What is the Purpose of Qiyaamullail?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I read this in our musalla just after Ishaa' service where they had pasted it at the board of current issue. I think the reminder is quite nice and I would like to share it with brothers and sisters world wide who unintentionally hit this humble site may Allah bless all of you. 

Introduction to Qiyaamullail

First of all I would like to explain what is Qiyaamullail. It is Arabic compound words which means wake up in the night. This term means we sleep early at night maybe around 22:00-23:00 at night and wake up again at maybe 3:45 or 4:00 at the morning. About an hour or half an hour before obligatory Fajr prayer service. For a traditional person, he might be walking to masjid after the Qiyaamullail according to the prayer time. For me usually, I will take bath and finding my hygienic stuffs first before Qiyaamullail so if brothers and sisters could not bear cold water use hot water if you wanted to take bath. If you don't smell like rotten socks then it is ok to talk with Him without shower or bath, lol.

This thing is also founded in other traditions such as the Brahmin traditions as to make it easier to understood by non-Muslims or non-religious Muslims. They have several what I could say as quite harsh rites which should be followed by Brahmins as part of customs. I don't call it as Hinduism but only Brahmanism because not all Hindus perform this as this is only the duty for Brahmins and I am not going to talk in detail about it but in Islam it could be practiced by everyone who feels it as a necessity for them. I think Christians for example Roman rites also have this and they call it with few terms such as the three nocturns during special religious festivals. Orthodox churches as well and they also have terms in Syriac and in Christian nations' languages who adhere to Orthodox faith. I went to several churches and asking here and there to priests just after prayer services in churches. Avoid speculating if we never ask anything from the right person. We would be outraged too if people speculate something which does not really represent us right? 

Qiyaamullail is a discipline which helps human-being to develop their spiritual strength and it protects us from diseases because our weak inner selves will harm our physical selves. Psychological problem is about spiritual. I read psychological journals too about Sigmund Freud and others but I am not as fanatic as people who are obsessed to certain things. I rely also on researches when talking about things and this is what we are. We believe in holistic approaches and it is also approaches used in several fields such as in nursing in the United Kingdom for example since I helped my sister with her assignments and I read all of the journals for her thesis and assignments. I hate people who love to boast such as those who claim themselves as proving this and that as false, comparing this and that trying to show to people who is better who is not. I believe that they have no life, ugly attention whores and I bet their life must be boring and pathetic as hell, hahaha. This is addressed equally for Muslims, Christians, Atheists, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Wiccans, Satanic religion followers and etc, hahaha. We hate all of you boastful people!!  

For Muslims, we have Qiyaamullail during Ramadan and also Qiyaamullail in everyday if we had already make our selves familiar with it. It is wrong and sinful to stop from Qiyaamullail when one has chosen to perform it everyday and already familiar with it.

Qiyaamullail as a Sunnah

Noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w mentions that: "Wake up in the night to pray and remember the Lord at that time as it is the common acts of pious people before you. It helps you to be close to the Lord and prevents you from committing sinful acts. It blows away your past sins and evil around you besides prevents you from diseases" (Hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad, at-Tirmidzie, Hakim and Baihaqi).

Goals of Qiyaamullail as a Discipline

Now let us see the purpose of Qiyaamullail and the article pasted at the musalla stated there are 10 goals for it.

1. Merit will be granted without obstacles to His servant who wake up to remember Him (Surah Ali-Imraan 113-115).

2. His Grace in the paradise descends on those who remember Him in the early hours (Surah Ali-Imran 15-17).

3. A person who wakes up early at nights only for His Lord are assured noble and appraised position in His view (Surah al-Israa' verses 78-79)

4. When a person performs Qiyaamullail, the Lord will grant him with a sacred heart and noble manner. He is respectful to people and environment around. This is the sign of a person who remembers His Lord in contrast to boastful people who writes nonsense things like in answering Islam or answering whatever it is (Surah al-Furqan verses 63-64). When I read those things I just laugh at the writers and I think that they are just clowns. The same thing also about scientific proving of the scriptures and etc. Scriptures are beyond scientific research. It is metaphysical, beyond physical boundaries. I read physics and chemistry books though I was from Shariah streams, not a talented student in academic and I don't know why people love to look at us as stupid than them just because we are humble. Sometimes these people confuse me and make me think should I also show off to make them realize that their attitude is so annoying? I don't like to make people crying and I made one of our colleague crying simply because he showed off to me and my friend, Amir ahahaha. I am so sorry for being bad ass person but sometimes we can't bear these kind of people.

5. A person who performs Qiyaamullail is hardly a boastful and hardly a show off person (Surah as-Sajjadah 15-17). It is because boastful and show off are some kinds of mental illnesses.

6. When performing Qiyaamullails, a person will receive profits and benefits through His Mercy (Surah az-Zumar verse 9). If one is conducting say business, his business will receive blessings from the Lord and though we can't see the blessings but we can feel it. If we are on some affairs, the Lord will bless us and make everything goes smooth though we do not notice it. So, we have to be very careful with environment as we don't know where is his blessings and mercy and how they look like.

7. Qiyaamullail teaches a person to be patient and it is a very good discipline for a person who can't control patience (Surah Qaaf verses 39-40). Try perform this for few nights and feel it your selves. You don't have to be a Muslim to perform this. If you are a Christian, then perform this according to your rites. If you are a Buddhist or Hindu, try perform it according to your responsibility of birth. If you are a Muslim, then perform it according to Sunnah and prophetic traditions. Who says that when we are different from each other and trying to return to the faith, we have to chop everyone's head? This is the act of a pea-brain sized person not the act of civilized people. We can see this kind of people in all community, society, and faiths. Their mind is dirty their heart is filthy thus their mouth instigate evil things for people to scratch each others' faces.

