Roslan Hamid's Blog, page 113

Titipan Seorang Pesara (7): Kalau mahu makan durian sebakul...

DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.

Renungan

Daripada Aisyah r.a., berkata: "Saya mendengar Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: 'Semua manusia dikumpulkan tanpa memakai alas kaki, telanjang dan belum dikhatan.' Aisyah bertanya; 'Apakah antara lelaki dan perempuan akan saling melihat antara satu dengan yang lain?' Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: 'Urusan pada hari itu lebih dahsyat daripada mementingkan hal-hal seperti itu.'" (HR. Bukhari dan Muslim)
ADIK saya yang baru mencecah usia 40 tahun menghidap penyakit gaut (gout). Kasihan saya tengok dia tak boleh makan daging apatah lagi makanan laut yang sedap-sedap seperti udang, sotong dan ketam.
Saya yang berusia lebih 55 tahun, alhamdulillah tiada gaut tetapi diserang penyakit kencing manis dan darah tinggi sejak berusia 40 tahun. Maka tidak bolehlah saya makan makanan serta minuman manis berlebihan termasuklah durian, ooh ini buah 'favorit' (kesukaaan) saya.
Apabila membeli durian atau ada anggota keluarga membawanya pulang, saya hanya makan seulas dua - ya kata orang nak merasanya saja. Ada kalanya saya tidak dapat tahan nafsu, maka saya 'bedal' tiga, empat, lima ulas dan seterusnya...akibatnya kepala menjadi pening semacam manakala kekerapan kencing bertambah.
Kadang-kadang rasa macam mahu pengsan dan rebah ke bumi. Demikianlah nasib saya dan sebahagian besar insan lain yang sudah sampai ke usia senja (tua), apabila duit mulai lebat dalam poket malah boleh membeli sebakul atau selori durian, makan pula dah tidak berapa boleh lagi. Dulu masa muda ketika berselera makan durian sebanyak mungkin, duit pula tak banyak dalam poket, jadi terpaksalah terkebil-kebil biji mata.
Orang sufi berasa hairan mengapa manusia terlalu gila mahu menjadi kaya raya harta – bertimbun-timbun duit dalam bank. Duit itu bukan boleh digunakannya untuk makan sesuka hati, apabila semakin tua semakin kuranglah selera untuk makan apatah lagi selepas diserang penyakit biasa bagi kebanyakan orang veteran seperti diabetes (kencing manis), gaut, darah tinggi dan lemah jantung.

Orang tua makannya sedikit saja, jadi apa perlu duit bertimbun dalam bank. Ini kerana jika makan durian, dia boleh makan seulas dua saja; jika makan daging, juga secebis dua; dan jika minum, minum air kosong saja (tanpa gula). Ada pula yang lebih malang lagi, tak boleh makan makanan lazat-lazat termasuk nasi, yang boleh dimakannya roti kering saja. Malah ada tak boleh makan dan minum secara normal, terpaksa guna tiub, jadi untuk apa duit banyak-banyak di bank itu?

Ada orang lagi tua lagi ligat mengumpul harta, kononnya senanglah mereka berbuat itu dan ini termasuklah berkahwin muda. Mereka tetap mahu berkuasa di puncak, terlalu leka menikmati keindahan dunia yang bagaikan syurgawi itu. Orang tua kahwin wanita muda memang bagus, kata seorang pemikir kerana dakwanya, “kalau kelapa tua (santannya) dipadankan dengan sayur muda barulah sedap lauk masakan” tetapi ingat-ingatlah kerana seorang pemikir lain menyatakan betapa menyusahkan seorang tua 'berbinikan' wanita muda tang, tang, tang.
Pada usia tua ini, alhamdulillah sempat saya ke kelas pengajian di masjid terutama di antara maghrib dan isyak. Mengenai bab tua, kata sesetengah guru, perubahan yang berlaku kepada diri kita adalah perkhabaran dari langit, daripada Allah SWT yang mengingatkan kita akan kematian.

Seorang tok guru berkata dalam kebanyakan kes, kematian tidak berlaku secara mengejut seperti dakwaan sesetengah orang. Allah SWT telah menghantar utusannya, tetapi kebanyakan manusia tidak menyedarinya. Salah satu daripadanya adalah penyakit, apabila umur meningkat 40 tahun ke atas, pelbagai penyakit mula menyerang.
Kata tok guru, cerminlah diri sendiri. Rambut mulai putih, ada yang sudah botak; misai dan janggut juga sudah lebih banyak putih daripada hitam. Ini semua adalah utusan daripada Allah SWT, awak sebenarnya semakin hampir dengan kubur, tetapi mengapa tidak sedar-sedar diri?
Kemudian badan pula terasa lenguh-lenguh; sana sini sendi sakit; kemampuan dan kekuatan pun tidak seperti dulu. Berjalan sikit sudah letih; apatah lagi berlari atau mendaki tangga, tercunggap-cunggap dan mengah, bagai mahu putus nafas.
Suatu hari selepas tamat seorang tok guru memberi tazkirah, saya memberanikan diri bertanya beliau: "Tuan, bagaimana saya dapat reda dengan situasi ini - dulu masa muda saya boleh makan durian sebanyak-banyaknya tetapi masalahnya saya tiada duit, sekarang ini dengan duit yang ada saya boleh beli sebakul durian, tetapi tak boleh makan pula?"
Jawapan tok guru mudah sekali, membuatkan saya tercengang-cengang: "Dengan duit yang ada, awak belilah sebakul atau selori durian sekalipun. Ambillah sebiji dan rasalah seulas. Yang lain tu hantarlah ke sekolah budak tahfiz. Atau sedekahkan kepada orang muda yang boleh makan...di dunia ini awak tak boleh makan sebakul durian, insya-Allah kalau awak masuk syurga nanti awak boleh makan seberapa banyak durian yang awak suka kerana di sana tiada penghuninya yang berpenyakit kencing manis, darah tinggi dan sebagainya...!"

A reflection on the 'tudung' issue

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection
"Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80)

REGARDING the 'tudung' latest issue (Malaysian Association of Hotels - MAH - banning Muslim front staff members from wearing headscarves), a few days ago I read in a news piece this statement by a Muslim girl.
* Farisha, who has worked for a year as a receptionist at a five-star hotel in Putrajaya, said she removed her headscarf whenever she went to work.
“To be a receptionist at this hotel, you can’t wear the 'tudung'. They say that this is in line with the image of an international hotel.“So after I finish work, I will put it back on. I just don’t wear it at work. What else can I do? It is not easy to find a job now,” said the 29-year-old. A few minutes before continuing writing this article today (Wednesday, November, 15th) I heard over Radio IKIM an 'ustaz' in his daily 'tafsir' (interpretation) of the Qur'an commented that human beings are more concerned and 'will go all out' for his 'rezeki' (rizq or sustenance) which is guaranteed by Allah SWT than to obey his Lord orders and things He forbids.He referred the above statement from a quote from the famous 'kitab' (book) Hikam written by the renowned 'ulama', 'Atha'illah As-Sakandari - the majority of people have little or no faith to what Allah SWT has had promised such as the question of 'rizq'...we kowtow to the orders and fancies of fellow human beings rather than to submit to our Lord.A scholar said: "We see in this capitalist society, everyone will do anything that is possible to gain their 'rizq'. People think they are expanding their 'rizq' by doing 'haram' (forbidden) activities and business, but they aren’t. Islam tells us the 'rizq' is assigned at our birth and on top of that Allah SWT made promises of 'rizq'." In the Qur'an, Allah SWT says: "And whoever fears Allah, for him Allah brings forth a way out, and gives him (her) provision (rizq) from where he (she) does not even imagine..." -Surah At-Talaq: 2/3The outcry among Muslims and Muslim groups now is only focus on the hotel industry; why not we especially Muslims expand the 'tudung' issue or in the true sense regarding Muslim women 'awrah' (parts of body that should not be seen or be exposed according to Islamic law) as a whole in all aspects and fields of life including in sports, during gatherings and celebration such as weddings.We had just witnessed KL2017 (South East Asia Games), did not we see Malaysian 'Muslimah' athletes especially gymnasts in skimpy outfits - of course this is not the Islamic way of life; but it seemed nobody take any hood! Malaysia became champion and almost everybody celebrated - a day was declared a holiday to the joyous of governments servants including those at helm or work in the 'Pejabat Agama' (Religious Office)...well don't we have guilty feelings that our 'Islamic government' and we as Muslims seem to agree to the 'maksiat' (sin) we had witnessed or worse still organised!Well, in today's world, it is okay to expose one's body under the name of sports. It seemed that this phenomena is accepted by all even by Muslims countries and Muslims themselves. So that's it - Muslims nowadays perhaps were at the feet of 'those' Western 'masters' - we follow their sets of rules.Regarding how the West treats women, an American woman convert, Iman Daglas in her book, ‘A Well-Guarded Treasure’ (Darussalam) wrote: “People are so eager to simulate the people of the West, while in America and Europe, morals have deteriorated to the point that they no longer exist.

