Roslan Hamid's Blog, page 168

Agamawan, berhati-hatilah ketika bercakap, bertindak...

******************** DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ******************** Renungan *************************** "Dan katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): Beramallah kamu (akan segala yang diperintahkan), maka Allah dan Rasul-Nya serta orang-orang beriman akan melihat apa yang kamu kerjakan; dan kamu akan dikembalikan kepada (Allah) yang mengetahui perkara-perkara ghaib dan yang nyata, kemudian ia menerangkan kepada kamu apa yang kamu telah kerjakan." (Surah At-Taubah, ayat 105) ********************** NABI yang kita kasihi, Muhammad s.a.w. tidak makan dhab. Tetapi baginda tidak melarang umatnya makan dhab, Sehubungan itu dijadikan hukum boleh makan dhab. Nabi s.a.w. tidak solat sunat sebelum maghrib, tetapi tidak melarang sahabat melakukannya. Jadi boleh solat sunat sebelum maghrib. ************************* Ulama adalah pewaris Nabi s.a.w. Orang kita menggelarkan golongan agamawan sebagai ustaz dan ustazah. Pada sepanjang zaman, perilaku (percakapan dan tindakan) ustaz dan ustazah menjadi perhatian dan ikutan masyarakat. ***************************** Sekarang ini masih musim kenduri (walaupun cuti sekolah sudah tamat). Pada hujung minggu, adalah orang buat kenduri kahwin, kenduri arwah, kenduri 'cukur jambul dan sebagainya'. ********************************** Seorang ustazah melangsungkan perkahwinan anaknya. Di rumah ustazah ada pelamin berhias indah, dia mahu sandingkan anak perempuan dengan menantu barunya. Pada hari 'langsung', anak dan menantu ustazah di pelamin 'ditepung tawarkan' dan 'direnjis-renjis'. ************************** Perkara ini berlaku di rumah ustazah, jadi orang kampung pun buat kesimpulan, bolehlah dirikan pelamin di khalayak ramai, termasuk di laman rumah, manakala pengantinnya direnjis-renjis dan 'ditepung-tawarkan'. Hai, bukankah ustazah yang buat, kata mereka, takkan mereka tak boleh pula. ************************ Seorang ustaz pula diundang ke majlis 'cukur jambul'. Apabila bayi 'disuakan' kepadanya, sang ustaz pun menggambil gunting dan menggunting sedikit rambut bayi lalu mencelupkan tangannya beserta helaian rambut tadi dalam air buah kelapa. Apabila ustaz membuat perkara itu, orang kampung pun membuat kesimpulan, boleh saja majlis cukur jambul cara sedemikian; kan ustaz yang buat... ************************** Demikianlah betapa kuatnya pengaruh golongan agamawan kepada masyarakat, kata seorang tokoh agama dalam majlis tazkirahnya yang saya hadiri baru-baru ini. Sehubungan itu beliau mengingatkan ustaz dan ustazah untuk berhati-hati dan cermat dalam sebarang tindakan mereka termasuklah dari segi percakapan supaya sentiasa sejajar dengan kehendak Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Ini kerana percakapan dan tindakan mereka akan menjadi ikutan masyarakat. ************************* Sempena musim Maulidur Rasul sekarang ini, tokoh agama ini memberi peringatan kepada penganjur majlis sambutan supaya tidak berlebih-lebihan menyemarakkan karnival mereka misalnya meneruskan persembahan nasyid dan pelbagai pengisian lain sekalipun laungan azan bagi solat waktu sudah berkumandang di udara. "Hentikan semua ini, sambutlah seruan azan dan utamakan untuk pergi solat," katanya. **************************** Hakikatnya, tiada hal yang lebih penting daripada memenuhi panggilan Illahi untuk solat apabila aungan azan kedengaran, lebih-lebih lagi pentas karnival adalah di sebelah masjid atau berkongsi kawasan dengan masjid. **************************** Beliau bimbang jika itu dilakukan, anak-anak muda akan membuat kesimpulan "bolehlah meneruskan program mereka sekalipun sudah kedengaran azan kerana ustaz dan ustazah pengelola karnival pun buat perkara yang sama." *************************** Demikianlah betapa kuatnya pengaruh ustaz dan ustazah hatta golongan agamawan lain seperti tok imam dan bilal dalam kehidupan masyarakat kita. Golongan agamawan dihormati, apa saja percakapan dan tindakan mereka dilihat sebagai 'pengesahan' (approval) untuk mereka melakukan sesuatu. Jadi adalah teramat penting untuk golongan agamawan berhati-hati dalam percakapan dan tindakan mereka. *********************** Baru-baru ini tindakan seorang mufti menggunakan istilah 'bughah' ke atas peserta demonstrasi pada malam tahun baru (1 Januari 2014) diberi reaksi hangat oleh masyarakat. Itulah percakapan dan tindakan golongan agamawan (seperti ustaz dan ustazah apatah lagi mufti) menjadi panduan masyarakat. ****************************** Mufti ini cakap mereka 'bughah' selepas ada pihak mendakwa mereka mahu menggulingkan kerajaan. Lantas apabila dibidas, bagi menguatkan hujahnya sang mufti memetik Ayat 9 Surah Al-Hujurat yang bermaksud: “Dan jika dua puak daripada orang-orang yang beriman berperang maka damaikanlah di antara keduanya. Jika salah satu berlaku zalim terhadap yang lain, maka lawanlah puak yang zalim itu sehingga dia kembali mematuhi perintah Allah. Jika dia kembali patuh maka damaikanlah di antara keduanya dengan adil (menurut hukum Allah), serta berlaku adillah kamu, sesungguhnya Allah mengasihi orang yang berlaku adil.” **************************** Mufti membuat kesimpulan peserta demonstrasi 'bughah' kerana mereka mahu menggulingkan kerajaan. Persoalannya, daripada mana mufti tahu mereka mahu menggulingkan kerajaan? Daripada 'media massa penyebar fitnah dan pengadu-domba'? Mengapa percaya bulat-bulat, sebagai seorang agamawan yang dihormati semua pihak, tidak mahukah membuat penyiasatan? ********************** Bukankah dalam Ayat 6 Surah Al-Hujurat, Allah SWT sudah memberi ingatan yang bermaksud: "Hai orang-orang yang beriman, jika datang kepadamu orang fasik membawa suatu berita, maka periksalah dengan teliti agar kamu tidak menimpakan kecelakaan kepada suatu kaum tanpa mengetahui keadaannya yang menyebabkan kamu menyesal atas perbuatan itu."

Cerita sedih rakyat mahu berjimat cermat...