8. It will lead a person who performs it to feel wrong if they do not sacrifice themselves to help the poor, the unfortunate and the tyrannized people (Surah az-Zaariyat verses 15-19). A person who always remember his Lord alone in the darkness of the night will try to take part in social works in the daylight.

9. The Lord will grant a person who performs Qiyaamullail with perseverance to wait the decree of the Lord (Surah at-Tuur verses 48-49). Whatever decree of Lord will be the things which is uncertain in the future or anything which had already happened. This discipline teaches us to accept everything that will happen or that had happened as it helps us to get rid anxiety.  

10. Waking up in the darkness of night alone to worship makes us more focus to Him and it is more effective rather than when we pray optional prayers in front of people because we might get distracted (Surah al-Muzammil verses 1-6). We will recite things and ponder the meanings of the recitation. It will make us think deeper as we contemplate the messages of the Lord in His divine revelation. We also can cry and confess everything to the Lord without being known by others because many people are sleeping so they can't see or even hear us, lol!

Respected brothers and sisters in faith, please check the meaning and messages of the surahs for yourselves. A person who performs Qiyaamullail usually possesses wisdom and he is always blessed by the Lord though people look at him as no less than a tiny dust. Qiyaamullail is an additional worship act apart of the obligatory prayer services performed by orthodox sunnah Muslims. It helps us to get His Mercy and Love while we are still in this harsh world. In Qiyaamullail, a person will perform the salaat tahajjud, recites supplication or wazifas in devotion to the Lord and begging His Divine intervention to solve daily problems. 

So, brothers and sisters, I would like to advise myself and those who share the faith with me to stop talking about my Wahhabi movement is better, my Barelwi movement is better, my Deobandi movement is above all, my Tabligh movement is better, my Sunnah madzhab is correct, my Shi'ah madzhab is more honorable. Stop talking about who is wrong or who is correct. Let us together open up our scripture (Quran) and open up our Sunnah (prophetic traditions). We won't scratch each other faces when we are uniformly guided by these two primary sources of our Sacred Path. Stop fanaticism, stop being obsessed with our selves. The first creature/being who is obsessed with his self is the Devil the father of genies and the leader of evil genies, animals and human-being. Are we going to be one of his followers? Na'udzubillahu min dzaalik (may Allah helps us to be away from evil traits) may Allah makes us only as His followers and not others'!

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

Islamic Banking System

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Evil Period

This period is again period of evil. I read Hindu and Buddhist scriptures when I was a young secondary school kid and I found they talked about evil period after the righteous cycle of period. I had mentioned before I don't think like normal kids when I was a little kid. It makes me difficult to mingle with people around even with adults and for now I have to seclude myself from "normal" Muslims because I don't want their aqeedah to be harmed. I love my brothers and sisters I don't want my brothers and sisters being tormented that always make me always sacrificing myself for everyone around me. Those scriptures basically mention that things which are righteous being seen as evil while evil things being seen as good. The same thing about our Path being blackened and tainted by the cycle of period.

So, I am trying to fight the current as a lay man and spreading wide His "True" teachings through our Sacred Path and through His Holy Light. I beg my beloved brothers and sisters to please help me. Please be the soldiers of Allah. We don't slaughter or hurt people, plants, nature or animals when being His soldiers. We spread knowledge and awareness to people so everyone will be saved from diseases of evil. Please spread the knowledge of Shariah Islamiah to those who are still not aware about it and to those who are interested may Allah purify everyone's heart. 

Sharing

In this post I just wanted to put on this article about Islamic Banking in our country. I believe other countries with Muslim population such as Saudi Arabia also having this. Please stop talking about Muslim countries. I know few movements like Hizbut Tahrir also talk about this but I never bother to listen to them as I believe His Will is the Truth. No Muslim countries in this world for the time being. People of Shariah branches of science never believe in Muslim or Islamic countries. There is no such thing because an Islamic or a Muslim country is a sacred country nearest to His Kingdom. Try asking the jurists in Shariah court and you'll get the same answer. I talked with them and my father always doing interview with the ex-mufti in Kuala Lumpur for example with Hashim Yahya and he brings me with him. My father is not a religious person. I cry and pray for him everyday because he listens to things but he does not understand anything. It is not his fault. He was not properly educated and is not fortunate. I try to memorize Quran for my parents, grandparents and my brothers and sisters. I wanted to save them if they can't save their own selves.   

I read this article written in a Malay newspaper written by Prof. Muhammad Azam Muhammad Adil from Center for Islamic Thought and Understanding, Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam - Malaysia. It was published in Utusan Malaysia religious reading section around 16th of February 2012. So any brother or sister doing researches on economic angle of Shariah, I assure you don't hesitate to use this source in this post. I put the source here as to make it easier for you to do researches and begin to implement them in your organizations. This is sincerely dedicated to Allah apart of my personal record. It talks about how far Islamic banking system in Malaysia serves its goal to protect the welfare and the interest of its customers?

History of Islamic Banking System - Malaysia

Islamic banking system in Malaysia had begin with the establishment of Malaysian Islamic Banking Corporation Limited (BIMB). It was granted license by the government in order to implement the business according to Shariah Islamiah and operating as a bank.

As compared to Tabung Haji which has its goal to assist Muslims in Malaysia to save their money to perform Hajj pilgrimage, Islamic banking system in Malaysia offers schemes without usury covering the wadi'ah (saving account), mudharabah (investment), bai' bi thaman and murabahah for car and housing loan or deferred payment sale. 

In the beginning, the concept of non-usury or non-excessive interests facing many problems and obstacles. People were still complaining that the charges taken by the banking system such as the car and housing loan was still high but after many researches done it is now growing better and better after 30 years of its implementation.

Islamic banking system with non-usury concept is now developing with its expansion into conventional banking counters known as Islamic Windows. It begins since 1993 at the time European Union gets its current name through Mastricht Treaty, lol. Later in 1999, Mua'malat Banking Corporation was established. Since 2003, many conventional banks were also opening their own sub-companies based on Islamic Banking system. 

