Roslan Hamid's Blog, page 131
September 21, 2016
Prepare for our long, long journey...
***
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
Reflection
"Do not spy one another,
nor let any of you backbite others..." (Hujurat 49: 12)
***
ITS hard for me to digest what was told by an ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) in a ‘tazkirah’ (lesson) at a ‘masjid’ near my house recently when he said that people (human beings) would spend about 500,000 years in ‘Padang Mahsyar’ (Hashr). One day in ‘Padang Mahsyar’ equals 50,000 years on earth.
Alhamdulillah (All praise belongs to God) a few days later, I came across this item in a newspaper that helped in my understanding about life. Among others, the report with a heading 'Oldest fossil dated by Aussies at about 3.7 billion-years-old' noted:Life on Earth is even older than first thought, said Australian scientists as they unveiled fossils dating back 3.7 billion years, providing a potential new spur to study whether Mars once had life.The fossilised structures — called stromatolites — preserved in ancient rocks along the edge of Greenland’s ice cap were 220 million years older than the previous record holders.They prove that life emerged just a few hundred million years after the Earth was formed some 4.5 billion years ago, said lead researcher Allen Nutman of the University of Wollongong.“This discovery represents a new benchmark for the oldest preserved evidence of life on Earth,” said Martin Julian Van Kranendonk, a geology professor at the University of NSW and one of the co-authors of the study published in the journal Nature.“The structures and geochemistry from the newly exposed outcrops in Greenland display all of the features used in younger rocks to argue for a biological origin. It points to a rapid emergence of life on Earth.”The 1cm to 4cm high Isua stromatolites — exposed after the melting of a snow patch in the Isua Greenstone Belt — matched other biological evidence on the evolution of the genetic code that placed the origins of life in a similar period, Professor Nutman said.“This indicates the Earth was no longer some sort of hell 3.7 billion years ago,” he said. “It was a place where life could flourish.”This news caught my attention; I made a paper cutting of it and put it inside my wallet, and one morning after a ‘kuliah subuh’ (early morning lesson) by an ‘ustaz’, I showed the piece to him and asked whether there’s ‘somebody’ on Earth before the existence of Prophet Adam peace be upon him (a.s.)The ‘ustaz’ said, some scholars believed that Prophet Adam a.s. was sent to Earth some 10,000 years ago, Ibrahim (Abraham) a.s. some 4,000 years ago, Musa (Moses) a.s. some 3,500 years ago, Isa (Jesus) a.s. some 2,000 years ago while the seal of Prophets, Muhammad s.a.w. some 1,500 years ago. The question is; who ‘flourished’ Earth before the coming of Prophet Adam a.s.?He said, according to scholars, there is nothing in the Qur’an or ‘sunnah’ (prophetic teachings) to indicate that there were any people living on Earth before Adam a.s. Rather the reports that speak of this are the opinions of ‘mufassireen’ (Qur'an commentators) among the ‘sahabah’ (companions) and ‘tabi‘een’ (successors).
Some said that the Earth was inhabited by the jinn, whom Allah SWT created from fire. At-Tabari narrated in his Tafseer from Ibn ‘Abbas r.a. that he said: “The first ones to dwell on earth were the jinn, and they caused mischief therein, shedding blood and killing one another.” Others said that there was no one on earth, jinn or otherwise, before Adam a.s.
Many scholars of tafseer say that the jinn were created before Adam a.s. and before them on Earth there were the hinn and the binn, then Allah caused the jinn to prevail over them, so they killed them and expelled them from the Earth and inhabited it after them.
After reading that scientists had evidence that there was life on Earth some 3.7 billion years ago, it was easy for me to understand when some ‘ustazs’ said that human beings would spend thousands and thousands of years during the 12 stages of life in the Hereafter such as in ‘barzakh’ (grave), ‘qiyama’ (judgment day), ‘mahsyar’ (al-hashr or gathering), ‘al-mizan’ (the scales of deeds) and ‘as-sirat al-mustaqeem’ (the straight path).Remember that our life of perhaps 60 to 70 years on Earth was nothing compared to life on Earth which was proved to exist some 3.7 billion years ago what’s more in the Hereafter where we would lead a never-ending life! Our life in this world is temporary and we are just like a traveler. In his 'hadith'; Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said: "My similitude and that of the life of this world is that of a traveler who took a rest at mid-day under a shade of a tree and then left it." (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and al-Hakim) Thus, as 'a learned person' please prepare for our long, long (forever and ever) journey in the Hereafter. Remember we only have 'a one ticket' - there's no 'return ticket'!‘As-sirat al-mustaqeem’ is like a bridge which runs hell underneath. The width of this bridge is like a strand of hair is cut seven and it is sharper than the sword. For believers it will be widened and facilitated crossing. Fudhail bin Iyadh said mesh is time-consuming travel 15,000 years – 5,000 years upward, 5,000 years moving horizontally and 5,000 year of decline. If some scholars said Prophet Adam a.s. existed some 10,000 years ago, then he a.s. the people of his era were in ‘barzakh’ for that period of time. They are still in their graves, waiting for the ‘qiyama’. Some people would felt it long in their graves, others felt it was short; Allah SWT can do anything to time for He is The Creator of time; He is The Controller of time and space. It is His wish to do anything including time. In Ayahs 80-81 Surah Yasin, Allah SWT says: “Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the like of them? Aye, that He is! for He is the All-Wise Creator. But His command, when He intendeth a thing, is only that he saith unto it: Be! And it is.”
The 'ustaz' said that in this world we needed to be on His straight path and perform good deeds as much as possible. It was because, in the Hereafter, we needed a lot of 'pahala' (rewards for good deeds) to 'finance' ourselves during our 'long long journey' before we would rewarded with Paradise or thrown into Hell (nauzubillah - God forbid).
Please remember, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: sadaqah jariyah (ceaseless charity); knowledge which is beneficial; or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (the deceased).” (Sahih Muslim)
The 'ustaz' told parents to work hard in raising virtuous sons and daughters who would be one of our greatest assets after our death. To have these beneficial off-springs the father must be in His straight path as Allah SWT says in the Qur'an: "O! You who believe, save yourself and your families from Hell-fire, whose fuel are humans and stones (idols) over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do (precisely) what they are commanded." (At-Tahrim 66:6)He reminded Muslims not to waste their time; there is a hadith which states: "Grasp five things before five others: your youth before your decrepitude, your health before you fall sick, your wealth before going into poverty, your free time before you get busy and lastly your life before your death (Tirmidhi); when we would embark for our long, long journey.
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
Reflection
"Do not spy one another,
nor let any of you backbite others..." (Hujurat 49: 12)
***
ITS hard for me to digest what was told by an ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) in a ‘tazkirah’ (lesson) at a ‘masjid’ near my house recently when he said that people (human beings) would spend about 500,000 years in ‘Padang Mahsyar’ (Hashr). One day in ‘Padang Mahsyar’ equals 50,000 years on earth.
Alhamdulillah (All praise belongs to God) a few days later, I came across this item in a newspaper that helped in my understanding about life. Among others, the report with a heading 'Oldest fossil dated by Aussies at about 3.7 billion-years-old' noted:Life on Earth is even older than first thought, said Australian scientists as they unveiled fossils dating back 3.7 billion years, providing a potential new spur to study whether Mars once had life.The fossilised structures — called stromatolites — preserved in ancient rocks along the edge of Greenland’s ice cap were 220 million years older than the previous record holders.They prove that life emerged just a few hundred million years after the Earth was formed some 4.5 billion years ago, said lead researcher Allen Nutman of the University of Wollongong.“This discovery represents a new benchmark for the oldest preserved evidence of life on Earth,” said Martin Julian Van Kranendonk, a geology professor at the University of NSW and one of the co-authors of the study published in the journal Nature.“The structures and geochemistry from the newly exposed outcrops in Greenland display all of the features used in younger rocks to argue for a biological origin. It points to a rapid emergence of life on Earth.”The 1cm to 4cm high Isua stromatolites — exposed after the melting of a snow patch in the Isua Greenstone Belt — matched other biological evidence on the evolution of the genetic code that placed the origins of life in a similar period, Professor Nutman said.“This indicates the Earth was no longer some sort of hell 3.7 billion years ago,” he said. “It was a place where life could flourish.”This news caught my attention; I made a paper cutting of it and put it inside my wallet, and one morning after a ‘kuliah subuh’ (early morning lesson) by an ‘ustaz’, I showed the piece to him and asked whether there’s ‘somebody’ on Earth before the existence of Prophet Adam peace be upon him (a.s.)The ‘ustaz’ said, some scholars believed that Prophet Adam a.s. was sent to Earth some 10,000 years ago, Ibrahim (Abraham) a.s. some 4,000 years ago, Musa (Moses) a.s. some 3,500 years ago, Isa (Jesus) a.s. some 2,000 years ago while the seal of Prophets, Muhammad s.a.w. some 1,500 years ago. The question is; who ‘flourished’ Earth before the coming of Prophet Adam a.s.?He said, according to scholars, there is nothing in the Qur’an or ‘sunnah’ (prophetic teachings) to indicate that there were any people living on Earth before Adam a.s. Rather the reports that speak of this are the opinions of ‘mufassireen’ (Qur'an commentators) among the ‘sahabah’ (companions) and ‘tabi‘een’ (successors).
Some said that the Earth was inhabited by the jinn, whom Allah SWT created from fire. At-Tabari narrated in his Tafseer from Ibn ‘Abbas r.a. that he said: “The first ones to dwell on earth were the jinn, and they caused mischief therein, shedding blood and killing one another.” Others said that there was no one on earth, jinn or otherwise, before Adam a.s.
Many scholars of tafseer say that the jinn were created before Adam a.s. and before them on Earth there were the hinn and the binn, then Allah caused the jinn to prevail over them, so they killed them and expelled them from the Earth and inhabited it after them.
After reading that scientists had evidence that there was life on Earth some 3.7 billion years ago, it was easy for me to understand when some ‘ustazs’ said that human beings would spend thousands and thousands of years during the 12 stages of life in the Hereafter such as in ‘barzakh’ (grave), ‘qiyama’ (judgment day), ‘mahsyar’ (al-hashr or gathering), ‘al-mizan’ (the scales of deeds) and ‘as-sirat al-mustaqeem’ (the straight path).Remember that our life of perhaps 60 to 70 years on Earth was nothing compared to life on Earth which was proved to exist some 3.7 billion years ago what’s more in the Hereafter where we would lead a never-ending life! Our life in this world is temporary and we are just like a traveler. In his 'hadith'; Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said: "My similitude and that of the life of this world is that of a traveler who took a rest at mid-day under a shade of a tree and then left it." (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and al-Hakim) Thus, as 'a learned person' please prepare for our long, long (forever and ever) journey in the Hereafter. Remember we only have 'a one ticket' - there's no 'return ticket'!‘As-sirat al-mustaqeem’ is like a bridge which runs hell underneath. The width of this bridge is like a strand of hair is cut seven and it is sharper than the sword. For believers it will be widened and facilitated crossing. Fudhail bin Iyadh said mesh is time-consuming travel 15,000 years – 5,000 years upward, 5,000 years moving horizontally and 5,000 year of decline. If some scholars said Prophet Adam a.s. existed some 10,000 years ago, then he a.s. the people of his era were in ‘barzakh’ for that period of time. They are still in their graves, waiting for the ‘qiyama’. Some people would felt it long in their graves, others felt it was short; Allah SWT can do anything to time for He is The Creator of time; He is The Controller of time and space. It is His wish to do anything including time. In Ayahs 80-81 Surah Yasin, Allah SWT says: “Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the like of them? Aye, that He is! for He is the All-Wise Creator. But His command, when He intendeth a thing, is only that he saith unto it: Be! And it is.”
The 'ustaz' said that in this world we needed to be on His straight path and perform good deeds as much as possible. It was because, in the Hereafter, we needed a lot of 'pahala' (rewards for good deeds) to 'finance' ourselves during our 'long long journey' before we would rewarded with Paradise or thrown into Hell (nauzubillah - God forbid).
Please remember, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: sadaqah jariyah (ceaseless charity); knowledge which is beneficial; or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (the deceased).” (Sahih Muslim)
The 'ustaz' told parents to work hard in raising virtuous sons and daughters who would be one of our greatest assets after our death. To have these beneficial off-springs the father must be in His straight path as Allah SWT says in the Qur'an: "O! You who believe, save yourself and your families from Hell-fire, whose fuel are humans and stones (idols) over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do (precisely) what they are commanded." (At-Tahrim 66:6)He reminded Muslims not to waste their time; there is a hadith which states: "Grasp five things before five others: your youth before your decrepitude, your health before you fall sick, your wealth before going into poverty, your free time before you get busy and lastly your life before your death (Tirmidhi); when we would embark for our long, long journey.
September 18, 2016
Refining our good deeds including when sacrificing animals
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.
***
IT is fruit season again. Local fruits such as rambutans and durians are in abundance. On September 2nd upon entering the masjid in my kampung for Friday prayers, I saw two basket-full of rambutans being placed at its entrance.
Alhamdulillah (All praise belongs to God), a good resident had 'sadaqah' (donated) the fruits - obviously the person would like to share with fellow kampung folks the good things Allah SWT had blessed upon him/her.
After prayers, upon leaving the masjid, I was shocked to see 'kulit' (skin of) rambutans' strewn all over the place - astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness from Allah) when an ugly thought raced inside my mind - who ate the rambutans - human beings or 'monyet' (monkeys)?