***************************** Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ****************************** Renungan ******************************* Hadis riwayat Abu Hazim, daripada Abu Hurairah yang dikeluarkan oleh Muslim, bermaksud: "Tidak akan hancur dunia ini (kiamat) hingga ada seorang laki-laki yang melewati kuburan lalu ia berguling-guling di atasnya seraya berkata, 'alangkah baiknya sekiranya aku berada di tempat penghuni kubur ini.' Hal ini bukan kerana faktor agama tetapi kerana adanya musibah." ******************************* DALAM artikel terdahulu dalam blog ini ada saya celotehkan (tajuknya; 2014: Berjimatlah tapi jangan sampai bahayakan diri...) antara kaedah saya mahu berjimat bagi menghadapi 'pesta kenaikan' harga barangan dan perkhidmatan mulai tahun baharu 2014 adalah dengan menyuruh seorang anak saya menunggang basikal ke sekolah. *********************** Sebelum ini anak saya menaiki bas sekolah yang tambangnya RM50 sebulan. Saya tidak bimbang menyuruhnya ke sekolah pagi dan petang (sekolah agama) dengan berbasikal kerana jaraknya tidak jauh - tidak sampai pun sekilometer. ****************************** Biasanya pada sebelah pagi, si anak akan menaiki kereta ibunya. Si ibu akan menghantar si anak dan kemudian terus ke sekolah tempat dia mengajar. Berdasarkan 'peraturan' ini, menjadi 'tugas baru' saya untuk 'menghantar' basikal ke sekolah agar anak saya dapat menaikinya apabila pulang nanti. ************************* 'Untuk menghantar' basikal kecil itu tidak menjadi masalah bagi saya. Semasa saya pergi ke masjid untuk solat zuhur, saya boleh memuatkannya di dalam kereta Iswara saya dan 'menurunkan' serta menguncinya sebelum pergi sembahyang. Sekolah dan masjid terletak bersebelahan, pintu pagarnya sentiasa terbuka kecuali pada waktu malam. Jadi tiada masalah untuk anak saya mengambil basikal itu untuk pulang. *********************************** Manusia boleh merancang tetapi Allah penentu segala-galanya. Pada petang Rabu, 1 Januari (sehari sebelum hari pertama persekolahan) saya dapati enjin kereta Iswara saya bermasalah. Jadi tidak bolehlah saya memuatkan basikal kecil anak saya. Saya pun pantas mencari jalan penyelesaian. ***************************** Terlintas di otak saya untuk menunggang motosikal saya dan sambil memegang basikal itu di bahagian 'handle' beriringan untuk dihantar ke kawasan sekolah. **************************** Esoknya, perkara inilah yang saya lakukan. Mula-mulanya ia berjalan lancar. Namun selepas lebih 100 meter, tiba-tiba saya terlebih tekan pemutar minyak, menyebabkan basikal bergerak laju dengan rodanya mendahului roda motosikal. Apa lagi, saya pun hilang keseimbangan; 'tergolek' ke bumi dengan motosikal itu menghempap kaki saya. ***************************** Aduhhh, terasa pedih di bahagian keting kaki kanan. Ya, Allah terkena ekzos panaslah tu. Hujung kaki kiri yang tersembam ke permukaan jalan berdarah pula. Saya cuba gagahkan bangun sebelum datang beberapa penunggang motosikal lain membantu. ******************************* Selepas menyelesaikan pelbagai masalah berkaitan seperti menghantar basikal anak saya dan menguruskan pemergian ibu saya ke hospital bagi memenuhi temu janjinya di sana, saya pun pergi ke klinik swasta bagi mendapatkan rawatan. *************************** Saya ingat doktor akan memberikan saya suntikan antibiotik dan ubat luka dan selepas itu bolehlah saya balik, sebaliknya dia mengarahkan seorang pembantunya membersihkan luka saya. ************************* Pada bahagian kulit terkena eksos dan mula menggelupas, pembantu itu menggunakan penyepit, menarik dan mengguntingnya. Aduhhh, tak tertahan sakit rasanya. Rupanya, sakit juga 'terjatuh motor' ini, bisik, hati saya. ************************** Itu baru 'jatuh motor' bagaimana agaknya mangsa kemalangan teruk; putus tangan atau kaki atau tertusuk besi atau kaca? Ohh, saya tidak dapat bayangkan...alangkah ngerinya jika ada mangsa cedera parah, terbunuh termasuk yang rentung...Ya Allah jauhkan kami daripada bala seperti itu... ************************* Selepas diberi ubat, saya diberikan bil rawatan RM45. Itulah 'nasib seorang rakyat' mahu berjimat RM50 daripada membayar tambang bas sekolah, kini perlu mengeluarkan RM45 pada hari pertama persekolahan! ************************* Kemalangan itu membuatkan saya bermuhasabah diri. Ya, Allah, mungkin niat saya tak betul; sewajarnya saya membuat sesuatu kerana Allah SWT semata-mata dan bukan mahu 'save' (jimat) duit atau sebagainya. Jika mahu 'save' duit; mungkin kita tidak dapat apa-apa, buktinya pada hari pertama saja duit saya sebanyak RM45 'sudah terbang'. Namun jika membuat sesuatu kerana Allah SWT demi keredaan-Nya, insya-Allah Dia akan membantu kita. *********************** Namun saya tidak menyalahkan diri saya saja kerana saya tahu ramai lagi 'orang di luar sana' melakukan pelbagai pendekatan penjimatan bagi menghadapi 'pesta' kenaikan harga barangan dan perkhidmatan ini. ************************* Seorang tua dilaporkan berjalan kaki 40 kilometer pergi balik hospital bagi mendapatkan rawatan sekali gus menjimatkan wang tambang; manakala satu pemandangan paling mengharukan saya ialah apabila melihat dengan 'mata kepala' saya sendiri bagaimana seorang pramugari 'seksi' sebuah syarikat penerbangan terkenal dan glamor, membuka .'tupperware' makanan yang mungkin dibawanya dari rumah dan dengan selamba makan di depan penumpang! Orang ramai nampak pramaguri penuh glamor tetapi 'derita' mereka siapa tahu dan ambil tahu? ********************** Aduhai, demikian episod sedih bagaimana rakyat mahu berjimat ketika 'pesta kenaikan' sekarang ini! Bagi diri sendiri, luka di kaki saya masih berdenyut-denyut sakitnya ketika saya menulis artikel ini, selepas dua minggu kemalangan! Ya pembaca, tolonglah doakan saya cepat sembuh. Amin.

Learning something from the Indians...

********************* In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ******************** Reflection *********************** "Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80) ************* Perfoming 'solat jemaah' (mass prayers) at Kempegowda International Airport ************************************ WHILE travelling home on the Manipal-Mangalore-Bangalore-Kuala Lumpur route, we (myself, my wife and my in-laws) had no choice but to perform our 'jamak' (combined) 'zuhur' (afternoon) and 'asar' (late afternoon) prayers either on the plane or at Bangalore International Airport. *********************** For the readers’ information, beginning December 14th, Bangalore International Airport was renamed Kempegowda International Airport in honour of the City's founder. Bangalore is currently the capital of the Indian State of Karnataka. **************************** By the way, who was Kempegowda? He was a feudal ruler under the Vijayanagara Empire and lived between 1510-1569 AD and was successful in planning and building the city of Bangalore (renamed Bengaluru in 2006). He is also noted for his societal reforms and also contribution to building temples and water reservoirs in the city. ************************* What amazed me when I was sitting and staring at the huge roof top of the airport was how it was fitted with many sky light glass (translucent coverings), thus tapping light inside the building. Perhaps it was their way to save energy; they too might have installed solar panels. The harnessed solar power could have been a major supplier of electricity for the airport. **************************** It is a well known fact that airports in India are increasingly looking to solar power. After Delhi International Airport Ltd announcing recently that it had set up a 2.14 MW solar power plant, Cochin International Airport Ltd has said it too has set up a 1 MW plant. *************************** Though the plant at Cochin Airport is up and running, it is yet to be formally inaugurated. And airports of Bangalore (Kempegowda) and Hyderabad are also keen on tapping solar energy, with Hyderabad closer to a decision for a 5 MW system. Unlike Delhi airport’s solar plant, the 1 MW facility at Cochin is spread over three locations within the airport, part of it on rooftops. ****************************** Perhaps our airport authorities could learn something from them, tapping the rich source of solar energy...and perhaps also the use of natural sunlight during day time. ************************** Back to 'our solat' story; during our journey we met and were on the same plane with seven young Muslim Malaysian girls who were studying medicine at a college in Mangalore. At one corner of Kempegowa Airport, we blocked the area with our bags; and behind the bags we performed our prayers. We did it in two sessions because we needed someone to guard our bags. Oh, it was such a feeling; praying in the open; not in a 'surau' or a 'masjid' as we did back home! ************************************ No-honking zones on the rise in India ********************************* During my travel on the roads in India, it was common to see the words 'Please sound' and 'Please horn' at the back of vehicles especially trucks, lorries and buses. And 'true' to the words, honking on roads was the norm in India. It was like a fiesta when 'almost everyone' honked their vehicles. To the Indians, 'that trait' was 'nothing to ponder over' but to outsiders like me, it was a 'nightmare'! *************************** At almost all Indian towns I had gone, all types of vehicles such ox-carts, rickshaw, tuk tuks, bikes, scooters, cars etc, made their way as 'they liked', but what surprised me was that there was almost an absence of policemen (if they were present, they were seen chatting but not controlling traffic) and there were so few collisions. Indian drivers seem to know how far they can push in front of others without colliding with one another. ************************** It is said that Indian drivers need only three things: good brakes, good horns and good luck. Horns are regarded as essential, thus blaring is 'a must' on Indian roads! And at times you come across herds of buffaloes and cows on the road in the middle of a city. And it is hard to come across traffic lights even in the city! ************************ Nowadays, more and more Indians are doing away with the 'honking way of life'. In several cities they have 'no-honking' zones such as in front of public institutions such as schools and hospitals. Indians have realized that honking in those places could affect health, work and concentration of people. *************************** Indians roads 'are bad' and their drivers ways could made outsiders like us 'have heart attacks' but the irony of it is, accidents seem rare in this part of the world. Perhaps, we could learn something from them... **************************** Being thrifty the Indian way **************************** While in India, I found out that Indians valued 'every source' available to them. For example all sections of a coconut tree are used to the maximum - coconut husk is used to make brushes and veins of coconut leaves are used to make brooms. *************************** Food is very cheap in India (compared to our Malaysian standard-lah); a bar of chocolate snack (Tofi-Luk) my son in Manipal usually bought was only 10 rupees (about 50 sen); thus it was not surprising that for our family of five (myself, my wife, my in-laws and my son) could have a 'grand' lunch or dinner such as having lamb chops and chicken tandooris at only 1,400 rupees (around RM70)for the whole meal. ************************** When I got accustomed to the 'Indian way' of living, I found out that the locals could buy slices of bread (not a loaf of bread), one or two potatoes, one or two onions (not a kilogram), three eggs (not a paper crate of 30 eggs) with a few rupees on each item. *************************** They seemed to buy items to be cooked for that specific time only; they finished off the food and for the next meal, they would buy another set of fresh items. Nothing would go to waste! Perhaps they too do not need to have refrigerators! *************************** Well, to me, 'these Indians' were superb in being thrifty; perhaps our Malaysian housewives should learn something from them. From my own experience, the fridge in my home would at almost all times be loaded and heaped with food items such as eggs, vegetables, fruits and all sorts of drinks and they would sometimes go rotten after a long period of time and would have to be thrown away. ****************************** What a waste! And more importantly, what our religion teaches us about 'this' - "Eat and drink; but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters." (Qur'an 7:31) ******************************* Perhaps we could learn something from the Indians especially during these hard and trying times.

