Hilal Asyraf's Blog, page 86
November 28, 2013
English Column: Rants on Polygamy
I guess the picture is self-explanatory right?
Picture courtesy of diminishinglucy.com (click here for the link of the picture)
English Column: Rants on Polygamy
Polygamy.
A word that hastens men, a reality that shatters women and an issue that inflicts confusion to the society.
Some say it brings more adverse effects than good. Some say it is not a priority, some say it is inevitable. Some say it is a responsibility, some say it is for fun.
Some men go to Thailand out of desperation and marry another in seclusion. Some men go to the extent of falsifying their “Marriage Document” because their wives disagreed to give consent.
Some men aren’t financially capable, still they beg to marry.
Some men are handsomely wealthy still they can’t afford to marry.
Some men are “man enough” to marry in public but some others marry in seclusion spectated only by the qadi.
Some men subscribe to polygamy for fun, some others marry another to show how polygamy should be done!
I’m here not to give scholarly opinion on the law regarding polygamy as I am incapable and incompetent in doing so. I just want to share what I feel after seeing so many torn families due to polygamy.
I believe many women or wives don’t care if their husbands marry more than one as long as the husbands do their jobs right.
Feeling emotionally devastated is completely normal, well they are after all, women. “Women are emotional yes. But it is not a weakness” – Fatimah Syarha. Reflecting on what she said. I would say, “Men are strong, but that might not be their strength.”
The issue of polygamy is mainly about “just to the family.” If the husband is just and has the capability of maintaining another family, he is eligible to do so if he wants to.
But that is IF and only IF he is capable. If he is not, then he is not.
Income
A good husband is a husband who never inserts his wife’s income in the family’s expenses.
The money of the husband is for the family. The money of the wife is for herself.
Even if the husband’s income is lower than the wife, the last thing he will do is ask his wife for monetary aid.
Househusband
We always thought that household chores, doing the groceries and child education are the jobs of mothers.
That cultural belief should be changed!
Both husband and wife are accountable. But men’s indebtedness for preserving his family is greater.
“O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded” At-Tahrim: 6.
In this verse, Allah says “protect yourselves and your families from a Fire…”
The leader of the family can be the husband, it can be the wife. But mostly, the husband is the one in charge of the family.
As my mentor, Sir Rosdi Baharom once said “Men! You must tremble in fear if you fail this verse.”
Conclusion: Stop Whining
Stop whining and dreaming about polygamy if you can’t succeed in becoming a daddy.
Don’t marry another wife just because your father did the same thing to your mother as a pay back to your wife.
You can never choose who your parents were, but you can change what kind of parents you would be.
I recommend you “Tanggungjawab Ayah Terhadap Anak Laki-laki” by Adnan Hasan Shalih Baharits. This book ventures in the responsibilities of a father to his children particularly to his sons.
If I were to translate the book, the title of the book would be “I’m Glad, I’m a Dad – Nurturing Little Caliphs.”
There’s a big difference between a father and a dad.
Even fools can be a father, only diligent men can be a dad.
“Father” is biological but “dad” is sentimental.
I know I’m not even married let alone to have children but this article is what I hope to be.
Poem: A Father or A Dad?
A dad is a home master chef,
a singer of rhythmic clefs.
He’s a Mr. Fixit of toys,
a role model of the boys.
He’s a hairstylist,
he’s his children’s fashion artists.
He’s a technician at home,
a regular attendee five times a day at the spiritual dome.
He’s the strict but smiling teacher of the Quran,
a same person inside out preacher man.
He’s the man with the hammer,
fixing the house roof while teaching English grammar.
He’s a living dishwasher,
a diaper changer.
He’s a househusband iron man,
who irons his clothes himself with no help of any women.
Everybody can be a father,
though being wicked,
though being depraved,
though being sad,
though being bad,
but it takes a whole lot more to be a dad.
~ Ameen Misran
https://www.facebook.com/AmeenOfLangitIlahi
https://twitter.com/AmeenMisran
Poster: Malu
Haya’ (Malu/Modesty)
الإيمان بضع وسبعون شعبة والحياء شعبة من الإيمان
“Iman itu mempunyai lebih daripada 60 cabang, dan haya’ (malu) itu satu cabang daripada iman.” (HR Muslim)
الحياء والإيمان قرناء جميعا، فإذا رفع أحدهما رفع الآخر
“Sifat haya’ (malu) dan iman itu adalah seiringan. Apabila diangkat salah satu daripadanya, maka yang lain akan terangkat juga.” (HR Baihaqi)
الحياء من الإيمان والإيمان في الجنة
“Haya’ (malu) itu datangnya daripada iman, dan iman membawa kita ke syurga.” (HR Bukhari)
إن لكل دين خلقا ، و خلق الإسلام الحياء
“Setiap cara hidup (Din) ada karakternya yang tersendiri, dan karakter bagi Islam ialah haya’ (malu).” (HR Abu Daud)
إن مما أدرك الناس من كلام النبوة الأولى: إذا لم تستح فاصنع ما شئت
“Sesungguhnya antara pesan kenabian terdahulu (perkataan para nabi) yang telah diketahui oleh manusia adalah, ‘Apabila kamu tidak mempunyai rasa malu, maka berbuatlah sesuka hatimu.’” (HR Bukhari)
Poem: A Father or A Dad?
I guess the picture is self-explanatory right?
Picture courtesy of diminishinglucy.com (click here for the link of the picture)
Poem: A Father or A Dad?
A dad is a home master chef,
a singer of rhythmic clefs.
He’s a Mr. Fixit of toys,
a role model of the boys.
He’s a hairstylist,
he’s his children’s fashion artists.