“There people would give anything to reverse the moral decline, yet it is too late. Things have gotten so out of control that there is no turning back. It is truly the most overwhelming problem facing the 21st century.

“Women, especially, are treated with absolutely no respect. To so many men, women are nothing but objects, to use any way they choose. When he is done with her, he just throws her aside and goes on to the next women.

“Women have allowed this to happen, by giving up moral and modesty, by not guarding their chastity and virtue; they have allowed themselves to become nothing more than cheap objects of men's desires.”
Think, O women including gymnasts, air stewardess, models, singers, actress and front line hotels staff, when you are young with your ‘solid’ and beautiful bodies; they (the men) would put you in front, on the front cover of their magazines and newspapers or parade you on the red carpet or modeling or performing stage; but when your beauty fades away and skin wrinkle, your body wrecks and shrieks because of old age, only then you realize the truth.
The men would dump you; the same way the leaders of Western world treat women just like sex objects
As for pious Muslimah who feared Allah SWT dan His law; the ‘loss’ in this world (such as unable to work in hotels or take part in some sports because of the dress attire,is nothing because He who rules all the worlds has given this assurance: “And those who have fear of their Lord will be driven to the Garden in companies and when they arrive there, finding its gates open, its custodians will say to them, ‘Peace be upon you! You have done well so enter it timelessly, for ever’.” (Qur’an, 39:73)

Allah SWT also says: “Such people will be repaid for their steadfastness with the Highest Paradise, where they will meet with welcome and with ‘Peace’. (Qur’an 25:75)
Before ending this article, forgive me (the writer) for not being able to stop the urge to pose this question - in weddings we had seen some 'pengantin' (brides) at times such as during the 'nikah' ceremony (solemn of marriage) especially in 'masjid' wore their 'tudung' but during their receptions including in hotels their 'tudung' 'were no longer on their heads and some even dare to bare some parts of their bodies such as their shoulders - well who asked them to put away their 'tudung'...the Malaysian Association of Hotels or leaders or capitalist of the Western world? 
And among stewardess of MAS and Air Asia, could a Muslimah wears a 'tudung' (cover up completely) if she wish to 'berhijrah' (change for the better in religion)?

Ikan busuk daripada kepalanya...

Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.

Renungan
Daripada Abu Hurairah r.a. katanya: Aku mendengar Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda; "Umatku akan ditimpa penyakit-penyakit yang pernah menimpa umt-umat dahulu." Sahabat bertanya, "Apakah penyakit-penyakit umat terdahulu itu?" Nabi s.a.w. menjawab, "Penyakit-penyakit it ialah: (1) terlalu banyak seronok, (2) terlalu mewah, (3) menghimpun harta sebanyak mungkin, (4) tipu menipu dalam merebut harta benda dunia, (5) saling memarahi, dan (6) hasut menghasut sehingga menjadi zalim menzalimi." (Hadis riwayat Hakim)
ADA pepatah Cina berbunyi 'Ikan busuk biasanya daripada kepalanya'. Jika bahagian lain busuk, hampir pasti kepalanya sudah busuk. Jika pemimpin tertinggi busuk hampir pasti rakyatnya juga busuk. Namun harap-haraplah tidaklah begitu!
Jika pemimpin tertinggi bersih, yang di bawahnya insya-Allah akan mengikuti. Jika pemimpin tertinggi tidak bercakap sesuatu yang buruk mengenai 'kepala', insya-Allah rakyat juga tidak akan bercakap mengenainya. Mengenai memburukkan 'kepala' ini, ada hadis menyebut menghina bapa orang lain termasuk dosa besar. Telah menceritakan kepada kami Qutaibah bin Sa’id telah menceritakan kepada kami al-Laits daripada Ibnu al-Had dari Sa’ad bin Ibrahim dari Humaid bin Abdurrahman dari Abdullah bin Amru bin al-Ash bahawa Rasulullah SAW bersabda:“Antara dosa besar adalah seorang laki-laki mencela kedua-dua orang tuanya. Para sahabat bertanya, 'Wahai Rasulullah, ‘Apakah (mungkin) seorang laki-laki mencela orang tuanya?‘ Baginda menjawab: 'Ya. Dia mencela bapa seseorang lalu orang tersebut (membalas) mencela bapanya, lalu dia mencela ibunya, lalu orang tersebut (membalas) mencela ibunya'. - Hadis diriwayatkan Imam MuslimWahai semua, sedarlah bagaimana sikap dan perlakuan pemimpin, begitulah tindak tanduk rakyat terutama generasi muda. Jika pemimpin tergamak bercakap kotor, anak muda akan lebih dahsyat lagi. Pepatah Melayu ada menyatakan 'jika guru kencing berdiri, anak murid kencing berlari...'Ya, kita berharapkan pemimpin kencing duduk (hakikatnya kencing bertinggung), maka rakyat pun kencing duduk. Syukur, jika guru kencing duduk, anak murid pun kencing duduk. Baik pemimpin, baiklah rakyat;  jahat pemimpin jahatlah rakyat.
Ada sebuah hadis diriwayatkan oleh Ibnul Abdul Barr dan Abu Naim bermaksud: "Telah bersabda Rasulullah SAW; 'Dua golongan daripada umatku, apabila mereka baik, baiklah manusia dan apabila mereka rosak, rosaklah manusia. Itulah dia pemimpin dan ahli fiqh (ulama)'.”
Anak-anak muda yang rosak akhlaknya, secara tidak langsung menggambarkan perihal pemimpinnya. Mereka cerminan pemimpin. 'Bapa borek anak rintik'; 'bagaimana acuan begitulah kuihnya', 'apa yang disemai itulah yang dituai'. 
Dewasa ini terserlah ramai pemimpin pandai cakap tetapi tak pandai bikin (tak praktikkan apa yang mereka syarahkan). Misalnya, mereka mengesyorkan rakyat hidup secara wasatiyyah (sederhana) tetapi mereka hidup boros, termasuk 'menghanguskan' wang kerajaan bagaikan harta milik sendiri. 
Apabila pemimpin cakap tak serupa bikin, rakyat pun cakap tak serupa bikin; jika pemimpin zalim, rakyat pun zalim kepada orang bawahan; apabila pemimpin berbohong rakyat pun jadi pembohong; dan apabila pemimpin pecah amanah dengan mengamalkan rasuah, rakyat pun terikut sama. 
Jika pemimpin melakukan pembunuhan; pembunuhan pun akan berleluasa dalam negara. Jika pemimpin kaki rasuah, rakyat juga gemarkan rasuah. Jika pemimpin kaki judi, kaki betina, rakyat pun mempunyai kecenderungan sama. 
Jika pemimpin negara dan politik tidak dapat menunjukkan contoh baik, bagaimana golongan muda dapat diharapkan menjadi warga baik pada masa depan. Jika pemimpin 'main kotor', maka anak muda pun belajar 'main kotor'. Jika pemimpin berdusta melalui media massa pengampu, rakyat juga akan berdusta melalui media sosial yang berlambak sekarang ini.
Jadi, ingatlah wahai diri sendiri dan semua terutama pemimpin, jika guru (pemimpin) kencing berdiri, anak murid (rakyat) kencing berlari, jika pemimpin kencing 'duduk' (bertinggung), insya-Allah, rakyat termasuklah generasi muda akan juga kencing duduk.
Akhir-akhir ini, menjelang PRU-14, semakin banyak pihak dan pemimpin gila untuk terus berkuasa atau sekurang-kurangnya menjadi calon pilihan raya. Mereka sanggup berbuat apa saja. Fitnah termasuk dalam hal-hal sangat jelik seperti tuduhan seks menjadi 'basahan' bagi mereka. 
Berdasarkan perkembangan politik semasa, kita berasa sedih dan jijik dengan perlakuan sesetengah pemimpin politik. Mereka seolah-olah mengesahkan tanggapan bahawa politik itu kotor; untuk berkuasa seseorang itu perlu bijak mencuri peluang sekalipun haram kerana matlamat menghalalkan cara (Machiavelli). Matlamat tidak menghalalkan cara. Buatlah apa sekalipun, yang hak tetap hak dan yang batil tetap batil. Yang haram tetap haram, yang halal tetap halal. 
Jika pemimpin 'main kotor', maka anak muda pun mula 'main kotor'. Jadi anak muda bercakap kotor termasuk membabitkan 'hal kepala' jangan hanya salahkan mereka. Mereka adalah cerminan pemimpin - jika guru kencing berdiri, anak murid kencing berlari!