Well dear readers; to 'sadaqah' fruits such as the rambutans was a good deed; but why not refine our doings...may I suggest to rambutans' donors at masjids in future to place several rubbish bins near their baskets of fruits with big sign boards with bold words like 'PLEASE DO NOT LITTER'. If people keep on messing the place, then they are truthly 'monyet'...err I mean in characters, again I seek forgiveness from Allah SWT.
After all, 'dirty people' are 'dirty people'; an 'ustaz' (religious teacher) once said perhaps only the law could teach them lessons. This is why enforcement of the law is very important. Some people are only afraid of being fined; if that is the case then why not we follow some strict societies like the Singaporeans who went to great length such as fining those who do not flush after using toilets?
To our enforcement authorities and men, please wake up...I seen people throwing rambutan's skin out of their cars on the roads. Luckily, they did not throw out durian's skin! Then there are drivers who stopped or slowed their cars only to put their used cup or bottled drinks on the roads. Many smokers are fond of throwing out their cigarette buts (still alight) out of their cars, posing danger to other road-users. They might caused fire if the cigarette buts fell on dried grass and 'lalangs'.
Our dirty habits of littering was obvious during the celebration of 'Merdeka' recently. It was rubbish wave after the event. After the cleaning job of DBKL and Alam Flora workers, tonnes of rubbish we seen deposited on the roadside. It was reported that the cleaning work involved 70 workers, took two days to finish and cost a whooping RM100,000! Celebrating 'Merdeka' was a good deed but of course littering was not!
Since this week we would be celebrating 'Eid Adha' let us have a thought about refining our deeds when sacrificing animals. The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said in a 'hadith' with the meaning: "Allah has decreed kindness or proficiency in all things. So when you kill, kill well, and when you slaughter, slaughter well. Let one of you sharpened his blade and spare suffering to the animals he slaughters." (Saheeh Muslim)
If we had to kill, for example kill insects such as cockroaches inside our kitchen, kill it well. When killing a lizard, perhaps we could do it with one blow - please do not torture the animal for example giving a life lizard to our cats for they would play if it. Cats are fond of playing...they do not kill their prey immediately.
During my 54 years existence in the world, I had witnessed several events of sacrificing (slaughtering) the animals...but sorry to say that I had never had the knife in my hands to slaughter any animal. But I must admit that some people do it in fine ways...for example before slaughtering the animals they dig holes so that blood would flow inside it so that blood would not splash and spur the place. Please do not harm the feelings of the animals such as sharpening our knives in front of them. Muslims celebrate 'Eid Adha' on the 10, 11,12 and 13th of Dhul-hijjah commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim a.s. (peace be upon him) to sacrifice his beloved son, Prophet Ismail a.s. as an act of obedience to Allah SWT. Muslims who can afford are encouraged to sacrifice their best domesticated animals such as cow, sheep and goat as symbol of Prophet Ibrahim’s a.s willingness to sacrifice his only son to his second wife, Hajar (Hagar).
In Malaysia, during the festive of 'Eid Adha', thousands of animals were slaughtered by individuals and various groups which organized the events such as masjids' committee members. The meat of the sacrificed animals were then distributed to the poor and needy nevertheless the rich too were given the meat as presents.
Regarding this aspect in a 'tazkirah' (Islamic lesson), I heard an 'ustaz' (religious teacher) saying sacrificing animals to God (Allah SWT) but distributing the meat to the needy display and prove the beauty of Islam.
"We sacrifice the animals just to please Allah SWT, but Allah does not need the meat. We give away the meat for the benefit of fellow human beings. It is such a beauty; compare it with some 'praying rituals' carry out by men of other beliefs where the items 'sacrificed' such as food and fruits such as oranges and apples are left to rot under trees or are being washed away in waters of rivers and seas," said the ustaz.
Regarding the act of sacrificing animals, Allah SWT says: "Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that (to) which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good." (Surah Al-Hajj 22: 37)
'Subhanallah' (Glory be to God), Allah SWT The Mighty Rich does not need the meat; is is meant to feed the poor. 'Alhamdulillah' nowadays Muslims of Malaysia have made themselves available almost everywhere at poor countries of the world to sacrifice animals there.
Troops of Malaysian Malaysian volunteers and workers are having their arms busy in countries such as Cambodia, Philippines (southern part of the country), Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand (southern part of it) and far away lands such as Sudan during the days of sacrificing the animals that is on the day of Eid Adha (10th Dhul-hijjah) and the days of Tashreek - 11, 12 and 13th of Dhul-hijjah.
Of course regarding the sacrificing of animals during Eid, the Holy Land is a place where hundred thousands of cows, camels and sheep are slaughtered; and during a hajj season a few years back, Saudi Arabia’s prestigious sacrificial meat utilization program sent the meat of one million heads of sheep and 10,000 cows and camels to the poor and needy in many poor countries, as well as Syrian refugees.
It was reported that its inception in 1983, the project has utilized and distributed meat of more than 16 million livestock, amongst the poor in Saudi Arabia and 27 other countries. Subhanallah, the sacrificing of animals by Muslims during Eid Adha truly benefited people through out the globe; it clearly points up to the 'beauty of Islam'.
While Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid Adha, some four million very, very lucky men and women have been chosen by Allah SWT to be His guests performing hajj in the Holy Land.
Pilgrims are recommended to recite this verse: "Labbayk, Allahumma, Labbayk, Labbayk, La Shareeka laka, Labbayk Innal-hamda wan n’mata laka wal-mulk, La shareekala" – (Here I am at Your service, O Lord here I am, No partner do You have, Here I am, Truly the praise and the favour is Yours and the dominion. No partner do You have).
For Muslims who are not performing hajj in their homelands, they are encouraged to perform recommended deeds during the first nine days of Dhul-hijjah such as fasting especially on ‘Wukuf’ day (on the 9th Dhul-Hijjah) and giving charity. Then during Eid Adha (10th Dhul-Hijjah) when Muslims perform ‘solat’ (Eid prayers) and the days of Tashreek (11, 12, and 13th Dhul-Hijjah) they are recommended to do the slaughter or ‘korban’ (sacrifice) animals (such as sheep and cow).
Scholars said one of the special characteristics that Allah has blessed the Muslim ummah; are the times of the year, during which, acts of obedience and worship are extremely advantageous. These times of the years are in fact gifts from the Allah that He has given to Muslim ummah. Allah announces mercy, blessings and presenting gift of great rewards during these seasons.
Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allah. said, "There are no days more loved to Allah for you to worship Him therein than the 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on Lailatul Qadr'.
Another virtue of the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah is that the Day of Arafah (9th day of Dhul-Hijjah). The Day of Arafah is a great day during which Allah frees many of His worshippers from the fire of Hell. The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said: "There is no day during which Allah frees more worshippers from the fire of Hell than during the day of Arafah."
'Korban' or sacrificing of animal has great great rewards in the eyes of Allah SWT. Sayidatina Aisha' reports that the Prophet s.a.w. said,"The son of Adam does not perform any actions on the day of sacrifice which is more pleasing to Allah than the shedding of blood. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgment with its horns, hair, and hooves. The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground." (Tirmizi).
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.
***
IT is fruit season again. Local fruits such as rambutans and durians are in abundance. On September 2nd upon entering the masjid in my kampung for Friday prayers, I saw two basket-full of rambutans being placed at its entrance.
Alhamdulillah (All praise belongs to God), a good resident had 'sadaqah' (donated) the fruits - obviously the person would like to share with fellow kampung folks the good things Allah SWT had blessed upon him/her.
After prayers, upon leaving the masjid, I was shocked to see 'kulit' (skin of) rambutans' strewn all over the place - astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness from Allah) when an ugly thought raced inside my mind - who ate the rambutans - human beings or 'monyet' (monkeys)?
Well dear readers; to 'sadaqah' fruits such as the rambutans was a good deed; but why not refine our doings...may I suggest to rambutans' donors at masjids in future to place several rubbish bins near their baskets of fruits with big sign boards with bold words like 'PLEASE DO NOT LITTER'. If people keep on messing the place, then they are truthly 'monyet'...err I mean in characters, again I seek forgiveness from Allah SWT.
After all, 'dirty people' are 'dirty people'; an 'ustaz' (religious teacher) once said perhaps only the law could teach them lessons. This is why enforcement of the law is very important. Some people are only afraid of being fined; if that is the case then why not we follow some strict societies like the Singaporeans who went to great length such as fining those who do not flush after using toilets?
To our enforcement authorities and men, please wake up...I seen people throwing rambutan's skin out of their cars on the roads. Luckily, they did not throw out durian's skin! Then there are drivers who stopped or slowed their cars only to put their used cup or bottled drinks on the roads. Many smokers are fond of throwing out their cigarette buts (still alight) out of their cars, posing danger to other road-users. They might caused fire if the cigarette buts fell on dried grass and 'lalangs'.
Our dirty habits of littering was obvious during the celebration of 'Merdeka' recently. It was rubbish wave after the event. After the cleaning job of DBKL and Alam Flora workers, tonnes of rubbish we seen deposited on the roadside. It was reported that the cleaning work involved 70 workers, took two days to finish and cost a whooping RM100,000! Celebrating 'Merdeka' was a good deed but of course littering was not!
Since this week we would be celebrating 'Eid Adha' let us have a thought about refining our deeds when sacrificing animals. The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said in a 'hadith' with the meaning: "Allah has decreed kindness or proficiency in all things. So when you kill, kill well, and when you slaughter, slaughter well. Let one of you sharpened his blade and spare suffering to the animals he slaughters." (Saheeh Muslim)
If we had to kill, for example kill insects such as cockroaches inside our kitchen, kill it well. When killing a lizard, perhaps we could do it with one blow - please do not torture the animal for example giving a life lizard to our cats for they would play if it. Cats are fond of playing...they do not kill their prey immediately.
During my 54 years existence in the world, I had witnessed several events of sacrificing (slaughtering) the animals...but sorry to say that I had never had the knife in my hands to slaughter any animal. But I must admit that some people do it in fine ways...for example before slaughtering the animals they dig holes so that blood would flow inside it so that blood would not splash and spur the place. Please do not harm the feelings of the animals such as sharpening our knives in front of them. Muslims celebrate 'Eid Adha' on the 10, 11,12 and 13th of Dhul-hijjah commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim a.s. (peace be upon him) to sacrifice his beloved son, Prophet Ismail a.s. as an act of obedience to Allah SWT. Muslims who can afford are encouraged to sacrifice their best domesticated animals such as cow, sheep and goat as symbol of Prophet Ibrahim’s a.s willingness to sacrifice his only son to his second wife, Hajar (Hagar).
In Malaysia, during the festive of 'Eid Adha', thousands of animals were slaughtered by individuals and various groups which organized the events such as masjids' committee members. The meat of the sacrificed animals were then distributed to the poor and needy nevertheless the rich too were given the meat as presents.
Regarding this aspect in a 'tazkirah' (Islamic lesson), I heard an 'ustaz' (religious teacher) saying sacrificing animals to God (Allah SWT) but distributing the meat to the needy display and prove the beauty of Islam.
"We sacrifice the animals just to please Allah SWT, but Allah does not need the meat. We give away the meat for the benefit of fellow human beings. It is such a beauty; compare it with some 'praying rituals' carry out by men of other beliefs where the items 'sacrificed' such as food and fruits such as oranges and apples are left to rot under trees or are being washed away in waters of rivers and seas," said the ustaz.
Regarding the act of sacrificing animals, Allah SWT says: "Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that (to) which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good." (Surah Al-Hajj 22: 37)
'Subhanallah' (Glory be to God), Allah SWT The Mighty Rich does not need the meat; is is meant to feed the poor. 'Alhamdulillah' nowadays Muslims of Malaysia have made themselves available almost everywhere at poor countries of the world to sacrifice animals there.
Troops of Malaysian Malaysian volunteers and workers are having their arms busy in countries such as Cambodia, Philippines (southern part of the country), Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand (southern part of it) and far away lands such as Sudan during the days of sacrificing the animals that is on the day of Eid Adha (10th Dhul-hijjah) and the days of Tashreek - 11, 12 and 13th of Dhul-hijjah.
Of course regarding the sacrificing of animals during Eid, the Holy Land is a place where hundred thousands of cows, camels and sheep are slaughtered; and during a hajj season a few years back, Saudi Arabia’s prestigious sacrificial meat utilization program sent the meat of one million heads of sheep and 10,000 cows and camels to the poor and needy in many poor countries, as well as Syrian refugees.
It was reported that its inception in 1983, the project has utilized and distributed meat of more than 16 million livestock, amongst the poor in Saudi Arabia and 27 other countries. Subhanallah, the sacrificing of animals by Muslims during Eid Adha truly benefited people through out the globe; it clearly points up to the 'beauty of Islam'.
While Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid Adha, some four million very, very lucky men and women have been chosen by Allah SWT to be His guests performing hajj in the Holy Land.
Pilgrims are recommended to recite this verse: "Labbayk, Allahumma, Labbayk, Labbayk, La Shareeka laka, Labbayk Innal-hamda wan n’mata laka wal-mulk, La shareekala" – (Here I am at Your service, O Lord here I am, No partner do You have, Here I am, Truly the praise and the favour is Yours and the dominion. No partner do You have).