He’s a technician at home,
a regular attendee five times a day at the spiritual dome.
He’s the strict but smiling teacher of the Quran,
a same person inside out preacher man.
He’s the man with the hammer,
fixing the house roof why teaching English grammar.
He’s a living dishwasher,
a diaper changer.
He’s a househusband iron man,
who irons his clothes himself with no help of any women.
Everybody can be a father,
though being wicked,
though being depraved,
though being sad,
though being bad,
but it takes a whole lot more to be a dad.
~ Ameen Misran
https://www.facebook.com/AmeenOfLangitIlahi
English Column: Dakwah is Not Only for Sheikhs with Beards
“Look deeper inside”
Picture by http://jionew91.tumblr.com/
English Column: Dakwah is Not Only for Sheikhs with Beards
“Son, please take Islamic studies. I’ve always wanted you to become a cleric who advocates Islam at the Masjids or universities. Please son” says a mother of three to her first born. He just became a fine young adult.
It has always been the ultimate dream of the mother to give birth to young masters of Islamic studies, to breed young knowledgeable experts well-versed in the Quran and hadtih, to be the mother of young Islamic Theologians.
The mother, for the years spent from hounding her bachelor’s degree to owning a doctorate, she didn’t have the chance to pursue anything in the field of Islamic studies. All were related to Turkish studies.
Despite being an expert in Turkish language, she always thought that she was a mistake in her life. She should’ve taken Usuluddin or Usul Fiqh or Tafsir, she thought. That’s why she doesn’t want her children to repeat her same mistake.
Her son, dissented the mother’s wish of taking Islamic studies as he saw his potential in medicine, he decided to carve the path of a medical doctor instead.
The mother felt sad. But since she has two more children, there’s still hope to realize her dream.
The second child was her daughter. With Allah’s will, the daughter manages to achieve flying colors in her SPM.
The mother approached the daughter “Aisyah, I recommend you to take Quranic studies. You can teach Quran to me. You can be an Ustazah” she said with a smile.
The mother never stopped blaming herself for not being able to read the Quran properly. Each time during prayer, she’ll cry for the fear her prayer wouldn’t be accepted as her tajwid in prayer was incorrect.
But the daughter, says “I’m sorry Mama, I can teach you Quran without me taking a bachelor’s degree in Quranic studies. Since you are an expert in Turkish language, your linguistic genes are fostering excellently in me. But I don’t see myself as a master of Turkish language, I see myself as an expert in English language.”
The mother cried “Why can’t my children understand me? Why can’t they realize my dream? Why can’t they fathom they can be counted as daes, hafiz, only through Islamic studies?”
She was overwhelmed. But since she has one more son, “there’s still light” she says to herself.
The SPM results were just announced. Her final son has received his but it wasn’t that good.
The mother tried to take this opportunity to convince her last son. “Son, please go to Jordan and take Usuluddin there. We need more religious clerics in Malaysia. You can write lots and lots of books about Islam. You can become a dae, a hafiz and a place of reference to the society.”
The son replied “But mama…” the mother cut in “I will sponsor your studies from bachelor to PHD only if all they are in Islamic studies.”
The son was engulfed between following what his mother wishes and what his heart says.
What’ll mama feel if I decide to not follow her wish? What’ll happen to me if I take a field of study which I disfavor? What kind of future it will be if I take either one? All these questions came penetrating his head.
For weeks, he avoided talking about this with his mom. Each time they talk about this, they’ll argue.
The son has to be decisive; he has to send in the application before the closing though. His SPM, even though weren’t as good as the requirement to pursue medicine, however, his History answer script was the best in Malaysia.
With that achievement, he was accepted to be interviewed for a scholarship. If he passes the interview, he can pursue his studies in any field related to history in the United Kingdom (UK).
The mother didn’t know about this. She thought that the reason he kept quite was because he had accepted his mother’s persuasion. But no, she was wrong.
Two days before the interview, he told his mom. The mother was devastated, extremely sad about the news.
The son has to go to KL to attend the interview but the mother was reluctant to give any pocket money.
With the little money the son saved from working part-time after SPM, he went to KL from Johor. His brother and sister are studying at their respective universities. His mother was left at home alone.
He arrived at the place underwent the interview process. Everything went fine. His knowledge on history was remarkable backed up with his communication skills; the interviewee has no reason why he shouldn’t be chosen but the answer still remains a mystery.
On his way home, he received horrible news that his mother was killed in a robbery. The burglars took advantage of the mother being alone at home. She was vulnerable; no one was there to be her protector.
As soon as the last son reached home, his brother and sister was already there. The mother’s corpse was bathed by the two sons. The last son became the Imam of the Janazah prayer.
The children took two weeks off classes to care of the documentations, bank accounts of her mother and all including if they are debts by her. The big brother and sister were students with scholars from their respective sponsors, so money isn’t a big problem to them.
Before going back to their universities, the big brother asked his little brother “Little bro, your sister and I can’t honor mama by taking Islamic studies because we are already on track and we have an agreement with our sponsors. But you can, please.”
There was a long silence. Everyone knows that the little brother is reluctant to fulfill that dying wish of their mother.
“Brother, sister” he finally spoke. “I wish I can honor mama. But I am consented to an agreement with my benefactor. I passed the interview. They offered me a Bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies at University College London (UCL).”
“What can you do with Jewish studies? Being a doctor can help lots of patients for dakwah. Becoming an English teacher teaching Islam using English is dakwah but what can Jewish studies benefit dakwah?” the sister questioned.
“Sis, we are familiar with the Palestine struggle right? We cannot liberate Palestine by seeing the historical side of Palestine only; we have to see it from the Jewish people’s side, from the Israel side. Besides, understanding the secrets of intelligence of Jewish people would bring benefit to Islam. Have you ever thought why the Nobel Prize is mostly won by Jewish people?” the little brother explained in detail.
