Roslan Hamid's Blog, page 37

Rabiulakhir 22, 1443: Kaya, kacak, cantik semuanya akan hancur...(U)

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

Renungan 

"Dialah (Allah) yang menciptakan bagi kamu pasangan-pasangan (jodoh) daripada makhluk (jenis) kamu sendiri agar kamu condong kepadanya dan berasa tenteram dengannya. Kemudian Allah menciptakan kasih dan sayang antara kamu." (Surah Ar Rum: 21)

PADA usia 'tak berapa muda' ini, suatu hari saya terjumpa sebuah buku lama - 'Kesah Sa-ribu Satu Malam' - Penggal X (buku ini menggunakan ejaan lama). Saya  pernah membacanya pada zaman kanak-kanak dulu; mengulang membacanya kali ini membawa pengertian baharu.

Kisah pertama adalah mengenai Saudagar Masror dan Zainul Mawasif. Diceritakan betapa cantiknya Zainul Mawasif sehingga Saudagar Masror sanggup berbuat apa saja untuk memilikinya. Harta,pangkat, kedudukan semuanya digadaikan untuk memenangi Zainul Mawasif. Hatta dia sanggup menjadi hamba Zainul Mawasif asalkan dia dapat menatap wajah si jelita itu sepanjang masa.

Zaman muda dulu saya membaca kisah ini dengan penuh perasaan dan perasan - akulah Saudagar Masror alangkah bagusnya jika aku berjaya dapat menakluk wanita cantik seperti Zainul Mawasif. Kisah ini terbawa-bawa dalam kehidupan, kita bagaikan terawang-awangan di alam fantasi dengan segala 'syok sendiri' dan 'mahysuk'nya.

Tetapi membacanya pada ketika usia 'tak berapa muda' ini - 'saya menjadi tak berapa suka'. Kisah-kisah seperti ini 'auta' saja - tak berpijak di alam nyata, fikir saya. Ia menghabiskan waktu saya yang amat berharga itu. Umur semakin 'suntuk', tak ada masa lagi untuk melayan 'kisah angau' seperti ini. Tak ada masa untuk layan kisah 'cintan-cintan sebegitu rupa'. Lantas saya 'mencampakkan' buku 1,001 malam itu, tidak melihatnya lagi sehinggalah saya menulis celoteh ini bagi menjadikannya sebagai rujukan.

Dulu masa muda, saya 'syok' dengan kisah-kisah 'merapu' ini, sebahagiannya disebabkankan kurang ilmu. Mengisafi kejahilan diri, membawa saya menadah ilmu di surau, masjid dan di mana dan ketika saja jika ada kesempatan. 

Ya, suatu malam ketika membicarakan satu bab dalam kitab 'Hikam', terpegun saya apabila Tuan Guru bersyarah, menyatakan tiada sesuatu yang baru boleh kekal, semuanya akan musnah. Perkara baru dimaksudkan di sini seluruh alam ini (selain daripada Allah SWT). Jadi kaya, kacak, tampan, cantik, lawa, 'cun' - semuanya akan berakhir dan musnah...untuk apa dikejar bagai nak gila akan hal-hal yang akan musnah ini.

Tersentak saya daripada tidur yang panjang apabila Tuan Guru berkata, orang berakal tidak melihat pada apa-apa yang bersifat kebendaan, semuanya tidak kekal, semuanya akan hancur, semuanya akan musnah. Hanya orang tidak berakal yang menyanjung kehebatan kebendaan, memikirkannya tidak akan musnah, mahukan ia kekal dan terus kekal.

Bukan individu dan hal berkaitan dengannya seperti kecantikan, kekayaan dan sebagainya akan musnah, sesebuah kerajaan hatta sebuah empayar pun akan musnah apabila sampai waktunya.

Dalam al-Quran ada kisah kaum-kaum hebat, yang membina bangunan dan tamadun tinggi tetapi musnah akhirnya. Kaum Tsamud begitu hebat, mengukir bangunan dalam batu gunung akhirnya lebur juga. Demikian juga kerajaan Sabak di Yaman, begitu hebat projek pembangunannya termasuk membina empangan Ma'rib yang masyhur itu, akhirnya musnah.

Firaun dan Haman yang mendakwa diri hebat itu akhirnya musnah juga. Demikian juga Qarun, Abu Jahal dan sebagainya. Bagi yang cantik dan perasan cantik seperti Cleopatra, Helen of Troy, Marilyn Monroe dan Puteri Diana menjadi mayat, busuk dan hancur. 

Ya, Zainul Masawif (heroin dalam 1,001 Malam) yang cantik jelita itu juga akan tua kerepot,seterusnya mati. Jadi apa nak 'disyokkan' sangat dengan Zainul Masawif ini seperti ditunjukkan Saudagar Masror.

Dunia akan hancur, apa nak dihairankan, kata Tuan Guru. Semua barang berharga atau tidak berharga, akan hancur, akan rosak.

Orang ada akal, kata Tuan Guru akan mengejar akhirat. Ini kerana semua yang ada di dunia akan rosak. Semua kehebatan dunia akan hancur. Bangunan akan hancur, Mercedes yang kita sayangi akan binasa, tiada apa yang akan tinggal. Bini kita yang 'cun melecun' itu pun akan menjadi tua kerepot malah kita yang 'handsome' ini juga akan masuk tanah, di makan ulat.

Orang yang sempurna akal, kata Tuan Guru tidak menganggap dirinya warga dunia. Dia rindu menjadi warga akhirat. Dia siapkan dirinya untuk menjadi warga akhirat. Orang paling rugi dan tak berakal adalah yang tidak menyiapkan bekalannya ke akhirat, asyik dan gila dengan kelazatan dunia yang akan musnah. Oleh itu tiada ertinya gila Saudagar Masror kepada Zainul Masawif...membaca kisah ini membuang masa saja!

Rabiulakhir 21, 1443: Semarakkan lagi semangat Ali, Ah Kau, Muthu...(U)

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 yang beriman, bertakwalah kepada Allah, carilah wasilah yang dapat mendekatkan kepada-Nya, dan berjuanglah di jalan-Nya." (Al-Maidah 5:35)

TIDAK lama dahulu saya sekeluarga pergi bercuti; alhamdulillah kami dapat menginap di sebuah rumah inap (homestay) di Sekinchan, Selangor. Kediaman ini terletak di lokasi 'lain daripada biasa' iaitu di tengah-tengah sawah; jadi banyaklah pengalaman termasuk yang mencuit hati dapat dirakam dan dicatatkan.

Suatu awal pagi selepas solat subuh, saya berjalan bersendirian berkilometer jauhnya...menyaksikan keindahan alam ciptaan Yang Maha Kuasa terutama sang mentari yang mula menyinar. Pemandangan sawah padi yang luas terbentang dengan barisan rimpunan pokok padi sedang 'membunting' dan ada yang 'menerbitkan hasil', begitu mempersonakan.

Penanaman padi di Sekinchan ini begitu sistematik sekali - saya perhatikan ada papan tanda nama pada sejumlah petak padi termasuk disertakan nama petani, jenis padi dan tarikh padi mula ditanam. Hampir semua nama petani adalah orang Tionghua manakala bakinya adalah syarikat-syarikat.

