Memorize Quran

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Since the past two days, I had been very busy writing and printing out my resume to find job. I went out and thinking so many times to do some migrant workers' job at the shopping complex where it also touches things like can I pray peacefully at the time I work like this or is it worth for me to do such jobs when I get only little payment for being humans' slave? Actually I was hit with the fear that I could not maintain my family house and I am the only son at home. I tried to practice meditation and all sort of things that I had learned from my previous experience but once I see my father face I began to feel so scared. I could say that my father had done everything he can to survive and maintaining his family. Though many people looked down upon him, I actually look at him with high esteem. He is way better than me because he could survive. I am also afraid and thinking about my mother. I wish that she would be happy and healthy. 

I had browsed again the schools in Middle East such as in Yemen or Saudi Arabia which taught Quran and the Sharia but now I am already 26. In few weeks I would turn to be a 27 years old man. I am not a little kid anymore. And still I am penniless with no property of my own and with no career. I am only sustained with the mercy of my family members and of course with Allah's mercy. I think that maybe it would be too late for me. I made the decision to shut down my social network account because I don't think that I could get help from any of friends out there. It would be just enough for me to depend only on Allah. Maybe people might think that I am crazy but I have had enough with this world. I don't mind people wanted to say that I am more inclined to rahbaniyyat (monkhood) which is forbidden in our religion. I did not ask for this but it still happens as I cannot get any help from people around. They do not understand me nor do I understand them. Urm, trying to hold my dropping tears. Please be strong...!!!

Anyway, I don't think that I could return to proper Sharia studies and studying Quran in proper environment. Maybe I would continue studying it under the ground and praying for Allah to help me by guiding me with ruhul qudus (holy spirit) and shun away all the satans from me as to protect the Quran that I am bearing. I try to frame the methods that I had used when I memorized the 19th part of the Quran with some help from syllabus from the net. I had lost almost all the methods due to the struggle with worldly affairs. I could just remember the prayers for memorization, the litany that I learned from teachers and chanting its meaning by heart in several languages. Right now, I keep an exercise book with me to jot down any verses that come across my head whenever it is and checking it again with my mushaf. It is almost the same method that I found in a site where I copied these down for myself.  

Memorizing Quran has a process which is broken into three categories which are:

1. New lesson

2. New memorization

3. Old memorization

It is very important to comprehend that memorizing Quran for the long term is a process and it takes close to a month. One we memorize the verse, it would not be solid until we repeat it a number of times until it enters the deeper part of our brain.

Beginning New Lesson

If we are serious about memorizing, try to follow these steps exactly:

1. Read the first verse 10 times while looking in from the top. 

2. Now read the same verse 10 times without looking at it until we can recite it without any mistakes.

3. Begin connecting the verses. Recite the first and second verses together without looking in and without mistakes. 

4. Keep connecting the verse on the page. Each time we connect the new verse, go back to the top of the page and read till the verse that we have memorized. 

5. When we reach the last verse, we should recite the whole page from the top without looking and without any mistakes.

6. Recite the page from memory to someone. We should have no mistakes.

7. We should repeat the above steps as needed to have a perfect page memorized.

New Memorization

This the amount of the Quran which we have memorized in the last 30 days. This part is to be taken seriously as it will determine if the verse we memorized will be solid for our life or not. Retaining and reviewing the Quran is a 25 day process. After those 25 days, reviewing once a month will suffice. This will lead to the old memorization which will be discussed.

1. Whatever we review in this section, we must recite it to someone who has either memorized the verse or is well-versed in reading the Quran.

2. If we have memorized five pages in the last five days, we must recite them to ourselves until we do not make any error. Then find a teacher and recite it to him.

3. At this point on, whatever we memorize, it must be recited daily. It means reviewed to ourselves without mistakes and recited to someone else.

4. If for some reason we did not review our "new memorization" for the day, then do not memorize new verse. We are pouring water into a cup with a hole. Each day we do not review new memorization, we are making the hole in our cup bigger and bigger until we would not remember anything. If we do not review a page for seven days consecutively, go back to the new lesson and re-memorize the page.    

5. It sounds redundant because there lies the importance on how much we need to review new memorization. It will make or break our memorization.      

6. If we memorize a page a day, we will finish a part in 20 days. After these 20 days, take extra five days to review whole part with someone proficient.
7. The part memorized will now be considered part of our "old memorization".

Old Memorization

This is anything we have reviewed for at least 25 days consecutively. The amount we review depends on how much Quran we have memorized. Once we have memorized the Quran, new lessons and new memorizations will come to a halt. And we will be left with the old memorization. This will continue for the rest of our lives till death do us part.

A. Daily Review

1. Between 1-3rd part, we should review five pages daily.

2. Between 4-7 part, we should review 10 pages which equals half the part daily.

3. Between 7-15 part, we should review 20 pages which equals to a part daily.

4. Between 15-20 part, we should review 30 pages which equals 1.5 part daily.

5. Between 20-30 part, we should review 60 pages which equals two parts daily.

B. Read the part to ourselves then recite to a teacher or another memorizer.

This process will have to continue for the rest of our life.

C. In the "old memorization", we should not get more than four mistakes, or four stutters in a part.

A mistake classifies as reading something incorrectly and not being able to correct it. A stutter classifies reading something incorrectly, being sent back a few verses to correct it and finally reading it correctly. At the same time, we should be making more than one mistake or one stutter for every five pages we read.

Conclusion

When we found a verse to be hard, we would look into the mushaf and write it somewhere. At times we would also listen to recitations to ease the memorization. Sometimes looking in and repeating it would not make the verse stick, so do whatever it takes to memorize it.

If we falter somewhat in the old memorization, it is ok. Just do not miss two or three days at once. Reading Quran is a lifetime endeavor. Reviewing is more important than memorizing. Focus on perfecting our "new lesson" and "new memorization". If we feel some part is not strong, give preference to review that part rather than memorizing something new. Read something everyday. Not only should we do this as a student of memorization, but it should be our habit as Muslims. Take out some time to read and reflect on a few verses daily. 

Wishing Allah helps me with this task and makes everything goes well. This life surely is not going on smoothly because nobody guides me or showing me what should I be. It was You who is the One that decides what am I going to be. I know I was not a good student nor excel well in any field that I studied. I keep hearing comments and critics from people around but nobody criticize their selves because they think that everything that they get is by their own effort without the intervention of the Divine Sustainer (luck). I pray that at least let the Quran being my company and my entertainer while waiting for the Resurrection the one which would be my savior in His promised Day if I have no possession in this world nor fame to show off like other people. That is all that I wanted for myself :')

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad. Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Tools for Da'awa Part III

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Another two points before I burn down the notes. Just returned from Cyberjaya after 'Isha service in Sultan Mizan mosque. Long time haven't prayed in the mosque cause helping my mother to take care my paralyzed father. Just after the prayer service, they had salat hajaat (special prayer). So, I just take the opportunity to pray to Allah to help my father, to guide everyone with His mercy and helping me with thesis. I wish to be graduated in March next year. I spend some time in Cyberjaya because the night life there is quite lively as compared to us who is nearby. Just watching people around to make sure that I am still "normal" like other human and I bought olive oil for prayer purpose.