While local banks were competing among each other, two Middle East banks had penetrated Malaysia through their branches in the mid of 2000. Those banks are the al-Rajhi and Kuwait Finance House (KFH). I have a saving account in al-Rajhi too. All of the people at home supporting this bank because it's from our land of origin and it makes us easier when we go for pilgrimage in Saudi. I know one of Arab descent of Kedah who was the officer in Kajang branch of Selangor and we talked for few hours after I registered the account around the end of 2003. They said that statistics show that customers' acceptance to these two banks were quite satisfying. Even non-Muslims are also opening their saving accounts there. So, these two banks from Middle East had also become apart of the scene in the banking landscape in Malaysia.

These two banks of Middle East introduced new concepts or methodologies in providing loan for customers such as Musharakah Mutanaqisah (home financing) and Tawarruq to replace local system of Bai' al-'Innah (sale and buy back contract) and Bai' ad-Dayn (buying with loan). These new concepts take more reasonable payment profits as compared to older concepts used in local Islamic banking system.

When looking back at the definition of Shariah, it literally means straight path which brings everyone toward the source of the water. Philosophically, it means a stream which brings a human to a system that will make them happier and feel at peace in the world and the hereafter (physically and spiritually). A holistic system of life in its approach and goal. As a technical term, Shariah refers to a system revealed by Allah/The God through His revelation and divine inspiration which covers the components of creed, morality and civilization and jurisprudence or legal. It is not about a court which prosecute adulterers (or if some people love sex so much until they don't care about the place to screw up or screwing all over the place even in front of the public for exhibition like animals) or a court which plucks out the eyes of women who talk with an unknown man. This is not Islamic concept at all like has been propagated in the West by irresponsible medias! The prosecution of adulterers came from Hebrew Torah if people wanted to talk about stupid racist things in the past. The plucking of human eyes came from Hindu tribal man-made laws. Now I am an Orthodox Muslim and I talk as a civilized man. It does not mean that I am looking down at Orthodox Jews or Orthodox Hindus instead I highly respect their culture, customs and faiths.

So, anything which complies within the technical term meaning of the Shariah are acceptable and could be practiced as to show how flexible it is. European Union has several treaties and their member states' policies also have to comply within the Union framework. So, does the Shariah. There are also member states who don't care about the treaties and they joined the European Union simply because few personal reasons. So, does the Muslims and they interpret the revelation according to their worldview and region. 

In our Path, Allah has revealed the Creed, the Morality and Manners and the Legal basis for us to be integrated as our Way of Life. So, any subject matter or mawdhu' of our daily life and activities must be in accordance to the Shariah. Is it so hard to be understood?! I think this is just a simple thing as compared to what I have to learn again in part of European Union. It is so chaotic and the Union itself is originated from world wars remnants and period. I hate wars and I love peace! 

I am trying to simplify the article on the goal of the Shariah in banking system. Hope I have some space and time for this. I believe it is very important for lay men to always be informed about the Shariah as we are facing slanders from every corner. Insha Allah, we will try to finish the article through His Will.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love amin!                         

魔鬼怎樣制伏我們身體部分的呢?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

有些真回老師說魔鬼把我們的部分制伏通過十個門道 :

1. 小氣 - bakhil

2. 驕傲 - takabbur

3. 奸詐 - khanah

4. 醋意和惡意 - hasad

5. 說謊 - kazzab

6. 不聽知識和勸告 - ego

7. 低估人家 - 'ujub

8. 以自己光榮 - riyaa' 

9. 懷疑 - ishtibaah

10. 做徒勞夢的性質 - khayal

讚美真主, 阿敏!!!!

Arabs in Kedah Before Federation of Malaya 1948

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Masjid al-Bukhari in Alor Setar dedicated by an Arab who is now known as a Malay entrepreneur, lol

This article is adapted from the working paper of Nazirah Lee. Only for educational purpose and personal record. Please mention Nazirah Lee and other writers as the owners of the sources if reproducing these data! Lee discussed about the role played by the Arabs in British administration in Kedah Sultanate before the formation of the Federation of Malaya in 1948. Just click on the Federation of Malaya to get more information. 

Urm, I just to clear more about the term Jawi Pekan or Jawi Peranakan as we are from Kedah Sultanate while the Jawi Pekan mentioned everywhere is about Northern Indian. Our ancestors were Arab tribes who were also stationed in India-Pakistan and we are not Indian. It's true that Jawi Pekan most of them were from North India and some from Southern India but those in Kedah Sultanate were strongly Arab descents in contrast to those in Straits Settlements like in Singapore or Penang. Some of these Arab descents also married North or South Indian women so their descents are associated with Indians and they only choosing the candidates who are related to Arab tribes. Please avoid mentioning us as Indian or Malay. We will be a little bit shocked especially when we have no political affiliation or interests in government but we consider both Malays and Indians as human-being like everyone also as our brothers in faith if they are Muslims, don't worry.

Nazirah Lee talks about the position of Arabs in Kedah Sultanate administration policy and the approach used by British officials in their relationship with Arab community of Kedah Sultanate. The definition of a person's racial background based on religion and language spoken by a person has given a big impact on the position of Arabs in British administration in Kedah Sultanate. It has given the Arabs of Kedah Sultanate more spaces and opportunity to serve the government in administration areas, judicial and legal areas in the Kedah Sultanate government during British period.

Introduction

In her introduction for her working paper, Lee says that previous researches reflecting the importance and the contributions of Arab community toward Muslims in Malaya before the independence of Malay countries. Their contribution is more significant in religious and spirituality of the people. Her paperwork discussed the British administration policy and the role of the Arabs in British administration in Kedah Sultanate. How British view the position of Arabs among Muslim which determine them to practice positive approaches toward the community and in the same time they were also careful with the community.

