Roslan Hamid's Blog, page 199

The 'unrewarded' 'good deeds' (Part 11)

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

Reflection
Surah 114
An-Nas, the second of the two cries for refuge andprotection, takes its name from a recurring word which marks the rhythm in theArabic. In this case protection is sought especially from the evil in a man'sown heart in the hearts of other men.
An early Meccan revelation

MANKIND
Revealed at Mecca

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, theMerciful.
1. Say; I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
2. The King of mankind,
3. The God of mankind,
4. From the evil of the sneaking whisperer,
5. Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind,
6. Of the jinn of mankind. (The Meaning of theGLORIOUS QUR'AN, The Final Revelation, An Explanaory Translation by MuhammadMarmaduke Pickthall)
***
IF Ramadan is the holiest month of the year, Fridayis the best day of the week to get closer to Allah SWT, the Almighty.
Friday is the most excellent and distinguished day;it is the 'penghulu' (chief) day of the week. Abu Hurayrah r.a. said thatthe Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him, s.a.w.) said: "The dailyprayers, from Friday to Friday,are an expiation for the sins committed in thetime between prayers, so long as no major sins (kabaair) are committed."(Muslim)
If I were working I normally performed Friday at amasjid near my office in KL; if it was my off day, I performed it at a masjidnear my house in Melaka.
In the latter masjid, just before the 'khatib'(person who reads the sermon) read 'the khutbah', the 'bilal' (muezzin) wouldstand in front of the 'khatib', reading this hadith: "From Abu Hurairah,Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: "If you say to your friendduring Friday prayer " quiet!", while the imam holds the sermon, it meansthat you fail to perform your Jumaah." (Muttafaq 'Alaih, lnarrated by al Bukhari)
In both masjids (in KL and Melaka) when the 'imam'(persons who leads the solat) reads the sermon, the 'makmum' (congregators)push and pass the donation box from a person to another.
The majority of the'makmum' insert their money into the box; some of them do various acts such aspulling out their wallet from their trousers and folding their notes so they couldbe easily inserted into the box.
While in KL, sometimes I would go other masjids; inone masjid I had witnessed several times while the 'khatib' was reading thesermon, a 'pak haji' (an old man with a skull cap) would walk in front ofthe 'saf' (row of congregators) with a donation pouch; he would do thecollection from every 'saf' of the masjid.
All would agree that donating money for good causeis a good deed and would be rewarded handsomely by Allah SWT the Almighty; butwhen an 'ustaz' who teaches every Saturday night at a masjid near my house begins his lesson on "mendahulukan yang utama daripada yang kurang utama"(giving priority to the more important things for the less important ones), I am in doubt whether we are doing the right thing in making donations when the'khatib' is delivering his sermon.
I questioned the 'ustaz' on that matter; and hisanwer was: "Listening attentively to the sermon is 'wajib' (obligatory)while giving donation is 'sunat' (optional); of course a 'wajib' deed is abovethe 'sunat' one. Doing a 'sunat' deed when one should focus on the 'wajib'obligation is not appropriate. So it is not proper to pass around the donationbox while the 'khatib' is reading the sermon. I recommended congregators todonate their money before the 'azan' (the call of prayers) or after Fridayprayers."
Regarding this matter, I came across a veryrelevant article in a website, Voa-Islam.com owned jointly by my Indonesianfriend, Desvanto Rosatyawan S. In an article 'Prohibition of circulating thecharity box during sermon' written by Ustaz Badrul Tamam; he noted thatcongregators have to listen to the sermon attentively, avoiding every frivolousact and utterance.
We may not do anything that can avert ourconcentration to the sermon, he said.
From Abu Hurairah, Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihiwasallam says: "Whoever has an ablution, and complete it, then do theFriday prayer and continue to concern listening sermon, he will getforgiveness. It includes his all sins from the present day up to the next Friday,plus three days after. Whoever romps gravel, has lost his own Fridayprayer." (Muslim)
Imam an Nawawi rahimahullah explains in SyarhShahih Moslem, "In the hadith mentioned above, there is a prohibitionorder no to indulge irrelevant talk and act during the sermon; we shouldconfront our heart, mind and body to pay attention to it. "
From Ibnu 'Abbas radliyallah 'anhu states,Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam utter, "The person who talks whenthe sermon is in progress, is like a donkey loaded with books, and the one whotells another one to be quiet, during the sermon, has lost his own FridayPrayer." (Ahmad).
The intention of placing one who convenes duringthe Friday prayer with a donkey loaded by thick books is because he gets no bigbenefit, though he already comes and weary to come to the masjid.
Whereas the meaning of "he has lost his ownFriday prayer" means he does not get any reward for his pray perfectly.(Fathul Baari: II/184 and Subulus Salam: III/172)
When the imam is delivering the sermon, no oneshould offer an individual prayer, nor should one engage in conversation. It isforbidden to talk, offer prayer, eat, drink, greet or respond to greeting, ordoing anything which may distract one from the sermon; even giving of religiousinstruction or exhorting others to do good is forbidden. Unfortunately, thedifferent reality often found in most masjids, charitable box is circulatedwhile imam delivers the sermon.
Many officers of the masjid usually circulate thecharity box. They stand up in the second sermon to bring the charitable box tothe people. Actually, they had conducted big mistake, but feel had didkindliness.
Dealing to this condition, the error is not onlydone by the officer, but also its people. It is obligatory to listen to thesermon peacefully and with full attention.
Imam Muslim narrates from Abu Hurairah, thatRasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam utter: "Whoever wipes the gravel,then what he has conducted is useless."
A simply wipe to the gravel means useless, imaginehow the one who is stand busy during the sermon? What about people who arepulling their money from his pocket, and put it to the charitable box? Ofcourse it becomes more assumed as useless. (Syaikh Wahid Abdul Salam Bali in AlKalimaat al Naafi'ah fi Akhtha' al Sya-i'ah)
Thus, circulating the charitable box during Fridayprayer 'khutbah' is forbidden. It will bother others who are concerned aboutsermon. As a consequence, one who conducts this mistake will lose theexcellence of Friday prayer.
So, it is desirable if the charitable box should beput down beside the door of masjid; don't offer you money and push the trolleydonation box when the imam is reading the sermon for this is another'unrewarded' 'good deed'!

Pak Samad; Hang Nadim baru yang cuba dihapuskan?

*Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
RenunganBersabda Rasulullah s.a.w.: "Sebaik-baik zikir adalah "Laa Ilaha IllAllah."***
KETIKA menonton sebuah rancangan motivasi TV1 padasuatu pagi, saya mendengar seorang penceramah bersemangat menyatakan mengapaorang Islam (Malaysia) tidak menjadi bangsa global sehingga disanjung diperingkat antarabangsa termasuklah memenangi Hadiah Nobel.
Katanya, jika diteliti senarai penerima Hadiah Nobel,daripada 10 orang; mungkin 7 orang Yahudi dan bakinya orang Barat lain. OrangMalaysia kena berganjak pemikiran mereka, membuat sesuatu bukan bagai juarakampung saja tetapi termasyhur di peringkat internasional. Beliau menamakanTabung Haji dan Felda sebagai contoh kejayaan orang Malaysia di peringkatglobal.
Jika kita amat-mati, orang Asia yang pernah menerimaHadiah Nobel, sebahagiannya kerana menjadi pengampu Barat paling hebat.Antaranya sasterawan asal Bangladesh, Taslima Nasreen yang menghina Islam;demikian juga dengan Salman Rushdie (penulis buku The Satanic Verses), asalIndia yang difatwakan bunuh ke atasnya oleh pemimpin Iran ketika itu, AyatollahRuhollah Khomeini.
Srikandi Burma (Myanmar), Aung Sann Su Kyi  mungkin satu-satunya tokoh pilitik darirantau Asia Tenggara yang pernah menerima Hadiah Nobel Keamanan. Beliau jugaadalah tokoh pro-Barat yang tersangat hebat, jadi tidak hairanlah beliaudianugerahi hadiah itu.
Jadi bagi menjawab pertanyaan penceramah itu mengapaorang kita (orang Islam, Asia) hanya sesekali dianugerahkan hadiah itu, salahsatu faktornya tokoh rantau ini adalah pengkritik lantang Barat dan carahidupnya tetapi jika seseorang pemimpin itu tunduk kepada kehendak Barat,sebaliknya menjadi dalang di negaranya seperti dibuktikan oleh Su Kyi, adakemungkinan untuk dia menerima Hadiah Nobel.
Pertanyaan seterusnya mengapa pakar motivasi itumerujuk kepada penerima Hadiah Nobel sebagai lambang kejayaan dan kegigihanperjuangan? Di rantau dan negara kita tidak kurang kisah dan tokoh untukdirenungi dalam kita memajukan anak bangsa. Bagi saya salah satu watak bangsaMelayu yang wajar selalu direnung-renung adalah Hang Nadim dengan kisahSingapura dilanggar todak.
Watak Hang Nadim sebagai penyelamat berubah-ubahmengikut masa, dan hari ini pada pada pandangan saya Dato' A Samad Said (PakSamad) menepati ciri kebijaksanaan Hang Nadim sebagai seorang daripada sejumlahtokoh yang berusaha keras bagi menyelamatkan bangsanya  daripada kebobrokan yang teramat sangat. Ya,sama seperti Hang Nadim, Pak Samad dibenci sehingga ada yang menuduhnya khianatdan mahu beliau diusir daripada negara ini.
Perjuangan Pak Samad sewajarnya dihormati tetapi samaseperti nasib Hang Nadim, ramai orang berpangkat dan berpengaruh, mahu diamati. Namun selepas dia tiada nanti, dikhuatiri barulah masyarakat sedar akanperjuangannya, barulah pangkat dan pujian dilonggokkan kepadanya.
Kita ambil P Ramlee sebagai contoh. Ketika hidupnya tidakramai yang peduli; gelaran Seniman Agung dan pangkat Tan Sri hanya menghiasainamanya sedangkan jasadnya sudah lama terbaring dalam tanah. Sesudah mati diamenjadi legenda. Masyarakat mempunyai lambang untuk dibanggakan dan berpegang.
Jadi masyarakat Melayu ada P Ramlee untuk dibanggakan.Demikian juga dengan Hang Tuah. Masyarakat menjadikan Hang Tuah sebagai lambanguntuk berpegang. Lambangnya, kononnya Melayu tidak kalah dengan bangsa lain.Melayu perkasa dan contohnya adalah Hang Tuah.
Namun masyarakat gagal memahami bahawa ketika merekamengagung-agungkan tokoh yang sudah mati, akan muncul lagi orang yang mempunyaikewibawaan dalam bidang masing-masing. Mereka juga diabaikan dan hanya diingatiselepas mati.
Kini muncul Pak Samad sebagai ikon baru perjuanganrakyat marhaen sekalipun dia sudah uzur benar. Namun kenapa Pak Samad dihinabegitu teruk sekali termasuk oleh orang-orang dalam lingkungan duniakesusasteraaan?
Mungkinkah orang kita tidak mahu Pak Samad menjadiHang Nadim baru? Otak sebahagian besar daripada kita masih sama sepertipembesar Singapura pada masa Hang Nadim dulu. Kerana pandainya Hang Nadimmempertahankan Singapura daripada serangan todak dengan berkubukan batangpisang, maka dia dia difitnah dan bunuh.
Pak Samad sudah berapa kali kena 'gas'. Beliau sudahtahu betapa deritanya rakyat dalam menuntut sebuah kehidupan yang lebih baik.Sama seperti pembesar Singapura, pembesar sekarang juga tidak senang dengankehadiran Hang Nadim baru ini. Sebab itulah dia disembur gas. Mungkin dengantindakan ini, akan matilah perjuangan Hang Nadim, atau lebih baik lagi denganmatinya Hang Nadim ini dan Hang Nadim-Hang Nadim lain, bolehlah mereka bersorakgembira kerana dapat berkuasa dulu, kini dan selamanya!

Apabila semakin ramai orang alim-alim kucing...

***DENGAN namaAllah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atasjunjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
Renungan1. Sesungguhnya Kami telah menurunkannya (al-Quran) pada malam kemuliaan,2. Dan tahukah kamu apakah malam kemuliaan itu/3. Malam kemuliaan itu lebih baik daripada 1,000 bulan.4, Pada malam itu turun malaikat-malaikat dan malaikat Jibril dengan izin Tuhannya yang mengatur segala urusan.5. Malam itu (penuh) kesejahteraan sampai terbit fajar. (Al-Qadar, Kemuliaan, Surat ke-97) ***Bersyukur ke hadrat Yang Maha Kuasa keranamasih diberi-Nya kesempatan pada bulan penuh barakah ini untuk terus berbaktikepada-Nya termasuklah menitipkan sedikit sebanyak teguran dan nasihat.
Ya nasihatitu bukan untuk pembaca saja malah untuk kami sendiri yang sebagaimanusia tentunya banyak kesalahan dan dosa. Hanya kepada-Nya kita memohonkeampunan dan diterima ibadat kita yang tersangat sedikit itu, insya-Allah.
Dalammenjalani ibadah Ramadan ini, kita perhatikan masih ramai anak-anak gadis (wanita)kita sekalipun mengenakan tudung tetapi mendedahkan sebahagian aurat merekaseperti leher, lengan dan kaki.Sebahagian lagi suka mengenakan pakaian ketattermasuklah jeans sendat yang dipadankan dengan baju-T singkat.
Tentunyamereka tidak mematuhi kehendak Islam sepenuhnya dalam bab menutup auratsekalipun bertudung kerana Allah SWT melalui Surah Al-Azhab ayat 59 yangbermaksud: "Hai Nabi katakanlah kepada isteri-isterimu, anak-anak perempuanmudan isteri-isteri orang mukmin: 'Hendaklah mereka menghulurkan tudung keseluruh tubuh mereka, supaya mereka lebih mudah dikenali orang, kerana itumereka tidak diganggu…'"
Muslimatdiminta menutup aurat sepenuhnya tetapi sesetengah orang bijak pandai hari initermasuk aktivis wanita menempelaknya dengan mendakwa perempuan yang berpakaiansedemikian juga tidak terlepas daripada tindakan jahat lelaki dan buktinyasejumlah wanita berjilbab juga dirogol. Jadi soal pakaian bukan penyebabjenayah seksual, dakwa mereka.
Di sini kitaingin tegaskan cara berpakaian dan penampilan wanita merangsang seksual lelaki.Ini adalah lumrah, bohonglah namanya jika lelaki normal tidak teransang denganpembawaan seseorang wanita. Namun penampilan seksi seorang wanita tidak mudahmengundang dia dirogol kerana dia berada di khalayak ramai. Seorang perogolakan hanya bertindak jika terbuka kesempatan bagi mereka; penjahat ini tidakpeduli sama ada mangsanya berpakaian seksi atau bertudung litup; yang pentingmereka fikir mereka dalam keadaan selamat ketika melakukannya. Itulah sebabnya,perogol bertindak apabila bakal mangsa bersendirian termasuklah dalam bas, dilorong gelap dan di rumah sendiri.
Selainperogol, pencuri juga akan memikirkan diri mereka selamat sebelum melakukankejahatannya. Tidak ada pencuri yang mencuri di khalayak ramai. Tetapi jika diasudah hampir tertangkap dan dikejar orang, pencuri juga akan mencari helahdengan menjerit "pencuri…pencuri" dengan harapan orang lain pula akan dikejar.
Hampir semuakejahatan dilakukan seseorang atau sesuatu pihak itu ketika orang lain tidaksedar kerana penjahat pun tahu memikirkan keselamatan diri. Hanya sedikit orangberani melakukan kejahatan di depan orang ramai seperti merompak dan mengamuk.
Jadi,berdasarkan hujah ini, kita mahu tergelak apabila seorang pemimpin tertinggi denganlantang antara lain berkata: "Kita, kalau mahulah memanipulasi keputusanpilihan raya, tidak susah. Di Kelantan, suatu ketika dulu, PAS memerintahdengan kelebihan hanya tiga undi. Kita tidak bercakap mengenai 30 atau 3,000undi, hanya tiga undi saja. Kita tidak buat kerja itu."
Untukmenilai dakwaannya itu, fikir-fikirkanlah kerana perogol tidak merogol ditempat orang ramai, pencuri tidak mencuri di tempat terbuka, perasuah tidakmelakukannya secara terbuka manakala pemakan rasuah  pun tahu meninjau-meninjau dulu sama adamereka selamat atau tidak. Semuanya takut melakukannya kerana ia akan dilihatorang bukan takutkan Yang Maka Kuasa.
Perogoltidak merogol sekalipun di depannya ada gadis  seksi paling cun, dia tetap 'bersabar' menunggupeluang. Kalau tidak ada peluang, bakal mangsa dibiarkan pergi sekalipun dia begitu'bergetah' (ganjaran lumayan jika kejahatan berhasil)  dengan air liur perogol sudah melelehi di pipi,mangsa lain akan didapati; tunggulah bila mereka lalai nanti.
Kata pepatahMelayu, orang yang sudah berak di tepi jalan, mana mahu mengaku; malah pencuriyang sedang dikejar orang pun pandai melolong, "pencuri…pencuri!" Bahkan kini semakin ramai manusia  alim-alim kucing; depan orang bukan main baik, manja dan sopan lagi kucing kepala hitam; tetapi belakang orang, lauk dalam tudung saji 'ditarbusnya'!

