Study the "Shari'a" and Sunnah for Life

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

My cousin brother in-law, Suffiyan had just arrived at our house with maternal cousin sister, Naysa to attend their daughter's convocation ceremony. I am not sure where it is but I am proud to know that the girl is going to further her undergraduate studies in the United Kingdom (UK). She is a wonderful, diligent and quite a polite girl. They drive all the way from Perlis. I am sure it is a tiring journey. She said that she had a hard time studying technical courses for her diploma and her hairs fallen down which is scary for her. The same thing goes to her mother, Naysa. She studies for an undergraduate certificate in education methodology back there in Perlis at her 40s. She said she was deceived when she listens to her friends and she repents. She hates studying in the university, haha. I understood them. I am still in the torturing period of releasing myself from this post-graduate studies. I get some ideas to finish up the thesis from Azren. He came to see me and handing me his copy of thesis as a guide. We discussed a little. Thanks Azren only Allah blesses You for helping me while you are busy with your job and life.  

Regret for People's View

Brother Suffiyan managed to get to know me a little during the Friday prayer service and during Night prayer sessions in Zainal Abiddin Mosque. He is around his 40s and he just opened a fish farm. He works for himself as a fish dealer in the village. For Maghreb, my mother had suggested us to pray with brother Suffiyan there since he had never been to the metal mosque. Usually I would just pray at musallas closer to our neighborhood. If I have enough time I could walk to all three out of four musallas here which is counted as an act of ziyarat. My "real" life is quite hidden even to my own family members. As for cousins, for sure they too do not really know me well and I usually would never show my face to people around. We just arrived late at the mosque since there are many traffic lights and junctions to go through.

While in the car we just talked about how sorry our life is when we leave behind our "religion". We would rather choosing the "world" and misguided with the notions that it is the goal. Bro. Suffiyan said that last time he also thought that sending his children to madrasah would make them suffer and living like a beggar in the future. But it was in the contrary as he had seen many religious teachers who established humble madrasas could live happily without having to face anxiety. He regret it but it is already fated by Allah so we could just repair ourselves and get prepared to see Him. My mother said that I should also finished my studies in Shari'a stream and perhaps she should not put me in the religious school in Selangor which had caused me troubles but maybe shifting me to another private madrasah under reliable and specific teachers to guide me. She was busy paying attention to all of her children so she could not properly see what is my tendency, ability and the problems that I had to face while I was the only teenage boy at home. I know she loves me and she had tried all she can but this is also fated by Allah. I would never blame her nor anyone. I was also an immature young teenage. Anyone to be blamed is only myself. Not my mother nor anyone. For now I am actually memorizing, doing exercises with all of my Shari'a kitabs and trying to memorize the Quran while understanding it. When I face problems in these "studies" I would get the assistance of the authority of the kitabs and references. So, brothers and sisters. Don't only study in the website but please at least have some effort to see specific teachers. For ladies, please see female teachers so they could teach and assist you with jurisprudence for ladies. Be respectful to Shari'a field and its teachers just like we respect teachers from other fields.

Last few days, I recalled that I watched a program in Astro channel which I barely could remember its name and the channel name because there are currently two channels for Islamic information. The program featured Ustad Abu Hassan Din who talked about contemporary issues in our society. The issue is about Fardh al-Kifaya and Fardh al-'Ayin and how we differentiate them based on their importance.

Definitions of Fardhu al-'Ayin and Fardhu al-Kifaya

There are from what I understood as I had listened about these since I was a young child. Of course we learned about these and not simply appearing in our mind like from "no where". We perhaps forgotten about these and when we clear our mind only it comes out, hehe. 

Fardhu al'Ayin refers to individual tasks or responsibility. They are mostly related to our acts of worship and daily discipline of life. As a Muslim, we must have knowledge about these and we must perform these. It is an obligatory individual responsibility. If one leaves them, he is sinful according to the jurisprudence terms and jurisprudence refers to our structures of path based from the basis of Quran and Sunnah. Examples of these responsibilities are the salat services, tithe for the eight eligible receivers or seeking the knowledge as in general. So, basically it is something which is related to the obligation of every Muslim both male and female. 

Fardhu al-Kifaya refers to the obligation or a responsibility of some part of society in order to protect the interest of society. The whole of society will be sinful if nobody performs it or everyone neglecting it. What are the examples? It is divided into two types of field. Firstly, it is related to the earthly studies and jobs for example those related to living skills such as technology, medicinal knowledge or medical, business, management, administration, politics, financial, engineering and others. Secondly, it is related to heavenly one which is the studies and jobs related to the Quran, the Sunnah and the Shari'a. 

Framing the Issue

It looks like my European policy thesis now, hehe. In the program that I watched. It shows a conversation of three fathers who are discussing about their children future after their children finished their primary school period. One of them had said that one of a friend in their neighborhood is deciding to send his son to a seminary to memorize the Quran in Kedah state. They commented that the boy is pitiful to have such a backward father and they laughed. They said that the boy has no "certificate" and how could he find job to survive in this "modern" world? Then, one of those fathers interfered saying that what is so weird with the father's measure? He mentions about Fardhu al-Kifaya and Fardhu al-'Ayin and mentions that memorizing Quran is also a Fardhu al-Kifayah while most people only talk about having degrees in fields such as technology, nuclear, petro-bomb and etc. He said to those two laughing fathers: "You two who laughed to others if people asked you to be a praying leader in masjid when nobody could hold the position would be sweating hardly and you just recite simple surats". He further said: "What is wrong with memorizing Quran and having no "certificate" as in the form of paper? It is all about the mental image!" 

