Roslan Hamid's Blog, page 183

Haji berperananlah sebagai utusan kebenaran , bukan utusan Melayu

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)

SELAMAT pulang diucapkan kepada kira-kira 28,000 jemaah haji Malaysia; semoga dikurniakan Allah SWT haji mabrur yang tiada balasannya kecuali syurga.

Haji mabrur amat mulia dan berharga, untuk memperolehinya menjadi harapan setiap orang beriman. Dalam hubungan ini Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda bermaksud; "Dari umrah ke umrah adalah penghapus dosa di antara kedua-duanya. Dan haji mabrur tiada balasannya kecuali syurga. (Hadis riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim)

Seseorang haji dan hajah perlu bertanggungjawab dan berusaha keras memastikan ibadah hajinya itu kekal mabrur (yang diterima) sepanjang hidupnya. Seseorang haji dan hajah sewajarnya mengekalkan peranannya sebagai utusan kebenaran dan menjadi model kepada masyarakat.Namun apa dikesali masih ada haji dan hajah yang mahu berterusan menjadi utusan atau penyambung lidah orang Melayu yang sikap mereka kadang-kadang tidak sejajar dengan kehendak Islam.Amalan dan sikap buruk sesetengah Melayu seperti percaya kepada hal karut marut (termasuk khurafat dan perbomohan), enggan menambah ilmu, fitnah memfitnah dan mutakhir ini mempertikai dan mempermain-mainkan hukum Allah SWT seperti hudud perlu dibanteras oleh semua Muslim apatah lagi di kalangan mereka bergelar haji dan hajah.

Haji dan hajah adalah utusan kebenaran; mereka perlu sentiasa menegakkan kebenaran dan menentang kebatilan sebaliknya tidak membabi buta menjadi utusan (rasul) Melayu yang kerjanya hanya mahu memenangkan ‘tuannya' sekalipun terpaksa melanggar perintah Allah seperti mempersenda-sendakan hukum hudud atau menggunakan pihak lain untuk melakukannya. Mereka akan melakukan apa saja bagi mencapai matlamat termasuk menang pilihan raya untuk kekal berkuasa dulu, kini dan selamanya, sekalipun terpaksa menghina agama sendiri.Setiap Muslim, apatah lagi yang bergelar haji dan hajah perlu mengetahui bahawa mengamalkan Islam sepenuhnya dan menegakkan segala hukum-hakamnya menjadi tanggungjawab mereka.Apabila dinyatakan mengamalkan Islam sepenuhnya, ia bermaksud menjadikan al-Quran dan hadis sebagai panduan hidup dalam semua bidang kehidupan.

Ia bukan sahaja dalam soal ibadat khusus seperti solat, puasa, zakat dan haji seperti difahami sesetengah pihak tetapi merangkumi segala-galanya - daripada soal dipandang remeh temeh kepada urusan mengatur masyarakat seperti politik (termasuk pilihan raya), muamalat dan perundangan.Dalam urusan masyarakat hari ini banyak perkara termasuk hukum-hakam disandarkan kepada undang-undang ciptaan manusia. Manusia memilih untuk melaksanakan perintah Allah dalam perkara yang dirasakan menguntungkan dirinya sebaliknya menolak yang difikirkan tidak menguntungkan.Perhatikan, misalnya bagaimana penerimaan seseorang Muslim itu terhadap perintah menjalankan hukum qisas (ayat 178 Surah Al-Baqarah) dan perintah berpuasa (ayat 183 Surah al-Baqarah). Kedua-dua ayat bermula dengan, “Wahai orang-orang beriman...” namun mengapa perintah berpuasa dijalankan dengan senang hati sedangkan qisas disertakan dengan 1,001 alasan.

Pesanan Kementerian Hal Ehwal Islam Arab Saudi melalui buku 'Panduan Untuk Jemaah Haji dan Umrah serta Pengunjung Masjid Rasul' (diberikan kepada semua jemaah haji) yang menegaskan perkara-perkara yang membatalkan Islam, perlu dihayati.Selain syirik iaitu mempersekutuan Allah yang dianggap kesalahan terbesar, turut disenaraikan perkara batil ialah berkeyakinan bahawa petunjuk lain daripada Nabi s.a.w. adalah lebih sempurna atau berkeyakinan bahawa hukuman yang lain daripada hukuman Nabi s.a.w. lebih baik seperti mereka yang mengamalkan peraturan thaghut (aturan manusia yang melampaui batas dan menyimpang daripada hukum Allah) dan mengenepikan Rasulullah s.a.w. Maka orang yang berkeyakinan seperti itu adalah kafir.

Sebagai contoh;

a) berkeyakinan bahawa peraturan atau perundangan yang dibuat oleh manusia lebih utama daripada Syariat Islam; atau perundangan Islam tidak sesuai dilaksanakan sekarang; atau Islam adalah sebab kemunduran umat Islam; atau Islam hanya mengatur hubungan manusia dengan Tuhannya sahaja dan bukan urusan kehidupan dunia.

b) Berpendapat bahawa melaksanakan hukum Allah seperti melaksanakan hukum hudud, memotong tangan pencuri dan merejem penzina yang telah berkahwin (muhsan) tidak sesuai lagi pada masa kini.

c) Berkeyakinan bahawa dibolehkan untuk mengamalkan perundungan yang lain daripada Syariat yang diturunkan oleh Allah SWT sama ada dalam hukum muamalat (perdagangan) atau dalam melaksanakan hukum hudud (jenayah) atau lainnya sekalipun tidak disertai dengan keyakinan bahawa hukum-hukum tersebut lebih utama daripada Syariat Islam kerana dengan sedemikian, ia telah menghalalkan perkara yang diharamkan oleh Allah WT menurut ijmak (kesepakatan) ulama.

Setiap orang yang menghalalkan perkara yang sudah jelas dan tegas diharamkan oleh Allah SWT dalam agama seperti zina, arak, riba dan melaksanakan perundangan yang lain daripada Syariat Islam adalah kafir menurut kesepakatan umat Islam.Perkara lain yang boleh membatalkan Islam ialah membenci sesuatu yang telah ditetapkan oleh Rasulullah s.a.w. sebagai Syariat walaupun ia mengamalkannya. Dengan melakukan demikian dia telah menjadi kafir, kerana firman Allah SWT yang bermaksud: "Demikian itu adalah kerana mereka benci terhadap sesuatu yang diturunkan Allah, maka Allah menghapuskan (pahala) segala amal perbuatan mereka."

Selain itu, mempersendakan Allah SWT atau Kitab-Nya, atau Rasulullah s.a.w. atau sesuatu daripada ajaran agama, maka dia telah menjadi kafir, kerana firman Allah yang bermaksud: "Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): Adakah terhadap Allah dan ayat-ayat-Nya serta Rasul-Nya kamu sekalian memperolok-olok? Tiada ertinya kamu meminta maaf kerana kamu telah kafir setelah beriman."

