Kinnaree: Mytholgical Bird

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

This is apart of varieties of cultural traits shared by people in Southern Thailand, Northern and Eastern Coast States of Malaysia like Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan. Since not all of the people visiting Buddhists area, they might also want to know about these. 

So, don't worry we have videos and many things nowadays unlike those days back then. Although we do not practice it, some of our people in northern area especially of Buddhism background are still practicing it.

This is actually from my past experience as a kid who was 'dumped' to the state bordering Thailand. I encountered these cultural traits like Lung Norah or Menorah dance which is a dance originated from Southern Thailand when I wandered around like a strayed wild goose. 

Southern Thailand and Northern Malaysian states were previously an integral part of legendary Langkasukan empire. This performance is only prominent in Southern Thailand and also shared in Northern Malaysia predates the Siamese empire of Sukhothai (12th C) and Sri Ayutthaya (13th C). 

Sometimes, this performance also being part of ritual in commemorating the dead. Also performed during thambun festival at temples like in Pendang district in Kedah. Never been to Pendang temples but I heard from people there. I am just familiar with those in Perlis and Kubang Pasu. Usually, this dance portrays story about kinnaree sacrifice for love in fire. It sounds like the name of a bird in malay too. According to mythologies, it is a kind of angelic half human bird in buddhists' mythology. You may see this half human bird statues at Thai temples everywhere in those states mentioned or in Thailand. 

The word menora is actually derived from Sanskrit word, manohara which means pretty and it is referring to the main character of the dance. This character was derived from phra phrannyasa jatoq or jataka tales. What I heard about Hindus'... I mean Indians' mythology, this kind of creature is associated with half human horse or centaur. I guess mentioned somewhere in mahabharata.

Performers would perform dances that they are good at like mentioned in the video. Sometimes they have po' phrant which acts as pak lawak or joker if the performance has the dialogue or simply without dialogue one. They also have musicians. You can hear the sound from the video. Before the performance took place, performers might also paying homage to sages or phra phor statues and peforming rituals like Kaliya Natarat. You spell it as Kaliya Nataraja. It is for them to get blessings from their teachers. They may also seeking protection from Hindu god whom role in buddhism is as the protector of the three gems or buddhist principles like viganet, write it as viganeswara. Viganet is the elephant head god where you could also see in Malaysia at Indians' premises like shops and others. They believe that it is to banish obstacles during performance and making it flows well. 

This puja session applies to wayang kulit and other performances as well. That's why Kelantan state government had banned wayang kulit among Muslim practitioners when it was associated with these rituals. It is not easy to change people thinking as to say da'awa is not performed in one day. The ulamas in Patani and other parts of South Thai were having hard times too. It still goes on because the result is not showing up only in one day or in a blink of an eyes. It takes every sacrifice including these people tears and time to change people thoughts. These people have to monitor the environment and people around too.

I used to bring friend who mingles with me like Azren to see these kinds of performance just for fun and to introduce to friend different things that exist in this world. We also had USM cultural nights in Dewan Budaya. Last time during first degree, I went for Thai Cultural Nights and they were sponsored by Thai Consulate of Penang. Sometimes I was there to support my Thai seniors who took part in cultural performances. They served luxurious Thai cuisine as well after the performances and movies screening for two nights. 

Most of my Thai seniors are actually Buddhists and I wasn't really talking to Muslim Thais whom ethnically are Malays of Southern provinces neighboring our states. Those Buddhist seniors or mine are also of Malay descents and natives of Southern Thai provinces. A Thai Buddhist senior had also wonders, why I know many things about Thai Buddhism including Jaya Mangala Gatha despite that I am a Muslim. We had long discussions until late night regarding a prophesied event in Abhidhamma Pitaka and other Buddhist texts that we commonly read because that friend is quite religious, heheheheheehe... She suspects that I am a Buddhist. I was just lazy to explain. My mouth as always, feels heavy to open up.

This is just an additional knowledge for share among friends, brothers, and sisters. I watched these too last time whether at temple festivals or at the university these recent. Just sharing around for others to see how it works if others have no experience.  

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for brothers and sisters in faith and for humanity, amin!

People Around's Experience: When Friends are Behind You

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Please forgive me Azren, I'm going to talk about your experience today as an example in our observation toward our society and environment around. I hope you forgive me but your experience also reflects the reality in the society. As what I always talked about and we know since the beginning we explore these studies, society is among the most complex subject matter and environment around keep evolving and is not static.

Your message about being back-stabbed by close friends, being used like a balai raya when friends wanted to talk about their problems and backbitten by friends you were hanging out actually happens to many people. I have few experience since I was a young kid but as always. I never assume myself as important or significant in anyone's life. Currently, I am just honoring people around according to their piety to Allah and the compassionate love for those people will come itself.  But I don't want anyone to know me, never.

People will always trying to find someone to pour down what is in their heart when they are stressed out, finding solution for problem faced in their life, depressed, or at least sharing the burden to ease it. It is normal for us, we are human-being and not angels. But most of the time we are also listeners and comforting others since it is our task and responsibility as the believers to help strengthen the faith of brothers and sisters in faith if not with physical help, might be with the prayers. 

I encountered the same thing where I just wanted to talk to someone because each time I try to talk to my family members and people around, it will turn to be that I am the one who is listening and hearing rantings. Sometimes I tried to talk to others but later I would feel ashamed of myself. I think staying silent is good sometimes, and talking more with the God is better. Unless if you can talk with others who you really could trust. It is not easy to find this kind of people, we sure know that.

I went to Buddhist temples talking with phra phor (buddhist fathers) and pinong (buddhist brothers) watching them practicing muaythai before I decided myself to learn about Buddhism and its practices during the time I was 'dumped' by parents to Perlis for almost the same issue. I have no one to talk to. Nobody in the hostel at the school accept me as myself. It turns me to be more rebellious and shaped me as myself today. A guy with low-self esteem, who can't even showing my face to others and feeling down with myself. 

I just don't know why I knelt at the teachers' statues or gods posters of bodhisatvas during secondary school studentship while when I was a little kid like seven to eleven years old, I used to dump idols into thrash can especially after I heard the qisaasul anbiyaa' (stories of prophets) about our patriarch Abraham, peace be upon him. I had also being chased by those fellow infidels themselves with fierce dogs because of my little kid naughty acts, hehehehhehehehe...

I understand how you feel, friend. You won't easily find a caring friend who will sensitively responds to what happened to his or her friend. When I first learned Central Thai dialect which is the formal Thai, there was a diction lesson with the title friendship. We call friendship as mittraphap. It says that good friends are few, while evil friends are many. Those who are good will lead you toward charity while those who are bad will drag you toward evil and bap/papa (sins). Malay philosophical phrase also says, kawan semasa senang tertawa memang ada sahaja disekeliling mung. Kawan semasa susah menangis mung, jarang lah ditemui. 

I don't believe in friendship as what we see today anymore as I am a loner although I watch many movies with friendship themes. I don't have any childhood friends, university friends, friends in difficulties or in pleasure time. I solely have my trust in Allah 'Azza wa Jalla as the sole Noblest Wali (guardian and companion) because I am meaningless in people's life. I can move easily without anyone know me. I may go to churches and temples and reciting holy verses there for the 'infidels' to be blessed by Allah 'Azza wa Jalla with His Mercy. I may also talk with hounds at the streets, those whom people never appreciate their existence.

Be patient friend. As long as we breath, Allah 'Azza wa Jalla will always giving tests to us. He knows that we can pass it through even though we sometimes think that we would better quickly die and see Him without having to wait. He tests us because He cares about us. Compared to worldly friends. 