I think that I need to return to the varsity apart of getting permission to endorse my thesis, I wanted to take a book of the Qadiri mission lineage to read it again. I met those teachers too but I do not want them to initiate me to be within the circle. Some kids trying to get some kind of conformation when they talked with me and I detest this. If we wanted to join any mission lineage, make sure we are at least acquired with Shari'a knowledge at the basis of taqlidi (follower). Find qualified teachers who memorized holy Quran in full, well-versed in Shari'a and Sunnah. Also make sure they are certified and recognized by our local states government. Those who had no problem with their life and do not have to shift madzhab then just remain in Shafi'ie school of jurisprudence. Though now, I am a Hanbali kitabs student but I still have huge respect to this imam of salaf.

Regarding tasawwuf sciences and sufi circles, there are two types of people whom being initiated into it. I do not like to talk about this but just telling brothers and sisters that I am not from Wahhabi-Salafi group though I am studying Hanbali traditional books. The first kind of person is those who finding the teachers so they are initiated into chains of circles. They will receive prayer books from teachers, some tenets and trained as da'ies according to steps if the teacher agreed to accept them. This is known as suluk. The second type of person is initiated by Allah through His mahabbah (loving-kindness) without any "visible" teacher because Allah is their Sole True Teacher and Mawla. The second type of person actually suffers a lot in his life and living like a pathetic animal but nobody realize that. I am aware about this once I went for pilgrimage to holy Mecca. Somebody told me that. When I listened about the kids talking about whatever saints among people, I do not really feel happy. Never ask for sainthood as it is nonsense! Nobody would know what would fallen upon them! Anyhow, the knowledge about Allah and his prophets could be acquired from al-Quran and Sunnah of Muhammad s.a.w. Just try to be in the middle path dear brothers and sisters labels mean nothing. You will be o.k and living a happy life with the middle path. So, we continue:

12. Comparative Religion

A da'ie need to know about the religions around him or her. Know the differences of these religion in their regions, the developments of the religion and philosophies within them. For example of world religions and philosophies in the Orient there are Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Bahai and Zoroastrianism. There were sub-sects and sub-philosophies under those religion. For celestial religions, there are Samaritanism, Judaism or Christianity. For Islam, there are three branches of lineages which are the Sunnah, the Shi'a and the Ibadhi. There are schools of jurisprudence. So, when we wanted to talk to the others we won't argue like little kids and bringing all sort of lies just to win the debates for example with Shi'a Muslims we would bring up things that we only learn from pamphlet spread out to public in the mosque or bringing up issues like muta'ah marriage or taqiyya without realizing that there are also usooli branch of Shi'a Muslim lineage who adhere to hadiths and ijtihad. Not only listening to the fatawa of their imams. This is to make sure that we are not thinking that Islam is only a group of people which happens to be our group while we committing the sin of "takfeer" to others. For this, I am talking on the basis of Amman Message spirit which was endorsed in 1425 H (2004) by Abdullah II, the ruler of Jordan after he commissioned meetings among ulamas from Islam's main schools of thought and sufi tariqas. For non-Muslim religion, I am watching and listening how Muslim brothers and sisters are talking about them. I was once among them. Don't tell anything which is not true about other religions even if we want to promote Islam or never talk anything that we do not know or never experience. We should not be speculating on things that we have no knowledge about. We should be displaying the manner and the morality of the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w. When we commit those things, we are actually displaying bad quality of moral and at certain point showing our ignorance (of spirituality) and ego selves.                

13. Knowledge about Culture and Art

I get some knowledge when I mingle with some kids. Some of the kids are influenced by popular culture such as pop music. Other kind of kids were influenced by poetry in the form which is delivered by metal music band. Some are listening the hip hop music. We can't expect the audience of da'awa are listening to nasheed, mosque goers, talking about this hadith or that Quranic verse all the time like us and always in accordance to our taste of art or wearing white robe with beard or wearing the attire like our movements' uniform that make us to mingle comfortably with them. This is an example for young people. 

For other nations perhaps the da'ie needs to know what are the socio-cultural traits of certain nations for example how the Japanese or Chinese view their culture? In some revert brothers' experience, they perhaps had talked about the significance of incense sticks in their culture. So, other dai'e who had never experienced this perhaps would need to take note on their explanations. It might be useful in dealing with other friends of different culture and ethnicity thus helping us to promote charity, peace, spreading mercy and propagating chastity. Allah never ask others to be an Arab or a Saracen when a person getting to know Islam because Islam is the nature of human-being and universe. The knowledge about others' culture and art made a person thinking calmly and he would not hastily issuing judgement over certain things. He would not been neglected in his opinion and would not be confused when question regarding these matters risen.

These points perhaps come up to the mind of some brothers who were involved in the organizations such as Mahasiswa Islam but I had to work down here with many type of people. So I am not talking the theories or simply discussing here. As what I always say that I have only thugs and thrash as my friends. No one of decent background or looking would want to be my friend. When I mingled with those "ungodly" kids, those of Mahasiswa Islam groups were just looking at me like an ungodly person with "holier than thou view" because they do not know what is my "real" life and my education before I joined the university as a graduate student. If these "da'ie" group talking about da'awa, they would just forming the group circle known as halaqah among them. Not approaching others of different levels because they are afraid to be looked down by their other friends or perhaps they looked down on those "non-religious" people. 

If we wanted to be serious, then these are some suggestions that a da'ie needs to know or perhaps being taught in all mission orders. This is from my limited observation, my humble experience and also from the highlights of some ulamas way of performing da'awa. Anything to add or to correct, this site is still opened to public. I do not know for how long I would be posting in here but only Allah is the One who decides everything according to His decree.    

Important things for a da'ie to take note. One needs to be free in his thought, free from taqlid. It means that he should know and understand well the jurisprudence so he would not be unrealistic and he could be creative in explaining the words of Allah (messages in Quran) to others and fitting them within society in a flexible yet firm way. Fluency in speech, having his own consideration accompanied with the courage to endure sufferings for the sake of Allah's pleasure. A successful da'awa is when his noble manners and morality never show any falsity.

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'alaa ahlihi wa sahbihi ajma'in..... Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Tools for Da'awa Part II

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Let us continue with the highlights sharing, insha Allah...

7. Psychology to Help Others

Psychology is important for each da'ie. When performing da'awa we need to know the individual that we are targeting to help in order to spread charity and chastity to him or her. In this term, we have to act with mercy and compassionate as what has been recited in the Holy Name of Allah. If we do not know how to deal with people emotion, feeling and psychology then it would be a da'awa in vain. At least when performing da'awa we would leave some effects in the sentiment of the target audience of da'awa. 