They love you because you are beautiful…

*** 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. ************************* OVER the years, several stray cats sought protection in garages and sheds erected near my house. My family members gave them food, and with ‘the good living condition’, they multiplied fast. Eventhough the cats roamed freely in our compound, they were not allowed to enter our house. ********************** A lookalike civet cat, named ‘Musang’ by my family members became ‘popular’ among my children; she delivered offspring several times in a year. If she delivered three kittens at a time, imagine in a year’s time, there would be nine ‘new faces’ around. ************************ One of the kittens became a favourite among my boys and girls. It grew up becoming a ‘beautiful’ grey cat, with thick hair and a fat body. My children called it ‘Momok’, as it was ‘gemuk’ (fat). Almost everyone especially my ten year old daughter liked to pamper ‘Momok’. They would bring it inside the house, played and sometimes sleep with the cat in bed. Momok was very ‘manja’ (like to be pampered) and playful. It did not mind if the children put it into bed and cuddled it. They all loved Momok, or was it because of its beauty? ********************** Unfortunately Momok ‘good appearance’ did not last long. It developed illness after being attacked by lice especially on its ears. It's beautiful and soft hair started to fall in a few weeks time, it became so thin, its face swollen and small wounds were all over its body. ************************ I felt pity for Momok. After ‘being transformed’ from a cute cat to a ‘kucing kurap’ (stray cat), nobody like it. It was not allowed to enter the house what more to be cuddled and taken to bed by my daughter. It was a sad episode for Momok, it was loved because of its beauty, when it lost that trait; it was dumped away. ************************ Thinking about the ups and downs life of Momok, I guessed that in life we (human beings) are not love just the way we are but because the ‘things’ and ‘traits’ that are tacked to us. In Momok’s case, it was beauty that made my children fall for it, so in our life, do not make assumption that people like us just because the way we are. Perhaps they like or love us because of our beauty and who knows when this trait will fade or we fall ill, they would just dump us! ********************* Beware, because sometimes people shower their like or love to us because of our position, money, power and so on. When we are ‘somebody’, they try to win our hearts but when we have nothing to offer, they just walk away. ********************* So to leaders, take note that when the people say they love and support you, some might be good at talking because in actual sense they are only afraid or after your position and wealth. If you were a nobody; they would just say sayonara to you! *********************** In my opinion, we should love all including animals the way they are. If we only love and give food and fondle our beautiful pet cat but chase away a ‘kucing kurap’, then we are not cat or animal lovers. We are only ‘beauty lovers’. *********************** We love the cat because it is good to stroke its beautiful body; what would happen if the cat suddenly developed illness and transformed into ‘a skeleton figure’, would we be still love it? Or we just dump it as in the case of Momok? ********************** We should be sincere (ikhlas) in our actions including when treating animals. We should only love them for the sake of Allah SWT. Thus we would give the same treatment to a beautiful cat or a ‘kucing kurap’. To us, all of them are God’s creatures; they deserved to be treated fairly. ******************** In two separate hadiths narrated by Abu Hurayrah (the cat-loving Companion), the Prophet told his Companions of the virtue of saving the life of a dog by giving it water and quenching its thirst: one referred to was a man who was blessed by Allah for giving water to a thirsty dog. The other was a prostitute, who filled her shoe with water and gave it to a dog that was lolling its tongue in thirst. For this deed she was granted the ultimate reward: eternal Paradise. *********************** Note that the man and woman gave water not to their pet dogs but stray ones; they only did the good deeds for Allah’s sake. They loved Allah’s creatures; it didn’t matter if others did not appreciate their good deeds. It was only to please Allah SWT. ******************* Truly generous persons feed the hungry, saying, “We feed you for the sake of Allah Alone, we seek from you neither reward nor thanks.” (Qur’an: 76:9) ***************** If those who treated animals well were praised by Allah SWT, those who mistreated them would be seeing the doom. Regarding this, Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, (peace be upon him, s.a.w.) said, “A woman was punished because of a cat she had imprisoned until it died. She entered Hellfire because of it. She did not give it food or water while it was imprisoned, neither did she set it free to eat from the vermin of the earth.” (Sahih Bukhari, Book 56, Number 689) ****************** As for non pet but animals used to help men in their work such as transportation; in respect of these dumb animals and ride them when they are fit to be ridden and get off them when they are tired. ******************** In his book ‘Enjoy Your Life’ (Darussalam), Dr Muhammad ‘Abd Al-Rahaman Al-‘Arifi, noted that when good interpersonal skills become one’s habit, they become his second nature and an integral part of his personality. Such a person is always found to be easygoing, light-hearted, gentle, forbearing and sensitive with all, including ANIMALS and non-living things. ********************* Dr Muhammad noted that Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. loved all animals with a few examples from his life. Once, when the Prophet s.a.w. was on a journey with his companions, he stopped over to answer the call of nature. Meanwhile, one of his companions noticed a redstart bird with two chicks. He took the chicks away. ******************* The bird came and began to circle around them flapping its wings. When the Prophet s.a.w. came and saw the scene, he turned to his companions and said, “Who distressed the bird by taking its chicks from it? Return the chicks to the bird!” ********************* On a different occasion, the Prophet s.a.w. noticed a burnt ants’ nest. “Who burnt the nest?” he demanded. One of his companions replied, “I did.” The Prophet s.a.w. became angry and said, “No one but Allah punishes with fire!” ********************** The Prophet s.a.w. was so merciful that if he saw a cat whilst he was performing ablution, he would loiwer the utensil down for the cat to drink from and then perform ablution from the leftover water. ************************* Once he passed by a man who had laid a sheep on the ground and placed his foot on its neck to slaughter it while sharpening the knife as the sheep looked on. The Prophet s.a.w. became angry upon seeing this and said, “Do you want it to die twice. Why didn’t you sharpen your knife before you laid it on the ground?” ********************* On another occasion, he s.a.w. passed by two men in a middle of a conversation and each of them was sitting on his camel. When he saw this, he felt pity for the camels and therefore forbade people from using animals as chairs, meaning that one is not mount it except when required and that when the need is fulfilled, one should dismount and allow it to rest. The Prophet s.a.w. also forbade branding an animal in its face. *********************** Yes, the Prophet s.a.w. loved all animals, regardless of whether they were beautiful or not; but some of us love animals because of their beauty; for example a beautiful cat is pampered with love but a ‘kucing kurap’ is shooed away…!

Melayu gagal dakwah orang Cina

************************* Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ************************* Renungan ************************ Sabda Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. di dalam hadis riwayat Ibnu Hibban, bermaksud: "Barangsiapa yang tidur dalam keadaan suci, tidur pada pakaiannya malaikat. Maka ia tidak bangun (ketika terjaga) kecuali berkata malaikat (berdoa): "Ya Allah berilah keampunan kepada Hamba-Mu si fulan (disebut nama oleh malaikat dalam doanya ini) kerana sesungguhnya ia telah tidur dalam keadaan suci." **************************** FIRDAUS Wong daripada Perkim memukau hadirin pada sesi ceramahnya yang menekankan kewajipan seseorang Muslim untuk berdakwah, di sebuah masjid berdekatan rumah saya 19 Oktober lalu. Walaupun masa diperuntukkan adalah antara maghrib dan isyak, Firdaus ‘terbabas’ daripada tempoh ditetapkan. ************************ Seusai ceramahnya, Firdaus memberi peluang kepada hadirin bertanyakan soalan; saya tidak melepaskan kesempatan itu dengan menyoal kenapa orang Melayu gagal dalam ‘dakwah’ mereka kepada orang Cina kerana kata saya, kini ada hanya lebih kurang 60,000 Cina Muslim daripada 8 juta orang Cina di Malaysia. ********************** Beliau membetulkan angka yang saya beri, katanya kini hanya adalah lebih kurang 40,000 Cina Muslim di kalangan 28 juta rakyat negara ini. Ya, angka ini sungguh kecil, mengapa tidak tertariknya orang Cina kepada Islam, mungkinkah orang Melayu-Islam yang merupakan kaum majoriti tidak langsung berdakwah kepada orang Cina? ************************ Dalam soalan saya kepada Firdaus, saya menekankan bahawa mengikut teori kedatangan Islam ke Asia Tenggara, penduduk rantau ini diislamkan oleh pertamanya, saudagar Arab; keduanya saudagar India dan ketiganya oleh saudagar dan penjelajah Cina dengan contoh utamanya Laksamana Cheng Ho yang beberapa kali belayar melalui laut kawasan ini untuk ke Makkah bagi menunaikan haji. *********************** Ya, dulu orang Cina terbabit mendakwah orang Melayu, maklumlah Islam dikatakan telah sampai ke negara China pada abad ke-7 sedangkan di Alam Melayu, rakyat kerajaan besarnya seperti Sriwijaya masih beragama Hindu dan Buddha. Jadi orang Melayu sebahagiannya diislamkan oleh orang Cina tetapi kenapa hari ini orang Melayu sebagai penduduk asal rantau ini tidak berjaya menarik jutaan orang Cina kepada Islam? ************************ Firdaus menjelaskan sesetengah watak dan sikap semula jadi orang Melayu itu seperti mudah tersenyum, peramah manakala anak-anak menunjukkan penghormatan kepada orang tua seperti mencium tangan ibu bapa, menambat hati kaum lain tetapi malangnya beliau mengakui orang Melayu tidak membuat kerja-kerja dakwah; ramai yang mengemukakan alasan seperti tidak pandai (tiada ilmu) dan tiada masa. Beliau mengingatkan adalah penting untuk setiap Muslim mencari ilmu, memahaminya, mengamal dan seterusnya menyampaikannya (berdakwah). *************************** Benarkah hal-hal berkaitan Islam tidak sampai kepada orang Cina? Dalam dunia moden apatah lagi pada era perkembangan teknologi komunikasi ini, perkara ini dirasakan mustahil tetapi sebagai manusia, ‘personal touch’ (jalinan peribadi) adalah amat perlu kerana situasi ini boleh menyentuh kalbu bagi membuka laluan seseorang itu mendapat hidayah Illahi. *********************** Pada pandangan saya, ketika seorang dua pemimpin parti politik Cina hebat menyerang Islam seperti memperlekehkan hukum hudud adalah amat penting untuk orang Islam yang cintakan agamanya berperanan untuk menerangkan Islam kepada rakan-rakan Cina mereka. Merekalah diharapkan untuk melakukan ‘personal touch’ , adalah amat merugikan jika sudah bertahun-tahun kita berkawan dengan orang bukan Islam tetapi tidak pernah menerangkan hal berkaitan Islam kepada mereka. ************************ Bolehkah kita biarkan pemimpin bukan Islam yang jahil Islam (mungkin benci Islam) berleluasa memberi gambaran mengenai apa didakwanya sebagai keburukan ajaran Islam? Sesungguhnya pemimpin seperti ini tidak layak bercakap pasal Islam tetapi mengapa kita tidak lakukan sesuatu sebelum ‘percakapan mulut busuk mereka’ masuk ke dalam minda rakan-rakan bukan Islam kita? ********************* Adalah malang jika kita menganggap hal agama adalah soal ‘taboo’ yang tidak boleh dibicarakan sesama rakan. Menyampaikan adalah tugas kita, untuk memberi hidayah itu ‘kerja’ Allah SWT. Tetapi kalau tidak menyampaikan, kita sudah berlaku khianat; seorang sahabat pernah menceritakan betapa seorang pemuda Cina Malaysia yang ‘menemui’ Islam di Amerika ketika menuntut di sana begitu marah sekali kepada rakan Melayunya di Malaysia yang tidak pernah memberi penjelasan mengenai Islam kepadanya. ********************** Firdaus tidak meminta kita (orang Melayu-Islam) melakukan tugas yang berat-berat dalam berdakwah; cukuplah kita bermula dengan menunjukkan akhlak dan contoh baik, mencetak dan mengedar risalah penerangan atau al-Quran terjemahan bahasa Cina dan kalau itu pun kita tidak mampu lakukan, berilah bantuan kewangan kepada pihak yang menjalankannya seperti Perkim!