We may have thousands of friends, but it is difficult for people to remember us even in their du'as (supplications). Or contacting us just to ask how are you? Are you ok? How is your imaan (faith)? Is it ok? Are you alive or dead? Or perhaps it would be too late like the poem that I had read in the last posting. It is just for silaturrahim and it doesn't need to be in form of wasting our credits with messages, phone calling, but it may also be through the usage of other technologies like wifi, messengers and email. Maybe through cards or primitive way which is letter... I did that with my lecturers even those who are non-Muslims receive cards or emails as long as I still keep their contacts. Maybe in term of supplications too when we remember our friends or brethren. It's not like we have to do that everyday. But at least for few years gap once if we are so busy with our life. For brethren in faith, it is more important to keep silaturrahim as everyone are a family in a faith to Him and His messenger s.a.w. I hate to be close to everyone because I will feel sinful after I have to break off silaturrahim when everyone goes separate ways :'( 

In my Aman desa memory, I tried to contact few friends too. Those who I mingled most of the time at the hostel. I love the hostel because I get to know them. But after our graduation, like a year after... I tried to contact them to establish silaturrahim. From their question like, sapa dia nih? And the answer that I received after having to re-introduce myself brings me to conclusion that they do not really remember who I am although I talked with them almost everyday in front of the TV and we have each other numbers. It shows that they do not really care or having any thought about people around. For people like these, I would just quit and deleting their contact because I know it would be a waste for my limited cellphone space. I don't know whether it is right according to the rites of community but it is somehow disappointing. As to say, different head thinks differently. Each time we are among people, we would just assume that we are musafirs (travelers) who will leave everything. Easy right? 

I have few pieces of advice from another friend who is also a loner to share among us. He called it as pieces of sheet, haha. This is the kind of friends that I have to always mingle with and still maintaining the contact but I have to turn every 'negativity' that they possess into positivity and to Him. His opinion might be a bit harsh but I can say quite useful. This friend said that it maybe is not in line with my principle. As for me, I always ponder on people's opinion regarding life and surrounding. It doesn't necessarily to be the same with my thoughts or principles. So, I don't think that it is a problem if he talks based from his experience or observation. 

He says that sometimes when we do physical (which we can see with our mortal eyes) charity to people, we need to also limit it or better be selfish in term of let people see us as selfish. Whatever charity that we perform does not always physically comes to us as good thing in our eyes. I am aware about this... It is better for us to just forget everything because when we remember unfortunate episodes in our life, it would be a heavy burden you'll piss off yourself. The damage is already done and to forgive is to forget. Whining like a bitch would be useless as nothing that we can do about the past. We could only take it as an important lesson for future.... 

His advice to me is actually filled with more profanities but I would celebrate his opinion. I had just filtered it to respect His Noblest Name and I can understand what he means through tasawwuf and purification of soul lenses although the usage of words aren't really suitable. I am performing jihad and da'awa to him too. We have to be patient and the result of jihad is not in one day : )

May the God forgives us our dirty words. May He strengthen us with His wisdom and patience to face our uncertain future. He knows about the future, and we give our vessel and soul to Him for protection. Laa takhaf, wa laa tahzan innallaaha ma'anaa. No need to be afraid, and no need to be sad as the God is with us. Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for brothers and sisters in faith, amin!

Matan Arba'in Hadith: Second Hadith II

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

continue...

Thanks to You dear Allah, we had safely finished services at Your noble house of worship. Now we will continue with the explanation of the hadith, may He permits it.

The faith of faithful servants of Allah is through the faith toward Him, faith toward His angels, His revelations and scriptures, His messengers, the Resurrection and the evil and goodness that happens in this Universe is through His divine predestination. I have two comments which sparks in my mind. 

The first one regarding the conspiracies concerning certain groups of human-being. I don't believe these. But I believe that there are Haqq (Truth) and baathil (evil). He is the Truth and evil will be vanquished by Him who is the Holy Lord of the Universe! Evil is nothing but just the test for our faith as His slaves and servants. He had revealed to us what He wants us to know so we do not have to believe in man-made conspiracies and fully relying on theories. I learned about theories and epistemology but it is different from the learning of faith and the revelation.

I heard many conspiracy theories in few blogs written in Malay or those forwarded by an Arab speaker from Egypt. I know that book which talks about anti-Christ and others. I also heard few juniors talking about these. I don't take them seriously and it is just a waste of time. I am tired of those things. We have our own sources for that so we don't need any additions on the faith source from nonsense sources.

We faithful Muslims do not dominate the world because the world does not belong to us. He is the One who possess everything! He has revealed us with His scriptures to spread mercy and amity. What is His mercy? It is His teachings, His law, and it proves His love to us. Wars, greed, and evil happened in human history had tarnished our understanding around. 

The root for all of these is ignorance. Theories of dominion for certain race belongs to Europeans of colonial period with their Orientalism branch of study. Some of us think that it is not good for us to follow their footsteps, they are colonialists, they are evil plundering others, and whatsoever... But we without realizing ourselves had fallen into the same thinking as them when we accept those conspiracies. Our jihad is through His Wisdom, Mercy and Love. I don't hate Europeans, Americans nor any race or nation. I don't believe in race superiority. I only believe in His Dominion, Superiority and His Law.

Second thing that I wanted to comment regarding this explanation about pillar of faith in general is that... Through my understanding on what I had heard from different teachers in learning traditions in mosques, it is also from my experience, not many of us are aware of our own pillars of faith with this same question asked by the archangel Gabriel peace be upon him. I had asked many people including my family members, my dad and my sisters, some of my friends or people around who profess that they are Muslims. I am so sad, when they just keep their silence. However, when it comes to conspiracy theories, illuminati, and other nonsense theories which came out from the so-called American or Europeans' head, they are so keen about it and could further elaborate with racial superiority over the others. Even if what is theorized coincidentally comes true, I would never submit myself to that. I am only submitting myself to His divine predestination just like our noble brother and a good example, Hassan al-Banna may Allah bless his soul. Those theories are not from valid revelation in Quran. If the Resurrection will happen, then it will certainly happen. It is His will. We will die, and it is the haqiqat (fact, truth). This life is not true but just a dream. 

In this particular hadith, the God has classified Islam with three classifications which are the faith, the practices, and the sincerity. In the pillar of faith, regarding the divine predestination we have the sayings of ahlul haqq (the truth thinkers): "everything that exists in this Universe is organized by Him. He organizes the creations of the creatures according to their nature and environment that we can see today." 

The divine predestination is subbed to four branches:    

1. The predestination and the measurements of Allah. Says the prophet may Allah be in contact with him, which means, "nothing would be destructed but only being destructed according to their nature and environment which fit to them. Conspiracy theories are just a waste of time to ponder on. It just deflect us from the learning to know Him and to see His noble appearance in the hereafter. 

2. The predestination of everything is written in the Guarded Tablet. He is the One who possess the right to change everything written in the Tablet according to His will and pleasure. Nobody has the right to do that, even those conspirators have no rights and no reach to that! When we supplicate to Him, we are begging Him to change the predestination and He would change it through His Will and Mercy. He already knows that we are going to supplicate and pray to Him. It's not like when we think that we would be in the hell, then we do not have any effort to please Him. He is listening to His servants and slaves prayers. Everything is in His wisdom.    

3. The predestination in the womb of mothers as the discussion in the fourth hadith. 

4. The destiny takes place and time as in His wisdom without any speed or any delay. It takes place just in time and place according to the earthly concept. He is the One who decides on goodness or evil to take place. Says the God: "Say (dear Muhammad), I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn, from the evil of what has been created." When He loves His servants and slaves, He will never let anything to harm His servants and slaves before the time to come. In a hadith reported, it says that those who did charity with sincerity and linking the connection of mercy to other creatures of the God, he will never face evil death but only facing happiness during his time of death. In another hadith, it says that bad omen and supplications are filling the heaven but the supplications of the servants and slaves of the God will overturn and defeating the bad omen before they descend.        

Say the ahlul qadariyyah (fatalism thinkers): "indeed nothing is destined by the God before its existence. The God knows not about the destiny of the creation before its existence but only after the creation. Say the neo-fatalism thinkers, "every goodness comes from the God but the evil comes from others." In a saying, it says that fatalism thinkers are the Zoroastrians in the era of Muhammad may Allah be in connection with him.

Say the ahlut thaniah (dualism thinkers): "goodness come from the act of the light, and evil is from the act of the darkness."

