Islamic Banking System

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Evil Period

This period is again period of evil. I read Hindu and Buddhist scriptures when I was a young secondary school kid and I found they talked about evil period after the righteous cycle of period. I had mentioned before I don't think like normal kids when I was a little kid. It makes me difficult to mingle with people around even with adults and for now I have to seclude myself from "normal" Muslims because I don't want their aqeedah to be harmed. I love my brothers and sisters I don't want my brothers and sisters being tormented that always make me always sacrificing myself for everyone around me. Those scriptures basically mention that things which are righteous being seen as evil while evil things being seen as good. The same thing about our Path being blackened and tainted by the cycle of period.

So, I am trying to fight the current as a lay man and spreading wide His "True" teachings through our Sacred Path and through His Holy Light. I beg my beloved brothers and sisters to please help me. Please be the soldiers of Allah. We don't slaughter or hurt people, plants, nature or animals when being His soldiers. We spread knowledge and awareness to people so everyone will be saved from diseases of evil. Please spread the knowledge of Shariah Islamiah to those who are still not aware about it and to those who are interested may Allah purify everyone's heart. 

Sharing

In this post I just wanted to put on this article about Islamic Banking in our country. I believe other countries with Muslim population such as Saudi Arabia also having this. Please stop talking about Muslim countries. I know few movements like Hizbut Tahrir also talk about this but I never bother to listen to them as I believe His Will is the Truth. No Muslim countries in this world for the time being. People of Shariah branches of science never believe in Muslim or Islamic countries. There is no such thing because an Islamic or a Muslim country is a sacred country nearest to His Kingdom. Try asking the jurists in Shariah court and you'll get the same answer. I talked with them and my father always doing interview with the ex-mufti in Kuala Lumpur for example with Hashim Yahya and he brings me with him. My father is not a religious person. I cry and pray for him everyday because he listens to things but he does not understand anything. It is not his fault. He was not properly educated and is not fortunate. I try to memorize Quran for my parents, grandparents and my brothers and sisters. I wanted to save them if they can't save their own selves.   

I read this article written in a Malay newspaper written by Prof. Muhammad Azam Muhammad Adil from Center for Islamic Thought and Understanding, Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam - Malaysia. It was published in Utusan Malaysia religious reading section around 16th of February 2012. So any brother or sister doing researches on economic angle of Shariah, I assure you don't hesitate to use this source in this post. I put the source here as to make it easier for you to do researches and begin to implement them in your organizations. This is sincerely dedicated to Allah apart of my personal record. It talks about how far Islamic banking system in Malaysia serves its goal to protect the welfare and the interest of its customers?

History of Islamic Banking System - Malaysia

Islamic banking system in Malaysia had begin with the establishment of Malaysian Islamic Banking Corporation Limited (BIMB). It was granted license by the government in order to implement the business according to Shariah Islamiah and operating as a bank.

As compared to Tabung Haji which has its goal to assist Muslims in Malaysia to save their money to perform Hajj pilgrimage, Islamic banking system in Malaysia offers schemes without usury covering the wadi'ah (saving account), mudharabah (investment), bai' bi thaman and murabahah for car and housing loan or deferred payment sale. 

In the beginning, the concept of non-usury or non-excessive interests facing many problems and obstacles. People were still complaining that the charges taken by the banking system such as the car and housing loan was still high but after many researches done it is now growing better and better after 30 years of its implementation.

Islamic banking system with non-usury concept is now developing with its expansion into conventional banking counters known as Islamic Windows. It begins since 1993 at the time European Union gets its current name through Mastricht Treaty, lol. Later in 1999, Mua'malat Banking Corporation was established. Since 2003, many conventional banks were also opening their own sub-companies based on Islamic Banking system. 

While local banks were competing among each other, two Middle East banks had penetrated Malaysia through their branches in the mid of 2000. Those banks are the al-Rajhi and Kuwait Finance House (KFH). I have a saving account in al-Rajhi too. All of the people at home supporting this bank because it's from our land of origin and it makes us easier when we go for pilgrimage in Saudi. I know one of Arab descent of Kedah who was the officer in Kajang branch of Selangor and we talked for few hours after I registered the account around the end of 2003. They said that statistics show that customers' acceptance to these two banks were quite satisfying. Even non-Muslims are also opening their saving accounts there. So, these two banks from Middle East had also become apart of the scene in the banking landscape in Malaysia.

These two banks of Middle East introduced new concepts or methodologies in providing loan for customers such as Musharakah Mutanaqisah (home financing) and Tawarruq to replace local system of Bai' al-'Innah (sale and buy back contract) and Bai' ad-Dayn (buying with loan). These new concepts take more reasonable payment profits as compared to older concepts used in local Islamic banking system.

When looking back at the definition of Shariah, it literally means straight path which brings everyone toward the source of the water. Philosophically, it means a stream which brings a human to a system that will make them happier and feel at peace in the world and the hereafter (physically and spiritually). A holistic system of life in its approach and goal. As a technical term, Shariah refers to a system revealed by Allah/The God through His revelation and divine inspiration which covers the components of creed, morality and civilization and jurisprudence or legal. It is not about a court which prosecute adulterers (or if some people love sex so much until they don't care about the place to screw up or screwing all over the place even in front of the public for exhibition like animals) or a court which plucks out the eyes of women who talk with an unknown man. This is not Islamic concept at all like has been propagated in the West by irresponsible medias! The prosecution of adulterers came from Hebrew Torah if people wanted to talk about stupid racist things in the past. The plucking of human eyes came from Hindu tribal man-made laws. Now I am an Orthodox Muslim and I talk as a civilized man. It does not mean that I am looking down at Orthodox Jews or Orthodox Hindus instead I highly respect their culture, customs and faiths.

So, anything which complies within the technical term meaning of the Shariah are acceptable and could be practiced as to show how flexible it is. European Union has several treaties and their member states' policies also have to comply within the Union framework. So, does the Shariah. There are also member states who don't care about the treaties and they joined the European Union simply because few personal reasons. So, does the Muslims and they interpret the revelation according to their worldview and region. 