Titipan Seorang Pesara (6): Carilah 'Rahmah' pada usia senja...

Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.

Renungan
Daripada Abu Hurairah r.a. katanya: Aku mendengar Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda; "Umatku akan ditimpa penyakit-penyakit yang pernah menimpa umt-umat dahulu." Sahabat bertanya, "Apakah penyakit-penyakit umat terdahulu itu?" Nabi s.a.w. menjawab, "Penyakit-penyakit it ialah: (1) terlalu banyak seronok, (2) terlalu mewah, (3) menghimpun harta sebanyak mungkin, (4) tipu menipu dalam merebut harta benda dunia, (5) saling memarahi, dan (6) hasut menghasut sehingga menjadi zalim menzalimi." (Hadis riwayat Hakim)

KISAH ini berlaku puluhan tahun lalu. Saya tinggal berjiran dengan seorang tok guru. Pada usia tua, isteri tok guru meninggal dunia. Tok guru kemudian berkahwin dengan seorang janda yang ada beberapa anak dan tinggal bersama-sama anaknya.
Selepas kahwin, isteri tok guru lebih suka duduk di rumah lamanya daripada rumah suami. Maka terpaksalah tok guru berulang ke rumah si isteri; kadang-kadang isterinya mengikuti beliau balik, selalunya tidak.
Sebagai jiran, kadang-kadang saya membawa tok guru ke rumah isterinya dengan kereta saya. Suatu ketika, tok guru membebel kepada saya: " Kalau macam ni lebih baik mufarakah saja." Masa itu saya 'muda benar' - saya tak berapa faham perkataan 'mufarakah' itu.
Tetapi apabila tok guru menyambung bebelannya, "tapi sebagai orang tua, kita jangan buat 'benda-benda' macam ini. Buat malu kepada anak cucu saja. Kita mesti tunjuk contoh baik", barulah saya faham bahawa jangan mudah nak bercerai...mungkin maksudnya teruskan ikatan perkahwinan sehingga ke akhir hayat. Ya, tok guru kekal dalam perkahwinannya sehingga beliau meninggal dunia.
Adat dunia, orang muda mahu berumah tangga manakala orang 'lama', tak kiralah siapa pun termasuk tok guru dan pemimpin apatah lagi artis, cabarannya adalah mengekalkan rumah tangga. Sekarang ini, terlalu kerap kedengaran kes cerai-berai, rekod JAKIM menunjukkan berlaku satu perceraian setiap 15 minit!
Sebagai insan biasa, kita juga cemaskan rumah tangga kita, berdoalah agar perkahwinan kita berkekalan hingga ke akhir hayat; bukan hingga ke anak cucu seperti diungkapkan sesetengah orang. Ini kerana ada juga pasangan veteran yang sudah beranak cucu terbabit dalam perceraian. Ertinya perkahwinan mereka berakhir selepas mereka mendapat anak cucu. 
Apakah rahsia perkahwinan sehingga boleh berkekalan ke akhir hayat? Seorang ustaz berkata Allah SWT kurniakan mawaddah dan rahmah kepada pasangan suami isteri. Apakah mawaddah dan rahmah itu? 

Dalam Surah Ar-Rum Ayat 21 Allah SWT berfirman, yang maksudnya: "Dan antara tanda-tanda yang membuktikan kekuasaan-Nya dan rahmat-Nya bahawa Dia menciptakan untukmu (wahai golongan lelaki) isteri-isteri daripada jenismu sendiri supaya kamu bersenang hati dan hidup mesra dengannya dan dijadikan antara kamu (suami isteri) kasih sayang dan belas kasihan, sesungguhnya yang demikian itu mengandungi keterangan-keterangan yang menimbulkan kesedaran bagi orang-orang yang berfikir." 

Perkara yang membolehkan perempuan dan lelaki bercampur jika sudah suka sama suka adalah nikah. Selepas itu buatlah apa yang kamu mahu. Kasih sayang pada waktu muda inilah (bergetah kata orang sekarang) namanya mawaddah. 

Semuanya indah, semuanya cantik. Pujian melangit diberikan kepada pasangan masing-masing. Si teruna akan berkata kepada si dara "Dinda adalah satu antara 1,000", manakala si dara akan berkata kepada si teruna, "Abanglah lelaki paling 'handsome'.

Mawaddah ini termasuklah keinginan seks yang membolehkan kesinambungan kepada zuriat manusia. Kasih dan sayang dan seks menjadi agenda; semuanya indah sebab kedua-duanya masih muda, masih bergetah. 

Namun manusia daripada muda menjadi tua. Daripada wajah dan 'body' yang 'solid' tadi, anggota badan sudah mulai kendur. Yang perempuan lagi cepat proses penuaannya. Pakailah alat mekap macam mana pun, tua tetap datang, kulit mulai berkedut, laki pun tidak lagi mengucapkan kata-kata hikmat "kau sentiasa di hatiku." "Untuk mengucapkan "I love you, atau aku cinta kamu", sudah terasa geli-geleman pada sesetengah orang. Apatah lagi jika kata-kata itu diucapkan di depan anak cucu, mereka akan berkata nanti, "orang tua ni dah buang tabiat ke?"

Jadi pada usia tua ini, apakah yang dapat menyelamatkan rumah tangga pasangan tadi. Itulah rahmah, kasih sayang peringkat tertinggi yang tidak mengenal lagi batasan fizikal  sekali pun kau sudah 'kondem' (tak boleh pakai), aku tetap menyayangimu! Allah Taala telah bukakan perasaan belas kasihan antara satu sama lain, antara suami dan isteri.

Bukalah mata dan hati kamu luas-luas, kamu akan dapati ada suami yang terus melayani si isteri sekalipun orang rumahnya itu telah 'tersadai' di atas katil kerana berpenyakit, demikian juga ada isteri yang terus setia sekalipun suami sudah terperosok di atas kerusi roda. 

Demikianlah betapa Pemurahnya Yang Maha Kuasa, dikurnikannya manusia itu mawaddah dan rahmah. Cinta yang meluap-luap dengan iringan nafsu ketika muda dan kemudian bertukar kepada rahmah, kemuncak cinta dan kasih sayang suami isteri yang berpegang teguh kepada janji untuk sama-sama mendapatkan syurga-Nya. Bukankah itu cita-cita setiap manusia beriman? Jelaslah iman yang dapat menyelamatkan sesebuah rumah tangga.

Jadi bagi pasangan suami isteri berusahalah untuk mendapatkan kasih sayang rahmah itu. Ini kerana makin lama sesebuah perkahwinan itu, makin hilanglah mawaddahnya (sebagai contoh keinginan seks semakin lama semakin menurun). 

Bagi si isterilah tambatlah suami anda dengan ciri-ciri hebat anda seperti melayan makan minum dan menyediakan pakaiannya manakala bagi si suami tunjukkan keprihatinan anda seperti merawatnya ketika dia sakit. 

Masakan sesuatu pasangan itu ada rahmah jika si isteri tidak mempedulikan makan minum dan rumah tangga kerana kerap berada di luar melayani kepentingan kerjayanya atau asyik bermain 'handset' manakala si suami asyik-asyik mengugut nak kahwin satu lagi kerana si isteri selalu sakit. 

Fikir-fikirkanlah, marilah kita (termasuk saya) mencari rahmah (bukan gadis bernama Rahmah) selepas era mawaddah berakhir akibat ketuaan diri. Semua orang akan tua kerana tua tidak diminta tetapi ia datang sendiri!

