Live Forever with the Scripture

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Whoa, I haven't update anything for my record here, haha. I had lost those piles of notes again and I regret it so much cause I have no time to put them in here as a mean to save them. At least, somebody or other could read them and practice them even if I reach the other realm before them. I am just sharing this from Mr. Suhaib Webb but I had checked first whatever he wrote as I hate spreading anything without checking the contents. We are responsible for our own acts.....

In chapter 35:32, the God the Highest says, the Quran was "inherited" to his servants. Inheritance is usually distributed after a person's death. The idea" "A heart kept away from Him is dead. So grab the book and live again!" He says, "A reminder to those alive (in their hearts)". 

For that reason, 35:35 starts with, "Those who wronged themselves". To give them hope in a new life if they return to Him! Ponder! Instead of clipping the sinners hopes, the Quran gives them flight. May He forgive us in these days and grant us the strength to fly!

"The God began with them because they are farthest from hope; then those between sin and good because they are between fear and hope; then those who are foremost because of their confidence in the God guiding them". Imam Ja'afar al-Sadiq related by al-Qurtubi's exegesis.

I have to do some media control with other staffs in the IOI tomorrow. These whole Ramadan is not so much packed for me because the environment is quite pleasant for everyone. I just tried to key-in the data for our media project as quick as I can so I could help other staffs with their chores if I am free. I am glad that those in the musalla never neglect the prayer times especially those in day time and they have an hour lectures too. I joined them although my department do not put any constraint for us to be there like other departments. 

I just do not feel happy especially now there are many issues dividing Muslims and the slender is spreading all the way round. There are trendy assholes even in religious matters. We have to avoid arguing with them especially imam Ahmad also put forth his advice to leave arguments even if we are right. Let them pull their chest and we just stay calm without any emotion. I had trained myself for this since long while being viewed as a "weirdo" and I just need to practice it when I am facing the situations. That is a meditation method while we are walking, sitting and sleeping, hehehe... Thank you viewing, may He bless everyone and may He helps us to put down the slander around.

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

Quran: Juz 'Amma

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Yesterday Evening

Yesterday brother Rosli from the musalla congregation near our neighborhood had invited me to a feast at his house just after 'Isha prayer service. His house is just at the junction at our neighborhood. I actually did not promise him whether I would be there or not. I just went home to see my father cause I am afraid my sisters would forgotten to feed him with his milk and medicine while my mother was at the masjid for her Quran lessons. I am supporting her to study Quran and Islam since she had no time to study since she took care all of us who were little children. After that I feel lazy to go to his house because there was already lots of people. When I saw that many people had gone home only I went to his house just to fulfill his invitation as it is impolite to make the host feel sad. I did not eat much just three sticks of satay (grilled chicken) and few glasses of water before thanking him. He shoved me some chicken but I had politely turned it down saying that I have some problem with meat. There is a limit for poor people to take meat and it is also a no to take few seafood or those living under the water. 

Most of the times I feel safe with vegetarian foods. I sometimes would feel uneasy when I have to explain things to people. So, I would pick the first food that I had seen there just to make the host feel happy and not to make them seeing me as a weird quite guy. Currently, we are in high holy days. Those in Mecca were observing it. So do me here. I am bringing the prohibitions in the respected land outside of the boundary as a sacrifice for Allah. Anyway I am thankful to brother Rosli and his wife for hosting me. He is a nice guy and he prays regularly at the musalla. I just feel shy because I was just a Shari'a stream student who is now still struggling with European Union policy and decision making thesis while those uncles there discussing trillion dollars projects in government lead companies (GLC). It is not good to compare our selves with others but it is just the effect of post-trauma for me, hehehe. 

I am scared to be closer to rich people. I think brother Idris is right when he said I am scared to mingle with people. I spend most of my time with low-class labors, poor students and I don't know how to discuss about business or investment. If I know I am with a rich guy I would immediately leave him. The same thing for example when I chat with karkun Firdaws at the hostel in RST and suddenly few of his colleagues joined in and talked about setting up cyber cafe business. I just stood up of my sit and went off. I just don't know why people can't talk about common things like TV programs, musics, movies, cats, plain hobbies like gardening, cooking, sports, health and so on to start the friendship. I know prophet Muhammad s.a.w had managed to help his wife, Khadija in her business in Syria but did he do it for a life? There were stages in his life. That is what all of the people should be acknowledged. Nothing is so specific in his life except Allah is the One who is specific in his life. Well, I am not talking about religion 24/7 too. I know how to switch my speech into "secular" ones when it is necessary. 