Interesting 'religious findings' in South India

*************************** n the name of God, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessing and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ************************** Reflections ************************** "I have only created Jinns and Men, that they may serve Me." (Zariyat 51:56) **************************** 1. Being doubtful at a 'darga' (dargah) ******************************* While sightseeing in Mangalore, Karnataka State in South India recently, I asked our tour guide cum driver to stop at any masjid to enable us to perform our 'jamak' (combined) 'zuhur' (mid-day) and 'asar' (late afternoon) prayers. But our guide offered to take us to one of the largest and famous masjids amongst Muslims not only in Mangalore or Karnataka but in the whole of South India. ************************************* After a 'rough ride' for about an hour, we reached a large masjid complex - the guide told us that the complex held a 'darga' of one of the famous 'Muslim saints' in South India. Later on, after being given a booklet, I got to know it was the darga of Seyyid Muhammad Shareeful Madani. ******************************* In the booklet it was mentioned: "The history says that the saint came to Ullal (near Mangalore) around 500 years ago from the holy city of Madeena (Madinah) in Saudi Arabia by floating across the sea on a piece of Chadar or Musalla. He camped at a small mosque (masjid) in Melangadi area, which is the present Juma Masjid for Ullal, Permannur, Someshwara, Munnur, Kotekar, and Jeppinamogaru villages." ***************************** Well, what actually is a darga? I too was not sure. After searching for the word in several dictionaries but in vain, I found one dictionary as having the word 'dargah' which gave the meaning as 'the tomb or shrine of a Muslim saint'; the origin of the word was from Urdu and Persian. And on further reading, I found out that the Malays called it 'keramat'. ***************************** Wikipedia notes that a dargah (Persian: درگاه‎ dargâh or درگه dargah) is a Sufi Islamic shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint or dervish. Local Muslims may visit a shrine as a form of pilgrimage known as ziyarat. Dargahs are often associated with Sufi meeting rooms and hostels, called khanqah or hospices. They usually include a mosque, meeting rooms, Islamic religious schools (madrassas), residences for a teacher or caretaker, hospitals, and other buildings for community purposes. ****************************** This description fit what I saw at darga Seyyid Muhammad Shareeful Madani. After performing my solat (prayer) at the main prayer hall, I went to a crowded area where congregators were seen making their 'du'a' (saying their supplications) at the shrine of the Sheikh. Some were seen rubbing their hands and clothes to metal railings at the grave. **************************** Near the grave, there were a few donation boxes. I was doubtful; thinking fast whether to drop or not a note or two in the boxes. It was because I was in doubt; whether my donation would be chanelled to promote 'activities' at the darga which I 'doubted'. Finally I did drop a note, praying to Allah SWT that I did the right thing. ************************** Later on, while reading the booklet; I came across something that said: "the income derived from the darga is spent for the development activities of the area, which are socially, economically backward." Among the many activities noted were; supplying free books to poor students irrespective of caste and creed, giving financial assistance to poor girls for their marriages and giving scholarships to deserving students for their higher education.” ************************************* Perhaps I was 'wrong and cruel' in having a 'bad thought' while at the large religious complex of Seyyid Muhammad Shareeful Madani; to which I prayed to Allah SWT for forgiveness on me who was without or with only a little knowledge on the subject of 'Sufism' including 'ziyarat' (visiting) the graves of 'saints'. *************************** Of course, ziyarat to graves is allowed, in fact a 'sunnah' of our Prophet, Muhammad s.a.w. who in a 'hadith' mentioned: "I asked you (at first) not to perform ziyarat. But now I'm asking you to perform ziyarat, because verily ziyarat makes you think of the Hereafter." (Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Ibn Maaja, Abu Daud and Nasaee Shaif) ******************************* But what about those special rituals such as praying and making offerings that were being performed at the graves; mostly of 'saints' which in India are called 'brelwi'? It was said that in India it was common for some Muslims to offer prayers at tombs of respected people and saints. Once I had asked a good Muslim friend who had relatives and previously travelled to India on the subject; he claimed that ‘brelwi’ was against the teaching of Islam. ************************* A Malaysian Indian Muslim once told me that the practice of 'brelwi' was too strong in India and those who were against it were accused of not having respect for ulamas. He was afraid that their practices were straying away from the true teaching of Islam; but moving in the direction of Hinduism. ***************************** In South Asia, dargahs are often the site of festivals (milad) held in honor of the deceased saint at the date of his Urs, which is a day dedicated to the saint which usually falls on the saint's death anniversary. The shrine is illuminated with candles or strings of electric lights at this time. Among famous dargas are Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki's dargah in Mehrauli, Delhi, Dargah of Moinuddin Chishti, Ajmer; Nizamuddin Dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya and adjoining Jamaat Khana Masjid, Delhi and Tomb of Salim Chisti, at Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra. ************************** Perhaps this report on the activities at a darga would help enlighten us on whether they are in line with the teachings of Islam or not. I prayed to Allah that He show me and readers His straight path (Ihdina sirata al moustaqim) as what we read at least 17 times in our 'solat' (prayers). ************************* It is reported that the Urs Fair in Ajmer (Rajasthan’s famous lakeside city) that honours the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, brings lakhs of devotees across all religions to the Dargah Sharif in the faithful and religious reminiscence of the saint. *************************** The Urs is held in Ajmer every year to commemorate the death of Khawaja, whose mortal deeds earned him the title of Gharib Nawaz (protector of the poor), and whose memorial at Dargah Sharif where his remains lie buried is now a pilgrimage shrine for Muslim devotees all over the world. *************************** The holy Urs fair is a six-day long festival beginning with Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. With the sighting of the moon, the Holy Tomb of the Khawaja opens up to the festive homage that sees pilgrims and devotees seeking blessings at the shrine and indulging in ‘tabbaruk’ (offerings of hallowed food) among other specialties that continue through days and nights alike. ***************************** The holy saint is said to have traversed from Persia to the sub-continent with the vision of building the Chistia order fakirs in this part of the world. For the altruistic services he extended to the poor and the downtrodden through his life that spanned a 100 years, he has gone in history as the Gharib Nawaz, to be worshipped for centuries to come at his tomb. ************************** The successor representative of the Chistis, or the Sajjada Nashin, traditionally hoists a white flag at the dargah to mark the commencement of the Urs Fair in the sixth lunar month (Rabiulakhir). As the month comes to an end, the Jannati Darwaza (symbolizing a gateway to heaven) is thrown open to devotees, who as per tradition cross the gate seven times in the belief that their abode in heaven is assured. The Sajjada Nashin also performed the ‘ghuzal’ the holy ritual of anointing the tomb with rose water and sandalwood paste and enveloping it in a sheet of silk. ************************* Among the host of such rituals is the tide of rich offerings (nazrana) that devotees bestow at the shrine – essence of rose and jasmine flowers, ‘chaddars’ (blankets) perfumes, sandalwood paste, ‘ghilaph’ and ‘neema’. The ‘qawwali mehfils’ that shape up in the ‘mehfilkhanas’ are quite the popular rituals at the fair, and hundreds of men and women immerse themselves in the glorious hymns of the saint which then culminate in a mass prayer in memory of Khwaja Chisti. - Info from an Indian magazine, Go Getter/June 2011. ***************************** 2. Casteist 'made snana' sparks protest ******************************* During my journey to Manipal, I met and talked to a Malaysian Hindu family who were heading to 'some religious spots' in Karnataka including in Mangalore and Udupi. In fact the name Mangalore derives from the local Hindu deity Mangaladevi while Udupi is notable for the Krishna Matha temple. ******************************* While I was in South India, one topic that was debated in the Indian press was about the caste ritual 'made snana' where it is believed that the saliva of upper castes is healing. This practice was said to be performed at the Kukke Subramanya temple in Dakshina Kannada district where devotees would roll their bodies over leftover food of the upper castes. ****************************** Many groups and parties had gatherings to oppose the practice; among them was Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum with its president K S Shivaram who had launched an agitation against the ritual four years ago and urged Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to either pass the proposed anti-superstition law or issue an ordinance prohibiting the practice. ****************************** The protestors were clear in their support for the anti-superstition bill and called it a necessity to clean out the discriminatory, exploitative practices of religion in Karnataka state. ***************************** Even Karnataka's Minister for Social Welfare, H Anjaneya appealed to the people to shun such ritual saying it was inhuman and foolish. "I do not know how to call those people who participated in the ritual - fools or intelligent people. They should realise that rolling over the leftover food of others will further infect their skin and not cure them of skin diseases as is believed." ****************************** The Minister said such blind belief could not be eradicated just by legislation. "There should be awareness among the people that in this age of technological and medical advances, rolling over leftover food eaten by others will only give them infections," he was quoted saying by The Hindu on December 8th. ***************************** Janata Dal (United) State unit president M P Nadagouda said 'made snana' was an inhuman practice and it belittled the dignity of a human being. He condemned the Karnataka State government's inaction in banning the 'made snana' ritual, asking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to resign if he failed to promulgate fast an ordinance to that effect.