'If teachers pee standing up...'

***
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection
"Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80)

*************
EVERYBODY is a ‘cikgu’ or 'guru' (teacher); a father is a teacher to his wife and children, a boss is a guidance in his or her office; a ‘wakil rakyat’ (people’s representative) is entrusted for the well being of his or her constituents while top leaders are unanswerable to all matters regarding the country and its people. 
Regarding this, the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock (i.e. those over whom you have authority.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Ibn ‘Umar reported, “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ‘Everyone of you is a ruler and everyone of you shall be questioned about those under his rule; the king is a ruler and he shall be questioned about his subjects; and the man is a ruler in his family and he shall be questioned about those under his care. 
‘The woman is a ruler in the house of her husband, and she shall be questioned about those under her care; and the servant is a ruler so far as the property of his master is concerned, and he shall be questioned about that which is entrusted to him’.”
Thus when the 'highest official' of the country cried 'Kepala bapak kau' which literally means; Your father's head; (pardon me for 'copying and pasting' this nasty remark here) in an important gathering recently, I couldn't help but kept on thinking about one famous Malay proverb - 'jika guru kencing berdiri, anak murid kencing berlari' (if teachers pee standing up, then their pupils would be running while urinating).
Nowadays teachers are facing huge troubles in disciplining pupils. They are entrusted in upbringing and molding children into good citizens but the challengers are getting harder and harder by each day...sadly we had now witnessed a leader who had forgotten his own government's concept i.e.'Kepimpinan Melalui Teladan' (Leading By Example).
A statesman had once coined this beautiful quotation: “If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.” Well, everybody is a teacher, what's more if he/she is the leader of the country.
Those in the teaching profession are change agents, providing the impetus for the emergence of educated communities. Regarding this I quote extract from an article on World Teachers Day entitled ‘Recovery Begins with Teachers’ from National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP)’s newsletter ‘Guru Malaysia’ in its October 2010 issue: “Many teachers work in extremely challenging circumstances, serving in communities with high rates of poverty, coping with violence within and outside the classroom, or confronting the demoralizing impact of HIV and AIDS on colleagues, students and families.
“There are those who are seeking to ensure the right to education of 18.5 million refugees children throughout the world. In countries affected by conflict, teachers are instrumental to reconstruction and peace building. We take this opportunity to commend the efforts of teachers, especially female teachers, who accept to serve in high risk, deprived and disadvantaged areas, reaching out to the excluded, and bringing them the prospect of better life through education.

“…Recovery begins with teachers. We can best honour teachers by giving them decent working conditions to fulfill their mission of preparing the younger generation to become responsible citizens, equipped with knowledge and skills to shape a sustainable future.”
Teachers are look high upon by society, but could readers imagine if they 'kencing berdiri' ...they are giving bad example to their pupils...so do not be surprised when the children would be running when they urinate.
Not only a ‘cikgu’ or an ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) is entrusted to give light to society but it is a duty for all including leaders. In Islam, it is an obligation for all to do the da’wah (calling to Islam) work. The Muslim does not think little of whatever knowledge he has if he is calling others to Allah. It is sufficient for him to convey whatever he has learned of the truth, even if it is just one aayah (sentence) from the Book of Allah.
This is what the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to tell his Companions to do: “Convey (knowledge) from me even if it is just one aayah…” (Bukhari). This is because whether or not a person is guided may depend on just one word of this aayah which will touch his heart and ignite the spark of faith, so that his heart and life will be illuminated with the light of guidance, and he will be a new man.
A fair leader or leaders who uphold justice are among seven groups of people that would be rewarded and sheltered in the Hereafter. The Prophet say: “There are seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade: A just ruler; a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two men who love each other for Allah's sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but be says: 'I fear Allah', a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; and a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.' (Narrated by Abu Hurairah, Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim) 
A just leader should be fair to his/her inferiors in everything and if he upholds justice, then he is on the right track to get recognition for the Prophet s.a.w. say: "He who obeys me obeys Allah, and he disobeys me disobeys Allah; and he who obeys the Amir (leader) obeys me, and he disobeys the Amir disobeys me; and the Imam is an armour for protection, the battle is fought for his defence and through him protection is sought. So if he commands the doing of duty to Allah and does justice, he has a reward for it; and if he does otherwise he shall suffer the consequences of it."
'Ubadah ibn Samit said, "The Prophet invited us, so we swore all allegiance to him; and among the conditions which he laid down on us to follow was this, that he had a promise from us to hear and obey, whether we like or disliked and order and whether we were in adversity or ease, even if our rights were not granted; and that we should not dispute the authority of those entrusted with it, adding unless you see an act of open disbelief in which you have a dear argument from Allah."
When Caliph 'Umar appointed governors the condition laid down upon them were: "You shall not ride a horse that is not of Arabian breed; you shall not eat bread made from fine flour; you shall not wear fine clothes; and you shall not shut your doors against the needs of the people. If you do these things punishment shall descend on you." - Pearls of the Prophet (Islamic Outreach-ABIM) 
In Surah An-Nisa’ (Woman) 58, Allah SWT says. "Verily Allah commands you that you restore deposits to their owners, and when you judge between people, you judge with justice; verily good is the admonition Allah gives you; verily Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing."
Regarding judging between people, this verse points to a very important subject. It is the proposition of observing justice in government. The verse, conveying the command of Allah, says:"... and when you judge between people, you judge with justice; ..." 

Perhaps uttering derogatory remarks such as 'Kepala bapak kau' in public was a  sign of us being unable to control our anger; it is in the category of ''lowest nafs' - 'ammarah'; so let all of us, the writer included,  begin correcting ourselves before it is too late and when we are 'six feet underground' (dead). 

'What you give, is what you get'...