And then, asked the archangel Gabriel peace be upon him, "tell me about Ihsan..." It emphasizes the sincerity and the heart during the acts of worship. For example, when we perform salaat, what is the state of our heart? Whether we are concentrating in our prayers in the salaat? Whether we really worshiping Him with all of our heart and begging Him for forgiveness? 

And asked the archangel Gabriel peace be upon him, "tell me about the Time..." The prophet knows not about the Time but it is the truth and the fact that will happen. The specific Time is in His wisdom. Only He knows it better. Nobody even knows the exact age of the Universe and the earth. Even if the measurement is done according to mathematical and astronomical measures, it is not a must to be a faith for us. 

In Hindu-Buddhism tradition, those who do astronomy are called as Jotesh. Our cousins, the Chaldeans are also good with these kind of ilmu falaq nujum mak nenek nih. Most of them are Christians who may also speak Arabic or Greek and some are Muslims now. I have few notes regarding traditional astrological knowledge like Suryasiddhanta that I learned during the time of being a rebel and an ignorant child. But I don't read or calculate these things anymore for example, to predict the fortunate time to travel around according to suriya (sun) and chandra (moon) and auspicious time or hours to go out from the exam hall, as it is speculating. It is haram and I am not good in maths anyway. I had got my maths exercise books being thrown out by teachers from classes, well english too. I was not a well-known school student, hahaha. 

Now, I only believe in Allah 'Azza wa Jalla as my Protector with prayers and supplications. Calculating these things just making me more worried about the future that only He knows and creating hell for myself. I remember when I calculated every seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months to reach the time when I am going to be released from three months National Service. I was a 17 years old boy at that time, and that's silly because I feel like banging my head at the edge of the bed in the camp, hahahaa. I hate growing old, my sin is growing too.

About the signs of the Time that will come. I am not going to put it here. It is the fact for the believers where we are waiting for it no matter alive or passed away. No need to worry about the Time, but we need to worry on how could we benefit our limited time space for Him before the particular Time to come? From this hadith, important thing for us to take note is that, this is how we define our faith or deen (religion) and practices as faithful servants of Allah.

In a report for our musing in relation to iman and 'amal. One day comes a man to see our honorable Imam, Ahmad bin Hanbal. He asked him: "dear son of Hanbal, teach me a lesson for me to take heed on!" 

Says Imam Ahmad: "If you admit that there is the One who gives you sustenance, why do you have to be sad? If the hell exists, then why do you commit evil and vices? If there are questions of Munkar and Nakir, why human-being are created? If this world in fact will perish, then why are you here? If everyone will be investigated during the Resurrection, then why are we piling properties without being spent? If everything that happens is according to His law and predestined, why are you afraid?"

I apologize if there is any mistake. It is my weakness as I am just a poor meaningless servant. Only Allah is the Perfect and the Affluent one. Any correction, please forward it to me. I love those who help me and always praying for everyone who are merciful toward me and others. Thank you. This is just a humble service for society and sharing for beloved brothers and sisters. I have nothing to offer....
    
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad, wa 'ala aali Muhammad. Ka-maa sallai-ta 'ala Ibraahim, wa 'ala aali Ibraahim. Allahumma baarik 'ala Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad. Ka-maa baarak-ta 'ala aali Ibraahim wa 'ala aali Ibraahim. Fil'aalameena inna-ka hameedum-majeed! 

Dear the God our Lord, please be in contact with our prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and his family and nations. As You had been in contact with our father Abraham, peace be upon him and his family. Deal God please bless our prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family. As You had blessed our father Abraham, peace be upon him and his family. Indeed, You are the Holiest who deserves glory!!! Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for beloved brothers and sisters in faith, Allah bless, aamin! 

Matan Arba'in Hadith: Second Hadith I

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Praise be to the Lord of the Universe, we had already done with the first hadith about the 'amal (practice) is with the niyyah (intention) and it determines our sincerity in our worship and practices. Now we would further our exploration to the second hadith about what is deen (law of life)? How do we define our religion? Our faith? 

I had talked about this in previous post, about my conversation through messages to one of our respectable tabligh brother after I encountered few incidents with the jama'at members. I would talk about this hadith again. I am not bored of it and hoping to memorize everything to be my witness in His Court! I wish brothers and sisters to also do the same when you are free because everyone must be saved by the God.  

Reported by Umar bin al-Khattab may Allah be pleased with him, he said: "One day when we sit with the messenger of the God may Allah be in connection with him, came an anonymous man which his cloth is extremely white and his hair is extremely black without any sign that he traveled far to reach the place. Nobody of us know him. He sat in front of the messenger of the God and his knees met the knees of the messenger of the God and he put his hands on the hands of the messenger of the God. 

He said: "tell me about the submission to Him (Islam)!" Said the messenger of the God: "Indeed it is when you testify that there is no gods but only the God and indeed Muhammad is the messenger of the God, and when you perform salaat, and when you pay the zakaah, and fasting in the month of Ramadhan, and performing pilgrimage to the holy House of the Lord whenever you are able to travel there. Thus he said: "You are indeed speaking the truth!" We were so surprised to see that he asked the question and he testifies the answers. 

Then the man said: "Tell me what is faith?" The messenger of the God said: "It is indeed when you have the faith in the God, His angels, His revelation and scriptures, His messengers, the Day that will come, and you have faith in divine predestination whether it is good or evil. He said: "You are speaking the truth!" 

Then he further said: "Thus now tell me what is ihsaan?" The messenger of the God answers: "It is when you worship and submit yourself to Him as you see Him and if your physical eyes could not see Him, He still monitoring on you. Then the man asked: "Now tell me when is the Day?!" The messenger of the God answers: "You who ask me know better." Then the man said: "What is the signs when it is nigh to you?" The messenger of the God said: "When masters are born from the slaves, the lowly paupers who had never wears shoes and living their life naked and rearing goats. You would see these people building high towers and big houses." Later the man just raise up and went out of the place of assembly. 

I just keep my silence for few days and the messenger of the God asked me one day: "O Umar, do you know who is that man who asked me few questions that day?" I said: "Only He and His messenger know that better." The messenger of the God then tells me: "He is Gabriel peace be upon him, and he came to teach all of you your deen (religion)."" - narrated by Muslim.       

Explanation

At the phrase, said the archangel Gabriel, "tell me about the faith..." It emphasizes that the faith is when we believe and agree with whatever being told by something or someone. This is the basic meaning in Arabic. The faith in this hadith emphasizes that we believe in few things which had already widely known. It is in the pillars of faith and the pillars of the religion. Pillars of faith represents our iman, pillars of Islam represents our 'amal as faithful Muslims, while ihsaan represents our sincerity toward Allah the Lord of the Universe, Glory be only to Him.

Again my personal feeling about this hadith. It is the first hadith that I encountered during my time of infidelity where it deeply gives impact to me. After I did the meditations and pujas according to Buddhist ways during my heart is full with hatred toward myself and surrounding. I came across this hadith while I was alone. My hairs standing and I was so scared... Maybe some remnants of faith about angels still exist in my heart, because I still believe in bodhisatvas (angels) according to 'some' Buddhist traditions though I didn't 'properly' believe in the God.

Insya-Allah we would talk further about the explanation of this hadith. I have the notes with me and I'm trying to simplify them in English. I hope to share with my beloved brothers and sisters for our practices as faithful Muslims. I have to attend the evening congregational salaat services in the mosque. May Allah bless everyone, amin!

Ghasht on Saturday Evening

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!!!

First of all, this is just what I personally feel. I don't have any intention to defame others instead I love everyone who are in love with Allah 'Azza wa Jalla. We just received a visit from members of Jama'at-e-Tabligh where there were 3 students from the German Malaysian Institute (GMI) accompanied by three public members of the jama'at representing the musalla under the flat near my neighborhood which is known as Sulau al-Hidayah.

I always praying my congregational prayers at the musalla if I do not attend the services in our mosques. We have two mosques here in our neighborhood which are the Putra Mosque and Sultan Mizan Zainal Abiddin Mosque. Sometimes I would also attend the kuliyyah in Bangi Mosque. I notice that the musalla at the neighborhood has Bangladeshi and Mamak congregations.