Kuasa: Ambil iktibar kehancuran Soviet

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

Renungan
Keutamaan beriktikaf di dalam masjid
Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: "Kerahiban umatku adalah duduk-duduk dalam masjid."
Keterangan
Fahamilah bahawa duduk-duduk itu boleh dimaksudkan sebagai iktikaf. Bagi orang mukmin, tempat paling utama untuk beruzlah ialah di dalam masjid. Bukannya beruzlah di gua-gua batu atau di pondok-pondok di tengah hutan dan sebagainya. - Hidayah
***

KETIKA menunggu waktu berbuka puasa, saya menekuni rancangan Jejak Rasul terbitan sebuah stesen televisyen swasta. Ramadan kali ini penonton diajak mengikuti perkembangan Islam di Rusia yang mendakwa dirinya sebagai pewaris Kesatuan Soviet (Soviet Union, USSR).

Sungguh menarik melihat dan mendengar perkembangan pantas Islam di bumi bekas empayar komunis itu. Dilaporkan ada sekurang-kurangnya 23 juta orang Islam di Rusia, sebahagiannya adalah orang Tatar yang kebanyakannya mendiami sebuah negeri bernama Tatarstan dalam Persekutuan Rusia. Ibu kota Tatarstan adalah Kazan, sebuah bandar raya yang jelas ciri-ciri keislamannya.

Kira-kira 20 tahun lalu (1992), sebagai wartawan saya telah menjejakkan kaki di Moscow; ketika itu Soviet Union yang dipimpin Mikhail Gorbachev baru saja terlerai dan berpecah menjadi 15 republik merdeka; salah satunya Rusia yang dipimpin Boris Yeltsin (sudah meninggal dunia).

Ketika berada di Moscow, saya beratur panjang, menyertai ribuan orang berjalan di sisi mayat Vladimir Lenin yang diawet dan diletakkan dalam bekas kaca di sebuah bangunan di Red Square. Lenin adalah salah seorang pengasas dan diktator Soviet Union, 'memenjarakan' ratusan juta rakyatnya dalam sebuah empayar komunis. Sekalipun Lenin dan pemimpin Soviet kemudiannya berjaya memasung rakyat selama 70 tahun, ternyata minda rakyat tidak dapat dipenjarakan.

Ternyata yang 'terpasung' sekarang adalah Lenin dalam sebuah kotak kaca cantik di Red Square sedangkan rakyat bekas empayar Soviet Union sudah menikmati kebebasan, sebahagian besar daripadanya menjalani kehidupan 'lebih barat' daripada rakyat di negara Eropah Barat dan Amerika Syarikat.

Bagi orang Islam, mereka kini digambarkan sebagai lebih bebas beragama,dengan masjid-masjid besar dan cantik semakin banyak dibina. Itulah yang digambarkan melalui rancangan televisyen berkenaan, dulu ketika saya berada di Moscow dan rantau lain di bekas negara Soviet Union, hanya beberapa masjid baru dikembalikan kepada masyarakat Islam selepas berdekad-dekad lamanya ditutup termasuk dijadikan setor.

Bercakap mengenai kuasa; jika Soviet Union yang perkasa itu akhirnya tumbang, di tanah air kita, apalah sangat dengan Umno-BN yang dianggap sesetengah pihak terlalu kebal untuk terlerai daripada kuasa.

Komunis Soviet yang melakukan penindasan paling dahsyat ke atas rakyat pun hanya mampu bertahan 70 tahun; tidakkah ia menunjukkan bahawa Umno yang mendominasi kuasa lebih 50 tahun juga berada dalam kedudukan sangat genting? Kata orang jika Tembok Berlin di Jerman pun boleh runtuh, apalah sangat 'tembok perkauman' Umno-BN?

Kebangkitan rakyat di Soviet Union sebahagiannya disebabkan dasar pembaharuan diperkenalkan Presiden terakhirnya, Mikhail Gorbachev yang dinamai 'perestroika' dan 'glasnost' pada akhir 1980-an. Apakah rancangan pembaharuan Gorbachev itu? Antaranya ialah membuka pintu Soviet kepada dunia Barat.

Kesatuan Soviet akhirnya terdedah kepada ketidak-tentuan yang membawa kepada kemerdekaan republik-repubik dalamnya dan akhirnya jawatan Gorbachev sendiri tercabar dan beliau terpaksa menyerahkan kuasa kepada Yeltsin.

Pembaharuan tidak dapat dielakkan Gorbachev selepas kejatuhan satu demi satu negara blok komunis di Eropah Timur dan kini Umno-BN juga tidak dapat mengelakkan pembaharuan yang pantas melanda negara terutama dengan kemajuan dunia teknologi informasi dan komunikasi (ICT) yang menyaksikan satu demi satu 'sandiwara' dan 'kebobrokan'nya termasuk dalam isu Bersih 2.0 terdedah.

Sebagai kesimpulan, yang benar pasti naik walaupun ditindas hebat sebagaimana Islam yang cuba dipadamkan oleh komunis Soviet; maka kini bolehlah penyiar stesen TV swasta berkenaan melaporkan kebangkitan semula Islam di sana; persoalannya tidak teringinkah pihak yang sama melaporkan kebangkitan Islam di bumi tercinta apabila kuasa diberikan kepada jemaah yang mahu menegakkan hukum-hakam Allah di bumi-Nya?

