Roslan Hamid's Blog, page 148

Dari UKM ke Harakah (24): Dendang perantau bujang di Aidilfitri...

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 

SYUKURLAH selama lebih 12 tahun (1999-2012) bekerja di Harakah tidak pernah saya 'menyambut' hari raya (sama ada Aidilfitri atau Aidiladha) di Kuala Lumpur atau lebih tepat lagi perlu bekerja di pejabat pada hari raya pertama.
Namun ketika bekerja di akhbar arus perdana juga selama 12 tahun (1986-1998), beberapa kali terkena giliran saya untuk bekerja pada hari pertama Aidilfitri. Ya, celoteh kali ini adalah kisah dendang perantau di Aidilfitri...yang sudah bekeluarga lain ceritanya berbanding dengan si bujang yang bagi saya 'lebih teruk terkesan' terutama dari segi makan dan minumnya.
Seorang sahabat dalam satu perbualan telefon menjelang Aidilfitri ini memberitahu betapa dia tidak betah untuk menyambut Aidilfitri di Kuala Lumpur. Suatu malam raya, katanya, ketika dia dan keluarganya sedang sibuk memasang langsir...tiba-tiba sayup-sayup kedengaran takbir raya diikuti lagu-lagu raya yang mempunyai rangkap seperti 'di hari raya terkenang daku pada si dia...', dia dan anggota keluarganya bingkas bangun untuk berkemas dan malam itu juga berlepas pulang ke kampung!
Puluhan tahun lalu, di pagi-pagi hari raya 'si bujang' (sayalah tu), bersiap-siap memakai baju Melayu...ya nak pergi mana tu? Pergi masjid ke atau ziarah kaum keluarga ke? Ohh tidak...saya bersiap untuk ke pejabat...ya kena kerja di hari raya. Itulah siapa suruh jadi wartawan...bukankah dulu semasa interbiu untuk bekerja dulu sudah mengaku sanggup bekerja di mana saja dan pada sebarang ketika termasuk hari raya!
Pengalaman saya, berhari raya di rantau orang 'sebagai seorang bujang' adalah lebih merana daripada orang yang mempunyai keluarga. Perkara pokok yang dihadapi orang bujang adalah soal makan...ya amat sukar untuk mendapatkan makanan (yang sesuailah) apabila kebanyakan gerai sudah ditutup manakala 'kita tak pernah memasak sepanjang hidup kita'. Lagipun bagaimana nak masak, dapur pun tak pernah ada!
Maka di hari raya, ada ketikanya selepas balik kerja 'aku telan maggi' sedangkan 'orang di sana' sedang seronok makan sedap-sedap seperti ketupat dan lemang berlaukan rendang dan pelbagai juadah lain. Suatu hari...saya lihat kawan serumah saya sedang 'membaham' ayam KFC...ya mungkin itu satu-satunya 'makanan tersedap' boleh dinikmati pada hari pertama Aidilfitri dan hari-hari berikutnya sebab kebanyakan gerai milik makcik, pakcik serta abang Kelantan, Patani, Kedah, 'Penang' dan sebagainya tutup saja, mungkin seminggu atau sebulan lamanya!
Hari-hari selepas 1 Syawal, perantau di kota terus 'merana'. Orang tak ada kenderaan sendiri lebih teruk keadaannya. Berat masalahnya kerana di sekeliling rumah (atau bilik) sewaan kita bukan saja gerai makanan tidak dibuka malah kedai runcit bagi kita mendapatkan biskut atau maggi pun tak ada. 
Teksi pun sukar ditemui kerana abang-abang teksi pun mahu bersama keluarga tercinta pada hari dan bulan mulia itu. Bagi bujang yang ada motosikal, bolehlah mereka 'meredah jauh' bagi mencari makanan...bagi yang tak ada (makanan ringkas seperti biskut pun tak ada), 'perbanyaklak telan air liur atau minum air paip saja'. Bagi yang kerja lewat, tak payah bangun pagi kerana mahu 'jamak sarapan dan makan tengah hari malah dengan makan malam sekali'.
Bujang kota akan senang jika ada 'open house' (rumah terbuka). Tapi dulu jarang diadakan; tidak seperti sekarang. Di rumah terbuka inilah mereka 'bedal' cukup-cukup, yalah kerana selepas itu mereka perlu 'menyambung puasa'. Jika sepanjang Ramadan, bujang kota 'senang menghadirkan diri' di masjid kerana hampir pasti ada makanan bagi berbuka puasa dan moreh selepas tarawih, pada hari-hari bulan Syawal usah haraplah...makanan tiada malah jemaah solat waktu pun tersangat kurang kerana ramai orang masih di kampung!
Ya, demikianlah nasib perantau bujang ketika Aidilfitri. Mengingat-ingatkan 'derita di Aidilfitri', terlintas di hati "ohh emak, cepatlah kahwinkan aku" kerana jika sudah kahwin dan ada keluarga di kota misalnya di Kuala Lumpur, tidaklah 'derita sangat' sebab di rumah insya-Allah ada jaudah yang dimasak isteri, apatah lagi jika si isteri pandai memasak. Selain isteri, jika ada anak-anak, tidaklah terasa sepi berhari raya di kota.
Namun, bagi yang teringatkan nostalgia berhari raya di kampung, pada malam raya (kalau tinggal di flet,nampak rumah lain gelap gelita saja) pun mereka akan bergegas pulang seperti dilakukan sahabat saya itu...ohh tiada yang lebih indah daripada balik kampung lebaran ini! Selamat menyambut Aidilfitri, maaf zahir dan batin.

'Free things' we take for granted...

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, 'Selawat' (blessings) and 'salam' (peace be upon) Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection
"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me." (Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51: 56-57)