It is normal thing where the ghasht would persuade people to join the activities such as bayan in the mosque or musalla. Then they would have persuasion session called tashkeel. In persuassion session they would have name recording for those who made the 'azam (determination) to perform khuruj (outing) for da'awa. The uncles and students greet me and asking for few minutes to listen to them. I just keep my silence and showing the sign that I am listening. What the uncle talked to me was about not many people are thinking about the problem of nations, we can see the example in Saudi Arabia and others where during salaat services many are outside of the musalla or the places of worship. That is why the nations receive not success. If students failed in worldly exams, they would have other chances to repeat whatever they failed. But the hereafter is different thing. I agree with him, but the part where countries like Saudi Arabia has no people praying in the musalla I could not agree because Saudi has mutawwa (religious police) to enforce the law where all of the business must be stopped when the calling for salaat is aired. I was in Mecca when I bought some medication in a sayyadliyye or a pharmacy and the shopkeeper grabbed back the plastic bag in my hand. He returned my money and shoving me outside of the shop because he must close the shop and stop the business for prayer time. Still Saudi Arabia is not a successful country in managing the morality of its citizen. What are other important things beside the faith and practices?...    

And for the students leaving the worldly business or repeating whatever that they didn't pass. I actually had realized this since I had identity crisis and facing failures after failures in my studies. It is different because the feeling when we face the failures is unbearable compared to what we talk in our speech. Each time I faced failures and seeing people around could go on with their life without obstacles, I would have the feeling like I am going to die. I did meditations prayed to bodhisatvas and hiding myself in my room for two days and nights without any food or drinks after I received my SPM result and I didn't get to go anywhere like other students. I realize there are many people facing this kind of situation or even worse. But this is just how I felt. This was before I repent and return to the path of ancestors. Then, it is among the way how I realized my responsibility to serve Him and toward my pathetic self. It doesn't come in a day time and only with a lecture at the door for persuasion :'(

I encountered this incident with few Tabligh friends in my current hostel before the end of the term. Those who were eager to convert me and persuaded me to be apart of their jama'at. I love to see these kids with devotion to Him and to His messenger s.a.w. It was very rare to be seen anywhere because youngsters always think of entertainment and influenced by hedonism culture. I am actually a loyal friend. I would protect my friends even if I have to sacrifice myself but I don't think they consider me as their friend. Maybe I have no significance in their life and that is ok because I always assume myself as meaningless but they shouldn't do that to people. Well, I was quite sad and I cried in my heart whenever I recall back the memories and whenever I saw the routes to the Bengal mosque. I tried to avoid them in the beginning after I know about their details but they are those who had approached me. I thought that they were eager to teach me about their organization or jama'at system and I humbled my knees to them but in the end I was left alone in their grand camp in Sri Petaling. They've got worldly offer and just leaving their meaningless friend without notifying anything. That is why I prefer not to make promise to people around.

In term of da'awa, as I always stressed. We do not separate da'awa from our life. We Muslims are always da'ie to ourselves and others. Maybe for few people, da'awa would be performed in specific time based on sunnah and the interpretations of tradition but for me, I assume it as daily responsibility and it is a very very important task. Even I walked into churches or temples and performing rehlah as apart of jihad. Whatever that we aren't capable to do, we would never try to talk about it or persuade others to do. 

I don't know whether I was officially converted into jama'at-e-tabligh member after sessions in Sri Petaling but I would just consider myself as a humble nation of Muhammad s.a.w and a follower of the path of Ibrahim a.s. I had already vowed myself, kneel down my dirty self before Him and giving myself to serve His teachings and for His protection in holy Mecca in the Haram ash-Shareef. I don't even think of any pleasure anymore but just feel this beautiful life and body as a cage for my soul. I regret myself for leaving my responsibility when I was a young kid. I am trying to return to the path, it is still far as if it is impossible for me to achieve... 

For the next semester, I don't think that I would join the musalla down the hostel anymore. I would just walk myself to the mosque like I was in my first degree time. I hope that no one ever know me but I just want to perish with His holiest Name. I would like to say to tabligh friends, thank you for your teaching and kindness to me. I will always appreciate that. Lakin mujhe ma'af kar di jiye hamra farmaiye, aapni bharosa ko sabh barbad kar diyatha :'((

I suppose to join a party held for sister Daphne to say farewell. Last time we also had brother Marlin but I don't really care about these caucasian brothers and sisters. Second sister persuaded me to join, who knows we might get benefits and contacts in Europe but just refused it. Just wanted to thank Marlin for helping with my dad last Ramadhan to the hospital while I was in the hostel. You're a good boy.

I don't care about these. Just miss Allah 'Azza wa Jalla. I don't know why I am here in the earth, it is a torment too but I hope He would be merciful to me when I see Him. At least I could see Him without feeling ashamed of myself, that would be great :'( Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for beloved brothers and sisters.

Memory in Mecca: Sincerity in Repentance

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

I learned a lot when watching movies. Last time we always watch Hindustani movies in Hindi as it medium because dad loves Hindi movies so much. I am familiar with Hindustani ever green singers like Muhammad Rafee, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhonsle and others. Even until now, I know many other Hindi movies. I also watch Tamil and other southern Indian language movies especially after I returned from the holy land.

I remember where I met few Muslim Keralites in Mecca during hajj pilgrimage. One of them is Asyraff and he worked in the muassasah (hostel for pilgrims) where I had once lived, and I talked about our Tamilian community in Malaysia. They know about that but funny thing is that I sang him the motto of our national radio in Tamil, woolagammai samayyum, vallnooli aarru (famous around the world, sixth channel). I can't stop laughing when I remember this. He also taught me how to count in Malayalam which sounds a little bit like Tamil counting... wunne, renne, munne, naaalu, aanji, aaru, yeeru, yetthu, moppatthu, pattu... say yes ammama, say no illelle... hahahahahahaa....  It was so fun. I gave them fruits and Malaysian currency that I have to thank them for teaching me some Malayalam.

Although being a kid raised in the midst of multicultural society, I still had some stigma which is bad when it comes to Indian community. That is normal anyway in Malaysia or anywhere. But then when I was in Mecca, an Indian is the one who helped me when I almost died being trampled under the sea of human during sa'ie (effort) ritual. There was so many people there, and I tried to save mum from being stepped. Instead I was trampled. It was packed at that time as it is the time where everyone was rushing to perform tahallul (releasing themselves from prohibitions in ihram). A person I guess an Indian or a Pakistani helped me at that time. He grabbed my hand and pulling me to the Safa hill. Be careful at the Safa and Marwa especially at the peak hour during hajj season before people performing tahallul cos the hills are slippery. If you are under the feet of the people, there will be no way for you to survive unless if He wants to see you repent to Him and doing something important in your life. Then I remembered that I had bad-mouthing Indians in generalization and thinking that how silly it is.   

I also talked with a Pakistani guy, he told me that his name is 'Ariff. He speaks in Arabic with me but I can't reply him in Arabic because I was not fluent in the language. Instead I talked in English and some smattering Urdu. I could understand what he says and he taught me few important things. Weird it was, because he seems like knowing something about me or it was just my feeling. He talked to me few things about sincerity in repentance and also something about black ants on a tree trunk in the dark night. After that we prayed congregational Dzuhr prayer service in in the Haram ash-Shareef. I quickly leave Ariff after saying my supplications to the God, and going down from the second floor of the mosque to approach Ka'aba. I was actually so terrified. I cried while walking around the Ka'aba, made few vows and promises to the God. Among them is to be on the path of the righteous. 

I still remember those vows and still afraid if I break them. After that I still see Ariff, he suddenly appears in front of me from nowhere when I was about to go out of the mosque. He hold my hand and said, now I give you the ijazat (permission and certify) that you must always have in mind what we had talked about. Later he said his farewell with takbeel (a custom of clicking sound at the cheek) and disappear in the sea of people. I regret that I didn't take his detail for contact. I wanted to thank him for the lecture. 

This is in relation to the first hadith of matan arba'in. Just a reminder to myself because vows to the God to be within the convenant musn't be violated by myself. I am thankful to Allah, I had managed to properly memorize the explanation of the hadith. We would proceed to the second hadith, His Will. Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for beloved brothers and sisters in faith.  