Those are just what happened yesterday. I just did not sleep for few days writing up thesis so kind of high, haha. I am just posting for the Quran as I had draw a new schedule for Quran recitation plan for myself. To those who are so fond with conspiracy theories around the world. I would suggest you people to make up thesis out of your "confidential" information and data, hehe. Submit it to any recognized university and try to get the feedback from International Relations and World Politics professors. I am sure you will get the doctorate out of your theories about what ever topics be it about a certain race supremacy, history or about anthropology to be linked with regional nationalism or religion just to make you feel secure about your selves. I am sure you will enjoy the process of writing a "thesis" and get to know how theories or speculations work within time and space. Life is not only about theories of war, dominion, racial supremacy and life it self is not of any importance because it is a test before another test coming at the gate of the hereafter. Theories are just a bunch of speculations. They are used to frame the events and what ever happening in the world. Just don't let theories controlling our life. To act and to feel like a scholar or academician is easy but the torture to achieve it is like being tortured in the hell. Only Allah knows. Just recite the Quran like what our elders recite it and immediately try to implement them in our daily life. It is better than speculations or dreaming.

Juz 'Amma     

Juz 'Amma actually referring to the last juzu' of Quran or the 30th part. Other terms referring to juzu' that I would use is perhaps parah or parashat. This part is usually the part that we always listen in the imam's recitation in prayer services. During our childhood, we were taught with this part and memorized few surats from this part. This part is quite easy to be memorized because those surats are simple.

This part contains many surats as compared to others. Most of the surats here were revealed in our holy Mecca. I think they are about 34 surats and they are known as the Surat al-Makkiya which means they were revealed during Mecca period before the hijra event. The balance three surats which are al-Bayyinat, al-Zalzalat and al-Nashr were revealed in Medina period. Altogether, there are 37 surats out of the juzu'.           

Special Characteristics of Makkiya Surats

They are simple sentences, words are eloquently structured, high in aesthetic and literature. Their arguments are strong. They were characterized with reminders to human that Allah is omnipotent, life in the hereafter, meeting with Allah and His promise on the result of the deeds. Basically, they are in poetical Arabic so if we speak in English we should not comment it through the translation. The same thing as Shakespeare's masterpieces could not be commented in other languages as it could be appreciated in its English form. Translation only serves to bring the messages to audience of different languages and world view. Currently I am studying Yemenite Arabic poetry just to appreciate our ancestral art and heritage. 

Coming to this issue of language and cultural appreciation, I don't understand why some people in our country love to classify Arabs who are married to Malay women as a Malay? Or the peranakan Arab is also claimed as a Malay? I know that both Malay and Arabs are of same religion but is it wrong for us to be recognized as Arabs or non-Malay natives just like the Thai in regional northern Malaysia or identified according to our paternal side? I think the nation-state nationality which was practiced by British in identity certification is complicated and it has caused us who were the Arabs of the past facing identity crisis especially those of the flows in 15th century down to 19th century. I found that our community did not really marry or pairing their children with non-Arab except in special cases. Elders just married among relatives until the situation changed in 19th century where many had broken traditions. There are also conflicts in the time period for our flows which also confused us and the registration officers because we speak in regional Malay. Some local nationalists perhaps would say to us, you can return to your homeland if you refuse to identify with us but our elders had been here since before independence, involved in regional history for example in the battle to protect local sultanate and its citizens, serving the state court and we're denied with our identity and culture. I am currently doing a thesis about European nationality and how Muslims of diverse ethnicity as those among various types of minority in Europe needs to be framed for social integration policy without losing their religious and cultural identity of their first generation's country when they were promoted to European nationality. Personally for me, denying our selves is to deny our religion and our past. Those who identify their selves for purposes other than da'awa but for worldly affairs should be boycotted.  

Moqadaam

In our country, these surats were separated into a book which is known as Moqaddam. It means the introduction which could be immediately recited and memorized. I usually would buy few Moqaddams and prayer books as presents to few friends or brothers that I know or closer to me. I am actually hoping that they would recite it with me though they are far away. They could also recite them for my soul to hear because we do not know when we are going to die. I am praying to Allah to listen to their recitations when the light is filled wit the darkness if they live longer than me. Wishing to help me to accumulate meritorious deed because I am poor. They can help me in that way and also gaining benefit for their selves and their family, hehe.  