Jobs related to Shari'a: Quran and Sunnah traditionally was conducted by "poor" people because they are not supposed to ask for "material" gifts and live only according to moderate way of life. The job is not so popular in its name nor glamorous like the earthly ones. It is only known as the da'awa job. 

When I was studying in Shari'a streams, we as the students in the class were looked down upon by people who studied the earthly matters until many of us ran to secular studies, losing our faith in our own religion and not even finishing our Thanawi level and leaving behind our gateways to Higher Religious Council papers while it is our responsibility.  Those "knowledge" is actually still lingering within us though we're tested by Allah but we just never show it up to people other than we feel low-self esteem.

Nowadays, I feel quite funny when I saw some students in Islamic movements whether those recognized by the Islamic Center or those transnational movements' members talking about religious issues. Or perhaps wearing the turban with "tail" as it is "sunnah". I will explain what is the meaning of this statement later. It is not because I am a "secular" type of person but it is because I left the responsibility since the "studies" is looked down after the introduction of government policies in 1990s and we were the victims of political rantings among those politicians. When I asked those students (except brother Zaidi), they answered me they were almost being sent to this "religious school" or that "religious school" but it ends up they are in schools such as Maktab Rendah Sains Mara or Primary Science Institute because it is more promising in their future and it was their dreams, hehe. They still can be the da'ie by studying in circles around but Shari'a and jurisprudence is not like we snap our fingers. 

Say that I studied religion since my kindergarten time until I finished my high school, then I just started to study science or technology studies for example modern medical or engineering and start to learn explanations for complicated formulas when I am quite old because I begin to realize that religious studies is no more relevant in the future and I could only survive with "atomic" formula. Can I speak like a specific teacher in "Science"?  It is not wrong to talk about certain issues in Islam but there are also some high issues which could not be discussed by lay men among lay men because it will raise up debates among ignorants.

I just wanted everyone to know, what is our feeling as Shari'a students and I am also representing those non-recognized students in private madrasas in our state who studied Shari'a Islamiah. We had to sacrifice our "future". When we were "cast" into the Shari'a stream, it means that we are fated to hold the obligation by Allah but what happens to some of us who were punished by politicians and society perceptions around? Actually I still can survive living in the village and grating coconut like what the "leader" said to us in his speech broadcasted in the radio around 2001. I have my "religion" to guide me to a happy, less-stressful and peaceful life. Grating coconut is not a bad idea yet I can open up home stay and promote tourism in the village or selling the coconut milk in market while in I have many times to study kitabs, hehe. Those who live in the "modern" world facing fears for survival, having to pay bills, facing higher goods prices with limited salary, fear to be sacked especially nowadays the economy is flopping and so on. The world is also a temporary place for us and it is not our goal. We will have to die and "religion" is only for those who is living. What can we study after we die? hahaha...

Though many people including those in the Middle East are impressed to that 'old leader" but I would have to say sorry and having to disagree! I studied Political Science and International Relation though I was a Shari'a student. I had also experience being a Buddhist in certain points of my life in terms that I practiced Buddhism. The notion of Shari'a students are not at par with students in "Universities" is not practical anymore. I am a Shari'a student and I will continue my studies that I had stopped after I am finished with this thesis, Insha Allah. I had tried to study it again when I was 19 years old by taking the related papers for Shari'a in A-Level. Just after I returned from pilgrimage in Holy Mecca, I drew out from proper school and registered for A-Level with Shari'a papers at the Education Office in Jalan Semarak. But Allah had arranged me until this stage. I don't know how many fellow Shari'a stream students who turned to be like me but I believe many of us are in "secular" streams as the result of what happened in 1990s. One of my maternal nephew who studied with me in the early madrasah that I was sent is a plumber. If you people stumbled here please share your experience. I could also learn from your experiences besides with those who remained in the stream. Everything is in His boundless wisdom.     

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters who are blessed by Allah Azza wa Jalla. I am calling myself and also you who accidentally coming by as a fellow Muslim. If you love your children, start educate them with Quran and train them to memorize the glorious Quran. Then teach them with Nawawi Hadiths compilation as a basis for them because each hadith of the compilation is gravely useful for them to survive and enough for them to practice. No need for traditional memorization but only teach them in point forms including with the sources of narration. Important thing is on how it is being "nurtured" in their "heart" because it would shine out in their daily acts.     

Regarding young ustad like Ustad Don Danial Biyajid, I am proud to know that there are young educators like him as an example for others and he speaks English well. I had discussed with Azren and he loves the way on how the ustad taught people because we also talked about approaches of da'awa and its presentation to people around. I just used other term when talking with Azren but it is still referring da'awa. Those students from da'awa groups in my university are not really speaking in English. Maybe they thought that I am pretending not to speak Malay with them but I speak and think in "few languages" in real life. Some of those kids who speak in Kedah Malay, I still talked with them in "Hybrid Kedah Malay" because I am fluent in it as compared to "normal" Malay spoken in our capital. What is wrong speaking in English as a medium of da'awa? I am also starting to speak in Arabic again after I completed my fathers' lineage from 17th century down to now and tracing our clan name. Last time Arabic was only my written language and I love the language. 

I end up this post with a short Quranic verse meaning on what Allah says related to the da'awa works:

"And the people who works hard in Our courses, indeed We will lead them into Our ways and indeed God is with the good doers" (Surat al-'Ankabut verse 69). 