In our Path, Allah has revealed the Creed, the Morality and Manners and the Legal basis for us to be integrated as our Way of Life. So, any subject matter or mawdhu' of our daily life and activities must be in accordance to the Shariah. Is it so hard to be understood?! I think this is just a simple thing as compared to what I have to learn again in part of European Union. It is so chaotic and the Union itself is originated from world wars remnants and period. I hate wars and I love peace! 

I am trying to simplify the article on the goal of the Shariah in banking system. Hope I have some space and time for this. I believe it is very important for lay men to always be informed about the Shariah as we are facing slanders from every corner. Insha Allah, we will try to finish the article through His Will.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love amin!                         

What is Shariah Islamiah???!

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 

I think I had posted about this many times especially in the maqasid shar'iyyah posts but I guess in certain places medias especially in the West always making it a negative issue. You know what media people? You are tyrannizing us and violating human rights. I am not trying to play victim here but I am already one of a victim of you people! You people are merciless, nonsensical, mean and cruel!

Now, what I am going to do here as a plain Muslim is to explain to people about what is our religion from my own understanding. What is our path. What is our way of life? What is our life itself as Muslims? Shariah means the Way. It simply means the Way if it is a literal translation. It is synonymous to the Path. When we talk about Shariah, we are not only talking about judicial system but also about the system of life and the nature. Just to compare it with European Union. You people have few institutions and among them is the Court of Justice. Other is related to economy such as the Central Bank of Europe and few sub-institutions to regulate policy for member countries to adopt or choosing to adopt them. The same thing with Shariah we have all of this and the whole world is known as equal nations.

We have fatawas. Fatwa means guidelines. They could be adopted by public and are issued by scholars of Islam after meetings and commission were held. The fatawas were issued according to our schools of jurisprudence. For Sunnah or Orthodox Sunni Muslims, we have four main schools of jurisprudence:

1. Hanafi where the main teacher is Abu Hanifah

2. Maliki as the main teacher is Anas bin Maalik

3. Shafi'ie and the main teacher is Abu Abdullah bin Idris bin Abbas bin Uthman bin Idris bin Shafi'ie

4. Hanbali after the father of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal

For our Twelver Shi'a brothers, their school of jurisprudence is known as:

1. Ja'afari after the sixth Imam of Shi'a Muslims which is Imam Ja'afar as-Saadiq  

So every Muslim brother and sister must know which school of jurisprudence you belong to as it is important when you wanted to get council and advice for your daily life activities. It was surprising when I was in Saudi Arabia and I asked several people there what is your school of jurisprudence? And some of them just saying to me they are not so sure because they just follow people around. I was like... What????! You have a religion simply because you follow people around and not because of your sincerity? That was like me when I was a little kid because I just follow and imitate what people around doing without understand what are the significance of those things.

So, in Shariah Islamiah what does it consist of dear beloved brothers and sisters? It consists of:

1. Tawheed

What does tawheed means? It means monotheism ideology. We believe and trust only in the One True Lord the Creator of the Universe beyond our imagination. The first and important thing that a Muslim missionary will talk is about tawheed and Allah Azza wa Jall. This is the root of our Path and Shariah. In European Union, your root is the World War I and World War II. The competition to get sources for weaponry such as the coal and steel. When you people talking about others try to mirror yourselves. What does weaponry means? It means war and people who worship weapon are the real terrorists and idolaters. This is just an example, though I hate to study about Europe but I benefited from this course that I am studying so first I would like to give my gratitude to the Lord. I feel tormented but at least I know how to answer to people unlike other typical madrasah students as I had been diverted to secular education system. Hope I could pass my economy paper. I am interested to learn more about it but I am quite slow to understand that kind of matter in just few months.

2. 'Ibadah

What does this Arabic word means? It literally means enslaving ourselves to the Lord. In a more polite word, it means serving the Lord before we get the chance to see Him. When we translate this into English, it becomes worship. In Orthodox Sunnah Muslim daily life, we are bound to the five pillars of Islam. What do we have in pillars of Islam? Let me state it again here so everyone could clearly see the connections:

i. Witnessing that there is no gods except that the only God unique of His own and Muhammad is His messenger to nations of the period of near Resurrection

ii. Five times daily prayer services known as salat

iii. Fasting obligatory fast or sawm for the whole month of Ramadan for those who are capable and healthy

iv. Paying the tithe or zakah for the needed and there are eight categories of people who may receive it

v. Pilgrimage or hajj to the holy land in Mecca for those who are capable and could afford it once in a life time during the month of Zulhijjah and performing acts in memory of prophet Ibrahim a.s and his family in the barren land. First thing first, we go to Mecca then only to Medinah to Jerusalem whatsoever sites in other places around the world.  

All of these especially the first four points are important disciplines prescribed for every sane Muslim which could be described in long-winding philosophy. People in European Union has to think and amend everything for their basic foundations. It took them so long but the basis of their organization is not as firm as the law of nature aren't they, hahaha.   

Urm, when people like Atheists or non-religious call us as stupid for enslaving ourselves for an unknown or invisible entity, I would say that I don't mind to be a stupid for that rather than being enslaved by spaces, materials, women, men, politicians, desires, and etc like you smart people! Even if there is no God or no gods like they say, I guess that it is not wrong to protect the universe, the earth, our own body and society from being harmed by violating the nature and law of the universe. Plus, I never feel stressful when I recite prayers to Him rather than I chase something like a postgraduate certificate while my future is still in cloud. What could it cause us? Depression! If we are enslaved to money, can we buy happiness with it? This is the teaching of smart people, where human only consist of physical body. The inner body which is the spiritual body is out of the scene. Education based only on physical is not holistic in its approach. It is not balanced. 