Surats List

al-Nabaa', al-Naazi'at, 'Abasa, al-Takweer, al-Infithaar, al-Mutaffifeen, al-Inshiqaaq, al-Buruuj, al-Taariq, al-A'alaa, al-Ghaashiyaat, al-Fajr, al-Balaad, al-Shams, al-Layl, al-Dhuhaa, al-Nashrah, al-Teen, al-'Alaq, al-Qadr al-Bayyinat, al-Zalzalat, al-'Adiyaat al-Qaari'at, al-Takatur, al-'Asr, al-Feel, Quraish, al-Maa'un, al-Kautar, al-Kaafirun, al-Nasr, al-Lahab, al-Ikhlaas, al-Falaq and al-Naas.     

Non-Arabic speaker Muslims perhaps would need to find the meaning and contents of the surats in the Quran. Nowadays we have many kind of Quranic translations. There are Quran with parallel translations in various languages for Muslims of different mother tongue. Important for us is to collect as much as possible lessons from the surats and to execute it beginning with our own selves. Try it, we will feel the difference : )  

Sawmana gaadin eemanan wahtesaaaban, allahomma taqabbal minna siyaam. Allah help us with the yearning, inshaAllah...

          

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

Curing the Heart: 'Uzlah

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

A very blessed Friday. I just read some portions of the small treatise by Muhammad Afif bin Yahya of Perlis. I don't put his name like al-Barlisi because it is not a necessity. I am aware that Perlis king is a Sayyid of Southern Arabia descent but I don't really like everything to be Arabized. If people wanted to be affiliated with the native place, then just use the native name without the Arabic al- article. The title is coincidentally the same with another old book but the treatise is much simpler in modern Malay.

What does 'uzlah means? It simply means separating ourselves from the society. This is what low-self integration means if people looking it through modern psychological studies. A brother in musalla in our previous semesters had encouraged to me to join people. He was not wrong that I was not friendly. Yea, I know I wasn't friendly but I was practicing the sunnah of prophet Muhammad s.a.w and prophet Abraham a.s. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w had performed 'uzlah before the prophethood seal and Revelation reached him in the Hiraa' cave in Holy Mecca. I now would like to know how brothers and sisters view on sunnah? Is it just from what has been written only in Hadiths or from the whole traditions in the Holy Quran, the Hadiths, from the History of Prophethood, from the Morality of Prophet, and from the Qisaas al-Anbiyaa (prophets' narrations)? No need to answer here. Just answer it with our selves.

Brief Story about 'Uzlah

The more extensive meaning of 'uzlah is no empty chit chatting and keeping the silence while with the people around. Says Imam al-Ghazali rahimahullah: "Apart of the obstructions for us to perform worship to Allah are creatures. Most of fellow creatures will make us turn away from worship and instill confusion in our heart. It is like in the narrations of a scholar where there were a group of men practicing archery. Among this group of men, one of them sitting alone far from his 'friends'. He then approached the guy to talk with him. But the guy said, it is better for you to remember Allah rather than talking with me. Then he asked the guy, but you are alone and separated from your friends! He answered, no... I am not alone! I am with my Lord. There are two angels accompanying me at my left and right sides. The scholar further asked: "Who will eventually win among them? He said, those who were forgiven by the Lord. He then asked the guy, where is the way to reach that? The guy pointed his fingers showing the Heaven. Then the guy stand up from his sitting and walking while saying, dear Lord, most of creatures are making me turning away from You!"  

Regarding Talking too Much and Speech

Says Umar al-Khattab radi Allahu 'anhu: "Whoever laugh a lot, his authority and prestige will be less. Whoever looking at other fellow human as unimportant, thus he will receive insults.Whoever that is so into something, he will be known as a specialist. Whoever talks a lot, he will have more faults. Whoever have many faults and errors, he will be a person who has less shameful feeling. Whoever with less shameful feeling will have less obedience to Allah. A person with less obedience to Allah will a have a dead heart." 

A person who talks to much will be exposed to errors and flaws

Says our noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w: "Indeed, in the Resurrection Day, a person who has the heaviest sin is a person who says a lot of feckless words which never benefit him." (Narrated by Ibnu Nasar)

This part remind me of my previous lessons that I had learned in the Eight Middle Path taught by lord Buddha Gautama and I could clearly remember this since I wake up at four in the morning after taking bath without anyone notice me when I was 15 years old and recite everything that I memorized in Bali and Malay also performing prostrations while imagining emptiness in my mind. It's in the middle part of the three parts of chediya (pagoda) diagram known as seela (ethics) and I recited it as samma wacha which means right speech. This one is also mentioned by lord Buddha in Panchasila when he advised Muchalinda Naga who was a dragon/cobra snake incarnation and it sounds in Bali like musawada werramanni sikhapadam samaadiyaami which means I undertake the precept to refuse from false speech. Further, Gautama Buddha was also known as Sakya Munni. It means a person who keeps his silence and observe from the Sakya tribe. Today, people only translate Munni as a "little, clan, tribal" prophet but the real meaning is a person who keeps his silence.  