Arabs in Kedah

Kedah was among the earliest settlements of Arab community in Malaysia. Their existence could be traced since 9th century (Syed Hasan, 2004). The Sultanate is not really new to Arabs since it is located at the trade route. Hourani mentions that it was the place where the Arabs and Chinese merchants meeting each other after the 9th century. Kedah was known in many names by the Arabs. Ishaq bin Imran for example refers Kedah as Kalah while Ya'aqubi refers it as Qaqulla (Tibbets, 1957). It was popular because it produced steel and bamboo.

The size of Arab community in Kedah was quite small as their population fluctuate in the period of researches conducted by researchers due to the immigration process by the Arabs is quite continuous. Some of them returned to their homeland in Middle East in some period of time. While some others came to Kedah to try their luck. According to the statistic done in 1911, the population of Kedah Sultanate who were classified as Arabs were 226 and the population decreased to 113 in 1931 (Nathan, 1922). The population of female in Arab community is smaller than of male and most of them were born in South East Asia and Malay countries. Following is their population according to gender and their origin:

            

Year	Male	Born in Arabia	Female	Born in Arabia
1911	----	No	Data	------
1921	128	27	98	3
1931	76	23	37	3

                             Table 1: Population of Arabs according to gender and place of birth (Nathan, 1922)  

It is quite difficult to determine the real place of origin of these people who were classified as Arabs in the table from the Census of British Malaya for British Protected States (Kedah, Brunei, Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johore), Straits Settlements, and Federated States. According to report in 1931, those who were classified as Arabs in Kedah in majority were originated from Hadramawt of Southern Yemen. Small division of Arabs were from Mecca, Medina and Egypt (Ramli, 1984). The table shows the majority of Arabs in Kedah were born in Malay countries. It refers also to Arabs who came from the area in today's Indonesian islands and those who locally born in Kedah. Arabs who were born in this region mostly came from mixed parentage. They have Malay mothers. Other than that, some of them were of Sayyid clans who only marry among Arabs as to make sure that they are not contaminated. We can see that cousins marrying cousins. And this is what happens in our community. Also the name of forefathers being recycled like their descents were the incarnation of forefathers just to make sure that forefathers won't be forgotten, lol.  

From the discussion, we could see that Arabs in Kedah were of different places of origin and family background. Not all of them were the Sayyids because this is what I always hear when we talk about the Yemeni Hadramis, hahahaha. Arab settlements could be found in almost all places in Kedah Sultanate of Kedah state today. Most of them were in Kota Setar and Kuala Muda.       

According to Paridah Ramli (1984) research from Malaysia National University mentions that many Arabs live in Kota Setar and Kuala Muda because these areas were the area closer to the capitals of Kedah. I had read some of the chronicles of our elders and they confirms it. There were also Arab settlements in Kubang Pasu and Yan districts but not as many as in Kota Setar and Kuala Muda districts.  

The map in the research by Paridah Ramli (1984) shows that Arab community in Kedah did not live in a specific area. Their settlements is all over the state and it shows that they mingled with natives. Previous researches related to the history of Arab community in Kedah shows that they assimilated themselves into the native society. However, Sharifah Zaleha explains that degree of assimilation with natives always changing according to the development in Muslim society. In the same time, Arab community struggled to maintain their identity as Arabs. In some Arab families, they used Arabic terms such as family hierarchy term to address their family member or using surname. In our case also we use Arabic words more than English words in our spoken Malay. In most cases, Arab community in Kedah speak in Kedah Malay and local dialects. They also adapted local cultural traits into their life so it is very difficult now to determine who are they unless if they talk about themselves in detail in which I think not all of them realize about it especially youngsters.        

In Kedah, the Arab community there is quite different in the matter of marriage related to female family member. Just like other typical Arabs in other areas in Malay countries in Malaysia and Indonesian islands, those with Sharifah title were not allowed to marry others who are not with the title Sayyid. I think this is so out-dated but I agree that we need to check our spouse background especially their religion background and piety. What concerns me is religion, not the money, lordship status or racial background. For this, those Arabs of Shafi'ie madzhab using the principle of kafaah in marriage. But I also know few of these people who marry Malay noble men and they are not Arabs such as the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Malaysian first prime minister. He was the son of our beloved 26th Sultan, Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah. Our 26th Sultan was also married to Arab women with Sharifah title. Most of patriotic Kedahan will keep a picture of this sultan. I keep one with me too and many Kedahan who live outside of the state also keeping it with them as our symbol of patriotism and love toward our sultanate no matter of what racial background we are. Don't be surprised if non-Kedahan fellow Malaysians could see this sultan picture in our premises such as in Chinese or Indian shops and etc, hahaha.

However, this matter has no effect on the relationship between Arabs of Kedah with other Muslims although many critics being directed toward their status and position around 1930's. Tunku Abdul Rahman as an example urged Malay society to reckon the contribution of Arab community because they were also involved in defending the sultanate during the war between Kedah sultanate and the Siam empire. Paridah Ramli (1984) mentions that he refers it to the sacrifice made by Sayyid Zainal Abiddin (posthumous name Tengku Kudin) who lead the Kedah army to attack the Siam empire and he was finally killed. In this matter, Arab community was regarded as a respected community and considered as aristocrats by native Malays of Kedah.

This is also influenced by the view of local society at that time who assumed that all Arabs were the family of prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Ok, now I am laughing, hahahaa. Many people will refer to Arabs in term of religion. I also see this tendency by some non-Arabs to view Arabs should act according to Islamic rites even if they consume non-halal food. Not all Arabs are Muslim and not all Arabs are religious. There are also Jew Arabs and Christian Arabs and it is true some of them even those Christians and Jews were also connected to prophet family before they become apostates. Arabs are not holy people or angels and Arabs are not demons too. Arabs are just human-being like other nations. When we see an Arab behaved like sh*t, we should not generalize all Arabs because there are civilized and uncivilized Arabs. The same thing also to other nations like Malay, Chinese, Africans, Indians or Caucasians. I personally don't like the mentions about prophet Muhammad s.a.w was sent to Arab nation because they were so barbaric by Malay ustazs and ustazas. Arab nations had exist since after Semitic era even before the existence of Hebrews. Muhammad s.a.w is a sign of Mercy from Allah Azza wa Jall to all nations in this period. Many of his descents through Ali k.w and his daughter Fatimah r.a has spread out of the Arabian Peninsula.     