SADLY, Ramadan the month of bounty, mercy and the road away from hell fire, is about to end. While readers are reading this piece, many of us are busily preparing for the coming of Syawal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar when Muslim celebrated Eid or Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
To the Muslims Malay and Malaysian in general, Syawal is synonym with open houses where all including strangers are welcome and 'the spread of food laid on the table are free for all'. 
A scholar once said the best things in life are free. Talking about 'free things', I remembered a 'Tabligh preacher' once read a hadith after 'asar' prayers in a 'masjid' in which I attended which mentioned that to uphold to the words of ‘syahada’  La ilaha ill Allah  (declaration of faith, there is no God except Allah) and to submit to all His orders, is the hardest yet heaviest in weight in sight of Allah SWT for it is the highest of ‘iman’ (faith). We do not need any capital to say La ilaha ill Allah yet we found it hard to do so.
La ilaha ill Allah as the ‘kalimat’ (speaking and writing of human being) that men were born and to invite human beings to submit to it many prophets and Islamic warriors fought for it and many died in the process. Consider this hadith on the value that Allah the Exalted placed on La ilaha ill Allah:
Abu Sa`eed al-Khudri said, that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him, pbuh) said: “Moses (Alayhi salam, a.s.) said: O Lord! Teach me something that I can remember You with and I can supplicate You with. Allah said:“Say ‘La ilaha ill Allah’, O Musa.” He (Musa) said: All of your servants say this. He (Allah) said: “If the seven Heavens and those who dwell in them other than Me and the seven Earths are put into one pan (of the scale) and ‘La ilaha ill Allah’ is put into the other; ‘La ilaha ill Allah’ would be heavier.” [Ibn Hibbaan and Haakim]
The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said (narrated by Jabir bin `Abdullah): “The best Dhikr (remembering Allah) is La ilaha ill Allah and the best supplication is Al-Hamdu Lillah.” [At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah]Everybody is free to recite La ilaha ill Allah. We do not have to pay anything to do it. It is so simple, yet not all hearts were opened to see the importance of reciting and living with La ilaha ill Allah. Our hearts were blackened with our sins and wrongdoings which unable us to see the truth.From now, let’s ensure that we never forget to make the letters La ilaha ill Allah a constant part of our living moments and to live by what those letters stand for. Remember, our success in this life and the Hereafter is all tied to La ilaha ill Allah.During my regular weekly ‘tazkirah’ (Islamic lesson) at a 'masjid' near my house not long ago, the ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) stressed that Islam is a beautiful religion revealed by God that covers all aspects of life; even there are even laws on simple matters such as regarding the usage of toilets. And to practice Islam, one does not have to have much capital or investment. 
Take for example the five pillars of Islam (Rukun Islam); to recite La ilaha ill Allah, you do not have to pull out a cent. The same could be said about performing our prayers (solat) and 'puasa' (siyam or fasting). For 'zakat' and performing hajj (which involves money), you are only required to perform them only when you fulfill the terms stipulated.
“Could you name me a religion that covers every detail of human beings' activities?” asked the ustaz.  So Islam covers everything; submit to God to everything we do, then we are safe in the world and Hereafter; it is simple as that but only a faction of people could adhere to the rules of Islam, said the ustaz. 
Truly, Allah has made Islam a perfect religion, as guidance for human being to live in a perfect happy life in this world and Hereafter, so the scripture of Islam is not to burden people but is easy to practice. The Qur’an says: “Allah desireth you ease; He desireth not hardship for you.” (2:185) 
According to the Qur’an and Hadith, it clearly shows that each commands and restrictions from Allah is for protecting and taking care of our benefits. Each of Allah’s commands is good and easy to put into practice. Each restriction is not good and we should not do it. Allah is All-Wise, All-Knowing; Allah knows His creations have the ability to practice His order. The Qur’an says: “Allah has not laid upon you in religion any hardship.” (22: 78) – Islam is Simple (Jakim) 
It is simple as that, but how many Muslims can adhere to it? Muslim are guarded by the law of fiqh or religious laws. The two main sets of laws are halal’ (permissible) and ‘haram’ (fordidden). So it is simple, if it is ‘halal’, you just go ahead ‘in doing it, and if it is ‘haram’ just leave it alone. Islam is a complete way of life. It covers everything.As Muslim all our actions should be guided by ‘hukum Islam’ or ‘shara’ (the law of fiqih or religious laws); that is ‘wajib’ (obligatory), ‘sunnah’ (optional), ‘harus’ or ‘mubah’ 
We are told to submit to Allah's law; but many of us are ignorant. We do not want to follow Allah's law, yet in our lives we depend 100 percent on His favors and blessing. A lot of things that we are comforting ourselves in are free. The air that we inhale is free, the space we are moving is free, the drinking water is free, the earth that we are walking on is free. Because they are free, we seldom think about The Provider; we only think about our rights to have them.
In Surah Rahman, Allah SWT mentions this phrase many times - So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
Allah's gifts to us are free. If you feel bored, you could go to the seaside and park and of course you pay nothing for it. There you could inhale the fresh air free of charge. Then if you wanted peace of mind, you could go to the 'masjid' and 'solat' (pray) and feel the tranquility of the place. It is also free of charge.
The piped water to cleanse oneself. 'wuduk' (ablution) at the 'masjid' is free, so is using the air conditioner or fan. After praying you could go to the veranda or the edge of the praying room to rest or have a nap. 'Insya-Allah' (God Willing), nobody will bother you, and your resting place is free of charge.
Then, often during intervals between the 'maghrib' (evening) and 'isyak' (night) prayers, there are lessons given by the 'ustaz' (religious teacher), and you could follow it free of charge. After 'isyak' prayers, it is often followed by a 'makan-makan' (dinner) and of course you pay nothing for it. 
Other than the natural things and environment, almost everything from manners to relationship, friendship to love and respect are also free of charge. None of these, if you are truly honest, cost money and if the do, are they worth having then?
When times are good, everyone smiles. But it is important to note that life is just like a mirror. Notice that when you smile at the mirror, the image in the mirror will smile at you. When you put on a sour face, the image will portray a sour face and when you spit the mirror, the image will spit back at you.
If you try to stab the mirror, the image in the mirror will stab at you. There is a Malay proverb regarding this - 'apa disemai, itulah yang dituai' (what you reap is what you sow). 
So in life, if you want someone to smile to you, smile to him first. If you want want someone to respect you, you have to respect him/her first. If you hurt a person, of course he/she will seek ways to hurt you too. If you wanted your love ones to show off their love, you have to do it first.
And of course all these good things cost nothing, they are free of charge. You do not have to pay a cent to put up a smile and say 'Assalamualaikum...' (be peace be upon you) when you meet a person early in the morning or when you enter the office to begin your work.
You may notice that life is so simple and sweet and you don;t have to start cracking your heads to fulfill your worldly desires. In fact if you traced back what you had learned during your schooling years; the basic needs for human beings are only three - food, clothing and shelter.
As Muslims we must do our best to strive for our needs but we do it only to please Allah SWT and nothing else. In everything we do, we have to associate it with Allah SWT and in doing so, we will able to make the most from our deeds, for our own good in this world and in the Hereafter. Remember Allah the Almighty needs nothing from His creation, not even his/her praises to Him. 
He gives us everything, yet most of us are ignorant and proud...So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? Happy Eid, Maaf Zahir Batin.

Dari UKM ke Harakah (23): 'Misteri' ketika bermalam (beriktikaf) di masjid...

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) 

SEPULUH hari terakhir Ramadan akan ada insan-insan yang taat, beriktikaf di masjid. Saya sanjungi mereka, dan bagi diri ini yang cuba-cuba 'merasai kenikmatan' bermalam di masjid dan surau, mendapati sukar benar melelapkan mata dan kalaupun terlelap selalunya mengalami mimpi ngeri.
Berceloteh mengenai pengalaman bermalam di masjid dan surau ini, tentunya sebagai insan kerap berkelana kerana bekerja dan belajar jauh dari kediaman sendiri, ada kalanya saya 'menumpang tidur' di rumah Allah itu. Dan melalui pengalaman inilah saya ingin kongsikan bersama pembaca; yang baik dijadikan teladan manakala yang buruk dijadikan sempadan.
Pada Ramadan-Ramadan lalu, Masjid Al-Azim di bandar raya Melaka dibuka 24 jam. Seronok berbuka puasa di masjid ini; makanan disediakan amat memuaskan hati walaupun hidangannya agak sederhana. Berdasarkan pengalaman lalu, majoriti yang berbuka puasa di situ adalah pekerja Bangladesh yang memberi khidmat di Hospital Melaka yang terletak bersebelahan.
Sambil menunggu detik berbuka puasa, kadang-kadang saya bersembang dengan pekerja itu. Ada yang menceritakan kesedihan berpuasa di rantau orang; ramai daripada mereka meninggalkan anak isteri demi mencari sesuap nasi di rantau orang. Hari Raya juga mereka tak balik, apa yang menjadi amalan, mereka hanya balik apabila kontrak sudah habis - kalau tiga tahun tiga tahunlah, kalau lima tahun lima tahunlah. Tidak dapat saya bayangkan bagaimana rasanya meninggalkan orang tercinta buat masa sebegitu lama!
Selesai melakukan ibadat awal malam seperti mengerjakan solat tarawih dan membaca Quran, 'mata bagai ditarik-tarik' untuk tidur. Dulu masa awal-awal 'landing' (beriktikaf) di masjid ini saya cuba tidur di bawah tangga di hujung kiri bahagian belakang dewan solat. Ohh, 'tidak boleh tidur' di tempat ini (bagi sayalah, orang lain saya tidak tahu); apabila terlelap saja mata, badan saya 'bagaikan kena hempap saja'. Ringkasnya 'kena tindih'. 
Kali pertama 'kena tindih' membuatkan saya tersedar, lantas saya membaca sepatah dua ayat al-Quran, kemudian sambung tidur. Baru nak lelapkan mata, 'kena tindih' lagi. Selepas banyak kali kena begitu, saya pun 'give up'. 'Blahlah', pergi cari 'port' lain. Sejak peristiwa itu, saya insaf bahawa tempat itu bukan 'lokasi 'landing' saya yang sesuai!
Ketika berada di Kuala Lumpur dan tak sempat untuk balik ke Melaka, kadang-kadang saya 'landing' di Surau Editorial Harakah. Tempat yang 'sedap' bagi saya adalah di bawah pendingin udara. Subhanallah, ini satu lagi lokasi yang mendatangkan ujian bagi saya. 
Bagaimana saya cuba pejamkan mata, saya tidak dapat tidur. Macam-macam bunyi aneh saya dengar seperti ada orang mengambil air sembahyang tetapi apabila ditinjau tiada seorang pun di situ dan apabila terlelap saja, terasa 'macam kena tindih'. 
Ketika Muktamar PAS ke-61 yang diadakan di Kuala Selangor awal Jun lalu, sebuah masjid (tidak payah disebut namanya) menjadi 'port' untuk saya bermalam selama dua hari. Ramai juga 'budak-budak muda PAS' tumpang bermalam. Saya datang awal (jam 10 atau 11 malam) sebab menjadi kebiasaan saya tidur awal tetapi 'budak-budak itu' singgah lewat malam (pukul 12 ke atas) jadi saya tidur keseorangan dulu.
Apabila keseorangan itu, saya tidak dapat melelapkan mata. Terkebil-kebil biji mata dalam kegelapan malam (kebanyakan lampu masjid sudah dipadamkan). Saya menjenguk ke luar, uhhh, ada tanah perkuburan berdekatan rupanya...saya 'menguatkan hati' - apa nak ditakutkan...suatu hari nanti kau sendiri akan masuk kubur...kau sendiri akan jadi 'geng' orang-orang dalam kubur tu!
Satu lagi hal yang menyebabkan saya tidak dapat tidur kerana terlalu banyak 'drakula' di masjid itu. Tetapi apa nak buat, bersabarlah...bukankah itu 'ciri-ciri orang beriman'. Saya fikir kedatangan 'budak-budak muda PAS' selepas jam 12.00 tengah malam, tentunya 'menambah gembira drakula-drakula itu'. Ini kerana sebahagian besar budak-budak itu gemuk-gemuk berlaka sedangkan saya ini kecil saja lagipun darah saya tidak sedap untuk mereka hisap kerana berpenyakit kencing manis.
Benar, 'drakula-drakula' itu berpesta sepanjang malam. Buktinya, menjelang subuh apabila lampu masjid dibuka saya melihat lantai jubin masjid yang putih bertompok-tompok dengan darah. Sana sini darah. Selepas 'berpesta membaham' budak-budak muda PAS (dan saya), 'drakula-drakula' itu sudah terlalu kenyang untuk melarikan diri, jadi mereka pun mati 'tertindih' oleh badan budak-budak itu sendiri.
Melihatkan darah bertompok-tompok yang banyak itu, saya teringatkan perjuangan PAS. Ya, anak-anak muda itu (berdasarkan perbualan saya dengan mereka) ada yang datang dari Johor, Pahang, Terengganu dan Kelantan (ada yang bermotosikal dalam kumpulan) sanggup mengorbankan masa dan tenaga (dan darah untuk diserahkan kepada nyamuk) semata-mata untuk menyaksikan parti yang mereka cintai dan yakini terus memayungi umat Islam...ya itulah sebahagian pengorbanan orang awam,,,jadi kepada pemimpin (tidak kira yang menang atau kalah dalam pemilihan muktamar), renung-renungkanlah perkara ini sebelum membuat sesuatu keputusan...