'Be a statesman, not a hypocrite politician...'

************************ 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. ******************************** * A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation. A politician looks for the success of his party; a statesman for that of his country. The statesman wishes to steer, while the politician is satisfied to drift. -- James Freeman Clarke ******************************* * A statesman is he who thinks in the future generations, and a politician is he who thinks in the upcoming elections. - Abraham Lincoln ***************************** “AT one corner of the stadium was I, ‘a humble reporter’ from Malaysia, covering the touching event, several thousand kilometers away from home. ******************************** “I looked at the ‘Mat Saleh’ journalists. They were tall, big and bold and of course had the advantage compared to the Asian pressmen. When the press mobbed the leaders for the latest news, the Asian press were left behind or pushed aside. ***************************** “But what impressed me while I was in the stadium, the blacks ‘were roaring back to life’ after more than four decades under the apartheid regimes. The Afrikaans, Zulus, Indians and non white minorities were on the way to a new era – and it was made possible by the struggle of ‘that humble leader’ – NELSON MANDELA." ***************************** This report was filed by me, a young reporter, some 20 years ago from the FNB stadium (known as Soccer City for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup) in Soweto, a very vast black township outside Johannesburg on the eve of South Africa’s historic first multi-racial election after the collapsed of the white aparthied regime with it’s last white president FW de Klerk. ************************** The April 1994 election was history – Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) secured more that 62 percent of the votes, paving way for him to be the first non-whites to be South Africa’s president; and for me, the event there was always on my mind because it was the second time I covered a major world event; the first was filing reports from the ex-Communist republics after the collapsed of the Soviet Empire in 1991. *************************** When apartheid collapsed and a multi racial elections held, paving way for Mandela to be sworn as South Africa first non-white president, I was one 'lucky guy' of 32 years of age who witnessed the event; and now at 52, while I was in India (a very good and close country for Mandela), I heard and read news about the demise of the statesman on Friday, 6th December 2013. ***************************** If in 1994, Mandela was given a standing ovation by some 80,000 supporters in the FNB Stadium which I witnessed the event; after his death about 20 years later, his body was taken to the same historic stadium to enable 'ordinary' South Africans especially the blacks to pay their final respect to him. ************************* While reading a few Indian English dailes, I realized that the Indians have high respect for Mandela; for example the 'Deccan Herald' reserved many pages on the news about Mandela with a headline 'Peace hero Mandela passes away' and and an biography entitled 'Nelson Mandela, the Gandhi of South Africa'. ************************** Why Mandela was likened to Mahatma Gandhi, India's Father of Nation? He was said to have a very strong Indian connections and had striking similarities with Gandhi. *************************** Thus, when Mandela died, India declared a 5-day mourning with its President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lead the nation to mourn the death of the much respected world leader who was conferred the 'Bharat Ratna' award, India's highest civilian honour in 1993. Mandela was the first non-Indian recipient of Bharat Ratna and he received it ahead of the Nobel Prize for Peace he was bestowed in 1993; sharing it with FW de Klerk. *************************** Mandela, the anti-apartheid icon shared a special bond for India and this was there for the world to see when he chose the land of Gandhi, who he called his 'political guru' and a 'role model', as his first destination abroad in 1990 after spending 27 years behind bars. ********************** The Deccan reported that as an avowed Gandhian, Madiba, as was affectionately known around the world, always praised Gandhi for his principles of 'Satya and Ahimsa' and followed his philosophy. ************************ "The Mahatma is an integral part of our history because it his here he first experimental with truth, here that he demonstrated his characteristic firmness in pusuit of justice; here that he developed Satyagraha as a philosophy and a method of struggle," Mandela said at an unveiling of Gandhi Memorail in South Africa in 1993. **************************** "Gandhi is most revered for his commitment to non-violence and the Congress Movement was strongly influenced by this Gandhian philosophy, is was a philosophy that achieved the mobilisation of millions of South Africans during the 1952 defiance campaign, which established the ANC as a mass organisation," Mandela has said in his address. *************************** During his five years tenure as South Africa's president (1994-1999), Mandela was 'not without mistake' (he himself said that 'I am a man with many weaknesses'), but one event that made the world realized that 'this man was not crazy for power' was that he declined to run for second term in the 1999 general elections but pave the way for his deputy, Thabo Mbeki to be president. **************************** Mandela was not like the many so-called liberation and freedom fighters or leaders, dictators, president and prime ministers of the world who would cling to power at any costs; the latest was shown by the regime of Sheikh Hasina Wajid of Bangladesh who sent Sheikh Abdul Quader Molla, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, to the gallows on 12th December. ************************** Instead, after leaving the presidency, Mandela brought that moral stature to bear elsewhere around the continent, as a peace broker and champion of greater outside investment. And when he died, I was 52; a 'not so young adult' compared to 'the robust me' of 32 when I covered South Africa's first multi-racial elections in 1994. So what have I learned from this statesman? ********************** Regarding this, I love to quote an article by Elisa Dass Avin in myStarjob.com (14 Dec 2013) with the title 'Mentoring the Mandela way' which states three approaches of the icon's leadership ways that are; first, lead from the front and back; second, have a core principle and third, quitting is leading too. ************************** Elisa quoted from a book written by Richard Stengel, 'Mandela's Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life and Love and Courage' which regarding leadership noted: 'Mandela once shared this story with Stengel': "When you want cattle to move in certain direction, you stand at the back with a stick and then you get a few of the cleverer cattle to go to the front and move in the direction that you want them to go. The rest of the cattle follow the cleverer cattle in the front, but you are really guiding them from the back." ************************ But among almost all societies including in our country, leaders want to be in front 'dulu, kini dan selamanya' (during the past, now and forever). They want to be 'the cleverer cow' for all times and to fulfil this wish, they would do all sorts of approaches including raising prices of necessity items that are of concern to the rakyat such as petrol, sugar, electricity tariff and toll rates. *********************** Some went against their own election manifestos such as not to raise toll rates and some even make mockery of themselves by not resigning from their top positions as they had promised before elections for example saying: "In two years time I would resign," but till today he is still at helm. ********************** Perhaps they did this to finance their crooked ways so that they would be in power 'dulu, kini dan selamanya'. In times of elections, they selved temporary their desires; they claimed they 'mendahulukan rakyat' (very concern about the welfare of the people) but their actions speak volumes about themselves. ************************* These types of leaders are merely hypocrite (munafik) and corrupted politicians; perhaps they fit to what James Freeman Clarke remarked: "A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation. A politician looks for the success of his party; a statesman for that of his country" And of course they are nothing to be compared to Mandela!