Paridah Ramli (1984) shows that Arabs also playing important role in transmitting religious teaching to people in Kedah. Traditionally, Kedah sultans will invite Arabs to the sultanate and teaching Islam. They also appointed Arab scholars specialized in religious sciences as muftis to serve the sultanate in term of religious guidelines and rituals. It also happened during British administration era. The Sheikhul Islam of Kedah in 1334 H (1916) was invited from Arabia to serve the state and he actually knows no Malay words at all. This is among the reason why Arab community in Kedah were closely related to ruling class of the state.

Other than the role in religious teaching, Arabs in Kedah also being seen as apart of nobility because the relationship among royal family. Sultan Zainal Rashid Muazam Shah II (1880-1881) for example is a son of an Arab mother who were born in Patani Sultanate in Southern Thailand (Mohammad & Othman, 2001). 

Other than acting as missionaries, Arabs in Kedah were also merchants and traders. There were also Arabs who were involved in agricultural activities. Mohamad Redzuan Othman had discussed about the involvement of Hadrami Arabs from al-Idrus, Barakbah and Jamalullail clans in agricultural activities. Sayyid Alwi bin Sayyid Ahmad al-Habshee as an example was an entrepreneur who owned a rubber plantation in Yan district. Sayyid Abdul Rahman al-Junied was an Arab businessman who was also involved in the petrol industry in Kedah. He had made an appeal to British government to build a gas station in Kulim. Sayyid Abdullah bin Mohsin al-Attas was an Arab who involved in the trade of sugar in Penang and Kedah.

In a simple word, Arabs in Kedah mostly enjoyed good social and economy status. Their life was comfortable. There were also records about some Arabs who lived a difficult life in Kedah Sultanate. The record says that an Arab originated from Medina was arrested by British police in Alor Setar, the capital of Kedah. The man was known as Abdul Karim and he was classified as a vagrant living in the masjid as an example of poor Arab in Kedah. Other example is Sayyid Omar bin Sheikh Shahabuddin who worked as  British clerk II in Padang Terap District Office was prosecuted on the charge owing an Indian creditor known as Muthuya in the Alor Setar Court. He failed to pay his debt in total of $226.51 until he died in January of 1932.   

As the conclusion for this part, among Muslims in Kedah Sultanate, Arab community had played their role in religious field. They were seen as administrator supporting groups due to their relatively good social and economy status. However, not all of Arabs in Kedah contributed toward the society. There were also proves that Arabs and Malays having misunderstanding and Arabs who lived poor life. As an example, the rubber plantation owner Sayyid Alwi of Yan district that was just mentioned in few paragraphs had some quarrels with a Malay or perhaps Achehnese known as Nyak Abdullah bin Ku Bak Usop. Nyak Abdullah said that he was cheated by Sayyid Alwi in the contract of land selling that they had agreed before.    

Urm, I don't like any exaggeration about whatever role of Arab community anywhere in the world because people may say that we are boasting and etc or thinking that we are holy creature. I don't even care about it and I never think myself as a holy creature because I have low-self esteem when I am with other Muslim nations. I can't even look at people face because I think I am filthy and inferior as compared to Malays or any other nations. This is just what has been written in the working paper of the seminar about Arab community in Kedah state, Malaysia. I guess it is enough we are known according to our ethnicity like Chinese or Indian and being recognized as natives like other natives like Malay or Siamese. I didn't get native privilege like textbooks and others because my father was not government servant and I was treated badly by Malay kids and teachers last time because I refused to be one but there are many other hypocrite Arabs who were racists not marrying people of non-Sayyid ancestry but in the same time using Malay privileges. This is not right, isn't it?!!

Gratitude to Researchers

Special thanks to researchers who had conducted researches about our community in Kedah sultanate. Your assistance and help hopefully will be rewarded and I wish others could also trace their origin from researches conducted by researchers. Next we will see the Arab community of Kedah in British administration period. My paternal grandpa was one of the British government servant. He was a clerk for British official in Kubang Pasu and also used to deal with the royal family in Kota Setar. I get the information from elders in Kota Setar. They mentioned that he has lands even in Penang Island. He also possessed horses when he was young but sadly he passed away as a poor man in Kodiang town when my father was 12 years old. He has many children and most of my cousins were old the same age as my father because they were from previous marriage, hahaha. I never see him so it was very difficult for me to get access from our elders that made me contacting people in Kedah, India and Pakistan to get information beside accessing data about local South East Asian Arabs. At least now I know why I am different from others and I could proceed with my religion, traditions and customs without doubt like others. 

References

Mills, J.V. (1974). “Arab and Chinese Navigators in Malaysian Waters in About A.D.1500” in Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 47 (II)

Tibbets, G.R. 1957. “Early Muslim Traders in Southeast Asia” Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1(1)

Sharifah Zaleha bte Syed Hasan. (2004). History and Indigenization of the Arabs in Kedah Malaysia in Asian Journal of Social Science (29)1

Mohamad Redzuan Othman. (2009). Sumbangan Usahawan keturunan Arab dalam perkembangan ekonomi Tanah Melayu sebelum Perang Dunia Kedua”. Kertas Kerja di Seminar Sejarah Keusahawanan: Pelajaran untuk MAsa depan. 9 January 2009. UM KL.

Muzaffar Mohamad and Suhana Othman. 2001. Ahli Bait (Keluarga) Rasulullah saw dan Raja-raja Melayu. Kuala Lumpur: Al-Wasilah Enterprise

Paridah Romly. (1984). Orang Arab di Kedah. Undergraduate Thesis at the Department of History‚ National University of Malaysia

    

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love amin!   

