Qurban 1434

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 

Tomorrow is the 9th of Dhulhijja 34 H. The 10th would be the day of sacrifice where people would perform their symbolic sacrifice. I wish everyone a blessed 'Eid al-Adha. I consider everyday in my life as a sacrifice for the God the Highest. I love everything about the pilgrimage traditions. I love the ihram itself and all the regulations regarding the pilgrim manner of conduct. All of them are beautiful with transcendental philosophies. It is the most beautiful event in my life. I am thankful to the Lord for the invitation to be His guest like six years ago. I still can remember it. I try to cherish it by trying to bring the practices in the Haram al-Shareef to the other land. I miss the holy land... I miss the infant Ishmael a.s. I miss mother Hagar may the God bless her soul. I miss the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w in the city of light... I miss them all.   

My Beloved Kaabah : )

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Just posting here for my eyes to see this sacred site and cleaning my head from worldly mess. If we want to memorize something or sacred stuffs we also will gaze at the Kaabah. I can't be there right now so I would just looking at this post, hehehe. This is among the place that always make me smile when looking at it. I miss it and it brings me to the memory of prophet Ibrahim a.s and prophet Isma'il a.s when looking at it. Kaabah is under the Baitul Ma'mur above the heavens where angels are also performing circumambulation there to worship Allah (Surah at-Thuur 52:4-5).

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

Pilgrimage Lesson: Conditions for Hajj Pilgrimage

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

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

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

What are Conditions for Hajj?

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

1. One must be a Muslim

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

2. Maturity

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

3. Sanity

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

4. Freedom

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

5. Healthy

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

6. Financially supported for food and shelter

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

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

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

8. Mahram to assist a woman to perform hajj

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

Wishing
    

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

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

Pilgrimage Error

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I listened to lectures and now I realized I did something wrong during pilgrimage. Now I feel my heart is beating so hard because I am so afraid. It is not easy to return to the holy land since they have quotas, restrictions, and pilgrimage season usually is in November or December according to lunar calculation. We can't blame the Saudi kingdom for this though I don't really like monarchs. I called mum and she also said the same. We had few discussions which sounds like a quarrel and I can't eat anything while the phone is at my hand. 

Before that, let me explain that we have three kinds of pilgrimage that we call as hajj:

1. Ifrad

2. Tamattu'

3. Qiran

Urmmm, I don't know what to say. I almost raised my voice to mum in the phone because I regret that she followed my intention of performing the Ifrad Hajj while we were in the early group who departed for holy land. I didn't mention my intention but I don't know how she managed to know my intention and clinging to the same intention with me. 

When we were in ihram, though I wasn't so literate about hajj or pilgrimage, we should know that we were forbidden to do anything which our Tamattu' counterparts were doing. It also includes that we should not perform the umra together with them but I recounted that mum had urged me to also following her and her roommates in the muassasah to perform umra in which I had earlier refused to follow. 

My intention to perform hajj Ifrad was actually because it suddenly came into my head and it slowly comes out of my mouth while we were on the miqat air space. I feel that I did lots of sins to the Lord because I mistook people who did wrong to me as something which should not happen and I felt that I should repent and punish myself with penance in order to receive salvation. 

Because we followed the tamattu' pilgrims, we also had performed the tahallul which means the act of cutting the hair to be free from prohibitions of the white garment. It is actually wrong because we were the pilgrims with Ifrad intention and we should wait only after the acts of hajj are completed. We should first finish the hajj acts first and then only thinking of performing umra. I had told this to mum but she didn't listen. I told her not to buy anything from outside because we need to avoid from quarreling, we need to avoid talking in a crowd because it would cause us violating the rules, and do not buy anything in the holy land!

Prohibitions in white garment is actually very strict especially to the men and it applies to those who perform the pilgrim with the Ifrad intention whether in the holy land or outside of the holy land. It is almost the same with hermitage rules and regulations where we can't step on insects, not to harm animals, no mating, must be extra patient even with people who kicked us our ass, if people kill us with their weapon we must restrain from violating them, we can't wear luxurious stuffs and etc. Ya Allah! Now I feel more sinful and I don't know what to do. I can't think of anything right now but I just wanted to return to the holy land and correct everything even if I have to pay the blood (fine to the needy)!!!!  I don't know when the chance would come again with uncertain time like this and if I am occupied in the future I would be dooomed!!