3. Akhlak and Aadab

Akhlak means morality and ethics while aadab means civilized. In contrast to civilized is barbaric. This is mentioned as ihsan in the hadith Jibril a.s in the conversation in a masjid with prophet Muhammad s.a.w witnessed by his companions, among them was Umar bin al-Khattab r.a. People from mission orders and tasawwuf circle usually practicing few things related to remembrance to Allah Azza wa Jall to protect themselves from evil environment and spreading His light to the universe through prayers. In this matter, there is nothing peculiar about the practices as long as it is not violating the basic Shari'ah Islamiah. Not all people are the member of mission orders. So please don't judge people just because they belong to certain mission circle or looking like one. There are also neo-sufis who chanting simple daily ma'athurat morning and evening after Fajr and Maghrib prayer services. We must remember Allah always not only by praying in the masjid or mehrab non-stop but we may remember Him while waiting for the bus, while chatting with friends (chanting dzikr by mental), walking and recite His Glorious and Respected Names, and etc. When talking about this we are actually very flexible, being creative and not shallow. 

Ethics and the way we mingle with people basically consists of few things such as:

1. Respect to the Lord

2. Respect to prophets and messengers of the Lord

3. Respect to parents and elders

4. Respect to brothers and sisters visible or invisible

5. Respect to our own selves

6. Respect to environment and nature

To behave according to ethics, we follow the sunnah and advices of our beloved prophet Muhammad s.a.w and the wisdom of his companions. We also follow the wisdom of Ahlul Bayt imams such as Hassan and Hussein. These two are the grandsons of prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Do Europeans and American constitutions talk about manner and morality too? I am sure you people have it. If not why Europe is trying to be a "soft" power by using carrot and stick to force country for example like China to abolish capital punishment and as the result they may conduct business with European Union. This is my topic in my second semester presentation. I did it with my classmate, respectable sister Hasmahani and I've got A for that because I printed out and read a bulk of paper works, hehehe. I don't find anything about Europe interesting anymore after I learn it as I am more amazed with Allah 'Azza wa Jall. I think He is the Most Coolest figure in the whole universe and worlds. But I still reading things about Europe just to keep myself up to date or maybe I could help other brothers and sisters to provide information if they need it for their advancement. I love to serve my brothers and sisters. I don't want anything I just want brothers and sisters happiness and smile : )

4. Munakahat

Urmm, I think many people around 20-25 years old love to talk about this. For me this is very typical but it is fun to look at their faces expression, hahahahahahaha. Munakahat means matrimonial or marriage. It consists of the building of society process and the conduct of marriage. Many of my Muslim course mates either male or female competing among each other to get munakahat certificate from the masjid to prepare themselves for their future marriage and I guess some of them are already married now, lol. I didn't attend any seminars for munakahat and I don't think I need the certificate yet. I am not ready and I need to memorize the glorious Quran and Sunnah and transmitting them when I finished and understood everything. That is among my responsibility and sacrifice to Allah Azza wa Jalla. When we talk about munakahat, it's not simply about marriage and the agreement to be husband and wife or for legal relation as what my ex-colleague unfiltered mouth said, bermukah secara halal (having sexual intercourse in a legal way). It is about the responsibility to educate the coming souls (children), to teach them about the Lord, providing them with education and love so they may be devoted and fear Allah and to protect them from the hell-fire. Marriage is a sacred thing. It is not something to be played with and cut off the crap about building masjid stuffs if it is actually based on what we hear from people and just because we wanted to follow the trend. I am not into trend. I am into the significance of the worship and serving Him. There is no real pleasure in the world till we see Him.

5. Mu'amalah

This the relation of human with regards to daily activities. It is also related to contracts and transactions. Something to do with business. I just heard a lecture in masjid about contracts, loan, economic system, interest, usury and banking in our way of life. We have kitabs about this and we refer to them when we are going to conduct businesses with people around. Anything to do with bank, buying and selling, trade, import and export everything is in mu'amalat section of Shariah. There are formulas to calculate everything so, people in Shariah stream are not really useless and stupid. It's just our image was tainted by politicians and being tied to backward civilization while the truth is we are actually the most open-minded people in the world. For contemporary issues, there are researches for it and we don't simply do anything without researches.  

6. Jinayyah and 'Uqubah

Jinayyah means crime and 'Uqubah means punishment. This one is related to justice and the punishments may vary according to cultural interpretation of certain nations. Like the thing which was known as hudud, it actually means limitation for the punishment. I don't know why Malay medias playing the issue like it is something bad and negative? Not all of Muslims having basic knowledge about their own way of life so they just believe whatever is said in the media. I would like to advise everyone including myself, find qualified teachers and ask them about what we don't know. Don't ask the newspaper or simply listening to rumors or hearsays. That is not the nature of a Muslim. The Lord encourages us to seek knowledge and reading in surah Iqraa', the Lord mentions about seeking knowledge and He always mentions about mind and thinking in glorious Quran which means through the guidance of divine revelation we think and solving our daily problems.               

For contemporary issues regarding Shariah, there are researches for them and we don't simply do anything without researches.   

The sources to derive guidelines in Islam for the muftis and the councils are:

1. Glorious Quran

2. Sunnah

3. Ijma' of collective reasoning of scholars

4. Qiyas or analogical deduction

5. Ijtihad or individual reasoning 

6. Wisdom of ahlul bayt

These are all could be checked in our schools of jurisprudence studies or what is known as fiqhi madzhab. That is why it is important for a Muslim to know what is his or her school of jurisprudence to get advises and suggestions on how to conduct daily life activities and worship.   

I guess this is it. I hope it is not too long or not too brief. I could write an essay longer than this and elaborate everything but I guess we need to also accommodate others and making things easier. I wish this is useful. If brothers and sisters have other better readings please don't hesitate to suggest it to me maybe can email me at matianning86@gmail.com. I would be glad to read them and listening to others opinion. If brothers and sisters have free time don't forget write about your understanding on Islam what is Islam what is Shariah and what is our Path all about? It's not for others but your own benefit. Write in your languages or in English and keep it with you to read day by day. I am sure you will enjoy reading them and making them as apart of your memory of life : ) 

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love amin!     