Maulud ad-Diba'i Poems

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!!!

A sample of the poem kitab that I've got from google

Just listened to Mawlud ad-Diba'i and it brought me to old memories where my late maternal grandpa used to recite these kind of poems. His voice is very nice and he loves Arabic songs and poems. He would wake up late at night for his radio to listen to Ramadhan program aired from Egypt or Syria. He also kept old zanjiy kitabs in his closet but I don't know where those valuable kitabs had gone after grandparents' house was demolished. Our elders recite the old form of this poem during majlis (ceremonies) and called it as barzanjiy. I have got the new form of zanjiy kitab which I've got from majlis that I had visited.

I didn't like these old stuffs when I was a kid. I thought that it should be stored in the museum but now I love it and I think teenagers should practice it for silaturrahim (connection of mercy among believers). I don't know maybe we are changing and time is also responsible for this perhaps. Some Muslim students in my previous hostel in USM also had conducted barzanjiy majlis during Mawlidur-Rasul (the birth of prophet) when I was in second year and lived with my Kelantanese roomate, Zaidi. He also joined the majlis but he didn't bring me to join the majlis. Perhaps I looked like a salafi kid. Hanbalis are salafis but I don't despise majlis and I respect sages.

I didn't join them because I wasn't sure about these majlis and perhaps influenced by 'wahhabis' can we say... Nonsense, wahhabism is not capable to be a madzhab at all. Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab is a Hanbali and so do his family, may Allah bless their souls. I read Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab kitabs and I found that his teachings are good too. Whoever talks evil about others and is not memorizing al-Quran nor Hadiths, I would just ignore them.

I was just afraid of deviating since I am haunted by my past experience and this practice is quite common amongst the Sunnis of Syafi'ie school while my madzhab has already changed to Hanbali after my return from Holy Mecca. However my ancestors and even my family members are the Sunnis of Syafi'ie school since Yemen was prominent with Syafi'ie madzhab angle of sunnah so I would give respect to ancestors and paying homage to the sages. I actually can't believe that I am now listening to the zanjiy too. I can't accept the fact that I'm growing old, or maybe I should just say it has cultural significance for Hadrami descents which I think must be appreciated. 

Now I begin to feel like I'm going to die when I look at other young men because I am comparing them to my pauper self. Am I turning to be an old-fashioned guyyyyy?????! I've got no money to spend like other youngsters. Even when I looked at tablighi jama'at kids, I was actually confused. Who is the tabligh??? Is that me or them? I am not even close to be converted because last time I was left by few tabligh kids without being notified about anything.

So, what is Mawlud ad-Diba'i? Mawlud ad-Diba'i is a poem and first recited by a person whose name is 'Abdurrahman bin 'Ali bin Muhammad bin 'Umar bin 'Ali bin Yusuf bin Ahmad bin 'Umar ad-Diba'i Asy-Syaibaniy whose nickname is Ibnu Diba'. Diba' is the nickname of the fourth great grandpa of this person who recites this poem, which is Ali bin Yusuf Diba'. In Sudanese it means white. In his kitab, Bughyatul Mustafid, he wrote at his final part of the kitab briefly about his life. It says that he was born in Zabid, which is a city in Northern Yemen (Hadramawt) on Thursday morning, in Muharram 4th in the year of 866 Hegira.  

Zabid is among the oldest city in Hadramawt or Northern Yemen. Now, the city is included into Hudaidah province. The city location is about 40 km from Red Sea. It was previously known as Hussaib. This city is famous where scholars from all over the world came to study there or getting the root source for hadith and sunnah knowledge. Some of them even refused to return home and choosing to dwell in the city till the end of their life. 

This city had already been well known since the lifetime of our holy prophet Muhammad s.a.w around the 8th year of Hegira. The inhabitant of the Hadramawt or Northern Yemen were actually Arab Jews who converted to Judaic tradition under two Levite tribe religious teachers' supervision of Banu Quraizah from Yathrib since before the birth of prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Around 8th year of H, a tribe called Asy'ariyyah (among them was Abu Musa al-Asy'ari) who came from Zabid to Medina al-Munawwarah to revert to Islam and getting the sources of the teaching of the God. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w was so pleased with these people visit to Medina al-Munawwarah and he prayed to the God so that He will bless the city of Zabid. He repeats his supplication to the God three times (narrated by al-Baihaqi). From the blessings of the prophet Muhammad s.a.w supplications, this city still retain its knowledge and wisdom nuance. Wisdom and knowledge treasures of this city is greatly being preserved by the sages of the city. There is also a mosque called the asy-Sya'ir mosque established since the 8th of H. It was established by Abu Musa al-Asy'ari and counted as the third mosque build by the companion of prophet s.a.w in the kingdom of Saba' (Yemen). 

The reciter of Mawlud ad-Diba'i was born when his father was out for travel. He never get the chance to see his father. He was raised by his maternal grandpa, who's known as Syeikh Sharafuddin bin Muhammad Mubariz and he is a famous sage in the city of Zabid at that time. Ibnu Diba'i still has the chance to study branches of sciences in Zabid since the city was inhabited by the sages.

Ibnu Diba'i learned to read the Quran under the supervision of Syeikh Nuruddin Ali bin Abu Bakr and later shifted to the Syeikh Jamaluddin Muhammad at-Thaiyyib the grand mufti of Zabid who is also his uncle. He memorized the whole Quran when reaches 10 years old, maasyaa-Allahhhh!!!!!! I'm still not close to any of these sages. Now I feel like I'm crying bloody tears :'( 

Not long after finishing his Quranic studies, Ibnu ad-Diba'i heard a bad news where his father died in an Indian sub-continent province. He has got his inheritance which was about 8 dinar. His father death never banish his spirit to study but it motivates him. After that, he learned recitation science which is tajweed through the Nidzham Syatibiyyah, learned idiom science (grammar), mathematics, faraaid, and fiqh science of jurisprudence under the grand mufti supervision. He was also ordered to study the kitab Zubad which is the kitab for Syafi'ie school of jurisprudence with Syeikh Umar bin Muhammad al-Fata al-Asya'ri.

After finishing his studies of the Zubad kitab, he used his inheritance money to travel to holy Mecca in order to perform hajj pilgrimage. His maternal grandfather was dead just before he returned from Mecca. He has to live with his uncle and learned some more under his supervision. In 855 H, he went to Mecca again for his second pilgrimage. When he returned to Zabid, he learned the hadiths sciences through the reading of Saheeh Bukhari, Muslim, at-Tirmidzi, and al-Muwatta' under the supervision of Syeikh Zainuddin Ahmad bin Ahmad asy-Syarjiy. While busy studying, he wrote a kitab which is called as Ghayatul Mathlub which discusses about the way for the faithfuls to ask forgiveness from the God. he also learned Fiqh and Hadith sciences from the kitab of Minhaj at-Thaalibeen and Haawi Saaghir with Syeikh Jamaluddin bin Ahmad bin Jaghman.       

In 896 H, he went again for Mecca for the third time pilgrimage. He visited the tomb of prophet Muhammad s.a.w in Medina al-Munawwarah and later went back to Mecca to study hadiths with the sage of the holy land whose name is Syeikh Syamsuddin Muhammad bin 'Abdul Rahman as-Syakhawi. After his return from Mecca, he wrote Kasyful-Kirbah and Bughyat al-Mustafeed. His writings were highly appreciated by Sultan Dzafir 'Amir bin Abdul Wahhab. He was invited by the Sultan to the palace for suggestions on his kitabs. Before he returns home, the Sultan has granted him a house and a date orchard for him. The Sultan ordered him to teach hadith sciences in the Jami' Mosque of Zabid.

Although many had come to ask the sanad (source) of the hadiths from him, he is just a humble man. He always recites the al-Fatihah and whoever sees him must also recite the al-Fatihah. Everyone around him and his disciples were also asked to recite al-Fatihah. He heard one of his teacher talked about a dream where the teacher heard a voice in the chaotic time in his dream saying that, "O Yemenites, enter the paradise of the God!" Then people around ask the voice: "Why the Yemenites entering the paradise????" The voice answered: "Due to that they always recite al-Fatihah!"