As per my experience dear brothers and sisters, I mingled with naughty and problematic youngsters. They became my friends because nobody wanted to be their friends. When I was an undergraduate student in Universiti Sains Malaysia for example, I mingled with Amir. At that time, I was under the period of keeping the Covenant with Allah. I would not mingle with people around if I made promises and renewing it again with Allah. But when a needy person approached me, I would have to be merciful and compassionate to him. Does not matter if he is problematic, scary like a Yakuza member or non-religious watching obscene movies. I never show up my worship to others or even calling the "friend" to mosque nor looking at them strangely like some of Mahasiswa Islam or Tabligh Jama'at members. But I would ask them to wait for me when I wanted to perform salat if I spend my time with them. I would give them all sort of non-religious reasons to leave them for a moment such as excusing myself to the toilet. In the beginning perhaps they thought that I was one of them, but when spending time longer with me they began to realize that I was an orthodox Muslim guy who happened to be unorthodox in approach to deal with them. I never say anything, but they slowly performing salat in their rooms. Other than that, I would stop them from paying in the restaurant counter because I know they would leave the restaurant without paying. I helped them to pay without asking them to pay me back. But in the beginning I usually pretend that I was also not paying and running with them. But I circled the restaurant and going through the kitchen to see the workers paying for all the expense for everyone. Just not to make those "friends" losing their dignity in front of others.

When performing da'awa, we need to see the level of thought in the society. There are many kind of people in the society. We need to set where our level need to be at the range of people we mingle with. If we are mingling with the Yakuza member, we should not act like a preacher. But trying to find the way according to their way of thinking and speaking to them in their language. When talking to village folks, we do not have to show off like a scholar in front of them because it is useless. They would not understand us. That is why I feel quite weird to listen to some of Tabligh Jama'at members using jargon such as hidayat, bayan, takazah, ghasht and others. I asked them again what are those meaning? I understood Urdu and Punjabi language, I spoke in the language fluently when I was a little kid and now I just could understand them. But what I mean by asking them is that why do they use those terms to people who don't understand them? Village folks in Malayan Peninsula were not all ignorant about religion. They have their own mosque, local religious mission orders and local religious teachers. Why are we using foreign terms when talking to them? I would convey what those folks would say when they heard some local jama'at members utter the words here. These people are bunch of show off. What the hell those words mean? Just because they mingle with foreign Hindustani made them forget local norms and way of speech? They might be trying to impose their influence on us? Do they think that we are bunch of ignorant who are about to testify sahadat?

How do I know this? I mingled with all sort of people in the society. From village folk thugs which also include my father, Bangladeshi or Pakistani migrant workers, foreigners, town boys, naughty kids, non-Muslim Chinese students and elders, liberal art lecturers, feminists, gay groups, transvestites and others. The way we deal with these people is actually different and quite diverse. They could be Muslims, they could be non-Muslims. We could not view them as the same in term of emotion, feeling, thought, speech, and daily norms. Some people already has the basis of receptor to accept new knowledge but not all people posses that such as the "orang kampung" or village folks or maybe those random people in the street. Say, if a knowledgeable professor in Petro-Chemical discussing with them about certain concept and using jargon of the field. What would happen to those audience who happens to be village folks? They would just sleep or wandering on what the hell is this crazy guy talking about? We don't even know how to pronounce those words he is saying. So, one needs to know psychology when dealing with others or spending time with them. Try to put our selves in their shoes and not looking in the view of individuality though we claim that we are acting collectively.

8. Morality

This is what is known as ihsan. When we perform da'awa, we would not only talking about this idolatry or that idolatry. We would first need to know what is meant by idolatry? It is not as easy as bombing others or destructing any building. The basis of idolatry is materialism. Just check our heart, if we think that material is more important for us so we had already committing shirk (polytheism). For me how would I look up at people? I would look at them from their "heart". Not from the eloquence of their speech or the way they dress up their selves. There are ways to know this whether if we look it up at their appearance, their speech or their writings but I am not going to explain it here because it is not really easy to be expounded in words. This has nothing to do with mystical stuffs. I am sure certain kids would come to me and ask this and that. I don't like mysticism and I don't get revelation from Allah like a prophet. The only revelation is contained in al-Quran and in the Sunnah of noble prophets of Allah. These two sources are accessible by everyone no matter what rank you are in your society.

There is no need to prolong the ethics taught by Aristotle. One need to know to explain on the right and wrong in acts. I was not exposed to Greek studies but I was exposed to Buddhism studies. What I know was that our deed is influenced by our thought (heart). Quite long explanation too but as to say morality is not only to be recorded in documents. It is to be practiced as lessons for the others as what has been taught to us by Hassan and Hussain r.a. What is better for us is to follow the examples of prophet Muhammad s.a.w, his family members, his companions and all the jurisprudence schools in term of morality and conveying da'awa to others. We learned from them and we practice them right away. No need to talk about this figure or that figure but we are just talking around and still far from practicing. Usually I don't really talk much in front of people. I speak only when it is important I am just using common sense on the basis that I had already know to act and observe the effects more. 

Other than that, I don't really agree with some Tabligh Jama'at members' bayans regarding the previous nations to magnify their da'awa movement. Da'awa is certainly a good thing but we should know that it is not the morality of a Muslim to downgrade the contributions of previous prophets, messengers of Allah and their nations. The nations of prophet Jesus a.s had already performed their part in their era as what has been mentioned in our glorious Quran. Some part of the nations of prophet Moses a.s also had performed their part when they entered the land of Cana'an under the leadership of sage Yushya' bin Nun. We should not compare our selves with them as there are gaps of era, difference in time period, society and region. Problem always risen when we consider that everything should be the same as what we think but the fact is unlikely the same. 

Other simple thing is that Quran is to be practiced and not only to be memorized and recited in prayers or in Quranic recital contest to see whose recitation is the best in its poetry sound style. When we recite Quran, we ponder the verses and we jot down what Allah suggests us to do in order to go through this life. It also includes our daily morality and how we interact with society and nature. Quran is for those who are alive and not for those who were dead. There is no need for a religion to those who had already dead. Death is the time to be laid into rest for another period to come.

9. Contemporary Political System Knowledge

This is according to the time where we live. As what I had already mentioned in International Relation studies and Global Political Economy about theories such as liberalism, realism, marxism and constructivism. This were taught in the West and around the world. How they evaluate the world is through these theories. We can talk about political structure of empires in the past but we need to also know about nowadays because we live in today's life not in the past.

When performing da'awa in Europe, the method would be changing as Europe is not the same as Bangladesh. If we think that Europe or Russia is the same like Pakistan, then it would be a huge gaps and problems. Political system in Europe for example is different than Pakistan or Bangladesh political system. 

When brothers and sisters are living in Europe or Russia, brothers and sisters should be acknowledged on what are the policies in European Union or Russia. Then check back what is the policy of your home countries say Bangladesh or Saudi Arabia. You cannot impose the system of your country in others. To change the system without conforming to local and natives agreements would be a huge disaster as respecting each other is part of the Sunnah in Islam.