Introduction: Mahmudah Characteristics

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 Jordan River Source Pic: Deborah Hannah

We had already learned about Madzmumah characteristics. Why not we learn about Mahmudah characteristics? What does Mahmudah means? Mahmudah is not a kind of cookie anyway. Mahmudah means the praised characteristics which is recommended for a civilized human-being in morality of Shariah Islamiah. These characteristics are also outlined in the book called Arba'een fee Usuluddeen which means the Forty in the Origin of Path.

What are they?  We can also learn some Arabic adjectives from here... lol

Tawbah - Repentance

Khawf - Fear to Him in term of fear to commit sins as the consequence is unpleasant

Zuhud - Modesty

Sabr - Patience

Shukr - Thankful

Ikhlas - Sincerity

Tawakkal - Dependence to Him

Mahabbah - Love to Him which reflects in every acts that we do in our daily affairs

Redha - Pleased with whatever decreed and this is the most difficult thing for us

Dzikr Mawt - Remembering death, this is also an anti-climax where we enjoy our life until we forget that we are immortal who live in a short span of time

Urmm, last time, our companies in Malaysia had also adopted Bushido values but I wonder why not companies, organizations and institutions with Muslim employers and employees adopt these morality values proposed by our own scholars and using Quran and Sunnah as our bench mark for everything? It is in our own country and not somewhere in Europe or in some other countries with majority of non-Muslim population or administrators. I think the Quran and Sunnah should be the main sources in our life if we call ourselves as Muslims. If we don't feel the need for Quran and Sunnah, would we be hypocrites and only calling ourselves with something which is not representing ourselves??? No matter what culture that we hold or what nationality we are, Quran and Sunnah should be the main sources including in moral code and working values.   

It's not that Bushido values or what not are not good but I am just wondering. Are we having inferiority complex or what? Why do we have to go far to others' values while we have these values everyday around us and the sources of these values are waiting for us to be opened up? Why we have to leave Him behind while He is the One who Sustain every creature and the One who Manage the universe? People never take our values nor even acknowledge us our values even if they use them. 

Just finished my final assignment and had already sent it at lecturer's room around 22:11. The assignment is due to Monday the next week but feel like vomiting looking at these policies stuff. I would have more time to focus on my thesis and final examination. I have to bear with these and be patient though feeling like my "soul" being pulled and rejected back into this "cage".    

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

Tips on Memorizing Quran: Brother's Experience I

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 Source: brother Ismail Z.D

Urmm, just a motivation for myself, haha. I also encourage brothers and sisters to memorize Quran. I regret my sisters are 'quite' stubborn. I cry for them every night and it's not easy to be only brother among sisters. I give supplication books not only to my friends but also to people at home pleading everyone to help me (actually help themselves). Dad is already an old man. It's not easy for an old man to memorize stuffs so we should benefit our time while we still have the opportunity. I just advise dad to recite whatever surah that he is able to recite and I praise the God because dad listens to me. Since he was attacked by strokes I always feel worried about him. Mum is also reciting the Quran and she would follow me if she saw me doing certain things but I advise her to also consult teachers and tell me whether I performed anything correctly. We could get along well only with Quran. Other than Quran, it is volatile kabooom... LOL. 

Well, at least mum tries to recite the Quran. I want everyone to receive Salvation from the God. Not only for myself since I am also not sure whether I could save my self or else. So, that's why when I see anyone that I see having the potential, I will expound whatever that I have in myself to them. Maybe some of them feel weird but I don't care if they don't understand it. It's not for me, but for my brothers and sisters which pragmatically refers to them, haha. I am not an easy friend and I don't talk with people easily as to say because it could be 'harmful'.

This brother has a good advise too regarding the Glorious Quran. His way to memorize is almost the same with mine. I use the method of listening and writing as well. I prefer listening to medium speed recitation. I am trying to save other videos from sisters and sheikhs as well as to see how they manage to memorize the Glorious Quran. Anyone passing by who are interested can also contact them by clicking their name as I put the link for their video in it. The video is not mine and I claim no right but credits to video maker. 

I purposely do this as to make sure everyone being connected from East to the West and North to South beside I can watch these in bus while returning home or going anywhere, hehe. May His sakinah (tranquility) descends upon all of the creatures. I don't know this is wrong or not. I envy those who fully memorized the Glorious Quran and practicing with it. I don't wish anything bad to them because I "love" them and I will kick those who hurt them if I see it as the effect that I "love" them. I feel bad for my self. It takes me long because I have to understand the verses that I memorize. I wish Quran to be my companion even after I return to Him. If I have nothing in this world, just let me have the hope for hereafter :'(

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

Migration: Current Challenges to Nations

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Now we continue the third and final series of the lecture about migration in conjunction to Hijrah New Year 1433. The previous series could be accessed in Migration: Knowledge is the Light. According to Ustad Roslan Chik Ros, a scholar had once listed down based from the Quran and Sunnah on what are the obstacles which prevent a faithful servant of the God to be an obedient and a good servant?

1. Evil Desires and Lust   

In Arabic, we call desire and lust with the term nafs and it means self as human possess various selves in him. We had talked a lot about many bad things. Human who fails to educate this enemy (desire and lust) will be in turn being educated and lead by this enemy. It will lead human into destruction. 

The book Durat al-Nasihin mentions that the God has created the desire and later asked it. Who are you and Who am I?! It answers Him: I am as I am, and You are You! It means that the desire does not want to admit itself as His creation and servant. It has no gratitude and never feels enough. The God cast it into the hell of torment for 300 years. When he was brought out, the God asked it again. And it still answers the same. The God then cast him again for another 300 years. After that, he was brought out again. The God asked it again. And the desire admitted that it is His a servant of the God.

The goodness which could not penetrate into our selves was caused by this obstacle which is the evil desire. There is no struggle which is as great as the struggle to fight the evil desire as it is the root for various desires and which also brings war in this world. When the desire becomes younger and younger but our physical body becomes older each time we reach the year. If we do not bring the desire into what He is pleased with, thus there will be no changes in the society and nations.