For Muslims who are not performing hajj in their homelands, they are encouraged to perform recommended deeds during the first nine days of Dhul-hijjah such as fasting especially on ‘Wukuf’ day (on the 9th Dhul-Hijjah) and giving charity. Then during Eid Adha (10th Dhul-Hijjah) when Muslims perform ‘solat’ (Eid prayers) and the days of Tashreek (11, 12, and 13th Dhul-Hijjah) they are recommended to do the slaughter or ‘korban’ (sacrifice) animals (such as sheep and cow).
Scholars said one of the special characteristics that Allah has blessed the Muslim ummah; are the times of the year, during which, acts of obedience and worship are extremely advantageous. These times of the years are in fact gifts from the Allah that He has given to Muslim ummah. Allah announces mercy, blessings and presenting gift of great rewards during these seasons.
Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allah. said, "There are no days more loved to Allah for you to worship Him therein than the 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on Lailatul Qadr'.
Another virtue of the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah is that the Day of Arafah (9th day of Dhul-Hijjah). The Day of Arafah is a great day during which Allah frees many of His worshippers from the fire of Hell. The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said: "There is no day during which Allah frees more worshippers from the fire of Hell than during the day of Arafah."
'Korban' or sacrificing of animal has great great rewards in the eyes of Allah SWT. Sayidatina Aisha' reports that the Prophet s.a.w. said,"The son of Adam does not perform any actions on the day of sacrifice which is more pleasing to Allah than the shedding of blood. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgment with its horns, hair, and hooves. The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground." (Tirmizi).
September 16, 2016
Pasar Melaka mendap; jutaan ringgit lebur...
***
Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
Renungan
"Dan janganlah kamu menghampiri zina, sesungguhnya zina itu adalah satu perbuatan yang keji dan satu jalan yang jahat yang membawa kerosakan." - Maksud Ayat al-Quran Surah al-Israa': 32
***
PASAR Besar Melaka Sentral di Peringgit boleh runtuh pada bila-bila masa disebabkan bangunan itu tidak mampu bertahan lama berikutan keadaan struktur asasnya yang semakin mendap...demikian lapor sebuah akhbar harian nasional baru-baru ini yang memetik laporan Institut Kerja Raya Malaysia (Ikram).Bangunan pasar hampir runtuh ini bukan 'cerita pembangkang' tetapi diakui sendiri pemimpin pemerintah yang cepat-cepat memindahkan gerai 342 peniaga ke tapak sementara di depan (parkir) pasar tersebut. Kini, khabarnya mereka akan dipindahkan ke lokasi lain di sekitar bandar raya Melaka.Nasib peniaga dan pengguna (orang ramai) satu hal tetapi ada perkara perlu diketengahkan dan diketahui awam adalah berjuta-juta ringgit wang rakyat telah dileburkan untuk membina kompleks Melaka Sentral (termasuk pasar) yang selepas beberapa tahun digunakan, mengalami pelbagai kerosakan teruk dan akhirnya diakui pihak berkuasa boleh runtuh pada bila-bila masa!Sebagai pengguna tetap Melaka Sentral sejak ia dirasmikan Perdana Menteri (kini bekas) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pada 14 Mei 2004, saya menyimpan sedikit sebanyak maklumat mengenai kompleks ini yang merangkumi stesen bas, bazar dan pasar besar. Ia terletak di tanah tebus guna seluas 46.6 ekar dan dibangunkan dengan kos RM53 juta. Ada pihak mendakwa ia dibina dengan kos RM61 juta.Kerosakan di kompleks berusia kira-kira 11 tahun ini bukan perkara baru. Dulu bangunan pasarnya pun didapati tidak selamat tetapi diperbaiki dan digunakan kembali. Demikian juga lantai stesen bas yang mendap, sudah diperbaiki.Timbul persoalan mengapa wang rakyat bernilai berjuta-juta ringgit dihabiskan untuk membina kompleks kegunaan awam yang cepat benar menjadi rosak dan kemungkinan besar tidak dapat digunakan seperti bangunan pasar itu. Apa, adakah wang rakyat boleh dibelanjakan sebegitu rupa tetapi hasil pulangan diterima adalah seperti apa disaksikan hari ini...bangunan retak dan boleh runtuh bila-bila masa?Tidak terfikirkah pemimpin dan pemaju bahawa tapak Melaka Sentral itu sebenarnya tanah paya yang belum 'cukup matang' untuk dibangunkan kompleks yang gah itu.Dulu (pada 2010), platform bas yang mendap dan rosak teruk terpaksa diperbaiki secara besar-besaran selepas lantainya merekah teruk dengan jubinnya sudah tersembul dan pecah di sesetengah tempat.Demikianlah banyak wang, mungkin berjuta-juta ringgit 'dileburkan' untuk membaiki stesen bas dan bangunan pasar yang rosak teruk di Melaka Sentral. Bagi saya yang kerap berurusan di Melaka Sentral, ia bagaikan 'rumah kedua' saya.Jika bangunan itu diibaratkan rumah saya, tentulah saya naik darah kerana selepas habis puluhan dan ratusan ribu ringgit, rumah saya sudah rosak sedemikian rupa sedangkan ia baru saja digunakan. Tentu saja saya akan marahkan pemaju dan kontraktornya tidak akan memanggil mereka untuk menjayakan lagi projek-projek saya. Ya, Melaka Sentral adalah bagai ‘rumah’ saya. Saya ‘sayangkannya’, tak teringin saya harta rakyat bernilai jutaan ringgit ini diperbuat sedemikian rupa. Seluruh rakyat, terutama orang Melaka perlu sayangkan Melaka Sentral kerana ia dibina atas duit jerih rakyat. Mereka perlu marah kerana bangunan kesayangan mereka sudah jadi sedemikian rupa. Tidak marahkah anda jika rumah anda sudah rosak selepas baru saja anda duduki sedangkan duit pinjaman bank dan sebagainya masih banyak lagi berbaki untuk dibayar saban bulan? Penat anda belum habis, rehat anda belum terasa puas tetapi tempat kediaman hampir menyembah bumi!
Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
Renungan
"Dan janganlah kamu menghampiri zina, sesungguhnya zina itu adalah satu perbuatan yang keji dan satu jalan yang jahat yang membawa kerosakan." - Maksud Ayat al-Quran Surah al-Israa': 32
***
PASAR Besar Melaka Sentral di Peringgit boleh runtuh pada bila-bila masa disebabkan bangunan itu tidak mampu bertahan lama berikutan keadaan struktur asasnya yang semakin mendap...demikian lapor sebuah akhbar harian nasional baru-baru ini yang memetik laporan Institut Kerja Raya Malaysia (Ikram).Bangunan pasar hampir runtuh ini bukan 'cerita pembangkang' tetapi diakui sendiri pemimpin pemerintah yang cepat-cepat memindahkan gerai 342 peniaga ke tapak sementara di depan (parkir) pasar tersebut. Kini, khabarnya mereka akan dipindahkan ke lokasi lain di sekitar bandar raya Melaka.Nasib peniaga dan pengguna (orang ramai) satu hal tetapi ada perkara perlu diketengahkan dan diketahui awam adalah berjuta-juta ringgit wang rakyat telah dileburkan untuk membina kompleks Melaka Sentral (termasuk pasar) yang selepas beberapa tahun digunakan, mengalami pelbagai kerosakan teruk dan akhirnya diakui pihak berkuasa boleh runtuh pada bila-bila masa!Sebagai pengguna tetap Melaka Sentral sejak ia dirasmikan Perdana Menteri (kini bekas) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pada 14 Mei 2004, saya menyimpan sedikit sebanyak maklumat mengenai kompleks ini yang merangkumi stesen bas, bazar dan pasar besar. Ia terletak di tanah tebus guna seluas 46.6 ekar dan dibangunkan dengan kos RM53 juta. Ada pihak mendakwa ia dibina dengan kos RM61 juta.Kerosakan di kompleks berusia kira-kira 11 tahun ini bukan perkara baru. Dulu bangunan pasarnya pun didapati tidak selamat tetapi diperbaiki dan digunakan kembali. Demikian juga lantai stesen bas yang mendap, sudah diperbaiki.Timbul persoalan mengapa wang rakyat bernilai berjuta-juta ringgit dihabiskan untuk membina kompleks kegunaan awam yang cepat benar menjadi rosak dan kemungkinan besar tidak dapat digunakan seperti bangunan pasar itu. Apa, adakah wang rakyat boleh dibelanjakan sebegitu rupa tetapi hasil pulangan diterima adalah seperti apa disaksikan hari ini...bangunan retak dan boleh runtuh bila-bila masa?Tidak terfikirkah pemimpin dan pemaju bahawa tapak Melaka Sentral itu sebenarnya tanah paya yang belum 'cukup matang' untuk dibangunkan kompleks yang gah itu.Dulu (pada 2010), platform bas yang mendap dan rosak teruk terpaksa diperbaiki secara besar-besaran selepas lantainya merekah teruk dengan jubinnya sudah tersembul dan pecah di sesetengah tempat.Demikianlah banyak wang, mungkin berjuta-juta ringgit 'dileburkan' untuk membaiki stesen bas dan bangunan pasar yang rosak teruk di Melaka Sentral. Bagi saya yang kerap berurusan di Melaka Sentral, ia bagaikan 'rumah kedua' saya.Jika bangunan itu diibaratkan rumah saya, tentulah saya naik darah kerana selepas habis puluhan dan ratusan ribu ringgit, rumah saya sudah rosak sedemikian rupa sedangkan ia baru saja digunakan. Tentu saja saya akan marahkan pemaju dan kontraktornya tidak akan memanggil mereka untuk menjayakan lagi projek-projek saya. Ya, Melaka Sentral adalah bagai ‘rumah’ saya. Saya ‘sayangkannya’, tak teringin saya harta rakyat bernilai jutaan ringgit ini diperbuat sedemikian rupa. Seluruh rakyat, terutama orang Melaka perlu sayangkan Melaka Sentral kerana ia dibina atas duit jerih rakyat. Mereka perlu marah kerana bangunan kesayangan mereka sudah jadi sedemikian rupa. Tidak marahkah anda jika rumah anda sudah rosak selepas baru saja anda duduki sedangkan duit pinjaman bank dan sebagainya masih banyak lagi berbaki untuk dibayar saban bulan? Penat anda belum habis, rehat anda belum terasa puas tetapi tempat kediaman hampir menyembah bumi!
September 14, 2016
Kematian Karimov dan kenangan di Uzbekistan...
DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. Renungan"Kalau sekiranya perempuan ahli syurga (termasuk bidadari) datang kepada penduduk bumi, nescaya akan disinarinya dunia antara langit dan bumi dan terpenuhinya dengan bau harum semerbak. Sesungguhnya tutup kepalanya lebih baik daripada dunia dan isinya." (HR. Bukhari) SELEPAS empayar Soviet Union terlerai membawa kepada pembentukan 15 republik merdeka pada 1991, saya berpeluang menjejakkan kaki di beberapa republik itu; salah satu daripadanya Uzbekistan yang terletak di Asia Tengah.Ketika itu Uzbekistan 'berpresidenkan' Islam Karimov, saya sungguh bertuah kerana dapat mewancara beliau di ibu kota Tashkent. Karimov yang tertarik dengan pendekatan pemerintah Malaysia membangunkan negara, sudah beberapa kali ke Kuala Lumpur. Sekalipun di banyak negara pemimpin tertinggi sudah bertukar tangan, Karimov tetap di singgahsana kuasa sehingga beliau diumumkan meninggal dunia pada Jumaat, 2 September lalu pada usia 78 tahun setelah memerintah selama 27 tahun!Karimov yang mewarisi kuasa dari era Soviet, terkenal dengan pemerintahan kuku besi (termasuk 'melenyapkan' mereka yang didakwa militan Islam malah PBB sendiri menyifatkan penyeksaan dilakukan Karimov terhadap musuhnya sebagai bersistematik), disemadikan di kawasan pemakaman Shah-i-Zinda, Samarkand (kampung halamannya). Kompleks pemakaman Shah-i-Zinda ini yang bermaksud 'Raja Yang Terus Hidup' mengandungi bangunan lama zaman berzaman kini menjadi antara tarikan utama pelancong ke Samarkand.Shah-i-Zinda ini dikatakan mempunyai kaitan dengan kisah Khussam ibn Abbas, sepupu Rasulullah s.a.w. yang terkorban di bumi yang kini dikenali negara Uzbekistan dalam usaha beliau mengembangkan Islam. Sekalipun Khussam sudah syahid dan dipercayai dikebumikan di pemakaman Shah-i-Zinda, bagi sesetengah penduduk, dia tetap hidup di hati mereka. Dialah 'Raja Yang Terus Hidup'!Jika Khussam ibn Abbas terus hidup di hati penduduk Uzbekistan, apakah Islam Karimov sebagai presiden pertama pasca merdeka juga demikian? Wallahu A'lam Bishawab...hanya Allah Yang Maha Mengetahui.Dengan kematian Islam Karimov yang menyebabkan nama Uzbekistan disebut-sebut di persada dunia, saya teringat tulisan lama saya mengenai kunjungan ke negara yang kini sudah menjadi salah satu destinasi kunjungan popular pelancong Malaysia.Antara lain saya menulis: "Ketika menziarahi makam Khussam ibn Abbas di Samarkand, terbayanglah di kotak fikiran saya mengenai pengorbanan sepupu Rasulullah s.a.w. ini. Dari Tanah Arab, Khussam menggembara beribu-ribu kilometer meninggalkan tanah air untuk menyampaikan seruan Islam di Khurasan (kini Uzbekistan).