The 'unrewarded' 'good deeds'

***In the name of Allah, theBeneficent, 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, andexhort 
one another to truth and exhort one another toendurance.
***
* Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: "Many people who fast getnothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and many people who pray atnight get nothing from it except wakefulness." - Darimi
I took leave to observe the first day of Ramadan at home in Melaka.Fasting was 'easy' at home. Even though I was 'off' on that day, I did myroutine daily office job via the internet, I was so occupied with my work, Ionly realized it was 'iftar' time (breaking of the fast) after my youngestdaughter who was 9 reminded me about it.
On the second day of Ramadan I had to go back to office, to attend mycompany's important meeting in Kuala Lumpur. That journey was a real test forme. After alighting from the express bus at the 'Terminal BersepaduSelatan'/ Southern Integrated Terminal (TBS) in Bandar Tasik Selatan, I walkedon the 'sky bridge' to fetch the LRT (light rail transit) at the farthest endof the station.
The walk was more than half a kilometer. While walking, I rememberedwhat was said about Ramadan by an 'ustaz' (religious teacher) in his 'tazkirah'(short preaching) in the masjid near my house before the fasting month. A friendwho is also an 'ustaz' told me the word 'fasting month' is not accurate todescribe 'Ramadan' because the holy month is not about fasting only but aboutone's determination to get closer to Allah SWT and to secure His blessing andforgiveness including freedom from hellfire.

"Fasting is not just about abstaining from food and drinks," said the'ustaz' during 'tazkirah' at the masjid. "We are also requested to 'fast'our tongues, eyes, ears and minds.

"If we only refrain ourselves from taking food and drinks, but 'free' oursights, hearings and tongues, then at the end of the day, we will be rewardedonly with hunger, thirst and tiredness," said the 'ustaz'.

He also said we had to 'fast' our stomach. It was true, during Ramadan, we hadto refrain from eating and drinking during the day, but it would be of no valueif during breaking of the fast, we took food that was forbidden (haram).

He said all the food that was laid on the desk had to be 'halal', and therewere regulations when eating. For example fill only one third of the stomachwith food, the next one third with drink and leave the rest empty for easierbreathing as said by the Prophet.

A Muslim is ordered to eat and drink, making sure he takes care of thefollowing: First, not to waste or exceed the right limit. Allah SWT says;"…and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance,…"(Quran7:31).

Second, not to eat or drink what is harmful, especially if it is forbidden.Third, to eat and drink moderately. The Messenger of Allah SWT said; "Manhas not filled a container worse than his stomach; he should be satisfied witha few bites to survive. However, if his appetite beats him, let it be a third(of his stomach space) for his food and a third for his drink and a third forhis breath." (Ahmad).

Fourth, to try not to be fat, for the Prophet of Allah SWT described the peoplewho would come after three blessed centuries, that fatness appears in them.Fatness appears when the human body takes more calories that it needs, that is,food entering the body is much greater than what is needed and excreted. (RulesFor The Muslim Home, Sa'eed Muhammad Al-Deeb, IIPH).

Having the 'words' of the 'ustaz' on my mind, I walked with my head looking atthe ground. I was afraid my eyes would catch sight of Kuala Lumpur girls. Yesit is Ramadan, but activities in Kuala Lumpur don't stop. The girls as usual,are in their 'best' when going out to work or shop.

When the train reached the station, I quickly entered it and had a seat near aChinese girl. She was wearing a skirt. I tried hard not to notice her; my eyesfixed to the ground but when she pulled up her legs and crossed it, her legs'entered' my vision. 'Subhanallah'. Oooh God, I hope my reward for fastingwould not be decreased by that incident! 
I looked up; in front of me there were three girls busily chatting; theymust be Muslims I guessed based on their attires including the 'tudungs'(headcovers) they were wearing. Sadly, even they were putting on their'tudungs', all were in short sleeved T-shirt and body clad jeans.
Their appearance and attires did not comply with the Islamic code ofdressing even they were putting on 'tudungs'; it was against the words ofAllah, the Almighty: "O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and thewomen of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. Thatwill be better, that they should be known (as such) so as not to be molested."(Qur'an 33:59)
Perhaps they were fasting and I too was fasting. They were hoping thatAllah the Almighty would reward them for their fasting; but something had gonewrong; perhaps they were unaware of the Prophet warning: "Many people who fastget nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst."
My eyes too had seen 'that haram things'; I was afraid that I would alsofell into that group of men and women who would not be rewarded for their 'gooddeeds'.
During Ramadan, one may abstain from food and drinks butone's eyes and ears are not spared from seeing and listening to 'haram'things. 
In reality many Muslims, me included, on so many occasions think we aredoing 'good deeds' but in fact they contradict the teaching of Islam. Forexample many women think that by wearing the 'tudung' they were adhering toIslamic way of covering up but they do not realize when they purposely exposeother parts of the bodies such as arms, legs and necks, they are acting ordoing things that are against religious obligations.
Nowadays it is a familiar thing to see women especially youth to appearin tight fitting attires such as jeans and short sleeve T-shirts or even 'bajukebaya' with slits on their 'sarung' even though they are wearing 'tudungs'. Itis Ramadan, the holiest month of the year; but the girls still 'dress to kill'.
Yes, they think they do 'good deeds' by wearing their 'tudungs', butdon't they realize they are actually 'making fun' of Islam? Am I harsh insaying that they were actually insulting Islam; a not so knowledgeable Muslimwhat's more a non Muslim would have ideas that what they portray are dressesthat comply in accordance to the Islamic teaching.
From KL I took the express bus back and by 5.00 pm that day, I hadreached Melaka Sentral and while waiting at a roadside of the main road infront of Taman Cempaka for my son to fetch me, I had a good view of the busyand crowded bazaar Ramadan across the road.
There as sat on a railing, I saw many young girls in tight fittingattires rushing across the road after buying their requirements at the bazaareven though there was a pedestrian bridge not far away. Many were exposingtheir arms as they were wearing short sleeves T-shirts; some of the attires tootight and short; the irony of it almost all of the girls were putting on their'tudungs'!
On several occasions, when the girls crossed the roads, cars drivershonked their vehicles while youth on motorcycles went 'wild' with 'wolfwhistles' and 'lewd' remarks.
It was Ramadan, the best time of year to get closer to Allah SWT, yet Iwas seeing 'unbelieving things' that could 'jeopardize' Allah SWT's reward onmy 'puasa'.


Perhaps it is better for one to stay at home in order to observeRamadan with a peaceful mind and do not fall into the category of "many people who fast getnothing from their fast except hunger and thirst!"

Ramadan: 'Kekurangan itu kebahagiaan, nikmat…'

***Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
RenunganBersabda Rasulullah s.a.w., bermaksud: "Sesiapa yang membaca 'Astaghfirullah al Lazi La IIaha'illa Hual Hayyul Qayyum Wa Atubu Ilaihi' (aku meminta keampunan dari Allah Ta'ala yang tiada Tuhan melainkan-Nya, yang hidup lagi berdiri dengan sendirinya dan aku meminta taubat kepada-Nya) diampunkan dosanya walaupun dia lari daripada medan perang." (Hadis riwayat Imam Abu Daud, Tarmizi dan Al-Hakim)***
RAMADAN 10 tahun lalu saya berada di Pakistan, mengikuti rombongan bantuan perubatan PAS di Peshawar. Di tempat-tempat jualan saya perhatikan, penduduk tempatan begitu ghairah menjual kiub-kiub tebu yang menjadi antara jaudah berbuka puasa.
Di Malaysia, di bazar Ramadan antara air minuman laris adalah air tebu, tetapi di Pakistan, air tebu tidak dijual, sebaliknya bungkusan kiub tebu pula jadi buruan. Saya perhatikan penjual meracik (membuang kulit) batang tebu, memotongnya kecil-kecil mengikut ruas, membelahnya seterusnya memasukkannya ke dalam bungkusan untuk dijual.
Sedap juga mengunyah kiub tebu ketika berbuka puasa. Apa kata kita memperkenalkan kaedah baru 'menikmati' keenakan tebu cara Pakistan ini di Malaysia? Kehidupan serba kekurangan di Pakistan menjadikan 'aktiviti' mengunyah tebu sebagai satu nikmat, satu kebahagiaan kepada penduduknya.
Minuman air tebu adalah baik untuk kesihatan; ia membekalkan glukosa kepada tubuh yang disimpan sebagai 'glycogen' dan dibakar otot apabila tenaga diperlukan. Sebenar ada banyak kelebihan 'mengunyah' atau minum air tebu; antaranya menyejukkan tubuh, menyihatkan organ, bertindak sebagai pelawas semula jadi dan menguatkan gigi.
Cara orang Pakistan menikmati tebu mengingatkan saya nostalgia mengenai makanan semasa saya kecil-kecil dulu (tahun 70-an), apatah lagi saat menyambut Ramadan sekarang ini. Dulu sama seperti orang Pakistan, saya pun kuat mengunyah tebu. Tapi budak sekarang mana tahu 'kunyah tebu', mereka tahu minum air tebu saja.
Pada zaman serba mewah sekarang, kanak-kanak pun tidak beberapa peduli tentang makanan 'free' yang disediakan itu pada majlis-majlis tertentu di kampung seperti ketika berbuka puasa, moreh, Maulidur Rasul, kenduri arwah (biasanya pada bulan Syaaban) dan malam Nifsu Syaaban.
Ketika itu kanak-kanak tidak sabar-sabar menanti majlis berkenaan di mana kanak-kanak juga diberi layanan istimewa dari segi makanan. Mungkin pada zaman sekarang, makanan sudah berlambak di rumah, jadi tiada apa perlu dikejarkan di masjid atau surau.
Saya masih ingat ketika pada suatu majlis Maulidur Rasul, pihak pentadbiran masjid telah menyediakan sebuah kapal yang berisi telur rebus yang dimasukkan dalam bekas-bekas cantik atau dijadikan bunga telur. Saratlah kapal itu dengan gantungan telur dalam pelbagai bentuk gubahan.
Pada pertengahan majlis, telur-telur diagih-agihkan kepada kanak-kanak yang hadir. Untuk mendapatkannya, kanak-kanak perlu memasuki kawasan masjid dan melangkah keluar melalui pintu gerbang. 
Agak saya, ketika itu orang kampung melalui kehidupan zaman susah, jadi seorang kanak-kanak hanya mendapat sebiji telur. Sebiji telur ini amat berharga, ia ditatang oleh seorang kanak-kanak dan selepas puas 'bermain' dengannya barulah dikopek kulit dan dimakannya. Jika seorang budak mendapat sebiji telur tetapi adiknya tidak dapat, si abang sanggup membelah telur itu untuk dikongsi bersama si adiknya.
Demikianlah pada zaman itu 'nilai' sebiji telur amat tinggi. Saya masih ingat apabila ibu atau ayah pergi 'rumah orang kahwin' dan membawa balik telur rebus (dimasukkan dalam kotak kecil yang diperbuat daripada kertas manila atau kotak rokok atau dijadikan bunga telur malah ada yang masukkan dan diikat dalam kertas tisu saja) sebagai buah tangan, telur itu selepas dikopek akan dibahagi lapan (kerana adik beradik saya lapan orang).
Cara membelah telur rebus itu menjadi lapan (atau pecahah lain) adalah unik dan sukar dilihat lagi pada zaman sekarang ini. Telur yang sudah dikopek itu diletakkan dalam telapak tangan; ayah akan memegang satu hujung benang dan salah seorang anaknya akan memegang hujung yang satu lagi. Benang yang ditarik kuat dan dalam keadaan tegang 'dibenamkan' di atas telur tadi. Maka dibelahlah telur itu dalam pecahan dikehendaki seperti setengah, satu perempat atau satu perlapan, mengikut bilangan anak dalam sesebuah keluarga.
Bagi saya mendapat satu perlapan daripada satu biji telur sebenarnya tidaklah mencukupi kerana dengan sekali 'ngap' saja sudah habis. Tetapi ada cara menikmatinya, makanlah sedikit demi sedikit; kesedapannya hanya diketahui orang yang pernah melaluinya. Kata orang itulah detik bahagia sesebuah keluarga! Namun orang tua kasihan melihat anak-anak yang terpaksa melalui semua itu (kata mereka kasihan tengok budak-budak terkulat-kulat) tetapi apa hendak dikata; itu saja yang mampu mereka lakukan!
Namun 'cerita telur' ini tidaklah sesedih cerita 'daging' yang pernah saya dengar orang-orang tua membicarakannya. Pada tahun-tahun 1960-an dan 70-an dulu, orang kampung sebenarnya jarang benar makan nasi berlaukkan daging (lembu, kambing atau ayam); mereka mungkin makan daging setahun satu atau dua kali iaitu pada Hari Raya Aidilfitri dan Aidiladha.
Keadaan ini agaknya samalah seperti di kampung-kampung orang Kemboja sekarang ini di mana ada satu iklan rayuan menyatakan kanak-kanak di sana makan nasi berlaukkan daging setahun sekali, itu pun jika ada sukarelawan dan dermawan dari Malaysia melakukan korban atau menderma.
Suatu hari seorang budak terlalu benar hendak makan daging. Mengidam agaknya. Hendak tunggu hari raya lambat lagi, jadi apabila ada majlis kahwin di kampung, terbukalah peluang untuk makan daging.
Maka si ibu pun pergi. Masa dulu, jarang (malah pantang) tetamu bawa anak-anak ke majlis kahwin. Malah pasangan suami isteri pun jarang pergi bersama-sama, orang lelaki pergi bersama orang lelaki, orang perempuan sesama orang perempuan.Pada majlis itu, dapatlah si ibu makan daging lembu. Apabila teringatkan permintaan anaknya, dia pun mengambil seketul daging dan memasukkannya di celah antara gigi dan pipinya. Dia terus 'menanggung' daging itu dalam mulutnya; tidak bercakap lagi, hanya mengangguk dan menggeleng-geleng kepala apabila ditanya.
Apabila sampai di rumah, barulah dia mengeluarkan ketulan daging tadi dan memberikan kepada anaknya, Maka termakbullah hajat si anak hendak makan daging!
Zaman penuh nostalgia itu sudah berlaku. Kini apabila saya membawa pulang telur majlis orang kahwin dan meletakkannya di atas meja makan, telur itu terus berada di situ selama beberapa hari tanpa diusik.
Itulah zaman mewah sekarang ini, telur rebus tidak menggerakkan minat anak-anak untuk mengambil apatah lagi memakannya! Itu agaknya buah tangan majlis kahwin sudah berubah, baru-baru ini saya diberikan satu paket kecil mengandungi coklat ketika melangkah pulang pada satu majlis perkahwinan. Ertinya nostalgia 'telur' sudah terkubur apatah lagi mengunyah tebu seperti apa yang saya lihat di Pakistan!