Allah will surely grant these people with happiness, His pleasure and assistance when they try to perform acts of charity. About the turban with tail, it actually refers to a faqih. I saw member in movement for example in Tabligh Jama'at lay men karkuns who wear the turban. Yea, it is a "Sunnah" but based from our understanding as "Shari'a" people and those of mission circle lineages. If you wear the "turban with tail" it shows that people can consult anything related to "jurisprudence" and "religion-life" from you or in the other word you are a faqih, hehe. It is not only Sunnah but it is also with significance. We can wear that and practicing the specific "Sunnah" but only until we reach certain level. That is why I am only wearing the skull cap and not turban. I am not trying to put people down. I believe that it is a good thing to practice Sunnah but we should also know their significance. It is not only about appearance and how we look like. People are taking religion easily and taking it at the "surface" because it is not respected by our own people : )

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

Worship: The Qasar of Salat

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Banna Masjid, Yunnan China

Introduction

I found that it is frustrating when discussing this thing with people who don't understand because they never practice this and don't try to understand this. This is an angle of sunnah or prophetic traditions. I don't do anything without any basis from sunnah! Even some things that I perform before I didn't even realize were apart of prophetic traditions but it is not looking so puritanical because the practices were ingrained in ourselves so we may practice it according to our own consideration and creatively being suited according to necessities. 

Now let us study this. If this note is not so comprehensive than try to find a real-living teacher in front of us. Get advices from sharia teachers of your schools of jurisprudence. It is to make sure we do not leave our salat without any valid reason. I don't look like a decent person in the real life out here with sharban or jubah either, but I always make sure that I consult sharia teachers when it is related to daily life routines. I went to masjid and doing everything with the sincerity ingrained in heart and never try to show off my faith to others because it is my "precious treasure". I will try to separate the parts for this topic so we could understand this matter in detail.

So, as to begin I would like to talk about the Qasar Salat first. Firstly for myself. Secondly for brothers and sisters. Maybe there are many sites talking about this. But on my behalf, I would like to tell brothers and sisters. This is our heritage and traditions. We must be aware about ourselves. I learned about "self-awareness" through previous experiences and most of them are bitter periods. Knowledge is very important to save our selves from sufferings as ignorance is a root of sufferings. I don't have any intention to defame Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab. I respect this figure may Allah bless him and I read his written books but I somehow found that those "mere followers" who talked in masjids including those who had some chat with me in my university are not fully aware about themselves. That is why they create sufferings on themselves and extend them to everyone around them through their acts which are rooted from their ignorance. Their adab and akhlak is not to the standard of sunnah which they always mention when they condemn others and confident on "their" stance. It will also bear out evil characteristics and personalities such as riyaa', takabbur and 'ujub. I found the same things also in groups and movements around us which makes me staying away from them without saying any word. Naudzubillahu min dzaalik we seek protection of Allah from those things may they never reach us, amin!

What is Qasar Salat?

Allah says as recorded in Surat an-Nisaa' verse 101 which means: "And when you walk on the earth thus there is no prevention for you to simplify your salats".

So, in Arabic qasar simply means short or simple. When it refers to salat, it means a simplified salat or a shortened salat. From four unit or prayer to two units of prayer.  

What prayer service consists of four units of bows and prostrations? They are:

1. Dzuhr or the mid day prayer service

2. 'Asr or the after noon prayer service     

3. 'Ishaa' or the night prayer service

When we simplify these prayer services, the number of units will be shortened to two units of bows and prostrations. This is what we call as the qasar of salat.

What about other two daily prayer services? They are:

1. Fajr or dawn prayer service

2. Maghrib or dusk prayer service

Both of these services have nothing changing in the number of units. For Fajr, we still have to perform it full which is two units and for Maghrib we must perform it three units. No simplification nor shortening of the units for these prayers! 

How Do We Perform Qasar Salats?

The manner to perform a simplified or shortened salat is the same with the manner we perform it in the normal way. The differences are the intention and number of units.

For example dear beloved brothers and sisters, the obligatory prayer service of 'Ishaa' when we perform it in normal manner, we may mentally state the intention: "I perform the Ishaa' prayer service four units only for Allah the Most Highest". For the qasar or the simplification of this salat, we may mentally state: "I perform the Ishaa' prayer service two units only dedicated to Allah the Most Highest".

What is the Ruling for Qasar Salat?

How Many Days a Person May Perform Salats in Qasar Form?

According to Hanbali madzhab, if a person who travels to an area and in his intention he wanted to simplify in the particular area or place for more than four days or up to 20 days, so he cannot simplify the daily obligatory salats. The Hanbali madzhab counts the arrival day and the departure day into the days for a person being considered as residing in a place or not. If a person does not have any intention to reside in the particular place he is traveling, then he may perform the obligatory in qasar form until he finish up with his matters or business there. There are many hadiths which shows that it is permissible. So, this has to do with terms as the act of worship is apart of the law of nature. When we talk about law, the involvement of linguistics could not be avoided. 

Ibnu Qayyim mentions that there is no explanation that mentions about whether Muhammad s.a.w performs the four units prayer services while he was traveling. Ibnu Qayyim mentions that Muhammad s.a.w always simplify his salats (while traveling). He also mentions that Umar, Ali, Ibnu Mas'ud, Ibnu Umar, Jabir and Imam Abu Hanifah decided that Qasar Salat is obligatory while traveling and with the intention not to reside in a certain place.       

Their decision perhaps based from a hadith which was collectively being narrated by a group of narrators from Ya'la bin Umaiyya who says that Umar al-Khattab had once asked Muhammad s.a.w about the simplification of salat and Muhammad s.a.w mentions: "It is the donation of Allah given to all of you, thus accept His gift!".

And one thing to mention, Qasar and Jama' of the salats are two different things but may be combined. Many people including previous me was confused about this. Why we were confused? Because we never bother to study this issue. Other thing I would like to mention, our paternal community were once the da'is representing Fatimid empire but they're from various branches and were equipped with the knowledge of at least two schools of jurisprudence. Due to their condition, they have to travel so when people don't see them really praying since it is because they have to perform jama' and qasar prayer services. Insha'Allah we will try to talk about this issue in more detail when we are free. I'm just posting this as a reminder so everyone will keep talking about this when seeing each other. Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad.