"Beliau bukan menaiki kapal terbang seperti kebiasaan kita hari ini, tetapi menggunakan kudrat binatang seperti kuda dan unta. Jika kita yang menaiki pesawat pun kadang-kadang tidak tahan dengan cabaran menggembara, bayangkanlah dugaan yang dihadapi oleh Khussam. Sepupu Rasulullah s.a.w. akhirnya syahid dan dimakamkan di bumi Khurasan.
"Bukhara dan Samarkand adalah gambaran kebesaran Islam zaman silam. Nama-nama masyhur dalam dunia Islam seperti Ibnu Sina, Abu Nawas, Imam Bukhari dan Muslim adalah sinonim dengan rantau ini. Penakluk agung seperti Timurlane yang mempunyai empayar yang terbentang luas dari pinggir Eropah ke China juga memusatkan pemerintahannya di Samarkand.
"Menyelami pengorbanan Khussam dan Saad ibn Waqqas (seorang sahabat Rasulullah s.a.w.) yang pergi lebih jauh lagi (negara China) untuk menyampaikan seruan yang dibawa oleh Nabi Muhammad s.a.w., membuatkan saya insaf. Bagaimana Khussam dan Saad melakukannya?
"Di sini saya lihat buminya berpadang pasir manakala gunung-ganangnya diselimuti salji. Apabila angin bertiup, ia begitu kencang menyebabkan tubuh dicengkam kesejukan sehingga tulang. Bagaimana mereka merentasi halangan ini?"
Subhanallah, nama Khussam ibn Abbas abadi di bumi Khurasan (Uzbekistan); dia menjadi 'Raja Yang Terus Hidup' sekalipun sudah meninggal dunia lebih 1,000 tahun lalu. Sekalipun bumi Khurasan 'dijarah' pemerintah zalim silih berganti termasuk komunis, 'yang baik tetap terpelihara kebaikan dan namanya'! Khussam ibn Abbas sudah membuktikannya, kita pula bagaimana?
"Beliau bukan menaiki kapal terbang seperti kebiasaan kita hari ini, tetapi menggunakan kudrat binatang seperti kuda dan unta. Jika kita yang menaiki pesawat pun kadang-kadang tidak tahan dengan cabaran menggembara, bayangkanlah dugaan yang dihadapi oleh Khussam. Sepupu Rasulullah s.a.w. akhirnya syahid dan dimakamkan di bumi Khurasan.
"Bukhara dan Samarkand adalah gambaran kebesaran Islam zaman silam. Nama-nama masyhur dalam dunia Islam seperti Ibnu Sina, Abu Nawas, Imam Bukhari dan Muslim adalah sinonim dengan rantau ini. Penakluk agung seperti Timurlane yang mempunyai empayar yang terbentang luas dari pinggir Eropah ke China juga memusatkan pemerintahannya di Samarkand.
"Menyelami pengorbanan Khussam dan Saad ibn Waqqas (seorang sahabat Rasulullah s.a.w.) yang pergi lebih jauh lagi (negara China) untuk menyampaikan seruan yang dibawa oleh Nabi Muhammad s.a.w., membuatkan saya insaf. Bagaimana Khussam dan Saad melakukannya?
"Di sini saya lihat buminya berpadang pasir manakala gunung-ganangnya diselimuti salji. Apabila angin bertiup, ia begitu kencang menyebabkan tubuh dicengkam kesejukan sehingga tulang. Bagaimana mereka merentasi halangan ini?"
Subhanallah, nama Khussam ibn Abbas abadi di bumi Khurasan (Uzbekistan); dia menjadi 'Raja Yang Terus Hidup' sekalipun sudah meninggal dunia lebih 1,000 tahun lalu. Sekalipun bumi Khurasan 'dijarah' pemerintah zalim silih berganti termasuk komunis, 'yang baik tetap terpelihara kebaikan dan namanya'! Khussam ibn Abbas sudah membuktikannya, kita pula bagaimana?
September 8, 2016
'Merdeka', hajj and unity...
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.
***
SPORTS, food and humour bind us, said Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his live 59th National Day (Merdeka) address to the nation.
The Prime Minister was right in saying the three things that could united us as Malaysian but an 'ustaz' during his 'tazkirah' (lesson) which I followed recently said that to achieve total unity among us, we had to be united in 'iman' (faith) first.
Be united in 'iman' and only after that perhaps we could look for 'extra or temporary factors' such as through sports, food and humour as pursed by the PM. Sports without 'iman' would not bring us no where, perhaps in this world we would have all the glitter and glamour (perhaps won gold at the Olympics), but is that our aim in life; the question is what are our 'chances' in the Hereafter?
How could sports could bind us where certain disciplines such as gymnastics, beach volleyball and swimming forced women participant to be in a 'one or two piece outfits' that 'bares all'...nowadays even 'burqinis' are ban on beaches of some countries...all these divide us because human beings (the powerful) tend to instill (force) their way of life to others...
Only with 'iman' we could be united in propagating the truth and of course we could not be united in propagating sinful acts and ill activities. In the Qur'an, Allah SWT says: "...And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty." (Al-Ma'idah; 5:2)
Scholars said, Allah has enjoined upon us to cooperate in righteousness and piety with everybody. What matters is that our common endeavour is a good one. He has forbidden us from cooperating with people in sin and transgression, regardless of who they are. In this way, Allah has defined for us the limits of cooperation, but He has not placed restraints on who we can cooperate with.
With 'iman' intact in our hearts, we could utilize fully 'the extra and temporary factors' such as sports, food and humour; they could be steered to be in line with our 'iman' thus we would be rewarded both in this world and Hereafter.
Allah told us to be successful in both worlds; we pleaded to Him with this du'a: 'Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar' (Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire." (2:201)
In Islam all our actions are considered 'ibadah' (acts of worship) and would be rewarded by Allah The Greatest; be in small matters such as going to the toilet or of highly looked upon jobs such as administrating departments to governing states or countries. But one important aspect must be looked upon and that is our 'niat' (intention); if our 'niat' is in line with the teaching of Islam then we would be rewarded otherwise, our deeds would be wasted.
Well, if doing 'small things' such as going to the toilet could be an 'ibadah', then what could be said about 'bigger and more important things' such as involving in sports and celebrating one’s country’s independence day or 'Hari Merdeka'. It is also an 'ibadah' if we fulfill the requirements stipulated in Islam.
Let us look at what renowned Muslims have said about 'merdeka'. At the height of the conquest of Persia, the Muslim general, Sa'ad ibn Waqqas carried out Caliph Umar Al-Khattab's will and sent to Rustum (or Rustam), the Persian great general, a number of his companions lead by Asim ibn Amir to call on him to follow Islam and Allah's path.
The conversation between them and the Persian leader lasted long. Finally they ended their talk by Asim telling him, "Allah has chosen us to turn whom He chooses of His creatures from paganism to monotheism, from the narrowness of life to its freedom, from the ruler's injustice to Islam's fairness. Whoever accepts our offer we will leave him alone and will refrain from hurting him. Whoever fights us, we will fight him until we fulfill Allah's promise."
The points elaborated by Asim to Rustum are looked upon as the meaning of 'merdeka' (freedom). It was regarding 'transforming' people from paganism to monotheism, from the limitations of life to freedom and from a ruler's injustice to the fairness in Islam.
In Islam, each of us is equal in the eyes of Allah SWT. There is no difference between a rich and a poor man. Yes, only 'takwa' (fear of Allah) differentiates people for He says in the Qur'an: "O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware." - (Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 13)
The celebration of the National Day (August 31st) and 'Hari Malaysia' (September 16th) this year coincided with the occasion of Eid Al-Adha; this year it falls on Monday, September 12. So to dear readers, Eid Mubarak.
According to the Muslim calendar (the Hijra year), Eid Al-Adha falls on the 10th Dhul-hijjah; the blessed month of Hajj. For this year, Dhul-hijjah, the 12th month of the Muslim calendar of Hijra began on Saturday, September 3, 2016. This is the month Muslim perform hajj, with its peak when they do ‘wukuf’ (to stop or gather) in Arafah (or Arafat) on the 9th Dhul-hijjah (Sunday, 11st September).
Wukuf, being the highest 'rukun' (component) of hajj must be rendered; without which hajj does not take place. The requirement is the presence in Arafat, regardless of whether the pilgrim is riding, walking, sitting or moving. In Arafat one is to spend the afternoon from dhuhr (midday) to maghrib (sunset) prayer times making du’as (supplications) and repenting to leave Arafat with all of one's sins forgiven.
For Muslims who are not performing hajj in their homelands, they are encouraged to perform recommended deeds during the first 10 days of Dhul-hijjah such as fasting especially on ‘Wukuf’ day and giving charity. Then during Eid Al-Adha (10th Dhul-Hijjah) when Muslims perform ‘solat’ (Eid prayers) and the days of Tashreek (11, 12, and 13th Dhul-Hijjah) they are recommended to do the slaughter or ‘korban’ (sacrifice) animals (such as sheep and cow).
Regarding the hajj, this year about four million Muslims from all corners of the world were expected in the Holy Land to perform the hajj manasik (rites and ceremonies performed at hajj). After Arafah, the pilgrims would then proceed towards Muzdalifah and pick up pebbles there to be used when stoning the Pillar of Aqabah or Qubra on Eid Adha (10th Dhul-Hijjah).
In Mina, they are required to stay for three nights where they will stone the three ‘jamrahs’ beginning with the first Pillar (i.e. the one which is furthest from Makkah), followed by the middle Pillar and lastly the Pillar of Aqabah.
The pilgrims will also shave their heads or cut their hair and then proceed to Makkah to perform the Tawaf Al-Ifadah (circling the Kaabah seven times which is an essential part of Hajj) and then perform Sa’y (walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa). After completing their hajj, pilgrims fulfill their days by performing prayers and 'tawaf' in the Grand Masjid of Makkah (Masjidil-Haram) before going home.
Doing reflections about the activities of hajj helps us to understand why it was concluded that only by 'iman' could united people. Imagine, the 'azan' (call of prayers) made 4,000,000 (four million) people (according to Wikipedia) went rushing to Masjidiharam (Haram Mosque), and then they were in deep concentration, prostrating to Allah SWT - all the actions of the 'imam' were followed by the million of congregators...where else in the planet could we see this demonstration of united hearts, souls and bodies?
Subhanalllah, only 'iman' could unites people...
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.
***
SPORTS, food and humour bind us, said Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his live 59th National Day (Merdeka) address to the nation.
The Prime Minister was right in saying the three things that could united us as Malaysian but an 'ustaz' during his 'tazkirah' (lesson) which I followed recently said that to achieve total unity among us, we had to be united in 'iman' (faith) first.
Be united in 'iman' and only after that perhaps we could look for 'extra or temporary factors' such as through sports, food and humour as pursed by the PM. Sports without 'iman' would not bring us no where, perhaps in this world we would have all the glitter and glamour (perhaps won gold at the Olympics), but is that our aim in life; the question is what are our 'chances' in the Hereafter?
How could sports could bind us where certain disciplines such as gymnastics, beach volleyball and swimming forced women participant to be in a 'one or two piece outfits' that 'bares all'...nowadays even 'burqinis' are ban on beaches of some countries...all these divide us because human beings (the powerful) tend to instill (force) their way of life to others...
Only with 'iman' we could be united in propagating the truth and of course we could not be united in propagating sinful acts and ill activities. In the Qur'an, Allah SWT says: "...And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty." (Al-Ma'idah; 5:2)
Scholars said, Allah has enjoined upon us to cooperate in righteousness and piety with everybody. What matters is that our common endeavour is a good one. He has forbidden us from cooperating with people in sin and transgression, regardless of who they are. In this way, Allah has defined for us the limits of cooperation, but He has not placed restraints on who we can cooperate with.
With 'iman' intact in our hearts, we could utilize fully 'the extra and temporary factors' such as sports, food and humour; they could be steered to be in line with our 'iman' thus we would be rewarded both in this world and Hereafter.
Allah told us to be successful in both worlds; we pleaded to Him with this du'a: 'Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar' (Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire." (2:201)
In Islam all our actions are considered 'ibadah' (acts of worship) and would be rewarded by Allah The Greatest; be in small matters such as going to the toilet or of highly looked upon jobs such as administrating departments to governing states or countries. But one important aspect must be looked upon and that is our 'niat' (intention); if our 'niat' is in line with the teaching of Islam then we would be rewarded otherwise, our deeds would be wasted.
Well, if doing 'small things' such as going to the toilet could be an 'ibadah', then what could be said about 'bigger and more important things' such as involving in sports and celebrating one’s country’s independence day or 'Hari Merdeka'. It is also an 'ibadah' if we fulfill the requirements stipulated in Islam.
Let us look at what renowned Muslims have said about 'merdeka'. At the height of the conquest of Persia, the Muslim general, Sa'ad ibn Waqqas carried out Caliph Umar Al-Khattab's will and sent to Rustum (or Rustam), the Persian great general, a number of his companions lead by Asim ibn Amir to call on him to follow Islam and Allah's path.
The conversation between them and the Persian leader lasted long. Finally they ended their talk by Asim telling him, "Allah has chosen us to turn whom He chooses of His creatures from paganism to monotheism, from the narrowness of life to its freedom, from the ruler's injustice to Islam's fairness. Whoever accepts our offer we will leave him alone and will refrain from hurting him. Whoever fights us, we will fight him until we fulfill Allah's promise."