Berkorbanlah sebagai ibu bapa, anak...

*********************** Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ******************** Renungan ******************** "Hai orang-orang beriman! Sesungguhnya (meminum) al-Khmar (arak), berjudi, (berkorban) untuk berhala, mengundi nasib dengan panah adalah perbuatan keji termasuk perbuatan syaitan. Maka jauhilah perbuatan-perbuatan itu agar kamu mendapat keberuntungan." ********************* "Sesungguhnya syaitan itu bermaksud untuk menimbulkan permusuhan dan kebencian antara kamu lantaran meminum al-Khamr (arak) dan berjudi itu, dan menghalangi kamu daripada mengingati Allah subhanahu wata'ala daripada sembahyang maka berhentilah kamu daripada mengerjakan pekerjaan itu." (Maksud ayat 90-91 Surah al-Maa'idah) ********************** SALAH satu aspek diberi penekanan pada Majlis Konvokesyen Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) Tronoh yang saya hadiri pada 21 Oktober lalu adalah kepentingan kepada graduan mengasihani, menghormati dan mengenang budi ibu bapa masing-masing. *********************** Yalah, pada majlis graduasi UTP kali ke-12, seramai lebih 1, 400 bekas pelajarnya akan memasuki pasaran industri dan mula mendaki tangga kejayaan dan kebanggaan hidup satu demi satu; jadi peringatan daripada pihak tertinggi universiti termasuklah Pro Canselornya, Tan Sri Sidek Hassan pada ucapan penutup, pada saya adalah tepat pada ketika masyarakat kita semakin hilang nilai kemanusiaan dan keagamaannya sebagai ibu bapa dan anak. ************************** Biasanya orang akan bercakap mengenai anak (dalam kes ini graduan universiti) yang perlu menilai pengorbanan ibu bapa masing-masing sehingga mereka mengecapi kejayaan tetapi jarang pemikiran orang melampaui kepada hakikat bahawa sebagai ibu atau bapa kita juga adalah seorang anak, persoalannya di manakah ibu dan bapa kita semasa kita berasa bangga terbabit dalam pembinaan kejayaan anak-anak kita. ************************* Sebenarnya, kejayaan awal (mendapat ijazah) daripada pelbagai pancoraba yang akan ditempoh anak kita itu adalah perhatian dan pengorbanan banyak pihak daripada kita sebagai ibu bapa, datuk neneknya, guru, ustaz, pengasuh, orang gaji, jiran, sahabat, pensyarah, tukang masak, tukang sapu, pemandu bas, makcik kantin dan sebagainya. Pendeknya, semua anggota dan institusi masyarakat (seperti sekolah, media massa dan masjid) mempunyai saham masing-masing. ******************************** Pada hari mulia Aidiladha ini, alangkah baiknya jika merujuk kepada kisah-kisah pengorbanan insan-insan mulia yang kisah mereka direkodkan dalam al-Quran. Antaranya kisah keluarga Nabi Ibrahim a.s. yang menyaksikan bukan saja Nabi Ibrahim berkorban sebagai seorang bapa (yang diperintah Allah menyembelih anaknya Nabi Ismail a.s) tetapi juga sebagai seorang anak (mendakwah bapanya), sebagai seorang suami dan pelbagai peranan lagi. Demikian juga Nabi Ismail a.s. dan ibunya Siti Hajar yang berkorban diri bagi mendapat reda Illahi. ********************************* Secara kebetulan ketika saya berada di UTP, saya membawa buku bertajuk ‘Air Mata Ibu’ (terbitan BSP) karya Norani Abd Hamid dan sempatlah saya ‘mencuri-curi’ membacanya pada waktu terluang. Apabila saya membaca kisah-kisah sedih mengenai nasib ibu yang dipaparkan penulis, perasanlah saya bahawa dalam banyak kes bukan seseorang anak itu menjadi sombong sejak azali tetapi dibentuk demikian. **************************** Antaranya, mereka menjadi sombong dan derhaka kerana pengaruh isteri (mahukan kehidupan mewah dan benci ibu mentua), kawan (terbabit dalam dunia dadah) dan pesona kehidupan duniawi. Kisah terbanyak dipaparkan adalah pengaruh isteri di atas kederhakaan seseorang anak. ************************** Berdasarkan ini, pada pendapat saya adalah tepat untuk universiti mengingatkan graduannya supaya sentiasa kasih, menghormati dan mengenang jasa orang tua mereka. Ya, ketika baru melangkah dunia pekerjaan, insya-Allah semuanya ‘baik-baik’ belaka, tetapi selepas meniti kejayaan demi kejayaan dan terpaksa mengharungi desakan hidup seperti kesuntukan masa dalam membina kerjaya dan kepenatan membesarkan anak-anak dan ditimbuni hutang piutang, dikhuatiri sedikit demi sedikit mereka mula menyisihkan ibu bapa masing-masing. **************************** Apatah lagi jika pasangan masing-masing adalah daripada ‘jenis sombong bodoh’, pengaruh mereka akan membuatkan si anak lupakan daratan. Kata orang, kerana isteri yang cantik punya hal, ibu bapa pun ditolak ke tepi. Itulah kisahnya yang dipaparkan melalui buku yang saya baca itu seperti ‘Si Tanggang Moden’, ‘Ikut Telunjuk Isteri’ dan ‘Buang Ibu di Rumah Kebajikan’. Si Tanggang dulunya adalah ‘anak ibu’ (anak baik) tetapi selepas berjaya dalam pelayaran dan memperisterikan wanita hartawan, tidak mahu mengaku ibunya sendiri. ************************ Demikianlah kita berdoa bersungguh-sungguh agar anak-anak kita termasuklah yang bergelar graduan dijauhkan diri daripada sifat Si Tanggang itu (mulanya baik tetapi berakhir dengan menderhaka kepada ibu bapa sendiri) semata-mata kerana diri mula diulit dengan harta dunia, pasangan (isteri atau suami) cantik atau kacak, kemasyhuran dan kuasa. ************************ Jadi pada pandangan hamba yang daif ini, adalah tepat untuk universiti mengingatkan anak didiknya untuk sentiasa berbakti kepada orang tua sepanjang hayat mereka malah selepas kematian seperti mendoakan dan berbakti atas nama mereka.