Ya, hebat petani Cina Sekinchan menanam padi. Kesungguhan mereka dapat dirasai apabila saya melihat ada tali air (terusan) yang turut ditanam pohon padi. Kelihatan barisan panjang pohon padi sejajar dengan tebing terusan. Pendeknya petani memanfaatkan sepenuhnya kawasan bagi mendapatkan hasil yang banyak dan terbaik. Syabas petani-petani Cina Sekinchan!

Terfikir di benak saya, alangkah bagus jika bangsa-bangsa yang ada di tanah air kita dapat memanfaatkan (berkongsi) pengetahuan dan pengalaman...di sini pesawah Melayu mungkin dapat belajar sesuatu daripada petani Cina di Sekinchan iaitu bagaimana menghasilkan padi bermutu tinggi dan banyak pula secara sistematik. Saya tidak bermaksud pesawah Melayu 'tidak bagus' (di Kedah sawah petani Melayu adalah lebih besar saiznya) tetapi, ya tak salahkan  untuk saling belajar dan mengajar...

Demikianlah...dengan wujudnya pelbagai bangsa di tanah air kita apatah lagi pada era Malaysia sekarang ini, setiap kaum perlu membuka hati dan minda untuk menghebat atau menyemarakkan lagi semangat 'kekitaan kita' sebagai rakyat Malaysia. Alangkah indahnya jika Melayu, Cina, India dan bangsa-bangsa lain dapat saling tolong menolong dalam memajukan negara.

Berkenaan perkara ini, teringat saya akan buku-buku teks sekolah saya pada tahun 1960-an dan 1970-an yang kerap memaparkan watak Ali, Ah Kau dan Muthu sebagai lambang perpaduan kaum. Kini dengan terciptanya Malaysia Baharu; 'semangat' Ali, Ah Kau dan Muthu boleh di-'upgrade'-kan ke peringkat lebih hebat agar Malaysia menjadi negara yang rakyatnya dikagumi di persada antarabangsa.

Saya juga teringat akan novel Melayu pertama ditulis oleh orang Tionghua. Ya novel 'Hidup Antara Duri' yang ditulis oleh Chong Chee Seong pada 1969 adalah lambang kerukunan hidup orang Melayu-Cina

Watak-watak utama dalam novel ini menujukkan kerukunan kehidupan Melayu dan Cina, sekali gus mengangkat karya ini ke depan sekalipun dihasilkan 50 tahun lalu.

Ketika menulis novel ini, Chong adalah Naib Yang Dipertua Persatuan Bahasa Kebangsaan Malaysia. Kerana cintanya terhadap bahasa Malaysia, Chong bersusah payah menulis novel dalam bahasa Melayu ini. Chong yang pernah berkhidmat sebagai wartawan di Straits Times, turut menyumbangkan rencana di Berita Harian dan menurut beliau, pengarang berpengaruh Kumpulan New Straits Times, A Samad Ismail banyak membantu beliau dalam menyiapkan novel ini.

'Hidup Antara Duri' mengisahkan kehidupan di sebuah perkampungan nelayan. Melalui novel ini, Chong cuba menggambarkan bagaimana golongan nelayan pelbagai kaum saling bantu membantu dalam menjalani kehidupan. Semangat kerjasama antara mereka terbukti apabila mereka menghadapi ancaman lanun di perairan berhampiran perkampungan mereka.

Mengikut cerita watak utama, Ang Chow dijadikan tebusan oleh lanun. Mereka meminta tebusan $3,000 (ketika itu RM belum dipakai) yang mesti diserahkan dalam masa seminggu daripada rakan Ang Chow, seorang nelayan Melayu bernama Hitam. Nelayan kampung yang diketuai oleh Penghulu Samad melancarkan derma kilat dan berjaya mengumpul wang sebanyak yang dikehendaki itu.

Selepas dibebaskan, Ang Chow bekerjasama dengan polis untuk menghancurkan kegiatan lanun-lanun itu. Novel ini cuba membuktikan bahawa masyarakat pelbagai kaum di negara ini dapat hidup dengan aman jika mereka saling faham memahami antara satu sama lain. Antara contohnya, Penghulu Samad mengadakan majlis kesyukuran selepas Ang Chow diselamatkan. Semua keluarga nelayan daripada pelbagai kaum di kampung itu menghadirinya.

Demikianlah Chong telah melihat ke depan akan pentingnya kerukunan hidup semua bangsa yang hasilnya sedang dan insya-Allah akan dinikmati dan tuai dengan lebih baik lagi pada masa depan. Hari ini Malaysia memerlukan seramai mungkin Ang Chow, Hitam dan Pak Samad (Ali, Ah Kau dan Muthu) bergandingan tangan bagi melonjakkan negara ke tahap tertinggi!

Rabiulakhir 20, 1443: Apabila tercetus "Perang Teluk' ...(U)

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)

SEKARANG ini bukan saja kes perceraian menjadi-jadi malah krisis rumah tangga bagaikan tidak terbendung sehingga terjadi kejadian tragik seperti membunuh atau membunuh diri di kalangan suami isteri. 

Ada beberapa peribahasa Melayu menyentuh mengenai hal rumah tangga ini; antaranya ‘sedangkan lidah lagi tergigit inikan pula suami isteri’ dan ‘pukul anak sindir menantu’. Hal ini membuktikan betapa halusnya orang Melayu dalam menyelami permasalahan hubungan kekeluargaan. 

Pada musim raya ini, dikhuatiri ‘suhu’ hubungan suami isteri juga panas, misalnya persoalan balik kampung dan perbelanjaan raya boleh mencetuskan ‘Perang Teluk’. Ya, kehidupan suami isteri amat perlukan panduan agama bagi melahirkan kerukunan rumah tangga yang dalamnya terdapat unsur-unsur mulia seperti keadilan dan tolak ansur. 

Namun dalam kehidupan suami isteri, kerap benar kita (termasuk penulis) tersasar, terjadilah pelbagai perang rumah tangga seperti Perang Teluk, Perang Dingin, Perang Periuk Belanga dan Perang Mulut. Hendaknya semua peperangan ini dapat diselesaikan secara aman; bagaikan menarik rambut dalam tepung, rambut tak putus dan tepung tak rosak.

Di sinilah panduan dan amalan agama amat diperlukan; kita gembira jika ‘peperangan’ ini membawa kepada kemaafan suami isteri yang insya-Allah akan membawa hubungan lebih harmonis selepas itu yang akhirnya menambahkan zuriat keluarga. Itulah kemanisan dalam rumah tangga, walaupun berlaku ‘peperangan’ tetapi anggota keluarga bertambah juga! 

Namun akhir-akhir ini, kita tidak gembira kerana kerap benar terdengar perang rumah tangga berakhir dengan tragedi menyedihkan sampai pukul memukul atau nauzubillah membunuh atau membunuh diri yang tentunya bagi sesetengah orang Melayu dengan doanya ‘minta dijauhkan, simpang malaikat 44’! 

Berceloteh mengenai perang balik kampung, seorang sahabat pernah bercerita, pernah suatu hari raya dulu dia dan isteri tidak dapat berkompromi menyebabkan dia balik hari raya ke selatan manakala isteri ke utara, meredah lebuh raya di ambang Aidilfitri dengan kereta masing-masing. Aiii, laki ke selatan, bini ke utara! 