10. Local Language

Then brothers and sisters need to know the language where brothers and sisters needed to perform da'awa. It is to make sure that the dai'e could understood the feeling and the emotion of the speakers. No matter how 'aalim is a person, he would be like a mute person if he does not speak in the language spoken around. Many religious scholars in our country who lived in Mecca and Egypt for many years and speak in fluent Arabic but they are not fluent in their own language. I had seen this too. So, they would just stay in their academic circle perhaps in university or certain region without the knowledge that they sought being conveyed to others. That is why I tried to do some translations in Chinese as an ordinary person who were educated in Islamic studies stream. Many people in our country condemn about Chinese communities who are ignorant about Muslim traditions but they did nothing in order to solve the problem rather condemning.

11. Arabic and Global Language 

It is also important to master Arabic language. Sources about Islamic sciences are mostly in Arabic. In Malaysia, those sources are also in Malay because our elders had initiated the writings in Malay. A dai'e must also know English as it is a global language. If we only speak in Malay, then our target audience of da'awa perhaps is only in domestic ranging. If we wanted to spread the mercy of Allah, we need to conform to the multilevel system. That was what had been done by apostles of prophet Jesus a.s in the part of the past nations. They spread their faith across borders as far as China and Japan in the East. Being a translation and interpretation student, I was also exposed to the translation of Bible and translation theories proposed by figures such as E. Nida, Basil Hatim, Cicero and the Language of Law. I do not join any institution because I am just devoting myself for Allah and not for money. Many people do not understand my principles so they think that I am crazy, haha. I do not study anything for myself. I studied them for Allah and yes... They are torturing moments and not fun at all. I have no time to build good lifelong friendship with proper people like what I had seen when I was in the university. I could just be a mere operator in factories. End up my life just like others.

There are another two points in my notes. I'm trying to simplify them and burn the note... hehehe. I don't need them but I can share it with people.

Continue....

Guidelines for a Muqallid

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

The God the Most Highest ordered: "Ask the knowledgeable people if you don't know." And the people of remembrance or people of knowledge are those who are followed. Whereas the muqallid is not a person of knowledge so he becomes a follower of someone else.

This is what makes me feel not comfortable when people walking behind me or praying behind me and making me an imam though only for a salat service, hehe. I am just a muqallid and my imam also does not like people to walk behind him. I am taking his example on how I behave as a mean to respect my imam as I read everything about all imams and their characters.

Ibnu Abdul Barr (d.463) and others mentioned: "The people are united in the ijma' that the muqallid is not counted as being from the people of knowledge. The knowledge is the realization of guidance along with its proof."   

Ibnu Qayyim mentions: "And it is as Abu Umar bin Abdul Barr said - Indeed the people do not differ about the fact that knowledge is the realization attained from proof but without proof, it only becomes a taqleed."

Sayings on the Permissibility of Issuing the Fatawa Based upon Taqleed

Ibnu Qayyim stated that there are three sayings about this:

I. It isn't permissible to issue a fatawa or guidelines based upon taqleed since it is not in category of knowledge. Issuing a fatawa without a knowledge about particular field, issue, and sciences of divine law is forbidden and haram! So, based from this, people could judge on the level of knowledge possessed by 'clerics' in Pakistan, Bangladesh or India's rural village when they issued ridiculous fatawas or guidelines like poking people's eyes, raping women for crime committed by men and etc which Western medias always put into highlight when talking about Shari'a Islamiah or the Way of Nature. This one is from the saying by most of Hanbali scholars and majority of Shafi'ie scholars.

II. It is permissible for a cleric to issue guidelines with regards to himself, but it is not permissible to issue fatawa to others based upon taqleed.

III. It is permissible to issue fatawa based upon taqleed when there is a need for it and when there is no mujtahid scholar. Mujtahid scholar refers to scholars who do researches based on his knowledge on particular sciences of the path. This is the most correct of the sayings and is what is acted upon. 

Sheikh Albanee says that hadith is a proof in itself after mentioning the statements of the imams on taqleed as found in the introduction of "The Prophet's Prayer Described" where it has a heading "Taqleed for whoever Can't Search for the Evidence for Himself" in page 94.

Some may question: "Not all of the people are able to be the people of knowledge as what has been explained." The answer of Hanbali scholars is yes, indeed. Nobody has any doubt on this fact but Allah has mentioned in Surah an-Nahl verse 63: "So ask the people of knowledge if you don't know!" The same verse also appears in Surah al-Furqan verse 59.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w mentions: "For those who issued fatawa without knowledge, why don't they ask if they don't know? The cure for those in confusion is to ask!" However, the scholars did not mention all of the above evidence to show who is eligible or not eligible to be a scholar. Their research is with regards to those who are considered to be the people of knowledge in their society. Taqleed is upon the common person and ignorant one. Scholars who can and able to search for the evidence are excluded from being a muqallid. The responsibility of a scholar is not to do taqleed because their responsibility is to perform ijitihad.   

The saying of Ibnu Abdul Barr explains further that: "All the rules are for common folk, they are those who have to perform taqleed on their scholars whenever necessary. They are incapable to understand or comprehend evidence or sciences. Sciences has grades where one cannot attain the top most grade unless if he goes up through the basis. Scholars don't differ in the matter of common folk having to follow their scholars."

Sheikh Muhammad Uthaimeen who wrote the article believes that it is not correct to generalize common folk by saying that all of them must perform taqleed. Taqleed only happens when a person follows a scholar if he has no access to evidence or could not search for the evidence. Many people are smart enough as they could clearly understand evidence if it is presented to them. For example, we can't deny that a common person could also understand evidence contained in the hadith: "Tayammum is one strike (of the hands on the dust) for the face and hands". People who are lacking of intelligence could also understand the hadith.

The conclusion from the article is that, taqleed is allowed for who ever that could not search for or understand the evidence from sciences of the path. Ibnu Qayyim also hold this opinion. In certain times, scholars would also have to depend on taqleed where they could not find any document and text from the sunnah except which came from the knowledgeable scholars.

The God knows more than His creatures...

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

Migration: Knowledge is the Light

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Before I forget about what I had listened I better keep it a record as a witness for me before Him. We are still in the spirit of Lunar New Year and Hijrah. I had just tuned the radio at quarter part of the lecture but never mind, we still can benefit from little things that we get, His Will. I am actually afraid to directly mention Him because I feel unworthy but I am referring to Him, haha.

Says Ustad Hajji Roslan, in term of the knowledge we have al-Furqan which is the scripture, al-Furqan is another name for the Glorious Quran which means the Divider. It separates the Light from the Darkness. It shows us which is the right thing which is wrong. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w was once asked, what is Islam? He mentions that Islam is the Creed and Faith, the Way, and the Morality. To lead us to these three matters, we need knowledge. The knowledge about these three matters for us to understand what is Islam. For us to migrate from chaotic situation in our life, it will never happen without the knowledge about the Creed and Faith, the Way, and the Morality. Because we have knowledge about these three matters and not all of the people acquire or searching for these knowledge, we could only see a person who wants "Islam" but other 50,000 persons reject it. The real success does not actually come from wealth but from the faith.

