Succesful Farmers

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

Paddy Alor Setar. Source Pic - Absyar

This lecture is about farmers and those who are involved in agricultural field in conjunction to Farmers' Day recorded at the Masjid Darul Aman in Kedah state. It does not mean that we who are not involved in the field could not get some idea and benefit from it. Inspiration from the God comes in many ways, sometimes we assumed that it is a yawning bored lecture but there lies an inspiration from the God to us.

Kedah Sultanate is actually a state associated with agricultural activities. In our dialect which is also considered as our mother tongue, there are many native words describing our lifestyle and how we view the world. It is according to our environment. According to dad, his father was also involved in agricultural field such as in paddy field and collecting fertilizer from the hill. He was also involved in British administration being a clerk as he was a literate man, dealing with the Anak Bukit (royal) area but living a simple life. No matter how ugly our state is in people's eyes, it is our pride. We love the land. We always pray for the land although we are far from it may it be blessed by Allah 'Azza wa Jalla, our Lord. Many Arabs who have Kedah Malay mothers associate themselves more to the land than to paternal ancestral land as they never been educated in Southern Arabia but educated in the land so people could not differentiate us anymore from others. If there is a specific course about my state, Kedah Darul Aman, I would never take any course related to European Union or any other courses. I would like to contribute for my state and hoping for investments coming into my state. It does not matter if I get nothing for the study, but I would get satisfaction to see all of people in my state happy, prosperous and devoting themselves to the advancement of nation and practicing high morality : )

Some points about the lecture said that people involved in agriculture could pay tithe and the tithe would benefit others who need it to continue life and start making a living from it. Through technology development, tithe payment by farmers could be made twice a year. Now paddy could be harvested twice unlike in old days. To see how progressive we are in term of mind, we support anything good for the advancement of nation which do not conflict with the Quran and Sunnah. Things such as biotechnology is a good idea to develop agriculture and we may support it. Everybody should cooperate with each other, that is the hidden meaning of a congregation. When farmers paying tithe, others who receive the tithe would feel appreciated and having some hope to continue life.

Crops from paddy harvest could be channeled to the mosque and musallas for the benefit of congregation. Maybe a congregation could fixed their mosques, upgrading their mosque with facilities like library, meeting rooms, aircond, and etc. Farmers today actually are not stingy anymore. Those involved in agriculture together realize that their agricultural activities are meritorious deeds if it is done with correct intention only for Allah and for charity or service for the nation.

People involved in agriculture are in service for food production. Without farmers, who would produce crops for the population? Fishermen going to the sea facing stormy climate, some even waking up early to fish in the sea and forgetting to perform Fajr prayer service to the God. Their sacrifice and tough work brings benefit to population. Fishermen bring foods from the sea for the people who live in mountains. 

Intention must be good. Everyone must be hardworking and do not be lazy. If there is unused agricultural land, plant banana trees, vegetables, and other edible and useful herbs. Don't let it unused. I think we could also do this at home, but at my house the earth is quite rocky. We could only plant lemongrass. Allah's sustenance is everywhere and it only needs some efforts from creatures. Don't be balorq (lazy) and don't be liat (ass). An example of lazy farmer is that we can see their field is filled with weeds. They are lazy to put fertilizer and not trying to improve agricultural technique. Those who rear cows and goats, to see whether they are lazy or not, look at how skinny their cows and goats. They asked themselves why their cows and goats are skinny? In the same time they just let go their cows and goats roaming around without checking what those animals eat. - lecture by Ustad Ishaq Hajji 'Omar

I think in term of agriculture, we in Malaysia perhaps could also learn from Thailand. They are very advanced in it and they even have royal commission for agriculture and craft. In Malaysia, we also have some programmes in RTM channel 1 talking about agricultural technique. I don't like news regarding politics in the country aired in TV because I think it is stupid but those regarding agriculture and other beneficial activities are quite useful and could be brought into practice by all compatriots regardless religion and race. For us Muslims, we could do that to produce nice environment in our mosque and musallas. Regarding European Union (EU), I learned about their agricultural policies and I found that we could also learn something from them. Good things, we learn and adapt. Bad things just leave it behind sunken into the mud.  