'Dulu, kini dan selamanya' akan berkubur...

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

Renungan

"Wafatkanlah aku dan keadaan Islam dan gabungkanlah aku dengan orang-orang saleh." (Maksud Ayat 101 Surah Yusuf)
MENJELANG Aidilfitri, pandangan seorang tokoh agar rakyat jangan balik kampung pada raya ini menjadi viral di internet. Yalah, ini bagi menyelamatkan orang ramai daripada 'menghabiskan wang' untuk mengisi minyak kenderaan, membayar tol dan sebagainya! 
Bagi saya ini satu pandangan 'di luar kotak' yang 'ada logiknya' dan 'bersifat kreatif kerana melawan arus' tetapi maaflah orang Malaysia terutama Melayu masih keras dengan jati diri dan nostalgia 'balik kampungnya' apatah lagi pada Aidilfitri. 
Jadi tidak hairanlah pandangan tokoh berkenaan dicemuh tetapi alangkah bagusnya jika 'pandangan di luar kotak' beliau disemarakkan (untuk menerima atau tidak tidak padangannya terpulanglah kepada kita) dalam masyarakat agar kita tidak menerima sesuatu itu dengan sikap 'batang kayu saja'. 
Misalnya, slogan sebuah parti politik...'dulu, kini dan selamanya' adalah 'tidak logik' kerana kehidupan adalah sesuatu yang dinamik dan sebagai 'makhluk baru' (diciptakan Allah SWT) pasti akan berakhir...tiada orang yang tidak mati! Jadi parti ini tetap akan mati...hanya persoalannya bila?
Berdasarkan perkembangan semasa dipalit krisis demi krisis seperti 1MDB dan MARA yang menimpa pemimpinnya, rasanya masa itu sudah terlalu dekat. Parti itu tetap akan mati kerana tiada makhluk yang kekal buat selama-lamanya. Bagi 'orang yang otaknya masih boleh berfikir'...jelas sekali slogan parti berkenaan adalah sesuatu yang mengarut, ya tak masuk akal.
Cendekiawan kerap menyarankan orang ramai berfikir di luar kotak. Berfikir di luar kotak antara lain bermakna bertindak di luar kebiasaan. Orang yang berfikir di luar kotak, tidak dapat menerima sesuatu secara bulat-bulat tanpa bertanya mengapa, seterusnya melakukan penyiasatan dalam usahanya mendapatkan maklumat dan menambah pengetahuan.
Misalnya, orang yang berfikir di luar kotak akan tertanya-tanya mengapa 1.5 juta 'Bangla' lagi mahu didatangkan ke negara ini 'untuk mengisi pelbagai jawatan kosong' (bekerjalah misalnya dalam sektor industri dan perladangan) sedangkan negara itu sudah pun 'dikerumuni' oleh jutaan pendatang asing.
Berhubung hal politik misalnya pilihan raya kecil, orang kreatif akan bertanya mengapa begitu banyak wang dilambakkan di kawasan itu tetapi terabai pada masa-masa lalu. Hati mereka akan tertanya-tanya daripada wang itu berasal dan ke mana hendak dibelanjakan.
Mereka yang berfikir di luar kotak, tidak mudah diperkotak-katikkan. Mereka mempersoalkan kewajaran BR1M; mereka tidak mudah menjual diri dengan hanya janji jalan baru, jambatan baru, longkang baru atau hadiah sehelai kain batik dan wang tunai RM50. Dan mereka pun tidak 'kelam mata' apabila melihat menteri sanggup 'menoreh getah' dan ;menggoreng mi' dalam kempen pilihan raya mereka...
Orang yang berfikir di luar kotak adalah insan yang kreatif, berusaha memaksimumkan segala aset dimiliki untuk kepentingan diri, keluarga, masyarakat, bangsa, negara, agama seterusnya dunia dan alam maya.
Antara aset terpenting adalah nyawa, iman, tubuh, akal, masa dan maruah (harga diri). Jadi tidak boleh disia-siakan aset yang tidak ternilai ini. Selagi nyawa dikandung badan, masa yang ada tidak boleh disia-siakan.
Bagi orang beriman akan ditanya lima perkara sebelum datang lima perkara: masa mudamu bagaimana dihabiskan, masa sihatmu sebelum sakit, masa beradamu sebelum miskin, masa lapangmu sebelum sibuk dan masa hidupmu sebelum kamu mati.
Akal fikiran (otak) juga akan ditanya. Oleh itu berfikirlah di dalam dan di luar kotak. Jika selama ini asyik berfikir di dalam kotak dan tidak mengembangkannya di luar kotak, cuba-cubalah keluar daripada 'termakan' dengan slogan dan indoktrinasi seperti 'dulu, kini dan selamanya' dan 'hanya parti ini saja mampu perintah negara'...ya kalau difikir-fikirkan secara mendalam, semua itu tidak masuk akal! Selamat Hari Raya, maaf zahir dan batin.

Media baru, pakatan baru jadi harapan rakyat...