In Malaysia, we talked about bohjans, bohsias, minah rewangs, mat rempits and others. These terms are used to refer to teenagers who have no real goal in their life but searching for entertainment to satisfy the emptiness in their soul and they get involved into social problems. The ustad advise everyone to stop creating terms which shows the destruction of civilization of nations. Let us create again the civilization and reconstruct the society may we be safe in the future. We won't receive salvation without the knowledge about the Creed, the Way, and the Morality. We are only Muslim by our names and family. We are worried that without the migration of the knowledge, we may lose "Islam" but only having the name. Few times to come, perhaps the time will come where people would also consider Islamic names for example Muhammad, Abdullah, 'Ali, and others are outdated. This had already happened in many parts in the world. If we only have Islamic names, we would never receive Salvation. We could see how many people with Islamic names but involved in social problem and we feel sad because of this. We never follow the prophetic traditions for example about the process of expounding the knowledge to people in Meccan and Medinah period. That is the basis which determines people into the migration. We want to see these again in our society and nations where it could develop civilized nations.

The moderator then continues, it is important to take into notes that the pre-condition to be a human is with the knowledge. Without knowledge, a human-being is not yet a complete human-being. Wherever we talk about knowledge, we will also talk about the importance to migrate toward the knowledge. The knowledge is the right of the God. As long as the knowledge is bringing us closer and please Him, we will go for it. 

In the sense of migration and the challenges that nations are facing in the era of globalization, we do not want our life to be filled with the culture of hedonism and living only a luxurious life having fun without having to think and stimulating the mind with knowledge. The thing which completes our life is the Creed and the Faith. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w, companions, and disciples migrated to protect the Creed and the Faith. The paternal uncle of prophet Muhammad s.a.w, Hamzah r.a had also embraced Islam when prophet Muhammad s.a.w was beaten by another uncle which is Abu Jahal. The questions that popped out from Hamzah to Abu Jahal sounds: "What is wrong with you that made you beat Muhammad? Is it wrong for him to remind people to worship the God? Is it a big sin? Once again you hit him, I will be the one who tear your head down!"

My opinion, this event also shows that Abu Jahal does not want to leave luxurious life as a noblemen because the people who listens to Muhammad s.a.w mostly are paupers, the meeks (as what Jesus had mentioned), and those who were tyrannized. People who had no worldly attachments. Muhammad s.a.w bring the knowledge about the God and the Faith to Him. He does not bring the way to make profit or getting money. The Creed and Faith mold inhuman human to be human with Mercy and Love. I am not sure if Europeans and Western World could understand this. Their way of thinking is also influencing the world through globalization and its tool which is media. What red neck Protestant Christians and other Christian organizations are teaching regarding these instead of trying to blacken others?

Ustad Hajji Zamri Hashim discussed about the challenge faced by people in term of protecting the Faith and the Creed. The Creed is important and very precious. If a person knows to correctly evaluate things, his act will also be correct. To make people understand about choosing the right values, we give everyone an example. If I am holding the RM50 banknote at my right hand and then I crumple it with my hand. Then I hold a nice and fresh RM1 banknote with my left hand. Later I call a person to choose which one for him to take. Of course he would take RM50 though it is crumpled right? Because it is more valuable than RM1 though it is crumpled. But if I show this to a kindergarten kid, perhaps he will choose RM1 at the left hand. So, every man with the mind and consideration knows how to choose and later act.

Because of choosing the right value too, Mashitah was thrown with her family into a boiling hot water. Masyitah is the title for the lady who served Pharaoh family during Egyptian civilization period. The Pharaoh had declared his Divinity where everybody must worship him as a deity. She was reported by a princess of Pharaoh because she unintentionally mentioned Him the Lord of Israel while her comb had fallen down and not the name of her father. She and her family were boiled alive to death in the hot boiling water by Pharaoh official through royal decree and she is mentioned by the God in His Revelation as to honor her Faith. Western world should also take this as a lesson, though having no faith in this because what happened in the past we can't see with our eyes. What Western world had done to the World in the past and still continues today. Fellow beloved brothers and sisters, we could also learn from this honorable lady, Mashitah. Me and my younger sister is also pressured with the needs to "find money" and even people close to us telling us to forget Him for a moment and leave His commands behind... How could we forget Him when we love Him? :')

- Second series of the lecture in Masjid al-Bukhary, Kedah Darul Aman.        

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

Lecture on Mukhtasar: External Purification is Followed by Internal Purification

In the Name of the God the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful

Firstly, we pray to the God the Most Merciful to guide us with His Mercy and Love. Guide us and lead us toward the straight path. Our Lord, open up for us the portals of wisdom and gather to us from the treasure of Your blessings, O the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful! 

Mukhtasar Manhaj al-Qasideen lecture notes and documents

The book begins with the chapter of purification. This is the first series on the book of the secret which could be learned in it the purification for the prayer service. It is about purification and the God had obliged it upon us. Whatever that we had done with our salat service, the development of salat service before the God. If it is viewed within the shari'ah (divine way) of the God, it touched the issue on how we understand things as a faithful Muslim.

A Muslim who accepts Islam as their nature, it is different from what others are up to. Maybe for others, it is enough with certain rituals. The first thing that we Muslim should understand, our faith is closely related to the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w. The basis of our faith is tawheed, the Oneness of the God in every aspect. The right for the Divinity for the God, it only belongs to the God. None others have the right for worship except Him. We are confident and faithful that noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w, the messenger of the God is the seal of prophethood a sign of His Mercy to all of creatures. Everything which is transmitted through the messenger must be obeyed and accepted by us.

We accept Islam as our deen, law of life. Being a Muslim is not only about meditating and chanting holy words, performing salat service, and then we go to night club and being a General Relation Officer (GRO). Bukan kita menjadi Muslim beriman itu dengan meratib, sembahyang, selepas itu kita pergi ke kelab malam menjadi pegawai perhubungan awam, saudara-saudari kita. A Muslim is a person who accept the Islamic system, the Divine law which regulates ones life. Kita menerima nidzam perundangan kita, hukum kita yang diturunkan oleh Allah 'Azza wa Jalla.

Although the topic which is discussed is a little topic, but it shows how discreet must we be in order to be a faithful Muslim. We are Muslim in the entire place, not in certain place.

I had read few Jews forum and they also talked about this. But unfortunately, they also have many classifications of Jews like secular, orthodox, modern orthodox, ultra-orthodox, karaite-samaritan, nosrim and others.

There is no other way of life for a Muslim except for the Divine law is regulating his or her life. Try to understand Islam through the eyes of a Muslim. When we try to understand Islam through the view of other religion, way of life, or ideologies, we would have the separation of religion and daily life or what we call as secularism. We have to understand it just like a Muslim understood his or her religion.  When we separate life, we get the Heaven for the God, and earth for men society.

