nawm - prayer is better than sleep. I think I might start doing that again, so if you’re in my cellphone phonebook, don’t be too surprised or angry with me if I call you at fajr time...;-)

ps : sorry halaqian of halaqah.net, its been a while since i sent you people tazkiyah as a wake up call..i must admit that i am lazy! :P

Kesan selepas 8 rakaat santai...

2008-09-10T13:16:00.004+08:00

Salam,

Teringat tazkirah di surau selepas 8 rakaat tarawikh..., kata ustaz tu :

" kita pi kedai tayar, nak balancing tayar sahaja. Cina tu kata tayar dah rosak - beralun alun dan bahaya. kita risau..., dan tukar tayar.

Kemudian pomen tu kata minyak hitam (injin) pun dah pekat, nanti balik raya jalan jauh tak elok pada injin. kita pun tukar minyak hitam (pastinya dengan filternya sekali--duit lagi! ). Cina tu cakap, kita percaya. Tak mushkil pun. Yakin. haqqul yakin? Orang pomen kafir kata, jarang kita bantah...

Tapi bila Allah SWT kata 10 hari pertama ramadhan adalah keberkatan-- ramai yang macam tak percaya. Masih ada berlegar di Chow kit sebab kata masih ada masa nak terawikh 20 hari lagi.10 hari ke dua adalah keampunan Allah, pun ramai yang macam tak dengar sahaja.., bahkan untuk 10 hari yang ketiga adalah pelepasan dari api neraka - lagi lah ramai yang macam dengar tak dengar sahaja ( maklumlah dah sibuk persediaan raya, pakaian, kuih-kuih, hiasan, dah sampai di kampung dan melayan ahli keluarga). maka di mana kita???... ".

Tersentuh ana !.. maka dibawa kongsi di sini...

Ana memanjangkan sahaja ceramah ustaz itu agar samada menjadi orang yang mengajar @ orang yang mendengar @ yang menyampaikan...

petikan dari Naqibnet - jazakallahu wa khairan akhi Ibn Khalid

Welcoming the Month of Ramadhan

2008-09-01T13:22:00.005+08:00

The Sermon Given By The Prophet (s) On The Last Friday Of Sha'ban On The Reception Of The Month of Ramadhan.

O People!
Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah.
A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness.
A month which with Allah is the best of months.
Its days, the best of days, its nights,
the best of nights, and its hours, the best of hours.

It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah
and invites you to be one of those near to Him.

Each breath you take glorifies him;
your sleep is worship,
your deeds are accepted
and your supplications are answered.

So, ask Allah, your Lord;
to give you a sound body
and an enlightened heart
so you may be able to fast and recite his book,
for only he is unhappy who is devoid
of Allah's forgiveness during this great month.

Remember the hunger and thirst of the day of Qiyaamah (Judgment)
with your hunger and thirst;
give alms to the needy and poor,
honor your old,
show kindness to the young ones,
maintain relations with your blood relations;
guard your tongues,
close your eyes to that which is not permissible for your sight,
close your ears to that which is forbidden to hear,
show compassion to the orphans of people
so compassion may be shown to your orphans.

Repent to Allah for your sins
and raise your hands in dua during these times,
for they are the best of times and
Allah looks towards his creatures with kindness,
replying to them during the hours
and granting their needs if he is asked...

O People! Indeed your souls are
dependant on your deeds, free it with Istighfar (repentance)
lighten its loads by long prostrations;
and know that Allah swears by his might:
That there is no punishment for the one who
prays and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the fire on the
day when man stands before the Lord of the worlds.

O People! One who gives Iftaar to a
fasting person during this month will be like one who has freed
someone and his past sins will be forgiven.

Some of the people who were there then asked
the Prophet (s): "Not all of us are able to
invite those who are fasting?"

The Prophet (s) replied: "Allah gives
this reward even if the Iftaar (meal) is a drink of water."