Kenangan Ramadan bersama Almarhumah Dr Lo' Lo' di Pakistan

***Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
Renungan"Orang-orang yang membaca al-Quran sedangkan ia cukup mahir atau berkebolehan dengannya maka ia bersama malaikat, manakala yang membaca  al-Quran dengan penuh kesukaran dan tersekat-sekat maka dia mendapat dua pahala." (Hadis riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim)***
PEMERGIAN Almarhumah Dr Lo' Lo' Mohd Ghazali ke rahmatullah baru-baru ini mengamit kenangan penulis bersamanya ketika berada di Peshawar, Pakistan bagi satu misi bantuan kemanusiaan PAS pada Ramadan genap 10 tahun lalu (2001).
Dr Lo' Lo' dan suaminya, Dr Mohd Amin Hamid Karim adalah antara kira-kira 10 anggota rombongan perubatan PAS yang diketuai Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli ke sana manakala penulis dan jurugambar Mohd Nasir Sudin mewakili Harakah. Peshawar yang terletak berhampiran sempadan Pakistan-Afghanistan ketika itu dibanjiri puluhan ribu pelarían selepas bumi Afghanistan dijarah oleh tentera Amerika.
Dr Lo' Lo' adalah satu-satunya Muslimat dalam rombongan itu, jadi bagi saya Almarhumah lebih berperanan sebagai seorang ibu. Pembaca sebagai seorang anak, tentu tahu bagaimana keletah seorang ibu.
Ya, seorang ibu yang kadang-kadang menyuruh anda buat itu dan ini tetapi dengan penuh kasih sayang. Di Peshawar, Dr Lo' Lo' telah menyediakan jadual kerja harian yang antara lain tugas mengemas dan menyapu tempat kediaman.
Suatu pagi saya tergamam apabila Almarhumah meminta saya melakukan kerja-kerja basuhan dengan mesin basuh; saya melarikan diri kerana tidak pernah membasuh baju dengan menggunakan mesin basuh seumur hidup saya!
Tentunya saya terlalu sedih mengenang sikap mengelat saya  ini, tetapi saya percaya seorang lagi anggota rombongan (seorang doktor yang tidak payah saya sebutkan namanya) tentunya terasa lagi tersangat sedih mengenangkan nostalgia Peshawar kerana beliau awal-awal lagi sudah 'booking' tugas untuk ke pasar setiap hari dalam program dua minggu itu!
Almarhumah Dr Lo' Lo' dan suaminya adalah antara 'orang kuat' dalam penyediaan makan dan minum kami ketika sahur dan berbuka puasa. Sebagai orang yang 'malas' ke dapur, saya tidak tahu siapa sebenarnya yang menyediakan termasuk memasak makanan-makanan itu. Namun hidangan disediakan walaupun bercirikan masakan Pakistan yang mengutamakan hidangan roti dan daging kambing, tetap dirasakan kelazatannya. 
Secara beransur-ansur saya mulai belajar menyukai masakan Pakistan seperti 'tikka' dan roti nannya yang boleh tahan lama. Kadang-kadang ia menjadi keras, tetapi sebagai pengembala di rantau orang,  telan sajalah, asalkan diberi kekuatan oleh Allah SWT agar pada siang harinya dapat menyelami sedikit sebanyak penderitaan pelarían Afghanistan yang kebanyakannya orang Pashtun.
Almarhumah Dr Lo' Lo' di mata saya tidak sukakan pembaziran makanan. Disuruhnya kami menghabiskan makanan ketika sahur atau berbuka puasa, dan jika masih berbaki, disimpannya (entahlah saya tidak sedar adanya atau tidak peti sejuk kerana di Peshawar ketika itu musim sejuk), dan makanan itu dipanaskan pada sesi makan berikutnya.
Kepada Dr Amin dan keluarga, didoakan tabah menghadapi ujian Allah ini, kami bersama merasakan kesedihan kehilangan Almarhumah Dr' Lo' Lo'. Budi dan kasih sayang Dr dan isteri tetap dalam ingatan, semoga Allah SWT menempatkan roh Almarhumah dan kita semua (insya-Allah akan menyusul) di kalangan roh-roh salihin  dan syuhada yang memperjuangkan agamanya di muka bumi-Nya ini. Amin.

A critical thought as we enter Ramadan...

***In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessing and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w
Reflection
Every self will taste death. You would be paid your wages in full on the Day of Rising. Anyone who is distanced from the Fire and admitted to the Garden has triumphed. The life of this world is just the enjoyment of delusion. - Qur'an, 3:185***
PERHAPS as you are reading this article, you may already fasting. Almost everyone including non-Muslims knows that Ramadan is the month when Muslims abstain from taking food and drinks during the day. 
So Ramadan is about taking less food (because you can only eat after sunset ) but the irony of it, Ramadan is the month where some Malaysian Muslims spend so much money on it and it is the time of the year when one could have 'exotic food ' including 'kuih' (cakes) never found on any other time such as 'badak berendam', 'tahi itik' and 'tepung pelita'.
Ramadan teaches Muslims to be trift on their spending. But it is normal for a Malaysian Muslim family; me included, to spend more during Ramadan especially on food, clothing and decoration of the house.
A few days ago while driving my car, I heard an 'ustaz' (religious teacher) say in a radio programme, that one's 'puasa' (fasting) in term of spiritual enhancement of the soul was considered a failure if one's budget overshot the normal monthly expenditure.
He also jokingly said that if one's weight dropped a lot at the end of Ramadan, he or she had succeeded in his/her 'puasa' but what would be said if one's weight increased at the end of the holy month?
In recent days during my journey to work, I noticed tents were being erected on not so busy roads such as in front of shops lots; these premises were to be used by traders to sell their goods and products during Ramadan.
At some places, they called it 'Bazar (Bazaar) Ramadan,' others were kown as 'Pasar (Market) Ramadan', 'Karnival Ramafan' and 'Gerai (Stall) Ramadan'. In these places, one could find almost all of ones needs including perhaps those 'exotic food' mentioned above.
What does the presence of this 'Ramadan phenomenon' suggest? Am I wrong in saying that Muslims are encouraged to spend more time and money in this 'fiesta' like a monthly occassion; unfortunately it is Ramadan, the best time of the year for Muslims to double or triple his good deeds as required by Islam?
In this holy month, one 'sunat' (optional) deed done would be rewarded like a 'wajib' or 'fardu' (obligatory) deed, and a 'fardu' deed would be rewarded 70 times or more than in other months.
Ramadan teaches us to feel the pangs of hunger of the poor people of the world. It has been reported that one person in the world dies every three seconds because of hunger. So wasting of food is criminal. But how is the situation in our country and other rich Muslim nations where the word 'hunger' seemed 'quite unfamiliar' to us, and seemingly  is happening in far faraway lands. In United Arab Emirates (UAE) it was reported that 500 tons of food are thrown away each year in the holy month of Ramadan!
The lavish meal of breaking fast or 'iftar', many say dishonor the spirit of the Muslim holy month - and create an immense a mount of waste. Muslims should be reminded to be moderate with food, and this call could be made by 'imams' during 'tazkirah' (short religious talk) while doing the optional mass 'tarawih' prayers in masjids (special night prayers perform only during Ramadan) or when giving 'khutbah' (sermons) on the first Friday prayer of Ramadan.
Then on the eve of Ramadan, some of our people go for projects that are not beneficial for the 'ummah' what's more in line with the teaching of Islam such as making the largest 'ketupat' (rice cook inside wrappings made from coconut leaves) in the world. It was reported that the Melaka State Constituency (Dun) of Sungai Rambai had craved that its name be in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for cooking that giant 'ketupat' which weighed 1,800 kilogramme and was 1.2 meters tall.