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

Renungan

"Wafatkanlah aku dan keadaan Islam dan gabungkanlah aku dengan orang-orang saleh." (Maksud Ayat 101 Surah Yusuf)
AKHIR bulan Jun lalu, saya membayar bil utiliti (elektrik, telefon dan air) kediaman saya. Tertera dalam bil, sejumlah wang perlu dibayar 'bagi memenuhi tembolok GST' - semuanya berjumlah hampir RM25. Ini membebankan (bertentangan dengan cakap-cakap menteri bahawa kenaikan ini tidak membebankan) dan kemudian ditambah kenaikan harga petrol RON95 sebanyak 10 sen dan RON97 sebanyak 20 sen, menjadikan hidup ini semakin tidak ceria apatah lagi menjelang Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Jika saya susah, saya rasa rakyat kebanyakan pun susah. Tahun ini bagi menyambut 1 Syawal, 'terasa betapa tidak meriahnya' kerana pusat membeli belah dan bazar Ramadan tidak sesak seperti tahun-tahun sebelum ini. Ramai rakyat 'mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga (berjimat-cermat)' kerana mereka sedar batas kemampuan mereka tidak seperti sebelum ini. Ringkasnya, rakyat begitu tertekan...persoalannya siapa yang boleh membela mereka?
Itulah nak harapkan Pakatan Rakyat (ingat slogan Pakatan Harapan Rakyat), Pakatan Rakyat sudah berpecah. Dulu ramai pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang berjiwa rakyat bersama-sama rakyat turun di jalan-jalan raya bagi menyatakan bantahan, tetapi sekarang siapa nak diharapkan? Apabila nampak 'rakyat tenang saja' dalam menghadapi kenaikan harga minyak (juga kenaikan harga barangan keperluan), pemerintah Umno-BN pun 'naik takoklah' - kerana mereka tidak langsung nampak tentangan rakyat secara besar-besaran.
Pepecahan Pakatan Rakyat tidak membawa keuntungan kepada rakyat. Pemimpin-pemimpin ini nampaknya tidak lagi bersatu hati bagi menentang 'kezaliman' yang kenakan oleh pemerintah Umno-BN. Rakyat semakin gusar, harga barangan semakin naik - dari segi fizikal kehidupan mereka semakin sukar, dan dari segi mentalnya mereka susah hati.
Antara golongan yang susah hati itu adalah gabungan anak muda; mereka yang 'berdarah panas' ini, mengutuk PAS, DAP dan KEADILAN kerana dakwa mereka terlalu ego sehingga menyebabkan kehancuran kepada Pakatan Rakyat.
Jurucakap kumpulan itu, Adam Adli mendakwa, polemik politik Pakatan Rakyat telah membunuh harapan rakyat yang mahu melihat perubahan kepada pentadbiran negara. Namun, katanya, harapan itu musnah kerana sikap terlalu ego tiga parti itu sekali gus memberi talian hayat kepada BN.
“Polemik demi polemik melanda Pakatan Rakyat telah membunuh harapan rakyat. Anak muda berasa mual melihat parti-parti yang kononnya berpakat, tetapi gagal mengurus egosentrik lantas memberi talian hayat kepada kerajaan BN,” katanya dalam satu sidang media di Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Kuala Lumpur 2 Julai lalu.Sehubungan itu, Adam berkata, gabungan anak muda mendesak supaya gabungan pakatan pembangkang baru dan inklusif dibentuk bagi menggantikan Pakatan Rakyat yang telah berkubur.
“Pakatan baru diperlukan untuk membela nasib rakyat yang kian terseksa dan menjadi mangsa kezaliman Umno-BN,” katanya. Sesetengah pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat didakwa mengecewakan 52 peratus pengundi yang telah memberi kepercayaan kepada mereka pada pilihan Raya umum ke-13 (PRU13).
Nampaknya kelemahan sesetengah pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang memilih jalan sendiri, membeli peluang besar kepada pemimpin Umno-BN yang gemar menggunakan ungkapan 'kenaikan ini tidak membebankan' apabila berlaku peningkatan harga barangan, perkhidmatan, tarif dan yuran, semakin naik belang mereka.
Ungkapan yang sudah terlalu kerap diucapkan ini hanya menyakitkan hati pihak yang 'terkena', khasnya rakyat kebanyakan. Kepada pemimpin Umno-BN, hentikankan daripada beretorik dengan ungkapan dungu ini. Semacam sudah satu kemestian apabila harga minyak naik, tarif elektrik dinaikkan atau barangan keperluan seperti gula dinaikkan, menteri akan berkokok 'kenaikan ini tidak membebankan'. Sehinggakan apabila GST dilaksanakan mereka berkata "ini baik untuk masa depan rakyat."
Kepada pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat, sedarlah bahawa rakyat kini seakan anak ayam kehilangan ibu Jadi siapa dapat diharapkan?  Jika dulu, media massa termasuk akhbar arus perdana dapat diharapkan untuk membela nasib rakyat termasuk apabila berlaku kenaikan harga minyak dan barangan keperluan tetapi hari nampaknya pihak ini tidak boleh dijadikan tempat bergantung. 
Malah kebanyakan media massa hari ini sudah seiring dengan segala tindak-tanduk pihak pemerintah. Malah sesetengahnya 'bodek' mereka lebih kuat lagi. Mereka sudah menjadi 'yes man' kepada pemerintah jadi sama taraflah mereka dengan menteri yang kerap mengungkapkan 'kenaikan ini tidak membebankan'. 
Benar ada media massa membuat tinjauan ke atas rakyat, namun yang disiarkan hanyalah pandangan mereka memuji-muji langkah kerajaan tetapi yang membuat kritikan dan menyatakan ketidakpuasan mereka tidak disiarkan langsung. Atau petugas-petugas di TV, radio dan akhbar membuat 'editing' dengan memotong dan membuang adegan (termasuk pandangan) yang tidak sesuai dengan kehendak mereka.
Namun syukurlah hari ini kita ada media sosial baru yang dapat menyamaikan maklumat tanpa sempadan. Perkara inilah yang ditakuti oleh pihak yang melakukan kezaliman. Kebobrokan mereka akan diketahui dengan segera, jadi mari kita beramai-ramai mensyukuri dan memanfaat kemudahan ini semaksimum mungkin untuk menghancurkan pihak penyusah rakyat seperti Umno-BN. 
Media dan pakatan baru adalah harapan baru rakyat, terutama di kalangan generasi muda termasuklah gabungan anak muda yang diketuai Adam Adli. Jadi harapan rakyat untuk hidup penuh bermaruah dan berdaulat masih terbuka luas, ya percayalah kuasa rakyat akan menjatuhkan Umno-BN pada PRU akan datang!

'Knell' to your mother this Ramadan before its too late!

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

Reflection

The Declining Day (Al-'Asr)
1. By the declining day,
2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss,
3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort 
one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.
***