Nasib baik ketika itu mereka masih belum ada anak, kalau tak pening juga memikirkan jalan penyelesaian. Tetapi selepas berada di kampung, masing-masing menyesal kerana apa ertinya raya jika tiada pasangan dicintai di sisi. 

Kepada si isteri, keluarga dan orang kampung asyik bertanya; “mana laki kau” dan kepada si suami pula ditanya, “mana isteri kau?” menyebabkan kedua-duanya tak dapat berlama-lama di kampung. Selepas berlaku perpisahan beberapa hari itu, barulah masing-masing sedar mereka saling perlu memerlukan. Mereka memilih berdamai, hasilnya sekarang ini anak sudah berderet! 

Itulah antara kemanisan dalam rumah tangga, kalau asyik berkepit di rumah, bertentang mata 24 jam, akan berlaku pelbagai hal seperti Perang Teluk, Perang Periuk Belanga dan Perang Dingin tetapi apabila berlaku perpisahan seperti si suami atau isteri terpaksa pergi kursus atau ke luar negara, sepeninggalan pasangan masing-masing akan timbul rasa rindu, terasa tak sabar untuk berjumpa semula. 

Pengalaman orang veteran dalam melayari rumah tangga juga boleh dijadikan panduan. Ini bagi membolehkan sesuatu pasangan suami isteri terutama yang masih baru dapat mengelakkan stres atau konflik rumah tangga. 

Bapa saya pernah memberi panduan dengan berkata lebih kurang begini: “Orang lelaki ini jangan duduk lama-lama di rumah. Apabila berlaku ‘ketegangan’ dengan isteri, cepat-cepat angkat kaki, blah…pergi kedai kopi ke, pergi kebun ke, pergi ke bendang ke, jangan dilayan perbalahan itu kerana makin lama makin buruk akibatnya. Nanti apabila ‘dah cool’ baliklah, insya-Allah masalah dapat diselesaikan apabila suasana lebih tenang. 

Seorang datuk saudara saya pun pernah mengamalkan petua ini, tetapi dengar khabar apabila dia ke kebun, habis pisang satu kebun dicantasnya dan apabila balik dia tidak ada tenaga untuk bergaduh lagi. Sudah penattt!

Rabiulakhir 19, 1443: Merajuk tiada dalam kamus pejuang tulen...(U)

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

ADA sejumlah perkataan Melayu yang sukar diterjemahkan secara tepat ke dalam bahasa asing termasuk Inggeris. Misalnya 'amuk'; jika dirujuk kamus Melayu-Inggeris perkataan itu dikekalkan, kadang-kadang dieja 'amuck'. 

Demikian juga rajuk (merajuk), diterjemahkan dalam bahasa Inggeris sebagai 'to show unhappiness' yang dirasakan kurang tepat bagi menggambarkan seseorang yang berkecil atau retak hati seterusnya membawa atau memencilkan diri sehingga datang seseorang atau pihak untuk memujuknya!

Dalam persaingan politik, ramai pemimpin disingkir, tersingkir, difitnah dan pelbagai perkara negatif lain menyebabkan kebanyakannya merajuk lantas mengundurkan diri. 

Nama mereka beransur-ansur hilang daripada persada politik; perkembangan mutakhir di negara kita menunjukkan beberapa pemimpin disingkirkan...mungkin mereka merajuk lantas nama mereka mulai dilupakan orang hatta di kalangan penyokong sendiri sedikit demi sedikit dan akhirnya langsung 'padam'.

Namun bagi pejuang sebenar, merajuk tiada dalam kamus hidup mereka. Marilah kita renung sejenak akan kisah Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. yang membuktikan bahawa baginda tidak pernah merajuk (patah hati) dalam perjuangan menegakkan Islam. Sekalipun begitu berat beban dan fitnah ditanggung termasuk dihina kaum keluarga sendiri seperti dicop gila dan diboikot, Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. terus istiqamah dalam perjuangannya.

Apabila kaum Quraisy melihat Nabi Muhammad tidak sedikit pun merajuk atas segala tindak tanduk mereka, mereka mengemukakan tawaran yang sangat istimewa kepada Nabi Muhammad iaitu jawatan pemerintah Makkah, harta dan wanita dengan syarat Nabi s.a.w. menghentikan dakwahnya. Namun semuanya ditolak oleh baginda dengan berkata kepada bapa saudaranya Abu Talib...jika mereka meletakkan matahari di tangan kananku, dan bulan di tangan kiriku, aku tidak akan sekali-kali menghentikan dakwahku...

Sepanjang sejarah dunia, ramai  'orang baik-baik' termasuk ulama dipenjarakan kerana perjuangan mereka. Mereka termasuklah Imam Ahmad bin Hambal dan di rantau kita Buya Hamka. 

Apakah Imam Ahmad, pengasas Mahzab Hambali dan Hamka merajuk. Jawapannya tidak sekali-sekali kerana apabila dipenjarakan semangat mereka semakin kental misalnya Hamka dapat menyiapkan Tafsir Azhar dalam penjara!

Demikianlah, merajuk tiada dalam kamus seorang pejuang! Kita pula bagaimana? Kerap benar kita merajuk (patah hati), sehubungan itu teladanilah Imam Ahmad atau Buya Hamka agar hati kita menjadi sekuat hati mereka!

Rabiulakhir 18, 1443: Putting into action the sunnah of the Prophet s.a.w. (U)

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

Reflection

"Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80)

A few years back I attended a friend's 'kenduri kahwin' (wedding feast). I went there alone; after taking the food, my eyes searched around, hopping someone I knew was there. 

'Alhamdulilah' there was a group of my 'masjid friends' at a table, I joined them; while enjoying my food, the friend next to me, surprised me when he said: "Why are you eating with fork and spoon? It's a 'sunnah' (recommended) to use the hand when eating." 

My face became hot, perhaps blood started ozzing to it. 'Alhamdulillah' perhaps from the 'barakah' (blessing) from the hundreds of 'tazkirah' (lessons) I have had attended, I managed to put a calm face and repeated calmly the point mentioned by the friend...yes, it's 'sunnah'.

He then continued his 'lecture' by saying that during his army days (he is an ex soldier) he was 'masak' (used) to using 'fork and spoon' and even the 'knife' when eating especially during functions.

I just kept quiet, still enjoying the food with my 'sudu' and 'garpu'...in my heart saying "well it's only a 'sunnah'...there's nothing much in it...my mind raced back to my early days when I was taught some fine aspects of dining such as using fork, spoon and knife.

It was at one top residential school in Perak in the 70s...and since then I was in the habit of using fork and spoon when eating. Imagining the feeling I had when reminded about the usage of fork and spoon for the first time in public after all the years - to be exact more than 40 years.

Well, in the first place, it was true that wanted to 'left alone' my friend's remark about the 'sunnah', but at home, thinking about it, suddenly I remembered 'the event' happened in Rabiulawal, the month Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. was born - perhaps Allah SWT wanted me to reflect and refresh myself on my lifestyles based on the incident.