Imagine the wastage of time and resources just to project one's name - 630 kilogrammes of rice was cooked in 21 large pots from 3.00 p.m to 4.00 a.m. The projects was undertaken by 12 people and it took two days to prepare for the neccessary items and ground work. It was reported, the 'ketupat' was distributed to the people in that state constituency but tell me frankly who would want to comsume it?
Muslims should not be involved in such a wastage project, they should be reminded that they are accountable for five things before the coming of five. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Take benefit of five before five - your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free-time before your preoccupation,and your life before your death." (Hakim)
So to Muslims brothers and sisters, do not indulge in such empty, hollow and unbeneficial deeds, for Allah SWT says in Surah Al-Asr: "Verily! Man is in loss, Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's cause)."
Regarding the wastage of food and gluttony during Ramadan, President of Consumer Association of Penang (CAP), SM Mohamed Idris, commented on the lavish spending of Muslims at Ramadan bazaars and the 'merry iftars' at restaurants and hotels. 
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to eat nutritious food during breaking fast and sahur (predawn meal) and prohibited from wasting. Unfortunately many tend to prepare many dishes or the easiest way is to buy food and drinks that are sold in abundance in Ramadan bazaars and markets that mushroom during the fasting month.
Mohamed Idris said there is too much of food being served, much of it is not eaten and wasted. This kind of wastage is forbidden in Islam and contradicts the concept of Ramadan.
Then each year during Ramadan, hotel and restaurant is flooded with Ramadan buffet advertisements inviting Muslims to break fast in their hotels. From a rate of as low as RM38++ to RM135++, an individual can eat and drink as much as they like, with a variety of selection, at times offering more than 120 appetizing buffet dishes and desserts.
The Ramadan buffets are also accompanied with live music and keroncong whilst customers enjoy their meal. This indirectly shifts their attention and deviates them from piety of fasting in this holy month.
Those enjoying the buffet style fast breaking will be attracted to the delicious smell and scrumptious looking food. In fact their activated senses will induce them to take more than necessary.
Although gluttony is forbidden in Islam, there is nothing to prohibit Muslims from surrendering to their desire for food during breaking fast. Some would feel that it is necessary to eat a lot for their money's worth.
As there is too much food put on their plate, many would not be able to finish it and finally the food is thrown away.Don't Muslims realise that food is Allah SWT greatest gift for humans and that we will be questioned on Judgement Day, akhirat, on our wasting nature? asked Mohamed Idris.
Remember Allah SWT decree in Surah Al A'raaf, sentence 3, "Eat and drink, but not in excess. Allah does not like people who are superfluous". Whereas Surah Al Israa', sentences 26 and 27 states, "And do not waste, as those who waste are the devil's friends".
If we consider the amount of food wasted during Ramadan mainly at buffets in hotels, we will realise that the present followers have lost their love to each other. Whilst many can enjoy the best food for themselves and their families, they forget that there are still people of the same faith who suffer from poverty and hunger.
Besides wasting food, much time is wasted when breaking fast in hotels as they tend to eat a lot until they are too full and making it difficult for them to perform solat, especially solat tarawih in the masjid.
The atmosphere and practice of breaking fast in hotels as mentioned above does not reflect the effectiveness and sacredness of the fasting that among others demands followers not to overeat, resulting in wastage.
Remember Nabi Muhamad SAW's commandment, "Fight the yearning for food and withstand hunger and thirst as the reward is equivalent as jihad to Allah's path. There is nothing greater to offer God than resisting hunger and thirst."
In relation to this and in the occasion of this good month, let us all return to true Islamic teachings and practices and not be influenced by wastefulness and guile.
Let it be known that Ramadan is a sacred month among all other months and Allah SWT wants all his followers to fulfil the month with obedience and taqarrub to Allah SWT. The continuous satiety of an individual's life will fulfil and enhance the soul with obstinacy and extremity. We hope that Ramadan will help develop loving and caring Muslims.
In conclusion, please think about thorough consumption of food of your daily diet either in Ramadan or normal days. Proper cosumption including give to poor or needy people is the best amongst any sadqa (charity)

Bahana halang jemaah solat di masjid

***
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
*** MARHABAN Ya Ramadan. Umat Islam kini mula berpuasa, menunaikan Rukun Islam ketiga. Sebelum itu umat Islam Malaysia menyambut malam Nifsu Syaaban. Di kebanyakan masjid berlangsung bacaan Yasin beramai-ramai sebanyak tiga kali selepas solat maghrib. Berdasarkan pencarian saya di internet, amalan ini hanya berleluasa di tanah air kita dan tidak ada sebarang hadis yang menyuruh umat melakukannya, yang ada hanya hadis yang meminta ummah meningkatkan ibadat masing-masing.
Ada surau yang tidak diimarahkan malah jarang dilangsungkan solat waktu berjemaah di dalamnya juga turut 'hidup' pada malam tersebut. Berduyun-duyun orang datang, dan hampir pasti pada hujung majlis ada acara makan-makan. Demikian betapa aneh dan peliknya perangai orang Melayu dulu, kini dan didoakan tidak selama-lamanya amat mengutamakan kepercayaan ritual tradisi datuk nenek sedangkan perkara pokok dalam agama dijauhkan.
Ambil contoh ketika Himpunan Bersih 2.0 di ibu kota tempoh hari; kenapa umat Islam dihalang atau diperiksa terlalu ketat ketika mahu solat berjemaah zuhur dan asar di sesetengah masjid di ibu kota seperti yang berlaku di Masjid Jamek, Masjid Kampung Baru dan Masjid Al-Bukhary di Jalan Hang Tuah.
Hal ini tidak sepatutnya berlaku kerana ada ayat al-Quran menyatakan: "Dan siapakah yang lebih zalim daripada orang-orang menyekat dan menghalang daripada menggunakan masjid-masjid Allah untuk (solat dan) menyebut mengingati Allah di dalamnya, dan dia berusaha pula untuk meruntuhkan masjid-masjid itu? Orang-orang yang demikian, tidak sepatutnya masuk ke dalam masjid-masjid itu melainkan dengan rasa penuh hormat dan takut kepada Allah (bukan secara yang mereka lakukan itu). Mereka (dengan perbuatan itu) akan beroleh kehinaan di dunia, dan di akhirat kelak mereka mendapat zab seksa yang amat besar." (Maksud Ayat 114 Surah Al-Baqarah)
Mengenai perbuatan menghalang umat Islam daripada menggunakan masjid untuk mengingati Allah ini, penulis pernah mengikuti ceramah beberapa ustaz yang memberi peringatan kepada jawatankuasa masjid daripada menghalau jemaah Tabligh yang bermarkas di rumah Allah itu. Kata ustaz-ustaz berkenaan jika tidak tidak boleh berdakwah mengikut cara orang Tabligh, usah pula mendapat kemurkaan Allah dengan menghalau orang yang mahu beribadat di masjid.
Jika jemaah Tabligh yang mahu bermukim tiga hari malah ada sehingga 40 hari tidak boleh dihalau dari kawasan masjid, maka bagaimana beratnya pula dosa tidak membenarkan orang solat dalam masjid. Apabila hal ini berlaku, pada hari Himpunan Bersih itu saya perhatikan, ada peserta himpunan yang bersolat di celah-celah bangunan termasuklah yang melakukannya secara berjemaah di bawah pokok kawasan berumput di depan Menara Maybank.
Selain orang berpakaian biasa tidak dibenarkan masuk masjid untuk solat, mereka yang berpakaian kuning apatah lagi berbaju-T Bersih menghadapi risiko ditangkap dan disumbat ke dalam trak polis yang sedang menunggu.
Kalau dirujuk kepada peristiwa penaklukan kota Makkah oleh Rasulullah s.a.w. pada tahun ke-10 selepas penghijrahan Baginda, antara tempat yang dijamin selamat kepada orang Quraisy Makkah adalah Masjidilharam. Ini menunjukkan bahawa masjid adalah kawasan selamat di mana orang dalamnya sepatutnya mendapat jaminan keselamatan. Oleh itu sewajarnya pihak berkuasa menjadi kisah ini sebagai panduan dalam mereka menangani sesuatu persoalan mengenai rakyat termasuklah ketika keadaan penuh gelora.
Dalam keadaan perang, bukan saja masjid diberi pengiktirafan sebagai kawasan selamat, rumah ibadat penganut agama lain juga adalah tempat selamat; jadi persoalannya mengapa dalam operasi menggagalkan Himpunan Bersih 2.0, pihak berkuasa dengan wewenangnya menghalang orang ramai daripada memasuki seterusnya solat dalam masjid?
Begitu sensitifnya sesetengah pihak dengan kemeja-T tertera perkataan 'Bersih' sehingga ada jawatankuasa masjid mengusir jemaah yang berpakaian demikian daripada menunaikan solat di masjid. Mengapa mereka berbuat demikian sedangkan ada jemaah memakai kemeja-T memaparkan perkataan lebih dahsyat malahan mempromosi bahan haram seperti sejenis minuman keras tidak pula mereka menghalangnya?
Apakah 'Bersih' itu lebih dahsyat daripada slogan tertentu dan jenama arak itu? Kenapa takut bersih kerana kebersihan itu sebahagian daripada iman malah hati pun perlu sentiasa

The 'power' of walking!