DEAR readers; I saw these beautiful phrases of a poster placed at a notice board of a 'masjid' which read: "Biarkan solatmu beribu-ribu rakaat, sedekahmu berjuta-juta ringgit, hajimu berkali-kali, tapi saat kamu gores hati ibumu, syurga bukan milikmu, kasih ibu membawa ke syurga, jagalah ibu." (Even though you offer 'solat' (prayers) doing thousands and thousands of 'rakaat' (units of prayers), your arms amounted to thousands of ringgit, you perform hajj many times, but the moment you 'pierce' (hurt) your mother's heart, heaven is out of your reach, a mother's love brings you to paradise, please take care of your mother).
We are now in the middle of Ramadan and as we are about to enter the final stage of the holy month (the last ten days) which scholars believed 'Lailatulqadar' (Night of Power) falls during the period, let us (I included) 'cleanse, purify and clear' our hearts, minds and doings in hoping and pleading that Allah SWT would be pleased and accept our 'ibadah' (good deeds).
For the beginning let us do some 'muhasabah' (reflection) regarding our 'ibadah' during this Ramadan. From scenarios at many 'masjids', Muslims showed great interest in performing 'solat tarawih' (a 'sunat' (recommended) prayers) but many failed to join congregation of the five times compulsory prayers (solat fardhu) that are 'zuhur', 'asar', 'maghrib', 'isyak' and 'subuh'.
The writer is not suggesting that Muslims not to emphasized on 'solat sunat tarawih' but to draw attention that some of us (the writer included) to buck up in our knowledge about 'fiqh aulawiyah' (give priority to things that are more important). 'Solat tarawih' is only 'sunat' but why must many Muslim go all out for it but put little attention on 'solat fardu'? Deeds which are of in the category of 'sunat' cannot be placed more important than the 'fardhu' ones.
Now, we come back to discuss those beautiful phrases I mentioned earlier - "even though you offer 'solat' (prayers) doing thousands and thousands of 'rakaat' (units of prayers)...but the moment you broke your mothers heart, heaven is out of your reach." Yes, dear readers, this Ramadan we should look back at our relationship with our parents especially our mother because if we were in bad terms with them...an 'ustaz' during his 'tazkirah' (Islamic lessons) I heard recently said it would jeopardy our future not only in the Hereafter but in this world. In short we were heading for the doom even though we 'solat' (pray), fast and perform other good deeds tirelessly.
Islam is simple, but our mistake is that we make it complicated. Many of us talked about the thousands of prayers we did (including the 'sunat' ones), the large amount of money we gave for charity and the many times we had performed our hajj and umra' (minor hajj) but we failed to look at the basic teaching of the religion which is very simple and this includes how is our behavior (treatment) to our parents!
The Qur’an says: “We have sent down the Book to you which manifests the truth about all things and as guidance and mercy and good news for Muslims.” (Qur’an, 16:89) The religion is easy, beautiful and simply perfect. Why make things hard? The Qur’an reads: “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship.” (Qur’an, 2:185)
Regarding our relationship with our parents, we should consistently bear in mind the high status to which Allah SWT has given to parents, a status which mankind has never known, except in Islam. Their status is so elevated that respect for parents is one step below belief in Allah SWT and true worship of Him. In other words, treating parents well, with tender loving care, is the best of one's good deeds, after having faith in Allah SWT. - Let Us Remember Allah (For the Gift of Love in Our Hearts) - Safiah Osman
Dear readers; this Ramadan many of us talked about the many good deeds we had done and was in the thinking about the many more we plan to do; one thing we should never forget is to to assess our relationship with our parents especially our mothers. If the relationship 'is bad or ill' and our parents are still alive, this is a perfect time for us 'to knell down to them' seeking forgiveness from doing what had hurt their hearts. Please do it now and not wait for the coming of 'Hari Raya' (Eid). Please show them our devoted love by cleansing our hearts before it is too late
And to those whose parents had passed away, there are many ways to 'still service' (do good deeds to them) such as saying our 'du'a (supplication) asking Allah SWT to pardon them, giving arms in their names and doing good deeds to their love ones such as their friends who are still alive.
It is beneficial for Muslims to have Islamic knowledge and views about caring one’s parents. Yes, there are bountiful rewards in this word and the Hereafter to those who take great care of their parents; what more when they are of old age but those who abandon them would see the doom in this world and Hereafter. 
To those who have old age parents under their care, please take note about this hadith. Kaab bin Ujra relates, "Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said, "Come near to the 'mimbar'." And we came near to the 'mimbar'. When he ascended the first step of the 'mimbar' he said "Aameen." When he ascended the second step of the 'mimbar' he said, "Aameen.: When he ascended the third step he said, "Aameen." 
When he descended we said, "0 Rasul of Allah, we have heard from you today something which we never heard before." He said, when I ascended the first step, Jibra-eel a.s. appeared before me and said, "Woe to him who found the blessed month of Ramadan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness,” upon that I said, "Aameen." 
When I ascended the second step, he said "Woe to him before whom thy name is mentioned and then does not read Durood (salaat alan Nabi) on you." 
I replied "Aameen." When I ascended the third step he said, "Woe unto the person in whose presence both parents or one of them attain old age, and (through failure to serve them) is not allowed to enter Jannah." I said "Aameen." (Reported by Haakim)"
There are bountiful rewards to those who care for their parents and heavy penalties to those who resist but why nowadays more and more aged parents were abandoned by their own children? Some are left abandoned in their own homes, others are sent to old folks' homes. Among reasons given the children are busy working and don’t have the time to attend to their parents' needs. 
We could not attain success if we abandoned our parents for heaven lies at the feet of mothers; he who wishes to enter Paradise through the best door must please his father and mother.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Allah delays all sins, by His Will, except the disobedience towards parents. He punishes the one who is undutiful to his parents even before his death.” Ibn Omar reported that the Prophet s.a.w. said: "The parent's crying is considered part of disobedience to them and is one of the major sins."
Allah SWT said: “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a world of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. 
“And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young.” (Al-Isra; 17: 23-24) 
In one of our classical books of history and narrations, it is mentioned that once, Abdullah ibn Umar was doing 'tawaaf' around the Ka’bah as an elderly person, many years after the death of the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam. 
And he saw a man doing 'tawaaf' around the Ka’bah who had a very old lady on his back. He was doing 'tawaaf' carrying this lady on his back. And when the man saw ibn Umar, he rushed up to him, recognizing who he is, and he said, “Oh ibn Umar,” oh son of Umar ibn al-Khattaab, “Oh ibn Umar, this lady on my back is my mother.” This lady is my mother. “And she had a desire to go do hajj. And I live in such and such a province,” and he mentioned a far province in the Muslim lands, “And I could not afford a mount.” I could not afford an animal; I could not afford to bring her in any other means except by carrying her on my back, walking from such and such a village. “Oh ibn Umar, have I done my duty as a son?” Is the scale now equivalent? Have all of the good deeds that the mother did, have I now recompensed her the way that she deserves? 
Ibn Umar responded: “You have done nothing in return.” You’re proud and boastful about this? You have done nothing; your deeds are not worth anything in the scale! You’re comparing a scale of what your mother has done to what you have done back to her?! He says, “You have done nothing in return. But you have done good, and Allah will reward you.” 
The man said, “Oh ibn Umar, I have traveled from such and such a province,” what do you mean I’ve done nothing? “I have traveled from the furthest lands, carrying my mother on my back - and you say I have done nothing?” Ibn Umar said – and listen to this psychologist, listen to the profundity of the response that he gave to this man, listen to it and understand it and apply it in your daily lives – he said: 
“You have done nothing because: when she sacrificed everything for you; when she did everything that she did for you – she gave up her time, her pleasures, her health – she gave up everything she had to raise you as you are – she did it out of a pure love and joy – wanting to see you flourish, waiting so you grow up and you live a full healthy life – she did it for your life - and now that you do it in return, you are waiting for her death – doing it as a pity – doing as an equivalent, doing it in return for the favors – you’re not doing it to see her flourish and live. You’re doing it as a sense of guilt, trying to pay back what she’s done, and waiting for her death, so she is literally off your back.”
Dear readers; please note that the status of a mother is much, much higher than the father. There is nothing which can measure the depths of a mother’s love. Her love is endless, boundless, and limitless without boundaries. When all around us there is a great deal of grief and misery, a great deal of heedlessness, carelessness, thanklessness and inconsiderateness, a mother’s immense love shines through the darkness, glowing with her cheerfulness, kindness and goodness. - Le Us Remember Allah
Truthly, there is no greater love than a mother’s love. It is a love which restrains us from walking off alone into the wilderness, into life’s wilderness and dreadful darkness. 
Let us keep in mind what Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him – pbuh) said: “Love your mother, love you mother, love your mother and then love your father.”
The complete version of this hadith which was narrated by Abu Hurairah is: A man came to Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Your mother.” The man said, “Who is next?” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Your mother.” The man further said, “Who is next?” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Your mother.” The man asked (for the fourth time), “Who is next?” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Your father.” (Al-Bukhari – Hadith No. 5971)

Tidak guna pemimpin berubah jika rakyat terus susah

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

Renungan

"Wafatkanlah aku dan keadaan Islam dan gabungkanlah aku dengan orang-orang saleh." (Maksud Ayat 101 Surah Yusuf)