Indonesian Arab Descent Oath 1934

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Mr. Abdul Rahman Baswaden

 Intoduction

Some history about fellow Arab descents in Java Island of Indonesia. This oath was taken by the Arab descents in Indonesia around 1934. The Arab descents had conducted a congress in Semarang, north coast of Java Island in Indonesia at 4-5 October of 1934. In the congress, they together voiced that Indonesia is their motherland. Before the congress, many of the Arabs in Indonesia still looking Arabia as their motherland and everything in their life is based on whatever happened in Arabia. This congress is out of the knowledge of many people because it is not taught in history text book in Indonesia. The same thing also happened to Arab descents in Malaysian states who arrived as early as 15th century. Nobody recognize us as bumiputera (natives) according to our own ethnicity but including us into another nation. The congress has a big impact on the Arab descents in Indonesia and also impacted the journey toward Indonesian islands' independence from Dutch colonial rulers.

Background

Dutch colonial administration had divided Indonesians into three classes of society. The highest class were the Caucasians such as the Europeans, Americans, Japanese and etc. The second class citizens were the Arabs, Indians, Chinese and others. The third class citizens were the native Indonesians. Most of Arabs in Indonesian island were from Southern of Yemen which is known as Hadramawt. Arabs who came to Indonesian Islands most of them were men as the Arab tradition prohibited women from being brought together with husband and they could not also bring their sisters together. It is to protect the women from harsh condition during traveling.

Because of this reason, many Arab men also married local women. If the colonial Dutch called the native of Indonesia as inlander (low class native), the Arabs of Indonesia called the native as al-Ahwal. It means their maternal relatives because their mothers were natives. The same thing also to Chinese, Malay and Thai speaking Arabs here in Malaysia. We consider Chinese, Malay and Thai people as our maternal relatives and it is offensive also for us to listen to racist remarks on these people.  

In the 1st of August 1934, Sun Daily in Semarang had included the writing of Abdul Rahman Baswedan about the Arabs in Java Island titled "Arab descent and Their Origin. Baswedan is an Arab descent of Ampel in Surabaya. In the article, there was the picture of Baswedan wearing Javanese traditional cap known as Blangkon. He called fellow Arab descents in Indonesia to accept the jus soli concept of citizenship. Wherever they are born, they are the people of the land. The article in its spirit explaining that Arabs should be more nationalistic to their mother countries. Among the points of the article are:

1. Arab descents culture in Indonesia is Indonesian culture

2. Arab descents must be responsible toward the land and the society

3. There must be a specific political organization representing Arab descents interests

4. Avoiding matters which could broken the understanding among Arab descents

5. Stop isolating themselves and try to adapt with the time and major society

This article was chosen by Tempo magazine special edition for the event of A Century of National Rising (May 2008) as among 100 influential article in the history of Indonesian nationalism. This article is quite a controversy because at that time he was just a 26 years old. Many Arab descents in Java Island were outraged upon the publication of his article since he had raised an idea to lower down Arabs' self-esteem and suppressing their own cultural traits. 

Besides, Baswedan through Sun Daily had routinely expressed some ideas about the importance of social integration, unity of Arabs in Indonesia, and together with natives of Indonesia to gain independence. There was also an idea to establish Indonesian Arab Part as a concern to represent the principals and aspiration of Arab descent in Indonesia.       

The Conference of Arab Descents

All of Arab descents from cities in Indonesian islands had gathered in the conference in Semarang. At that time, Arab communities in the whole Indonesia were shocked with the conference. In the conference, Mr. Baswedan had posed questions on where is their country? The Arab youths who joined the conference wished that all Arabs regardless status in Indonesian islands could be united and fully integrated as an Indonesian nation.   

In the conference they together took the oath: "Our native land is only one, Indonesia. And we Arab descents must stop from isolating ourselves". This oath is known as the Oath of Young Indonesian Arabs. According to Mr. Baswedan, the unity is a main source for Arab descents to rise up with nationalism movement to gain independence from colonial administration. Before the conference, Arab descents all over the islands though intelligent and quite famous figures; they never admit Indonesia as their mother land. They always think that Yemen in Arabian Peninsula was their motherland.   

Mr. Baswedan being one of the apprentice who propagated Indonesian nationalism to Arab communities who earlier never declare Indonesia as their motherland. Since 1934, Arab descents especially young people began to join nationalism movement and leaving behind their Arab identity.

So, this is about Southern Arabs in Indonesia. About our states in Malaysia also we are not so aware about our fellow Arab descent friends. In Malaysian states, there were also those from Hejaz (Saudi), Syria and Egypt apart of those from Yemen or originated from Yemen. Some actually has been absorbed into different communities in Malaysia not to forget others who become non-Muslim as the effect of being isolated.  Hope this is useful for Muslim brothers and sisters.

Sources

(English) Huub De Jonge, Abdul Rahman Baswedan and the Emancipation of the Hadramis in Indonesia, Asian Journal of Social Science, Volume 32, Number 3, 2004 , pp. 373-400 (28).

(Indonesian) Alwi Shahab, Sumpah Pemuda Arab, republika.co.id, 16 September 2007. 

(Indonesian) Howard Dick, Surabaya the City of Work, a socioeconomic History 1900-2000, Center for International Studies, Ohio University, 2002. 

(Indonesian) Suratmin, Abdurrahman Baswedan; Karya dan Pengabdiannya, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, Direktorat Sejarah dan Nilai Tradisional Proyek Inventarisasi dan Dokumentasi Sejarah Nasional Jakarta, 1989, hal 49-50. 

(Indonesian) Apa dan Siapa; Abdur Rahman Baswedan, Pusat Data dan Analisis Tempo, www.pdat.co.id. 
(Indonesian) Alwi Shahab, Partai Arab Indonesia, republika.co.id, 6 Januari 2002. 