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

Pilgrimage Lesson: Conditions for Hajj Pilgrimage

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Early this morning I just want to reflect in the conditions for pilgrimage. Brothers and sisters, I am sure everyone know pilgrimage to holy Mecca is one of the pillars of Islam. We must learn about this all of our life because it is a necessity for us. It is a mirror of the life of patriarch Ibrahim a.s and his son Isma'el a.s with our mother Hagar. 

For pilgrimage, we have two kinds of it. The first one is Hajj which is the major pilgrimage usually according to season and specifically in the month of Zulhijjah while the lesser one is known as 'Umrah which could be performed at any time of the year or together with Hajj.

What are Conditions for Hajj?

According to Hanbali Madzhab there are about seven conditions to perform Hajj with one addition for ladies. They are:

1. One must be a Muslim

A non-Muslim should not enter the area of Mecca and Medina. The testimony of faith with its complete condition is a pre-condition to be a Muslim. 

2. Maturity

A child who performs hajj will transfer the blessings to his parents as the efforts come from his parents that makes him perform the pilgrimage. When he reached his puberty, he must perform it again. His pilgrimage when he was a little kid is accepted but it was not sufficient because the blessings are for his parents. 

3. Sanity

One must be sane in order to perform the pilgrimage. If one is insane, it is not an obligation for him to continue with the pilgrimage.

4. Freedom

A man must be free from slavery to perform the pilgrimage.

5. Healthy

A person who is sick, bed-ridden and not well are not obliged to perform pilgrimage.

6. Financially supported for food and shelter

A person who perform pilgrimage needs money as a tool for plane ticket, food and accommodation. Also for plane and bus ticket to go to the places in order to perform the pilgrimage.

7. Perform Hajj on behalf of the old, sick and the dead

For these people, it is permissible for a person who had already performed pilgrimage for himself to perform it again for others who are in old, sick and already passed away. This condition is agreed by all four honorable imams. It is illegal or haram to perform hajj for others while one is still not performing it for himself. Some people also are taking the burden to perform hajj for others because they are paid specifically for this. No evidence in the Quran and Sunnah saying that it is haram. According to Shariah, everything is halal unless if it is proven haram. Principle of jurisprudence says that everything which leads to haram is haram. So, when I saw an Indian Muslim or Mamak in Penang sneezing in my fried noodle before he give it to me at a restaurant I did not take the noodle as it is haram and I might be infected with diseases for example meningitis. It is according to this principle so please avoid lower estimate us as unorthodox when our method of performing da'awa is unorthodox or not according to movements. Another example is when there is a necessity for one to take 'pork' because there is only pork to be consumed and other food is not there (I am not saying it as halal!!!), if one trying to avoid it and he dies, he will be counted as committing suicide.

8. Mahram to assist a woman to perform hajj

A woman need a mahram or a male company for her which is from her family member such as her younger brother, father, uncle, older brother, nephew, and etc. Mahram means a person who is forbidden to marry a woman because of family ties. Hajj of a group of women is accepted. Hajj performed by a woman is also accepted but she had violated this condition. 

Wishing
    

I wish my brother and friend, Azren a safe journey for 'umrah in holy Mecca. He will be departing at 15:00 today. I can't wait to listen to his experience too. Pilgrimage to Mecca is always in my heart although I had also committed errors because I was ignorant. Life experience is a good teacher too. I would like to thank the Lord for helping me going through the life sometimes I feel so weak and crying always to Him as I feel myself as a useless man. I wanted to establish relationship with society but for now I guess it is not the time yet. Every thing has its 'time', so do myself. Urm, I am also registering again to perform the Hajj pilgrimage simply to clear my sins of ignorance. Now I am also learning about it again and trying to pay the sentence. Already save a little for this and hoping to fine a suitable job just for me to get tool to work for Him. Urm other than that if the reader is a Shafi'ie madzhab follower, please check it with your school of jurisprudence. If you're from Hanafi madzhab also please check it with your teachers on the conditions.

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

Jurisprudence : What is Fiqh or Jurisprudence?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

This is the Chinese or perhaps Sino-Japanese depiction of King Yama. Buddhists always talk about him when it is regarding punishment that a person will get as a way to cleanse up one's karmma. Usually elders will threaten youngers that King Yama will cut our tongue if we tell lies to others as lying will also bring bad karmma. King Yama is a judge and the guardian of hell. Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms in South East Asia also had used Brahminical texts such as Tharmmasastram to derive code of conduct and legislation provisions in the kingdom or anachakra ruled by a king or chakravarttin. One of the law practiced in ancient Buddhist kingdoms such as of ancient Malay kingdoms are like Sulo or impalement to execute a woman who commit adultery or treason against the king.

We have many branches of knowledge and sciences in the studies of religion after the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w who is our seal of prophethood had returned to His Mercy. One of them is called as Fiqh. 

So, straight to the point, what is Fiqh brethren? Roughly it is a science related to the Islamic jurisprudence. It is an expansion of the code of conduct where we call it as Shariah and expounded from the glorious Quran. Shariah usually is supplemented by the tradition of prophets and we call tradition as Sunnah of prophets. Sunnah of prophets were re-introduced again by the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and some came from him according to the period where he live. Shariah which consists of the conducts of life from the sources of Quran and Sunnah then will be implemented through rulings and interpretations of jurists whom we call as Qadhi. 