2. The World 

The World or duniya in Arabic refers to anything which we can see in this world with our physical eyes and we can touch them. On the other hand, it also refers to materialism. In Islam, the matters which we sought for our necessity to face the life is considered as tools and in the same time those matters are also considered as the fitna (test). The God mentions that property, children and position that we have in our society are all the tests on us. Those who fail to reckon these matters as the tests from the God will sacrifice "Islam". What is the goal of human life? Is it for the stomach (to eat excessively)? Genitals (having sex for never ending lust)? Entertainment and having fun is our goal of life? 

The character and the appearance of the world is luring. She makes people obsessive of her. In the event of Isra' and Mi'raj where the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w had visited the heavens, he had saw a pretty woman with jewelries all over her. Then he was curious and asked his companion, the noble emissary, archangel Gabriel a.s. Who is that woman? The archangel Gabriel a.s answered, that is the simile of the world. Why the God made the world looks like a pretty woman? What is His message to us? How does a pretty lady looks like at the guys? We are also aware that there is also gay and transvestite communities. But this still applies. The world has her attractions and that is why the male and female must cover the parts which are prescribed in the jurisprudence as should not being exhibited to public. When people wanted to produce advertisement banners for example, they for example might use material and human models. The advertisement for cosmetics might use woman with "sexy" features for example lips, eyes, nose, and etc. The advertisement for obscene magazine perhaps using naked or half-naked male models. The advertisement for alcohol drink might also use woman as the attraction though it is non-related to the beverage, haha. 

This world is indeed fun for those who can't detect her weaknesses and flaws which is harmful for other higher selves. It is not enough until early in the morning that kids hanging around with friends, racing on the motorcycles. Will we be able to face challenges in society today if we had wrongly estimate the world? For example having wives. Human actually feels bored quite in no time. The God had given some loosen up for man to have four wives and practicing polygamous marriage. Because men feels bored with the only wife and preventing them from finding concubines or establishing non-legal relationship with other women. However men are not satisfied and still having boundless desire over the women (world) as an example.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w mentions that human will never be satisfied even when being given a valley of gold. He is still not satisfied with two valleys of gold and so on. He will only be satisfied when the soul leaving his mass. Money is never enough for human. If we never change our attitude toward the world, how would we be able to face obstacles to change the society and bringing it into His Mercy and Love? We are still being deceived by the worldly affairs. The worldly affairs which brings us toward the goodness and the success in the hereafter is when we assume it as the "field for us to work in reaching Him."

3. Satan: Genies and Devil     

In the Glorious Quran, surah Yaasin, the God mentions about human has an obvious enemy which are the Satans. These creatures are invincible at human physical eyes but they co-exist with human-being and that is why they are known as genies which means hidden creatures. The first genie, who's known as Iblis or Devil has made a promise before Him after he was accursed that he will drag human-being and others into the torment and the curse as he is envious. Envious is madzmumah (evil) characteristics for servants of the God. It brings no benefit to society. These creatures who are evil are classified as satans which means demons and those who are stubborn to submit to Him. Satan also applies to other creatures such as human-being and animals who are evil.

A person who is unable to see the tricks and the motions of Devil will be deceived and fail the tests. The Devil promised to deflect human-being and decorate His commands with lame looking while he decorates His prohibitions until they look interesting. For example, in Malaysia, people love to go for night market while nobody wanted to meditate in the masjid though the masjid has facilities and activities. People would walk around the night market and only ended up buying kacang puteh (garden peas). During the early part of Ramadan, people might influx the masjid until the mosque lose its balance and list. That happens because He had seized all of these hidden creatures so human will use their considerations and minds wisely, not being influenced by evil whispers. However, when it is near to the end of Ramadan, the masjid becomes empty and empty as the blessed month is almost over.

Devil decorates what is illegal and makes it look fun for example the time when a non-married couple is chatting to each other until they forgot the time. They could stare at each others' face for eight hours without stop. But when they are married and are legal to stay together, they feel that it is not fun anymore. The Devil made it opposing each other. When it is illegal, couples would be so fond of each other, perhaps calling each other every minutes. I also see this everywhere, it also includes my first year degree roommate Duwe, hahaha. His girlfriend called him even when he is in the toilet... poopin', hahahaha. If we have no knowledge and forget about this, we would be carried away by the current. No changes.

4. Satan: Human-Being   

We would be spoiled because of fellow human-being. Sometimes, our children who we had properly educated with religious classes, being sent to madarasas, and we taught them with scriptures but still could be found for example illegally racing on the road. Why? It's the influence of friends. Sometimes, a friend who is not good will bring a person into the darkness. 

As for myself, I have to think many times when I wanted to make friend too and this is how I survive until today. I am using my consideration despite I also think like sometimes I wanted to just break out of all the rules or norms in the society and just be like others. When I declared the faith into Buddhism, I still perform the norms and performing strict observance of a shraman (hermit who does not live in monastery) though I just undertake upasaka (layman) vow. This shraman life had also made me in conflict with people around because they don't understand me and I became one because I was treated like a thrash by people around. A shraman is a thrash in people's eyes.

Children, wife, and husband all could be the satan who lead human-being into darkness if they make a person forgets Him and His commandments. So, an immigrant should migrate into obedience to the God. Make sure that we are able to face these four obstacles to migrate to Him and for a better future. We must migrate into humility before Him and not being enslaved by these four matters mentioned by the scholar. If we fail to win them over, our civilization and nations will be in doom. We try to avoid our morality from being defecated and also protecting our Creed from being deflected by these four matters. 

Move the migration toward Faith and Fear to Him may everyone be blessed and all the blessings of the heavens and earth being directed to everyone as what had happened to the blessed prophets and messengers of the God.