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

Islam: Key to Perfection

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Just listened to a short tadzkirah (reminder), as always delivered by brother Syeikh Abu Khalid from Medina University after Taraweekh and Witr prayer services. I had slightly changed the topic, it should be Islam is the key to paradise. I know few people do not really care about paradise but that is the promise of Allah. I don't think it is wrong as it is the sign of Allah's mercy, but people have different understanding regarding the reward and meritorious deed because it is also related to pure sincerity in worship according to their understanding.

It says that whomever choosing paths other than Islam, then they will be losers in this world and hereafter. Islam is His greatest grace to human and other creatures in the universe. In millions of human-being, Allah had chosen our soul to be Muslims. There are also millions of people who are not Muslims as they do not know about Islam or do not accept it due to misunderstanding. Islam is the path of our forefathers. I still remember I read in glorious Quran last few nights before sleeping. It says that our beloved patriarch, Abraham may peace be showered upon his soul had said his will to his children Ismael and Isaac, peace be upon them both.  It also applies to Jacob whom is also known with his other name, Israel.

Says Allah in glorious Quran reckoning our patriach's will to his sons: "And Abraham had his will to his sons, and also to Jacob. (Abraham said): "Dear sons! Indeed the God had chosen for you this path, thus do not you die except as muslims." (surah al-Baqarah: 132)

Allah also orders us to be in submittance in the path in which He says: "Dear faithfuls! Fear the God in the real sense, and do not you die except as muslims." (surah aali-Imran: 102)

In this sense, brother syeikh, said that it is not enough by physically being a Muslim. We look like a Muslim in front of others with Muslim name like Abdul Malik, Abdul Kareem, Muhammad, Othman, and others. But we do not follow the code of law taught by Allah in His glorious teachings. Many Muslims do not follow Quran and Sunnah (prophetic line traditions). It is not enough with Islamic names. We must make sure that we spiritually and physically practise Islam in our way to the abode of peace. 

There are two conditions for the perfection in submission to Him:

1. Niyyah which implies that we have to be sincere in our act of worship and life. It begins with sincere intention for Allah. We perform everything only for Allah and hoping to see Him.

2. Mutabi'ah which signifies that we follow the prophetic line tradition. This is what Muslims always talk about when performing act of worship including our daily life. We must make sure that we have evidence for everything that we perform. Do not do something out of prophetic tradition line in our daily life. We may consult evidences from tradition experts or ulamas (religiously knowledgeable persons) to confirm everything. 

We ask the God: "please forgive us our sins and errors. Make us firm in our path and give us strength to perform the covenant. Salvate us from the torment in hell and also salvate our parents and brethren through the God's mercy." Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love, amin!!! 

What does it mean to be Muslim for a Family?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

I manage to retrieve back some of these notes that I jot down from last month. I went to Sultan Mizan Zainal Abiddin mosque and listened to a lecture on a chapter from the book written by Fathi Yakan in the gap time before Isya' prayer. This book is quite famous in Malaysia with the title "Apa Ertinya Saya Menganuti Ajaran Islam?"

The ustad had mentioned where Fathi Yakan highlighted six matters. That day, they talked about the fifth matter and I was so unlucky as I had missed few matters earlier and also the last matter highlighted. They talked about being a Muslim from the aspect of family, creed, worship, and morality. Why do Mr. Yakan choose this topic for the discussion? Because we want a society that reflects Islamic characteristics which could be seen in the soul of everyone.

How could we call non-Muslim toward the God if we are showing bad examples to them? If we want to establish a sanctified nation, we should have a model to be seen by others. For example, before we begin our meals, we would recite supplications to the God or begin our meal with manners. Muslim family must be a model and guidance for others. If a house is in chaotic situation, what can we show to others? Thus, we must try to be Muslims in family angle and have to be caring to the community and taking the responsibility to be in service to others.

  

Says the messenger of the God may the God be in contact with him: "whomever ignores his brothers and sisters in faith, they are not apart of the Islamic nation." - narrated by Bukhari. 