Dhul-hijjah, the blessed month of Hajj

*** 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. *********************** Labbayk, Allahumma, Labbayk, Labbayk, La Shareeka laka, Labbayk Innal-hamda wan n’mata laka wal-mulk, La shareekala – (Here I am at Your service, O Lord here I am, No partner do You have, Here I am, Truly the praise and the favour is Yours and the dominion. No partner do You have). ************************ Dhul-hijjah, the 12th month of the Muslim calendar of Hijra began on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. This is the month Muslim perform hajj, with its peak when they do ‘wukuf’ (to stop or gather) in Arafah (or Arafat) on the 9th Dhul-hijjah (Thursday, 25th Oct). *********************** Wukuf, being the highest 'rukun' (component) of hajj must be rendered; without which hajj does not take place. The requirement is the presence in Arafat, regardless of whether the pilgrim is riding, walking, sitting or moving. In Arafat one is to spend the afternoon from dhuhr (midday)to maghrib (sunset) prayer times making du’aa (supplications) and repenting to leave Arafat with all of one's sins forgiven. ******************** For Muslims who are not performing hajj in their homelands, they are encouraged to perform recommended deeds during the first 10 days of Dhul-hijjah such as fasting especially on ‘Wukuf’ day and giving charity. Then during Eid Adha (10th Dhul-Hijjah) when Muslims perform ‘solat’ (Eid prayers) and the days of Tashreek (11, 12, and 13th Dhul-Hijjah) they are recommended to do the slaughter or ‘korban’ (sacrifice) animals (such as sheep and cow). ************************* Almost all of 28,000 Malaysian pilgrims are now in Makkah; they are among more than 3 million Muslims from all corners of the world gathered in the Holy Land to perform the hajj manasik (rites and ceremonies performed at hajj). ********************** After Arafah, the pilgrims would then proceed towards Muzdalifah and pick up pebbles there to be used when stoning the Pillar of Aqabah or Qubra on Eid Adha (10th Dhul-Hijjah). ***************** In Mina, they are required to stay for three nights where they will stone the three ‘jamrahs’ beginning with the first Pillar (i.e. the one which is furthest from Makkah), followed by the middle Pillar and lastly the Pillar of Aqabah. ******************* The pilgrims will also shave their heads or cut their hair and then proceed to Makkah to perform the Tawaf Al-Ifadah (circling the Kaabah seven times which is an essential part of Hajj) and then perform Sa’y (walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa). ******************** While waiting for the the big day (Wukuf this Thursday, 25th Oct), pilgrims fulfill their days by performing prayers and 'tawaf' in the Grand Masjid of Makkah (Masjidil-Haram). ******************** Some prefer to perform ‘umra’ (small hajj) again and again but they are advised not to it frequently as they needed a lot of energy to prepare for the hardship of hajj. ******************* It is advisable to perform hajj when one is at a young age. Perhaps the time is right when one is in his thirties or forties because physically and mentally he is fit to fulfil some ‘robust’ obligations that need strength and stamina such as stoning the devils at the jamrahs in Mina. ******************** Furthermore pilgrims have to use the power of their legs for activities such as walking frequently (perhaps five times daily for 'fardu' prayers) from one’s hotel room to the Prophet's Masjid (in Madinah) and Al-Haram Masjid (in Makkah). During hajj, a distance of one or two kilometers from the hotels and the masjids are normal. ****************** For hajj or umrah obligations such as tawaf and sa’y, one has to walk a distance; for example for sa’y when one has to walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, the distance could be more than four kilometers (600 meters x 7)! ******************* When performing the stoning of the devils, it is normal for pilgrims to walk quite a far distance, perhaps two to three kilometres from their tents in Mina to the jamrah. Pilgrims are supposed to stay for four days and three nights in Mina (10, 11, 12 and 13 Dzul-hijjah) dan stone the three jamras everyday during the stay except during 10th Dzul-hijjah (Eid) when pilgrims only stone the main jamrah (Jamrah Al-Aqabah). ********************* Thus, to perform hajj one should be physically and mentally fit, so it is advisable to Muslim to take the necessary steps for example started saving from an early age, hoping and praying one could perform the fifth pillar of Islam at the earliest time possible and not at old age. ****************** Writing about my own experience in the Holy Land after being there a few times, I loved to be ‘alone’ (without the presence of known companions near me) in places such as Majidil-Haram and while gathering in Plains of Arafah because I had the feeling of nearness to Allah SWT. ******************* Without the presence of ‘a known person’ close to me, I could ‘freely’ pour out my heart to Allah SWT. I was free to shed tears without the feeling of being ‘observed’ by ‘close relatives and friends’. ***************** When you are ‘alone’ it is easy for you to talk and admitted about your past sins and then beg forgiveness from the Almighty. In one such occasion, I was sobbing, lost for words. I reached for my small du’aa book and read the supplications, among others: "O Allah! I ask of Your integrity and soundness in my religion, my life, my family, and my possessions. ****************** O Allah! Cover my shame, pacify my fears, guard me from what is in front of me and behind me, from what is on my right and on my left, over my head and under my feet. ******************** O Allah! Grant health to my body. O Allah grants health to my hearing. O Allah! Grant heath to my sight. There is no deity except You. ************* O Allah! You are my Lord. There is no deity except You. You are my Creator and I am Your creature. I try to keep my covenant with You and to live in the hope of Your promise as well as I can. I seek refuge in You from my own evil deeds. I acknowledge Your favours to me, and I acknowledge my sins. Forgive me my sins, for there is no one who can forgive sins except You. ******************* O Allah! I seek refuge in You from worry and sorrow. I seek refuge in You from impotence and sloth, from stinginess and cowardice, and I seek refuge in You from the burden of debt and from being humbled by men. ****************** O Allah! Make the beginning of this day good, the middle prosperous, and the end successful. I ask You to grant me the good of this world and of the Hereafter. O Most Merciful of all Who show us mercy! ********************* O Allah! You hear my words, You behold my situation, You know what is open and what is hidden within me; nothing is hidden from You. It is me alone who is in need, a humble seeker of Your forgiveness. I beseech You with humility in my heart, with trembling and fear, in prostration and utter helplessness. ******************** O Allah! Grant me soundness of belief, goodness of character, forgiveness of my sins, and Your eternal pleasure in the Hereafter. – Ameen **************** Well, when a ‘hajji’ or ‘hajjah’ returns to his/her homeland, he or she has a huge burden or responsibility on his or her back. Among others, he or she is a messenger of good faith and must shine so that others could follow his or her steps. ****************** Every year some 28,000 Malaysian Muslim performed the hajj. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. So whoever has performed hajj, he/she is supposed to produce the finest in whatever they do, keeping in line with the teachings of the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him, pbuh). ********************** In ten years time, we would have roughly some 280,000 ‘hajjis’ and ‘hajjahs’ in the whole country. That figure is big enough to fight injustice in our country that is tarnished with corruption, mismanagement and abuse of power, money and resources. But where have the good gone? Why the silence? ***************** ‘Hajjis’ and ‘hajjahs’ are everywhere in the country. They cannot just remain silent over things that are against the teaching of Islam such as ignorance, injustice and corruption that exists and flourishes around them. ********************* Yes, they have to uphold justice including during election time. So, to hajjis and hajjahs, prove it during this coming 13th general election!

Simpati kepada bakal haji, petugas Tabung Haji...