Brothers and sisters who are going to perform pilgrim please make sure you learn about these and be very certain with your intention. Don't imitate people and don't simply believe what people around say because we need a qualified teachers for this. It is a holy place but it is also the place of test, all sort of test will reach us. Ya Alllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

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

Saudi Arabia Grand Mufti Aidul Adha Sermon 2011

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Angles of nature

Just read some part of the sermon in an online Saudi news delivered by Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh during Aidul Adha service in Arafat during the wuquf (standing) event. I guess in general it is good for everyone. It calls for nature as the solution. 

I plead brothers and sisters, please do some conceptual work in English or in any other European language that you know either German, French, Spanish, Polish, Russian, or anything on your own. I feel nauseated when reading their "scholarly" articles or comments around and we can't just depend on their works while our set of mind is different from them and human are unique creatures of the God. We can't expect ourselves to be the same to each other in term of thought, right? 

In personal, I think Westerners are arrogant and boastful like their civilization are the only tip-top civilization ever. This is what happened when we have narcissism in ourselves. It's like the devil who was fond of himself until he looks down to others and care only about himself. When he was downgraded, he became a rebel to the Most Merciful and that was caused by his own choice and selfishness. In this summary of metaphysical event, I do not intend to insult the devil because he is a fellow creature but we take this as a boundary as we also have the possibility to be like him...

Essence of the Sermon

The essence of the sermon is that, the mufti said, we solve problems without seeking interference from external powers (political involvement). Beware and not to provoke hostility between ourselves and leaders. Islam (the nature) is the solution for the problems of everyone. Be conscious that we must filter input from media and cultural invasion through globalization which weaken the faith of believers.

Rulers and leaders of countries with major Muslim population should not oppress the people but to help them leading noble and dignified life. A duty of a Muslim leader is to maintain justice and fight corruption. Leaders priority should be the welfare of people.  

It also needs people cooperation in order to solve crime and problems in society. Obey the law and rule that benefits society and we love good leaders who devote themselves for the betterment of society and working with the guidelines of Quran and Sunnah.

Government officials please avoid bribery and nepotism. We are now passing through challenging and dangerous periods. Situation sometimes makes us have to flee from our homes. Everyone must think about the ways to get out of crisis in the best manner. Islam (the nature) denounce terror, violence, extremism, fanaticism, bloodshed and destruction as it is justice and rights.  

I think these also applies to non-Muslim and every sane human-being. Ones does not have to be a Muslim to obey rules and regulation while every country in the world today have their set of rules and regulation, right? Important thing to note for all human-being regardless Muslim or non-Muslim, get rid of attachment toward money, power, filthy mind, filthy speech and those material which brings heart and soul diseases. These things are the root which should be understood as bringing instability in the world. Leaders don't only expect people to cooperate while they are not cooperating on their part because there are give and take, pull and push factors... For Muslims who submits ourselves to the God, we live according the nature that the Glorious God grants to us so we must make sure that the equilibrium within the universe is maintained.  

Dear Lord, please bless everyone with Mercy and Love. Bless every creature no matter those who submit to You or those who do not submit to You. Let Peace reign everywhere in the space and time dear Lord. Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin! 

Pilgrimage : The Journey

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I am not a poetic or creative person nor I am talented in poetry because I only know how to read people's poem, haha. Poem in this post was written by Ibnu Qayyim al-Jawziyya about Hajj season in the Holy Mecca. Its original language is Arabic and this is its translation in English. 

Translation as always is not equal to the text due to different languages development, time period, and it is only to tell what is the meaning and message behind the text. Modern English began to develop from Anglo-Saxon language in 6th century while Arabic does not really change. It developed earlier than modern English. There is another discipline for translation and interpretation although many people would look at our course just as a side course which has no importance since everyone can do it as a part time job. I'm helping translation and interpretation lecturers promoting the course. Jangan marah saya lagi na Dr. Lee and Pak Din. You people just misunderstood me because I was said as influencing my colleague to go against you. I am not really naughty. I don't know why people always looking at me with prejudice and judging me simply because I mingled with 'unfortunate' or 'despicable' people like me : ) Usually people will misunderstood us when we try to return to Him... This is the world.

Basically, this is how we perform hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, reviving the Path of our patriarch Abraham may the God send peace to him and his family. Wish brethren enjoy the poem while mentally and physically preparing to perform hajj pilgrimage. I wish your sincere pilgrimage will be accepted by the God, may He permits it.... 