The little brother took out a piece of paper with some handwritten notes. “I wanted to give this to mama. After I came back from KL but didn’t have the chance.”
Dakwah is not only for sheikhs with beards. Dakwah is for professionals with blazers. You can be a da’e even though you’re taking English literature. You can be a hafiz teaching Quran at the masjids even though your field of study is medicine. Do you not consider yourself a dae’ mama?
~ Ameen Misran
https://www.facebook.com/AmeenOfLangitIlahi
https://twitter.com/AmeenMisran
Novel Takdir 3: JanjiNya Yang Tidak Termungkir – Cheritera 1
Alhamdulillah, hari ini saya telah memulakan penulisan Novel Takdir 3 dengan izin Allah SWT.
Boleh enjoy dulu apa yang ada.
Dari masa ke semasa, saya akan update di LangitIlahi.Com ini.
Mohon doakan agar saya berjaya menyempurnakan Novel ini sebelum 15hb Disember 2013.
Terima kasih.
Peluh membasahi seluruh tubuh Angkasa. Hulu pedang warisan bapanya dipegang erat, matanya tajam memandang ke hadapan. Dua susuk tubuh yang kelihatan sangat perkasa lagi menggerunkan, sedang bergerak selangkah demi selangkah ke arahnya.
End Less yang berbaju lengan panjang serba putih, begitu jugalah warna seluarnya, gagah dengan tombak tiga mata yang dipegang dengan tangan kanannya. Aura yang dikeluarkan sangat dasyat. Namun tidak cukup dengan itu, bersama di sisinya ialah Izrayel Junjaki, sedang tidak berbaju mempamerkan tubuhnya yang kelihatan kurus tetapi kukuh itu, bersama pedang sumbingnya direhatkan pada bahu. Auranya bergabung dengan aura End, membuatkan Angkasa seperti mahu pengsan.
“Bagaimana budak? Sudah mengalah?” Izrayel memberikan provokasi, tangan kiri melambai seakan menjemput Angkasa untuk memberikan tentangan.
Angkasa mengetap giginya. Dia cuba memberikan fokus yang tertinggi berhadapan dengan dua pahlawan yang menggerunkan itu. Tenaganya cuba dipertingkatkan, melawan tekanan yang terwujud dek gabungan dua aura yang dahsyat daripada End dan Izrayel.
“Hiargh!” Angkasa kemudian pantas memecut ke arah lawannya.
Pedang warisan bapanya dilibas ke arah Izrayel. Izrayel menunduk. Pada masa yang sama, End mula memutarkan tombak tiga matanya, melibas ke arah Angkasa. Angkasa berputar dan mempertahankan dirinya dengan mengacungkan senjatanya ke udara. Sebelah tangan Angkasa menahan belakang bilah pedangnya untuk memperkukuhkan lagi pertahanan. Dua senjata bertembung. Bunyi yang kuat terhasil. Angkasa terlutut dan tanah meretak sedikit.
“Cuai.” Izrayel bersuara. Terus dia yang sedang menunduk itu menghayunkan pedangnya untuk mencantas Angkasa. Angkasa tidak membiarkan. Terus dia berguling. End mengangkat kembali tombak tiga matanya, memutarkannya dan terus menujah senjata itu ke arah Angkasa. Angkasa segera mengangkat pedangnya, mempertahankan diri. Mujur tindakan Angkasa pantas, pedangnya itu menjadi pemisah antara mata tombak End dengan batang tubuhnya.
End tidak membiarkan begitu sahaja. Dia melepaskan auranya, mengalir ke senjatanya, kemudian menghasilkan letupan pada hujung mata tombak tiga mata itu.
Angkasa membeliakkan mata. Tidak sempat melakukan apa-apa. Semua berlaku dalam keadaan yang amat pantas. Terus dia terpelanting hingga melanggar dinding yang memagari tempat pertarungan mereka bertiga.
Dinding tersebut merekah dihentam tubuh Angkasa, yang selepas itu jatuh menyembah bumi.
“Allah…” Angkasa memuntahkan darah. Bersusah payah hendak berdiri semula dengan menongkatkan tubuhnya menggunakan pedang warisan Bapa.
“Tiada rehat di medan perang!” Suara Izrayel berdentum ibarat halilintar. Angkasa tidak melihat ke arah Izrayel, yang kini berada di atasnya, namun pantas berguling mengelak serangan pahlawan yang pernah mendapat jolokan Pendekar Berdosa itu.
Dentuman kuat kedengaran lagi, dan kini dinding yang dihentam Angkasa tadi roboh sama sekali dek cantasan dasyat daripada Izrayel.
“Jangan alpa Angkasa.” Suara dingin End seakan berada di sisinya. Angkasa yang baru sahaja hendak menarik nafas, terus menolak tubuhnya kuat, menjauhi tempat dia berhenti berguling. Sesaat kemudian, tanah di tempat itu terbongkah dihentam tombak tiga mata End.
Mata Angkasa membesar. “Allahuakbar.” Sangat terkejut melihat kekuatan dua pahlawan itu. Bagaimana dia boleh menewaskan mereka berdua?
Angkasa kini berada di udara, masa seakan bergerak perlahan, dia memerhatikan End dan Izrayel berdiri saling bersebelahan. Bagaikan raksasa kembar yang tidak akan mampu ditewaskan.
Itu baru mereka berdua. Yang pernah menjadi orang bawahan Sang Asura. Bagaimana Sang Asura sendiri?