Conclusion

Ustad Zamry Haji Kassim calling everyone together to reflect on the topic. The challenges that we are facing today is also could be reflected in the hadith narrated by Abu Dawud. Says the prophet Muhammad s.a.w where in a certain period, the nations of Him will be a target group! Companions feel weird and they asked further. Will we be among the minorities at that time? Muhammad s.a.w answered: No! There are many of you, but you are just like bubbles in the sea. You'll explode when you hit the ship, when the ship hit you too will you explode.  

When we look again at the reality of Muslims in Malaysian Peninsula today. We are not so many. We are challenged in three angles where our Creed has no strong foundation. The Shariat (Way) is not completed and performed well. We take some part of Shariat but we reject the other parts. Morality, dear Lord! In this angle of morality, we view nicely on wrong values of adultery. This applies to all groups who are sex-craved and thinking only genitals twenty four seven. 

We afraid that we will be like what is mentioned in Malay idioms. Melukut di tepi gantang, campak ke tengah halaman tidak dipatuk ayam, dibuang ke sungai tak disudu itik. We repeat again that the mind is filled with knowledge to know. The heart is filled with faith to motivate the move to Him. Facing the four challenges with perseverance to educate desires as to make sure that we are able. The most good property is the property which is managed by a good and pious man. If a pious man managed the property, the benefit is also into piety.

We train our desires to face the challenges in the situation and according to environment. Children, when we study, make sure Islam is with us. Others had far in front of us to recognize A as they know their environment. That is why a professor will send his broken engine to a mechanic to repair it though the mechanic gets no As in his examination. Mechanics know what happens to the engine. Remind ourselves that our intention for everything is for Him. He is our Source and our Base. Hopefully that tomorrow Fajr prayer service would be as crowded as today in the masjid, we can right?!  

a. Mind is filled with knowledge to know

b. Heart is filled with faith to move

c. Desires is trained to be able to face challenges  

May we see again in other opportunities. Pray may we meet again in His paradise the Abode of Peace. May everyone knows each other in the name of our Faith, we see each other because of the God, we say farewell also because of Him. Wish that this lecture (and post) injects some spirit to our souls and to other brethren from Portugal to China, from China to the US.  

- Final part of lecture, Masjid Yayasan al-Bukhary and co-Organizer, Kedah Islamic Guidance Department. 

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

Love to the God Love Everyone - Huda

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Special thanks to video maker myiera04 and singers 

While trying to finish up the assignment about European Language Issue and Policy, I listened to the song by Huda sisters. Feel quite tensed and trying to recite some verses to speak with Him too. The song is in Malay and titled Sayang-Sayang which means Love. It's basically the advice for children to love everyone. I can't remember when did I first listen to this, hahaha. Last time, I feel nothing when listening to this. But when I am pressured like this I only rewind everything in my mind.

The lyrics more or less says... 

Love the God, love the prophet... Love father, love mother... Love the God, love the prophet, love the father and mother, dear the God.

Let us little brothers and sisters listen to this advise. Check on our attitude don't be arrogant. Purify our selves, purify our soul. Follow the the order of the God and leave His prohibitions. Let us love the God, let us love the prophet.

The good morality is the morality of the prophet. Hardworking and fast in assisting others, working hard to get knowledge. Always giving to others signifies generosity. That is the tradition of the prophet, the most appraised. Love the God, love the prophet.  

Dear little brothers little sisters, keep in your memory father's contribution to us. Respect him, it signifies love to him. His sacrifice is so big. He finds sustenance to let us grow up.

Dear little brothers little sisters, remember to love mother. She bears us with love, educate without feeling bored nor exhausted. Her face is still cheerful. Go to mother give her a hug, that signifies love. Love the God, love the prophet.

Let us love each other. Love our family, love our neighbors. Among families love neighbors. Love the teachers, love the friends. Love your country, love everyone. Love the God, love the prophet. 

Too bad I was not growing up in this kind of situation of Love. My schoolmates were hostile and cold to me too just because I didn't get along well with them due to some differences. Urmm, they didn't actually accept me. Teachers just know how to condemn and humiliate. But not trying to find approaches to help problematic kids. This is not to condemn teaching profession because it is a respected profession but as a self reflect so that teachers could also improve their methods of teaching and psychological approach. Do I care about those kids and teachers who treated me badly last time now???? No, I care nothing... hahaha. I don't even remember their names if I could only remember the tortures that they had cast over me.

Just telling people on what happened 13-15 years ago in our educational institutions. This is not including what happened in primary school. It is terrible... I can't even imagine myself returning to schooling times. It's like returning to hell even when I try to reckon what happened. I can't even find any nice memory at all while I was a primary school student or secondary school student. I'm sure same things happen everywhere in this world. Not unique here but people like us no matter whether the kids were bullied by others, receiving hatred remarks from others, being looked down upon, and others are isolated. Some might commit suicide, or end up as thugs.

However, I wish and pray to Him may future generations of brothers and sisters could receive His Love and Mercy. Just don't be like us the older generations, treat everybody and among yourselves nicely. That's just our fate and we have to bear with it :') People might think I am a retard listening to children's song, hahaha. Who cares... I'm already a retard since long. Even more bad I have to work hard to hide my retarded characters because society were judgmental, full of negative criticisms. This is the period of negativity I guess.

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

Maqasid Shariah: Definitions

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Pao Gong, a justice figure of China's Song dynasty who serves the court during the reign of emperor Renzong

Once again we are in Yom al-Jumu'ah which is the day we congregate together as brothers and sisters. The sermon delivered in the masjid today is once again about Shariah Islamiah. After my first part thesis being rejected over and over and considering that I have to do it once again after few times struggling, I think that I hate human idealism. This human idealism that I am studying is making me far from my Beloved One!!! 