Sometimes I would also refer to Jesus Christ as a future Qadhi. I will always wait for his arrival and rulings if I do not die yet. It actually signifies the end of the world : ) We already have our own guidelines and we do not need others to teach us especially in our own countries. The God is teaching us with basic rulings and the observance of morality is considered as apart of the prevention of evil and crimes. We don't need secularism or French concepts of looking at this world. French are just human-being and human-being are imperfect. We also don't need Karl Marx to teach us or whatever ideology proposed by these people. Those ideologies are anathematized and not natural. I would translate the word anathematize for my Malaysian compatriots as dilaknat.  We refuse to accept their ideas as they also refused to accept others' ideas. If they perceive others as barbarians, we also perceive them as barbarians. 

我詛咒歐鬼的思想... 他們多數人不接收啟示然後他們學的事沒有天的指導和聖靈... 別人都可以說出來他們的偏見對我們的道,我們的聖人和穆斯林所以我也想嘗試看感覺是怎樣,哈哈哈... 我感覺很蠢...  

Fiqh deals with the observance of rituals, morals and social legislation in Islam. For Orthodox Sunnah Muslims, we have four schools of Fiqh established by four honorable imams which are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'ie and Hanbali. Our Shi'a Muslim brothers have two major schools of Fiqh inherited from Ja'afar as-Sadiq and Isma'ili Fatimiyya. Those who are trained in this science will be called as Fuqaha' (sing. Faqih). I am following and learning the method of Hanbali and most of brothers in Saudi Arabia are also following Hanbali methods. My brothers in Malaysia, Yemen, Lower Myanmar, Indonesia, and Southern Thailand are following Shafi'ie methods. My brothers in China and India are following Hanafi and those in Northern Africa in general are following Maliki methods. 

Definitions of Jurisprudence

Fiqh literally means the science of something in order to understand something, common sense in it, and the thought for the honor of the science of law as the quote from the glorious Quran where the God mentioned again what the people of Sho'ayb (Jethro) said to Sho'ayb a.s : "They said, o Sho'ayb! We do not understand many of what you had said and we indeed only see you as a weak person in front of us. If not because of your family, we would have thrown you with stones. And you are not respected for us." (Surah Huud verse 91). And the word understand in the verse signifies anything which lead people to think and ponder.

Terminologically, Fiqh means the science on the rulings of the way of leading life, practices, benefits, based from valid and accurate proofs in accordance to the origin of the fiqh or understanding.  

So, basically when newspapers wanted to tell everyone about this, they should also check the books and sources regarding this from the root source and not just from internet googling or by reading something at the surface. Reporters today are just as ignorant and irresponsible as the mat rempits who illegally racing on the road and later banging young bitchy girls if they won the illegal race. Orientalists, they went to study these too but they were also bias. The same thing also happen to some Muslims who just google up this and that about other system of belief or faith or reading certain blog related to some nonsense conspiracy theories which denies the Wisdom of the God the Most Highest. 

My past experience as a "deviant Muslim" boy for few years in my life had also helped me to understand many things and I found that bashing others are just making people mind restless and later it affects the environment around. These kind of people would put some information in their sites or books and they later including their opinions based from their hatred to others, irrationality, unstable emotion or based from their perception game. Nothing is better than whatever they think because the thing which they prefer will eventually come to their favor. They could not propagate anything without telling that others are less better than them. Later others who had never read root sources and sharing the same hatred would also use the points from that and spread it worldwide. Again, these sick people no matter Muslims or non-Muslims need heart and soul purification. They would also easily being affected by diseases and die early I could assure this because not only glorious Quran talked about people who bite their fingers because of baseless anger but also the teachings that I had followed for some times which was Buddhism : )

Regarding science in religion, Ibnu Khaldun in his book Muqaddima (Introduction) had divided science into two branches :

I. Rational ones which have been generated by human intellect. Another one is revelational which is received through revelation and transmitted to others such as what happened to prophets for example the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w who had received knowledge through revelation and not from studying it in school and he then transmitted it orally to his companions, contemporary, people around him, and later generations.

II. Excludes the use of intellect as far as its reception, reporting, and transmission are concerned. It relates to injunctions of secondary report, derived from usool or origin, calls it into play one's intellect and ability to exercise analogical reasoning. Fiqh is included in this second category. It is a product of later generations since companions of prophet Muhammad s.a.w do not need its formulation into a new branch of science as the law-submitter or the prophet and messenger of the God was still around with them. They may straight away ask the prophet s.a.w for clarification or looking at how he acts when they are not clear on something.

Sources for Legislation Reference

Many people can understand about British Common Law on how the decisions were derived. Whether from past cases as examples for rulings of court or from the jurists decision like some raping cases in the United States. I do watched American short series but I can't remember all of them. Some scene, I still could remember. 

I also learned legal language which involved the Common Law and Tort Law during our translation and interpretation class where one of our lecturer is a Sikh lawyer whose name is Harpal Singh. Well, many students especially girls love him and he is a single guy in the middle age. For me, he is a generous guy who donated a lot to students in order to make class more lively and interactive. I gave all of the food that I get from his class to my roommate, brother Zaydi simply because his father name is Hussein and I want him to be my imam in prayer services in our room. I think he must thought that I was crazy, hahaha. I was also fasting to calm down my mind at that time but I could not waste the food so I just offer them to my roommate and sometimes if I have vegetarian meals I would also offer them to some Hindu friends neighboring my room. At least my acquaintance and friends are healthy and they could save their money, I would be very happy : ) I treated brother Zaydi badly in the beginning simply because he is a Kelantanese and I was also influenced by bad talks of people around. It has to do with misconception and generalization too that we become racist, no? We never have any contact with majority of certain people that we don't really like so we created some negative image for something that we had never experienced. Just get a life and do beneficial things like enhancing amity among human, environment, and animals instead of spreading hatred just because of differences and misconception...