The points elaborated by Asim to Rustum are looked upon as the meaning of 'merdeka' (freedom). It was regarding 'transforming' people from paganism to monotheism, from the limitations of life to freedom and from a ruler's injustice to the fairness in Islam.
In Islam, each of us is equal in the eyes of Allah SWT. There is no difference between a rich and a poor man. Yes, only 'takwa' (fear of Allah) differentiates people for He says in the Qur'an: "O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware." - (Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 13)
The celebration of the National Day (August 31st) and 'Hari Malaysia' (September 16th) this year coincided with the occasion of Eid Al-Adha; this year it falls on Monday, September 12. So to dear readers, Eid Mubarak.
According to the Muslim calendar (the Hijra year), Eid Al-Adha falls on the 10th Dhul-hijjah; the blessed month of Hajj. For this year, Dhul-hijjah, the 12th month of the Muslim calendar of Hijra began on Saturday, September 3, 2016. This is the month Muslim perform hajj, with its peak when they do ‘wukuf’ (to stop or gather) in Arafah (or Arafat) on the 9th Dhul-hijjah (Sunday, 11st September).
Wukuf, being the highest 'rukun' (component) of hajj must be rendered; without which hajj does not take place. The requirement is the presence in Arafat, regardless of whether the pilgrim is riding, walking, sitting or moving. In Arafat one is to spend the afternoon from dhuhr (midday) to maghrib (sunset) prayer times making du’as (supplications) and repenting to leave Arafat with all of one's sins forgiven.
For Muslims who are not performing hajj in their homelands, they are encouraged to perform recommended deeds during the first 10 days of Dhul-hijjah such as fasting especially on ‘Wukuf’ day and giving charity. Then during Eid Al-Adha (10th Dhul-Hijjah) when Muslims perform ‘solat’ (Eid prayers) and the days of Tashreek (11, 12, and 13th Dhul-Hijjah) they are recommended to do the slaughter or ‘korban’ (sacrifice) animals (such as sheep and cow).
Regarding the hajj, this year about four million Muslims from all corners of the world were expected in the Holy Land to perform the hajj manasik (rites and ceremonies performed at hajj). After Arafah, the pilgrims would then proceed towards Muzdalifah and pick up pebbles there to be used when stoning the Pillar of Aqabah or Qubra on Eid Adha (10th Dhul-Hijjah).
In Mina, they are required to stay for three nights where they will stone the three ‘jamrahs’ beginning with the first Pillar (i.e. the one which is furthest from Makkah), followed by the middle Pillar and lastly the Pillar of Aqabah.
The pilgrims will also shave their heads or cut their hair and then proceed to Makkah to perform the Tawaf Al-Ifadah (circling the Kaabah seven times which is an essential part of Hajj) and then perform Sa’y (walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa). After completing their hajj, pilgrims fulfill their days by performing prayers and 'tawaf' in the Grand Masjid of Makkah (Masjidil-Haram) before going home.
Doing reflections about the activities of hajj helps us to understand why it was concluded that only by 'iman' could united people. Imagine, the 'azan' (call of prayers) made 4,000,000 (four million) people (according to Wikipedia) went rushing to Masjidiharam (Haram Mosque), and then they were in deep concentration, prostrating to Allah SWT - all the actions of the 'imam' were followed by the million of congregators...where else in the planet could we see this demonstration of united hearts, souls and bodies?
Subhanalllah, only 'iman' could unites people...
September 7, 2016
Kerang RM9 sekilo; rakyat telan air liur...
Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
Renungan
"Dan Aku tidak menciptakan jin dan manusia melainkan supaya mereka menyembah-Ku." (Maksud Ayat 56 Surah Adz-Zariyat)
***
DI ambang Hari Merdeka, izinkan penulis sebagai rakyat biasa 'nak goyat' (mahu beritahu) pemimpin bahawa kehidupan semakin sukar...harga barangan amat tinggi...misalnya percaya tak wahai tuan puan harga kerang yang 10 tahun lalu RM1.50 hari ini hampir RM10 sekilogram!
Baru-baru ini tergamam 'teman' membeli kerang, harganya RM9 sekilogram. Apabila membeli kerang sekilogram, ia hanya cukup untuk 'diratah' sekeluarga, tidak dapat untuk dimasak sambal tumis. Kalau mahu buat sambal, kena beli dua kilogram...sudah hampir RM20. Ooh, tidak dapat dibayangkan untuk makan sambal kerang sekeluarga kita perlu habis RM20; itu harga kerang saja, bagaimana dengan bahan lain seperti cili, asam garam, minyak dan sebagainya?
"Teman' amat-amati di kedai, ada pelanggan memegang-megang bungkusan plastik kerang sambil bertanyakan harga kepada pekedai. Apabila pekedai jawab RM9 sekilo, mereka tak jadi beli. Seorang pembeli 'teman' dengar mengeluh..."nampaknya telan air liur sajalah!"
Demikianlah harga barangan sekarang termasuk keperluan dapur seperti bahan mentah makanan sangat mahal. Jika kerang sudah RM9 sekilogram, udang boleh mencecah RM30 sekilo, daging lembu tempatan RM30 manakala ikan kembung dan cencaru yang sinonim dengan rakyat marhaen boleh meningkat sehingga RM12 sekilogram!
Sekalipun ada pihak mendakwa pengeluaran hasil kerang merosot disebabkan alam sekitar yang rosak sebagai punca melambungnya harga hidupan laut itu, kita tertanya-tanya mengapa hal ini boleh terjadi.
Persoalannya, apa pemimpin buat tentang pencemaran laut, kemusnahan hutan paya bakau dan yang paling mengejutkan penyeludupan benih hidupan laut ke negara jiran yang gagal dibanteras pihak berkuasa. Apabila pemimpin 'gagal', maka rakyat menanggung bahananya, kehidupan mereka semakin susah walaupun negara ini diuar-uarkan kaya raya di seantero dunia!
Dalam membincangkan soal makanan ini, sedarlah wahai pemimpin (termasuk di singgahsana kuasa dengan wang masuk ke akuan peribadi berbilion-bilion ringgit) bahawa bagi keluarga miskin dan sederhana, sebahagian besar daripada pendapatan mereka (mungkin 60 peratus) digunakan untuk menampung keperluan asas ini.
Misalnya jika pendapatan isi rumah sebuah keluarga dengan lapan anak adalah RM1,000 sebulan, mungkin RM600 daripadanya digunakan untuk membeli makanan. Namun semakin tinggi perolehan rakyat, semakin kuranglah peratusan pendapatan mereka digunakan untuk membeli makanan. Misalnya sebuah keluarga yang terdiri daripada suami isteri dan enam anak dengan pendapatan isi rumah RM10,000 sebulan, jika mereka memperuntukan RM1,000 sekalipun untuk membeli makanan, itu hanya 10 peratus daripada pendapatan mereka.
Berdasarkan hujah ini, orang miskin perlu berhati-hati dalam perbelanjaan mereka hatta dalam membeli makanan sekalipun apatah lagi pada zaman sukar sekarang ini. Misalnya jika RM600 sudah diperuntukkan untuk membeli makanan, sedikit kenaikan dalam harga barangan keperluan akan menjejaskan kehidupan rumah tangga mereka. Jika berlaku peningkatan enam peratus (misalnya GST) dalam kenaikan harga barang, mereka sudah 'menggelupur'. Bertambah sukarlah mereka hendak menjelaskan bayaran lain seperti sewa rumah, perbelanjaan sekolah anak-anak dan tambang pengangkutan.
Kebanyakan pemimpin tidak pernah terbabit secara terus membeli barangan keperluan seperti gula kopi, asam belacan dan ikan ayam (tidak pernah ke pasar). Jika ditanya sekilogram harga beras pun mereka tidak tahu, apatah lagi barangan lain seperti kerang yang sudah mencecah RM9, mungkin mereka tahu harga kangkung 'yang semakin menurun'.
Kumpulan paling arif tentang harga barangan keperluan adalah suri rumah. Biasanya si suami akan menyerahkan perbelanjaan dapur kepada si isteri; katakan RM600 sebulan seperti contoh dinyatakan. Daripada RM600 diasingkan kepada pembelian barangan kering (seperti gas, minyak dan asam garam) sebanyak RM300 itu manakala RM300 lagi untuk barangan basah seperti ikan dan sayur yang puratanya mereka hanya mampu berbelanja RM10 setiap hari. Apa yang dapat dibeli dengan RM10? Kasihan, pening suri rumah memikirkan hal ini. Kerang saja sudah RM9 sekilo, jelas dia tidak mampu membelinya...itulah rakyat dalam kebanyakan kes boleh telan air liur saja!
Renungan
"Dan Aku tidak menciptakan jin dan manusia melainkan supaya mereka menyembah-Ku." (Maksud Ayat 56 Surah Adz-Zariyat)
***
DI ambang Hari Merdeka, izinkan penulis sebagai rakyat biasa 'nak goyat' (mahu beritahu) pemimpin bahawa kehidupan semakin sukar...harga barangan amat tinggi...misalnya percaya tak wahai tuan puan harga kerang yang 10 tahun lalu RM1.50 hari ini hampir RM10 sekilogram!
Baru-baru ini tergamam 'teman' membeli kerang, harganya RM9 sekilogram. Apabila membeli kerang sekilogram, ia hanya cukup untuk 'diratah' sekeluarga, tidak dapat untuk dimasak sambal tumis. Kalau mahu buat sambal, kena beli dua kilogram...sudah hampir RM20. Ooh, tidak dapat dibayangkan untuk makan sambal kerang sekeluarga kita perlu habis RM20; itu harga kerang saja, bagaimana dengan bahan lain seperti cili, asam garam, minyak dan sebagainya?
"Teman' amat-amati di kedai, ada pelanggan memegang-megang bungkusan plastik kerang sambil bertanyakan harga kepada pekedai. Apabila pekedai jawab RM9 sekilo, mereka tak jadi beli. Seorang pembeli 'teman' dengar mengeluh..."nampaknya telan air liur sajalah!"
Demikianlah harga barangan sekarang termasuk keperluan dapur seperti bahan mentah makanan sangat mahal. Jika kerang sudah RM9 sekilogram, udang boleh mencecah RM30 sekilo, daging lembu tempatan RM30 manakala ikan kembung dan cencaru yang sinonim dengan rakyat marhaen boleh meningkat sehingga RM12 sekilogram!
Sekalipun ada pihak mendakwa pengeluaran hasil kerang merosot disebabkan alam sekitar yang rosak sebagai punca melambungnya harga hidupan laut itu, kita tertanya-tanya mengapa hal ini boleh terjadi.
Persoalannya, apa pemimpin buat tentang pencemaran laut, kemusnahan hutan paya bakau dan yang paling mengejutkan penyeludupan benih hidupan laut ke negara jiran yang gagal dibanteras pihak berkuasa. Apabila pemimpin 'gagal', maka rakyat menanggung bahananya, kehidupan mereka semakin susah walaupun negara ini diuar-uarkan kaya raya di seantero dunia!
Dalam membincangkan soal makanan ini, sedarlah wahai pemimpin (termasuk di singgahsana kuasa dengan wang masuk ke akuan peribadi berbilion-bilion ringgit) bahawa bagi keluarga miskin dan sederhana, sebahagian besar daripada pendapatan mereka (mungkin 60 peratus) digunakan untuk menampung keperluan asas ini.
Misalnya jika pendapatan isi rumah sebuah keluarga dengan lapan anak adalah RM1,000 sebulan, mungkin RM600 daripadanya digunakan untuk membeli makanan. Namun semakin tinggi perolehan rakyat, semakin kuranglah peratusan pendapatan mereka digunakan untuk membeli makanan. Misalnya sebuah keluarga yang terdiri daripada suami isteri dan enam anak dengan pendapatan isi rumah RM10,000 sebulan, jika mereka memperuntukan RM1,000 sekalipun untuk membeli makanan, itu hanya 10 peratus daripada pendapatan mereka.
Berdasarkan hujah ini, orang miskin perlu berhati-hati dalam perbelanjaan mereka hatta dalam membeli makanan sekalipun apatah lagi pada zaman sukar sekarang ini. Misalnya jika RM600 sudah diperuntukkan untuk membeli makanan, sedikit kenaikan dalam harga barangan keperluan akan menjejaskan kehidupan rumah tangga mereka. Jika berlaku peningkatan enam peratus (misalnya GST) dalam kenaikan harga barang, mereka sudah 'menggelupur'. Bertambah sukarlah mereka hendak menjelaskan bayaran lain seperti sewa rumah, perbelanjaan sekolah anak-anak dan tambang pengangkutan.
Kebanyakan pemimpin tidak pernah terbabit secara terus membeli barangan keperluan seperti gula kopi, asam belacan dan ikan ayam (tidak pernah ke pasar). Jika ditanya sekilogram harga beras pun mereka tidak tahu, apatah lagi barangan lain seperti kerang yang sudah mencecah RM9, mungkin mereka tahu harga kangkung 'yang semakin menurun'.
Kumpulan paling arif tentang harga barangan keperluan adalah suri rumah. Biasanya si suami akan menyerahkan perbelanjaan dapur kepada si isteri; katakan RM600 sebulan seperti contoh dinyatakan. Daripada RM600 diasingkan kepada pembelian barangan kering (seperti gas, minyak dan asam garam) sebanyak RM300 itu manakala RM300 lagi untuk barangan basah seperti ikan dan sayur yang puratanya mereka hanya mampu berbelanja RM10 setiap hari. Apa yang dapat dibeli dengan RM10? Kasihan, pening suri rumah memikirkan hal ini. Kerang saja sudah RM9 sekilo, jelas dia tidak mampu membelinya...itulah rakyat dalam kebanyakan kes boleh telan air liur saja!