Wisdom of Silence

Reported by Anas may Allah be pleased with him: "Prophet Muhammad s.a.w says: 'Silence is a Wisdom and a Virtue. Only a minority of people are capable to do that."

Says Abul Qasim al-Qushayri: "Silence whenever is necessary is a noble thing. Muhammad s.a.w has taught people to guard their words and making one self familiar with silence if it brings benefit. Silence when it is not necessary to be silent is a disgraceful thing. For example keeping the silence when something is wrong and refrain to tell the truth. This kind of silent person is known as a "mute demon"." 

Over-Socializing

I don't think that I am lack of socializing in term of speaking. Yea, sometimes I have problem to speak with people but that is because I am thinking which level should I suit the counter-speakers level of speech. I guess I am just a secretive person and I don't like to be revealed to a multitude of people. Less people know me, then my attention could be directed easily to the people that I know. I don't like people to see my practices or my religious rituals because it makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't think like majority of people and yes my head is a bit complex. 

Some people said I am not an easy person to be read because I would react differently from what people expected to react. I love to talk with people but if I see there is no use for me to talk I would just keep my silence and keeping my distance. Most of all I can talk like normal people according to level. I even could talk about things which are not-related to religious talk if a person feels not comfortable with it like in the case of my ex-colleague, Amir. 

If a kid talking to me, then I will treat a kid like a kid but still with respect. If an elderly talk to me, I will treat him like and elder person. I treat everyone equally but sometimes it is also according to the level of their thought and thinking. Not based on physical body because a person with a big body does not mean that he or she thinks like a grown up man or woman. I don't normally show my emotion to people. I was taught to keep my patience until it is unbearable then maybe the emotion would burst out but it is a rare case. I only burst out like angry when I was 15 at that time I was at religious secondary school where my classmates trying to bully me because they always see me alone and different from others who would be dying to join them. Maybe they thought I was an easy prey but it ends up that I almost hit their head with science class apparatus but before the stuff hit their head I get my consciousness and I just put the thing down and walk away. This is why I always feel sympathy to those kids who are bullied in school or madrasah. This experience is just rampant and everywhere. It happens to others also. I just put it here to make it easier to apply in everyday life by other brothers and sisters. 

Regarding over-socializing, scholars of Islam mentions that it will bring chronic diseases and the root of disasters and evil. Sometimes it grabs away the grace that already possessed by one self. It brings enmity and hatred sunken in the heart will cause physical diseases. These makes the "heart and soul" become rotten and careless in remembering Allah.

Says a scholar: "Indeed words in the heart are constructed by the speech and made by tongue articulation".

Says Muhammad s.a.w: "Those who have faith in the God and the Hereafter, thus they only speak good things or else they would keep their silence".  

Muhammad s.a.w further says: "You will be in peace as long as you keep your silence. But when you begin to speak, your speeches will be recorded whether it is good speeches or evil speeches."    

Anas bin Malik radi Allahu 'anhu says: "Act with noble morality and keep your silence as possible as you can. By the One who holds my soul, a person who decorates himself or herself with these are among beautiful people". 

Ibrahim bin Adham also says: "I made friends with ascetic at the mountainous area in Lebanon. They advised me when I am about to enter the society with four advices which are 1) who eats a lot will never feel the sweetness and the grace of worship 2) whoever sleep a lot will never receive blessings of life 3) whoever hoping for the pleasure of human, will have any hope on Lord's pleasure 4) whoever talks too much on less beneficial things will receive evil endings and becomes an apostate."  

I wish that the Lord is pleased with brothers and sisters in faith and wishing that He helps us to be obedient and grateful slaves and servants may He be pleased with everyone.

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

Useful Ways of Leading a Happy Life: Chapter 2

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 Diary

Chapter two of this book deals with how to ward off anxieties and worries. I am experiencing all of these. I am sure dearly brothers and sisters are also experiencing this because we are all not perfect. Only Allah is Perfect. I had woke up late for night services for Him. I feel very sad, disappointed with myself, disgusted to look at my own face in the mirror and tortured because I had forgotten my position as His lowly slave. 