I was further convinced when during the night 'tazkirah' and next day 'kuliah subuh', both 'ustaz' reminded congregators to prove their love to  Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. by following his 'sunnah' (way of life) be it  regarding the 'wajib' (compulsory) obligations or the 'sunnah' (or sunat) ones. 

The former 'ustaz' mentioned the importance of us performing our five times 'solat fardhu' (obligatory prayers) in mass (jemaah) at the 'masjid' based on events shortly before the death of the Prophet s.a.w. while the latter reminded us to emulate him including in performing things we think are small such as using our right hand when eating or drinking and putting on the beard.

He said, "it may be a small thing to us but remember the order is from the Prophet s.a.w. himself and Allah SWT (The Greatest) thus it is the best thing and highest level of manners encompasses everything in the world."

The 'ustaz' said: "If in our life we choose other's people way of life (I remembered 'my love' of using the fork and spoon) and not fallen in love to the Prophet's s.a.w. way of life, I am afraid in the Hereafter where every human being would seek the 'syafaat' (blessing) of the Prophet s.a.w. we 'nauzubilah (God forbids), would not be recognized by him."

"What would happened to us if the Prophet s.a.w. uttered 'I do not recognize you' three times after we pleaded 'syafaat' three times to him in the Hereafter when the sun is only a span of our fingers from the sun and our bodies were soaked in flirty waters from excreting parts of our bodies.

In an another 'ceramah' (talk), the 'ustaz' said many of us did not know the life story of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and his struggle, thus how could we fall in love with him? He said the love for the Prophet s.a.w. was very, very, very important because he is the only one among Allah SWT's creations (makhluk) who could render us help in our journey in the Hereafter beginning with our lives in our graves (barzakh). 

He said, once inside our graves, the angels, Munkar and Nakir, would pose questions such as who is your Lord and who is your Prophet? What do you know about this man (Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.)? Based on this, the 'ustaz' said, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. would be beside us in our graves; but if in our lives we were ignorant of him and his teachings, then it would be difficult for us to have his 'syafaat'.

One way to get to know the Prophet s.a.w. is by following his 'sunnah'. Many 'sunnah' are so simple yet because of our ignorance, we just look it down or push it aside. He said, please do away with our ego and shyness in following the Prophet’s s.a.w. way of life.

On drinking and eating, the 'ustaz' said what a simple thing to emulate the Prophet.The general rule is to sit whenever one eats or drinks; begin with reciting 'Bismillah' (in the name of Allah) and when finished, recite 'Alhamdulillah' (all praises to Allah). Then one should drink or eat with one's right hand. 

"But this simple thing of the Prophet s.a.w. too people cannot follow...look around you, there are functions where even the ones organized by educated people and religious bodies where you find the guests drinking and worst of all, people eating whist standing." 

The 'ustaz' did not mentioned about using fork and spoon when eating, but I could feel the pang of it when he said those words. "I must change, I must change,"...I kept repeating this words in my mind.

Finally, now I use my hand almost 100 percent while eating including when taking fried mee, beehon, 'nasi lemak'...alhamdulillah it is only for the shake of the Prophet s.a.w. and his Lord, Allah SWT. Yes dear readers, 'salawat' a lot to him whats more during Rabiulawal, his 'birthday month' - 'Allahumma solli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad wa 'ala ali Sayyidina Muhammad .." 

Rabiulakhir 17, 1443: Negara, negeri berjaya jika pemimpin, rakyat bertakwa

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 meninggal dunia di antara kamu dengan meninggalkan isteri-isteri (hendaklah para isteri itu) menangguhkan dirinya (beredah) empat bulan 10 hari." (Maksud ayat 234 Surah Al-Baqarah)

MELAKA kembali ke tangan Barisan Nasional (BN). Apakah nasib rakyat akan terbela?

Berhubung perkara ini saya teringat antara ungkapan terbaik seorang sarjana Islam, Abul A'Ala Maududi bahawa tidak ada sistem pemerintahan pun yang akan berjaya jika pemimpinnya tidak mempunyai akhlak yang tinggi dan masyarakatnya tidak bertakwa dan amanah.   

Maududi berkata kuasa mutlak hak Allah...kita jangan cuba sesekali lari daripada hakikat ini. Prinsip asas yang ditekankan oleh Rasulullah s.a.w. ialah bahawa kekuasaan tertinggi dan mutlak hanyalah hak Allah semata-mata. Sesungguh bumi dan alam ini adalah kepunyaan Allah. 

Udara, air, cahaya dan segala-galanya yang memenuhi hidup kita ini adalah diberi oleh Allah. Tubuh badan yang kita punyai ini beserta dengan tenaga dan organ-organ yang lengkap, semuanya dikurniakan kepada kita oleh Allah SWT. 

Kita langsung tidak mempunyai hak untuk mengaku yang kekuasaan mutlak itu hak kita. Di samping itu kita juga mesti menolak sebarang pengakuan sedemikian rupa daripada sebarang individu atau kumpulan. 

Antara perkara pertama Rasulullah s.a.w. mengajak manusia untuk percaya dan beriman ialah, kerajaan dan negara itu hanyalah kepunyaan Allah. 

Hanya Allah saja yang berkuasa untuk memerintah dan tiada siapa yang berhak untuk membuat undang-undang melainkan Dia. 

Perkara kedua dalam ajaran asas baginda ialah perundangan Rabbani bukannya diturunkan terus kepada manusia tetapi melalui Rasul-Nya. Rasulullah s.a.w. bukannya dipilih oleh sesiapa untuk menjadi pemimpin. 

Baginda juga tidak memilih dirinya sendiri untuk menjadi pemimpin. Baginda telah dipilih oleh Allah agar dapat mendidik dan mentarbiyah manusia dengan tarbiyah Rabbani, menukar pemikiran dan peribadi manusia, menyampaikan perintah Rabbani kepada manusia dan melaksanakan urusan Rabbani itu melalui sesiapa yang menerima dan beriman kepada perintah-perintah tersebut. 

Perkara ketiga dalam ajaran Rasulullah ialah supaya manusia percaya akan konsep ini di mana setiap manusia akan bertanggungjawab di hadapan Allah atas segala yang telah dilakukan semasa hidupnya. 

Selama 13 tahun Rasulullah s.a.w. menyampaikan ajaran ini dan mereka yang menerima ajaran tersebut telah disatukan dalam satu jemaah (ummah). 

Semasa tiga tahun terakhir di Makkah, sekumpulan penduduk dari Madinah telah memeluk Islam lantas menjemput Rasulullah s.a.w. bersama-sama sahabatnya ke Madinah. 

Benarlah kata-kata Sayidatina Aisyah di mana beliau menyatakan yang Madinah telah ditawan oleh Quran. 

Setelah mengetahui isi kandungan surah-surah yang turun di Makkah, mereka bukan sahaja menerima dan memeluk Islam tetapi mereka terus menjemput Rasulullah s.a..w. dan para sahabatnya untuk tinggal di kampung halaman mereka sendiri. 

Jemputan ini bukan sahaja untuk memberi perlindungan kepada baginda, tetapi ialah supaya baginda menjadi pendidik mereka, pemimpin dan juga penyatu umat Islam di antara Makkah dan Madinah sebagai satu umat lantaran menegakkan satu sistem hidup di Madinah berlandaskan keimanan Islam yang telah mereka bulatkan. Inilah cara pemerintahan Islam yang ditegakkan pada hari pertama Rasulullah s.a.w. sampai di Madinah. 