September 4, 2016
Take control to enjoy life's little moments...
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.
***
TAKE control to enjoy life's little moments...I saw a captive poster with this soothing words and a suggestive picture of a grinning 'veteran man' pushing a child (perhaps his grandchild) on a toy bicycle in a park, at a pharmacy recently. I was at the premise to accompany my mother to buy her medication.
Yes, scholars said to enjoy life you need to slow down your pace. Try to enjoy life's little moments...in fact everything around you. And also enjoy everything thrown upon you by Allah SWT, The Most High. If you fail to do so, then you will miss the beauty of life and things 'around' you.
Let us look for an example; nowadays when it is the durian season if you do as always stick to your daily routine of the 'mad,mad world' such as rushing to and fro your office, perhaps you would not realize it is now the local fruits season. When you fail to do so, then how are you going to enjoy life's little moment for example enjoying the sweet and rich taste of the king of fruits at a stall by the roadside? You have no time for them.
But I had seen families coming from posh cars stopped by to enjoy durian at makeshift stalls by the roadside. They seemed to enjoy their life's little moments even though they had their 'makan' (feast) near a 'longkang' (drain).
Yes it is now the durian season, thus remember a wise man saying that for everything there is a season (so enjoy the season); he continued:
And a time for every matter under heaven:A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.
An 'ustaz' during his 'tazkirah' (lesson) at a 'masjid' near my house which I attended recently said: "Take time to enjoy reading the Qur'an." But how come we could enjoy it when we don't know what we are reading?
He gave a simple example - "Many of us don't understand Hindi but why we were kept glued watching Hindustani movies hour after hour? The same could be said about English and Chinese movies...one factor we could enjoy the films because they have subtitles, therefore we could understand the plot of the story..."
"When reading the Qur'an (which is in Arabic) we too need 'subtitles'...nowadays translation of the Qur'an is available in all the major languages of the world including Malay, but how many among us bothered to spend time reading and doing reflections from it?
"Then how many of us spared time to attend the 'kelas tafsir' (classes held for the explanation and interpretation of the verses from the Qur'an) for us to improve our understanding of the words of Allah SWT?"
The 'ustaz' teased his audience by saying: "Many of us have and had read 'Surah Yassin' (a verse in the Qur'an) every Friday night perhaps for 40 or 50 years now, could you please tell me what's this 'surah' is about?" He said it is good for the Malay community to read the 'Surah Yassin' in masjids every Friday night but why not upgrade it by inviting 'ustazs' to do the 'tafsir'. By understanding Allah SWT's message only then we would ready to turn over a new leaf and our readings (of the Qur'an) would be beneficial in our life.
Perhaps many among us, the writer included, have 'to force' ourselves to read the Qur'an. Why it is so hard to us? Why we failed to enjoy reading the Qur'an? Why we cannot control ourselves to enjoy life's little moments such as reading the Qur'an?
Perhaps we could explain from the feelings we had when we are doing our hobbies such as gardening or fishing. When you are too engross in your hobbies thus there are occasions you forget about time. The same could be said about reading your favourite novels; you forget about time but the question is why when you are about to read the Qur'an, you feel sleepy...that's an indicator you must change your attitude to enjoy reading the Qur'an.
Not only regarding reading the Qur'an, we must enjoy whatever we do; but the first thing we should determine is whether it is in line with the teaching of Islam. We must know whether our activities are 'halal' (permissible) or 'haram' (forbidden). Doing 'halal' activities give us the feeling of tranquility but engaging in the 'haram' ones make our life miserable.
A scholar noted that life has its up and down. But for the majority of us, it is very hard to maintain our composure and feelings when we were down the drain. The scholar advised us to enjoy life, for it is brief and there is no time in it for anguish! Yes, we have no time to be sad on thrifty matters but wake up and be alive to reap His giving and rewards in this world and the Hereafter.
But to enjoy His giving and rewards, we have to be in the straight path. Isn’t that are what we ask from Allah the Almighty in each ‘rakaat’ (units) in our prayers when we read an ‘ayat’ in the Surah Al-Fatihah (the Opening): “Guide us on the Straight Path.”
Enjoy your life by emulating Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. way of life. His life is an example for us to follow and a model for us to refer to at all times. No matter what problem arises in our lives, if we look to the Prophet’s Seerah for a solution, we will surely find it.
If all problems could be solved, then we could enjoy our life in this world and 'insya-Allah' (God willing) in the Hereafter since we live in accordance to what Allah and His prophet s.a.w. had revealed and ordered us in His Holy Book, the Qur’an. But we must work hard for it because 'everything has its price'.
For example in this world, if we wanted to use a public toilet or a tolled road, we must first make payment (have money); then whats more to enter 'jannah' (heaven)...we must have 'something' that would enable us to enter it.
Of course we could only enter 'jannah' on the mercy of Allah SWT but while living on earth we must perform good deeds as much we could and refrain from 'haram' things only to please Him. That good deeds would be transformed into 'pahala' (rewards from God); hopefully He would please to grant us His 'jannah'.
In the Qur'an, Allah told us to be successful in the world and Hereafter. Muslims recited this du'a over and over again: 'Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar' (Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire." (2:201)
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.
***
TAKE control to enjoy life's little moments...I saw a captive poster with this soothing words and a suggestive picture of a grinning 'veteran man' pushing a child (perhaps his grandchild) on a toy bicycle in a park, at a pharmacy recently. I was at the premise to accompany my mother to buy her medication.
Yes, scholars said to enjoy life you need to slow down your pace. Try to enjoy life's little moments...in fact everything around you. And also enjoy everything thrown upon you by Allah SWT, The Most High. If you fail to do so, then you will miss the beauty of life and things 'around' you.
Let us look for an example; nowadays when it is the durian season if you do as always stick to your daily routine of the 'mad,mad world' such as rushing to and fro your office, perhaps you would not realize it is now the local fruits season. When you fail to do so, then how are you going to enjoy life's little moment for example enjoying the sweet and rich taste of the king of fruits at a stall by the roadside? You have no time for them.
But I had seen families coming from posh cars stopped by to enjoy durian at makeshift stalls by the roadside. They seemed to enjoy their life's little moments even though they had their 'makan' (feast) near a 'longkang' (drain).
Yes it is now the durian season, thus remember a wise man saying that for everything there is a season (so enjoy the season); he continued:
And a time for every matter under heaven:A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.
An 'ustaz' during his 'tazkirah' (lesson) at a 'masjid' near my house which I attended recently said: "Take time to enjoy reading the Qur'an." But how come we could enjoy it when we don't know what we are reading?
He gave a simple example - "Many of us don't understand Hindi but why we were kept glued watching Hindustani movies hour after hour? The same could be said about English and Chinese movies...one factor we could enjoy the films because they have subtitles, therefore we could understand the plot of the story..."
"When reading the Qur'an (which is in Arabic) we too need 'subtitles'...nowadays translation of the Qur'an is available in all the major languages of the world including Malay, but how many among us bothered to spend time reading and doing reflections from it?
"Then how many of us spared time to attend the 'kelas tafsir' (classes held for the explanation and interpretation of the verses from the Qur'an) for us to improve our understanding of the words of Allah SWT?"
The 'ustaz' teased his audience by saying: "Many of us have and had read 'Surah Yassin' (a verse in the Qur'an) every Friday night perhaps for 40 or 50 years now, could you please tell me what's this 'surah' is about?" He said it is good for the Malay community to read the 'Surah Yassin' in masjids every Friday night but why not upgrade it by inviting 'ustazs' to do the 'tafsir'. By understanding Allah SWT's message only then we would ready to turn over a new leaf and our readings (of the Qur'an) would be beneficial in our life.
Perhaps many among us, the writer included, have 'to force' ourselves to read the Qur'an. Why it is so hard to us? Why we failed to enjoy reading the Qur'an? Why we cannot control ourselves to enjoy life's little moments such as reading the Qur'an?
Perhaps we could explain from the feelings we had when we are doing our hobbies such as gardening or fishing. When you are too engross in your hobbies thus there are occasions you forget about time. The same could be said about reading your favourite novels; you forget about time but the question is why when you are about to read the Qur'an, you feel sleepy...that's an indicator you must change your attitude to enjoy reading the Qur'an.
Not only regarding reading the Qur'an, we must enjoy whatever we do; but the first thing we should determine is whether it is in line with the teaching of Islam. We must know whether our activities are 'halal' (permissible) or 'haram' (forbidden). Doing 'halal' activities give us the feeling of tranquility but engaging in the 'haram' ones make our life miserable.
A scholar noted that life has its up and down. But for the majority of us, it is very hard to maintain our composure and feelings when we were down the drain. The scholar advised us to enjoy life, for it is brief and there is no time in it for anguish! Yes, we have no time to be sad on thrifty matters but wake up and be alive to reap His giving and rewards in this world and the Hereafter.
But to enjoy His giving and rewards, we have to be in the straight path. Isn’t that are what we ask from Allah the Almighty in each ‘rakaat’ (units) in our prayers when we read an ‘ayat’ in the Surah Al-Fatihah (the Opening): “Guide us on the Straight Path.”
Enjoy your life by emulating Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. way of life. His life is an example for us to follow and a model for us to refer to at all times. No matter what problem arises in our lives, if we look to the Prophet’s Seerah for a solution, we will surely find it.
If all problems could be solved, then we could enjoy our life in this world and 'insya-Allah' (God willing) in the Hereafter since we live in accordance to what Allah and His prophet s.a.w. had revealed and ordered us in His Holy Book, the Qur’an. But we must work hard for it because 'everything has its price'.
For example in this world, if we wanted to use a public toilet or a tolled road, we must first make payment (have money); then whats more to enter 'jannah' (heaven)...we must have 'something' that would enable us to enter it.
Of course we could only enter 'jannah' on the mercy of Allah SWT but while living on earth we must perform good deeds as much we could and refrain from 'haram' things only to please Him. That good deeds would be transformed into 'pahala' (rewards from God); hopefully He would please to grant us His 'jannah'.
In the Qur'an, Allah told us to be successful in the world and Hereafter. Muslims recited this du'a over and over again: 'Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar' (Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire." (2:201)
September 2, 2016
Haji, hajah merdekakan diri daripada politik kotor…
DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
Renungan
"Dan Dia yang menjadikan malam dan siang silih berganti bagi orang yang ingin mengambil pelajaran atau orang yang bersyukur." (Surah Al-Furqan; ayat 62)
KINI musim haji. Sudah berbondong-bondong jemaah berangkat ke Tanah Suci. Jika berpandukan kuota satu peratus daripada jumlah penduduk sesebuah negara, ada 30,000 jemaah haji dari Malaysia. Mungkinkah jumlah ini termasuk lebih 1,000 jemaah tajaan 1MDB oleh kerajaan Persekutuan dan negeri daripada kalangan imam, bilal dan pengerusi JKKK?
Boleh dikatakan semua orang menunaikan Rukun Islam kelima berharap mendapat haji mabrur (kecualilah mereka yang pergi dengan ada niat lain) yang balasannya tiada lain, kecuali syurga. Abu Hurairah menyatakan Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda yang maksudnya: “Dosa yang berlaku di antara dua umrah adalah dihapuskan dan tidak ada balasan bagi haji mabrur (haji yang diterima) melainkan syurga.” (Bukhari dan Muslim)
Haji dan hajah jika amalan diterima, keadaan mereka bersih sebersihnya. Macam bayi, suci. Namun haji yang mabrur itu bukan bermakna kepatuhan seseorang kepada semua perintah dan larangan Allah SWT berakhir sebaik saja meninggalkan Tanah Suci, sebaliknya perlu dikekalkan sepanjang hayat.
Kata ulama, jika mahu tahu sama ada seseorang itu mendapat haji mabrur atau tidak, lihat kepada amalannya selepas bergelar haji dan hajah.
Seseorang itu boleh membuat penilaian terhadap insan bergelar haji dan hajah di persekitaran masing-masing; benarlah kebanyakannya dihormati dan disegani sepanjang hayat tetapi biasalah adalah seorang dua diberi gelaran tak elok seperti ‘Haji Bakhil’ dan ‘Hajah Murai’.
Dan biasalah, ada haji dan hajah yang marah jika ada orang tidak memanggil atau menulis pada pangkal namanya dengan gelaran istimewa itu.
Seorang haji atau hajah adalah ibarat utusan kebenaran, dia menegakkan yang hak dan menentang kebatilan. Hak tertinggi adalah mengakui keesaan Allah SWT dan mengharungi kehidupan berdasarkan pengakuannya dalam solat “hidup dan matiku hanya untuk Allah Tuhan seru sekalian alam.” Dia tahu dia menghadapi dosa dan pahala dalam setiap perlakuannya.
Misalnya, menolong orang dengan niat betul, mendapat pahala. Jadi dia akan terus membantu sesama manusia, hatta membantu anjing kehausan pun diganjari syurga Allah SWT seperti mana dinyatakan dalam sebuah hadis.
Melakukan fitnah, mendatangkan dosa besar, jadi dia menjauhkannya. Bayangkan, alangkah jijiknya seorang haji atau hajah membuat fitnah misalnya mendakwa seseorang itu berbuat perkara keji malah bersumpah pula di masjid sedangkan dia tidak pun menyaksikannya.