Zulqa'ida : Pilgrimage Month and My Return

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 

Perhaps people might feel weird if stumbled around here and seeing that I keep talking and posting videos about Hajj pilgrimage in the Holy City, Mecca during this coming season. Although I am not joining the pilgrimage this year, I feel like our patriarch Abraham a.s is calling me to join the season. It is the place where I made my vow and asking the God and His angels witnessing me with His commandments.

Before that mum had actually registered my name as her legal companion to the holy city. But she did not mention anything to me. She had already talked about this since many years ago. Only around the end of 2005 she began to suddenly tell me that I was named as her companion. I was so outraged. I didn't have enough preparation and I just said my witness on my faith to the God and prophethood of Muhammad s.a.w again. At that time I did not properly performed repentance and still analyzing Quranic exegesis and teachings while I am alone.  I had done nothing in a year time except looking at Quranic exegesis written by various teachers such as al-Hajj Abdul Malik Amrullah from Indonesia. I read Quran and Quranic translations. By the time I performed pilgrimage, I was 19 years old of age.

The event where I failed my SPM (O-Level) had actually affected me and made me think after I tried to commit suicide. I tried to perform tapas according to Buddhism and Hinduism and I locked myself in room just after I returned from taking my SPM result. I didn't drink nor eat for many days. I didn't mix with people around anymore. I hope to be born in the land of Brahmas (spirits). My family didn't realize it. Few days later mum first realized it and she tried to open up my room with an axe after they can't find me anywhere. After that, I slowly began to open up religious books. I mean Islamic ones. I had been reading and silently practiced Buddhism for more than 3 years which began since I was 13 years old.

Many things happened since the past and it keeps going. I was ignorant at that time I performed pilgrimage. Even I prayed falsely, recite everything falsely as I had forgotten many things and that was by my own choice. I started again from the scratch and teaching myself. Then I memorized again everything including recitations and pronunciations of supplications.

I remember I met a Pakistani guy whose name is 'Arif and he is a nice guy. At that time, I guess he is around 25 years old and he suddenly talked with me in Arabic. I could understand him because I still speak some Arabic with myself after I stopped religious schooling when I was 16 years old. He did not answer me where he live when I asked him. I tried to find him after I performed tawwaf (circumambulation) to mingle longer with him and he just fade away like wind. We talked about faith which relates practices and how faith could prevent us from disgusting acts in the gap time between Dzuhr and 'Asr prayer services in Masjidil Haram. I learned from him that ijazat (certification) and standard of knowledge do not really have to be imprinted in paper. It is in our understanding, memory and practices : )

I have many nice experience and mingled with people around the Holy City. I talked with Patanese driver uncle who becomes our guide. I also talked with the guy at the muassasah (foundation) who was a guard there. He is not a native Saudi but a Bangladeshi or perhaps an Indian. I talked with few Keralite Indian workers at the construction site of muassasah in Ajyad Road. One of those workers is Ashraf. We exchanged some cultural common traits like languages where I know few Tamil words and he taught me how to count in Malayalam. I didn't really talk with those uncles who were my roommates. I always went out from the muassasah to the Masjidil Haram and looking at environment around. I actually performed the strictest pilgrimage observance which is called as Hajj Ifrad and many of those who performed another medium observance of Hajj Tamattu' had wear normal attire. I was in my ihram until the day of 'Arafah. Ihram is two white garments. We can not wear any other sewn clothes unless if we perform tahallul (legalization acts) and completed all manasik according to our intention. I know that prophet Muhammad s.a.w had forbidden his nations to perform strict observance but I felt guilty that I had gone astray from the path of father Abraham a.s. So, I wanted to seek for forgiveness from the God. 

I found that food hardly rotten in the Holy City Mecca. Perhaps it is because of the climate at that time. It was winter there but no snow. The temperature in the day was like 23 degree celcius and 16 degree celcius in early evening. I met many Muslim Chinese brethren no matter they are from Gansu or from Xinjiang. Some of them are from Shandong. I mingled with their groups during I wandered alone in the Masjidil Haram. They are very high in discipline compared to other brethren from Western part of the World like Afghanistan, India, and etc. I also find Taiwanese brethren groups. They are all nice and polite people. I think that both China and Taiwan should be proud of their Muslim communities. They are ambassadors of Eastern Asia where I wish that His assistance of Mercy and Peace would come from the East. I also pray for Japanese brethren may the Lord protect them and their motherland.