Masalah beres apabila suami isteri 'sekepala'...

*********************** Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. *********************** Renungan ************************** "Apabila seorang manusia meninggal dunia, terputuslah semua amalnya kecuali tiga perkara iaitu sedekah jariah, ilmu yang bermanfaat dan anak soleh yang mendoakannya." (Hadis laporan Muslim) ********************** BARU-BARU ini saya menerima hadiah buku karya Mohd Affandi Ramli bertajuk 'Surat Untuk Anak' (Catatan biografi seorang bapa kepada dua anak yang mengalami Cerebral Palsy) daripada Prof Dr Safiah Osman. Prof itu meminta saya membacanya dan membuat komen... **************************** Komen saya...buku berharga RM30 (Semenanjung) terbitan Anak Kunci Production itu bagus, saya memberikannya empat bintang. Pembaca silalah dapatkannya. Layari http://www.facebook.com/hope2walk atau http://hope2walk.blogspot.com **************************** Siapa Mohd Affandi Ramli? Ya, mencari latar belakang penulis adalah antara perkara pertama saya lakukan sebelum membaca sesebuah buku. Bagi saya, jika sudah tahu penulisnya, ia akan memancing minat untuk membaca...tidaklah nanti saya menghabiskan masa berharga untuk membaca karya merapu oleh seorang penulis merapu... ***************************** Apabila membelek-belek buku itu dengan cepat saya tahu Mohd Affandi Ramli itu adalah pelukis komik 'Datuk Kundur' dalam Suara Keadilan dengan nama pena Ronasina. Karyanya termasuk buku kartun 'Negaraku' tajam dengan sindiran...bermakna berkemungkinan besar bukunya 'Surat Untuk Anak' sarat dengan pengakuan jujur, sindiran, komentar dan paling penting, idea besar, demikian fikir saya. ************************** Fikiran saya tidak tersasar; itulah yang dipaparkan oleh Mohd Affandi - pengajuan jujurnya mengenai pelbagai himpitan dan kesukaran kehidupan terutama dari segi ekonomi untuk membesar dan mendidik dua anak Orang Kelainan Upaya (OKU) - Annisa dan An-Nur - yang akhirnya membawa kepada idea besar penubuhan Hope2Walk seterusnya Pertubuhan Harapan Anak-Anak Cerebral Palsy Malaysia. ************************** Membaca 'Surat Untuk Anak' menyedarkan saya satu hal penting - pasangan suami isteri Affandi-Raja Rohaisham (Sham) 'hampir menepati' ungkapan pasangan mabuk cinta - "demi cintaku padamu, lautan api pun sanggup kurenangi" tetapi hakikatnya jarang benar dipraktikkan dalam rumahtangga. ***************************** Dari awal hingga akhir penceritaan, kedua-dua Affandi-Sham berkorban bersama,seiya sekata dalam mencari yang terbaik untuk anak-anak mereka; ya kata orang jika pasangan suami isteri 'sekepala' - separuh daripada masalah sudah dapat diselesaikan. ***************************** Mereka sungguh bertuah, kerana saya tahu ada suami yang lari meninggalkan keluarga yang ada anak OKU; demikian juga perlakuan sesetengah isteri menyebabkan pasangannya terkontang-kanting dalam kehidupan. Malah ada lebih ekstrem, kedua-duanya meninggalkan anak-anak begitu saja! *************************** Anak-anak adalah ladang pahala. Tetapi berapa ramai ibu bapa benar-benar merebut peluang itu? Setiap anak malah setiap manusia adalah unik; masing-masing ada sifat fizikal dan kerohanian berbeza - ini termasuklah watak, pembawaan, kelemahan, kelebihan, minat dan banyak lagi. Jika anak yang biasa pun penat untuk mendidik mereka, apatah lagi anak kelainan upaya. Hakikatnya semua anak-anak berbeza upaya mereka; semuanya unik; hal ini perlu diperhatikan ibu bapa dan pendidik. ************************ Lelaki dan perempuan selain fizikal, pemikiran mereka pun tidak pernah sama. Falsafah Greek ada menyatakan lelaki dari Marikh, perempuan dari Zuhrah. Berdasarkan ini suami isteri pun sebenarnya 'tidak sekepala'. Dalam banyak hal, mereka bertentangan antara satu sama lain. Dalam soal makan 'yang remeh' itu pun mereka berbeza - misalnya si suami suka nasi ayam tetapi isteri tidak sukakannya tetapi gemar asam pedas. Demikian juga dalam soal mendidik anak - suami suka cara agak keras isteri dengan kaedah lembut, memujuk. Selalu terjadi pergaduhan kerana perbezaan ini. ***************************** Namun ada satu hal yang 'membolehkan' suami isteri sekepala? Sekepala apakah itu? Ya, bersekepala dalam menjalani kehidupan berdasarkan perintah Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Jika kedua-duanya bersekepala dalam mentaati syariat Allah, semua masalah mereka dapat dibereskan; bukankah Allah SWT dan Rasul-Nya telah memberi pengakuan mengenai kehebatan peribadi mukmin - semua perkara yang menimpa mereka adalah peluang untuk mereka meraih keredaan-Nya; jika ditimpa kepayahan dia bersabar dan jika mendapat nikmat dia bersyukur! ***************************** Anak-anak adalah ladang pahala; tahniah kepada pasangan Affandi-Sham; anda berdua kini insya-Allah sudah ada anak (Annisa) di syurga; kini 'bersekepalalah' menumpukan sepenuh perhatian (kepada ibadat dan sebagainya) untuk melayakkan anda berdua ke sana jua, menemui kekasih hati anda itu!