My humble opinion, Heaven and earth are both belongings of the God. The universe belongs to Him. The West have had been controlled by religious groups whom are dirty in their heart. They had tyrannized people but in the case of other continents, they should not see it within their view because Europeans or Westerners are not gods. Asia has long been a region which produces philosophy and different from aggressive Western world or Western Europe whom recently proposing for peace and claim it as their greatest invention, hehe. I do not blame Christianity which had been deeply rooted in Europe until it became an 'ancestral custom' with European features although most people today do not actually believe in the Christ. I know it was the fault of those people in the religious body or the Church. I am not blind. I can think like a Christian although I am not one. This is not about pluralism; we ourselves know and determine what our faith is. Not our mum or dad. Apart of it of course the God’s guidance and mercy Who determined what we are.

A faithful Muslim accepts the God’s system so everything must be based from the reference of the Quran and prophetic line traditions. Bukan sesuka hati menurut hawa nafsu. Not as what we like according to our own desire. 

As to say, Jesus Christ, David a.s, and others are also a prophets of Islam so their tradition is also counted as prophetic tradition. Tradition like anointing our head with olive oil while performing penance is also sunnah for me. So the term Christ is not special at all for me because it is a Greek corruption in English rusty tongue for Hristos which means the Anointed one, haha. Fasting in alternate days is also a sunnah where David a.s performed that kind of fasting. I had received a flier from Christian organization based in Kuala Lumpur at my hostel and they are trying to proselytize even in the mosque. Quite aggressive I guess, because one of them had even approached me in the mosque. I know he is a proselytizer although he's just wearing normal cloth, pretending that he had previously know me but I am not angry. I just kept my silence and sat down for dzikr. I don't need their money and I do not even accept anything given by brethren in Islam except for those whom I know, like family. I would had myself baptized in church last time when I had some misunderstandings regarding Islam and Muslims but I didn't go for church. I went for Buddhist temples after listening to spiritual teachings before repenting myself and accepting the covenant of father Abraham a.s for his grandchildren. In simple word, I am not interested with those Christian organizations no matter how big money they have, haha. Money, big car, beautiful houses, western sounding names, 'friends' and many things actually do not attract me at all, sorry. I know about Christ teachings more than them. I have contacts with churches of eastern rites and frequently visiting churches though I think that many of my Malay compatriots would curse my face with accusations such as "tak beragama." This had been proven with some tests regarding people opinion, hehe.

Respective brothers and sisters in universities, just ignore proselytizer if you do not want to accept anything. Everything actually depends on our own choice not determined by others. I would like to express thanks to Pusat Islam USM for the herald before Friday sermon too though I had already been approached by a proselytizer. I won't report them and they do not have to worry. They are not even a threat to me because I have the God as my Friend. Just stop bringing shame to Jesus Christ. He is a noble figure for me. I will kick the ass of those who dare to bring disgrace to him and claiming that it is from him. I don’t care whether he is a god or not for others but he is one of my prophets which I have faith in through the seal of prophethood, Muhammad s.a.w.

So, how is taharah or purification is discussed in the Mukhtasar Manhaj al-Qaasideen? Sheikh Ahmad bin Abdul Rahman bin Quddaamah al-Muqaddis who is the writer of the book said, purification is divided into four levels...

I. Zaahir or External Purification which could be seen from physical filth anything which comes out from our body or from other. There are practices like ghusl or bathing, wudhu' or ablution, istinja’ or cleaning oneself from feces and others.

II. Our body parts are free from sins, errors, and vices, trying to avoid our body parts from committing vices and criminals. The honorable Imam al-Ghazali said that: "there is no greater ingratitude toward His Grace than using His grants to us to disobey Him and go against Him." For example of this kind of attitude, watching porn or what we called as eyes adultery. Noble prophet, Jesus Christ had also said that those who had seen such obscene thing should pluck out his eyes for it is better than all of body parts being tormented in the hell. I'm sorry, I can't remember the source for the notion. I read it somewhere. Maybe I should try to check it because Jesus Christ is a noble prophet and messenger of the God. He must be respected too.

III. Purification of the heart from disgusting matters. This is related to our characteristics.

IV. For those who are longing His Divine Love, purification of soul is important. We must purify ourselves and souls from whatever association to Him. The benchmark for this is the soul. Everything that we are worried of is only because of Him. Not because anything else. He is the Lord and Master of all creatures and universe. Our heart is only longing for His pleasure. So, this is what I always talk regarding polytheism. It is not really difficult to determine if we try to understand this part. Daily life always makes me afraid that I would associate Him with my carnal and worldly affairs.

A person who looks at things with his heart would understand all of the levels mentioned above. If we only purify ourselves at the first level, we would only take care about small matters. That makes doubt comes to our heart due to that, our understanding regarding purification is shallow. The religion is actually an easy matter for a faithful person because he or she lives with it. It becomes difficult because human character who only sees little things so he dwells only in physical matters. For example, a person only assumes that proper istinja’ is the only dimension of religion. From the report of ‘Umar r.a, there was the issue about people performing ablution with a vessel of a Nasraniyyah (Christian) lady and the issue had been prolonged into purification issue. So, people becoming so doubtful until they performed purifications more than what had been prescribed. They could only see physical matters but ignores the character. Human character becomes so foul and they had fallen into madzmumah characteristics.

According to what is called as rabbaniyah consideration, whatever that we physically look as clean could also be dirty inside. It is almost close to, 'don't judge a book by its cover' in English. Worship must be based from sound knowledge. It is not based from desire or whatever that we like to do. Some people perhaps view zuhud or modesty as marginalized behind while dirtiness and vices being regarded as beneficial or good. Munkar (evil) is viewed as ma'ruf (goodness), while ma'aruf being perceived by physical eyes based from nafs (carnal desire) as munkar. This era what can I say, urmm...   

continue....

Optional Fastings

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

In conjunction to optional fasting days in haram (respected) months, we fast in days according to sunnah such as Monday or Thursday. We may also fast like Daud (David). I would like to share some personal practices. It might varies according to interpretations, traditions and customs. 

I don't know if some people would accuse this as bida'ah but this is what I believe and I learned from pious creatures of Allah which is His prophets and messengers with the help of teachers, Quran, and Hadiths. If it does not in accordance to sunnah, I seek refuge to Allah from deviating may Allah forgive me and please pray for me to be saved from torments in the hereafter. I am still repenting on my sins for being an infidel and had heard many upsetting things like threatens from people around that I would be send to hell, anyway.  

When we fast we should try to avoid from being detected by others that we are fasting. It has moral values hidden behind. This is regarding optional fasting and cleanliness. The practice that we usually do is that we would apply some olive oil on our exposed skin, hair, and beard. This is the common practice when entering masjid, in celebration and performing salat too. Comb the hair, don't let it messy while fasting! Also use siwak (twig stick) or brushing the teeth while fasting is OK but don't swallow the toothpaste or drink the water while fasting! 