'PAKATAN harapan rakyat' - demikian sebegitu banyak ucapan dan tulisan di mana-mana termasuk dalam dunia siber tetapi akhir-akhir ini harapan rakyat bagi 'membenamkan' Umno-BN yang terlalu rakus berkuasa sedikit sebanyak terjejas berikutan perkembangan terbaru dalam Pakatan Rakyat.
Dalam kesinambungan tamadun manusia malah kehidupan manusia sendiri dua komponen pihak iaitu pemimpin dan orang dipimpin (rakyat) perlu wujud (ada). Jika tiada rakyat, tiadalah pemimpin, jika ada rakyat pasti ada pemimpinnya. Peri pentingnya hubungan pemimpin dan rakyat dapat dilihat daripada kata-kata mutiara seperti 'raja dan rakyat tiada terpisah jua', 'baik pemimpin baiklah rakyat' dan 'raja adil raja 'disembah'; raja zalim raja disanggah'.
Demokrasi juga memelihara hubungan pemimpin-rakyat. Rakyat memilih pemimpin, maka timbullah slogan seperti 'daripada rakyat untuk rakyat' dan 'daripada rakyat kepada rakyat'. Di sini jelas sekali kepentingan rakyat...dan berhubung perkara ini saya sangat tertarik dengan kata-kata bernas yang kerap diungkapkan oleh seorang pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat (usahlah namanya dinyatakan)..."tidak guna pemimpin (pemerintah) berubah jika rakyat terus susah."
Antara lain beliau mengungkap bahawa; "kita bukan bermatlamat menukar pemimpin...ya buat apa tukar pemimpin jika pemimpin baru itu sama seperti pemimpin lama yang terus menyusahkan rakyat." 
Ya, dalam konteks rakyat, apa yang menjadi keutamaan mereka? Tentunya kehendak kebanyakannya menepati pandangan ahli ekonomi (malah kehidupan) bahawa mereka mahu memenuhi keperluan asas manusia itu soal makan-minum, pakaian dan tempat tinggal. Namun ada yang meletakkan 'persoalan ketuhanan' di kedudukan tertinggi kerana makanan, pakaian dan tempat tinggal perlu diperolehi secara 'telus' (halal). Selepas itu barulah manusia bergerak ke depan dengan memikirkan mengenai soal kekeluargaan, hubungan sesama manusia (berkerajaan dan bermuamalat), pendidikan, keadilan dan sebagainya.
Demikianlah, wahai pemimpin buat permulaan jagalah persoalan makan minum, pakaian dan tempat tinggal (rumah) rakyat. Dan bagi pemerintah yang gagal 'berlaku adil' dalam hal ini seperti menekan rakyat dengan mengenakan cukai tinggi sebaliknya mereka melakukan pemborosan dan aneka penyelewengan, maka sewajar mereka diganti. Namun amat malang jika pemerintah baru 'berperangai sama' yang mengakibatkan kehidupan rakyat semakin susah - jadi apa ertinya jika pemimpin sudah bertukar tetapi rakyat tetap susah. 
Hal yang sama juga boleh dikatakan mengenai keadilan; apa guna pemimpin sudah bertukar tetapi rakyat dizalimi dan tidak mendapat keadilan seperti ada 'set undang-undang berbeza untuk golongan atasan dan rakyat marhain'. Perkara inilah yang ditentang oleh Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. yang dalam salah satu hadisnya ada menyatakan, "jika Fatimah (anak baginda sendiri) yang mencuri akan kupotong tangannya..."
Membicarakan soal pemimpin berubah rakyat tetap susah ini, kita cukup tertarik dengan kritikan tajam pelbagai pihak di Indonesia termasuk media massanya apabila Joko Widowo (Jokowi)- Jusuf Kalla (JK) mengambil alih kuasa daripada pasangan Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) - Boediono tahun lalu.
Selepas Jokowi-JK berada di puncak kuasa, media massa dengan keras mengingatkan pemimpin bahawa tidak guna pemerintah saja berubah tetapi nasib rakyat tetap sama - tidak berubah, miskin di dalam sebuah negara yang mewah sumber alamnya.  Mereka berkata, kebanyakan pemimpin tetap sama, belum dapat kuasa banyaklah janji dan pameran kebaikannya tetapi selepas itu janji tinggal janji..."
Akhbar 'Pikiran Rakyat' tanggal 23 Oktober 2014, misalnya, dalam sebuah artikel utamanya mengingatkan: "Para pemimpin yang baru terpilih...jangan hanya 'bisa' membuat program kerja baru, tapi 'bisa' melaksanakannya." Rakyat sudah muak dengan janji-janji, mereka mahu menikmati hasil daripada program dan projek kerajaan tetapi hal itu tidak berlaku - kehidupan mereka masih sama seperti dulu sekalipun pemimpin sudah acap kali berubah.
Kini selepas hampir setahun Jokowi-JK berkuasa - apa rakyat kebanyakan sudah dapat daripada pertukaran pemimpin ini? Ya, kebanyakannya terus susah dengan harga minyak terus naik begitu juga dengan tarif listrik (elektrik).
Ada satu lawak di Indonesia, bahawa harga minyak, barangan dan tarif tidak dinaikkan; perkataan yang mereka gunakan adalah 'harganya berubah'. Ini mungkin menyamai tindakan pihak berkuasa Malaysia yang menggunakan istilah 'rasionalisasi subsidi' bagi mengabui mata rakyat. 
Ya kebanyakan pemimpin sama saja (kecuali segelintir), tidak kira di Indonesia atau Malaysia malah di serata dunia, belum dapat kuasa banyak saja janjinya, sudah berkuasa habuk pun tak ada!

'Who would be the next 'allahyarham'?'

***
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.
***
TIME flies very fast; by the time readers are reading this article a week had past since we started 'puasa' (fasting) in the holy month of Ramadan. Recently an old mate posted in our e-group a list of our batch in secondary school some 40 years ago and what impressed me he managed to tick names of friends who had passed away - eight out of about 120 mates - had been called by Allah SWT.
My friends and I are now 53 - it meant that the friends who were called by the Lord were very young - many of us are now climbing the ladder to top positions in public and corporate sectors. Almost all of us graduated with first degrees at the age of 23, and now with some 30 years of experience working and some having masters and PhD degrees, many of us are holding key posts in various working identities.
Three years ago when my school batch were celebrating 'our half a century (50 years) existence on earth'  in a comeback gathering, I distributed photocopies of my writing which appeared in the English Section of Harakah entitled ' Our critical last 10 years'. 
In the article, among others I mentioned that if were to follow 'Sunnah' (follow the life span of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. who died at 63) we have about 13 years 'to check ourselves' before we would be called by the Lord. Now, three years had passed, our existence in this world is getting shorter and shorter by each day.
I remember writing: "Time is running short. Our batch (class of Form Five 1979) who turned 50 this year would only have a balance of 13 years to do our best in life including the most important - our preparation for life in the Hereafter which is forever.
"Beloved friends, if our past 50 years were wasted that easy, imagine how are going to benefit the last 13 years left? Yes, how are we going to use that short span of time to save ourselves from Hellfire. If we were to think hard (I mean moving in the straight path), then we would panic and tremble, the time left is so short yet we have drifted too far to catch back the time that was lost when we filled it with aimless activities what’s more with ‘haram’ (forbidden) ones. 
"At 50, are we still after those worldly pleasures; for example if we have already owned a bangalow, are we all out to renovate it into an ‘istana’? Or are we chasing after a Lamborghini after having being blessed with a fleet of five cars including a Mercedes, a Bugati and Ferrari? 
"Or are we still chasing after women (girls to be exact) to make them Mrs. No 2, 3 or 4? Or are we madly working to make our money (or to be exact RM figures) in our bank accounts with more 0 digits behind; for example if we were having RM100,000; would we like to add another one 0 to make it RM1,000,000 (one million ringgit) or three 0s to make it RM100,000,000 (one hundred million ringgit). Wow, that’s a lot of money!
"Ooh friends, remember at 50, we have finished using 5/6 of our lives. We have another 1/6 of it to go with; so dear brothers, enough is enough, with the balance of about 10 years, please make the best of it to work hard so that we would not be dumped into the furthest part of hell. Allah SWT says in the Quran: “O! You who believe, save yourself and your families from Hell-fire, whose fuel are humans and stones (idols)…” (At-Tahrim 66: 6) 
"If we were to enter a race of 600 meters and we have only another 100 meters to pass the finishing line, would we still be dazzling away with all that worldly wonders that would be of no help to us in the Hereafter or are we putting all our energy and resources to reach the finishing line? 
"Scholars have reminded us again and again that RM, dollars, pounds, rupees and yen would of no use in the Hereafter. The much sought items there were ‘iman’ (faith) and good deeds; unfortunately the Hereafter is not a place to do good deeds but a place to reaped ‘our best crop’ grown on earth!"
Well dear readers, 'alhamdulillah' (all praise to Allah) we are blessed again to observe Ramadan; it is timely for us to do some reflections - we do not know if this is our last Ramadan - as in 'my batch schoolmates case' - eight of them had been called by Allah SWT.
An hour before writing this article, I heard an 'ustaz' (religious teacher) had beautifully explained the above situation - living in this world is like us lining in a row to have our throat being slaughtered, just like chickens in a slaughter house where they were put into a cage and then picked up one after another to be slaughtered. Sorry if this harsh word offended some readers and to my dear old school mates, I was sacred scared and my heart trembled upon writing this sentence - 'who wound be No 9?'...'who would the next 'allahyarham' (the late?).
'Ya Allah' (O Allah), I am very very afraid. I am not ready for death. The problem is whether we are ready or not, death is inevitable. It would surely 'knock our doors', only time would tell. Death would be upon us whether are afraid or not afraid of it - one sure thing every living things would come to end one day!
To readers especially friends (I included) who are still 'chasing worldly pleasures like mad' and forgetting our future in the Hereafter, please stop it because who knows 'we are the next chicken in the cage to be picked up and then been slaughtered' (die-lah).
After death, nothing could help us - only our 'iman' and 'amal' would determine our being in the Hereafter and the saddest part of it there is no way to be back on earth 'to do corrections' for example to repent and do good deeds. There is no point to regret because death and beyond is a one way ticket journey - everything we left on earth would of no use except for there - that are our 'sadaqah jariah' (long term charity such as building a masjid), the good knowledge that we impart and pious children who would 'du'a' (do supplication) for us.
Why must we be crazy for 'worldly pleasures' because 'they are only temporary satisfactions'. Scholars have reminded us that our priorities in life keep on changing as the years pass; for example when we are young, many of us were are after wealth and a sound and peaceful married life, then as we grow older we realize that it is health, then it is love (bondness among families members) and then when we lay on our death bed, only then we realize that we long for good deeds done. 
At this critical moment only do we realize that our ‘amal’ are not enough to take us to the Hereafter; but it is already too late. The son of man grows and with him grows two things – the love of wealth and love of long life. But what about good deeds? 
If we knew that we need to gather lots of good deeds in this world for ‘stock’ in the Hereafter where RM, dollars and pounds were useless, we would be after them when we were still young; unfortunately many of us realize it when death is upon us. 
The Holy Prophet s.a.w. warned us when he said: “On the day of Judgment, one will not be able to move away before Allah until he has accounted for his life, how it was spent; on knowledge, to what use it was put; regarding wealth, how it was acquired and spent; and on body, how it is utilized? 
All things related to this world would not satisfy human beings, for example regarding richness (wealth) the Holy Prophet said: “Even if there were for a man two valleys full of wealth he would aspire for a third one, and nothing would fill man’s belly but dust, and Allah turns him who turns to Allah. 
So, it is timely during this Ramadan to remind myself, friends and readers that our priority in life should be expanding our stock of ‘amal’ before our ‘Big Day’ (death) catches up on us. Don’t gamble with our lives, thinking that death is still far away from us; who knows this Ramadan would be our last!
As for this Ramadan, pray and work hard to please Allah; we should 'be greedy' to stock up our 'pahala' (good rewards). In our 'greediness' for 'pahala', please hope and hope and 'du'a' that we would get Lailatulqadar (Night of Power) this Ramadan. 
In Surah Al-Qadr, Allah SWT says: “Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power; Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is!; The Night of Power is better than a thousand months; The angels and Spirit (Jibril, Gabriel) descend therein, by permissions of their Lord, with all decrees; (That night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.” 
When one performs his obligations and good deeds during ‘Lailatulqadar’, then he/she would be rewarded for his/her deeds for that night better than a thousand months (1 night = 83 years 4 months!). 