Memaksimumkan 'segala yang ada' demi keredaan-Nya; pesanan 2014

****************************** 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) ********************************* Bersyukur ke hadrat Illahi kita dipanjangkan usia; kita kini memasuki tahun 2014 bermakna bertambahlah usia kita tetapi hakikatnya semakin hampir kita ke penghujungnya, memasuki alam barzakh (kubur) yang pasti dilalui setiap yang bernyawa. ********************************** Berdasarkan hakikat ini, marilah kita mulai saat ini membuat 'pecutan terakhir' dengan 'segala yang ada' pada diri kita demi memburu keredaan-Nya. Hendaklah kita ingat bahawa segala yang kita sama ada kemewahan, kuasa, pangkat serta keseronokan dunia atau kepahitannya seperti kekalahan pilihan raya, penderitaan penyakit dan kesengsaraan menanggung kenaikan harga barangan dan perkhidmatan sekarang ini hanyalah bersifat sementara; semuanya akan berakhir apabila nyawa direnggut daripada tubuh (mati). ********************************* Sebelum kita memasuki kubur, pergunakan 'segala yang kita ada' sebagai modal untuk kita mendapat keredaan Illahi. Bukankah Nabi yang kita kasihi, Muhammad s.a.w. mengingatkan kita supaya mempergunakan lima perkara (muda, berada, lapang, sihat dan hidup) sebelum datang lima perkara (tua, miskin, sibuk, sakit dan mati). Sepotong hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Muaz bin Jabal pula mengingatkan kita tentang umur, di mana dihabiskan; demikian juga tentang masa remaja, harta dan ilmu; apa yang telah kita lakukan. *********************************** Berdasarkan perkembangan semasa, kita boleh mengambil iktibar daripada pelbagai peristiwa bagi membantu kita mengkoreksi (muhasabah) diri di samping menyemarakkan semangat kita berkorban bagi mendapat keredaan-Nya. ******************************* Di peringkat antarabangsa kita melihat syahidnya pemimpin Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Abdul Qadir Mullah sebagai kayu pengukur pengorbankan kita - apakah kita sudah bersedia melakukan pengorbanan peringkat tertinggi sehingga mempertaruhkan hatta nyawa kita demi mendaulatkan Islam? ************************** Selepas itu kita bertanya; apakah harta yang sudah kita korbankan untuk Islam? Apakah kita benar-benar sudah mengorbankan harta kita atau setakat sikit-sikit saja; tentunya kita akan teramat malu kerana usaha kita itu tidak sekelumit pun dapat dibandingkan dengan Ummu Mukminin Sayidatina Khadijah Khauwalid yang mengorbankan segala yang beliau ada demi Islam sehingga ketika nazaknya menawarkan tulang belulangnya kepada Rasulullah jika itu dapat digunakan untuk menegakkan Islam. ****************************** Demikian juga masa kita; bagaimana sudah kita guna dan habiskan? Apakah selama ini kita menyia-yiakannya dengan melepak di depan TV atau di kedai berjam-jam lamanya? Insafkan dengan kisah perjuangan golongan lampau termasuk sahabat, tabien, tabik tabien dan ulama tetapi jika mahu contoh terdekat; apakah kita sudah menghampiri perjuangan sahabat kita daripada Unit Amal PAS yang mengorbankan masa, tenaga dan harta mereka untuk membantu mangsa banjir di tanah air kita baru-baru ini? ********************************** Bagi orang berilmu, bagaimana sumbangan kita dalam bidang ini? Apa, adakah ilmu kita sudah manfaatkan untuk kepentingan agama kita atau kita gunakan untuk kepentingan peribadi semata-mata atau lebih buruk lagi kita menyimpannya saja atau berbuat maksiat dengannya? Dengan ilmu dan kuasa yang ada, kita memaksiat kepada-Nya dengan melakukan rasuah, menipu dalam pilihan raya dan menahan orang tanpa bicara. Malah yang lebih dahsyat lagi dengan ilmu yang kita ada; kita memutar-belitkan hukum; seperti yang haram kita cari dalil untuk menghalalkannya. ****************************** Kesimpulannya bagi 'orang berakal', pergunakan 'segala sumber yang kita ada' untuk mendapat keredaan-Nya. Pada diri kita sendiri, kedapatan banyak 'sumber-sumber' itu; misalnya mulut kita gunakannya untuk melakukan segala kebaikan seperti menunaikan tanggungjawab agama seperti beribadat, berdakwah dan berzikir, sebaliknya jangan menggunakannya untuk melakukan maksiat termasuk menuduh seseorang sebagai pengamal Syiah sesuka kita!

An 'I'm very particular...' experience in India

************** In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ***************** Reflection ***************** 'Aisha narrated this hadith: "Usama approached the Prophet on behalf of a woman (who had committed theft). The Prophet said, 'The people before you were destroyed because they used to inflict the legal punishments on the poor and forgive the rich. By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! If Fatima (the daughter of the Prophet ) did that (i.e. stole), I would cut off her hand'." (Sahih Bukhari) * RECENTLY I was in Manipal, India; visiting a son who is about to complete his two and a half years of a five years MBBS programme in Melaka-Manipal Medical College. To reach Manipal, I took the plane from the LCCT in Sepang to Bangalore and then to Mangalore before experiencing 'an Indian road ride' of about 60 kilometers to reach Udupi town before proceeding to Manipal ********************** During my brief stay in India, I noticed everything was of importance to the locals. No matter how small a thing or a job was, its citizen seemed to make full use of them or do their best. To me, Indians seemed to be very 'concerned' or 'particular' about everything! ************************** Well, incidents in the airports speak volummes about that attitude or trait. While embarking in Bangalore, I had to passed a few checking points before and after reaching the immigration counters and it was worst during departing later on; if I was not mistaken; there were amost ten checking points! ******************************** You must not make any mistake in 'their procedures', once I was told to go back to 'the first point' after they noticed that an item I was carrying was not stamped with the words 'Approved'. ****************************** Once at the airport, when I was about to enter a toilet, a worker rushed ahead of me and to my surprise, he wiped the toilet bowl with tissue papers in front of me and politely asked: "Are you satisfied with our service, Sir?" ************************* After a few days in Manipal and after getting accustomed to the surroundings and the people, I noticed Indians living in the southern part of the continent of having some good traits that could give spark to some of us to emulate their ways. **************************** Almost everyone I met, especially workers seemed to be very proud and thankful of their jobs; they tried their best to render their services. The worker at the airport who wiped the toilet bowl for me was a good example. And helplers at simple 'hotels' (in this part of the world, restaurant was called hotel!), take orders with full hearts; once a man called me 'boss'; he was 'ever ready' to assist me! ********************************* During my travel in Kartanaka state (in which Bangalore - the state capital, Mangalore, Udupi and Manipal stand), I saw many coconut trees in the countryside and I was amazed to witness parts of the trees were used to the maximum. For example, workers at the hotel I was staying were seen scrubbing floors with brushes made of coconut husks and sweeping the floors with brooms made from veins of coconut leaves! ************************* And on a just completed concrete new roads (partial of a project) , the workers covered them with dry paddy stalks. I failed to get an explaination on this, nevertheless I envied the Indians creativity in maximizing the usage of local natural resources. ************************* At the road projects and even at sites of housing construction projects, I noticed some of the workers were women, a few looked to old and frail for the job; but they seemed eager and determined in doing their work such as carrying earth, stones, pebbles and even mixed cement in wicker scoops placed on their heads. ********************** In this part of the world, almost all work was done manually; some women and even children were seen carrying large bricks (their's were about four times larger than ours) to upper floors of buildings under construction. **************************** After spending a few nights in Manipal, I noticed their streets lights were switched off at 9.00 pm leaving the town areas in complete darkness except for lights at junctions and of course 'on private properties'. But even that, businesses such as eatery places had to call it home at 11.00 pm. **************************** I was make to understand that the authorities in this education hub is very 'particular' or concerned about ways to conserve energy; thus cutting public spending on municipality council's electric bills. ***************************** They too wanted 'to produce' happy and healthy citizens (including having a good night sleep) of the respectated 'mud and lake' education hub (the name Manipal is derived from Mannu palla anglicised to it). Mannu means mud and Palla means lake in Tulu Language. *************************** Manipal was once a barren hill with few trees. This hill was transformed to a university town by Dr TM A Pai starting in the 1950s. This town is home to Manipal University, which has 19 colleges, ranging from fields of business, engineering and health sciences. **************************** Then there is also the famous Kasturba Medical College (KMC) at which our first astronaut, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor attended. Recently KMC with its motto 'Live to Serve' and 'Inspiring Generations of Doctors' celebrated its Diamond Jubilee Celebration (1953-2013). ****************************** While in the 'knowledge town' , I took the opportunity to visit its renowned Manipal Museum of Anatomy and Pathlogy (MAP) claimed to be the largest medical museum its kind in Asia. The Museum of Anatomy was started in 1956, by Profesor Godbole, and the Museum of Pathology was founded by Profesor E Thomas in 1960. ************************** It houses more than 1,500 specimens of anatomy and pathology, which include cross-sections of specimens, skeletons, radiographs and models. The displays consist of specimens that are meticulously dissected. The section on comparative anatomy consist of rare, and interesting species of animals and their skeletons. ***************************** Upon entering the museum as 'an early bird', once again I was met with another 'I'm particular' experience when one of its guard lectured me 'on the rules' while looking and observating the exhibits. ************************ "Don't you see the arrow signs on the floor? You must move in the disignated direction; jumping from one exhibits to another is not allowed," explained the woman guard. **************************** Some wise men said, when one is in Rome do as what the Roman did, so I did just as I was told - I moved from human system exhibits to comparative anatomy, mosculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, nervous system, digestive system, reproductive system, endocrine system and urinary system. ************************ After spending about an hour in the museum, I realized it was then full of visitors. Hundreds of children in school uniforms were seen walking in a single file line to observe the exhibits. Only then, I realized the importance of following the arrow signs as lectured to me by the 'I'm particular' guard. It would be chaos if the children walked and watched the exhibits as they like from any direction! ************************* At the exit door,before leaving the museum I have a quick look at a visitors book where one writes down his/her name, address and comment. ********************* Roopa KN wrote: "All the specimens catagorized are good. If these were more for each category of plants it could be wonderful." ************************ Kurthi HN commented: "It is very useful to the many students to know about human body. Very useful in higher education for MBBS students." ************************* Teachers of Sri Sharadha Education Trust di Sidlaghatta wrote: "Vey useful to our teaching hours to explain all biology chapters. Our students too gain more knowledge from the exhibition."