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
Reflection

The Declining Day (Al-'Asr)
1. By the declining day,
2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss,
3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort 
one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.
ALHAMDULILLAH two of my boys (I have five children) are now professionals in their own chosen fields; one aspect that touched my heart about them was each of them gave their mother and me 'some money' immediately and 'religiously' after receiving their monthly salaries.
Regarding this matter, some time ago I had heard over Radio IKIM, a renowned motivator advised parents to 'teach' their children about this fine and beautiful aspect of life.
He asked listeners to reflect back the first thing they did with their money when they received their first salary years and years ago. I remembered mine - the first thing I did was to order some trays of 'bihun goreng' (fried beehon) and jugs of 'teh tarik' for a small 'kenduri' (feast) to celebrate with my office mates.
Of course almost all the office staff knew about my first pay, then naturally it was to 'belanja' (spend on) them, but in my mind I had already put aside 'some amount' to be given to my dearest 'FAMA' (father and mother).
The motivator asked parents to inculcate this good habit to their children from young; perhaps they should teach by example such as giving the money to their father and mother and even to their in-laws in the presence of the children.
"Even if their children had enter the working world, parents 'have the right' to remind them not to forget about the good habit...the amount of money given is not important but getting the 'barakah' (blessing) of it have to 'chase upon'," he said.
The motivator cum 'ustaz' said when a person receives his/her 'gaji' (wage) the first thing he/she should allocate is the portion to his/her parents and please do not indulge in giving 'spare money' to them after paying our other requirements.
Other than allocating money to parents first, a person too should allocate some amount (a little would do) for charity. Perhaps for a 'beginner' he/she could give the money to his/her school-going siblings, nieces or poor children in his area. Well, RM5, RM2 or R1 would do!
Not long ago, I had read a book about 'the magic and miracle of 'sadaqa' (giving alms or charity). When one gives charity or 'sadaqa' in the way of Allah for Allah’s Pleasure Alone, hoping to get His reward from Allah in the Hereafter, he is confirming with this action of his that Allah and the coming of the Last Day are ‘haqq’ and the truth. He believes with certainty in Allah and the Last Day, otherwise he would never give away his wealth, which he loves for nothing in return. By doing this he is confirming the truth. What he has said with his mouth, he has confirmed with his actions, and that is why Allah has promised to honor the person who gives 'sadaqa' in His Way, in this World and the Hereafter.Even the renowned professional speaker on motivation nowadays, Prof Dr Muhaya Muhammad often stressed this point - what you give is what you get. Alhamdulillah, dear readers...I am now seeing and experiencing this 'beautiful' aspect of life - if I 'religiously' gave the first portion of my 'gaji' to my 'FAMA', then 'insya-Allah' and 'barakah-Allah' (with Allah's blessing) my children would do the same to me. Again, alhamdulillah, the amount each of them gave to me was many times to what I gave to my parents!Allah says in the Glorious Quran, Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah, verse 261: The charity of those who expend their wealth in the way of Allah may be likened to a grain of corn, which produces seven ears and each ear yields a hundred grains. Likewise Allah develops manifold the charity of anyone He pleases, for He is All-Embracing, All-Wise. A preacher noted that Allah provides the formula for the minimum reward for the charity of a believer. If you spend RM1.00 in the way of Allah, has promised return is 7x100 = 700 times; ie. RM700.00 for a RM1.00 investment! For those of you who are accountants and businessmen, can you even imagine a 700% guaranteed return on investment and maybe even more! Allah is Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Imam Ali Abi Thalib noted that the reward of charity is increased 10 times. So dear readers when you received your 'gaji' at the end of the month, why not allocate a small part of it for charity. Say your 'gaji' is RM2,000; after receiving the money why not immediately part away RM100 for 'sadaqa'. Do simple thing; such as why not slot RM1 inside the 'Tabung Masjid' (Masjid Fund) every time you go to the masjid for 'subuh' (dawn) prayers? Remember there are angels praying for goodness upon those who give charity in the early mornings! If you do this things constantly (istiqamah); then you would realize that there would always be a 'helping hand' when you 'enter' your dry days. But the help is not always in the form of money or material gains but by other ways that you do not expect. In the Qur'an, Allah SWT promises: "And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him (his needs) from where he does not expect.” (At-Talaq, 65: 2,3) One very important reward that Allah SWT bestowes to those who do charity sincerely is the understanding of religion (knowledge). Regarding 'the have not situation' such as finishing our money at the middle of the month; if we have knowledge, we could feel that situation was nothing compared to what Allah SWT has in store for us whether in this world or Hereafter. You would realize that a good Muslim does not really need to toil to grab all worldly pleasures (ignoring its halal and haram status) including food because there are many verses of Allah and His prophet states so. For example; in a hadith from Abu Hurairah - Radi Allaahu anhu– who said the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said: "A Muslim eats for one stomach, and a non-Muslim eats for seven stomachs." (Collected by Malik, Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah and others) In another hadith, from Al-Miqdad bin Ma’d Yakrib -Radhi Allaahu anhu - who said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- saying: "A human does not fill a more evil container than a stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat small portions by which his back can remain straight. If it is not possible, then he should reserve his stomach, a third for his food, third for his drink and a third for his breathing." (Collected by Tirmidhi and he declared it to be Hasan, and by Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibban & Albaani) What a good Muslim needs is so little, so why worry if all your 'gaji sudah habis' (your salary all gone) by the middle of the month. Insya-Allah (God willing), He would provides for you till the end of the month and more importantly during your lifetime in this world and the Hereafter. You must believe this for He says: "And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him (his needs) from where he does not expect."The more you contribute, the more you get the rewards. But mind you, these rewards should not be looked as material gains only but also the spiritual aspects of life including good health, vast and rich experiences, satisfaction in life and sound education.Generosity is both a spiritual value and a spiritual practice.

In the Qur'an states that whatever we give away generously, with the intention of pleasing God, He will replace it. God knows what is in the hearts of men. Say: “Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and also restricts it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in God’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Qur'an 34:39) 
Whoever is kind to His creatures, God is kind to him; therefore be kind to man on earth, whether good or bad; and being kind to the bad is to withhold him from evil, thus in Heaven you will be treated kindly. He who is not kind to God's creatures, God will not be kind to him. 
Another 'ustaz' says that all, irrespective of their beliefs and religions would 'insha-Allah' (God willing) get rewards for their good deeds. But he stressed that the rewards would be of use in this world only; for any good deed to be beneficial to the doers in the Hereafter the person or persons concerned must first be on His straight path, he must have the 'iman' (faith). 
Let us have a look at what Allah SWT has to say in Surah Al-'Asr (The Declining Day) with the meaning: 1. By the declining day, 2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss, 3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. 
Allah SWT says that everybody is in a state of loss except those who have 'iman'. This 'iman' (faith) is mentioned first, if you do not have 'the iman', then the rest of it is naught; you could do all the good deeds but they would not be looked upon what more counted by Allah SWT. 
Those with 'iman' too would be in a state of loss if they do not do good works including rendering help to the poor and the needy. Those who 'cover' these two aspects too would be in a state of loss if they do not exhort one another to truth and endurance.

GST: Rintihan si miskin tak dipeduli...

Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.