We should not show that we are exhausted or feeling hungry and act normal as long as we are able to perform the fast. If people invite us to eat while fasting before mid-day, then just fulfill the invitation because this is just optional fast. We can fast again on other days to come in the week. Refrain telling people that we are fasting if we are able to do that, and smile always. While fasting we must be extremely patient.

Regarding cleanliness while performing fast from left, those three twigs that we call as miswak or natural toothbrush and the bottle consists of olive oil. Now we have many brands of olive oil for hair, skin, or for cooking. The twigs was initially a single twig but I cut it to three for convenience.

When fasting we would wake up early before the adzan (calling for prayer) of dawn prayer for sahur. Sahur means pre-dawn meal. It is a good time to make supplications and asking Allah's mercy or forgiveness. As for myself, I had practiced since my repentance to Allah and return to the path of His messengers. I would never talk about this if I am not practicing it. Breaking fast would be simple like tamr (dates), plain water, or simple bread maybe two or three slices would be sufficient for my size. The same thing for sahur. Just to survive for eight hours before breaking the fast after sunset prayer calling according to local time. 

Don't forget to recite His holiest Name as it is our responsibility to remember Him. Say: "bismillahirrahmaanirraaheem" - with the Name of Allah the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent when taking sahur and also when breaking the fast. Also pray and supplicate to Allah before sipping drink when breaking the fast. Allah always listen to His servants.

Basic things for penance from left tasbeeh (dzikr beads), ma'athurat kitaab, and glorious Quran. I know tisbeeh is not sunnah because it is tied with thread and it is preferable with fingers. Then use fingers if possible, not a big problem. I usually use fingers to count remembrance to Allah but when memorizing something like Quranic verses, I would use tasbeeh. The ma'athurat, we can get them from religious departments according to states. I have with me various ma'athurats and I memorized few. This blue ones is the possession of my late maternal grandfather issued by Perlis religious department and they are not wahhabi just Muslims! I'm using it for my late maternal grandfather hoping Allah would bless his soul with the knowledge that I get from the ma'athurat.

During fasting time, basically... what should we avoid?

1. No eating, smoking and drinking during fasting period beginning from sunrise to sunset.

2. No vanity acts, it includes in oral and thinking. For examples, no obscenity, no false words, no arguments, not to look at people around to avoid evil-thinking, no slandering, no backbiting, not to listen to vain things, and other evil acts according to common senses.

3. No sexual-intercourse or anything related to sexual desire while fasting.

4. Don't take pre-dawn meal too early. Maybe 18 minutes before dawn prayer would be OK.

5. No delaying breaking the fast, as soon as we hear the sunset adzan we could break our fast just drink some water at least if you are trying to catch congregational maghrib prayer service while performing optional fast because not all of people fast if it is not Ramadhan.

I don't know whether we have non-Muslim guests. They might want to learn about some Muslims practices from Muslim themselves. This is what some of us are practicing and not from the report by non-believers. I share it according to my own practices and my faith as far as I could recall. My service to tell everyone is done. I am out of the responsibility and non-Muslim don't have to be a Muslim to understand others.

I don't think that this is a must. I use to wear this when performing prayer services. It is called as skull-cap or thaaqiyyah. When I finished performed Hajj manasik (rituals), and performed tahallul in Holy Mecca. Mum asked me to put on this cap but I refused. Then she said that just you wait until bird poops on your head! And what she said happened without a minute to come. I am still stubborn when I return home after the holy season because I thought that I was still young. Now I'm growing older and older. I just can't believe that I am not 19 teenage boy anymore but a 25 years old man. How fast the time consuming us, ya Allahhhhhh!!! :( I gradually put this on while praying in the sacred places like masjid or when reciting Quran to respect Allah 'Azza wa Jalla. Mum said, wearing this cap is to remind us that we had already repent to Him and never try to repeat the same mistakes. 

Respectable Salafi and Tablighi brothers who happen to drop by might also help those who are not apart of their organizations, jama'at or divisions in enlightening about the sunnah practices. I don't like to call myself according to division but only a Muslim and a lowly servant of Allah who seek His mercy but I would be honored to receive help from brothers and sisters in order to see Him. 

Refrain from division if possible, but love each other. Remind every brother and sister in faith with care. Refrain from hurting their feeling and be polite to everyone. Let everyone receives salvation, blessings and mercy from Allah!

So, this is my sharing. How about brothers and sisters in faith? What do you prefer to observe during optional fasting? Share with me. Maybe I could also practice them in turn if it is according to sunnah as a form of penance and charity to Allah. May everyone receives His blessings for sharing. Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love for brothers and sisters.

Eagerness to Learn

Assalamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

I just took a circulatory bus in the university to the language center. I have to check the venue for the German language test. It is in Lang. Lab 3 and 6 at 9.00 in the morning. I do not know what to answer tomorrow. Maybe I would just hantam (shooting answers), and leave the room early. Thank God, higher degree students do not have to register the course for examination grade as it is only the requirement for us according to our field of study related to European studies. Or else it would be a disaster for me. 

I wait for the bus at the bus stand near the center after checking the venue and time for the test. There I met my German language classmate. A Chinese girl from China. In the beginning I thought that she is ethnically Manchu or Korean because she looks like a Northern tribe girl. Well, Chinese everywhere still remember about Manchurian invasion.


It could be seen even in HK and Taiwanese movies about the Jiang Shi (jumping zombies) being described as wearing Manchurian style garments. I love watching the late Lum Ching Ying movies. He was among famous names in Cantonese film industry during my childhood time before he passed away because of liver cancer in 97'. We were so sad, because we love his movies.

I lived in Cheras Kuala Lumpur when I was a kid and my father worked in a press media company particularly as a reporter getting news for a Malay language paper. If you could notice this, people with western (arab and indian) origin always attached to newspapers, writings, and some in politics or business through their connection with feudal lords be it in the old time or recently. That is what these people were last time. My father being a reporter because of his passion to Malay language and literature. He did not get formal education after his father passed away when he was 12 and was sent to Singapore when he was 14. 


Malay is the language my father was raised with in northern state of Malaysia since he was born in 1948. Undeniably it is an important medium for our ancestors transmitting the knowledge about Allah to natives through books written in Arabic script taught in traditional madrasas in Malaysia and Southern Thailand.


In 1948, our beloved Kedah Sultanate was reluctantly merged By British through the threat from Siam (former Thailand and our former rival) into the Malayan Peninsula Federation to give way for other states and kingdoms under British rule and administration their way for independence. In 1948 too, British left Palestinian British Mandate in Jerusalem and Israel declared its indepence as a nation-state. 

As to say, we especially children were so much influenced by Chinese environment around us in Kuala Lumpur. I do not even know how to talk or mingle with Malay kids when I was a kid. I am not familiar with them although I tried to befriend them when I was a little kid. My parents sent me to a mosque to be educated according to Islamic way but I never make any friend there. I just have neighbors at home as friends.