“Aku takkan mengaku kalah!” Angkasa melaung. Mengumpulkan kekuatan. Sebaik sahaja telapak kakinya menyentuh semula ke bumi, dia mencampakkan pedang warisan bapanya ke udara.
Pedang itu tidak terlambung begitu sahaja, tetapi dengan dikawal oleh jari Angkasa, pedang itu meluru laju ke arah Izrayel.
Izrayel tersengih. Dia pantas melibas pedang sumbingnya, membuatkan pedang Angkasa tadi terpelanting ke sisi medan dan terpacak pada dinding sisi itu yang masih tidak roboh. Mata Izrayel memandang sebentar melihat pedang yang terpacak itu.
“Lemah.” Dia memberikan komentar, dan wajahnya hendak kembali melihat keadaan Angkasa.
Angkasa telah tiada di tempatnya tadi.
“Tepi Izrayel!” End melaung. Tidak kuat. Masih dengan nada dinginnya seperti biasa. Batang tombak tiga mata End menolak tubuh Izrayel dari belakang beberapa langkah ke hadapan. Angkasa muncul di situ memberikan beberapa tumbukan. Namun tumbukan itu sekadar mengenai udara sahaja kerana End telah mengalihkan sasaran tumbukan tersebut, yakni Izrayel.
Tetapi itulah kesilapan End.
Sasarannya bukan Izrayel. Tumbukan itu dilepaskan bersama aura yang tidak kurang dasyatnya, memukul udara dan dengan aura yang dasyat itu, jirim-jirim yang terwujud di alam mikro seakan terkumpul dalam masa yang pantas, membentuk angin yang keras seperti besi, bergerak ke wajah End.
Bekas Jeneral Utopia dan pemerintah Daerah Duarte itu terpukul berkali-kali hingga terundur beberapa langkah. Ketika ini Izrayel pantas melibas pedang sumbingnya ke belakang untuk menyerang Angkasa. Namun tangan bekas pendekar berdosa itu ditahan.
“Persiapkan dirimu Izrayel!” Angkasa melaung kuat. Tangannya bergerak laju dengan aura yang berpusat pada penumbuknya. Izrayel membeliakkan mata.
“Tumbukan alam!” Angkasa memberikan tumbukan yang diajar oleh arwah bapanya. Menghentam betul-betul pada tulang belakang Izrayel. Bekas Ketua Jeneral Utopia itu tersungkur jatuh dan tidak cukup dengan itu, dia berguling-guling hingga dihentikan oleh tembok yang jauh di hadapannya.
Angkasa menghela nafas.
“Belum tamat lagi Angkasa!” Suara End menyergah. Angkasa pantas mengelak tujahan tombak tiga mata End. Setiap tujahan hanya mampu dielak dengan kadar jarak kurang seinci dari tubuhnya. Badan Angkasa kini mula dipenuhi goresan-goresan luka. Walaupun bilah tombak tiga mata tidak menyentuh tubuhnya, aura yang menyelaputi senjata itu telah mencederakan dirinya.
Beberapa kali berkeadaan sedemikian, Angkasa mengambil langkah drastik. Tujahan terakhir End, dia elak, dan kali ini dia melangkah pantas ke hadapan. Memukul batang tombak tiga mata tersebut, membuatkan End hilang kawalan terhadap senjatanya, dan terus mara untuk menjamu tubuh pemerintah Duarte itu dengan tumbukannya yang bertubi-tubi.
End hilang keseimbangan. Angkasa pula selain memukul tubuh End, dia memastikan bahawa End tidak akan sesekali dapat mengaktifkan gerak tombak tiga matanya. Namun ketenangan bekas Jeneral Utopia itu luar biasa. Tidak lama selepas beberapa kali menerima serangan Angkasa, dia seakan telah berjaya melihat hala tuju tumbukan Angkasa.
Tumbukan terakhir Angkasa ditampan dengan kemas oleh tangan kiri End, dengan kekuatan yang tinggi, membuatkan tubuh Angkasa sedikit tidak terkawal, mengikuti daya besar yang membawa tangannya dek pukul End tadi. Ketika inilah End memanipulasikan tombaknya, memukul kaki Angkasa dengan belakang senjata itu, seterusnya menendang tubuh Angkasa sekuat hati. Angkasa terpelanting menjauhi End.
Namun sebaik sahaja Angkasa terpelanting menjauhinya, End yang ketenangannya tidak ada tandingan itu, membeliakkan sedikit matanya. Kerana pedang Angkasa sedang mara ke arahnya dalam keadaan yang tidak disangka-sangka. Tergesa-gesa dia mengangkat batang senjatanya untuk mempertahankan diri.
Hentaman yang kuat berlaku, hingga dirinya turut terpelanting ke arah berlawanan daripada Angkasa.
Angkasa yang telah menyembah bumi, tersengih. Rancangannya menjadi. Dia tahu dia tidak akan mampu lama menyerang End. Kerana itu dia telah menyusun serangan mengejut itu tadi.
“Argh, sakitnya.” Terasa seperti seluruh kekuatannya diragut. Dia cuba menjana kekuatan untuk berdiri, namun tidak mampu.
Dia kini terasa seperti lumpuh.
“Gagal.” Suara Izrayel itu diikuti dengan pedang sumbing pahlawan itu tercacak di sisi kepala Angkasa.
Angkasa menghela nafas. Tidak lama kemudian dia dapat melihat End bangkit dari serangannya tadi.
“Ah, kamu berdua ini macam raksasa.” Angkasa tersengih. Tidak larat.
Izrayel tersenyum. Diam sebentar, seakan menanti Izrayel yang sedang melangkah merapati mereka.