From what I had also learned in our masjids and school for final exam for the course of Islamic Rulings and Legislation, our sources for rulings and details must be obviously come from :  

1. The Glorious Quran.

2. Sunnah or the prophetic traditions and Orthodox Sunnah Muslim have four major methods.

3. Ijma' (agreement) between jurists and ulamas.

4. Qiyyas or common sense for matters which had never happened during prophetic era like smoking which kills others because of the smoke is harmful for human health and environment or rulings regarding the selling of harmful drugs or cracks. It needs human intellectual consideration and jurists need to think or using their head. It also needs researches and evidences.

5. Sources of rulings and legislation from the Ahlul Bayt.     

The Root of Fiqh

What is the root of Fiqh? It refers to methods which had been implied within the derivation of the development of legal provisions of the way from detailed and discreet proofs. On the other hand, the root of Fiqh which places the root or basic methods to develop jurisdiction and legal provisions according to clear Divine guidance and guidelines. The relevance of Fiqh is for jurists to derive legal provisions and rulings with clear evidence in order to implement the execution of nature laws from it.

While for the root of Fiqh, its motive is to to find clear evidence from where emerged the object of evidence on the legal provisions. And each that had been stated from the agreement and consideration based on common sense which falls under the name (of legal opinion) which includes :

1. Plaudits : It is reversing the jurisdiction of the way for example on the provisions on what had been perceived to face is stronger and reversing the jurists.

2. Sent Interests : The meanings or the matters which are linked to the jurisdiction and developed upon it and causing damage or harmful to human society however yet it is always being discussed. 

3. Known to people : It means legal opinions which is based on customs and norms. Custom or norms which is known to people, whatever had been in the character of speech, verbal, their way of thinking, and whatever is accepted and not accepted by the norms of society being repeated until it is accepted by the jurists and there are also other sources to derive opinion on jurisdiction between trained jurists in addition to whatever had already existed in agreement of jurists and various of considerations whether the past or through any other methods proposed by jurists. Sometimes those in India or Pakistan also seeking Brahmin priests to derive law and the effect is that, we can see people without nose or ears because those priests are using Tharmmasastram and Puranas in the derivation of customary law. Media then capture the pics and showing it to lazy people or those who has no feet to come to talk with real people asking this and that.

Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

 The Musnad by Imam Ahmad

I would like to introduce an Imam of the four salaafus-saaleh and he is the imam which I put on my naqal on most of my method of religious practices. He is the honorable Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal bin Helal bin Asad al-Marwazi of Baghdad whose idea founded the Hanbali school of jurisprudence and one of sunnah ulama. Hanbali school of jurisprudence is a school which influenced the fiqh of people in Hejaz such as in Saudi Arabia. He had also influenced Ibnu Taimiyyah and Ibnu Qayyim. My mum kept a book about all of these honorable imams, and I read some but this article is based from online articles. 

Try to get more books about these imams dear brethren. We must know our imams and teachers. We do not want to be just mere followers who only know how to nod and to shake head, to say this is right or wrong only because our syeikh says so. That makes us regarding our syeikhs a level the same as the God, and in the same time we without any shame accuse people like Christians and Jews for taking their priests and cohens as the God, na'udzubillah.

Family Background

He was originally an Arab of banu Shayban tribe. His family hometown is in Basra, Iraq. His father served as an officer in the Abbasid army based in Khurasan before settled with his family in Baghdad. Baghdad is the place where imam Ahmad was born. Imam Ahmad father died when he was three years old and his mother is a patient mother. I think I must mention about his mother too. Never look down on our mothers, they are teachers although they might not have degree or master or phd. 

His eldest son, became a judge in Isfahan. Imam Ahmad was very close to his sons, especially his eldest son, Saaleh. According to some report, Imam Ahmad always recite surah al-Kahfi. He used to recite the surah over a bowl of water and ordered his son to drink from it whenever his son felt ill. Another son of him, who is 'Abdullah also reported many things about this honorable imam. By the way, he married at the age of 40 years old. So, I wonder why so many people asking me about marriage and suggesting me to get marry now? Even the Arab guy I dunno of which country who read Syeikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab book on the Three Principles asked me the same boring question.

Study Life

Imam Ahmad moved to Iraq and study a lot in the city of Baghdad. He completed his Quranic memorization while he was 15 years of age. After that he concentrates on hadith and prophetic tradition especially of prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Later, he always travel to further his study in other area. 

He was interested in the knowledge of hadith and traveled a lot through Iraq, Syria, and Arabian Peninsula to get the knowledge of religion and collecting sunnah of the prophet Muhammad s.a.w. He travels for several years and while returning home, he studied under honorable Imam Syafi'ie on jurisprudence and Imam Syafi'ie also learned from him. According to Abu Zur'ah, Imam Ahmad memorized a million hadith.

Due to that he was a scholar of hadith and sunnah, so he focused more on textual views on religion, and he oppose any kind of bida'ah or innovation. Imam Syafi'ie may Allah be merciful to him, who was also a great scholar in his own right, mentioned:

"I left Baghdad, and I didn't leave behind me a man better, having more knowledge, or greater fiqh (understanding), nor having greater taqwa (piety) than Ahmad bin Hanbal."

Ahmad bin Hanbal spent 40 years of his life in acquiring knowledge about religion, and only thereafter he assume the position of a mufti (guide). How about us? Be shameful, please :'( By this time, he had mastered six or seven Islamic disciplines. This is according to the report by Imam Syafi'ie, one of his own teacher. He became a leading authority in hadith and left an extensive hadith encyclopedia called al-Musnad. This is a living proof of his proficiency and devotion to his discipline and science of religion.