Renungan
Daripada Abu Hurairah r.a. katanya: Aku mendengar Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda; "Umatku akan ditimpa penyakit-penyakit yang pernah menimpa umt-umat dahulu." Sahabat bertanya, "Apakah penyakit-penyakit umat terdahulu itu?" Nabi s.a.w. menjawab, "Penyakit-penyakit it ialah: (1) terlalu banyak seronok, (2) terlalu mewah, (3) menghimpun harta sebanyak mungkin, (4) tipu menipu dalam merebut harta benda dunia, (5) saling memarahi, dan (6) hasut menghasut sehingga menjadi zalim menzalimi." (Hadis riwayat Hakim)
SEKARANG ini saya perhatikan semakin banyak masjid menyediakan almari, rak atau ruang menempatkan barangan makanan asasi seperti beras, tepung, biskut, minyak, gula dan kopi yang mana boleh diambil pada bila-bila masa oleh golongan kurang berkemampuan.
Sikap prihatin terhadap kesusahan penduduk kejiranan terutama oleh pemimpin dan AJK masjid amat dialu-alukan; ini menandakan semangat berkongsi rezeki di kalangan rakyat semakin meningkat namun ia juga membayangkan semakin ramai 'orang di luar sana' (rakyat) yang kurang berkemampuan hatta untuk membeli barangan asasi bagi kesinambungan kehidupan seperti beras, tepung dan minyak.
Ketidakmampuan membeli barangan keperluan harian di kalangan rakyat ini sewajarnya tidak berlaku di negara 'mewah' bernama Malaysia yang pemimpinnya ketika pembentangan belanjawaan baru-baru ini asyik menyebut wang 'berberbilion-bilion' ringgit. 
Yalah, kalau 'derma' pun sudah membabitkan wang berbilion-bilion ringgit, tentunya rakyat Malaysia 'tersangat kaya' (ketika saya melancong ke sebuah negara jiran, ada pekedainya berkata orang Malaysia tersangat kaya kerana 'duit tumbuh atas pokok' jadi janganlah saya banyak soal dalam membeli barangan jualannya).
Demikianlah agaknya tanggapan orang luar terhadap Malaysia (negara terlalu kaya) sehingga berbondong-bondonglah 'Mat' Indon, Bangla, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Filipina dan negara lain) ke negara ini melakukan pelbagai pekerjaan daripada 'pilot helikopter' (tukang mesin rumput) kepada 'penjual karpet' dari rumah ke rumah dimonopoli lelaki Pakistan. 
Rakyat kebanyakan sekarang ini merintih kerana harga barangan keperluan mahal, sebahagian pihak menyatakan ia disebabkan cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan sebanyak enam (6) peratus berkuat kuasa sejak 2015. Namun rintihan itu tak dipedulikan pemerintah, sejak 'dulu sampai sekarang' kadarnya tetap enam peratus - (mungkin selepas kemenangan BN pada PRU-14 akan dinaikkan ke kadar lebih tinggi) tidak pernah terfikirkah pemimpin kerajaan untuk mengurangkan misalnya sebanyak satu, dua atau tiga peratus?
Belanjawan 2018 berlalu tanpa ada usaha untuk mengurangkan kadar GST ini...apa yang parti pemerintah tahu mereka dapat mengutip sehingga RM40 bilion setahun...namun apa ertinya 'perolehan ini' yang sebahagiannya 'diambil secara paksa' daripada rakyat yang hendak makan nasi dan roti pun susah sehinggakan wujud inisiatif pihak prihatin seperti pengurusan masjid yang menyediakan almari berisi makanan asasi!
Namun pada ketika sesetengah rakyat sengsara sekarang ini, pemimpin negara kerap kali mendabik dada dan dihebahkan secara-besaran oleh media massa tajaan mereka kononnya apa didakwa kekayaan dan kemewahan negara adalah hasil kebijaksanaan mereka mentadbir negara termasuk mengurus ekonomi dengan melaksanakan GST itu yang mendatangkan hasil berbilion-bilion ringgit.
Tentunya jika dilihat secara zahir, seolah-olah benar apa yang direpekkan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin berkenaan. Benar sejumlah rakyat kelihatan hidup mewah tetapi persoalannya golongan manakah ini? Apakah 'golongan feudal' saja mahu kaya dulu, kini dan selamanya sedangkan rakyat bawahan hidupnya kais pagi makan pagi dan kais petang makan petang.
Allah SWT telah melempahkan sumber alam yang cukup kaya kepada negara ini – petroleum, kelapa sawit, getah dan sebagainya – tetapi apakah kekayaan ini mendasar kepada kehidupan majoriti rakyat terutama yang tinggal di desa dan pedalaman? 
Jika dari segi ekonomi dan taraf hidup sesetengah rakyat ketinggalan terlalu jauh, kini masalah sosial pula menambah derita dan ketakutan rakyat kebanyakan. Jenayah seperti pembunuhan, perompakan, ragut, rogol, zina dan membuang bayi semakin menjadi-jadi. Daripada setinggi-tinggi jenayah berprofil tinggi termasuk pembunuhan warga asing termasuk dari Mongolia sehingga pembulian di sekolah, semuanya membimbangkan, membayangkan terlalu banyak perkara tidak beres dalam masyarakat kita.
Jenayah kejam yang tidak terfikirkan dulu seperti anak membunuh bapa dan anggota keluarga lain termasuk suami isteri, perlu dimuhasabah; apa sebenarnya sudah menimpa masyarakat kita? Apa sebenarnya sudah berlaku kepada generasi muda yang kita didik di sekolah-sekolah kita hari ini?
Kita percaya ada kaitan antara jenayah yang semakin menjadi-jadi dan moral masyarakat yang semakin buruk ini dengan kemewahan dalam negara yang didakwa pemimpin berkenaan. Kita bimbang jika berlaku istidraj, iaitu adalah pemberian nikmat Allah kepada manusia yang mana pemberian itu tidak diredai-Nya. Rasullulah SAW bersabda: ”Apabila kamu melihat bahawa Allah Taala memberikan nikmat kepada hamba-Nya yang selalu membuat maksiat (durhaka),ketahuilah bahawa orang itu telah diistidrajkan oleh Allah SWT.”(Diriwayatkan oleh At-Tabrani, Ahmad dan Al-Baihaqi) 
Tetapi, manusia termasuk pemimpin yang durhaka dan sering berbuat maksiat yang terkeliru dengan pemikirannya merasakan bahawa nikmat yang telah datang kepadanya dan pengampunya adalah kerana Allah berserta dan kasih dengan perbuatan maksiat mereka.  Sekarang kita dapat saksikan betapa sejumlah pemimpin dan rakyat (pengampu) yang bermaksiat seperti terbabit dalam amalan rasuah, perjudian dan jenayah seksual, hidup mereka semakin senang dan masih berkuasa dan berkedudukan tinggi. Mereka masih memegang jawatan tinggi termasuk dalam parti politik. 
Sebagai kebalikannya, orang taat dan baik termasuk pemimpin, ramai yang hidup sederhana saja malah ada yang susah sehingga masuk penjara. Manusia istidraj adalah orang yang lupa daratan. Walaupun berbuat maksiat, dia merasa Allah menyayanginya. Mereka memandang hina kepada orang yang beramal, mereka tidak tahu sebenarnya, Allah memberikan nikmat yang banyak dengan tujuan untuk menghancurkan mereka. Manusia, apabila mendapat nikmat, cuba hendak melawan Allah SWT, termasuk hukum-Nya. 
Buktinya, Firaun. Nikmatnya tak terkira, tidak pernah sakit, bersin pun tidak pernah kerana Allah berikannya nikmat kesihatan. Orang lain selalu sakit, tapi Firaun tidak, orang lain mati, namun dia masih belum mati-mati juga, sampai rasa angkuh dan besar diri lantas mengaku dirinya tuhan. Tapi dengan nikmat itulah Allah binasakan dia. Namrud pula cuba membakar Nabi Ibrahim. Betapa besar pangkat Namrud? Dia begitu sombong dengan Allah, akhirnya menemui ajalnya hanya disebabkan seekor nyamuk masuk ke dalam lubang hidungnya.
Pemimpin hari ini janganlah sombong. Pada bila-bila masa Allah SWT boleh jatuhkan. Di negara jiran, Suharto, Marcos sudah jatuh; di pentas antarabangsa pun sama...mana dia Gaddafi, Saddam, Mubarak dan sebagainya....semuanya sudah tersungkur...tidak ada pemimpin boleh kekal dulu, kini dan selamanya...kita semua bagai buah kelapa; ada yang awal-awal lagi sudah jatuh tetapi ada juga yang liat sampai 'bertombong di udara' tetapi akhirnya tetap tersungkur jua, bukankah begitu?

Titipan Seorang Pesara (5): 'Muhasabah untuk yang berkopiah, berjubah'...

Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
Renungan
"Dialah (Allah) yang menciptakan bagi kamu pasangan-pasangan (jodoh) daripada makhluk (jenis) kamu sendiri agar kamu condong kepadanya dan berasa tenteram dengannya. Kemudian Allah menciptakan kasih dan sayang antara kamu." (Surah Ar Rum: 21) 
SUATU petang saya sampai awal di sebuah masjid untuk solat asar berjemaah. Saya berehat dulu dalam kereta; ketika itu seorang lelaki berserban besar dan berjubah putih memakir keretanya di depan kereta saya.
Dia menghisap rokok. Dia keluar dan selepas puas menghisap agaknya, dia mencampakkan pontong rokok berapi itu betul-betul di laluan pintu masuk masjid. 
Saya terkejut melihat kelakuannya kerana bagi saya seorang 'syeikh berserban besar' menghisap rokok di pekarangan masjid menyalahi adab manakala perbuatannya mencampakkan pontong rokok di muka pintu masjid amat memalukan.
'Syeikh' itu kemudian memasuki masjid. Saya ke tandas dulu dan ketika dalam masjid mata saya sesekali saya melirik mencari-cari lelaki itu. Ketika solat akan didirikan, lelaki berserban besar itu melaungkan iqamah...namun tidaklah saya tahu sama ada dia bilal masjid itu atau bukan kerana ketika azan saya berada di ruang wuduk.
Bagi saya perbuatan 'syeikh' itu menghisap rokok dan mencampakkan pontong rokok menyalahi adab dan patut ditegur. Saya memikirkan kaedah untuk menegurnya. Selepas solat sebelum imam memulakan zikir dan berdoa, saya cepat-cepat beredar ke belakang, mencari sekeping kertas dan menulis perkataan ini: "Assalamualaikum wbt saudara yang dikasihi; menghisap dan mencampakkan pontong rokok di depan masjid adalah kurang sopan. Berakhlaklah!" 
Saya kemudian melekatkan nota itu di 'wiper' keretanya, disertakan sekali dengan pontong rokok yang dibuangnya. Selepas itu saya cepat -cepat memasuki kereta saya dan vrooommmm pergi. Alhamdulillah, selepas 'blah', dari cermin dalam kereta saya dapat lihat 'syeikh' itu telah sampai ke keretanya dan menarik nota berkenaan. Saya menekan pedal minyak kereta lebih kuat untuk segera berlalu dari situ.
Saya 'tak dapat tahan' dengan kelakuan kurang sopan 'syeikh' itu kerana berdasarkan pengalaman saya berinteraksi dengan sejumlah orang bukan Islam, ada yang kurang senang dengan orang berserban, berkopiah dan berjubah' kerana seorang dua daripada mereka yang berkelakuan buruk menepati peribahasa kerana setitik nila habis rosak susu sebelanga.
Orang bukan Islam, kerana melalui pengalaman buruk dengan orang sebegini, habis semua orang 'berpakaian baik-baik' dipandang serong. Misalnya, seorang lelaki Cina, tauke bengkel motosikal yang sudah lama saya berkawan dengannya, menyelar 'pak-pak haji' sebagai mereka yang tak boleh dipercayai berdasarkan pengalaman dia dengan seorang pak haji.
Beliau mendakwa pak haji itu berhutang RM400 dengan dia kerana menghantar motosikal anaknya untuk dibaiki di bengkelnya. Selepas dibaiki, anaknya telah ambil motosikal itu dan berkata bapanya akan bayar. Tauke Cina itu mendakwa sudah beberapa kali dia berjumpa pak haji itu menuntut bayaran tetapi pak haji itu enggan bayar.
Sudah bertahun-tahun pak haji itu mengelak daripada membuat bayaran sehingga Cina itu menjadi benci dan jelak. Dia lantas membuat kesimpulan, pak-pak haji memang tidak boleh dipercayai. 
Saya yang 'berkopiah' (pak haji) tersentak dan terpukul dengan pandangan umum Cina bengkel itu dan bagi 'menjernihkan pandangannya' kepada pak-pak haji, suatu hari saya menyerahkan kepadanya RM400 dan berkata: "kira 'settle'lah hutang pak haji itu. Lu jangan beritahu apa-apa sama dia...diam-diam saja sudahlah..."
Ya, saya sudah lama berkawan dengan Cina bengkel motor itu. Kerana itu, saya 'bebas' bercakap hampir apa saja dengannya. Saya gunakan peluang itu mengajak dia masuk Islam...tetapi nampaknya ada orang Islam malah pak haji lagi berkelakuan buruk (seperti enggan membayar hutang) jadi Cina bengkel itu ada tanggapan buruk terhadap orang Islam...ya kalau orang Islam sendiri  apatah lagi pak haji tak boleh dipercayai...bagaimana dia nak melihat keindahan Islam.
Kalau seorang dua pak haji 'tipu' dia boleh tahan lagi, tetapi kalau ramai pak haji berkelakuan buruk begitu, takut-takut dia tak percaya kepada semua pak haji (termasuk saya) dan orang Islam...itulah sebabnya saya 'tak tahan' apabila menyaksikan seorang 'pak sheikh' berserban besar membaling pontong rokok di pintu masuk masjid lantas mengegurnya! Orang sesama Islam pun melihatnya buruk apatah lagi jika disaksikan orang bukan Islam.
Bagi diri saya pula, harap-harap saya berada di laluan betul dalam usaha dakwah saya pada usia tua ini. Ya Allah tunjukkilah kami jalan yang lurus...