Tugas utama pemerintahan itu ialah untuk menyampaikan ajaran Islam kepada penduduk seluruhnya. Memandangkan Islam itu adalah petunjuk dan ilmu yang Rabbani, kejahilan terhadap Islam itu adalah satu halangan ke arah jalan ini. 

Rasulullah s.a.w. dan para sahabat telah bekerja sepenuh tenaga dalam usaha untuk memberi kefahaman kepada penduduk Madinah ketika itu dan seterusnya beriman dengan ajaran Islam. 

Apabila kefahaman itu berkembang dan penduduk Madinah berpegang kepadanya, maka lama-kelamaan Islam pun berkembang dan mula menjadi kuat. 

Tugas kedua Rasulullah s.a.w. ialah memurnikan akhlak masyarakat ketika itu berdasarkan akhlak yang tinggi lagi mulia. 

Tidak ada sistem pemerintahan pun yang akan berjaya jika pemimpinnya tidak mempunyai akhlak yang tinggi dan masyarakatnya tidak bertakwa dan amanah. 

Keadaan ini akan terus berpanjangan walaupun sistem pemerintahan itu mempunyai perundangan yang baik dan pada zahirnya kelihatan hebat dan berkaliber. 

Itulah sebabnya, setelah mengajak supaya beriman kepada ajaran Islam dan seterusnya mengembangkannya, Rasulullah s.a.w. sangat menekankan persoalan ketakwaan dan akhlak yang mulia. 

Asas yang penting di dalam sistem yang ditegakkan oleh baginda ialah menganjurkan akhlak masyarakat supaya menepati akan kehendak dan ajaran sistem tersebut. 

Keadaan ini tidak memerlukan penggunaan kuasa kekerasan untuk manusia tunduk dan patuh kepada undang-undang tersebut. 

Cukuplah apabila dikatakan di sini bahawa semua telah diperintahkan oleh Allah, maka terpulanglah kepada masyarakat untuk mematuhinya. 

Pada zaman Rasulullah s.a.w. tidak ada pasukan polis dan tidak terdapat penjara-penjara. Tidak terfikir langsung akan keadaan di mana masyarakat menerima arahan daripada Rasulullah s.a.w. tetapi tidak mematuhinya. 

Contohnya, kita ambil kes mengenai larangan meminum arak itu sendiri. Apabila dikhabarkan di kota Madinah yang arak itu haram, maka tempat menyimpan arak semuanya dipecahkan dan masyarakat Madinah terus berhenti meminum minuman tersebut. 

Di sini, sejarah gagal untuk memberi contoh akan kepatuhan kepada undang-undang secara spontan. 

Malah, berjuta-juta dolar dibelanjakan di Amerika Syarikat untuk menjelaskan kepada masyarakat akan kesan buruk daripada arak itu sendiri. 

Satu propaganda besar-besaran telah dilancarkan untuk tujuan tersebut. Dengan sambutan masyarakat, satu pembaharuan telah dibuat di dalam undang-undang Amerika Syarikat untuk meluluskan satu undang-undang mengharamkan arak. 

Tetapi keesokan harinya masyarakat meminum pula minuman lain yang beracun dan berbahaya. Perbuatan ini merebak dengan cepatnya di mana akhirnya undang-undang pengharaman arak tadi terpaksa ditarik balik. 

Jadi, marilah kita membuat perbandingan ke atas dua keadaan yang berlaku tadi. Pertamanya, di mana arahan yang dikeluarkan telah dipatuhi dengan serta-merta. 

Keduanya di mana satu undang-undang telah digubal setelah satu perbelanjaan dan propaganda yang besar dijalankan yang disokong oleh masyarakat tetapi akhirnya mereka juga yang melanggarnya. 

Ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa asas pada satu-satunya sistem pemerintahan adalah terletak kepada keimanan dan akhlak yang mulia. 

Jika kedua-dua asas ini tidak ada, maka satu-satu sistem pemerintahan baik di negeri atau negara tidak akan berjaya, walaupun undang-undang itu telah digubal dengan baik.

Rabiulakhir 15, 1443: The empty nest syndrome...(U)

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.

IN a family's life, 'insya-Allah' (God Willing) our grown-up children would finally left home; one after another. Some went to boarding schools normally at  the age of 13, then to colleges at 18, to universities at 20, lived in a rented room once they started working, and after getting married they settled down in their own homes; some migrated to another states or even foreign countries.

Finally only mum and dad were left at home - our abode even if it was as large and magnificent as a palace - would be in the state of silence and some veteran couples would felt the loneliness and emptiness of life. If a partner, say the husband died, his widow feelings would be more melancholy.

Among the Malays, I had witnessed several widows and widowers spending much time looking out of the windows of their homes especially a few days before 'Hari Raya'; perhaps they were thinking about their own children or grandchildren - would they be back for the 'big day'?

 

During a 'tazkirah' (Islamic lesson) which I attended not long time ago, the 'ustaz' (religious teacher) involved tickled his audience, saying: "perhaps the old folks that had that longing feeling are here among us..." He kept on teasing his audience by singing a verse from a P Ramlee's song..."di Hari Raya terkenang daku akan si dia" (during Hari Raya I remembered my love, my special one...)

But the 'ustaz' was quick to end 'this sad story' by saying: "Dear 'bapak-bapak' ('daddy) and 'ibu-ibu' (mummy), please don't waste our precious time entertaining to that melancholic feeling; it is okay to to mediate but the correct way is to do 'tafakkur' (doing reflection) especially when one is at old age. This is because 'tafakkur' is an act of 'ibadah' (act of good deeds to Allah SWT) which would be rewarded richly by Him.

'Tafakkur' is in line with the purpose of man’s life that is to ‘service to Allah’ and nothing else. This life is a preparation of what Allah has in store for us. The life of the Hereafter is eternal, and it is that which the believer should strive for. He said every Muslim should make use of his/her time to the maximum...thus why not do the 'tafakkur' than to be involved in day-dreaming.

The 'ustaz' reminded his audience saying that the 'materials' to 'tafakkur' are already available; we are only required to pick it up and do our reflection. "For example, we have the Qur'an. Read a sentence or sentences from the Qur'an, search for the meaning and then do the 'tafakkur'. 

"For example in Surah LV (Rahman, The Beneficent), Allah had many, many times asked us; "Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?" Next, do the thinking...it was a guided one; thus it is unnecessary for us to think about improper things or things of our fancies."

The 'ustaz' said we too could 'tafakkur' over our sins, creation, ourselves and to take lessons from the things Allah SWT has created. When the good people are praised in the Qur'an, it is declared that "they always remember Allah while they are standing, sitting, lying on their sides, and they meditate over the creation of the heavens and earth. They say, “O our Lord! You did not create them in vain. You are far from it [from creating useless, meaningless things. Protect us from the torment of Hell." (Surah Ali ‘Imrân, 191)

The 'ustaz' said there are many hadiths that mentioned about the importance of 'tafakkur'. Among others, "A momentary meditation on Allahu Taala's Grandeur, Paradise, and Hell is better than spending a night in worship" and "meditating for a while is more valuable than one year’s (supererogatory) worship."