Insyaa'Allah, we may also recite al-Fatihah and spread far the mercy from Allah to others. Ask everyone around us to recite al-Fatihah too. I'm always doing this too, and I would chant salawat for others. Tomorrow is Friday which is the first holiday and today is the gate for tomorrow. If brothers and sisters that I love the most are fasting, then don't stop chanting salawat and recite al-Fatihah. If not aloud then, mentally recite them. Make it a habit, because now when I try to think about something evil, only salawat that comes out from my mind. Just a sharing, because we share every good things with brothers and sisters. Evil things we must dump them into the garbage and never let them harm brothers and sisters.   

Ibnu ad-Diba'i was a productive writer. He wrote many things regarding hadith and seerah (history) sciences. Mawlud ad-Diba'i is one of his prominent seerah kind of writing but in the form of poem. Many had also relating this Mawlud poem with Ibnu Jawzi but this assumption is weak and irrelevant. Two other poems written by Ibnu ad-Diba'i are Qurratul 'Uyoun which talks about Yemen and Mi'raj kitab. He also wrote Taiseerul Usul and few other poems. He became a teacher and a writer of kitabs until his last breath. He passed away in Zabid on Friday morning, 26th of Rahab 944 H. May Allah bless his soul and be merciful to him for his contribution toward the civilization and humanity, amin!

Dear Allah our Lord, please be in connection with our holy prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family and his companion. Allah please bless prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family and his companion and the whole nations of the faithful. May everyone receive salvation from Allah 'Azza wa Jalla. Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for brethren in faith, amin!!!!

Return Home: Dad feels dull

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Just heard that dad lost his way at Alamanda this noon... He left the car which he drives to the complex and bought a bicycle. Everybody was worried about him. I just packed my stuffs and simply walked to the bus stand to return home. 

Maybe I would plan other rehlah (trips) and da'awah for myself from home and finishing literature reviews rather than in the hostel since my supervisor had asked me to finish with first three chapters before showing her the outcomes.  A lawyer she is and I am quite worried when dealing with lawyers, haha.

At last I found a TV. Just sitting on the floor and watching the TV, just ignore everyone's eyes, I don't care whatever people want to think about me. Too many ethics sometimes constraining us.

I do understand, dad must feel dull. Our time will come too where we would be like that. When we finish our responsibility with job, we might lost friends surrounding us. Men function differently than women. They might be facing depression after resting from job since men mingles more with friends rather than with their family although they are married.

It's already 21:00 shops begin to be closed, nothing interesting there anyway. I don't like to shop in the airport.

Why I could say this? It's not that because I am male myself. I had seen people around me like eldest brother in law. And of course my dad. They have activities together with friends like playing soccer or just hanging around at mamak restaurants. During dad's younger time when he worked, he hangs out with friends at mamak stalls too. The place where they hang out is still the same but the brand might be different according to period of time. Brother in law is the mirror of a young married and career men. Dad represents the retired ones.

These kind of brochures save your money a lot compared to Lonely Planet book that you buy only to explore Penang, hahaha. You can use your money to try new things in Penang Island that you can't see in your hometown.

I'm just taking the flight home. Goshhh!!! AirAsia is not as cheap as it is when we book the ticket in rush. I've got to pay RM156.50 and the flight is only at 23:00. Well, it's comfortable compared to train or bus but maybe not a wise option for domestic travel if we want to have a budget one. Penang airport is still in renovation, and I noticed that after I saw it's clumsy condition when the bus reached the departure hall. Rapid Penang to the airport no. is 102 and it stops just in front of the airport building, so don't worry too much if you travel alone without company. I just hope I could help loners like me who happens to step in this humble site. For USM students or anyone going for the airport from USM, take this bus from Batu Uban gate, cross the road first and of course there is a flyover. Vehicles are crazy here. The bus fare is as usual, RM2 according to today's rate. 

Guides on what you can try in Penang in term of local cuisine and traveling around World Heritage Sites. Anyway, I'm bored of Khaleel, Pelita or Istimewa Mee Goreng or Roti Chanei. Nasik Kandaq today is not fresh like those days, so I don't like it too. I didn't really care about my food last time. I just eat any where without taking notes on who is the cook or the cleanliness I mean according to ritual manner when preparing the food, the cook must be a Muslim according to our rites. Last time I didn't take beef or other type of meats just like few Orthodox Hindus because of Buddhism influence, being a vegetarian and the food must at least be sattvik (light) to memorize mantras and gathas. There are few classifications for food for person who perform meditations. Now I still don't eat fishes including avoiding seafood according to my current madzhab angle of sunnah because I need to be in ablution state of purity most of the time. I don't avoid meat anymore but still we eat limited meat because we are poor. Only affluent could afford meat in their daily menu.

I've got new leaflets promoting Penang Tourism and Heritage. They are everywhere in the airport building. Unfortunately I won't be here in Penang for July since July is close to Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival. It is in the eighth month of lunar calendar where the hell gate down there will be opened and it releases restless spirits from the hell roaming around. When I was little, I used to watch Chinese Opera and also listening to Chinese Urban Legends about incidents in the months. I miss 林正英 Lam Ching Ying movies. His character as Taoist priest was awesome. Never feel bored watching him in that character even in many movies it would be the same. Anyway, those are just cultural superstitious around us and this is Malaysia. I don't take them seriously anymore after growing up, lolollollllllllllll...

Mum's cousin sister who works in the airport is giving me some bread and bubur Durian, haiyoyooo. How am I going to bring it into the plane? I don't eat Durian neither and I'm sure she knows about that. Maybe she wants to send it to mum. They have free wi-fi here in the waiting hall so am just benefiting the infrastructure that we have. Malaysian loves free things, maybe not all but it is normal here... hehe. 

If anyone in the airport including the airport police asking you to bring something for their friend, just refuse and leave them!! Don't ever think of politeness because it might drag you to be drug smugglers. If they force you to do so, just run your way to the police station in the airport and make a report!!! An airport police officer just asked me to bring some medication for his friend and pass it when I reach LCCT. I don't know him so I just refuse him. I'm always reciting ma'thurat and my instinct says that don't take the package. I believe that, and I just walked passed the 'officer.' The package shows that it contains seabuckthorn capsules. I know about the medication but better be cautious than sorry.  

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for brothers and sisters in faith. God bless! 

Brief Introduction: Peranakan Arab Kedah

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!!!

 From Jerai Peak View

Many people are familiar with the Chittis, the Nasranis and Portuguese, the Baba and Nyonyas in Malacca but not many of us are aware of Peranakan Arab community in Malaysia. Because most of us had already immersed ourselves into Malay mainstream society. Some of us actually are the result of inter-marriages of the Yemeni Arabs and the Gujarati Indians thus being classified by Northern Malays especially in Alor Setar as Jawi Pekan. 

I disagree that Jawi Pekan only refers to Peranakan India or Muslim Tamilians who speak Malay with Tamil accent like in Penang Island. Jawi Peranakan exists in Kedah Sultanate provinces including Perlis, Southern Thailand, and Lower Myanmar but most of the fathers for this community were Southern Arab descents of Syeds (Hussein) or Syarif (Hassan) lineage. Different from Penang where they are more to Indian. This term was hijacked to include Muslim Indian. So, I would rather use Peranakan Arab to describe myself.

Our community in Kedah were actually multilingual community. Some of us could speak in Thai or Burmese and some could speak in Classical Jawi Malay or Urdu according to their fluency or whether their mothers are from India (it includes Pakistan because there was no Pakistan back then in 17th C) or local noble women and geography. The basic language for the community especially elders was actually Classical Arabic because it is the language of unification among the Middle Easterners and Muslims. Nowadays many of us the younger generation speak either in Malay according to local standard dialect, kampung or hulu Malay dialect, or English wherever it is suitable and according to education level. Compared to 'normal Malays,' we are more open to foreign atmosphere but elders were actually very stringent with religious education of their children. My parents family was a bit chaotic because of environment around, nomadic lifestyle and the death of paternal grandparents had made us as today.