Sebagai pejuang kebenaran haji dan hajah wajib menyatakan yang hak dan batil dalam semua aspek kehidupan termasuklah dalam berpolitik. Merdekakanlah diri daripada politik kotor dan kepartian yang bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam. Jika benar, katakan benar, jika salah katakan salah; jangan berselindung lagi kerana “tidak malukah kita dengan apa yang sudah kita ucapkan (berdoa) kepada Tuhan ketika kita munajat di depan Kaabah, di Arafah, Mina dan Mudzalifah.”
Antara rintihan jemaah haji: “...Ya Allah, aku berlindung dengan-Mu daripada menzalimi dan dizalimi, menyerang atau diserang atau membuat kesalahan dan dosa yang tidak Engkau ampunkan...Ya Allah, aku berlindung dengan-Mu daripada keras hati, kelalaian, kehinaan dan kemiskinan. Aku juga berlindung dengan-Mu daripada kekufuran, kefasikan, pepecahan, cinta kepada kemasyhuran dan riyak...”
Jadi selepas bergelar haji dan hajah, masih tergamakkah kita berbuat perkara tidak elok malah menyalahi hukum agama termasuk ketika berpolitik?Tidak payahlah dinyatakan perkara berat-berat; ambil yang mudah saja, misalnya membantu pemimpin dan parti penipu menang dalam pilihan raya. Kalau kita tahu parti dan pemimpin itu penipu mengapa kita mahu terus ‘berjuang’ memenang atau mempertahankannya? Ya, yang betul katakan betul; yang salah katakan salah. Inilah sebahagian maksud merdeka sebenarnya!
Renungan
"Dan Dia yang menjadikan malam dan siang silih berganti bagi orang yang ingin mengambil pelajaran atau orang yang bersyukur." (Surah Al-Furqan; ayat 62)
KINI musim haji. Sudah berbondong-bondong jemaah berangkat ke Tanah Suci. Jika berpandukan kuota satu peratus daripada jumlah penduduk sesebuah negara, ada 30,000 jemaah haji dari Malaysia. Mungkinkah jumlah ini termasuk lebih 1,000 jemaah tajaan 1MDB oleh kerajaan Persekutuan dan negeri daripada kalangan imam, bilal dan pengerusi JKKK?
Boleh dikatakan semua orang menunaikan Rukun Islam kelima berharap mendapat haji mabrur (kecualilah mereka yang pergi dengan ada niat lain) yang balasannya tiada lain, kecuali syurga. Abu Hurairah menyatakan Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda yang maksudnya: “Dosa yang berlaku di antara dua umrah adalah dihapuskan dan tidak ada balasan bagi haji mabrur (haji yang diterima) melainkan syurga.” (Bukhari dan Muslim)
Haji dan hajah jika amalan diterima, keadaan mereka bersih sebersihnya. Macam bayi, suci. Namun haji yang mabrur itu bukan bermakna kepatuhan seseorang kepada semua perintah dan larangan Allah SWT berakhir sebaik saja meninggalkan Tanah Suci, sebaliknya perlu dikekalkan sepanjang hayat.
Kata ulama, jika mahu tahu sama ada seseorang itu mendapat haji mabrur atau tidak, lihat kepada amalannya selepas bergelar haji dan hajah.
Seseorang itu boleh membuat penilaian terhadap insan bergelar haji dan hajah di persekitaran masing-masing; benarlah kebanyakannya dihormati dan disegani sepanjang hayat tetapi biasalah adalah seorang dua diberi gelaran tak elok seperti ‘Haji Bakhil’ dan ‘Hajah Murai’.
Dan biasalah, ada haji dan hajah yang marah jika ada orang tidak memanggil atau menulis pada pangkal namanya dengan gelaran istimewa itu.
Seorang haji atau hajah adalah ibarat utusan kebenaran, dia menegakkan yang hak dan menentang kebatilan. Hak tertinggi adalah mengakui keesaan Allah SWT dan mengharungi kehidupan berdasarkan pengakuannya dalam solat “hidup dan matiku hanya untuk Allah Tuhan seru sekalian alam.” Dia tahu dia menghadapi dosa dan pahala dalam setiap perlakuannya.
Misalnya, menolong orang dengan niat betul, mendapat pahala. Jadi dia akan terus membantu sesama manusia, hatta membantu anjing kehausan pun diganjari syurga Allah SWT seperti mana dinyatakan dalam sebuah hadis.
Melakukan fitnah, mendatangkan dosa besar, jadi dia menjauhkannya. Bayangkan, alangkah jijiknya seorang haji atau hajah membuat fitnah misalnya mendakwa seseorang itu berbuat perkara keji malah bersumpah pula di masjid sedangkan dia tidak pun menyaksikannya.
Sebagai pejuang kebenaran haji dan hajah wajib menyatakan yang hak dan batil dalam semua aspek kehidupan termasuklah dalam berpolitik. Merdekakanlah diri daripada politik kotor dan kepartian yang bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam. Jika benar, katakan benar, jika salah katakan salah; jangan berselindung lagi kerana “tidak malukah kita dengan apa yang sudah kita ucapkan (berdoa) kepada Tuhan ketika kita munajat di depan Kaabah, di Arafah, Mina dan Mudzalifah.”
Antara rintihan jemaah haji: “...Ya Allah, aku berlindung dengan-Mu daripada menzalimi dan dizalimi, menyerang atau diserang atau membuat kesalahan dan dosa yang tidak Engkau ampunkan...Ya Allah, aku berlindung dengan-Mu daripada keras hati, kelalaian, kehinaan dan kemiskinan. Aku juga berlindung dengan-Mu daripada kekufuran, kefasikan, pepecahan, cinta kepada kemasyhuran dan riyak...”
Jadi selepas bergelar haji dan hajah, masih tergamakkah kita berbuat perkara tidak elok malah menyalahi hukum agama termasuk ketika berpolitik?Tidak payahlah dinyatakan perkara berat-berat; ambil yang mudah saja, misalnya membantu pemimpin dan parti penipu menang dalam pilihan raya. Kalau kita tahu parti dan pemimpin itu penipu mengapa kita mahu terus ‘berjuang’ memenang atau mempertahankannya? Ya, yang betul katakan betul; yang salah katakan salah. Inilah sebahagian maksud merdeka sebenarnya!
August 31, 2016
Pay workers before their sweat dries up…
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.
***
LAST Sunday (August 14th) during ‘kuliah subuh’ (early morning lesson) at a ‘masjid’ near my house, the ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) continued his discussion on the topic about 'nafkah' (alimony) to ones wife; he must adhere to this commitment in their marriage life.
He said other than the 'normal' livelihood expenses such as food, shelter and clothing for the whole family, a husband must gives special maintenance expenses to his wife so that she could buy her personal requirements such as toiletries and make-up.
But the ‘ustaz’ was quick to point up that the ‘nafkah’ depends on the well being and capability of the husband and not to the fancies of his wife. The wife has the right to have what her husband normally eats, wears and lives or to that standard. He reminded to a husband even though his wife may be working and earns an income more than him, the ‘nafkah’ is still his responsibility.
But the ‘ustaz’ had these words of advice to working wives: “Based to what I witnessed and cases reported to me, women who were working and earned high incomes, spent their money according to their fancies. They buy expensive clothes, designers shoes, handbags and make-ups including international labelled perfumes. Then they ‘marched’ to their offices and working places wearing and using these attires and make-ups.
The ‘ustaz’ reminded women-folk to be careful in their ‘tabbaruj’ (display of beauty) even though they buy their attires and make-ups using their hard-earned money. ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood r.a. reported that the Prophet s.a.w. used to dislike ten kinds of behavior and he (‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood) mentioned that from amongst them is displaying and beautification which is done in an improper place. It is ‘haram’ in displaying beautification to strangers; but only to one’s husband and certain family members.
‘Tabarruj’ is disobedience to Allah and His Messenger s.a.w. The one who disobeys Allah and His Messenger s.a.w. can only harm himself and can not in any way harm Allah. The Messenger s.a.w. said, “All of my followers will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who would refuse?” He s.a.w. said, “He who obeys me enters Paradise and he who disobeys me has refused.” (Reported by Imam al-Bukhary)
To the men-folk, the ustaz gave this warning: “I am afraid you are committing a sin by allowing your wife to go out in such a state…you must always gives advice to your wife…if she ignored your advice…keep on trying until two ‘things’ happen…either you die or you wife dies!”
After his talk, the ‘ustaz’ opened the floor for a question and answer session. I took the opportunity to asked him during this ‘hard times’ when job opportunities were scared, many workers were retrenched, the ‘rakyat’ were told to do two or three jobs and some employers were late in paying their workers or even worse hold on to monies due to them; what’s our (husbands) position in giving ‘nafkah’ to our wives and children?
The ‘ustaz’ said we (including the wife) have to practice ‘sabar’ (patience); for the husband, the ‘nafkah’ is according to his capability. If he could only effort to have ‘nasi’ (rice) and fried ‘ikan kembong’ to feed his wife and children, then it is it…but he must determined to work hard and not to lost hope…'insya-Allah' they would be better off in the near future.
And to employers, the ustaz mentioned several 'hadith' that they have to pay their workers or monies due to them promptly. Ibn Maajah narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar r.a. said: The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” - Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah
Scholars said the command to give monies due to him before his sweat dries is a metaphor for the obligation to pay him as soon as the job is done, even if he does not sweat, or if he sweated and it has dried.
Employers delay in paying the salaries is wrongdoing which makes their honour and punishment permissible, as the Prophet s.a.w. said: “Withholding of payment by a rich man is wrongdoing.” (Narrated by Imam al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
And the Prophet s.a.w. said: “If one who can afford it delays payment, his honour and punishment become permissible.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah; classed as hasan by al-Albaani)
The Prophet s.a.w. said: "The procrastination of the rich is an oppression that entitles him to be spoken against and to be punishment.”
He also said: “Whoever oppressed another for a handspan measure of land will have a collar of seven lands placed around his neck on the Day of Judgment.”
The rights of a person are highly regarded in Islam. In his Last Sermon during the Pilgrimage, the Prophet s.a.w. said: “Your blood, your money, and your kin are sacred and cannot be taken by force, just as this day in this month in this land is sacred."
Regarding a good employer, 'Abdullah bin 'Umar reported that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.) said: Three persons set out on a journey. They were overtaken by rain and they had to find protection in a mountain cave where at its mouth there fell a rock of that mountain and thus blocked them altogether.
One of them said to the others: Look to your good deeds that you performed for the sake of Allah and then supplicate Allah, the Exalted, that He might rescue you (from this trouble). The first person mentioned about his sacrifice to his aged parents, the second about his fear for Allah when he was about to commit ‘zina’ (adultery) and the third one said:
“O Allah, I employed a workman for a measure of rice. After he had finished his work I gave him his dues (in the form of) a measure of rice, but he did not accept them. I used the rice as seeds, and that gave a bumper crop and I became rich enough to have cows and flocks (in my possession). He came to me and said: Fear Allah, and commit no cruelty upon me in regard to my dues. I said to him: Take away this flock of cows and sheep. He said: Fear Allah and do not make a fun of me. I said: I am not making a fun of you. You take the cows and the flocks. So he took them. O Allah, if Thou art aware that I did it for Thine pleasure, case the situation for us.” (And Allah relieved them from the rest of the trouble). (Sahih Muslim)
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.
***
LAST Sunday (August 14th) during ‘kuliah subuh’ (early morning lesson) at a ‘masjid’ near my house, the ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) continued his discussion on the topic about 'nafkah' (alimony) to ones wife; he must adhere to this commitment in their marriage life.
He said other than the 'normal' livelihood expenses such as food, shelter and clothing for the whole family, a husband must gives special maintenance expenses to his wife so that she could buy her personal requirements such as toiletries and make-up.
But the ‘ustaz’ was quick to point up that the ‘nafkah’ depends on the well being and capability of the husband and not to the fancies of his wife. The wife has the right to have what her husband normally eats, wears and lives or to that standard. He reminded to a husband even though his wife may be working and earns an income more than him, the ‘nafkah’ is still his responsibility.
But the ‘ustaz’ had these words of advice to working wives: “Based to what I witnessed and cases reported to me, women who were working and earned high incomes, spent their money according to their fancies. They buy expensive clothes, designers shoes, handbags and make-ups including international labelled perfumes. Then they ‘marched’ to their offices and working places wearing and using these attires and make-ups.
The ‘ustaz’ reminded women-folk to be careful in their ‘tabbaruj’ (display of beauty) even though they buy their attires and make-ups using their hard-earned money. ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood r.a. reported that the Prophet s.a.w. used to dislike ten kinds of behavior and he (‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood) mentioned that from amongst them is displaying and beautification which is done in an improper place. It is ‘haram’ in displaying beautification to strangers; but only to one’s husband and certain family members.
‘Tabarruj’ is disobedience to Allah and His Messenger s.a.w. The one who disobeys Allah and His Messenger s.a.w. can only harm himself and can not in any way harm Allah. The Messenger s.a.w. said, “All of my followers will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who would refuse?” He s.a.w. said, “He who obeys me enters Paradise and he who disobeys me has refused.” (Reported by Imam al-Bukhary)
To the men-folk, the ustaz gave this warning: “I am afraid you are committing a sin by allowing your wife to go out in such a state…you must always gives advice to your wife…if she ignored your advice…keep on trying until two ‘things’ happen…either you die or you wife dies!”