*********************** 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) ************************* TERSENTUH hati ini apabila mendengar khabar sejumlah bakal haji musim 1433 Hijrah (sekarang ini) yang nama mereka sudah tersenarai (ada yang sudah diberikan rantai tangan) dibatalkan pemergian mereka ke Tanah Suci. Seorang ustaz bercerita, ada seorang jemaah datang kepadanya, menangis teresak-esak menyatakan dia menerima panggilan telefon menyatakan dia tidak dapat 'lampu hijau' ke Tanah Suci sehari sebelum dia dijadualkan berlepas. Maka menangislah dia mengadu nasib. ******************************* Seminggu dua ini berdesing-desing telinga ini mendengar kisah bakal haji yang tak dapat ke Makkah dan juga kisah jemaah haji yang 'last minute' (waktu terakhir) dapat juga akhirnya ke sana. ************************** Pelbagai pihak memberitahu 'suasana kelam-kabut' dalam mengatur jemaah ke Tanah Suci tahun ini disebabkan pihak berkuasa Malaysia gagal mendapat kuota tambahan jemaah haji. Biasanya selain kuota biasa 28,000 jemaah (1 peratus daripada penduduk Malaysia yang berjumlah 28 juta orang), pihak Arab Saudi membenarkan tambahan jemaah, ada kalanya sehingga 10,000 orang. ********************** Tahun ini tiada tambahan jemaah haji dengan pihak berkuasa Arab Saudi memberitahu hal itu disebabkan kegiatan pembangunan dan pengubahsuaian di kawasan sekitar Masjidilharam tetapi sesetengah pihak di Malaysia termasuk sesetengah pemimpinnya tidak habis-habis mempropagandakan hal itu disebabkan perhimpunan segelintir rakyat Malaysia dalam apa didakwa demonstrasi Bersih tempoh hari. ************************* Berbual dengan bakal-bakal haji ini dan beberapa ustaz terdengarlah rintihan hati mereka yang saya celotehkan (coretkan) di sini. Kata seorang jemaah yang mendapat panggilan pengesahan ke Tanah Suci pada 'last minute' (dia sudah berangkat, didoakan dia mendapat haji mabrur): "Kenduri sudah saya buat sebulan lalu. Hampir setiap kali ke masjid, jemaah akan bertanya; 'ehh tak berangkat lagi?' Saya naik malu dibuatnya. Syukur, alhamdulillah dapat juga saya ke Tanah Suci." ***************************** Namun pada masa yang sama dia sempat menyindir dengan berkata: "Orang macam kita ini sudah lama mendaftar. Sudah dipilih dan disenaraikan untuk pergi tahun ini. Sudah ikut kursus termasuk kursus haji perdana. Namun Tabung Haji tidak mengesahkan tarikh pemergian kita sehingga 'last minute'. Ada orang tak mendaftar pun. Tak ikut kursus pun. Tak berhajat pun nak pergi haji. Tup-tup dia dapat surat suruh dia bersedia pergi haji. Ini apa hal ni?" ************************* Jemaah ini merujuk kepada jemaah haji yang ditaja oleh pemerintah melalui kuota PM, menteri, kerajaan negeri, setiausaha kerajaan negeri dan sebagainya. Dikhabarkan PM menaja ratusan jemaah, ada pejabat setiausaha kerajaan negeri menaja 50 orang; jadi daripada semua negeri berapa ramai jemaah yang pergi secara ini? Mereka terdiri daripada imam, bilal, pengerusi JKKK, pemenang anugerah kecemerlangan dan sebagainya. Kalau satu negeri 500 orang yang pergi cara ini, daripada 13 negeri sudah ada 6,500 jemaah. Jadi baki kuota yang terbuka kepada orang awam cuma 21,500 jemaah. **************************** Itulah sebabnya mengapa sukar benar pegawai Tabung Haji hendak 'release' nama dan tarikh jemaah yang dapat pergi haji. Kasihan petugas Tabung Haji. Mereka kena ikut arahan atasan sedangkan jemaah asyik menghubungi mereka, bertanya, "dapat ke tak dapat" atau "bila nak berangkat ni?" Pening juga petugas Tabung Haji. Ada 'tangan ghaib' lebih berkuasa yang membolehkan 6,500 jemaah pergi tanpa ikut proses biasa - mendaftar, menunggu bertahun-tahun lamanya; orang 'terpilih' ini tup-tup saja dapat pergi haji...ewah begitu mudah sekali. ******************* Seorang jemaah lain memberi cadangan ini: "Kalau nak bagi hadiah kat orang-orang yang banyak jasa dan bakti itu, bagilah mereka buat umrah, kan umrah itu boleh dibuat bila-bila masa. Untuk haji ini bagilah orang yang benar-benar nak buat haji, mereka dah lama menunggu, kasihanilah mereka...ada lebih 900,000 orang dalam senarai menunggu. Apa pasal orang tak mendaftar haji pun boleh pergi dulu?"