Regarding 'tafakkur', Imam Shafie said it sharpens one' intelligence while Wahb bin Munabbih said it makes a person knowledgeable and a knowledgeable person, in turn, does good deeds. Bishr-i-Hafi noted that a human being who contemplates Allahu Taala's grandeur cannot be disobedient to Him. 

Scholars said 'tafakkur' can be done in four ways that are pondering about the beautiful arts and benefits which manifest on Allahu Taala's creatures causes one to believe in Him and love Him; pondering about the rewards promised by Him for the worships causes one to perform those worships; pondering about the punishments informed by Him causes one to fear Him and thereby inhibits one from committing sins and wronging others; and pondering about one’s having enslaved oneself to one’s nafs and committing sins and living in a state of heedlessness regardless of all the blessings bestowed by Him causes one to have shame towards Allah Taala.

The 'ustaz' said Islam as a complete way of life provides us with guidance in everything we do (so that we would be in His straight path) including what we should think or reflect about (tafakkur).

If Islam suggests many good things to do including 'tafakkur' to beat our emptiness and loneliness feelings especially among 'veteran couples' when their children had 'gone for their own new lives', Western scholars too had suggestions to what they termed as empty nest syndrome...

Wikipedia noted that empty nest syndrome is a feeling of grief and loneliness parents or guardians may feel when their children leave home for the first time, such as to live on their own or to attend a college or university but it is not a clinical condition.

Since young adults' moving out from their families house is generally a normal and healthy event, the symptoms of empty nest syndrome often go unrecognized. This can result in depression and a loss of purpose for parents, since the departure of their children from 'the nest' leads to adjustments in parents' lives. Empty nest syndrome is especially common in full-time mothers.

Mayo Clinic explained that empty nest syndrome is a phenomenon in which parents experience feelings of sadness and loss when the last child leaves home. Although you might actively encourage your children to become independent, the experience of letting go can be painful. You might find it difficult to suddenly have no children at home who need your care. You might miss being a part of your children's daily lives — as well as the constant companionship.

You might also worry intensely about your children's safety and whether they'll be able to take care of themselves on their own. You might struggle with the transition if your last child leaves the nest a little earlier or later than you expected. If you have only one child or strongly identify with your role as parent, you might have a particularly difficult time adjusting to an empty nest.

In the past, research suggested that parents dealing with empty nest syndrome experienced a profound sense of loss that might make them vulnerable to depression, alcoholism, identity crisis and marital conflicts.

However, recent studies suggest that an empty nest might reduce work and family conflicts, and can provide parents with many other benefits. When the last child leaves home, parents have a new opportunity to reconnect with each other, improve the quality of their marriage and rekindle interests for which they previously might not have had time. And for the 'veteran Muslims couple' why not spend our 'little time left' to the 'masjid' including to seek knowledge!

Talking about our needs and wishes that keep on changing over the years (for example as a boy we wish to grow up fast so that we could have some worldly needs such as cars, houses and so on but as we grew older those worldly treasures were not our priority but it was love among family members and then it shifted to our health situation and when we laid on our death bed the most important thing that crossed our mind is to ask Allah SWT not to take our lives at that moment), another 'ustaz' warned that when we in our graves and the Hereafter, we would begged to Allah SWT so that we would be sent back to earth even for a moment to even say 'La ilaha illallah' but it would be a fruitless effort!

So to everyone of us including those who are experiencing the empty nest syndrome (feeling sad and emptiness) please do not 'kowtow' to our 'nafs' but do our best to please Allah SWT (please do (summit to) everything He commands us and refrain from what He prohibits us) because once we were 'pushed inside our graves' (die), we would not have 'any more chance at all' to go back to earth - only to two places we would go; either to His al-Jannah' (heaven) or His 'an-Naar' (hell)!

Rabiulakhir 14, 1443: ‘Melaka Maju’: The magic is gone (U)

In the name Of God, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection

Practise forgiveness, command decency and avoid ignorant people. (Araf 7:199)

CONGRATULATIONS to leaders and people of Melaka after it was declared as a developed state (Melaka Maju) in Malaysia on 20.10.2010. It was claimed the status was not from Melaka itself but was given by OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). OECD is an international organization located in Paris.

Of course there are two sides of a coin (praise and criticsm) regarding the new status of Melaka; I rather not discuss them this article but I would like to reflect my nostalgic younger years, living in a ‘kampung’ on the southern outskirts of Melaka town (now a city) in the 1960s and 1970s.

Walking along a dirt path to the Melaka-Muar main road to wait for the school bus, I observed the heavenly scenery when rays of the sun shone between trees. From far away one could have a view of a blue mountain. My mother told me it was ‘Gunung Ledang’ (Mount Ophir), where the legendary Princecess Gunung Ledang was said to reside.

Nowadays from the same spot and time, there would be no way you could see Gunung Ledang. I do not know why, perhaps our scientists and leaders could gave an explanation, the magic that I had seen when I was a youngster has gone. With the haze hovering over Melaka's air space nowadays, not only Gunung Ledang but Bukit Beruang some kilometres away from my home is also ‘invisible’.

During those good old days, boys could not be separated by traditional hobbies such as fishing and catching fish in the ‘longkang’ (drains), canals, rivers and in paddy fields. In front of my house there was a paddy field, at that time villagers cultivated crops once in a year. So for about six months, the fields were left idle, I had a good time ‘harvesting’ fish from it.

Imagine by only using my father’s ‘pongkis’ (a wicker scoop), I could catch many types of fish such as ‘ikan pelaga’ (fighting fish), ‘puyu’ (climbing fish, amabas terstudineus), ‘keli’ (catfish), ‘haruan’ (snakehead) and ‘sepat ronggeng’ (trichogaster trichopterus).

There were plenty of them, you just scooped in the mud water under the grass and you were bound to have a good catch.

Nowadays, the paddy fields in front my house are no more, instead a petrol pump stands there. A concrete drain runs in front of the station and a nearby unused land. Its water was greasy, murky and black. Perhaps not a fish could live in it. Thus I had lost another magic, hopeful it would be only a temporary situation, I pray those in power could do something to restore my ‘lost world’.

A few hundred meters behind my house there was once another big paddy field. When I was nine years old I started to help my family sow, narture and harvest paddy on a patch of land owned by my family.

During harvest seasons, when the water in the fields subsided, one could easily catch fishes such as ‘haruan’ or ‘sepat’. Nowadays looking at the former fields, I feel sad indeed. On the land, now stands a housing estate with rows of shops on its front.

My father’s land was among others own my Malay farmers which were sold and then developed my a government agency portraying that they were protecting Malays' interest, but sadly to say only a few Malays reside and own properties there, thus ‘what was magic’ for me decades ago has vanished.

When I was in secondary school, sometimes during weekends I would cycle to town and one place I frequented was a second-hand book store in Padang Nyiru which was at Jalan Gereja and near the banks of Sungai Melaka. In Padang Nyiru there were about 20MARA stalls and shops, all the businesses there were run by bumiputras.