“Jika begini kalian laksanakan setiap hari, Tanah Suci akan kehabisan kekayaannya kerana perlu sentiasa membina semula medan latihan ini.” Suara yang berkarisma itu kedengaran, membuatkan mereka bertiga menoleh ke satu arah yang sama.
Ruh Faizan sedang datang merapati mereka. Raja Tanah Suci dan kini telah diangkat menjadi Amirul Mukminin bagi Daulah Islamiyyah yang terbina hasil kesatuan Bumi Barakah, Wilayah Duarte, Wilayah Midori – kini Chinmayi, Wilayah Ethan, Wilayah Brynhildur dan Uftzi.
Ruh Faizan diiringi oleh dua anaknya, Panglima Aizan Fahmi dan Puteri Maisarah, sambil mereka diikuti oleh Tok Akram – Kiai Awan.
Izrayel dan End segera menundukkan tubuh mereka, menggapai dan kemudian memapah Angkasa.
“Maafkan kami Tuanku.” Angkasa bersuara lemah.
Ruh Faizan tersenyum, dan menggeleng. “Tidak menjadi masalah. Bahkan aku rasa senang hati melihat latihan kalian. Dasyat sungguh dan begitu keras sekali usaha kalian.”
“Angkasa ini perlu dilatih untuk berhadapan dengan Sang Asura. Pedangnya merupakan kunci kemenangan kita nanti tuanku.” Izrayel memberitahu.
Ruh Faizan terangguk-angguk. “Namun kunci kemenangan yang sebenar itu tetaplah milik Allah SWT.”
“Allahuakbar.” Angkasa menyahut jawapan Ruh Faizan itu. Benar.
“Tetapi nampaknya masih jauh lagi.” Aizan Fahmi mencelah. Semua memandang ke arahnya.
Angkasa tersengih. “Aku akan usaha lebih keras.” Yakin. Sempat matanya menjeling ke arah Puteri Maisarah. Anakanda Ruh Faizan itu cepat-cepat menundukkan wajahnya. Rupanya Puteri Maisarah sepanjang tadi sedang menatap wajahnya dari sisi ayahandanya. Wajah Angkasa jadi sedikit merah. Segan.
“Bagaimana dengan mesyuarat kita dengan semua wakil wilayah dan para pejuang, Tuanku?” Izrayel bertanya. End kekal sepi. Memang jenis yang tidak banyak bicara.
“Akan berlangsung minggu hadapan. Seluruh wakil dan para pejuang sudah menyatakan persetujuan dan memastikan kehadiran. InsyaAllah.” Ruh Faizan menjawab.
“Masanya sudah semakin hampir. Para Kiai yang masih hidup juga akan berkumpul nanti pada hari itu.” Tok Akram menambah.
Izrayel mengangguk. End wajah tidak beriak.
“Masa untuk engkau berlatih semakin sedikit, budak.” Izrayel memandang Angkasa yang dipapahnya.
Angkasa tersengih cuma. Besar tanggungjawabnya.
November 27, 2013
Himmah : Mimpi Gaya Umar – Membina Generasi
Orang muda adalah asset besar ummat. Kecil-kecil mereka tidak mestinya pandir. Yang besar-besar pula tidak mestinya benar.
Abu Jahal lahir dulu daripada Nabi, tetapi tidaklah lebih benar pula daripada Nabi s.a.w.
Firaun hidup lebih dahulu dari Musa a.s., tetapi tidaklah lebih benar pula daripada Musa a.s.
Sebab itu, suatu yang bahaya jika benar dan salah diukur dari lamanya hidup seseorang, kerana tak jarang terdapat ramai orang muda yang umurnya mungkin kata orang, masih setahun jagung, tetapi pemikirannya sudah melampau waktu menjual jagung !
Barangkali sesetengah orang yang memperlekehkan orang muda, mereka terlupa bahawa mereka pernah melalui zaman itu juga.
“Umur baru setahun jagung, sudah pandai menjawab pula.”
“Kau tu hingus pun tak pandai lap lagi, tak payahla nak ajar kami yang lebih senior ni.”
Ada beza antara perlekeh dengan kritik.
Saidina Umar Al-Khattab r.a. adalah antara sahabat Nabi s.a.w. yang sangat bijak dalam memanfaatkan tenaga muda. Ia mendorong dan membimbing mereka, bukan melakukan ratib sebagaimana sesetengah orang yang hanya mahu menundukkan orang muda dengan cara mendiamkan mereka.
Tidak bagi Umar. Umar memanfaatkan mereka, membina mereka sebaiknya.
Apa Mimpi Saidina Umar?
“Bermimpilah !” kata Saidina Umar kepada para sahabat yang duduk-duduk bersamanya.
“Ayuh, nyatakan, apa mimpi kalian?”
“Aku bermimpi,” kata seorang sahabat, “…agar bangunan ini dipenuhi dengan emas yang boleh aku infakkan di jalan Allah s.w.t.”
“Aku pula,” kata yang lainnya, “…agar ruangan ini dipenuhi permata dan mutiara yang boleh aku infakkan di jalan Allah s.w.t.”
Tanya mereka, “Apa pula mimpimu, hai Umar?”
“Aku bermimpi,” kata Umar, “…kalau lahir lebih ramai orang-orang seperti Abu Ubaidah Al-Jarrah, Muaz bin Jabal.”
Itulah cita-cita dan mimpi Saidina Umar.
Cita-citanya adalah untuk membina generasi, untuk melahirkan lebih ramai lagi pewaris baru dari kalangan orang muda yang faham Islam, sedar tanggungjawabnya dan bisa memimpin ummah.