Pulangkan duit gaji perolehan daripada hasil judi, arak

********************** 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 *************************** Seorang ustaz pernah memberitahu penulis supaya mengasingkan wang faedah (riba) yang dimasukkan dalam akaun bank. Dulu faedah dibayar sekali gus dalam setahun, tidak sekerap sekarang. Disebabkan simpanan saya tidak banyak, jumlah faedahnya kecil saja, tidak lebih RM100. ************************ Katanya, keluarkanlah wang faedah itu dan berikan kepada pihak yang mahu melakukan projek pembangunan umum seperti membina jalan dan jambatan serta membiayai program sekolah seperti sukan tahunan dan majlis penyampaian hadiah. **************************** Menurutnya, wang itu perlu dikeluarkan, usah dibekukan dalam akaun. “Ini penting kerana wang itu boleh dimanfaatkan untuk kegunaan dan kepentingan umum. Tetapi janganlah wang itu untuk kegunaan sendiri atau memasukkannya dalam tabungan berkaitan ibadat seperti tabung masjid,” pesannya. *************************** Demikianlah betapa sejak dulu lagi, kita diajar supaya mengasingkan wang perolehan daripada sumber haram dan diragukan supaya tidak bercampur dengan hasil halal yang diperolehi melalui titik peluh kita. ***************************** Lima belas tahun lalu, apabila usia semakin meningkat, saya mulai sedar bahawa wang gaji yang saya perolehi daripada kerja perit jerih itu terdapat juga unsur-unsur meragukan. **************************** Ketika itu saya bekerja di sebuah syarikat akhbar gergasi, surat khabar yang diterbitkan mengandungi unsur-unsur tidak sihat seperti penyiaran iklan arak dan judi. Surat khabar Melayu harian berbahasa Melayu sehingga hari ini masih menyiarkan keputusan nombor ekor (judi) manakala akhbar bahasa Inggeris selain menyiarkan keputusan judi turut menyiarkan iklan arak. *************************** Perolehan daripada iklan judi dan arak dicampurkan bagi meningkatkan pendapatan syarikat dan wang inilah digunakan oleh membayar gaji pekerja termasuk pemberian bonus dan x-gratia dua atau tiga kali ganda gaji asal pada setiap hujung tahun. *********************** Disebabkan isu wang perolehan daripada hasil judi ini menjadi hangat suatu ketika dulu, terluanglah kesempatan untuk saya 'refresh' (mengingatkan kembali) pengurusan media massa, tauke-tauke media dan juga kepada peneraju negara mengenai satu dua perkara yang tidak Islamik dalam pekerjaan kita. ************************ Selain wang haram judi, diharapkan kita dapat 'berfikir lagi jauh ke depan' untuk sama-sama memansuhkan unsur-unsur tidak Islamik lain termasuk dalam akhbar - sama ada dalam bahasa Inggeris atau bahasa Melayu. ************************ Akhbar-akhbar berbahasa Melayu, terutamanya terbitan hari minggu - dalam usaha bersaing untuk muncul sebagai akhbar No 1 negara, menyajikan ruangan dan gambar-gambar artis wanita dalam keadaan tidak senonoh sama sekali. ******************************* Gambar wanita mendedahkan pangkal buah dada, kadang-kadang terlondeh dengan hanya menutup 'benda itu' saja, nampaknya sudah menjadi perkara biasa, seolah-olah ia sudah diterima masyarakat. **************************** Seorang tuan guru pernah menegur dengan berkata: "Nampaknya semua orang sudah jadi syaitan bisu, tidak ada orang berani menegur, hatta sekalipun anaknya berpakaian tidak senonoh." *************************** Jika bahan bacaan berkenaan dikhaskan untuk pembaca dewasa, 'damage' (kerosakan)nya tidaklah sebegitu besar berbanding statusnya sebagai akhbar untuk seisi keluarga. ************************** Alangkah malunya seorang bapa apabila si anak terikut-ikut mahu memperagakan pakaian yang digayakan artis dalam akhbar ataupun bertanyakan soalan sensitif apabila tidak faham sesuatu yang dibacanya dalam ruangan seks dan rumahtangga. ********************* Selain menyiarkan gambar-gambar tidak senonoh, sesetengah akhbar masih bebas menyiarkan iklan arak malah semua akhbar menyiarkan keputusan empat nombor ekor (judi) sekalipun dalam akhbar yang sama mungkin ada rencana yang menyatakan haram dan padahnya berjudi atau minum arak. ******************** Seorang wartawan muda pernah menghubungi saya, mengemukakan soalan dan meminta nasihat: "Saya kerja di………sebagai penyunting bahagian sukan. Apabila saya 'buat page tu, di tepinya ada 'ad' (advertisement) 'empat nombor ekor'. Macam mana ni bang, pendapatan saya ni haram ke halal, atau saya dikira syubahat ke bang?" Saya katakan kepadanya, tanyalah ustaz, tentulah ustaz lebih arif. ********************** Demikian betapa serba salahnya seseorang Muslim yang bekerja dalam suasana (environment) demikian kerana apabila dia mendirikan solat, dia akan memohon - ya Allah, Kau tunjukkanku jalan yang lurus - jadi kalau Allah sudah bukakan pintu hatinya untuk mengikuti jalan lurus, tentulah suasana tidak Islamik itu tidak akan mententeramkan jiwanya. ************************* Jadi jawapan yang terbaik bagi syarikat akhbar ini, asingkan wang haram seperti hasil iklan judi, arak dan penjualan majalah separuh lucah daripada perolehan lain. Gunakan ‘wang haram’ itu untuk membiayai projek awam seperti pembikinan jalan dan jambatan manakala wang halal itu membayar pekerja yang mahukan gaji bersih daripada unsur syubahat. ************************* Kepada pekerja yang prihatin termasuk wartawan yang beriya-iya mahukan golongan veteran di Pulau Pinang memulangkan wang yang didakwa ‘daripada hasil judi’, kini tibalah giliran anda untuk memulangkan sebahagian gaji anda selama ini kerana ia juga daripada sumber haram iaitu iklan empat nombor ekor (judi). ********************* Kepada pemimpin Umno-BN termasuk Adun atau ahli Parlimen yang bercakap berdegar-degar dalam isu judi ini, pulangkanlah sebahagian daripada elaun atau gaji anda kerana sebahagian daripada wang berkenaan adalah daripada sumber (cukai) judi, tidakkah anda sedar kedai judi berlambak di seluruh tanah air manakala di Genting Highlands terpacak salah sebuah pusat perjudian paling besar di Asia? *********************** Demikian juga dengan cukai rokok dan cukai arak. Perolehan cukai arak terlalu besar memandangkan terlalu banyak premis menjual minuman keras ada di seluruh negara, malah tin dan botol arak bersepah-sepah di jalanan, menunjukkan betapa hebatnya pengunaan arak di negara ini. ************************** Malah ada laporan menyebut pengambilan minuman keras di negara ini adalah antara 10 negara tertinggi di dunia, menyamai sesetengah negara di Eropah. Hakikat inilah negara yang dicanangkan sebagai negara Islam contoh, tetapi bagaimana pengambilan arak boleh menyamai Perancis atau Denmark? ************************* Jelas sebahagian hasil negara adalah daripada sumber haram dan meragukan termasuk cukai arak, judi dan rokok. Kepada kakitangan awam yang prihatin terutama orang politik yang terkinja-kinja bercakap mengenai arak dan judi, silalah kembalikan wang elaun atau gaji anda yang dipercayai ada unsur-unsur haram itu atau syubahat itu. Lakukan ini, jangan pandai bercakap saja!

Answering Ngeh Koo Ham's question...

*** 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. ******************* PERAK DAP Chairman and Beruas Member of Parliament, Dato' Ngeh Koo Ham had tweeted, “Khairy wants Muslims protest against Sam Becile. For Islam or for his political gains? Are Muslims wasting too much time and energy on this?’’ ********************** After an uproar against him, Ngeh was quick to apologise to Muslims and retracted his Twitter posting saying, "I retract and apologise to any Muslim who is offended by my tweet as it was never intended to be so." *********************** After reading his posting several times, I was in the opinion Ngeh was only seeking clarification on the issue (protest rally against anti-Islam movie ‘Innocence of Muslims’), especially on Khairy’s suggeston that Muslims protest against Sam Becile. So he asked - for Islam or for his political gains? His statement ended with a question mark, so it was open to various interpretations. ************************* As for his third sentence ‘are Muslims wasting too much time and energy on this?’ also ended with a question mark. So it was also open to interpretations, and as a Muslim writer with a very limited knowledge, I would like to try answering Ngeh’s questions. ********************* Following the outburst, Ngeh too claimed that his tweet mentioning Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, Sam Becile, Islam and Muslims was merely a question and not a statement. ********************* “I was merely posing a question for us to think deep on whether the action to stage the protest is appropriate. In fact, I am on their side (Muslims) and condemn any video deemed insensitive to the Muslim world.’’ ******************* “I had no intention to politicise nor make any insulting religious remarks, I only wanted him (Khairy Jamaluddin) to think about a way to respond accordingly when matters such as this arise,’’ Ngeh was quoted saying. ****************** He also wanted to know why the Muslim anger was aimed at America when it was only the act of an individual who did not think of the consequences when he produced the movie. ******************** Dear Dato’ Ngeh, in my opinion you in the right track for asking. From the many ‘tazkirah’ (religious lessons) I attented in masjids near my house, I learnt that one of the best way for a person to gain knowledge is by posing questions. ***************** You asked, “Are Muslims wasting too much time and energy on this?’’ Of course you needed an answer but almost all criticized you for what they claimed that you were not being sensitive to the needs of Muslims. ****************** In my opinion you have posted a good and interesting question but sadly it was at a wrong time; when Muslims worldwide were protesting against the movie. So you were seen as ‘mencurahkan minyak ke dalam api’ (throwing oil into the fire). ***************** Perhaps when things cool down and when you have the opportunity to sit down with some Muslims friends, perhaps they would give you, this answer. ******************** A preacher, Dr Y Mansoor Marican notes that sharing the knowledge of Islam with the non-Muslims is a very rommended practice. ****************** A good Muslim loves the Prophet so much (above himself and his family members) so to non Muslims it is advisable for them to have some knowledge about the Prophet; only then they would understand the Muslims thinking and actions. ******************* Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) occupies a unique position in the chain of prophets. Being the last of a long line of Messengers, he was sent by God as a messenger for the whole universe. His personality, therefore, combined all that was best in morals and manners and he was the very embodiment of all that was preached and enjoined in the Holy Qur'an. ************************ The Holy Book affirms: "Certainly, there is for you in the Messenger of Allah an exellent example." (XXXIII-21) "And you stand on an exalted standard of character." (LXVIII-4) *********************** When the Holy Qur'an affirms that the Prophet was the very embodiment of all that was best in life and he was the perfect model to be followed, it was mere idle talk but a practical demonstration of it. To judge the truth, let us have a glance at his life. ******************** Taking for instance the injunctions laid down by the Qur'an for believers in respect of prayer, fasting and alms-giving, we notice that while Muslims were directed to pray five times a day, the Prophet himself, prayed eight times, superimposing on himself three extra prayers, twice after morning prayer and the third beginning at midnight and sometimes extending right up to dawn thereby causing swelling in his feet. ************************ As regards fasting, his followers were directed to fast during the month of Ramadan, but for himself he never allowed the other eleven months to pass by without fasting and sometimes the fast would continue for two or three days without taking any food or drink in between. ********************** He helped the needy and the poor, and no beggar ever left his door disappointed, while he himself live the life of a poor man even after becoming the overlord of a big country. His generosity was so great that he proclaimed that if any Muslim died leaving debts, the responsibility for payment was his, while at the time of his death his own coat of mail was pledged for a debt. ******************** Muslims had conquered the whole of Arabia and money was pouring in from all sides. He treated it as trust property and distributed it that very day, but he denied himself and his family members a share in it. His family was prohibited by him from receiving ‘zakat’ lest people, out of love for him, might bestow the choicest favours on them. ******************* The condition of his house was such that for days together nor fire was lit, and no day passed without missing a meal. Worldly things, riches and comforts had no attraction for him. His dress was patched; his house was petty, and built of mud bricks; and his furniture a crude bedstead. ***************** This was the living condition of the greatest spiritual and temporal leader and monarch who looked upon this world as a passing phase and a temporary abode. **************** He was gentle, modest, faithful , courages and never despaired even in the face of severe calamities and adverse circumstances and had unflinching faith in Divine Help. In every respect, therefore, he stood out as a shinning example for all to follow. His life throughout was without any blemish and was a wonderful exposition of all that was virtous. - Pearls of the Prophet (ABIM) **************** Muslims are thankful and grateful to Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. because it was only him that showed them God’s straight path that could save them in this world and Hereafter. The Prophet loved his ‘ummah’ (followers) not only in this world but also in the Hereafter where he would recommended his ‘syafaat’ (blessing and help). So good Muslims loved him so much and could not stand it if he was insulted. ******************* After having a glimpse a the Prophet life, let’s have a look at his actions while dealing with those who were against him including of those who make fun and insulted him. ****************** Among the Prophet’s method of dealing with people’s mistakes was remaining calm. Being to harsh could make matter worse and do more harm than good. We can learn this from looking at how the Prophet (s.a.w.) dealt with the mistake made by a Bedouin who urinated in a masjid, as was reported by Annas ibn Malik who said: ********************* “Whist we were in a masjid with the Messenger of Allah, a Bedouin came and stood urinating in the masjid. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Stop it! Stop it!’ But the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Do not interrupt him; leave him alone.’ So they left him until he had finished urinating, the Messenger of Allah called him and said to him, ‘In these masjids it is not right to do anything like urinating or defecating; they are only for remembering Allah, praying and reading the Qur’an,’ or words to that effect. Then he commended a man who was there to bring a bucket of water and throw it over (the urine), and he did so.” (Muslim, hadith no, 285) It was reported the Bedouin later embraced Islam. ********************** If a man who urinated in a masjid (he was insulting the Prophet and Islam) was treated with kindness and patience by the Prophet (s.a.w.), could there not be a just and professional way to ‘confront’ those involved in the making of the movie ‘Innocence of Muslims’ and dealing with Ngeh’s question? ****************** As mentioned, my knowledge is limited, if I am wrong in my opinion, to Allah SWT I seek forgiveness and if I have offended readers, please pardon me for my mistake.