After his talk, the ‘ustaz’ opened the floor for a question and answer session. I took the opportunity to asked him during this ‘hard times’ when job opportunities were scared, many workers were retrenched, the ‘rakyat’ were told to do two or three jobs and some employers were late in paying their workers or even worse hold on to monies due to them; what’s our (husbands) position in giving ‘nafkah’ to our wives and children?
The ‘ustaz’ said we (including the wife) have to practice ‘sabar’ (patience); for the husband, the ‘nafkah’ is according to his capability. If he could only effort to have ‘nasi’ (rice) and fried ‘ikan kembong’ to feed his wife and children, then it is it…but he must determined to work hard and not to lost hope…'insya-Allah' they would be better off in the near future.
And to employers, the ustaz mentioned several 'hadith' that they have to pay their workers or monies due to them promptly. Ibn Maajah narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar r.a. said: The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” - Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah
Scholars said the command to give monies due to him before his sweat dries is a metaphor for the obligation to pay him as soon as the job is done, even if he does not sweat, or if he sweated and it has dried.
Employers delay in paying the salaries is wrongdoing which makes their honour and punishment permissible, as the Prophet s.a.w. said: “Withholding of payment by a rich man is wrongdoing.” (Narrated by Imam al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
And the Prophet s.a.w. said: “If one who can afford it delays payment, his honour and punishment become permissible.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah; classed as hasan by al-Albaani)
The Prophet s.a.w. said: "The procrastination of the rich is an oppression that entitles him to be spoken against and to be punishment.”
He also said: “Whoever oppressed another for a handspan measure of land will have a collar of seven lands placed around his neck on the Day of Judgment.”
The rights of a person are highly regarded in Islam. In his Last Sermon during the Pilgrimage, the Prophet s.a.w. said: “Your blood, your money, and your kin are sacred and cannot be taken by force, just as this day in this month in this land is sacred."
Regarding a good employer, 'Abdullah bin 'Umar reported that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.) said: Three persons set out on a journey. They were overtaken by rain and they had to find protection in a mountain cave where at its mouth there fell a rock of that mountain and thus blocked them altogether.
One of them said to the others: Look to your good deeds that you performed for the sake of Allah and then supplicate Allah, the Exalted, that He might rescue you (from this trouble). The first person mentioned about his sacrifice to his aged parents, the second about his fear for Allah when he was about to commit ‘zina’ (adultery) and the third one said:
“O Allah, I employed a workman for a measure of rice. After he had finished his work I gave him his dues (in the form of) a measure of rice, but he did not accept them. I used the rice as seeds, and that gave a bumper crop and I became rich enough to have cows and flocks (in my possession). He came to me and said: Fear Allah, and commit no cruelty upon me in regard to my dues. I said to him: Take away this flock of cows and sheep. He said: Fear Allah and do not make a fun of me. I said: I am not making a fun of you. You take the cows and the flocks. So he took them. O Allah, if Thou art aware that I did it for Thine pleasure, case the situation for us.” (And Allah relieved them from the rest of the trouble). (Sahih Muslim)
August 30, 2016
Rakyat boleh sehati sejiwa dengan pengkhianat negara?
Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
Renungan
"Dan Aku tidak menciptakan jin dan manusia melainkan supaya mereka menyembah-Ku." (Maksud Ayat 56 Surah Adz-Zariyat)
***
SEDARKAH anda bahawa tema Hari Merdeka (Kebangsaan) 2015 dan 2016 adalah 'Sehati Sejiwa'? Dapatkah rakyat yang hidup miskin/daif 'sehati sejiwa' dengan pembesar dan pemimpin Melayu yang senang lenang dan kaya raya, tinggal di mahligai dan banglo?
Adakah rakyat marhaen yang ditarik hidung seperti lembu makan rumput dan tinggal dalam kandang buluh boleh terima tema 'Sehati Sejiwa' ini? Patriotik atau retorik, demikian tulis peminat veteran Suara Keadilan, Raja Mohd Yusof Raja Othman,80, dalam surat terbaharunya kepada saya (penulis) baru-baru ini.
Sebelum ini, Menteri Komunikasi dan Multimedia, Dr Salleh Said Keruak berkata Kabinet setuju untuk mengekalkan tema sambutan Hari Kebangsaan tahun lalu 'Sehati Sejiwa' untuk 2016 kerana perlunya memupuk semangat bersatu-padu yang telah lama menjadi amalan dalam kalangan rakyat Malaysia.
"Ketika Malaysia menghampiri sambutan Kemerdekaannya yang ke-59, semangat itu penting jika kita mahu melihat negara kita, dan rakyatnya mencapai kemajuan dalam dekad akan datang," katanya.
Bagi menjawab atau memberi respons kepada tulisan ‘pakcik’ Raja Mohd Yusof yang berkhidmat dalam Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) pada 1956-1979, penulis berusaha mencari luahan orang yang seangkatan beliau, dan syukurlah saya menemui keratan sepucuk surat pembaca (Forum Pembaca) dalam akhbar Utusan Malaysia tidak lama dulu yang ditulis oleh seorang insan bernama Leftenan Kolonel (Bersara) Jalil Ithnin dengan tajuk 'Apa Erti Merdeka Kalau Ekonomi Masih Dijajah'.
Antara lain bekas pegawai tentera ini mengkritik sambutan hari kebangsaan yang dihiasai dengan mencipta benda dan perkara membazirkan seperti kek dan bendera terpanjang, terbesar dan tertinggi dan kemudian menonjolkan personaliti (pejuang) kemerdekaan terutama orang politik yang bersifat retorik saja.
Satu persoalan besar yang dilontarkannya adalah - "Benarkah orang Melayu sudah merdeka?"
Bekas askar itu meneruskan dengan pertanyaan: "Apakah pengorbanan saya kepada negara dan rakan-rakan yang telah gugur bergelimpangan demi mempertahankan kedaulatan dan kemerdekaan negara ini berbaloi, jawapannya saya rasa TIDAK.
"Nama-nama pahlawan negara yang telah pergi kerana berjuang dan ada segelintir yang masih hidup terus lenyap. Lenyap ditelan masa dan dilupakan.
"Nama yang kerap diulang-ulang dan dikenang sepanjang zaman hanyalah politikus saja, yang dikenang digembar-gemburkan dan bermacam-macam lagi seolah-olah mereka inilah sajalah hero merdeka.
Demikian juga bagaimana kita boleh melupakan pahlawan kemerdekaan seperti Ibrahim Yaakob, Ishak Haji Muhammad, Burhanuddin Al-Helmy dan Abu Bakar Baqir? Apakah keadaan ini sama seperti pepatah; lembu punya susu, sapi dapat nama?
"Apakah erti merdeka kalau kita rakyat terbanyak masih ditekan, ditindih, dipinggir, dikesampingkan dan mereka mengaut segala-galanya. Ini menunjukkan kita kaum yang bodoh, lemah, tidak berkuasa...inilah realitinya," katanya.
Demikianlah rayuan bekas tentera dalam sebuah negara merdeka; ya kita tertanya-tanya mengapa setiap tahun diadakan 'Hari Rayuan Pahlawan' di mana tabung-tabung derma diedarkan, tidak bolehkah kerajaan memperuntukkan sebahagian daripada 'kekayaannya' setidak-tidaknya perolehan sebanyak RM30 bilion setahun daripada cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST) untuk membantu pahlawan berjasa yang telah mengorbankan nyawa untuk tanah airnya.
Tidakkah dengan merayu-rayu bantuan ini akan menjatuhkan maruah seseorang pahlawan atau keluarga mereka? Bukankah dengan jasa pahlawan-pahlawan inilah dapat diwujudkan suasana aman yang telah melahirkan 'tauke-tauke besar berperut gendut atau tembam' dan 'politikus bilionaire' atau anak-anak mereka yang boleh berjudi dan rugi berjuta-juta ringgit di Las Vegas dan pusat perjudian di kota besar lain atau menyalurkan wang berjuta-juta malah berbilion-bilion ringgit dalam akuan bank mereka?
Apa, adakah rakyat miskin boleh ‘sehati sejiwa’ dengan si pengkhianat ini? Ya, “biarlah aku miskin harta tetapi tidak sekali-kali aku mahu ‘sehati sejiwa’ dengan pengkhianat agama, bangsa dan negara ini!”
Renungan
"Dan Aku tidak menciptakan jin dan manusia melainkan supaya mereka menyembah-Ku." (Maksud Ayat 56 Surah Adz-Zariyat)
***
SEDARKAH anda bahawa tema Hari Merdeka (Kebangsaan) 2015 dan 2016 adalah 'Sehati Sejiwa'? Dapatkah rakyat yang hidup miskin/daif 'sehati sejiwa' dengan pembesar dan pemimpin Melayu yang senang lenang dan kaya raya, tinggal di mahligai dan banglo?
Adakah rakyat marhaen yang ditarik hidung seperti lembu makan rumput dan tinggal dalam kandang buluh boleh terima tema 'Sehati Sejiwa' ini? Patriotik atau retorik, demikian tulis peminat veteran Suara Keadilan, Raja Mohd Yusof Raja Othman,80, dalam surat terbaharunya kepada saya (penulis) baru-baru ini.
Sebelum ini, Menteri Komunikasi dan Multimedia, Dr Salleh Said Keruak berkata Kabinet setuju untuk mengekalkan tema sambutan Hari Kebangsaan tahun lalu 'Sehati Sejiwa' untuk 2016 kerana perlunya memupuk semangat bersatu-padu yang telah lama menjadi amalan dalam kalangan rakyat Malaysia.
"Ketika Malaysia menghampiri sambutan Kemerdekaannya yang ke-59, semangat itu penting jika kita mahu melihat negara kita, dan rakyatnya mencapai kemajuan dalam dekad akan datang," katanya.
Bagi menjawab atau memberi respons kepada tulisan ‘pakcik’ Raja Mohd Yusof yang berkhidmat dalam Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) pada 1956-1979, penulis berusaha mencari luahan orang yang seangkatan beliau, dan syukurlah saya menemui keratan sepucuk surat pembaca (Forum Pembaca) dalam akhbar Utusan Malaysia tidak lama dulu yang ditulis oleh seorang insan bernama Leftenan Kolonel (Bersara) Jalil Ithnin dengan tajuk 'Apa Erti Merdeka Kalau Ekonomi Masih Dijajah'.
Antara lain bekas pegawai tentera ini mengkritik sambutan hari kebangsaan yang dihiasai dengan mencipta benda dan perkara membazirkan seperti kek dan bendera terpanjang, terbesar dan tertinggi dan kemudian menonjolkan personaliti (pejuang) kemerdekaan terutama orang politik yang bersifat retorik saja.
Satu persoalan besar yang dilontarkannya adalah - "Benarkah orang Melayu sudah merdeka?"
Bekas askar itu meneruskan dengan pertanyaan: "Apakah pengorbanan saya kepada negara dan rakan-rakan yang telah gugur bergelimpangan demi mempertahankan kedaulatan dan kemerdekaan negara ini berbaloi, jawapannya saya rasa TIDAK.
"Nama-nama pahlawan negara yang telah pergi kerana berjuang dan ada segelintir yang masih hidup terus lenyap. Lenyap ditelan masa dan dilupakan.
"Nama yang kerap diulang-ulang dan dikenang sepanjang zaman hanyalah politikus saja, yang dikenang digembar-gemburkan dan bermacam-macam lagi seolah-olah mereka inilah sajalah hero merdeka.
Demikian juga bagaimana kita boleh melupakan pahlawan kemerdekaan seperti Ibrahim Yaakob, Ishak Haji Muhammad, Burhanuddin Al-Helmy dan Abu Bakar Baqir? Apakah keadaan ini sama seperti pepatah; lembu punya susu, sapi dapat nama?
"Apakah erti merdeka kalau kita rakyat terbanyak masih ditekan, ditindih, dipinggir, dikesampingkan dan mereka mengaut segala-galanya. Ini menunjukkan kita kaum yang bodoh, lemah, tidak berkuasa...inilah realitinya," katanya.
Demikianlah rayuan bekas tentera dalam sebuah negara merdeka; ya kita tertanya-tanya mengapa setiap tahun diadakan 'Hari Rayuan Pahlawan' di mana tabung-tabung derma diedarkan, tidak bolehkah kerajaan memperuntukkan sebahagian daripada 'kekayaannya' setidak-tidaknya perolehan sebanyak RM30 bilion setahun daripada cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST) untuk membantu pahlawan berjasa yang telah mengorbankan nyawa untuk tanah airnya.
Tidakkah dengan merayu-rayu bantuan ini akan menjatuhkan maruah seseorang pahlawan atau keluarga mereka? Bukankah dengan jasa pahlawan-pahlawan inilah dapat diwujudkan suasana aman yang telah melahirkan 'tauke-tauke besar berperut gendut atau tembam' dan 'politikus bilionaire' atau anak-anak mereka yang boleh berjudi dan rugi berjuta-juta ringgit di Las Vegas dan pusat perjudian di kota besar lain atau menyalurkan wang berjuta-juta malah berbilion-bilion ringgit dalam akuan bank mereka?
Apa, adakah rakyat miskin boleh ‘sehati sejiwa’ dengan si pengkhianat ini? Ya, “biarlah aku miskin harta tetapi tidak sekali-kali aku mahu ‘sehati sejiwa’ dengan pengkhianat agama, bangsa dan negara ini!”
Roslan Hamid's Blog
- Roslan Hamid's profile
- 2 followers
Roslan Hamid isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
their feed.