It happens because I lost the grip over my time since I am in an empty space and I am only depending on Allah without any brother (teacher) to guide me. After all, I also heard that my dad is driving to the north while he is not well because he feels bored and dull at home. Who says if we are married and having family we could be peaceful? I had seen many sorrows, physically and mentally tortured since I am a young child. I am sure others also experienced this but they don't share their stories widely to people because their situation might varies. Anything that other people do or experience does not apply to all people. Human also need friends and dad have lost all of his friends. When he was young, he used to mingle with his friends chatting and doing activities together. We can't easily develop friendship and friendship could easily end. 

Ya Allah... Your angels and other faithful brothers in my room are also witnessing me. I renew my declaration that You are the only True Friend of mine... You had befriend our patriarch Abraham a.s while he was alone and You also accompanied our beloved prophet Muhammad s.a.w while he was alone. I love You Lord, please forgive me I wake up late please don't leave alone, amin! 

I don't want to experience what my dad experienced. I feel so sad for him especially I can't accompany him to help guide him to see You in Your houses. Last few semesters I faced with few sorrows in the same time too which also includes my dad was affected by strokes until he's half paralyzed during Ramadan. I was so worried that I can't eat anything or drink anything. I threw out everything once I put something in my mouth. That's why I can't have my meals in front of brothers in my hostel. I don't want people to be affected and burdened because an unworthy creature like me :'( 

Chapter Two

It says among the means to wipe off anxieties due to nervousness and the preoccupation of the heart on sorrowful things is to keep ourselves busy with one activity that we like or another one is to seek knowledge. Why we keep ourselves busy? Because we want to distract our heart away from dwelling in anxieties. Activities like seeking the knowledge and knowing Allah will make us forget our grief and worry. As the result we will experience happiness and become cheerful again. This is actually something that we share with people of other faiths.

What makes us different from people of other faiths. A faithful Muslim will make intention to seek knowledge solely because to get Allah's pleasure. Whatever he does such as worldly acts which have good intention because of seeking the strength to worship Allah are due to his faith and sincerity only for Allah. This actually has an additional effect which wards off grief, worries, and anxieties through the Divine intervention. 

So many people today afflicted with permanent anxieties and sorrows. It comes the extent which makes him feeling very ill. The only cure is to forget the cause of sorrows and miseries. A person must make himself busy with normal activities. The activities which keep him busy should be something pleasing to himself. This will bring the person into his desired goal and all of knowledge only with Allah.

Among things to ward off worry and anxiety

1. Concentrate one's attention and concern only with present affairs.

2. Stop being anxious about future or grieving over the past.

3. Praying to Allah to protect one self from anxiety and grief (Bukhari n Muslim).

4. Anxiety and grief usually is a fear and concern over what will happen in the future. 

 A person should be the son of the moment.

5. Concentrate his energy and attention only for the betterment of the existing events and present moments.

6. Concentrate only the affairs of the moment is a necessary cause which leads to its accomplishment. 

Hope, Dependence to Allah and Working Hard

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w when he asks something from Allah, or when he guides the community at that time to ask specific things from Allah, he is advising them that prayers and supplication to Allah must be followed with hope in His favor. The same time, work hard and earnestly to achieve accomplishment of what had been asked or the removal of what had been asked to be removed from them.

The du'a to Allah should go side by side with action. A slave strives for what will benefit him in his Path and his worldly life. He asks his Lord to make him accomplish his need, and he seeks His help and intervention in that. 

Noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w said: "Strive for what will benefit you. Seek the help of Allah. Don't get incapacitated. If something afflicts you, don't say "if I had done such and such would have happened." But say: "This is the Decree of Allah. He does what He Wills". This is because "if" opens the act of the Devil". (Reported by Muslim) 

Our noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w advised us through this speech for us to join between two things:

I. Strive for useful things in all situations. 

Strive for the benefits of all situations. Seeking help of Allah and never surrender to incapacity as it is a harmful negligence.

II. Surrender to Allah the past events that have passed.

Witness in them the decree of Allah and His pre-destination.

Noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w has highlighted two categories of affairs: 

1. That a slave has ability to accomplish totally or partially, or those that can be completely avoided or at least lighten their burden. The slave should give his utmost effort and seek help of the Lord.

2. The affairs which the slave has no power over them. For this, the faithful slave must keep calm. Accept whatever come to him and surrender to Allah. This is a principle which complies with a definite mean to remove worry and grief beside achieving happiness.