As for example, how many persons before fallen into their sleep are thinking about the problem faced by the nation or how many of us had been thinking about our parents? How about people who are close to us? Remembering parents is a responsibility of every Muslim. Everyday, we must recite al-Fatihah for them no matter they are alive or had already returned to Him and protected under His mercy. Parents are the reason where we are here. Without them as the reason, we are nothing in the Universe. When our life growing better, we tend to forget our parents until we have no time to return home and see them whether they are in good condition or else?   

The responsibility of every Muslim is to prohibit vice and performing charity. Our responsibility had already been performed when we asked others to be together in charity and chastity even though those whom we are calling toward charity refused to follow. When we had already knocked the door and they refused to open it up, we are free from the sins and responsibility.  Our role is only to prohibit vice and promoting charity. Being in accordance with the glorious Quran and Sunnah. We perform our responsibility by telling others about what is Islam to the society and trying to establish it in our society or community.

Then Muslims are responsible to form a family with Islamic values. Establishing Islam in the house begins with the education where parents must teach their children to respect the teachings of the God which is Islam and the values in the teachings. The parents are responsible to bring everyone in the family to Him for example making the five obligatory salaat times as the time to remember Him without any interference. 

Muslim parents have the responsibility to ask the people in the family to protect their 'aurah (modesty) as what had been mentioned in surah an-Nur verse 53. An example in asking others to protect their 'aurah and in the same time teaching the family members about the way of life through presents according to sunnah such as veils or beautiful muslimah or muslim dress. A husband are obliged to ask his wife to change her skimpy clothes to better ones if she happens to wear it since she would be working 8 hours with male non-muhrim colleagues.   

Convey Islam to family members and to our selves as what had been mentioned by the God in His holy verses: "never call to the worship of other than the God for you will be dipped into the bitterness" (surah ash-Syuraa'). Teach our close family members and relatives about His Oneness, never proclaim that there are other power with the authority as possessed by Him. We must help and have the care in preserving the creed of our family member. When they are deviating, we would advice them to return to Him.

Check in surah at-Tahreem verse 6th where it mentions that hell fire would be ignited with stones and human, so we must be really careful with our daily conduct. We always think that it is easy when we perform salaat, the God would forgives us our sins just after we perform the salaat. But are we sure that our charity and salaat performed are accepted by the God? We should stop blaming our environment. We must first begin with our selves living our live as Muslims and playing our roles in our family. 

Everyone dreams of a good nation and receiving His forgiveness. This is a general matter, and family institution role is crucial in forming an Islamic family. A husband has a heavy responsibility. The sins committed by children will also be the share of the sins to the parents. The responsibility of promoting charity and prohibiting evil and vice is a very heavy responsibility. 

The glorious Quran shows the way to achieve the goal according to His teachings where it focuses on the family. When a couple get married, their marriage should not only about beauty or how handsome is the groom. The intention must be rightful because of the God and not because of the beauty of the girl or the guy that we want to get marry to. Nikah (marriage) is a reason and a sunnah for the establishment of a good and blessed family. 

When a couple entering the marriage contract, they must be readily to bear the trust from the God in the upbringing of the future generation and soul as what had been mentioned in surah az-Zumaar (I can't recall the verse, I am sorry). Everything that we do in our daily life is actually because of Him. After that, the couple would be stepping into the establishment of a society who understands the way of life according to His teachings. It is not merely a marriage contract where a man and a woman are willing to share their life but more than that where they are responsible in the establishment of a Muslim family. No need for an overly "bersanding" ceremony after the marriage contract and it would be best if the feast for marriage reception being done without waste. As to say, our acts must be viewed through religious rites perspective.

I'm going to print this version of notes typed in our national language and giving it to my newly-wed sister and her husband. I don't want them to just get away without revising their responsibility toward our Islamic society although they had already going to marriage courses before their marriage!!!! 

May Allah be in contact with prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family and his companion. Allah please bless our society no matter whatever we are. Bless us with Your boundless mercy and forgiveness. Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for brothers and sisters in faith, amin.