He has a significant contribution in the most balanced critic of hadith in his time. He established himself as the imam in the sciences of the Quran, authoring works in exegesis, and nasikh wal mansukh (science of abrogation). He also knows different modes of Quranic recitations where he prefers some modes and he expressed his disliking for the recitation of Hamza for the exaggerated elongation of vowels. I love simple recitation but accurate pronunciation too :) 

Imam Ahmad became a principal specialist in jurisprudence as he had the advantage of benefiting from some of the famous early jurists and their heritage such as Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik bin Anas, Imam Syafi'ie and many others.

His learning, piety, and faithfulness to sunnah gathered a host of disciples and admirers around him. He further improvised and developed upon previous schools, and becoming the founder of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence. He was also an expert in Arabic language, poetry, and grammar. I read something in the book about this honorable imam that he had also corrected his daughter speech when she talked in colloquial manner. Some scholars for example Qutaiba bin Sa'id trying to compare him to scholars of tabi'in period like Sufyan ath-Thauri, Malik, al-Awza'i and Laith bin Sa'ad. I think all of scholars have their own special traits. We do not have to compare them if they possess knowledge and efforts but we try to emulate good traits that they have. It's better than being a fanatic out of no reason.

Among of His Teachers

1) Honorable Isma'il bin Ja'afar as-Sadiq

2) Abbad bin Abbad al-'Ataky

3) 'Umari bin 'Abdullah bin Khalid

4) Hushaim bin Bashir bin Qasim bin Dinar as-Sulami

5) Honorable Imam Syafi'ie

6) Waki' bin Jarrah

7) Isma'il bin Ulaiyah

8) Sufyan bin 'Uyainah

9) Ibrahim bin Ma'qil

Among His Students

Most of Ahlil Hadith or Sunnah adherents studied under his supervision, his teachers also learned from him. Unlike today, teachers do not learn from students, because of ego. Among Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal students are:

1) Imam Bukhari

2) Muslim

3) An-Nasa'i

4) Abu Dawud

5) Tirmidzi

6) Ibnu Majah

7) Honorable Imam Syafi'ie

8) His sons, Saaleh and Abdullah

9) His nephew, Hanbal bin Ishaq

Mihneh Event

It means inquisition or ordeal, a political attempt of the Abbasid caliph, al-Ma'mun around 883 C to impose his theological views on his subjects. It's including the inquisition on scholars including imam Ahmad bin Hanbal whether Quran is created or not. If we learn STPM (A-Level) Islamic History, we perhaps might a little bit come across this topic.  

All of parties agreed that the Quran is unadulterated Speech of the God. However the issue was whether the Quran is the created or uncreated speech of the God, actually raised by the Jahmites. The position of the al-Ma'mun is that the Quran is created speech of the God. This issue to appear as almost similar to the issue of Christians philosophical and doctrinal arguments regarding the Word or Logos which refers to Jesus Christ and Ewungel (Gospel) around 4th-5th C. The response of those who were inquired is with consequence. Those who reject the doctrine of the Quran is created will be dismissed from public office, will be imprisoned, and flogged. This event lasted for about 15 years, even the successors of al-Ma'amun who were al-Mu'tasim and al-Wathiq. It ends around 861 under al-Mutawakkil, the nephew of al-Ma'amun.

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal was firm with his position that the Quran is not a created speech but the literal words of the God. No more no less from what is described by the God Himself. It means that we should not go beyond the limit and speculate out of the description given to the us by the God. He was imprisoned and severely tortured until the succession of al-Mutawakkil. Many other fellow ulamas at that time had advised him to just show his agreement with the ruler although they too did not agree with the ruler but Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal responded with a hadith narration that people before him had died with their head being cut with the saw but never give up faith in every aspect. The hadith is recorded in Bukhari 12/281.   

So, this event is a point that makes us the adherents of Hanbali madzhab so strict with sunnah and innovations. But I would like to urge myself, and later brothers and sisters to study first before simply accusing others. Be extremely polite unless we see that something really is wrong like what happened to our honorable imam, Ahmad bin Hanbal. We are not even close to these salaf period imams (Abu Hanifah, Malik bin Anas, Syafi'ie and Hanbali) in term of religious science.     

Death

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal was struck with severe illness and fever and became very very weak. He never complain about his infirmity and pain until he died. I read in the book, it said that Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal urged people to take care of their own health and pray to the God for health. It is very important. He still asked his son, Saaleh to help him to stand up for prayer service though he was sick. He would pray in sitting posture or lying on his side if he was unable to stand up. 

People flocked to his house upon hearing about his illness. Ruling family also showed their desire to visit this imam and trying to get his permission. Since, he does not want to have any relation with any authority, he denied them access. This imam position is also my position and his personality that I read so much influenced me. I guess that's why those Tabligh kids saw me look like their people that make them decided to 'convert' me into their organization but I don't tie myself to anyone except to the God the Most Highest.

On Friday, the 12th of Rabi'ul Awwal 241 H, this imam passed away after 9 days struck by illness. His age at that time was 77 years old. His death news spread far and wide in the city, many people flooded the streets to attend his funeral. Before he passed away, he seems to be talking to someone. His son asked him and he told his son that satan came to deflect his creed before he passed away. Around 800,000 to 1,300000 or around 2 million people as was estimated by scholars attending his funeral. In the mass, there were about 60000 respectable women attending the funeral of this imam.  

Works

Here are some of honorable imam Ahmad bin Hanbal works found by Ibnu an-Nadim Fihrist. I hope to read and study them all if I have the chance:

1. Kitab al-'Ilal wa Ma'rifah ar-Rijal - The Book of Narrations Containing Hidden Flaws and of Knowledge of the Men (of Hadith), Riyadh: al-Maktabah al-Islamiyah.