Allah knows well... Finish this part and I had cried in front of the lappy until my chest get wet... Useless, hehehe.... :')

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

Supplications: Before Memorize the Quran

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

In the Name of the God, the Most Merciful the Most Compassionate

Brothers and sisters, I think I am going to share the supplication here with everyone who passing by because I am afraid that I would be a "stingy" servant and just keeping it to myself. I had earlier typed the rough meanings of these supplications in the past posts because I just afraid that I would defecate the supplications. I don't know how to stop the copy-paste function in the site. I am not sure if this is right because I am not a hafidz by formal means and I am only in the process to memorize which means I am not a teacher to anyone but everyone who are sincere to the Lord are my teachers. I get these supplications from around as apart of the manner to handle the holy verses. I memorized them and don't really keep any prayers or supplications when I memorize them because I don't want them to be polluted.

Here is the supplication in which I just provide them one by one and I wish brothers and sisters can also slowly memorize them and practice or beramal together. The highest Name is dotted so everybody should know what it is:

 اللهُمَّ نَوِّرْنَا بكِتَابِكَ بَصَرِي واشْرِحْ بِهِ صَدْرِي واسْتَعْمَلْ به بَدَنِي وأطْلِقْ به لِسانِي وقَوِّى به جَنابِي وأسْرِعْ به فَهْمِي وبحولك و قُوَّتِكَ إلابا...العَلِيِّ العَظِيْمِ 1

Urmm, I don't think I will reveal the source of the supplications but if anyone found it as the same please inform me because I would be very glad to know. These are all from Sunnah so don't worry. I am going to type them in Arabic but trying to avoid the Highest Name to be typed in this post wherever possible. I beg on my knees to brothers and sisters please handle supplications or du'as with care, respect them and help to pray to the Lord to forgive my sins because I don't know what will happen in the hereafter with these burden of sins :'(

I wish these are beneficial for brothers and sisters. I actually wish some of my brothers in the hostel could access this post only if they have the link, hehe. I made this special for them wishing them to also memorize the Quran for their well-being and family, ehehe. I don't normally pass this in the light to people around. There are actually some hidden prayers and supplications too but I can't reveal them all without permission, I am so sorry. 

Those who have this actually know they are actually gaining my respect and I do care about them not only physically but also spiritually. I regard them as 'saints' though I don't like to talk about anything like miracle of saints. If I found this post is defecating the Name, I will immediately banish this post and stop the site! Please inform me if any defecation happens or brothers and sisters have any idea on how to stop the copy-paste function. Thank you I appreciate brothers and sisters' help.

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!         

Sijjin: Reward for Those Who Boasts

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

We had just came across the word سجين sijjin in surat al-Fiil which talks about Abrahah and Elephant armies. What is more important in the surah? Is it the history of Abrahah to be proven right or wrong or is it for fun where we could laugh to Abrahah? Is it for us to curse Abrahah after his misfortune? Or is it the moral teachings that we should absorb from what had been told?

For a believer and faithful Muslim, Quran is not a book of history! We do not treat Quran as history books, scientific books, and etc! We treat it as His Word where moral teachings and conducts being taught by the God to His servants as the sign of His Mercy and Love to the universe.

According to the Qudsi Hadith it was narrated that Muhammad s.a.w had passing the word of the God through Archangel Gabriel which says: "When a servant of the God is arrogant in claiming merits of his practices in the hereafter, the God will answer them: 'Didn't I had made wide (easy) for you, your position and rank in the ceremony of teaching lessons? Didn't I made you a leader of the world? Didn't I made easy for you, your business? Didn't you being respected in the world?!'" 

The hadith implies that a boasting person will never get any special treatment in the world nor in the hereafter. The Arabic term for this evil characteristic is رياء riyaa'. As what had been mentioned in the glorious Quran about Abrahah. Although he had build up a church which is a religious matter and a meritorious deeds but he didn't build it because of Him. He build it because he wanted to the people to acknowledge on how powerful he was in making the people turning to the church build by him. He had to bear humiliation while in the world where he died once he arrived in Sana'a. The madzmumah characteristics which is boasting had made all the meritorious deeds being wiped away.

What I would like to also emphasize in this post to missionaries no matter of Christian faith or of Islamic path and it of course include myself though I am not a missionary... When we perform the evangelical work or da'awa, had we really asked our heart? What exactly is our intention? We want for example a Muslim to be an apostate just to satisfy our heart because we could make he or she turn away from their religion solely because of the God or simply to prove and boast around that our path is true and could not be defeated? The same goes to Muslim and Jews and everyone who call themselves human with the faith toward the God...

The point is where is our sincerity because of the God when we did such an act? Many people looks like devoting themselves to the God and they look down to others as if others are ungodly but who we are to determine everyone's fate in the end? We read many stories from Bible or from Quran. But what had we learned? Is it only history part like what is shown in National Geography and some discussion by "scholars" or "historians" or "archeologists"? About radiocarbon tests? Are these things making a human behaving like a human-being? Or is it morality teaching passed by the God through His prophets and messengers by revelation?