Eventhough not a pure Hua Qiao (overseas Chinese), but I do aware about some points in the history of Chinese empires and states from discussions with other Malaysian Chinese compatriot from Chinese Private Education like the Confucian School in Kuala Lumpur or other Chinese National Type education. I borrowed their books to read, hehe.

I thought that the Chinese girl is a non-Muslim because in the class her name is just a combination of two sounds and it sounds like 'objective' or 'motivation' in Mandarin if we play with the words articulation, haha. I feel sorry to her now when I chuckled at her when listening she told me her name. She does not know I understand Chinese.


We talked about how tough German class. Our German teacher has high expectation on students because she is a native German. I believe Frau Myer is a good teacher, because she never takes students problem in her class easily. She always tries to know what is her student problem if they could not understand her teachings in the class. 

She told me that she is a Muslim. That is fine with me. I know many Muslim Chinese brothers and sisters before, be they from Malaysia, China, Taiwan or Thailand. What stricken me was that the girl said that she could not read some parts of Quran because she does not really familiar with Arabic script. So she also wanted to take Arabic class at least for the beginner level. I also found her Malay is quite impressive when she said "saya boleh cakap sikit-sikit Melayu" (I can speak a little bit Malay). I don't speak with her in Chinese anyway because no one would expect a 'Malay' speaking in 'dialectical' Chinese. I consider it as impressive because she tries to speak in the language that she learned in classes. 


I could understand her intention when she wants to learn Arabic. I know how China is. We also heard about Cultural Revolution. I could not offer her my help because of the difference in gender though sometimes I could be quite open minded but since she is a Muslim, I am respectful to her. If my sisters are there, I would certainly ask my sisters to volunteer helping her without she have to waste her money registering for classes in the center. We were all educated using Arabic script Malay before we learned Malay with Roman script. I had also seen other Chinese national friends and brothers who are eager with Arabic learning and they are taking the opportunity while studying here.


Although I personally do not like how the university language center is 'making' money by pressing students' money because I was also a student under the center. I know how they work, and I sympathize first degree students for that. However, I still admire these students when I see how eager they are to acquire the knowledge which would eventually connect them to Allah 'Azza wa Jalla and as we know they live in non-Islamic environment. China is still a country with Communism as its ideology although I could see now it shifts little by little toward capitalism without we realize it. 

In Malaysia, we learn everything sometimes without having to be burdened with costs. Especially religious education is actually everywhere and those in the mosques are usually free because the mosque usually pay for the teachers transportation costs and others to deliver teachings.

Masjid Zubair al-Awwam, this was the place where I received my early education. I do not have any good memory here, most of the teachers there were women when I was taught religious practices and other things like reading and writing. I remember I was slapped by teachers and humiliated in front other 'malay' friends. I noticed that only me who was humiliated and left alone. My perception too was formed since these early times. I stopped from going to the nursery in the mosque for about a year and just staying at home until I was registered in standard one (7 years old) in a national school just under our flat house in Cheras. When I was in the class in standard one, I do not even know how to read alphabets anymore and have to learn again. I hope parents, teachers, and others learn from this. Do not humiliate little soul but handle them with care without spoiling them. They might not know how to describe how they feel but they have feelings too. - Picture by Nawuzah 

Mosques are everywhere and we have musalla even in shopping complex in the area with majority Chinese community. We have broadcasting like religious lectures in the TV and radio. It is the matter we realize it or not. Whether we have the desire to get it. Whether we want to get benefits from them or not. Last time, I myself did not realize about this.

I began to slowly get this understanding when I live with Zaidi. He was my roommate from Kelantan when I was in second year doing my first degree. He was the same age as me but he came from religious school where he had to be stranded for one year for Arabic preparation. In some madrasas, students have to take Arabic preparation class before moving to i'dadi level. The highest level in a madrasah is the thanawi. 


He used to listen to Kedah state radio where they have religious lectures aired around 14:00-14:30 and also another radio which is the radio of Pulau Pinang from 14:30-15:00. These radio also have many other religious lecture and spiritual program. When I heard he tuned in these radios, I also get to learn many things. I am also imitating him when I return home. This is also a good method to get religious knowledge.


I also recall back my experience when I listened to Thai radio and getting some knowledge about Buddhism practices when I live with my grandparents when I was 13. The broadcasting is aired from Chanak, Thailand. Just nearby my mother's hometown. I listened to the Thai radio because that is the only channel that I could get at my grandparents' house and visiting temples when I feel bored to talk with monks there. There was no TV. Nobody to play with. Sometimes my uncle who is a member of Tabligh-e-Jama'at would come to visit my grandparents with his wife.
  
I will always have to apologize to respective brother Zaidi. Last time I had scared him with strict practices and had waken him up for pray fajar prayers everyday in the mosque. We just walked because I have no transport and the mosque is quite far from the hostel. I did that because nobody calling for prayer early in the morning and my voice is not so loud to bangk (calling people to pray).


I can not just leave him alone and wake up late. I have to wake him up because it is for his own good. I didn't get anything by doing that except helping him to perform his responsibility as a believer. That is why I do not want to live with any roommate now considering that most of phd students are too old and I could not cope up with their way. I am also afraid that I would scare people away or I would burden them and make them feel uneasy.

As I had already encountered many bad experience, I just tested brother Zaidi in the beginning because I wanted to know with whom I lived with and after that I felt sorry to him. I think that I had done evil things to him when I tested him or perhaps I had bullied him. It might not be a good way to test others, but after that I get to learn many things from him too when I observe him.


He showed me the importance of religious lectures. I had seen religious lectures everywhere but I never realize its importance because last time, I just like other youngsters thought that only elders listen to religious lectures. It is boring and lame. My mother had also dragged me and my sisters to mosque last time, but we were so stubborn and only care about playing around or spending times in front of TV. Such a waste of time, and living in the frame of time we could be sliced to pieces if we do not realize it.

After I talk with the Chinese girl, watching uncles, aunties, grandpas and grandmas from China in their way to hajj pilgrimage in the airport when I was a temporary worker in immigration center in the international airport. And also after few months observing other Muslim brothers from China here. I felt so ashamed of our selves.

Their elders were pressured after Communists took over their states. Even some of them like in Yunnan have to flee south during Manchurian rule because in Northern Malaysia there are few descendants of these Yunnanese refugees who fled Yunnan. Some remnants are still there in Myanmar and North Thailand called as Panthaiy.


I could not even put my self as a comparison to them because their eagerness to seek knowledge strucks my heart. Through knowledge and revelation, Allah will guide us to imaan. Let us together seek knowledge, the knowledge that would bring us to know Allah no matter in what field we are working or studying : )     

Sealed with prayers may Allah bless beloved brothers and sisters and tahiyyat (respect) to all of you regardless nationality and languages : ) Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad, wa ahlihi wa sahbihi ajma'in. Under a nation banner and wings of peace!