Umar Melibatkan Anak Muda Dalam Proses Syura
Proses syura di zaman Umar pastinya bukan suatu yang biasa-biasa kerana zaman Umar merupakan zaman berkembangnya Islam ke banyak kawasan-kawasan baru dan banyak ijtihad-ijtihad baru mula diperlukan. Maka, pastinya proses syura memerlukan kepada kebijakan serta idea-idea baru untuk membangunkan ummah dalam kapasitinya yang lebih luas.
Graduan dari perang Badar yang masih hidup dilibatkan oleh Umar dalam proses syura ini disebabkan oleh kemuliaan mereka yang diiktiraf oleh Allah dan Rasul serta pengetahuan mereka terhadap Islam.
Namun, tak hanya itu, Umar juga melibatkan ramai orang muda. Beliau tahu yang golongan-golongan orang lama yang masih ada sedang menghampiri akhir hayat mereka dan akan pulang ke pangkuan Tuhan, maka beliau perlu segera merekrut dan membina para kader-kader baru untuk terlibat secara serius dalam proses menentukan hala tuju ummat.
Abdullah Ibn Abbas adalah salah seorang daripada mereka. Selain Ibn Abbas, kebanyakan orang muda yang dipilih juga adalah dari kalangan mereka yang elok bacaan dan fahamannya terhadap Al-Quran.
“Jangan fikir diri kamu terlalu kecil !,” kata Az-Zuhri kepada beberapa orang muda, “…kerana Umar Al-Khattab bila menghadapi masalah yang sangat susah, dia akan memanggil orang muda, meminta nasihat mereka dan bergantung harap kepada ketajaman minda mereka.”
Umar Dan ‘Inner Circle’nya
Antara teori untuk membantu kejayaan seorang pemimpin itu adalah dia mempunyai circle atau kumpulan pemikirnya sendiri. Itu antara yang disebutkan oleh John C Maxwell melalui buku motivasinya, Go To Gold. Seorang pemimpin tidak bisa bersendirian dalam melakukan keputusan-keputusan besar untuk ummat.
Tak kurang bagi Umar. Beliau juga mempunyai kumpulan pemikir yang selalu rapat dengannya, yang selalu bersama dengannya memecahkan kebuntuan dalam menyelesaikan permasalahan ummat.
Pastilah bila disebutkan kumpulan pemikir bagi orang sehebat Umar, kumpulan itu pastinya kumpulan yang hebat juga.
Di kalangan ahli kumpulan pemikir itu terdapat sahabat-sahabat yang senior seperti Saidina Uthman bin Affan, Abd Rahman bin Auf, Ali bin Abi Talib, Muaz bin Jabal dan lain-lain.
Dan yang pasti tidak pernah Umar tinggalkan adalah penyertaan anak muda walaupun dalam kumpulan pemikir sebegini.
Ibn Abbas adalah salah seorang anak muda yang terlibat dalam kumpulan pemikir ini.
Muda, tapi penuh kebijakan.
Pastinya kita ingat sebuah kisah ketikamana Saidina Umar Al-Khattab pernah menguji sahabat-sahabat Nabi s.a.w. yang lebih senior tentang maksud di sebalik penurunan surah An-Nasr.
“Apa pendapat kamu semua…” tanya Umar, “…tentang firman Allah s.w.t. (An-Nasr :1) Ketika telah datang pertolongan Allah dan kemenangan…(sehinggalah akhir surah)?”
“Kita diperintahkan untuk memuji Allah dan memohon keampunan dari-Nya apabila diberikan pertolongan.” Jawab sebahagian mereka.
Sesetengah mereka hanya berdiam diri. Umar beralih kepada Ibn Abbas.
“Adakah begitu pendapat kamu?” tanya Umar kepadanya.
“Tidak.” Jawabnya. “Kalau demikian, apa jawapannya?”
“Ayat itu,” katanya, “…menunjukkan ajal Rasulullah s.a.w. Allah memberitahu baginda tentang wafatnya. Apabila datang pertolongan Allah dan pembukaan itu ialah pembukaan kota Makkah, itu adalah petanda dekatnya ajalmu. Jadi hendaklah kamu memuji Tuhanmu dan meminta pengampunan-Nya kerana sesungguhnya Dia Maha Penerima taubat.”
Umar berkata, “Apa yang aku tahu tentang surah ini tidak melebihi apa yang kau tahu.”
Penutup : Mimpi Gaya Umar – Mari Bina Generasi
Kalau kita mahu bermimpi, mari bermimpi gaya Umar. Mimpi yang penuh ketinggian cita-cita setinggi angkasa, yang penuh mulia semulia harga syurga.
Apakah yang lebih besar dari mimpi membina generasi baru?
Mahu kaya tidak ada masalah, tetapi harta itu hanya kekal manfaatnya selama ia masih ada saja. Bahkan harta akan begitu cepat habis. Berbeza dengan membina generasi, jika idea dan wawasan kita terus-menerus mengalir ke dalam tubuh ummat sebagaimana Umar, maka kita merasai manfaatnya biarpun kita telah tiada di atas muka bumi ini.
Sekali kita mendidik generasi dengan kebaikan dan mereka mewariskannya pula kepada generasi baru, maka berkali-kali ganda pula kebaikan untuk kita. Gaya MLM gitu.
Jangan perlekehkan generasi muda atau generasi baru kerana kejahilan atau kegopohan mereka. Bimbing dan binalah kefahaman dalam diri mereka terhadap Islam. Kemudian, bangunkan kemahiran-kemahiran yang diperlukan dalam diri mereka.
Generasi baru adalah pewaris kepada generasi lama yang ada. Kita mahukan generasi yang lebih baik dari generasi sebelumnya.
Maka, untuk membentuk generasi yang sedemikian, ia berbalik kepada usaha dan perancangan kita semula, apakah kita telah bercita-cita dan serius seperti Umar?