In other hadiths, Muhammad s.a.w mentioned: "Indeed the paradise is talking. "Says paradise: "I am illegal for those who are skinny, a boast, slanderer and spite."

Scholars of Islam had divided arrogance into two which are the peculiar boasting and mixed boasting. Perhaps everyone including myself, pastors, evangelists around the world could also take this with consideration and by heart even if we consider each other as infidels : )

Peculiar Boasting 

It refers to someone who intended to get worldly benefits from his or her practices.

Mixed Boasting

Refers to a person who does everything with the intention to get benefits of world and hereafter. How many God that we want to serve and asking for benefit? LOL

Scholars also explained that there is no specific measurement for merit being decreased because of boasting. On the other hand, certain thing is that meritorious deeds could be decreased or rejected because of boasting. The reward for those who have this characteristic is being cast down into the Sijjin as what had been mentioned by a hadith which means: 

"When angels bringing the record of servants to the heavens with happiness, but the God suddenly says: 'Cast those practices into the Sijjin. The person is not performing those practices because of Me but for others.'"

In other narrations, it has been explained that during the Resurrection, there will be a calling which every creatures could listen to it... It sounds: "Hey you who worship human-being! Stand up! Take back all of the merits from what you did because of them. I refuse to accept anything associated with others (those who did that are polytheists!)."

Imam al-Ghazali said in the Ihyaa' Ulumuddin explained that a boast who will be rewarded with the consequences are those who boast in the meaning of the most evil boast. The person who boast are hypocrites showing that he or she is a faithful person and claimed that they are the believer of only the God orally or verbally, but the fact is that they actually never believe in Him nor even fear His torments. This characteristic is classified as a kind of hypocrisy. The boast of hypocrites will be rewarded the same as those who are stingy. It means that the person is stingy in the testament toward the God and His prophets and messengers.

This characteristic also contains a light polytheism in which if we keep it and exhibits it before the God, it will be worse and leading to greater polytheism, associating the God with others. Imam al-Ghazali further mentions, those who are still clinging to this characteristic will be dumped with evil consequences and will be classified as ingrates (infidels). If it still happens, a person then has no right to receive peaceful paradise or even smell the paradise. Muhammad s.a.w advised the nations of the period of the end, not to mention our own goodness or our people or our family because it could lead us to boasting and showing off. When a person boasts, it will lead to other soul diseases such as feeling surprised of ourselves or proud of our self. Then we begin to look down to others and we have 'supremacy' thoughts.

So, every believers must also realize that every good deed being performed actually comes from the God as He is the Creator Who decides the journey of servants in the life. Although we are encouraged to perform charity, we are reminded to avoid from polluting it with boasting. A person who is grateful to the God are actually a person who strive for goodness and charity while those who boast to others always think that they are better than others. 

Scholars had suggested that only sincerity could kill boasting characteristic in one self. As what had been mentioned by the God recorded in the glorious Quran: "And they are commanded to worship (serve) the God and sincere for Him in religion which is straight and to perform prayers and (serving the poor with) tithe. And that is the precious law (religion)." (Surah al-Bayyinah verse 5) 

The God further says which means: "Indeed We revealed to you the scripture (Quran) with truth, thus worship the God and purify obedience only for Him! 2 Remember that, pure (of polytheism) is the religion (and law) of the God. Whoever takes other than that and says: 'We are not worshiping them but only hoping for them to make us closer to the God.' Despite, the God will decide among them on what they had problematized. Indeed the God never guides those who are lying and not grateful 3." (Surah al-Zumar)

I wish that this is not only a good lesson for myself but for others no matter of what religion we are. Because each time we always see people who claim themselves as zealots and we could see people chopping each others head, attacking here and there not only in the real world but also in the net. So, what kind of characteristics that lead people to this? Then ask ourselves are we really monotheists who believe solely in the God? This is the core of Islamic Creed... The Creed toward the God which leads us to morality and civilized human-being. 

Our Lord please be in contact with noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family as You had been in contact with our patriarch Abraham a.s and his family. Dear Lord, please bless noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family as You had blessed our patriarch Abraham a.s and his family. In the universe, only You dear the God who worth the Praise and Glory. Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!

Arabian Chronicles : 'Aad Ancient Arabs

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Rubb el-Khaly

We had already briefly talked about ancient Arabs or in Arabic it is known as Ba'ida Arabs. Ibnu Khaldun narrated that ancient Arabs like the 'Aad were originated from a person whose name is 'Aad bin 'Aws bin Iram bin Saam. They earlier lived in a place called Ahqaaf al-Ramal. This place is located in between Yemen and Oman, the way to go Hadramawt and Shihr.  