Nowadays, all the stalls and shops have vanished; instead the area has been turned into a car park while the banks of Sungai Melaka turned into tourists attraction spot including a jetty for visitors to catch boats for cruising along the river. Hence, my magic has gone, who has robbed me of my nostalgic years?

For ‘makan-makan’ (eating), once in a while when my wallet is thick after receiving ‘wang biasiswa’ (scholarship payment), I would go to an open eating area under a few big trees across busy Jalan Kota in front of the great fort A’ Famosa. I would treat myself with satay and a glass of ‘air tebu’ (sugar cane juice) and when I became full, I would happily cycle to the Padang Bandar Hilir or Melaka Club to see football or hockey matches.

‘This magic’ too has gone, nowadays I can only park and sit on my bike under a Melaka tree near the area and watch activities at the fort or the Malay Sultanate palace. On the great Padang Pahlawan now stands Melaka Megamall, dubbed as one of the biggest shopping complexes in Melaka.

When I was in Sixth Form, I and a very close friend of mine named Junaidi had found a new hobby - fishing at the mouth of Sungai Melaka and fishermen’s platforms off the coast of Taman Kota Laksamana dan Tengkera. We would fish at night; normally the catch will be good as we could land a few ‘ikan gelama’, ‘duri’ and ‘sembilang’.

“This magic of mine’ too has gone, paving the way for development, the seaside with its reclamation projects, the biggest being near Klebang and the sea-front has moved about a kilometre away from the original site.

When the Sixth Form examination (HSC) is over, our classmates will organize and made a trip to Pantai (Beach) Tanjung Bidara. During those days, none of us had motorcycles, so we travelled there by public bus, but what a day we had there. Yet nowadays not many people are keen to bathe in the sea off Tanjung Bidara. Why?

Some people are turned away because they are afraid the waters there are polluted as small rivers upstream flow near pig farms in areas such as Paya Mengkuang. A few years it had become a big national issue, but nowadays ‘all is quiet in the front’, perhaps agreement had been reached between the farmers and the authorities concerned. Nevertheless, this ‘magic’ too has gone; our once popular beach has to make way for ‘development’ and ‘in the name of businesses and progress’.

When I first started working some 25 years ago, my office was in Taman Melaka Raya. For lunch, normally I would go to few Malay/Muslims owned stalls in front of what is now Carrefour shopping complex. Nowadays the stalls have vanished; ‘this magic of mine’ too has gone.

What troubles me is why must be Malays ‘greatly getting involved in all those magic – for example once they dominated businesses in Padang Nyiru, now there are none of them; once they own lands on the outskirts on town, now shops and premises built on that land were not theirs and what I am very, very afraid and scared one day I would be chased out of my own land! Nauzubillah (hopefully not)!

Rabiulakhir 1443: ‘Melaka Maju’: The magic is gone (U)

In the name Of God, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection

Practise forgiveness, command decency and avoid ignorant people. (Araf 7:199)

CONGRATULATIONS to leaders and people of Melaka after it was declared as a developed state (Melaka Maju) in Malaysia on 20.10.2010. It was claimed the status was not from Melaka itself but was given by OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). OECD is an international organization located in Paris.

Of course there are two sides of a coin (praise and criticsm) regarding the new status of Melaka; I rather not discuss them this article but I would like to reflect my nostalgic younger years, living in a ‘kampung’ on the southern outskirts of Melaka town (now a city) in the 1960s and 1970s.

Walking along a dirt path to the Melaka-Muar main road to wait for the school bus, I observed the heavenly scenery when rays of the sun shone between trees. From far away one could have a view of a blue mountain. My mother told me it was ‘Gunung Ledang’ (Mount Ophir), where the legendary Princecess Gunung Ledang was said to reside.

Nowadays from the same spot and time, there would be no way you could see Gunung Ledang. I do not know why, perhaps our scientists and leaders could gave an explanation, the magic that I had seen when I was a youngster has gone. With the haze hovering over Melaka's air space nowadays, not only Gunung Ledang but Bukit Beruang some kilometres away from my home is also ‘invisible’.

During those good old days, boys could not be separated by traditional hobbies such as fishing and catching fish in the ‘longkang’ (drains), canals, rivers and in paddy fields. In front of my house there was a paddy field, at that time villagers cultivated crops once in a year. So for about six months, the fields were left idle, I had a good time ‘harvesting’ fish from it.

Imagine by only using my father’s ‘pongkis’ (a wicker scoop), I could catch many types of fish such as ‘ikan pelaga’ (fighting fish), ‘puyu’ (climbing fish, amabas terstudineus), ‘keli’ (catfish), ‘haruan’ (snakehead) and ‘sepat ronggeng’ (trichogaster trichopterus).

There were plenty of them, you just scooped in the mud water under the grass and you were bound to have a good catch.

Nowadays, the paddy fields in front my house are no more, instead a petrol pump stands there. A concrete drain runs in front of the station and a nearby unused land. Its water was greasy, murky and black. Perhaps not a fish could live in it. Thus I had lost another magic, hopeful it would be only a temporary situation, I pray those in power could do something to restore my ‘lost world’.

A few hundred meters behind my house there was once another big paddy field. When I was nine years old I started to help my family sow, narture and harvest paddy on a patch of land owned by my family.

During harvest seasons, when the water in the fields subsided, one could easily catch fishes such as ‘haruan’ or ‘sepat’. Nowadays looking at the former fields, I feel sad indeed. On the land, now stands a housing estate with rows of shops on its front.

My father’s land was among others own my Malay farmers which were sold and then developed my a government agency portraying that they were protecting Malays' interest, but sadly to say only a few Malays reside and own properties there, thus ‘what was magic’ for me decades ago has vanished.

When I was in secondary school, sometimes during weekends I would cycle to town and one place I frequented was a second-hand book store in Padang Nyiru which was at Jalan Gereja and near the banks of Sungai Melaka. In Padang Nyiru there were about 20MARA stalls and shops, all the businesses there were run by bumiputras.

Nowadays, all the stalls and shops have vanished; instead the area has been turned into a car park while the banks of Sungai Melaka turned into tourists attraction spot including a jetty for visitors to catch boats for cruising along the river. Hence, my magic has gone, who has robbed me of my nostalgic years?

For ‘makan-makan’ (eating), once in a while when my wallet is thick after receiving ‘wang biasiswa’ (scholarship payment), I would go to an open eating area under a few big trees across busy Jalan Kota in front of the great fort A’ Famosa. I would treat myself with satay and a glass of ‘air tebu’ (sugar cane juice) and when I became full, I would happily cycle to the Padang Bandar Hilir or Melaka Club to see football or hockey matches.

‘This magic’ too has gone, nowadays I can only park and sit on my bike under a Melaka tree near the area and watch activities at the fort or the Malay Sultanate palace. On the great Padang Pahlawan now stands Melaka Megamall, dubbed as one of the biggest shopping complexes in Melaka.

When I was in Sixth Form, I and a very close friend of mine named Junaidi had found a new hobby - fishing at the mouth of Sungai Melaka and fishermen’s platforms off the coast of Taman Kota Laksamana dan Tengkera. We would fish at night; normally the catch will be good as we could land a few ‘ikan gelama’, ‘duri’ and ‘sembilang’.