A reflection after experiencing blackouts in Kundasang

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
Reflection

The Declining Day (Al-'Asr)
1. By the declining day,
2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss,
3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort 
one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.
DEAR readers; sorry for not appearing in last week edition of Harakah as I was in Sabah, enjoying the many places of interest there such as the Kinabalu Park, Poring Hotspring and the famous fish spa 'Tagal' Sungai Moroli, Luanti in Ranau with my family, comprising my wife and our two girls. 
Unfortunately our visit 'coincided' with the windy and rainy condition which was said the side effect of a storm that lashed southern Philippines.
Heavy rains and powerful wind created havoc in various parts of Sabah especially in the western and northern areas - some low-laying lands in Kota Belud, Kota Marudi and Kudat were under water while the state capital Kota Kinabalu was not spared - several vehicles were damaged due to fallen and uprooted trees.
During the five days four nights trip we spend two nights in Kundasang, a small 'agriculture town' located on the main road between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. With an elevation of about 2,000 metres above sea level, it is one of the coolest places in Sabah with temperatures dropping to 13 degrees Centigrade at night.
In Kundasang we experienced blackouts several times during our nights stay. Inside our room in a 'kampung' homestay, we felt the eerie sound of the wind; lashing the roof of the house...my two young girls were scared; they laid still on bed in the dark.
We used the toilet only 'when necessary' with the 'help' from the lights of our handsets. Mind you, the water was icy cold and since the heater was not working, nobody had the gut to bathe...we only rubbed our bodies with wet towels. 
Once  electricity was 'out' when we in Masjid Jamek Kundasang at night. Congregators used their handset to see their way...yes we need to have light to move our way even a faint one would be much appreciated when we were in total darkness.
As I had not brought along my handset, I stayed at the spot for some moment; trying to calm down and thinking of what action to do next. In the darkness, I did some quick reflections - if we could not stand the state without light, how was our situation during our 'historic moment' when we were put inside our graves - six feet underground! It was said there was no light at all in the graves, then how our 'reaction' then?
Whats the situation inside the grave? From my few experiences attending burials, I could see once the body was placed inside the 'liang lahad' (small hole or niche inside the grave), a large plank would be lowered to close the hole and then earth poured to fill in it, I could imagine there would be no light at all inside the grave!
The thought of the darkness and gloomy situation inside the grave (one day it would be my turn to be buried inside it) made me really scared and panicked; yes please do think that one day we would be sent inside the place of total darkness without any hope of returning! 
Yes dear, everyone would 'enter' their graves which are without any light; there is no exception what more choice. Death is the end of this life and there is no returning to this life in any form. Life in the grave is a state of transition and waiting. It is also known as 'barzakh' which means 'a barrier between two things'. It is a barrier between the worlds the dead had just left and the Resurrection on the Day of Judgment. (Qur'an 23:100) -- Life in the Grave (Invitation to Understanding Islam, PERKIM) 
So, what was it inside a grave? In a 'hadith', Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., said: "I have never seen a sight more horrifying than the grave." (Tirmizi) The passing of the dead to the world of the grave coincides with the beginning of their awakening to the the Truth. The Noble Qur'an says, "And the agony of death comes with Truth. That is what (the disbelievers and evildoers) used to flee from!" (50: 19) 
The souls of the righteous ones experience a gentle, quick and satisfied exit. Their souls will be taken to the heavens while the disbelievers and the evildoers will realize at death about the Punishment in the Fire that awaits them. They will struggle to prevent the removal of their souls from their bodies. 
They will be in great pain as their blood vessels and nerves are ripped apart when their souls are forcibly removed. The Prophet s.a.w. was reported to have said that if human beings could hear their cries at death, they would faint. Their names will be recorded in the Register of Hell (Sijjeen) - Qur'an 83: 7-8 
The Prophet s.a.w. was also reported to have said: "If one does not find salvation in the grave, then what follows is very hard upon him." (Ibn Majah and Tirmizi) 
Subhanallah, dear readers we could not or face difficulties to move around when it was dark, we need light; perhaps in such a 'tight situation' a beam of light from a car or a very dim light such as from a handset is very much appreciated.
An 'ustaz' in his 'tazkirah' (Islamic lesson) at a masjid near my house said human beings are without light (we are in state of total darkness); it is Allah SWT who give us that blessing for example He ordered the sun to light earth. Imagine what would happened if the sun failed to 'turn up'; lives on earth would be in chaos - thus during the eclipse of the sun a few days ago, we must say our prayers (solat) to be thankful to Allah SWT for His mercy upon us.
We badly need light on earth, inside our graves and in the Hereafter, so what is 'that light'? Perhaps we could learn something from the story of Prophet Yunus (Jonah) alahis salam (peace be upon him) who had to overcome 'three layers' of darkness. What were 'those three layers of darkness'? 
When Prophet Yunus set off in despair, abandoning his 'ummah' after giving up hope of them coming to the right path, Allah the Exalted planned for him to be thrown into the sea, and instructed a whale (nun) to swallow him (but not digest) so that he stayed in the dark belly of the whale contemplating his mistake in abandoning his 'ummah' without Allah's instruction and there he repented. 
So Prophet Yunus was left in the darkness inside the stomach of a fish, darkness of the deepest sea and lastly darkness of the blackest night. In was inside the fish belly, that he made du'aa (supplication) - ‘Laa ilaaha illa Anta, subhaanaka inni kuntu min al-zaalimeen (There is no god but You, glory to You, verily I was one of the wrongdoers).’ 
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said to his companions: "“Shall I not tell you some words which, if distress or grief befalls any of you and he makes this du’aa, it will bring him joy? It is the du‘aa’ of Dhoo’l-Noon (i.e. Yunus or Jonah): ‘There is no god but You, Glory to You; verily I was one of the wrongdoers.’” (Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no. 2605) 
Well, back to 'the grave story' - if we needed light 'when we are buried six feet under' then let us be on His straight path - according to an 'ustaz' whose lessons I followed closely twice a month at a masjid near my house; the light was from our 'good deeds' during our lives such as performing 'wuduk' (ablution) 'solat' etc (performing all obligations under 'Rukun Islam'), Qur'an reading and learning, giving charity, 'dhikir' (praising Allah SWT), 'salawat' (prayer for peace and prosperity to the Prophet s.a.w.) and many more. 
And never forget to du'aa to Allah SWT for example: "O Allah! Cover my shame, pacify my fears, guard me from what is in front of me and behind me, from what is on my right and on my left, over my head and under my feet." Remember this du'aa is to be supplicated when we 'on the Earth and not when we are inside it!' 
Another 'ustaz' said knowledge is also 'cahaya' (light); it would light you up in this world and Hereafter. Thus seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim, said the Prophet s.a.w. (Ibn Majah)
Remember, when we are in a state of blackout, we need a 'cahaya' (light) what more when we are buried six feet under. If during a blackout, of which perhaps was only for a short period, we feel miserable, what would be said about 'our journey with a 'one way ticket' inside our own graves'...so please think wisely and carefully before its too late! 
Subhanallah, if we (I included) need badly 'cahaya' or 'nur' (Arabic) or light in this world, what more when we are buried inside 'our graves' (barzakh) and in the Hereafter! Well, the 'dark' nights stay in Kundasang helped me to do some reflections...yes all of us are 'inching' towards 'the darkness of our own graves'.