Al-Mas'oodi mentioned : "Shaddad later assumed the leadership after 'Aad. His descendents spread wide to Iraq, Syria and India."

Ibnu Sa'ad narrated in his narration that Shaddad clan had also overthrown the Coptics in Egypt. They had entered into Alexandria and established the city of Un. However, they were chased out by the Coptics who plead assistance from Sudanese and the Berbers. The Shaddads were still powerful in Yemen until they were subdued by this person whose name is Ya'arob bin Qahthan. Those Shaddads ran away to hills in Hadramawt and later, all of them become extinct.

Other branch of the 'Aad Arab tribe was the 'Obayl. They are the relatives of 'Aad bin 'Aws. Their descendents were all cousins. They lived in a place called Juhfah bordering the area of Mecca and Medina today. Another branch from 'Abd Juhkam bin Iram who lived in Taif also extincts.

There is also a mention about the pillars build by the Irams. It is mentioned in Surah al-Fajr verse 6-8. The God says in His revelation through the tongue of Muhammad s.a.w: "Don't you see (o Muhammad and people) what your Lord had done to the 'Aad? 6 The Irams who possessed pillars (and tall buildings) 7 Which no other cities being build as such in countries 8." This surah had also mentioned the Thamud. 

Other thing which had stricken me after reading this surah during my isolation period, when the God also talked about the peaceful self who will go to Him with His pleasure and being among His servants be in the paradise at the end of the surah. I also believed almost the same thing when I followed Buddhism where I tried to find a calm self through hidden offerings, meditations and musings but I just don't want to talk or speculate about the God because I didn't think there was One but only ourselves could bring good fate.   

Iram was also mentioned in a free circulated book written by Gary Miller called the Basis of Muslim Belief. Gary Miller was actually a Republican, haha. I also read this book when I was bored. He mentioned in the book...

"The Quran mentions about a city by the name of Iram. The city of Iram has been unknown to history, so unknown even to Muslim commentators, out of embarrassment or feeling apologetic for their religion, have commented on this mention of the city in the Qur'an as being perhaps figurative and not actually a city. In 1973, the excavation in Syria at the site of ancient city of Eblus uncovered the largest collection of cuneiform writings on clay tablets ever assembled. In fact, the library discovered in Eblus contains more clay tablets that are more than 4000 years old than all other tablets combined from all other sites. 

Interesting enough that we will find the details in the National Geographic of 1978 which confirms that in those tablets the city of Iram is mentioned. The people of Eblus used to do business with the people of Iram. So, in 1973, comes confirmation of the fact, after all, there really was an ancient city by that name, wherever it was. How did it finds its way into the Quran, we might want to ask? Those Muslims who may have offered their comments, trying to explain away this reference that they were uncomfortable with, were outsmarted by the author of the Quran. They were those who would attempt to outsmart the 'author' of the Quran. Primarily, their activity would involve trying to produce the evidence that the 'author' of the Quran had a primitive understanding of the world around us."  

The 'author' of the Quran is the God. It is not Muhammad s.a.w or companions who wrote the Quran. Most of all, Revelations are not something written but it came through metaphysical ways. We can't touch light but we can see in light. I wonder why Church Fathers had to be in pain trying to use all sorts of philosophical explanations to make people understand and now many of people which also includes Christians (especially Protestants) could not understand this.

The 'Aad were sent by the God a prophet and messenger whose name is known as prophet Hud a.s but they refused to listen to him because their inner eyes had been closed. These people are not Jews nor Hebrews but are related because of their forefather is the same which is Shem bin Noah. The 'Aad was destroyed by the God and it is mentioned in surah al-Haaqqah verses 4-8. Says the God : "The Thamud and 'Aad had mocked the Doomsday 4 The Thamud were destroyed with a hard sound of voice 5 The 'Aad were destroyed with cold whirlwind 6 The whirlwind had descended upon them for seven nights and eight day without stop thus you see the people dead everywhere like empty date tree trunks 7 Do you see any of them left? 8."

In 1900, there were White researchers who entered the area and conducting research. Before this, many people think that the mention about these people and their city as an ancient myth. The result is that, they founded ruins of a city in Rubb el-Khaly or Empty Quarter. It is now covering an area of countries such as Southern Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman. Excavations from 'Obar shows that there were tall pillars in the lost city. Just like what had been mention by the glorious Quran and I wish everyone passing by entertained with the humble post. Have a nice day : )

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