There are many seminars regarding this in Kedah state, such as Seminar Keturunan Syed held in Wisma Darulaman in Alor Setar at the 5th of March 2011 inaugurated by Kedah Chief Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak. In education field, there is a madrasah established by Peranakan Arab community around 1936 known as al-Ma'ahad Mahmud under the patronage of the Sultan of Kedah for religious propagation. It is located in Alor Setar. The religious studies syllabus of the madrasah is according to the al-Azhar syllabus. 

In Perlis, there is a madrasah too which was the madrasah where I was once schooled for i'dadi level (form one). It is located in Arau just in opposite to Istana Arau known as al-Madrasah al-'Alawiyyah ad-Diniyyah. It was established around 1930's with the zakat fund of Perlis state and donation around. The madrasah was inaugurated by al-Marhum Raja Syed Alwi in 1937. The madrasah is also dedicated for local and people as far as from southern part of Malaya came to study there too. When I travel passing the school, I could now see female students. When I was there around 1998, the school has only male students. There is also another school near the madrasah with the same name under national education department supervision. The school was called by our school as Alawiyah Luar. While the Alawiyah for us was known as Alawiyah Dalam. I'm not sure what are the differences, but who cares, lol. Others, there is Madrasah al-Mashahoor in Penang Island and I am sure everyone knows it because one of the headmaster there was a man of letter. 

In literature and men of letters around 19th C, we have Syed Syekh al-Hadi who founded al-Imam (1906) and al-Ikhwan (1926). He also wrote a novel which talks about women emancipation known as Hikayat Faridah Hanum (1926). Most of the 19th C literature by Peranakan Arab came from Singapore, Penang and Johore. Those in Southern Thailand and northern states even until now are involved in religious kitab printing and publication because I had noticed a company in Patani is owned by a Peranakan Arab. 

Few Hadrami clans in northern Malaysia that I had ever heard, the prominent ones are the Jamalullail who hailed from Perak in 15th C, the Shihabuddin, the al-Mahdalis who comes from India, Sumatera and Yemen itself, the al-Aydrusi who are also prominent in the neighboring Patani and Eastern Coast, and the al-Yahya where you can see an actress who acts in Awan Dania by Astro is paternally from this clan. One of cousin brothers that I still can recognize married to the female of the al-Yahya and she is an auntie of the actress. One of my ex-classmate in my current course is also from the al-Yahya clan but her mum is a Chinese and she is the sister of the actress. How small is this world, hahaha.     

In term of food and cuisine? We just have cuisines the same like Malays or Thais such as laksa, asam pedas, various kind of vermicelli and noodles, grilled meats, sambal belachan or nam phrik kahpi (shrimp paste sauce), ayer asam (tamarind juice sauce), ulam-ulam (fresh salad), nasik ulam (salad rice), kueh karas (Acheh), kueh kapit (Chinese), gulai (curry) and others. Nowadays, Tom Yum is quite popular too. I have to avoid all of these cuisines if they contain seafood especially when I am in ablution since my school of jurisprudence has changed about 6 years ago but most of my family members still enjoy seafood since they refuse to change the madzhab. Although we are Muslims, we also have to masuk Melayu and there is no camel here, hahaha. 

There are few researches by scholars about this community in northern Malayan peninsula states such as by 'Abdur Razzaq Lubis in "Traders, Teachers, Pressmen, and Pilgrim Brokers: Penang Arabs in the Regional Network." We are not even close to mamak nasik kandaq, but maybe closer to Benggali jual karpet or manik koran since my paternal grandpa mother line is the same with them. I am not a fan of mamak food too. However, dad is a fan of mamak restaurant, kari kapla ikan (fish-head curry), kas kas (papaver somniferum), and 24/7 teh tarik. And the result, he is now affected by stroke, heart disease, or hypertension... modern lifestyle may sometimes affect health. He keeps going to the mamak's even now tak serik-serik admitted into the hospital and ordering teh tarik, how stubborn he is!

Other books for reference are like "The Hadrami Diaspora in South East Asia" by Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Shouk and Hassan Ahmed Ibrahim. Also in "Hadrami Traders, Scholars, and Statesmen in Indian Ocean, 1750s - 1960s" by Ulrike Freitag and W. G. Clarence Smith and in "Hadrami Arabs in Present-Day Indonesia: An Indonesia Oriented Group with Arab Signature," page 21 written by Frode Fadnes Jacobsen do mentions about Arabs diaspora and muwallad (peranakan) in Kedah.

We speak pure Kedahan dialect, to the extend that we can speak in Kedah Hulu dialect which sounds more to Patanese Malay dialect and not the northern Malay dialect spoken by Penangites. I had once being mistaken by a Kelantanese as one of their own when I shift to Kedah Hulu dialect talking with them. 

Those who acted in Anak Mami movies are from Kedah and some are from other states. I think Mr. Razak Mohaideen should properly teach or asking his actors to do deep researches about Penangites Malay and its Muslim Indian peranakan communities before making the movie. I just can't stand when Northerners and Northern Peranakan communities being assumed as the same people. We are more polite compared to Penangites and we respect people regardless their status or racial background. I had experienced different things when dealing with Indian Muslims or Tamil speaking Muslims in Penang. The tele-movie that I think showing about 98% real Penangites' Muslim Peranakan cultural traits is Anak Mamak Menantu Mami starred by Wan Raja (Saiful Redzuan Abu Bakar), Azad Jazmin, and Faezah Elai and directed by Zulkifli Salleh Ghani. This tele-movie had also inspired me to travel around Georgetown when I am bored, hehehe. 

My dad is a staunch supporter of bahasa Melayu and persuratan Melayu while our elders opposed the shift of Malay script from Jawi to Roman script during the time of Mr. Khir Johari. There is a mention in a small kitab which acts as a leaflet written in Classical Jawi Malay that we personally keep in our closet, saying that "we would rather die than losing our identity."

I had contacted the people in my grandfather first village. They had also advised me to contact Gujarat and Kerala province museums in India because those people had came to the village to inspect and collecting data at the 300 years old cemetery in the village in Ramadan about two or three years ago. 

I thought that last time, I wanted to follow Tablighi fellow students to India due to that I actually wanted to track down the foot steps of ancestors in India where they were once based in there before coming to the sultanate of Kedah in 17th C and their spread around in Sumatera Island in Indonesia today. 

I hope it is useful for beloved brothers and sisters especially who are also related to the Hadramis and the Arab muwallad (peranakan).  

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for brothers and sisters, amin!

What does it mean to be Muslim for a Family?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

I manage to retrieve back some of these notes that I jot down from last month. I went to Sultan Mizan Zainal Abiddin mosque and listened to a lecture on a chapter from the book written by Fathi Yakan in the gap time before Isya' prayer. This book is quite famous in Malaysia with the title "Apa Ertinya Saya Menganuti Ajaran Islam?"

The ustad had mentioned where Fathi Yakan highlighted six matters. That day, they talked about the fifth matter and I was so unlucky as I had missed few matters earlier and also the last matter highlighted. They talked about being a Muslim from the aspect of family, creed, worship, and morality. Why do Mr. Yakan choose this topic for the discussion? Because we want a society that reflects Islamic characteristics which could be seen in the soul of everyone.

How could we call non-Muslim toward the God if we are showing bad examples to them? If we want to establish a sanctified nation, we should have a model to be seen by others. For example, before we begin our meals, we would recite supplications to the God or begin our meal with manners. Muslim family must be a model and guidance for others. If a house is in chaotic situation, what can we show to others? Thus, we must try to be Muslims in family angle and have to be caring to the community and taking the responsibility to be in service to others.

  

Says the messenger of the God may the God be in contact with him: "whomever ignores his brothers and sisters in faith, they are not apart of the Islamic nation." - narrated by Bukhari. 

As for example, how many persons before fallen into their sleep are thinking about the problem faced by the nation or how many of us had been thinking about our parents? How about people who are close to us? Remembering parents is a responsibility of every Muslim. Everyday, we must recite al-Fatihah for them no matter they are alive or had already returned to Him and protected under His mercy. Parents are the reason where we are here. Without them as the reason, we are nothing in the Universe. When our life growing better, we tend to forget our parents until we have no time to return home and see them whether they are in good condition or else?   