2014: Berjimatlah tapi jangan sampai bahayakan diri...

********************* 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 ****************************** SELAMAT menyambut tahun baru 2014. Pelbagai pihak meramalkan rakyat kebanyakan akan melalui kehidupan sukar pada tahun baru apabila berlaku pelbagai kenaikan harga barangan dan perkhidmatan. Bagi mengurangkan impak dalam kehidupan; pakar ekonomi mengemukakan kaedah penyelesaian iaitu seseorang atau sesebuah keluarga menambah pendapatan ataupun mengurangkan kos kehidupan ataupun lebih hebat lagi mengabungkan kedua-dua pendekatan ini. ************************************** Apa maksud menambah pendapatan pada 'orang biasa-biasa' seperti saya? Ya, jika anda sudah ada kerja tetap pada sebelah siang (misalnya dari 8.00 pagi hingga 5.00 petang); pada sebelah malamnya (korbankan waktu tidur anda), bekerjalah 'part time' (mungkin antara jam 7.00 malam hingga 3.00 pagi) di stesen minyak atau pun di restoran makanan segera. Jika anda ada kereta, cuba-cubalah jadikan kenderaan itu 'kereta sapu' dan tawarkan perkhidmatan pada masa terluang anda! **************************** Ataupun jika anda seorang guru, selepas pulang dari sekolah jam 4.00 atau 5.00 petang (cikgu pun sekarang habis kerja terlalu lewat), buatlah kuih seperti karipap atau nasi lemak untuk dihantar ke gerai mamak yang dibuka 24 jam. Anda pun boleh terlibat dalam jualan langsung yang hebat berkembang seperti cendawan tumbuh selepas hujan sekarang ini. Atau jika anda ada tanah atau ruang, hidupkan projek 'bumi hijau'. Sekurang-kurangnya dapat juga 'save' dalam membeli sayur-sayuran. ********************************* Berdasarkan pilihan yang ada, rasanya tak larat untuk saya kerja di stesen minyak atau restoran. Saya sudah tua, lagi pun buat apa saya kacau rezeki 'mat-mat Bangla' yang ramai bekerja di situ. Nak bawa kereta sapu? Lagi saya tak tahu. Takut juga nanti dibelasah oleh 'samseng Kampung Pisang' kerana menjalankan perkhidmatan haram. Jadi apa saya nak buat? Nak buat nasi lemak atau kuih seperti karipap? Tak payahlah, bimbang saya nanti karipap jadi 'kuih kodok' pula! ************************* Apa yang saya nampak, saya hanya boleh berjimat cermat. Misalnya, sekarang ini pun saya sudah membaiki basikal lama seorang anak saya yang tersimpan sekian lama dalam setor. Saya pun sudah cakap kepada anak saya: "Nak, apabila sekolah dibuka nanti, tak payahlah naik bas sekolah. Tambang dah nak naik. Naiklah basikal." Ok, kata si anak, membuatkan saya tersenyum nipis. "'Save' juga duit aku sebanyak RM50 sebulan!" ***************************** Kemudian saya beritahu anak-anak: "Tolong bapak ya, kurangkan penggunaan lampu, kipas. Kalau tak ada dalam bilik, tolong tutup lampu, kipas. Komputer tu jangan dipasang 24 jam. Demikian juga TV. Internet pun tutup. Bapak mahu kau orang tutup semua peralatan ini jam 12.00 tengah malam." Namun hal ini segera dibantah anak-anak, menyebabkan saya terkebil-kebil macam cicak kubin, tak boleh juga nak hadkan waktu itu, kan mereka nak buat 'assignment' dan bermacam-macam 'kerja' lain - tahulah budak-budak zaman sekarang! ******************************* "Nak, gunakan air secara jimat cermat. Jangan mandi lama-lama. Jangan biarkan air mengalir tanpa ada keperluan seperti ketika gosok gigi. Kalau basuh baju, tadah air buangan mesin basuh. Gunakan air itu untuk cuci lantai dan longkang di luar rumah," banyak pula songeh saya dalam langkah berjimat cermat ini. ***************************** Apa lagi yang boleh saya 'save' bagi menghadapi 'pesta gila kenaikan harga' yang dipaksakan ke atas 'rakyat biasa' seperti saya ini. Hah, saya berkorbanlah, tungganglah basikal (saya sudah miliki basikal sejak beberapa tahun lalu) ke masjid yang terletak kira-kira satu kilometer dari rumah untuk setiap solat fardu berjemaah, dapat juga 'save' penggunaan minyak. Kalau satu hari dapat 'save' RM5.00; sebulan sudah RM150.00. Heh,heh, banyak juga tu! Selain 'save' duit, dapat juga jaga kesihatan, bukankah ini yang 'dimahukan' kerajaan apabila mereka menarik subsidi gula menyebabkan harganya melambung kepada RM1.85 sekilogram sekarang ini? **************************** Ya, nampaknya 'sudah banyak 'idea' saya untuk berjimat. Saya pun mengutarakannya kepada isteri saya. Dia tertawa, nampak seronok dan memberi beberapa cadangan tambahan. Katanya, ibu-ibu bangunlah awal-awal; sediakan bekal untuk anak-anak ke sekolah. Tak cukup dengan anak-anak; bekalkan sekali si bapak. Kalau boleh suruh si bapak bawa mangkuk tingkat; baru ada 'kelas'. Alangkah seronoknya, jika semua pekerja bawa mangkuk tingkat ke pejabat! Boleh 'share-share' makanan di pejabat, ohh setiap hari ketika waktu makan tengah hari keadaan macam ada kenduri saja! ******************************* Katanya lagi, "kalau kita sekeluarga makan di luar, saya dan abang pesan satu gelas minuman saja, tapi mintak dua 'straw'." Ohh, alangkah romantiknya suami isteri minum dari satu gelas, selain dapat 'save' duit, hubungan mereka pun harmonis; mana ada suami-isteri minum segelas, yang buat perkara ini pasangan kekasih saja. "Untuk makanan pun, 'order' satu pinggan, kita 'share-share', kan banyak duit dapat di'save'! ****************************** Sambil borak-borak itu, terdedahlah 'satu rahsia' penjimatan semasa saya menuntut di UiTM Shah Alam puluhan tahun dulu. Kata saya semasa jadi 'student', duit sentiasa tidak cukup dalam poket tetapi 'berlagak' mahu pakai 'motor'. Untuk 'save' minyak, dari puncak bukit UiTM saya sengaja matikan enjin motor, kenderaan itu boleh 'drift' sehinggalah ke Asrama Jati yang terletak di bawah bukit. Kalau setiap kali turun bukit saya buat begitu, berapa banyak duit dapat saya 'save'? **************************** "'Save, save' jugak," kata si isteri. "Tetapi kalau sampai bahayakan nyawa sendiri, tak payahlah buat. Nasib baik awak tak jadi Allahyarham," katanya membuatkan saya teringat ada rakan yang memandu kereta pun berbuat perkara yang sama; tidakkah dia tahu brek kereta tak berfungsi apabila dia berbuat begitu... ****************************** Ini bukan nak berjimat namanya tetapi mahu menempah bala; yalah, ini semua kerana "rakyat mahu meneruskan kelangsungan hidup termasuk ketika pemimpin terlalu beriya-iya menaikkan harga barangan dan perkhidmatan sekarang ini!" ****************************** Apakah derita rakyat ini dapat diselami pemimpin yang ghairah untuk berkuasa 'dulu, kini dan selamanya'? Mungkin mereka tak tahu atau jika tahu pun buat-buat tak peduli sebab ada isteri mereka naik jet eksekutif sedangkan 'rakyat sengkek' nak isi minyak pun duit tak cukup! "Aiii, tak apa," kata sesetengah pengampu, "naik tak banyak, 20 sen saja!"