Dari UKM ke Harakah (22): Ujian Ramadan dedah siapa sebenar diri kita...

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

Renungan

"Wafatkanlah aku dan keadaan Islam dan gabungkanlah aku dengan orang-orang saleh." (Maksud Ayat 101 Surah Yusuf)
MENURUT ulama pada Ramadan, iblis dan syaitan dirantai; namun kita (termasuk sayalah tu) masih teruk perangai dan sikapnya. Mengapa ya? Menurut ulama lagi itulah pedoman bagi menilai diri kita sendiri; itulah diri kita sebenar yang masih tak baik, masih banyak perkara yang perlu dibaiki. Persoalannya sampai bila? Ulama menjawab...sampai kita mati!
Demikianlah kita wajib mengkoreksi diri sepanjang masa, sering benar kita kecundang dalam kehidupan ini. Baru-baru ini saya ke sebuah bank. Sebaik keluar bank, saya 'diterjah' seorang pemuda berketayap yang membuka 'meja bisnesnya' di sisi bank. Dia memberi salam dan mengesyorkan saya 'menempa' (membeli) satu naskhah al-Quran dengan harga RM50 untuk diinfakkan di masjid. 
Saya bersetuju dan selepas urusan itu selesai dia memujuk saya membeli satu set koleksi lima buku agama seorang tokoh pemikir Islam termasyur dengan harga istimewa RM450 sedangkan harga ditulis di buku lebih RM790. Saya tidak tertarik.Namun si penjual pandai memujuk. Akhirnya saya bersetuju membeli sedangkan di poket saya hanya ada RM150.
Punyalah pandai si penjual, akhirnya saya ke bank lain yang jauhnya lebih kurang dua kilometer kerana di bank pertama kad saya tidak boleh digunakan. Di bank itu saya menemui seorang sahabat lama, jadi kami berborak lama. Lebih satu jam. Ketika berbual, si penjual menelefon saya, bertanya mengapa saya begitu lama di bank.
Saya kembali ke bank pertama dan menyelesaikan urusan pembelian. Balik rumah, saya cari sebuah buku tokoh pemikir termasyhur yang saya teringat pernah saya beli. Terkejut besar dan sungguh terkilan saya kerana koleksi buku yang beli dengan harga RM450 itu isinya 'sebijik sama' dengan buku yang sudah lama saya beli itu. Buku lama itu berharga RM40 sahaja!
Koleksi buku yang baru saya beli itu ada dinyatakan cetakan pertamanya pada 2009 dan sudah sampai ke cetakan kelapan pada tahun ini (2015) sedangkan buku yang berharga RM40 itu tercatat di salah satu muka awalnya dicetak pada 2003. Jadi ada yang 'tak kena' dalam hal ini, ya siapa tiru siapa? Subhanallah dalam hal agama pun ada orang sanggup ambil kesempatan.
Serta merta 'saya naik berang'. 'Mendidih' hati saya. Mahu saya kembali ke tempat tadi dan 'menyerang' penjual buku tadi. Ini tak boleh jadi ni - bisik hati saya. Ya, iblis dan syaitan sudah diikat, tetapi macam mana saya naik darah begitu? Itulah sebenarnya diri saya...panas darah, panas baran, 'kedekut' (kerana sudah hilang banyak wang), tidak dapat menerima takdir dan pelbagai sikap negatif lain.
Hati saya 'panas' tetapi syukurlah Ramadan 'berjaya' menyekat saya daripada bertindak 'jahat dan bodoh'. Selepas merenung-renung diri, saya sedar itu 'ujian Ramadan' saya. Sebahagian daripada perangai dan sikap jahat saya terserlah sudah. 'Ya, itulah kau sebenarnya wahai LanH; kau yang panas baran, tidak sabar, tidak tahan diuji...dan terlalu sayangkan harta benda termasuklah wang, sekarang wang engkau sudah melayang...Kerana kau selalu fikir pasal dunia, sekarang dunia sudah tipu kau...demikian antara gerak hati saya. Akhirnya saya matikan saja gelojak hati saya, halalkan saja, beri kemaafan kepada budak penjual itu, anggaplah ia sebagai sedekah...insya-Allah, Allah akan memberikan yang lebih baik kepada kamu!
Ramadan yang penuh barakah, jaminan pengampunan dan pembebasan daripada api neraka itu sudah berada di pertengahan jalan. Sebelum Ramadan ini berakhir, sebagai panduan untuk saya dan pembaca, amat-amati tazkirah seorang ustaz di Balai Islam iaitu sebuah surau yang kerap saya kunjungi ketiga bertugas di Harakah dulu.. Kata ustaz itu, jika keseronokan atau keasyikan Ramadan sudah menguasai jiwa barulah puasa kita membawa erti. Jika tidak, dikhuatiri puasa kita hanyalah sekadar menahan diri daripada makan dan minum atau lebih tinggi sedikit iaitu menahan anggota diri daripada perkara-perkara bukan hak. 
Bagaimana mahu mendatangkan keasyikan Ramadan? Ustaz itu mengkiaskan tingkah laku seorang peminat bola sepak, katakan penyokong tegar Perak. Penyokong ini bekerja di Kuala Lumpur, tetapi kerana fanatiknya kepada pasukan Perak, di mana saja ada perlawanan membabitkan pasukan ini , akan dihadirinya. Jika pasukan Yob ditakdirkan bermain di Pulau Pinang, peminat tegar ini akan melakukan apa saja supaya dia dapat ke sana. 
Kalau perlu menipu untuk mendapat cuti, dia akan lakukan. Kalau tiada kenderaan, yang ada cuma sebuah motosikal Cup, dia sanggup menunggang dari KL ke Ipoh atau Pulau Pinang. Panas, hujan malah sakit, tidak dipedulikannya. Yang penting dia mesti menyaksikan pemain Yob beraksi. Cintanya kepada pasukan Yob sudah menjadikan dia begitu. Dia sudah asyik dengan dunia bola dan Yobnya. 
Bagaimana mahu asyik dengan Ramadan? Ini soalan sukar dijawab. Ustaz itu berkata, orang yang sudah asyik mahsyuk dengan Ramadan, tidak peduli apa lagi. Kuih raya ke, baju raya ke, duit raya ke, cuti raya ke, semuanya tidak ada dalam kamus mereka. Sebaliknya mereka cukup cemas dengan ibadat dan penghambaan terhadap Yang Maha Kuasa kerana Ramadan semakin hari semakin menuju penghabisan! Dia juga cemas sama ada dia mendapat Lailatuqadar yang jika beribadat padanya akan mendapat ganjaran lebih 1,000 bulan (83 tahun empat bulan). Ya, mana nak cari bulan lain yang 'secantik' Ramadan; jadi 'rebutlah' Ramadan ini sebelum ia berlalu pergi...