“This magic of mine’ too has gone, paving the way for development, the seaside with its reclamation projects, the biggest being near Klebang and the sea-front has moved about a kilometre away from the original site.

When the Sixth Form examination (HSC) is over, our classmates will organize and made a trip to Pantai (Beach) Tanjung Bidara. During those days, none of us had motorcycles, so we travelled there by public bus, but what a day we had there. Yet nowadays not many people are keen to bathe in the sea off Tanjung Bidara. Why?

Some people are turned away because they are afraid the waters there are polluted as small rivers upstream flow near pig farms in areas such as Paya Mengkuang. A few years it had become a big national issue, but nowadays ‘all is quiet in the front’, perhaps agreement had been reached between the farmers and the authorities concerned. Nevertheless, this ‘magic’ too has gone; our once popular beach has to make way for ‘development’ and ‘in the name of businesses and progress’.

When I first started working some 25 years ago, my office was in Taman Melaka Raya. For lunch, normally I would go to few Malay/Muslims owned stalls in front of what is now Carrefour shopping complex. Nowadays the stalls have vanished; ‘this magic of mine’ too has gone.

What troubles me is why must be Malays ‘greatly getting involved in all those magic – for example once they dominated businesses in Padang Nyiru, now there are none of them; once they own lands on the outskirts on town, now shops and premises built on that land were not theirs and what I am very, very afraid and scared one day I would be chased out of my own land! Nauzubillah (hopefully not)!

Rabiulakhir 13, 1443: PAS Umno tak bermusuh - Pj PAS Melaka

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

PADA ambang pengundian PRN Melaka (Sabtu, 20 November), saya sempat mewawancara kilat Pesuruhjaya (Pj) PAS Melaka yang juga calon Perikatan Nasional (PN) bagi Dun Duyong (N21), Datuk Ustaz Kamarudin Sidek.

Disebabkan ruangan ini menyentuh golongan 60+ (veteran), soalan pertama saya kepada Ustaz Kamar (panggilan mesra orang kampung) apakah 'orang lama' sudah berubah untuk mengundi beliau kali ini kerana pada PRU-14 (2018) dahulu golongan ini tak berganjak memilih parti lama.

Pada PRU-14 lalu, di Dun yang mempunyai 18,110 pengundi ini (Melayu dipercayai lebih 50 peratus, Ustaz Kamar meyakini peratusnya lebih tinggi), undi pengundi Melayu di kalangan 'orang lama' dipercayai diraih calon Barisan Nasional (BN) yang diwakili MCA (Lee Kiat Lee yang mendapat 4,747 undi).

Namun calon BN ditewaskan oleh Damian Baba Yeo daripada DAP (PH) yang memperolehi 7,642 undi (majoriti 2,895) meninggalkan Ustaz Kamar di kedudukan ke-3 dengan 2,938 undi manakala calon Bebas, Lim Jak Wong hilang deposit dengan hanya meraih 62 undi.

Kali ini PRN secara mengejut ini Dun Duyong menyaksikan satu lagi kejutan  apabila enam orang bertanding - Damian Yeo Shen Li (PH), Mohd Norhelmy Abdul Halem (BN), Kamaruddin Sidek (PN), Mohd Faizal Hamzah (Putra) dan dua calon Bebas, Muhammad Hafiz Ishak dan Gan Tian Soh.

Ustaz Kamar yakin pengundi veteran Melayu sudah berubah untuk mengundi beliau sebagai calon PN apatah lagi pemimpin tertinggi perikatan ini, Tan Seri Muhyiddin Yassin dengan panggilan mesra Abah amat berpengaruh di kalangan 'orang lama' antara lain kerana kerap dilihat membaca doa...ya ada terpampang sepanduk besar di sini - Abah Sayang Melaka.

Kepada golongan muda yang rata-ratanya mahir ICT (kaedah kempen pilihan raya terkini), Ustaz Kamar merayu mereka memberi penerangan serta penjelasan kepada mak ayah dan datuk nenek akan kepentingan mengundi PN agar kerajaan di peringkat Persekutuan dan Negeri dapat diselaraskan.

Sekalipun akan berentap dengan calon orang muda Umno (Mohd Norhelmy Abdul Halem), Ustaz Kamar menegaskan PAS dan Umno tak bermusuh, antara lain katanya: "Kita menghormati hak parti masing-masing untuk bertanding...kita tak serang Umno...kita minta pengundi memilih dari segi integriti calon dan parti...kita bersaing pada pilihan raya ini sahaja, selain itu hubungan kita baik-baik sahaja."

Diterjah soalan apakah jawatan beliau sebagai Penasihat Agama Ketua Menteri dahulu kini dilihat aneh dalam 'pertarungan Umno-PAS' pada PRN ini, Ustaz Kamar menegaskan tugasnya dahulu adalah 'perjawatan dalam kerajaan lama' 

sedangan PRN ini adalah dalam proses menubuhkan sebuah kerajaan baharu.

 

Dahulu (pada PRU-14 dan sebelumnya), penulis sebagai pengundi di Dun ini (termasuklah ibu ayah dan ramai lagi sanak saudara), sebenarnya sudah lama ternanti-nanti akan kehadiran seorang calon Muslim untuk dimenangkan seterusnya 'mendaulatkan' Islam di bumi Hang Tuah dan alhamdulillah Ustaz Kamar muncul pada PRU-14. Sebelum itu, pertarungan di Dun Duyong ini selalunya membabitkan calon 'not yet Muslim' daripada BN (MCA) dan DAP.

Bagi BN, pada PRN ini Dun Duyong tidak diwakili MCA, calon Umno mendapat peluang keemasan, dikhabarkan mendatangkan rasa kurang puas hati di kalangan penyokong MCA sehinggakan adik wakil rakyat dahulu, Gan Tian Soh (abang beliau Gan Tian Loo) bertindak bertanding sebagai calon Bebas. Perpecahan ini mungkin dimanfaat sepenuhnya pihak pesaing,

Bagi Ustaz Kamar pula, sekalipun ditentang tiga calon Melayu/Muslim beliau tetap berazam menawan hati pengundi Melayu/Islam dengan pendekatan pencerahan keindahan Islam yang selama ini terpahat di hati orang Melayu sejak zaman Kesultanan Melaka dahulu apatah lagi di Dun Duyong ini ada Kampung Duyong yang sinonim dengan pahlawan terbilang, Hang Tuah.

Sejumlah pengundi Melayu/Islam di Dun Duyong yang diwawancara, berharap Ustaz Kamar dapat 'berbuat sesuatu' pada saat-saat akhir sebelum hari pengundian untuk memenangi hati mereka terutama di kalangan mak cik dan pak cik (golongan veteran), terutama di kalangan orang pekat parti lama dan orang atas pagar. 

Kepada pengundi 'not yet Muslim' yang ramai seperti di Durian Daun juga tidak dilupai - insya-Allah beliau akan mempamerkan keindahan Islam termasuk dari segi akhlak (hubungan sesama manusia) bagi memikat mereka mengundi wakil rakyat mewakili parti Islam - diucapkan Selamat Berjaya kepada Ustaz Kamarudin Sidek calon PAS (Perikatan Nasional) bagi Dun N21, Duyong!