2. Kitab al-Manasik - The Book on Pilgrimage Rites.

3. Kitab az-Zuhud - The Book of Abstinence. Edited by Muhammad Zaghlul. Beirut: Darul Kitab al-'Arabi (1994).

4. Kitab al-Iman - The Book of Faith.

5. Kitab al-Masail - Issues in Fiqh.

6. Kitab al-Ashribah - The Book of Drinks.

7. Kitab al-Fadha'il Sahabah - Virtues of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

8. Kitab Thaa'ah ar-Rasul - The Book of Obedience to the Messenger of the God.

9. Kitab Mansukh - The Book of Abrogation.

10. Kitab al-Fara'id - The Book of Obligatory Duties.

11. Kitab ar-Radd 'ala az-Zindiqah wal-Jahmiyyah - Refutations of the Heretics and the Jahmites. Cairo (1973).

He also wrote exegesis which is said by adz-Dzhahabi as lost and another book called the Musnad which is a compilation of 27 000 checked hadiths. Other is Fadha'il Ahlul Bayt or the Virtues of the Ahlul Bayt. 

Some scholars like Abu Dawud also quoted as saying that he never saw Imam Ahmad mentions anything about the world when sitting with him. He never boast to people with anything good characterized with him. Syeikh Abdul Qadir Jailani, may Allah be merciful to him also mentioned that there is no saint who has the creed as firm as imam Ahmad bin Hanbal. What I read from my mum's book, it says that Imam Ahmad never tie the world to his heart that makes demons or evil genies who possessed a person and making the person insane ran away. They only come back to the city of Basrah after the honorable imam passed away. Other than that, he had asked his son to give back bread given by a baker because he only takes whatever he pays. It is something like that, I would check the book again because all of these scholars have beautiful characteristics which could be emulated by commoners like us. So many things about this scholar, may we learn something beneficial from him, insyaallah.

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

Purification: What are Impurities?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

The salat (proper prayer) is invalid without purification, thus our Path requires taharah as a pre-condition for the validation of salat no matter whether it is in the purification of body, clothes, or the places of ritual.

Ok, this is technical, but this is some portions of religious science. What is طهارة taharah? Taharah basically means cleaning or purification. Terminologically it refers to an act of purifying ourselves, our clothes, and places from حدث hadath and نجس najas. To purify ourselves from hadath, we would have to perform ritual washing like ghusl, wudhu', and tayammum which involves certain body parts or whole external body parts where water could reach. To purify ourselves from najas, we purify ourselves by eliminating filth at our body, clothes, and related places.

Before that, let me explain what does hadath and najas mean according to my understanding. If I am wrong please knowledgeable brothers and sisters who pass by help me correcting them.  I am here learning with dearly brothers and sisters too. May Allah grants everyone wisdom, insyaallah.

Hadath

Hadath means impurity caused by certain events. Hadaths are divided into two which are:

Hadath al-Akbar

حدث الأكبر hadath al-akbar means that the impurity is of major events and need extra care. It requires such act like غسل ghusl. For ghusl, we have many types of ghusl. Some are سنة sunnah (optional) while some are واجب wajib (obligatory). Obligatory ghusl for example is required for a woman who had finished her menstrual term. It is also required for both male and female after intimate intercourse with or without ejaculation and others. Without performing this obligatory ghusl, a person could not be in contact with holy verses and could not perform salat.   

Hadath al-Asghar

حدث الأصغر hadath al-asghar means impurity caused by minor events. It needs only minor ghusl which is وضوء wudhu' or ablution. Before we perform salat, we are required to perform wudhu' too. Such impurity in this event is like farting. We will talk more about this in wudhu' section if Allah permits us, His Will.

Najas

We have few classifications on this matter. This ritual impurity also need us to perform specific cleaning according to our schools of jurisprudence. We could not perform salat or touching scripture without removing these ritual impurities from our body, clothes, or places to perform ritual like salat. There are three kinds of najas. We may divide it to another post too as not to make it haywire as some school of jurisprudence may differ with the other in non-principal matters. This is as to make sure that we emphasize only our school of jurisprudence is right will others are wrong without checking the basis of others' reliance.

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So, these are some terminologies that we use in our everyday life. Sometimes, non-Arabic speaking people could not understand them. So, we try to translate them as possible as we can according to what we understood from our previous learning. Anything to add please kindly suggest it here.

If we could translate everything since the past, we would certainly do that even into Greek or Latin though it may take time to learn those languages as to learn a language is also to learn the philosophies of life and languages' worldview which are of course varies from a region to another.

Just to make sure that some who could not understand get better understanding in term of diversity in the world since world is divided to West and East and standard of the world is always being tagged to the West. I also mean diversity to our faithful brothers and sisters, not only to non-believers. Don't just nod our head when we heard about something. But do investigation and further studies. Just like our brother in soul, Salman al-Farisi from the land of Persia who searched for something that he heard of. May Allah bless his soul.

Let us set up again our own standard from the smallest ones for example hygiene to the biggest one with sincerity toward Allah the Most Highest in our daily life. Not only emphasizing on physical hygiene but also spiritual hygiene with good conducts such as avoiding bribery, integrity, checking the quality of our family life through scriptural and prophetic tradition prescriptions, concern about others' soul through services like business and etc. If we just say that Islam will dominate this and that, we do not really perform any service to the God. Instead, that is not true at all. Allah asks us to spread mercy, love, peace, and brotherhood to every creature regardless they are visible or invincible.

How could we dominate others while the dominion of the universe is with Him? Service to the God part of it is through علوم 'uluum (sciences and knowledge), تمدن tamaddun (civilization), and آداب adaab (manner and art). This is also a reminder for me. Hope it helps me to rise up again :' 

Thus I end this humble post with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!