Kahwin: Lelaki perlu 3 ‘ras’ bukan jutaan ringgit...!

**************** DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ******************* Renungan ********************* Daripada Aisyah r.a., berkata: "Saya mendengar Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: 'Semua manusia dikumpulkan tanpa memakai alas kaki, telanjang dan belum dikhatan.' Aisyah bertanya; 'Apakah antara lelaki dan perempuan akan saling melihat antara satu dengan yang lain?' Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: 'Urusan pada hari itu lebih dahsyat daripada mementingkan hal-hal seperti itu.'" (HR. Bukhari dan Muslim) ************************ SEORANG saudara meminta saya berceloteh mengenai kisah kahwin didakwa menelan belanja RM1.3 juta dengan dihadiri 130,000 tetamu yang berlangsung berhampiran kampung saya baru-baru ini. *********************** Maaflah, saya keberatan berbuat demikian. Ini bukan kerana kerana saya tidak hadir malah tidak dijemput pun ke majlis itu bagi membolehkan saya mudah berceloteh mengenainya tetapi bimbang terlebih celoteh; takut-takut nanti kalau saya kahwinkan anak saya, saya pula terikut-ikut gaya mewah berkenaan, saya terlebih pula – mengata dulang..., awak pula lebih teruk! ****************** Sebenarnya ini bukanlah kali pertama saya ‘terbaca’ kisah perkahwinan yang hebat-hebat. Dulu semasa kecil, saya kuat berangan dengan membaca buku hikayat Melayu lama (Penglipur Lara) seperti Hikayat Raja Donan, Hikayat Anggun Cik Tunggal, Hikayat Raja Muda, Hikayat Malim Demam, Hikayat Awang Suluh Merah Muda dan Hikayat Malim Dewa. ******************* Tentunya saya sudah lupa jalan cerita kisah-kisah ini tetapi ingatan terhadap gambaran perkahwinan putera dan puteri raja masih tertancap di minda. ********************* Pesta kahwinnya berlangsung 7 hari 7 malam, atau lebih dahsyat lagi 40 hari 40 malam dengan ‘kerak nasi membukit’, ‘darah sembelihan lembu macam sungai’ malah ada puisi khas mengenai tetamu (rakyat) iaitu “yang capik datang bertongkat, yang buta datang berpimpin, yang pekak datang bertanya, yang kurang mengekor angin.” Agaknya, jika semua rakyat datang, tidak sukar mengumpulkan 100,000 tetamu! ****************** Kisah cinta asyik mahsyuk Sultan Mahmud Melaka terhadap Puteri Gunung Ledang juga saya ikuti penuh minat. Puteri itu melalui Tun Mamat dikatakan meminta antara lain; tujuh dulang hati kuman, tujuh dulang hati nyamuk, dibina jambatan emas menghubungkan Gunung Ledang dengan Melaka dan semangkuk darah anakanda Sultan, Raja Ahmad sebagai hantaran peminangan. Sultan Mahmud dikatakan tidak sanggup menyediakan darah Raja Ahmad, jadi perkahwinan itu tidak menjadi kenyataan. *********************** Selepas mengikuti ‘kisah-kisah perkahwinan yang dahsyat’ ini, saya ‘berat hati’ untuk membuat ulasan majlis perkahwinan dekat kampung saya itu yang khabarnya dimasukkan ke dalam buku Rekod Malaysia sebagai majlis perkahwinan mencatatkan paling ramai tetamu iaitu 130,000 orang. ********************* Pada pendapat saya yang daif ini, jumlah kehadiran atau kos perkahwinan (130,000 orang dengan kos RM1.3 juta) tidak ada apa-apa sumbangan bagi kebahagiaan pasangan suami isteri agar hidup mereka penuh kasih sayang sepanjang hayat dengan berpandukan kehendak Islam. ******************** Apa yang berlaku selepas perkahwinan perlu diberi penekanan; berhubung perkara ini saya sungguh tertarik dengan celoteh Ustaz Mohamad Abdullah Al-Amin di Radio IKIM baru-baru ini mengenai hal yang perlu ada pada pengantin lelaki baru dan lama dalam melayari rumah tangga. Beliau memberitahu lelaki perlu ada ‘3 ras’ bagi membina rumah tangga bahagia. ********************* ‘Ras’ pertama adalah ‘waras’, katanya. Orang lelaki mesti waras dalam segala tindak tanduknya. Sentiasa sabar dan tenang. Matang dalam pemikiran. Semua tindakan dan keputusan dibuatnya adalah berpandukan kehendak agama. Tidaklah dengan mudah bertindak memukul atau menceraikan isteri. ***************** Dalam kes orang mengahwinkan anak, tak tahulah kita lelaki yang berbelanja jutaan ringgit atau mengharapkan kehadiran ratusan ribu tetamu di majlisnya sebagai orang waras atau tidak. ****************** ‘Ras’ kedua adalah ‘beras’. Ertinya lelaki mestilah sentiasa memenuhi keperluan isteri dan anak-anaknya. Nafkah perlu dipenuhi; termasuk dari segi keperluan makanan. Orang Malaysia (Melayu), makanan asasinya nasi (beras) jadi pastikan bekalan beras sentiasa ada dalam rumah. ******************** ‘Ras’ ketiga adalah ‘keras’. Hah! Hah! Hah! ‘Keras’ ini bermakna kesihatan. Orang lelaki mesti menjaga kesihatan diri. Makan dan minumlah bahan baik-baik seperti madu dan makanan tambahan kesihatan. Jangan lupa bersenam, jaga badan. Tak guna ada wang berjuta-juta ringgit (termasuk untuk kahwinkan anak) jika tak ada ‘ras’ ketiga ini! Jadi jagalah ‘ras’ ini baik-baik!!!