The responsibility of every Muslim is to prohibit vice and performing charity. Our responsibility had already been performed when we asked others to be together in charity and chastity even though those whom we are calling toward charity refused to follow. When we had already knocked the door and they refused to open it up, we are free from the sins and responsibility.  Our role is only to prohibit vice and promoting charity. Being in accordance with the glorious Quran and Sunnah. We perform our responsibility by telling others about what is Islam to the society and trying to establish it in our society or community.

Then Muslims are responsible to form a family with Islamic values. Establishing Islam in the house begins with the education where parents must teach their children to respect the teachings of the God which is Islam and the values in the teachings. The parents are responsible to bring everyone in the family to Him for example making the five obligatory salaat times as the time to remember Him without any interference. 

Muslim parents have the responsibility to ask the people in the family to protect their 'aurah (modesty) as what had been mentioned in surah an-Nur verse 53. An example in asking others to protect their 'aurah and in the same time teaching the family members about the way of life through presents according to sunnah such as veils or beautiful muslimah or muslim dress. A husband are obliged to ask his wife to change her skimpy clothes to better ones if she happens to wear it since she would be working 8 hours with male non-muhrim colleagues.   

Convey Islam to family members and to our selves as what had been mentioned by the God in His holy verses: "never call to the worship of other than the God for you will be dipped into the bitterness" (surah ash-Syuraa'). Teach our close family members and relatives about His Oneness, never proclaim that there are other power with the authority as possessed by Him. We must help and have the care in preserving the creed of our family member. When they are deviating, we would advice them to return to Him.

Check in surah at-Tahreem verse 6th where it mentions that hell fire would be ignited with stones and human, so we must be really careful with our daily conduct. We always think that it is easy when we perform salaat, the God would forgives us our sins just after we perform the salaat. But are we sure that our charity and salaat performed are accepted by the God? We should stop blaming our environment. We must first begin with our selves living our live as Muslims and playing our roles in our family. 

Everyone dreams of a good nation and receiving His forgiveness. This is a general matter, and family institution role is crucial in forming an Islamic family. A husband has a heavy responsibility. The sins committed by children will also be the share of the sins to the parents. The responsibility of promoting charity and prohibiting evil and vice is a very heavy responsibility. 

The glorious Quran shows the way to achieve the goal according to His teachings where it focuses on the family. When a couple get married, their marriage should not only about beauty or how handsome is the groom. The intention must be rightful because of the God and not because of the beauty of the girl or the guy that we want to get marry to. Nikah (marriage) is a reason and a sunnah for the establishment of a good and blessed family. 

When a couple entering the marriage contract, they must be readily to bear the trust from the God in the upbringing of the future generation and soul as what had been mentioned in surah az-Zumaar (I can't recall the verse, I am sorry). Everything that we do in our daily life is actually because of Him. After that, the couple would be stepping into the establishment of a society who understands the way of life according to His teachings. It is not merely a marriage contract where a man and a woman are willing to share their life but more than that where they are responsible in the establishment of a Muslim family. No need for an overly "bersanding" ceremony after the marriage contract and it would be best if the feast for marriage reception being done without waste. As to say, our acts must be viewed through religious rites perspective.

I'm going to print this version of notes typed in our national language and giving it to my newly-wed sister and her husband. I don't want them to just get away without revising their responsibility toward our Islamic society although they had already going to marriage courses before their marriage!!!! 

May Allah be in contact with prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family and his companion. Allah please bless our society no matter whatever we are. Bless us with Your boundless mercy and forgiveness. Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for brothers and sisters in faith, amin.  

Chinese Muslim Nationalist Figure: Imam Hu Songshan

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

 Imam Hu Songshan

I believe that not many people are familiar with Muslim Chinese who were involved in Chinese Nationalism in China and Taiwan. I know few of them because they are from Western China provinces. I talked with few friends from Gansu since before I return home from pilgrimage season when I was in lower six around 2005. Some of them were the students of International Islamic University (IIUM). Some are the students of Nilam Puri in Kelantan and they speak Malay too. I respect them because they are committed with Islamic teachings although their province is in a country with non-Muslim majority population. 

Why did I put this up? Just a sharing about the history of modern China as many of our brothers and sisters don't know that there are Muslim Chinese in Guomindang movement and I wish that we stop bickering about things that divide us but begin to establish amity among each other. This biography about the imam is only for us to take heed that we should only be a nation, we must treat brothers and sisters equally. Avoid hurting their feelings. We will see how this imam feel when he was in Holy Mecca and why I don't like to talk about difference in negativity but making them as a point for everyone to know each other. Besides, we must also respect our Muslim Chinese brothers and sisters feeling when we talk about assimilation into Malay customs when they revert to the path of prophets and His messengers. Most Chinese elders in Penang Island were actually the followers of Guomindang movement or at least having some sympathy to the movement. They are not Communists. That is why we could see many memorial buildings dedicated to Sun Yat Sen in Penang Island. Nowadays, many of Chinese youths are just like Malay or Indian youth or any other youngsters around the world. They don't care about politics anymore.

For us the Arab descents in Malayan Peninsula, we were also assimilated into Malay mainstream society although we might also have Indian, Siamese or Chinese maternal line. We have no specific identification for our ethnicity like those Huis in China since British in Kedah Sultanate had used their nation-state concept in registration. Some were registered as Malay and identified as Arab descents who had been in the sultanate since few centuries before British came in, some were Arabs since they were new-comers who came from Egypt, Medina, or Mecca, and etc according to flows of migration. In certain part of our community life like marriage, some of us are still practicing endogamy marriage. For my family, endogamy marriage had stopped at my father generation because no more specific elders to enforce the customs. My eldest sister married a Siamese Malay from Perlis, and now my third sister married a Malay from Kedah which is also our beloved state. Most Arab descents in Malayan Peninsula also practiced polygamy but it is very rare now when some of our people are exposed to Egyptian moderate thoughts. Anyway, we would talk about Arabs in Northern Malaysian states separately if He permits it.  

This simple biography I would like to share with brothers and sisters in faith is about Imam Hu Songshan 虎嵩山 who was a member of Muslim brotherhood or Ikhwani. I can't recall his Islamic name but if I am not mistaken, it is like Salahuddin. Imam Hu Songshan is a Hui Chinese and his father was an imam from a sub-group of Naqshabandi sufi order in China. However he is not fond of sufism and he himself destroyed the tomb of his father in Tongxin county in Ningxia autonomous region. He performed hajj pilgrimage in holy Mecca around 1925 but he didn't feel any solidarity feeling with other Muslims as he was treated with racism by other Muslims. So, he decided to be a Chinese nationalist when he returned home in China. Arab nations are also racist and if we do not disband this thaghut (idolatry) from our selves, we are not even a complete nation. I would say that we would just dream off about caliphate until He orders Isa a.s to be the qadhi before He destroys this Universe!

Imam Hu didn't promote any Islamic state anymore but he just rallied for a strong China because he saw that both Hui and Han ethnics were treated the same and abused by foreigners. He rallied with the Chinese government at that time which was under the leading of Guomindang nationalist party toward Chinese unity regardless ethnicity. This is how Chinese people around the world were politically and socially united in the early 19th century. 

Imam Hu opposed foreign imperialism and when Japan invaded China in 1937 during Sino-Japanese war, he issued a guideline for Chinese flag to be saluted during fajr prayer. We could understand the situation at that time needs him taking these measures. 

What I found as interesting in this figure is that he promotes education and independence from foreign power. He encourages the learning of Chinese among Muslim Chinese students. Before that, Muslim Chinese students only learned about Quranic studies and Arabic in their Islamic formal curriculum. He added modern subjects into madrasas system like maths, foreign languages and foreign sciences. Besides they begin to translate Islamic texts into Chinese.

Allah please be in contact with prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and his family and his companion. May Allah bless brothers and sisters in faith. Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for brothers and sisters in faith.