November 26, 2013
English Column: Life Examples from Superheroes?
“
Life is too short to NOT be awesome”
Picture by http://www.quoteswave.com
English Column: Life Examples from Superheroes?
That day on BFM 89.99, there was a segment on leadership. The interviewee deduced the leadership skills from Marvel superheroes. The segment was motivating as the leadership points shared was exceptionally great. But when the examples were cited, I was a bit turned off but I kept on listening.
The interviewee pointed out a good leadership example by saying that leaders when they are doing noble deeds, whenever the leaders themselves are in need of help, help will come.
For example, Spiderman, he unconditionally helps the people of New York despite how bad the media, particularly J. Jonah Jameson depicted him as the mastermind behind every crime. The interviewee added that with the noble deed carried out by Spiderman, whenever he is in danger and vulnerable, he has his superhero friends: The Avengers, The Fantastic Four to back him up.
But the flaw I see here in taking examples from Superhero stories is that, the stories were made up. It didn’t come naturally. And to our prediction, however excruciating the story might turn up, in the end, the Superhero will always win.
Life is Rife with Unpredictability
Life is abundant with randomness. Nothing from anything of what comes next in life can be predicted. When we are watching a movie or a cartoon, if we are too lazy to wait for it to end, we can just fast forward.
But can we fast forward in life? Can we have a sneak peak to what the ending would be? The only life event that we can predict is that we will die. “If we always think about death, one day it’ll come true.” But when will it come true? No one knows for sure.
Okay Spiderman was helped by his superhero friends but, in real life, do we always get help from our friends?
The Avengers are lucky because they have Tony Stark to pay for all the destruction, all their daily expenses, imagine how much cost Tony Stark has to pay per meal to quench the Hulk’s gamma-appetite.
But in our life, who has to pay for the hike in price of petrol? Who has to pay the increased amount of sugar? Who has to take the unbearable car loan for new cars after the age of 12 years? Who has to pay the taxes and if you don’t pay, who is going to be called the country’s traitors?
In our life, we never know what’ll happen to us in the next 5 seconds. We never know when our company will go bankrupt. We never know when thieves will break into our house. We never know how will be our ending.
If you walk through the streets of Chow Kit or Pudu, what do you see? You see people living, sheltered with their cardboard houses. Then you question yourself, were these streets built for people to live in? Where are their friends? Didn’t they come to help them to provide shelter them?
You wish to help but even you can’t help them because the little earnings that you have is so scarce it’s just enough for your own self. What can you do is reach for the pennies in your pocket and donate to them.
Learn about Life from Living Examples
Life is not a novel. Life is not a movie. Life is not a cartoon. Life is not a theatrical play.
The creator of your life’s story is you with unpredictable plots. Life is more complicated, more confusing at times than a novel.
Our life is not a story. Our life is a quest. But we wish that our life is ideal like in the movies thus we ask our friends, we ask ourselves “How’s our love story?”, “How’s our life story?” or “What will be the end to our story?”
So what should we do?
Instead of relying on cosmetic stories, what should be done is learning from living examples found everywhere you go.
We need to befriend with trusted people who we can rely on. We need to always learn life wisdom from the elderly as they have more life experience than we do so that we will not repeat their mistakes.
Here are some quotes I gathered while being with inspirational people.
“Go out and make mistakes. We are made to make mistakes and from the mistakes we learn” – Cikgu Azmi Bahari (my teacher, my mentor).
“The definition of a friend is when you see him, you remember Allah” – Ali Irfan Jamaluddin (my senior).
“Success is by design, not fortuitous. We cannot believe in miracles” – Ustazah Fatimah Syarha.
“We need to systematically organize a project for our death. We must foresee how our death will be. That is why we must thoroughly plan our final breath” – Ustaz Abdul Hadi Osman (my teacher).
“I planned to write one year, one book, but I failed. I wrote 5 books in one year” – Hilal Asyraf
“Dream big, start small” – Hilal Asyraf
Life is an Inspiration
Life is always an inspiration, we just need to learn how to dig deep.
I once was in a lot of pain. A considerable amount of money was lost in my watch recently. I didn’t know what to do.
I cried, literally. Never have I lost that much money. I switched on the radio, usually I would listen to BFM 89.99 as my interest is about politics and economy. But that day, I purposely changed to IKIM.fm.
The person on air (can’t remember the name of the ustaz) said, “If we are in pain, remember that, there are more out there experiencing pain double the gravity of our pain. Just don’t lose hope.”
My pain, eased a little bit upon hearing that.
But still it was haunting my day. But then, a friend of mine sent a text message “Ameen, don’t think too much (about the problem). Allah wants you to try harder.”
That erased my pain, totally.
Conclusion: My Life Quote, “Stand, fall down, stand up again”
What do you do when you are bombarded with unbearable life problems?
You’re allowed to cry, to be sad, to do anything as long as you don’t kill yourself. Then, after you’ve done giving in to your emotions. Stand back up again. Find solutions.
Simple right?
Nope it’s not.
But that’s life.
Whenever I feel down, I’ll remember these two quotes:
“Stand, fall down, stand up again.”
“Sad, feeling down, cry. Stop crying, wipe the tears, be strong again.”
~ Ameen Misran
https://www.facebook.com/AmeenOfLangitIlahi
https://twitter.com/AmeenMisran
November 25, 2013
English Column: Undergraduates, Time and Abundance
“Life is too short to NOT be creative”
Picture by findingabundance.com
English Column: Undergraduates, Time and Abundance
As an undergraduate, the question that I have troubles answering is, “What do you do in your free time?”