(Indonesian) Awal Sejarah Besar Itu dalam Profil Jama’ah Shalahuddin UGM, www.js.ugm.ac.id. 
(Indonesian) Lihat catatan pendahuluan Djohan Effendi dalam buku Pergolakan Pemikiran Islam, Catatan Harian Ahmad Wahib yang diterbitkan Pustaka LP3ES, Jakarta, cetakan keenam, Februari 2003.

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

What is Shariah Islamiah???!

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 

I think I had posted about this many times especially in the maqasid shar'iyyah posts but I guess in certain places medias especially in the West always making it a negative issue. You know what media people? You are tyrannizing us and violating human rights. I am not trying to play victim here but I am already one of a victim of you people! You people are merciless, nonsensical, mean and cruel!

Now, what I am going to do here as a plain Muslim is to explain to people about what is our religion from my own understanding. What is our path. What is our way of life? What is our life itself as Muslims? Shariah means the Way. It simply means the Way if it is a literal translation. It is synonymous to the Path. When we talk about Shariah, we are not only talking about judicial system but also about the system of life and the nature. Just to compare it with European Union. You people have few institutions and among them is the Court of Justice. Other is related to economy such as the Central Bank of Europe and few sub-institutions to regulate policy for member countries to adopt or choosing to adopt them. The same thing with Shariah we have all of this and the whole world is known as equal nations.

We have fatawas. Fatwa means guidelines. They could be adopted by public and are issued by scholars of Islam after meetings and commission were held. The fatawas were issued according to our schools of jurisprudence. For Sunnah or Orthodox Sunni Muslims, we have four main schools of jurisprudence:

1. Hanafi where the main teacher is Abu Hanifah

2. Maliki as the main teacher is Anas bin Maalik

3. Shafi'ie and the main teacher is Abu Abdullah bin Idris bin Abbas bin Uthman bin Idris bin Shafi'ie

4. Hanbali after the father of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal

For our Twelver Shi'a brothers, their school of jurisprudence is known as:

1. Ja'afari after the sixth Imam of Shi'a Muslims which is Imam Ja'afar as-Saadiq  

So every Muslim brother and sister must know which school of jurisprudence you belong to as it is important when you wanted to get council and advice for your daily life activities. It was surprising when I was in Saudi Arabia and I asked several people there what is your school of jurisprudence? And some of them just saying to me they are not so sure because they just follow people around. I was like... What????! You have a religion simply because you follow people around and not because of your sincerity? That was like me when I was a little kid because I just follow and imitate what people around doing without understand what are the significance of those things.

So, in Shariah Islamiah what does it consist of dear beloved brothers and sisters? It consists of:

1. Tawheed

What does tawheed means? It means monotheism ideology. We believe and trust only in the One True Lord the Creator of the Universe beyond our imagination. The first and important thing that a Muslim missionary will talk is about tawheed and Allah Azza wa Jall. This is the root of our Path and Shariah. In European Union, your root is the World War I and World War II. The competition to get sources for weaponry such as the coal and steel. When you people talking about others try to mirror yourselves. What does weaponry means? It means war and people who worship weapon are the real terrorists and idolaters. This is just an example, though I hate to study about Europe but I benefited from this course that I am studying so first I would like to give my gratitude to the Lord. I feel tormented but at least I know how to answer to people unlike other typical madrasah students as I had been diverted to secular education system. Hope I could pass my economy paper. I am interested to learn more about it but I am quite slow to understand that kind of matter in just few months.

2. 'Ibadah

What does this Arabic word means? It literally means enslaving ourselves to the Lord. In a more polite word, it means serving the Lord before we get the chance to see Him. When we translate this into English, it becomes worship. In Orthodox Sunnah Muslim daily life, we are bound to the five pillars of Islam. What do we have in pillars of Islam? Let me state it again here so everyone could clearly see the connections:

i. Witnessing that there is no gods except that the only God unique of His own and Muhammad is His messenger to nations of the period of near Resurrection

ii. Five times daily prayer services known as salat

iii. Fasting obligatory fast or sawm for the whole month of Ramadan for those who are capable and healthy

iv. Paying the tithe or zakah for the needed and there are eight categories of people who may receive it

v. Pilgrimage or hajj to the holy land in Mecca for those who are capable and could afford it once in a life time during the month of Zulhijjah and performing acts in memory of prophet Ibrahim a.s and his family in the barren land. First thing first, we go to Mecca then only to Medinah to Jerusalem whatsoever sites in other places around the world.  

All of these especially the first four points are important disciplines prescribed for every sane Muslim which could be described in long-winding philosophy. People in European Union has to think and amend everything for their basic foundations. It took them so long but the basis of their organization is not as firm as the law of nature aren't they, hahaha.   

Urm, when people like Atheists or non-religious call us as stupid for enslaving ourselves for an unknown or invisible entity, I would say that I don't mind to be a stupid for that rather than being enslaved by spaces, materials, women, men, politicians, desires, and etc like you smart people! Even if there is no God or no gods like they say, I guess that it is not wrong to protect the universe, the earth, our own body and society from being harmed by violating the nature and law of the universe. Plus, I never feel stressful when I recite prayers to Him rather than I chase something like a postgraduate certificate while my future is still in cloud. What could it cause us? Depression! If we are enslaved to money, can we buy happiness with it? This is the teaching of smart people, where human only consist of physical body. The inner body which is the spiritual body is out of the scene. Education based only on physical is not holistic in its approach. It is not balanced. 