'Allocate our prime time to Allah'...

***
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.
***

'Marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahra Ramadan' (Greetings and welcome O month of Ramadan) - dear readers, we are now in Ramadan, the holiest month of the year and I would like to take the opportunity to do some reflections to be shared with readers based on the little knowledge I had after following closely 'tazkirah' (Islamic lessons) almost every night for several years.
From the many lessons I learned, the first thing I would like mention is about time. Well, what does Allah SWT The Almighty says about time? Allah SWT had warned us about time in Surah Al-Asr (The Time): 1. By Al-'Asr (the time). 2. Verily! Man is in loss, 3. Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf)which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar) which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad, etc.)
Then what does Allah SWT says about the purpose of Him created us (mankind)? In Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51), 'ayahs' (verses) 56 and 57 He says: "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me."
Yes 'our mission' in this world is to worship Allah. 'Subhanallah' (Glory to God) how is our days and years (time) spend on earth? Each and everyone of us is given 24 hours a day; let's us now evaluate on what we do in our everyday life. Perhaps our (the writer included) 24 hours were full of playful and useless activities and being wasted away without us being guilty! 
Let us look at look at the things we do during those 24 hours given to each of us by Allah SWT. A large part of it (about 6-8 hours) we sleep, another 8 hours we spend it working, and for the balance time, we are engage in routine activities such as eating, watching TV, playing games, going to the toilets and so on. 
This is what ordinary people do, as for a busy person such a businessman, a journalist or a politician; he may spend perhaps up to 16 hours doing business or work and some may complain he or she has no time to say his/her ‘solat’ (prayers). 
Imagine, from the 24 hours a day given by Allah SWT, he/she has the guts to say that he/she has no time to say his five times daily ‘fardu’ (compulsory) prayers! Some dared to say they have no time to perform even a prayer! Remember that Allah SWT has sent us to earth to worship Him for He had said: "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me." (ayah 56-57 Surah Adh-Dhariyat)
How come when a person says he has no time for prayers yet pious people during the same period of 24 hours could perform all five times daily prayers in congregation in masjids and some could offer up tens or even hundreds of ‘rakaat’ of ‘sunat’ (recommendation) prayers. If a ‘busy’ person complains he has no time to even flip the pages of the Qur’an, then there are pious people who could complete reading (khatam) the whole Qur’an in a day! 
And during 'football seasons' such as the World Cup, a fanatic football fan would perhaps spend all his/her 24 hours a day given by The Almighty with his ‘eat and sleep way of life’ in front of the idiot box (TV). 
Perhaps he/she is too busily engrossed in his interest that he/she has no time to perform his obligations to Allah SWT such as performing his ‘solat’! Yes his/her 24 hours a day is spend only of football yet pious people with the Hereafter as their main concern, could do numerous good things that ‘insya-Allah’ (God willing) would please Allah SWT and would rewarded handsomely by Him. 
Then there were among us who managed to say our prayers but they were done 'in a nick of time'. We were 'too stingy' with their time to be with God; we prayed 'when we have the time' and the obligations were done during our 'free and spared time'.
Take for example the way some of us performed our 'zuhur' (midday prayers). 'Zuhur' begins at about 1:15 pm; but at that time we were busy with our office chores and were reluctant to have our lunch hour not fully used. We would rather be at the lunch table joking with friends rather than joining congregators at masjids or be at our office's 'surau'.
After lunch we were back to our office work. Suddenly at 4.15 pm when we were preparing our desks to go home, only then we realized we had not perform our 'zuhur' prayers. We rushed to the 'surau' and managed to say our prayers 'in the nick of time' because 'asar' (late afternoon) prayers begins at 4.25 pm. 
Then there were some of us who pray during commercial breaks while glued to their TV favorite programs shows and films such as Hindustani movies and football games.
'Subhanallah' dear readers including myself, if our lives 'fit the above description' then during this timely occasion of  Ramadan, let's do some reflections. Surely during all 'those years' we had done injustice not only to God but our ourselves.  
Allah SWT The Almighty has given us 24 hours a day, is it fair for us to give Him 'our lousy time'? If we have 'no time' to be with Allah SWT, then what could be said about our relationship to Him? I am afraid if we have 'no time' to Him, then 'He would also have to time to us'.
An 'ustaz' described the situation as such: "If you hired a worker what do you expect from him/her? Say his/her working hours is from 9 am to 5 pm (8 hours), what's your reaction if he/she spend 7 hours doing things of his/her wish and fancies and only an hour to do work subscribed by you? Of course you would get angry, would not pay him/her but 'kick him/her out'.
"Then please have a mirror to look at ourselves. Allah SWT has created us to worship Him but what's our attitude to Him. We not only 'do not do what He told us to do' but we go against Him; only once in a while we give 'our spare time' to Him. From our 'ill attitudes' we should be able to judge 'what rewards' we would get from Him.
"The correct way is allocate our prime to Allah SWT. Please give our time to Him. If He expect us to say our 'solat' (prayers) at the earliest time possible, then do it...if 'zuhur' begins at 1.15 pm, prepare for it earlier - take our ablutions and headed for the masjid - we should give priority to His orders. Remember we are His servants...we are send to earth to worship Him."
A hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas: Allah’s Apostle s.a.w. said: “Take benefit of ‘five’ before ‘five’: your youth before your old age, you health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free-time before your preoccupation and your life before you’re your death.” 
Dear readers especially myself, please make full use of the opportunities given by Allah the Almighty, not to waste them. We should appreciate what we have especially the ‘five’ mention in the hadith - youth, health, wealth, free-time, and life.
Now we are in Ramadan which in it is the obligation of 'siyam' (puasa in Malay or fasting) with the main aim is to increase our 'takqa' (piety) to Him. 
It is a timely time to do some reflections on our overall practice of Islam. For example how is our 'solat' nowadays - is the 'quality' of our 'solat' at 50 years of age the same as our 'solat' when we were 15 years old - that was 35 years ago? 
The same could be said about our 'puasa' - is it the same as the yesteryear when we refrained ourselves from only eating and drinking or 'puasa yang yok' (cheating by eating or drinking when one is alone) but keep our eyes open seeing 'haram' (forbidden) things and open our ears to all sort of gossips and our tongues lash out bad and 'laser' words. 
Well, what about our 'zakat' - is it the same old you ‘that only pay for tithes during Ramadan' and forget the compulsory zakat for incomes, agriculture yields, gold and livestock such as cows and sheep? 
And how's our daily chores going on for example things we take for granted such wasting of money and food, spending on unnecessary items and involving in immoral activities such as going to pubs and disco and involving in smoking, gambling and drinking. 
Then how's our time being spend? People tend to waste time; only a few 'veterans' prefer to seek knowledge including attending 'tazkirah' (lessons) at masjids, the rest waste their time doing unnecessary and unproductive activities such as spending long hours chatting or playing 'dam haji' (checkers) in 'warong kopi' (coffee shop). And during this Ramadan, people spend a lot of time at 'Pasar Ramadan', 'Bazar Ramadan' and so on.
The question is, have we been auditing ourselves? We tend not to look at ourselves but waste our precious time on others. Over the course of the year, we can easily fall into the habit of focusing too much on the affairs of others. 
In true sense, our time could be better spent working to improve ourselves in the religion and seeking the Mercy of Allah and seeking His pardon for our own errors and mistakes. Remember our time left is too short; perhaps the Lord would called for us in a year time, tomorrow or even today or after reading this article! Subhanallah.