I regret that I could only get C in my Shariah paper recognition for STPM (A-Level). I just learned it in a framed one year after returning from pilgrimage in holy Mecca where I've got His guidance while it needs me two years for basic understanding. Last time, I had escaped Thanawi papers because I didn't believe in Islam as I had misunderstanding regarding society and the religion though I know about basic principles and memorized things. I learned both Islamic studies and Hindu-Buddhism sastras in the same time but I just practiced Buddhism rituals while I was alone. If I could not be a Qadhi in the future, perhaps I could still be a transmitter of Shariah sciences as apart of my Qurbana (sacrifice) for Him. It's not for myself but only for Him. It's all my fault because I was not patient. Please forgive me dear Good Lord, please don't hate me : (

Coincidentally, the sermon today also talked about the weaknesses of human idealism as compared to Revelation from the God according to our nature. I lament it in myself while returning to my room because I am not a believer of Western idealism nor feeling amazed at their values. I can't even use anything from Revelation in my research which could harmonize and purify, at least my own mind if not useful for others.

Let us continue on few other definitions of maqasid shariah...

Definitions of Maqasid Shariah

Contemporary scholars such as al-Imam al-Shatibi who is synonymous with maqasid science never provide specific definitions for the term maqasid shariah or objective of the way. It is because he thought that everyone understood the concept and the term itself.  

Definition of Ibnu Ashoor for Maqasid 

Ibnu Ashoor has defined maqasid as: "referring to every understanding which could be seen at legislation that had been provided through Revelation as a whole as parts of it." It means that maqasid does not really defined with the specific meaning of observation for the legislation. It refers to these examples such as bringing benefits, rejecting evil and crimes, and there lies the concept of equality among human-being in every prescription of the legislation in the Way.

Ibnu Ashoor had divided maqasid into general maqasid and specific maqasid...

i. General Maqasid

It has been seen in obligatory legislation which generally involves individual.

ii. Specific Maqasid 

It refers to methods used in Shariah to brings public necessities into realization through individuals' acts. For example, the legislation on the act of recording debt negotiations in financial area.

Definition of Maqasid by I'lal al-Fasi

He defines maqasid as: "The goal of Shariah and the secrets of the legislation for every judgement in Islam." Al-Fasi has also divided this into two which are the general and specific objectives. The general objective refers to the goal of Shariah while the specific objective is referring to the secrets of the legislation.

The definition however was criticized by Dr. Iwad bin Muhammad al-Qarni. He criticizes that the definition by saying that the usage of the word "secret" is not suitable because the word does not representing maqasid in an absolute way. Sometimes secret could be an objective while in certain times secrets are not objectives for something.  

Definition by Ahmad al-Raysuni

Maqasid refers to goals of the Way which everyone is striving to achieve for the benefit of human nations. Al-Raysuni had divided objectives more discreetly compared to the above definition setters. He divided it into three which are the general objective, specific objective, and branches objective.

i. General Objective

Objective which is taken into account through the light of the Way in order to decide on all or the majority of legislation of Shariah. For example, the concept of al-Musawah (equality) which exists in all of the Shariah legislation.

ii. Specific Objective

It has been taken into account by the Way in order to decide on something or few groups of specific legislation. For example, legislation related to family and matrimonial.

iii. Branches Objective

It is taken into account by the Way in order to decide over specific legislation such as the legislation decision on matrimonial as a tradition. 

Further Discussion on Definitions

What had been discussed in the science of the origin of jurisprudence and the objective science is concerning the general objective. Specific objective became the topic of discussion by the legislators and jurists of the Way (Shariah).

Among those definitions proposed by scholars, al-Raysuni's one is considered as compact, precise, and covering over the concept of maqasid (objective) after being analyzed by today's scholars.

Conclusion of Definition

Maqasid (objective) of Shariah are the goals which is deemed by the Shariah to be achieved for the benefit of human civilization and society. 

Sealed with prayers for 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! 

Is Kafir Really Means Infidel?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

This morning I had read some questions and statements about Islam and Muslim by people who hate Islam or religion. They are sometimes annoying, like childish little girls or budak jambu perasan macho (boys who thinks that they're smart good looking guys with bunch of friends around) in American schools seeking attention for something which is "temporary," pooorah! They don't hate Muslim (human), but they hate Islam (the God), hehehe. 

The God actually does not need this kind of people. Nobody needs their filthy blood to be spilled on mother earth. So, every time when they talk about "apostates" or "infidels" must be killed, I found that it as annoying because it does not reflect the 'real' situation or perhaps they wanted to die and asking some "terrorists" to kill them? Sick people... I would just recommend them to get a life, do something better with our life. I had been a Buddhist and an Atheist for some times and I hated Islam because of bad experiences with Muslims too. Nobody actually had killed me. I am alive and typing this post. There are many people turning to other faith in this world either from Islam to other faith or being ones without faith or from other faith to Islam. So, what's the big fuss about it? We want to believe anything, just go on. Do we have to let the whole world know what is inside our heart? What if people know? We feel proud because we could be in line with the mainstream and showing off on how advance we are like the "mainstream" when we criticize other faith?

This post is a bit of translation and we don't simply translate words because the words of different languages match to each other. In political science, we have conceptualization. Those people who talk nonsense are just insulting their own intelligence as human-being. People like Cicero the orator, also doing some interpretation while delivering speeches.

In most Eastern traditions of philosophies for example Buddhism, these people are considered as beasts because they do not talk like human. This is according to what had been proposed in Panchasil or the Five Principle Precepts to be human-being. This discourse about Panchasil was given by lord Buddha Gautama to Naga Muchalinda who took human form to be a monk (human) but since he was not a human-being, lord Buddha advised him to stick to Five Principle Precepts for him to be "incarnated" into a human-being in the future and he could perform monasticism "in the real meaning."

What is in Panchasil???