Key to success in life

********************* In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ********************* Reflection *********************** There is no god but He, Praise and glory to Him; Far is He from having the partners they associate unto Him. (Tauba 9:31) ******************** RAMADAN has gone, so was Shawal. In a few days time, we would be celebrating Eid Adha. Don't forget to perform recommended deeds (amalan sunat) during the first 10 days of Zulhijjah such as fasting especially on Wukuf or Arafah day (9th Zulhijah) and to do 'zikrullah' (remember Allah by reciting words in praise of Him). ******************** In ‘masjids’ (mosques) near my house, ‘tazkirah’ (religious classes) has started back; one night while waiting for ‘isyak’ (late evening prayer) after performing ‘maghrib’ (dusk prayer) in a ‘masjid’, ‘jemaah’ (congregators) were kept awake by a fiery orator by a local top motivator, Dr Rozey Baba. ************************** He began his lesson by questioning the ‘jemaah’ what they understand with the phrase ‘kejayaan dalam hidup’ (success in life). *********************** “Many people take opportunity to do some kind of business during Ramadan. Is getting a lot of money an indicator as success in life? It’s sad when so many people shy away from ‘solat’ (prayers) just to gain those material gains. ************************ “Hey, brother; let’s me stress again and again that your ringgit (wealth) will of no use when you were buried in your grave. Only your ‘iman’ (faith) and ‘amal’ (good deeds) would be able to help you. So what’s the key to be successful in life?” *************************** Dr Rozey said that the key to success is to take religion and practice all its teaching. “Those who upheld religion should have no worries because the world would be at his or her feet but those who are after the world, they would lose the world and worst of all, doomed in the Hereafter.” ******************** He then gave 10 tips (keys) to have a successful life. They were: ************************* 1. Be a good listener and if you don’t know, don’t hesitate to ask experts on the subjects such as an ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) or a scholar. 2. You have to practice ‘sabar’ (patience) and the ‘tonic’ to have this trait is to do ‘zikrullah’ (remember Allah SWT by reciting words in praise of Him). 3. Always be thankful (syukur) and the key to it is to expand charity (sadaqah). 4. Fear of Allah SWT (takwa). 5. Make Du’a (offer prayers). 6. Do not be proud or arrogant (takabbur) 7. Do not skip your ‘solat’ (prayers). 8. Uphold to the truth, do good deeds as much as you can. 9. Uphold the oneness of God (Tauhid). 10. Perform hajj. ************************* On the same topic, Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM) listed 32 tips (ways and means) to be successful in this world and Hereafter. They are: **************************** 1. Believe in Allah: The one and only Creator, Sustainer, Giver of Life, Owner, Inheritor and God of the universe. Allah has no peer, while the universe is a tiny speck in the grandeur of Allah. Also believing in all His prophets from Adam, the first man to the final prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him, s.a.w.) The Qur’an which was revealed to Muhammad s.a.w. is 100 percent Allah’s words. Only one version, the Qur’an is being translated by many translators and memorized by millions. (Qur’an 23:1 and 24:31) ******************************* 2. Sincerity: Doing good deeds to please only Allah and none else. Deeds done for other than Allah or along with Allah is not acceptable to Allah. Allah The Most Beautiful loves beauty. (Qur’an 30:38) ******************************* 3. Worship Allah alone: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the One-And-Only. (Qur’an 22:77) ************************* 4. Guidance from Allah: From the unadulterated Al-Qur’an and authentic ways/sunnah of Muhammad s.a.w., the last prophet. We can never go astray when we follow the Qur’an and sunnah. (Qur’an 2:5 and 31:5) ************************* 5. Remember Allah always. Almighty Allah deserves to be remembered all the time. Only by remembering Allah, will our hearts experience true and lasting tranquility. (Qur’an 8:45 and 62:10) ************************** 6. Grateful to Allah: Be thankful and optimistic about everything Allah has prepared for us in this world by worshipping Allah zealously. A grateful person lives a meaningful life. (Qur’an 7:69) ************************ 7. Fear Allah (takwa): Venerate, love, have hope in while being anxious and concerned of Allah. The most honourable in the sight of Allah are those who fear Allah most. (Qur’an 3:130) ************************ 8. Perform regular worship of Allah (five times prayers) and duties like declaration of faith, fasting, tithe and hajj. (Qur’an Qur’an 22:77) *********************** 9. Listen and obey Allah’s law. Allah’s and His messenger’s words will lead to a perfect life. *********************** 10. Rationale: The Qur’an agrees very well with the sunnah of Muhammad s.a.w. matches well with the wise mind and fits the fitrah (innate instinct of humankind) – Qur’an 2:189 and 5: 100 ************************* 11. Gives preference to Allah’s choices Allah Sees, Hears and Knows everything. (Qur’an 2: 189 and 5:100) ********************** 12. Scatter over the earth and seeks Allah’s bounty. Aren’t we Allah’s vicegerents on earth? (Qur’an 62:10) ********************* 13. Avoid evil deeds; like consuming intoxicants, gambling and ascribing partners to Allah. Satan promotes lawlessness among us but succumbs among us but succumbs to those who trust and fear Allah. (Qur’an 5:90) ************************* 14. Accumulate the rewards of the Hereafter: like the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the pious. They enjoy this life by doing good deeds and Allah’s paradise awaits them May all of us be among them. (Qur’an 7:8) ************************ 15. Jihad (strive); with speech, wealth and life to spread the truth and Islamic monotheism. (Qur’an 9:88) ********************** 16. Be generous for Allah’s sake, especially when in need of Allah’s Help. *********************** 17. Invite to righteousness, enjoin good and forbid evil. Good deeds invite Allah’s Blessings. (Qur’an 3:104) ******************** 18. Always be on Allah’s side. Unwavering dedication to Allah’s cause, wherever and whenever. (Quran 58:220 ********************** 19. Patience and steadfastness: Firm in upholding the truth and Islamic monotheism till the end of our life. (Qur’an 3:200) *********************** 20. Repent from all sins and do righteous deeds: Only Allah is perfect and free from mistakes. (Qur’an 28:67) ********************** 21. Always be mindful of the enemy. For this reason we continuously seek and need Allah’s Help. (Qur’an 3:200) ******************* 22. Honour, assist and follow scholars (ulama) who truly practice Islam. (7:157) ************************ 23. Be charitable to oneself. A strong believer is dearer and more beloved to Almighty Allah. (Qur’an 64:16) ********************** 24. Avoid usury and illegal income. Usury and illegally gained income lead to hell. (Qur’an 3:130) ****************** 25. Seeking means and ways to approach Allah. May we meet Allah at the best moment! Ameen. (Qur’an 5:35) ******************** 26. Purifying our souls. Allah has given everyone a soul. A good soul will benefit oneself and others. (Qur’an 87:14 and 91:9) *********************** 27. Give kindred (especially parents), the poor and wayfarer their dues for Allah’s sake. (Qur’an 30:38) ******************** 28. Lower our gaze, protect our private parts and wear appropriate Islamic attire. Self respect is important in Islam. Insincerity and ignorance cause man to live in disunity, disarray and void of guidance. (Qur’an 24:31) ***************** 29. Love each other and have no jealousy, for Allah’s sake: Like the Ansar and Muhajirin. (Qur’an 59:9) ******************** 30. Choose friends who believe in the Last Day. Close friend influence our life. (Qur’an 58:22) ****************** 31. Say the truth from Allah and His Messenger even if it is unpopular. Truth will prevail. (Qur’an 5:100) ******************* 32. Ask the right people: Scholars, parents, experts, specialist, sincere friends and the like. (Qur’an 2: 189)