One who has good morals (Akhlaq)
during this month will be able to pass the
‘Siraat’...on the day that feet will slip...

One who covers the faults of others
will benefit in that Allah will curb
His anger on the day of Judgment...

As for one who honors an orphan;
Allah will honor him on the day of judgment,

And for the one who spreads his kindness,
Allah will spread His mercy over him on the day of Judgment.

As for the one who cuts the ties of relation;
Allah will cut His mercy from him...

Who so ever performs a recommended prayer in this month
Allah will keep the fire of Hell away from him...

Whoever performs an obligator prayer
Allah will reward him with seventy prayers [worth] in this month.

And who so ever prays a lot during this month
will have his load lightened on the day of measure.

He who recites one verse of the holy Qur'an
will be given the rewards of reciting the whole Qur’an during other months.

O People!
Indeed during this month
the doors of heaven are open,
therefore ask Allah not to close them for you;
The doors of hell are closed,
so ask Allah to keep them closed for you.
During this month Shaytan (Satan) is imprisoned
so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you."

"O Allah!
Bless our beloved prophet Muhammad sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam
and his family and shower them with peace."

Happy Ramadhan to all...

2008-08-30T00:25:00.003+08:00

salamullahi 'alaikum wabarakatuhu,

bismillahi walhamdulillahi 'alaa rasulillah,

O Allah!
on this day make our fasts the fasts of those who fast (sincerely),
and our standing up in prayer of those who stand up in prayer (obediently) ,
awaken us in it from the sleep of the heedless, and forgive us our sins ,
O God of the worlds, and forgive us, O one who forgives the sinners.

O Allah!
on this day,
take us closer towards Your pleasure,
keep us away from Your anger and punishment,
grant us the opportunity to recite Your verses (of the Qur'an),
by Your mercy,O the most Merciful.

O Allah!
on this day, grant us wisdom and awareness,
keep us away from foolishness and pretension,
grant us a share in every blessing You send down,
by You generosity, O the most Generous.

O Allah!
we beg from You.
Please let us see the light as light, and the darkness as darkness.
Let not our hearts deviate Now after Thou hast guided us,
But grant us mercy From Thine own Presence;
For Thou art the Grantor Of bounties without measure.
Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes,
and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous.

O Allah!
Bestow on us mercy from Your presence
and dispose of our affairs for us in the right way
cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness
me, my parents, and (all) Believers,
on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!

O Allah!
Grant us good in this world
and good in the life to come
and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire

O Allah!
Bless our beloved prophet Muhammad sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam
and his family and shower them with peace.

Praise be to Allah,
for truly our Lord is He, the Hearer of Prayer!

Amin ya Rabbal Alamin.

ps : let the picture speaks on behalf of me ;-)
happy ramadhan to all muslims araound the world anyways ;-)
and let the 'ibadaa fest begin...

from : syed bashir ahmad and all his companions to Jannat inshaAllah ameen :)

banner for our Jamaah ;)

2008-08-30T00:16:00.007+08:00

salam to all,
on behalf of Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia Daerah Bintulu, we wish every muslims happy ramadhan and may this ramadhan brings a lot of barakaa to you and your family, inshaAllah ameen ;-)

My Allah I Praise You

2008-08-12T01:12:00.003+08:00

My Allah
I praise You,
and You are worthy of praise
for Your benefaction toward me,
the lavishness of Your Favours toward me,
and Your plentiful bestowal upon me,
and for showing bounty towards me through Your Mercy
and lavishing Your Favour upon me.
You hast done well towards me
and I am incapable of thanking You.

Imam Zainul Abideen

Think about it…

2008-08-04T19:23:00.003+08:00

a Chinese proverb once said,

When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them

And I totally agree with it.

It is quite clear that this proverb was very much talking about the recipient of the good deeds, you agree? The recipient should always remember the person who had done the good things for them. This is called gratitude.