3. Akhlak and Aadab

Akhlak means morality and ethics while aadab means civilized. In contrast to civilized is barbaric. This is mentioned as ihsan in the hadith Jibril a.s in the conversation in a masjid with prophet Muhammad s.a.w witnessed by his companions, among them was Umar bin al-Khattab r.a. People from mission orders and tasawwuf circle usually practicing few things related to remembrance to Allah Azza wa Jall to protect themselves from evil environment and spreading His light to the universe through prayers. In this matter, there is nothing peculiar about the practices as long as it is not violating the basic Shari'ah Islamiah. Not all people are the member of mission orders. So please don't judge people just because they belong to certain mission circle or looking like one. There are also neo-sufis who chanting simple daily ma'athurat morning and evening after Fajr and Maghrib prayer services. We must remember Allah always not only by praying in the masjid or mehrab non-stop but we may remember Him while waiting for the bus, while chatting with friends (chanting dzikr by mental), walking and recite His Glorious and Respected Names, and etc. When talking about this we are actually very flexible, being creative and not shallow. 

Ethics and the way we mingle with people basically consists of few things such as:

1. Respect to the Lord

2. Respect to prophets and messengers of the Lord

3. Respect to parents and elders

4. Respect to brothers and sisters visible or invisible

5. Respect to our own selves

6. Respect to environment and nature

To behave according to ethics, we follow the sunnah and advices of our beloved prophet Muhammad s.a.w and the wisdom of his companions. We also follow the wisdom of Ahlul Bayt imams such as Hassan and Hussein. These two are the grandsons of prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Do Europeans and American constitutions talk about manner and morality too? I am sure you people have it. If not why Europe is trying to be a "soft" power by using carrot and stick to force country for example like China to abolish capital punishment and as the result they may conduct business with European Union. This is my topic in my second semester presentation. I did it with my classmate, respectable sister Hasmahani and I've got A for that because I printed out and read a bulk of paper works, hehehe. I don't find anything about Europe interesting anymore after I learn it as I am more amazed with Allah 'Azza wa Jall. I think He is the Most Coolest figure in the whole universe and worlds. But I still reading things about Europe just to keep myself up to date or maybe I could help other brothers and sisters to provide information if they need it for their advancement. I love to serve my brothers and sisters. I don't want anything I just want brothers and sisters happiness and smile : )

4. Munakahat

Urmm, I think many people around 20-25 years old love to talk about this. For me this is very typical but it is fun to look at their faces expression, hahahahahahaha. Munakahat means matrimonial or marriage. It consists of the building of society process and the conduct of marriage. Many of my Muslim course mates either male or female competing among each other to get munakahat certificate from the masjid to prepare themselves for their future marriage and I guess some of them are already married now, lol. I didn't attend any seminars for munakahat and I don't think I need the certificate yet. I am not ready and I need to memorize the glorious Quran and Sunnah and transmitting them when I finished and understood everything. That is among my responsibility and sacrifice to Allah Azza wa Jalla. When we talk about munakahat, it's not simply about marriage and the agreement to be husband and wife or for legal relation as what my ex-colleague unfiltered mouth said, bermukah secara halal (having sexual intercourse in a legal way). It is about the responsibility to educate the coming souls (children), to teach them about the Lord, providing them with education and love so they may be devoted and fear Allah and to protect them from the hell-fire. Marriage is a sacred thing. It is not something to be played with and cut off the crap about building masjid stuffs if it is actually based on what we hear from people and just because we wanted to follow the trend. I am not into trend. I am into the significance of the worship and serving Him. There is no real pleasure in the world till we see Him.

5. Mu'amalah

This the relation of human with regards to daily activities. It is also related to contracts and transactions. Something to do with business. I just heard a lecture in masjid about contracts, loan, economic system, interest, usury and banking in our way of life. We have kitabs about this and we refer to them when we are going to conduct businesses with people around. Anything to do with bank, buying and selling, trade, import and export everything is in mu'amalat section of Shariah. There are formulas to calculate everything so, people in Shariah stream are not really useless and stupid. It's just our image was tainted by politicians and being tied to backward civilization while the truth is we are actually the most open-minded people in the world. For contemporary issues, there are researches for it and we don't simply do anything without researches.  

6. Jinayyah and 'Uqubah

Jinayyah means crime and 'Uqubah means punishment. This one is related to justice and the punishments may vary according to cultural interpretation of certain nations. Like the thing which was known as hudud, it actually means limitation for the punishment. I don't know why Malay medias playing the issue like it is something bad and negative? Not all of Muslims having basic knowledge about their own way of life so they just believe whatever is said in the media. I would like to advise everyone including myself, find qualified teachers and ask them about what we don't know. Don't ask the newspaper or simply listening to rumors or hearsays. That is not the nature of a Muslim. The Lord encourages us to seek knowledge and reading in surah Iqraa', the Lord mentions about seeking knowledge and He always mentions about mind and thinking in glorious Quran which means through the guidance of divine revelation we think and solving our daily problems.               

For contemporary issues regarding Shariah, there are researches for them and we don't simply do anything without researches.   

The sources to derive guidelines in Islam for the muftis and the councils are:

1. Glorious Quran

2. Sunnah

3. Ijma' of collective reasoning of scholars

4. Qiyas or analogical deduction

5. Ijtihad or individual reasoning 

6. Wisdom of ahlul bayt

These are all could be checked in our schools of jurisprudence studies or what is known as fiqhi madzhab. That is why it is important for a Muslim to know what is his or her school of jurisprudence to get advises and suggestions on how to conduct daily life activities and worship.   

I guess this is it. I hope it is not too long or not too brief. I could write an essay longer than this and elaborate everything but I guess we need to also accommodate others and making things easier. I wish this is useful. If brothers and sisters have other better readings please don't hesitate to suggest it to me maybe can email me at matianning86@gmail.com. I would be glad to read them and listening to others opinion. If brothers and sisters have free time don't forget write about your understanding on Islam what is Islam what is Shariah and what is our Path all about? It's not for others but your own benefit. Write in your languages or in English and keep it with you to read day by day. I am sure you will enjoy reading them and making them as apart of your memory of life : ) 

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love amin!