Alam semula jadi sumber inspirasi

******************* 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) ********************** KISAH LAMA LanH MELAKUKAN WAWANCARA SANTAI BERSAMA DR ABDUL HALIM RAMLI: *********************** MEMELIHARA ikan dan berkebun – demikian antara hobi Dr Abdul Halim Ramli, 49 (wawancara dibuat pada 2005), seorang doktor perubatan dan pengusaha klinik yang dikenali ramai di Semabok, Melaka. ************************* Sebagai bukti ‘kesungguhan’ beliau terhadap ikan, di dalam bilik rawatannya ada sebuah akuarium besar dengan sesekor ikan kelisa keemasan ‘berenang-renang lembut’, mendamai serta menceriakan suasana. ************************ Sepanjang mendapatkan rawatan di klinik-klinik swasta, penulis belum pernah berjumpa seorang doktor ‘menyimpan ikan’ dalam bilik rawatan. Yang biasa ditemui ialah akuarium ikan diletakkan di luar (tempat menunggu pelanggan) bagi ‘menghiburkan dan melekakan’ anak-anak dan peminat ikan sebelum ‘nama’ mereka dipanggil ke kamar doktor. ************************* Selain ikan dan berkebun, alam semula jadi menjadi sumber inspirasi doktor yang tidak lokek dengan senyuman ini, ‘mencaj’ dirinya. Mungkin itulah sebabnya doktor ini ‘mesra alam’, mudah didekati dan lembut pula tutur budi bicaranya. ******************************* Selain ‘mencaj’ dirinya dengan alam semula jadi, anak saudara tokoh wanita negara, Tan Sri Fatimah Hashim ini, tidak lupa memperkenalkan minat yang sama kepada anak-anak dan isterinya yang kini bergelar Dato’ dan berjawatan pengarah kesihatan sebuah negeri.(isterinya sudah meninggal dunia, takziah diucapkan kepada Dr) *************************** Dr Abdul Halim berkata, sejak anak-anaknya masih kecil mereka diajar mengenal, menghayati dan memahami alam semula jadi. Antara aktiviti mereka lakukan sekeluarga ialah memanjat gunung dan memerhati burung (bird watching). ************************** Apabila doktor yang kerap dilihat berbaju putih ini menjelaskan minatnya untuk memerhati burung dalam wawancara ini, terbayang di mata penulis lagak A R Tompel bersama teropongnya ke sana ke sini dalam filem ‘Keluarga 69’. Selain burung, A R Tompel juga meneropong… ************************* Khayalan dan senyuman penulis segera terputus apabila terdengar Dr Abdul Halim bertanyakan anak penulis berusia 14 tahun yang turut serta dalam wawancara itu. “Hah, awak kenal burung kunyit besar?” Budak lelaki itu menyatakan ‘tidak tahu’, menyebabkan doktor lepasan Tanta (sebuah universiti di Mesir) itu ‘menyambung ceramah mengenai hobi burungnya’. ****************************** Sebagai seorang bapa dan tokoh masyarakat, tentulah doktor yang dikurniakan enam anak ini tidak terlepas daripada membicarakan hal-hal berkaitan dunia pendidikan. Rekod pencapaian anak-anaknya dalam pelajaran begitu membanggakan. Anak pertama, kini seorang doktor, mendapat 9A dalam SPM; manakala yang kedua, seorang peguam juga mendapat 9A dalam peperiksaan sama. **************************** Anak ketiga dan keempat kini sedang belajar ilmu kedoktoran, seorang mendapat 9A dan manakala seorang lagi 8A dalam pemeriksaan SPM manakala anak kelima yang kini mengikuti pengajian A-Level, mendapat 10A dalam peperiksaan sama. Anak keenamnya kini berada dalam Tingakatan Dua sebuah sekolah terkenal di Melaka. (ini semua relevan pada tahun 2005) ***************************** (Berikut adalah petikan wawancara dengan Dr Abdul Halim yang menjadi calon Adun PAS dalam pilihan raya umum 1999 dan 2004 lalu.) ********************** * Mengenai masa depan pendidikan generasi muda. ************************* Saya cukup bimbang dengan pembelajaran mata pelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris. Kayu pengukur kejayaan atau kegagalan sebahagiannya disandarkan kepada keputusan PMR yang akan diumumkan 22 Disember ini. *********************** Sumber-sumber guru memberitahu saya ‘standard’ kertas PMR bagi Sains, Matematik dan Bahasa Inggeris telah direndahkan. Ertinya ujian ini mudah dan kemungkinan ramai murid akan mencapai tahap tertinggi (A). Jika ini berlaku, pihak berkenaan dengan mudah akan mengisytiharkan pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris sudah terbukti kejayaannya. ********************** Saya bimbang akan kesannya sama ada dari segi jangka panjang atau pendek. Dari segi jangka pendek, ramai pelajar akan layak ke sekolah berasrama penuh. Dari segi jumlah pelajar yang layak ke institusi pengajian tinggi kemudiannya, mungkin ramai, tetapi dari segi mutu ia diragukan. ************************ Contohnya ada. Misalnya mengapa ramai pelatih kolej kejururawatan gagal dalam kursus mereka. Berdasarkan keputusan peperiksaan SPM, mereka mempunyai kelayakan tetapi apabila mengikuti kursus yang banyak menekankan aspek teknikal dan amali yang kebanyakannya adalah dalam bahasa Inggeris, ramai pelatih Melayu telah gagal. Ini menunjukkan ‘standard’ pencapaian peperiksaan mereka, walaupun layak untuk mengikuti kursus, tidak begitu memuaskan untuk menghadapi cabaran pada peringkat lebih tinggi. *********************** * Usaha ke arah kecemerlangan ************************* Saya suka tekankan mengenai ‘time management’ (pengurusan masa). Setiap orang perlu bijak menguruskan masa masing-masing. Setiap orang mempunyai masa yang sama – 24 jam sehari. Di sini saya ingin menyentuh hal berkaitan pelajar kerana ia lebih mudah kerana saya juga mempunyai anak-anak. **************************** Setiap pelajar perlu memperuntukkan masa yang cukup untuk belajar dan bermain selain keperluan asasi lain. Memperuntukkan masa semata-mata untuk belajar adalah silap. Tidak ada orang yang boleh berjaya jika dia hidup dengan menghadap buku saja. ************************** Kita juga perlu meluangkan masa melakukan kerja-kerja yang mengembirakan dan menjadi minat kita. Saya tertarik dengan kata-kata seorang pujangga Inggeris, William Woodworth yang berbunyi: “What is life, if full of care, you don’t have time to stand and stare’.” (Apa maknanya hidup jika ia penuh dengan pengawasan sehingga anda tiada masa untuk berdiri dan merenung diri). ************************* * Kejayaan hakiki ************************* Biasanya kejayaan dikaitkan dengan perolehan di atas kertas (peperiksaan), kerjaya, pangkat dan pemilikan material. Erti kejayaan pada kebanyakan orang ialah apa kerja kamu, apa pangkat kamu, berapa besar atau banyak rumah kamu dan apa jenis dan jumlah kereta kamu dan berapa banyak duit kamu. Ini suatu bentuk ukuran yang tidak tepat. ‘Yardstick’ ini tidak betul. *************************** Di sini pentingnya pendidikan Islam secara total bagi mengerakkan kita melahirkan anak-anak yang bukan saja berjaya dalam bidang masing-masing tetapi juga sebagai insan bertakwa. Jika kita melahirkan seorang jurutera, kita mahukan seorang jurutera bertakwa; jika melahirkan seorang doktor, kita mahukan seorang doktor yang bertakwa dan jika melahirkan seorang arkitek, kita mahukan seorang arkitek yang bertakwa. ****************************** Kita bukan saja mahu melahiran profesional bertakwa tetapi semua insan bertakwa. Jika seseorang itu menjadi tukang sapu sekali pun, kita mahukan dia menjadi tukang sapu bertakwa. Jika dia seorang petani, dia petani yang bertakwa. Dia bersyukur dengan rezekinya yang dikurniakan Allah dan tidak akan membikin kacau manakala orang kaya pula tahu kewajipannya terhadap orang miskin. ************************* Dari sini barulah mudah terbentuk keluarga bahagia, seterusnya masyarakat bahagia, negara bahagia dan dunia yang bahagia.