Just like how we should be thankful to our parents who had raised us up, teachers who taught us A-B and C to the ones who taught us wisdoms in life and friends who woke up middle of the night to listen to our songs of joys and sorrows relentlessly.

Of course we should always thank them for what they had done for us. In fact, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam had asked us all to thank the favour done by others for us.

He (sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) said,

Whoever does you a favour, then reciprocate, and if you cannot find anything with which to reciprocate, then pray for him until you think that you have reciprocated him.
( Narrated by Abu Dawood )

So, yes, we should reciprocate equally. If we could not find a way to return the favour equally, then Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) said that we should thank him by praying for goodness for this person, inshaAllaah.

But this is not the point in this story.

The point here is this- What if the ones who did the good deeds are the ones who reminded us of their own good deeds? What if they are the ones who constantly and repeatedly demanded that we should remember their deeds? What about the people who are given the responsibilities to perform those so-called-deeds and then, demanded that others thank them for doing their job and responsibilities?

It made me question their sincerity and honesty in performing those deeds.

I could not help but wondered if they knew the consequences of reminding others of their good deeds.

A hadeeth from our beloved Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam crossed my mind:

Muslim recorded that Abu Tharr, may Allaah be pleased with him, said that Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:

There are three people that Allaah will not speak to on the Day of Judgement, will not look at them, will not purify them; and for them is a painful punishment: one who lets his Izar hang below his ankles, the Mannan with what he gives, and the Munffiq who does his business with false oaths.
(narrated by Muslim)

(A mannan is one who always remind others of the favours and good that he has done for them)

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam has said that Allaah would not speak to 3 types of people on the Day of Judgment.

He, the Al Mighty will not speak, will not look, will not purify and will punish these 3 types of people on the Day of Judgement.

And one of these 3 is the people who always reminded others of the favors and good they had done for them…

Astaghfirullaah, this very statement made my tummy squirmed.

Just look at what Allaah has said.

Isn’t it scary when the only One that could help us on that Day refused to not only speak; but He would not even to look at us?

Imagine Allaah turning away His face from us. Na’uzubillaah….

It felt bad enough if our parents, friends or even stranger turned their faces away when they saw us, right? What more if it was Allaah, our Creator, who turned His face?

Ya Allaah, I beg and seek protection from such behaviour.

I felt sad thinking of the deed-reminders. Do they know and are aware of the severity of their acts?

Don’t they remember that they are able to do all the good deeds just because of Allaah’s blessings on them? Don’t they feel that instead of asking human to thank them, they are the ones who should be thanking Allaah instead? Don’t they feel that instead of reminding their good deeds to others, they should remind themselves of the goodness in life and favours that Allaah has given them? Do they actually think that they could perform all their so-called good deeds without Allaah’s Permission? Don’t they, instead of being proud and announcing to the world their good deeds, be humble and make sincere prayers that Allaah accepts their good deeds as a preparation for their hereafter?

I wondered what are they actually looking for when doing good to others? Perhaps name and fame? Maybe honor and respect? What about recognition, credit or admiration? Could it be for appreciation and acknowledgement? Or possibly be for influence, control and power?

Astaghfirullaah, astaghfirullaah, astaghfirullaah…

Let me share with you this one powerful quote by Syeikh Muzeffar Ozak(from the book Wisdom from World Religions) for us all to think, reflect and ponder upon….

If someone gave you a beautiful, expensive new hat, wouldn’t you be grateful for the generous gift? But shouldn’t you be even more grateful for the One Who gave you the head to put that hat on.

Shouldn’t we, my brothers and sisters?

More importantly, shouldn’t they too?

Think about it…

Keindahan BersamaMu

2008-07-28T11:39:00.007+08:00

assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu,

just wanted to share some pictures from the programme I have attended yesterday. inshaAllah when time permits, i will flood this blog with pictures from what i called "the environment of faith and true love" :)