I also made friend with an Uyghur who sold tablecloth at another side of Masjidil Haram. We have to speak in Chinese due to that he is from China and it makes us more comfortable rather than using Arabic. We are not even Han ethnic whose language we used to begin with and it was very weird, hahaaha.... I didn't eat much during rituals were going on. I only grab my Quran and recite it when I was in my room. I managed to memorized a parah (section) of Quran or Juzu' no.16. It consists of stories about Moses a.s and Jesus Christ with his beloved mother, Maryam al-'Adzraa. I still recite those suras in the juzu' after I return to homeland. Many places that we visited in both respected and legal areas. We had also meditated in 'Arafah and I also discussed and asking for kitabs (books) regarding fiqh jurisprudence from religious polices there. Some of them were nice to me, and polite. It is different from other stories that I heard about them. Maybe different person experience different things : )

I had no camera with me because my pilgrimage suddenly happened. Well, someone had asked me whether I wanted my pic and mum to be recorded in camera during in 'Arafah but I refused it. Let it be a memory in my mind and practices of noble life. I actually could grab meanings of the manasik (rituals) we observed in the Holy City, Mecca. All of them make me fall in love with father Abraham a.s and Ismael a.s. I also learned about Hagar hardships to survive in a wild condition. How our forefathers resist satan tried to deceive them from their Love to the God with the attachment to the world. 

I had got a feeling that I must continue my STPM (A-Level) when I was in the Holy City. It just came passing by my mind and I spontaneously called my younger sister at home to help me with registration. Before pilgrimage event, I was registered for about a year in the so-called Sekolah Bestari, Putrajaya Precint 8th where I was blasted by a teacher and I tried to shift to another class but it took me time while the teacher was always targeting me for no reason. 

I had stopped from the school and did nothing at home until mum notified me about pilgrimage that made me feel so afraid as I did not properly repent from my deflected 'aqidah (creed) and practices. That's why I was so angry. After I returned home, I registered for the examination with Shari'ah and Arabic as the addition. I registered that in order that I perhaps could get a place in Mecca again or maybe I could go to Egypt or Yemen to receive proper religious science knowledge again. But I didn't manage to do well as I didn't do that properly and I only registered for the subject after a year which means I had no enough time for preparation. However, I was satisfied because I could do something which is beneficial for myself. I could understand what is Shariah Islamiah (Divine Islamic Way of Life) and I finally understand what is sunnah and traditions of prophets. I was also interviewed by two ustads for my Arabic oral test and they were both fun to talk with. I enjoy discussing matters with them and I recited few Quranic verse for them to listen and I talked about how to save money according to the topic given by them. Too bad I didn't pass my Arabic poetry paper and I slept after I can't answer them, hahahaha.

After that I also began to read ancient and classical Arabic poems of famous Arabic poets such as Qiss bin Sa'eda of Najran. He was a Christian wise man of Southern Saudi today. I'm not sure about what denomination he was because he live before prophet Muhammad s.a.w being raised and those in Najran perhaps were Nestorians or Myaphisites. Nestorians were those with Hristo Tokos controversy. Hristo Tokos is a reference to Maryam al-'Adzraa, the mother of Jesus Christ which means the mother of the Christ. Early Christians were arguing about whether referring to Maryam as Hristo Tokos (mother of the Christ) or Theo Tokos (mother of God) in their prayers. I had read few parts of Christological arguments among Church Fathers and Bishops including those being sent by some Orthodox Christian friends. Those thing were just a waste of time to be debated until it became so dogmatic, hahahaaha. It is also mentioned by the God in surah Maryam verse 37-38.      

May the God forgive me my sins if I did anything wrong during the rituals. Please forgive my mum's sins too and bless her. Bless my dad and protect everyone with health. Forgive our grandparents sins and protect them their souls in the life behind the curtain. May the God our Lord bless our ancestors : )

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

Journey to the West

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

In conjunction with the event of Hajj season this coming month of Zulhijjah 1432 H. It is still in my memory where I set away with mum. Actually I had said many bad things to mum as I didn't believe in this Path of our ancestors. I had also treated my late grandpa badly. Coincidentally, my grandpa name is Ibrahim (Abraham). I am so sorry grandpa, I was not a filial grandson who bring sadness to you...

 

 

I am actually crying this fajr... Crying so hard after watching these videos and other videos about hajj event... I miss Holy Mecca so much and I wanted to return there after my reluctance to be there last time... It has nothing entertaining to be seen there but it is a place where the Lord had blessed with Covenants of Patriarch to his children. I feel close to prophet Abraham a.s and Isma'el a.s when I was there. I wish brothers and sisters going there well-being and safety. Please bring my salaam to the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w, families and all of companions resting in the holy lands please pray the God to forgive me and let me see Him :"(

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