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


Reflection

"Do not spy on one another,
nor let any of you backbite others..." (Hujurat 49:12)
***

ALHAMDULILLAH (praise to God, The Almighty) I was able to reach Kuala Lumpur city centre on Bersih's big day (9th July) before noon by using the light rail transit (LRT). But in the late afternoon when I was on my way to Plaza Rakyat station from Menara Maybank to catch a train, several passersby told me that the train service was suspended .

'Ya Allah' (Oh, my God), what am I going to do because had to fetch my daughter in Gombak by 6.00 on that evening? My daughter was waiting for me; I had to think hard for a fast solution, I could not imagine my daughter's nervousness and fear if I did not turn up.

Time was runnning out fast and I have no one to consult. The friend who I came with had went his own separate way after police fired tear gas onto the crowd and to add to misery, my cell phone was beeping with a 'low battery' signal and then just went off (kaput).

While standing in front of 'Hentian Puduraya', a Malay 'pakcik' (uncle) who was munching his 60 sen 'roti krim' (long bun with cream), politely offered me his 'share' with the usual introductory - 'sudah makan?' (have you eaten) to which I nooded. I understood his intention, he was just trying to break the ice; he wanted to talk to me.

The veteran 'lone ranger' who I thought would be more than 60 years told me he was from Temerloh, Pahang. He came to Kuala Lumpur a few days before 'the big day'; and he stayed at his son's house di Cheras.

"I came here this morning by LRT and now on my way back but the authorities had closed entrance to the station," he said. He told me he had not taken his lunch; the 'roti krim' was his first food since he had breakfast at his son's home.

I just lent my ears when the 'pakcik' poured words from his heart: "This is not my first demonstration. I have attented the first Bersih rally in 2007 and the anti PPSM (Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English) demonstration in 2009. There are things that I am not happy with the government; for example they (those in power in the villagers) discrimate people who openly showed their support to non Umno parties."

Regarding the latest rally; the 'pakcik' said he was for the total transformation of the 'Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya' (Elections Commission).

"I want to give my full support to those 'brave' people who spearhead this movement. Hopefully they would succeed; they had seen the Agong, haven't they?"

Eventhough I was with the 'pakcik', my mind was not there. I was thinking hard to get out of the city centre.

After saying goodbye to him, I walked hurriedly to next LRT station heading north; the Masjid Jamek station. Upon reaching the station, I saw tens of police personnel standing guard at its entrance. There were tens others on the main road and in front of Masjid Jamek.

Since the Masjid Jamek station was out of bounds for the people, I slowly walked to Jalan Masjid India and its back lanes; my mind told me to walk to the nearest point where I could get a public transport so that I could meet my daughter in Gombak.

I passed two elderly women, one of them was cursing the security forces for making life miserable for her; she had to walk as public transportation was nil on that late afternoon.

I then walked along a small road leading to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman but was stopped by uniformed personnel. I showed my press card, they let me go. At Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, I saw troups of FRU and policemen at strategic locations along the road.

Near the Sogo shopping complex, there were several police trucks; several uniformed men were seen walking up and down the road, but the majority of them were resting at open spaces and corners of buildings. Not a single vehicle was seen on that section of the road other than the police trucks.

After passing the Jalan Sultan Ismail road intersection, I saw some people on the streets though there were still many policemen on the road sides. I walked on until I reached the Chow Kit Monorail station and while stopping for rest under the station, I was fortunate to catch a taxi and then continue my journey to Gombak.

Alhamdulillah, on that evening, I could not believe it; I had the energy and stamina to walk from Puduraya to Chow Kit which is not far away from my office which is situated at Jalan Pahang Barat. Imagine on normal days, I would take the LRT that passes four stations on that route from the Titiwangsa station which is near my office to Plaza Rakyat (Puduraya) station.

Perhaps next time, if the train service fails, it should not be a great problem to me because I had the experience walking from Puduraya to Chow Kit!

Also perhaps I had passed 'the examination' in walking! In my everyday journey from my home in Melaka to Kuala Lumpur by using public transport, I would have to walk several times. From the 'Terminal Bersepadu Selatan' (Southern Integrated Terminal) in Bandar Tasik Selatan, I had to walk a distance of about 800 meters to get to the LRT station which is situated at the farthest end and from the Titiwangsa station, I have to walk another 800 meters to my office. I also cover the same distance when going home. So my daily activities also involve much walking.

An office mate, who also went to that Saturday demonstration, was seen in a 'sarong' when I turned up in office on Monday morning.

"What happened?" I asked him. He answered: "There are bruises on the lower parts of my body including around the loins!"

He then told a few friends who had gathered around his desk that he walked up and down Kuala Lumpur city centre following demonstators on that fateful day and ended up in Kampung Baru where his son pick him up in a car.

So to my beloved brothers and sisters (readers), from today 'make full use' of your legs including exercizing, jogging and walking, who knows one day, you need to 'use' them to the maximum, for examples in demonstration or when public transport breaks down or even your own car fails to start.

Even when you perform 'umrah' (small hajj) whats more 'hajj', you have to be 'super fit' because these 'ibadat' (acts of worshipping God) require ones to walk a lot; for example from the hotel rooms (imagine if you were put into a hotel a kilometer away from the Haram Masjid) to the masjids and from the tents in Mina to the Jamrat at which pilgrims would throw stones at its three stations, Ula, Wusta and Aqabah.

Some pilgrims have to walk about seven kilometers from their tents to these stations and if one is eager to finish his hajj 'manasik' (rituals) fast, one could walk 15 kilometers from Mina to the Haram Masjid to perform ones 'tawaf' (circumambulating seven times around the Kaabah) and 'saie' (walking seven times tru and fro from the hills of Safa and Marwa). Perhaps nowadays the situation might be different because the authorities had put a train service along all these sites for rituals.

I had put a few examples about the 'power' of walking; so the next time when there is a demonstration, you should ready your 'legs' and body to walk 'the unfixed distance' without much problem.

During demonstrations, people WALK, they don't drive cars. You too have to use your legs to run away from the police and their tear gas. So get ready to use the power of your LEGS!

There are a lot of articles on the power and benefits of walking either in books or in the internet; I recommend readers to read them and to 'future' demonstrators (for example Bersih 3.0), practice this routine at the earlieast possible date because it is time to get walking (moving): "Stop driving around a parking lot for 10 minutes just to get a spot next to the front door! Park at the opposite end of the parking lot and walk! Stop taking elevators and escalators, and start taking the stairs! If you need more vitality in your life, climbing a few stairs whenever possible will be a big step (literally) in the right direction. Also, if you ever have the opportunity to go for a walk or a hike in nature, you will be reaping even more benefit from the uneven terrain and chance to breathe fresh air, not to mention the benefits to your Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual well-being!"