Bersedialah hadapi 'ibu segala perbelanjaan'...

Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.

Renungan
Daripada Abu Hurairah r.a. katanya: Aku mendengar Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda; "Umatku akan ditimpa penyakit-penyakit yang pernah menimpa umt-umat dahulu." Sahabat bertanya, "Apakah penyakit-penyakit umat terdahulu itu?" Nabi s.a.w. menjawab, "Penyakit-penyakit it ialah: (1) terlalu banyak seronok, (2) terlalu mewah, (3) menghimpun harta sebanyak mungkin, (4) tipu menipu dalam merebut harta benda dunia, (5) saling memarahi, dan (6) hasut menghasut sehingga menjadi zalim menzalimi." (Hadis riwayat Hakim)
PERDANA Menteri Najib Razak yang kelihatan sentiasa 'ceria' tatkala membentangkan Belanjawan 2018 yang disifatkannya sebagai 'ibu segala bajet' pada 27 Oktober lalu, mengambil kesempatan 'menyindir', 'menghiris' dan 'memukul habis' pembangkang dengan kisah 'Kak Wan' versinya.
Sebagai ketua kerajaan, ambillah peluang itu sepuas-puasnya kerana ini adalah perbentangan belanjawan terakhir sebelum pilihan raya umum ke -14 (PRU-14) yang mungkin menyaksikan sang penguasa terpelanting daripada kerusi kuasa...ya selepas ini tiada lagi peluang untuk menunjukkan aksi sama...ingat-ingatlah wahai semua bahawa kehidupan ini bagaikan pusingan roda - ada kalanya di atas ada kalanya di terperosok di bawah sana!
Jika pihak pemerintah sudah mengemukakan bajetnya, bagaimana belanjawan rakyat untuk menghadapi tahun baru 2018 yang akan muncul tidak lama lagi? Bersedia wahai semua termasuk diri ini kerana berdasarkan 'bahang' kehidupan sukar sekarang ini akan terpercik juga pada tahun baru.
Ya, tahun 2017 akan melabuhkan tirainya, sebulan dua lagi jendela 2018 dibuka. Sesuai dengan tahun baru, tentulah ramai yang bersemangat baru. Kebanyakan daripada kita berharap melalui tahun baru dari sudut positif. Walaupun demikian, banyak daripada peristiwa yang dialami menjelang tahun baru menunjukkan sesuatu yang negatif. 
Satu perkara yang kerap dikaitkan dengan tahun baru ialah permulaan sesi persekolahan. Berhubung perkara inilah banyak ibu bapa yang 'pening-pening lalat' bagi memenuhi keperluan anak-anak. Jadi bersiap sedialah mulai sekarang, jangan apabila sekolah dibuka baru nak 'diraba sana sini' (maksudnya dari segi kewangan).

Perbelanjaan untuk menyekolahan anak-anak pada zaman ini apatah lagi 'pada era GST' bukannya murah. Sekarang tidak lagi sesuai untuk berkata: "Cikgu saya serahkan anak saya ini pada cikgu, pandai-pandailah cikgu buat apa-apa yang baik ke atasnya." 

Sekarang 'penyerahan' dilakukan dengan wang ringgit. Sekalipun pihak berkuasa kerap menguar-uarkan yuran persekolahan sudah dimansuhkan hakikatnya banyak wang perlu dikeluarkan. Untuk membereskan yuran seorang anak saja sudah menelan belanja puluhan atau ratusan ringgit. Bayaran itu termasuklah pelbagai yuran seperti yuran komputer, yuran padang, yuran MSSM, yuran PIBG, yuran perpustakaan dan yuran kertas perperiksaan. 

Bagi yang pertama kali menghantar anak ke sekolah, jangan terperanjat jika melihat pada 'book list' (biasanya diserahkan kepada murid sebelum cuti sekolah) kanak-kanak itu dinyatakan yuran PIBG adalah sebanyak RM50 atau RM100 manakala yuran komputer adalah RM20 atau RM50. 

Seseorang anak yang bersekolah rendah bukan saja menghadiri sesi pagi tetapi juga sesi petang (sekolah agama). Yuran untuk sekolah agama lain pula daripada sekolah pagi. Demikian juga pakaiannya, begnya dan juga bukunya. 

Demikianlah betapa beratnya bebanan ibu bapa hari ini. Jika untuk seorang anak, terpaksa dibelanjakan RM300 (jika ke asrama penuh mungkin lebih RM1,000), hitunglah wang yang perlu disediakan untuk menyekolahkan lima orang anak, atau pun lapan orang anak. Jumlahnya tentulah tersangat memeningkan ibu bapa. 
Selain itu bagaimana dengan tambang bas sekolah, duit belanja harian dan sebagainya...ya ibu bapa semakin pening nampaknya. Selepas termenung memikirkan belanja anak-anak, ibu bapa boleh merenung pula perbelanjaan yang membabitkan diri mereka pula. Harga barangan keperluan sentiasa naik, demikian juga kadar tol lebuh raya dan tambang pengangkutan awam.
Tidak cukup dengan itu, tarif kemudahan awam ada kemungkinan dinaikkan. Jika 'semua' naik, tentulah sewa rumah, sewa kedai, sewa pejabat dan 'segala' macam sewa juga akan naik. Demikianlah betapa rakyat begitu tertekan dewasa ini. Malangnya mereka tidak bersuara. Mereka adalah golongan majoriti, kata orang putih 'the silent majority'. 
'The silent majority' inilah yang perlu disuntik semangat mereka untuk bangun menyuarakan ketidakpuasaan hati mereka terhadap pembahagian kekayaan negara yang tidak adil. 

Jika negara (seperti Petronas) dikatakan mencatat keuntungan berbilion-bilion ringgit, kenapa tidak salurkan wang itu untuk membayar 'yuran komputer' setiap murid di seluruh tanah air. 

Kenapa wang keuntungan berbilion-bilion ringgit firma berkepentingan kerajaan tidak boleh disalurkan untuk membayar yuran perpustakaan untuk semua murid. 

Demikian juga kenapa kerajaan tidak boleh membayar yuran sukan dan yuran padang anak-anak sedangkan kerap dihebohkan negara mahu melahirkan atlet berwibawa? 

Pada tahun baru, diharap-harapkan rakyat tidak lagi digula-gulakan dengan cerita keuntungan besar (berbilion-bilion ringgit) syarikat milik kerajaan melalui media massa tetapi hakikatnya kebanyakannya terpaksa mengikat perut untuk menunaikan tanggungjawab asas seperti menyekolahkan anak-anak terutama pada awal tahun. 
Ya, tahun baru akan menyaksikan ibu bapa menghadapi ujian ibu segala perbelanjaan! Ceritanya sama saban tahun kerana pemerintah negara adalah daripada parti sama; apa kata pada PRU-14 nanti kita buat perubahan!