The question is simple right? It just asks a simple explanation on how I spend my free time. It’s so easy, I can’t do it right.
But despite the simplicity of the question, despite the straightforwardness of the inquiry, each time that question comes vibrating my ear drums, I cannot answer.
If I answer, I have to lie by saying “Oh. I’m usually busy studying.”
Say, “I’m busy studying.” There are two things here, one “You are busy”, second “You are studying.”
Let me ask all undergraduates out there, are you really, REALLY “Busy studying”?
Of “Busy” and “Studying”
To be busy is one thing and to be studying is another thing. And both are mostly untrue. If you ask every living person who have graduated from university and currently working in any industry, ask them “which one is busier, studying or working?”
I assure you, the answer would be “working.”
Reflecting on this, the reason why I cannot answer “What do you do in your free time?” with an honest answer is because I’ve lost track of time on how long have I spent my free time watching a marathon of movie series, cartoons and playing games.
To be called “The Cream of The Society”, the so-called “intellectual” and “The Young Hope”, but in fact the abundance of time as an undergraduate is spent for playing games, movie marathons, I feel that I am an embarrassment.
It is undeniable that some games are good for the intellect. For example the strategy game Total War: Rome II prepare gamers on the tactical and strategy on how to become the world’s superpower. The game enables gamers to immerse in a simulation of how would you act as a leader of a nation dominating other empires by means of military, economy and politics without risking your own country’s economic growth and welfare of your people.
But games like PES and FIFA which are games ‘running in circles’ without life threatening challenges and predominantly the most games played by undergraduates in their free time, what else can be said other than ‘a waste of time’?
The undergraduates spending hours of movie marathon, claiming that they watch American movie series to improve their ‘English’ and Korean series to learn the Korean language. But why their English or Koreans have not yet improved? Did they really while watching the movies, jot done new words in their small note book and later search for the meaning on their dictionary app on the phones?
So can we accept the answer “busy” and “studying”?
If We are REALLY Busy and Studying
If we are really “busy”, we do not have to apply a study loan as we can self-sponsor our study fees and daily expenses because we are “busy” day and night working part-time. I know many friends of mine who are this “busy”. In the morning they go to classes and at night they work at the Mc Donalds or as a cashier at a Petrol Station or as a part-time teacher.
If we really are “studying”, we can finish our degree in just two years and a half instead of four years and a friend of mine did that (not for medical students I mean).
But have we really been busy and studying?
The Intellectual Level of an Undergrad
Being an undergraduate studying in the university, going to the daily kulliyahs are not solely to aim high sky CGPA in the exams. Undergraduates have to look several steps ahead picturing how the society will be more civilized if they share the knowledge they have with the society.
Undergraduates do not enter the university to be happy and take pictures on their convocation day. But to be equipped with the expertise of different fields should be made their daily routine.
Undergraduates should not quarantine themselves in their rooms or in their usrah but should engage in intellectual discussions.
No Discrimination on Reading Materials
That day I went to an Islamic Book Expo in Selangor accompanying my childhood friend Hilal Asyraf, he had to deliver a talk there.
As he delivered the talk, I went scouting for books. I was attracted by a book related to Islamic Early Childhood Education. But upon skimming through the book, I was disappointed.
The book explained the subject matter by citing only from the Quran and Hadith. No mention of cognitive works by Jean Piaget, no mention of the Freudian psychosexual development, no mention of Glen Doman’s method for teaching reading to infants and no mention of any scholars other than ‘Muslim Scholars.’
I’m not saying that Quran and Sunnah are insufficient, I’m saying that reading should encompass all with no discrimination of a certain group of people. They may not have beards or Arabic names or wearing kopiahs, they are not Muslims, but their ideas are Islamic.
The intellectual level of undergraduates should be more advanced than being afraid that one’s belief system might be at stake by reading materials other than the writings of Muslims.
Whatever good and relevance we see in people even though they do not share the same belief system as us, we have to take into account.
Conclusion: Why are we the Least Respected and Called as Kids?
Everyone remembers the 5-minute lowering the Prime Minister’s flag incident right?
Undergraduates should know that to spark change in the society, respect is firstly needed not revolt. Respect comes first, then, comes change.
Revolting may cause disrespect from the people. Revolting may just make us look like the bad guy when actually we have solid reasons to be on the right side. Making demonstrations after demonstrations without following it up with charity work is unbalanced.
Becoming respectful intellectuals, inspirational academicians and motivational leaders should be the route taken by undergraduates. It is a longer route true but an assuring one. It is difficult to deny the greatness coming from figures that are known to contribute unconditional charity to society.
When students are notable intellectuals, no one will call them kids anymore despite being young. No one can deny the brilliance of ideas brought forth as the hearts of the people have already been won.
~Ameen Misran
ameen.misran@langitilahi.com
https://www.facebook.com/AmeenOfLangitIlahi
https://twitter.com/AmeenMisran
Fotografi: Kamukah yang menumbuhkannya?
| In front of Ad Deir the Monastery | Petra, Jordan |
( Sony Alpha Nex-5N | f3.5 | 1/1250 | ISO100 )
Maka (mengapa kamu masih berdegil?) Tidakkah kamu melihat apa yang kamu tanam?
Kamukah yang menumbuhkannya atau Kami yang menumbuhkannya?
Kalau kami kehendaki, sudah tentu Kami akan jadikan tanaman itu kering hancur (sebelum ia berbuah), maka dengan itu tinggallah kamu dalam keadaan hairan dan menyesal,
(Sambil berkata); “Sesungguhnya kami menanggung kerugian,
“Bahkan kami hampa (dari mendapat sebarang hasil)”
( Al Waqiah 56: 63-67)
Mari menjadi hamba.