1. Not to take life (killing, murder)    

2. Not to take what is not given (jealousy, hijacking, stealing, robbing)

3. No to false speech and fact distortion (lying, cheating, slandering)

4. Avoid from using senses falsely (norms and morality of sexual conduct according to monastic law, usage of mind)

5. Avoid intoxicants stuffs (liquor, crack, caffeine)

Many "scholars" about Islam as a hideous thing with bias childish criticism, and bashing in the internet had fallen into the stage of beasts though this principle is Buddhism by basis. It has no religious connotation because beasts need 'no religion.' This is what I am trying to tell some Muslim brothers and sisters when we talk about people of other faith or about anything. We try to avoid distorting facts. We just talk about whatever we know but stay silent on whatever that we are not sure. In the West, people love to act scholar though they are not by fact 'wise.' They articulate and talk as if they know everything though their brain is empty of the issue that they are talking about. People also distort facts through the name of "Rules and Regulation." Unfortunately, this is how the world is "dominated" and "shaped" by them while the real Dominion is the One with Mercy and Love : ) 

Now back to the topic, when we translate things, there are actually many principles that we need to adhere. We even possess translation and interpretation theories and science. It mentions that translation could not be a "real" rendition of a text but simply to bring the message from a language to another for the different audience. As to say, there are many misunderstandings about this Quranic word which sounds like كافر kafir (pl. kuffaar). It is often translated into English as infidel. Infidel is a Latin word based from Roman Catholicism terminology. Latin is a liturgy language for Roman Catholics and technically Roman Catholicism is a sect of Christians' religion. It's not Muslims' ritual language because we use Quraiysh Arabic in most of rituals like salat. Even some of us recite supplications after salat in Arabic and not in native tongues. 

As per my understanding for the word kafir in this way to return to Him, it means that a creature is an ingrate toward Him. Ingrate in this context of word means someone who has no gratitude to the Creator, Who gives and generates Life. The Arabic word kafir is a noun which shows the act of the subject from the past tense verb كفر kafar.

What does كفر  kafar means in Arabic? 

It has three basic meanings...

I. غطاه closed, covered from comprehending their selves and the God

II. انكره refusing to respect the God 

III. ضد امن against security (those who spread lies, slander, and harming human-society or creatures)

From this word, another word which is derived from kafir sounds like is كفارة kaffarah. It means the breaking of commandment and covenant. It also refer to sentence or fine for sins and crimes committed by a creature. Deeper meaning, it means the sentence to cancel the act of breaking the commandment and covenant. Commandment and covenant is the contract between a soul and the God. This is how the word being developed in Arabic. It's not simply substituting word for word like a person who does not go to school. This problem happened because many of Islamic texts was translated by Westerners. Translation could also be influenced by the ideology and tendency of a certain translator. 

Terminologically, the word kafir means a person who does not believe, have no confidence and denies the God as the One who Creates the Universe, who Sustains the Universe, and who Gives life to the death. It refers to people who are hidden and covered to the Revelation and the seal of prophethood, Muhammad s.a.w as a messenger of the God to the nations of era near Resurrection. 

Then only this word is generally translated into English as infidel where it has been taken into substitution for the word in eastern part of the world. Another word for this in English used to translate this particular word is disbeliever because translators trying to avoid Roman Catholicism connotations and the method of understanding the word is different. For me, I would use the word ingrate to translate the word into English.

E.g of the usage of this word is such in the term of كُفُرْنِعْمَةْ kufur ni'mah. It means someone who refuse to admit the grace of the God the Most Highest to him or to her. Basically it means ingratitude, ones without politeness and of no manner. These kind of people do not co-exist well with the nature and causing troubles for the universe. This كُفُرْ kufur word is synonymous to kafir but it does not make a Muslim person an infidel from his or her faith to the God the Most Highest and His messenger to the universe, Muhammad s.a.w or leading to what is called as apostasy. This term is used to refer to ingratitude which brings not one from the boundary of the basic six pillars of faith and five pillars Islam.

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

Maqasid Shariah : The Objective of Shariah

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

A very good and blessed Friday. We recite salawat to our beloved and noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w, the messenger and the servant of the God. Friday sermon delivered by Ustad Zayd Zahari in Islamic Center today is quite interesting. Besides I love to listen to Ustad Zayd Quranic recitation. I wanted to talk with him but I don't know, I feel shy. Macam budak-budak pulak, hahaha...

He talked about this matter called as maqasid shar'iyyah. I have no time to email to ustad Zayd but I wish to have a copy of the sermon that he delivered. It is very good in order to clarify what is shariah to some brick-head people who just lazy to read books about Islam written by a believer Muslim. Of course a believer Muslim is a Muslim who understand his religion and not because he follow anyone like his dad, his mum, his elders and people around. I don't care about non-Muslim view about this but first we Muslim ourselves must be clear on what is actually shariah? When we talk about shariah, we have this image in our mind about punishment to people or crime and some people would take this as something which could be attacked sesuka hati tuk nyang depa! I would write anything that I could still remember. My head is now so full, mannnnn!

My Opinion Before We Begin

Islam is a message of the God to the universe and it actually had began since the time of sage Adam a.s was taught with nouns. Who is sage Adam a.s? He is the forefather of all human-being who possess mind, emotion, feeling and being granted with civilization. So, human religion does not begin since Moses a.s or Jesus a.s or Muhammad s.a.w. I sometimes feel weird when looking at some non-Muslims' way of thinking, I don't know whether they are Christians or not but because we don't simply judge people by their religion but they keep talking in inconsistencies. I believe these kind of people are Western Protestant Christian pastors. I don't even hate any Jew or Christian and I found that many Western Christians especially those rednecks living in farms are quite hater to others and ignorant! I made friend with other Asian Christians especially of Catholicism and some Middle East Christians of Orthodox patriarchal lines. We do not hate each other and hating-racist culture or ideas come from the West. I always support my Christian friends especially those devout ones. Stop spreading those diseases from the West to Asia! 

Sometimes they talk about Arabs or Muslims (as Islam is the same entity of Arab like what they perceive to Christianity as their 'daddy's' handmade) trying to dominate the world, then later when we tell them that there are 100% Bedouin Arabs of Ghassan branch who are of Byzantine Orthodox Church under the Roman empire or Lakhmid Arabs who still exist under Nestorian churches since before the rise of Muhammad s.a.w, they would say they are glad that there are Arabs who resists the pressure of Islam. They would try to do all sort of thing for Muslim to leave their religion. When they leave their religion what those people who suggest apostacy can give to them? Mountain of gold? Food for the people who leave their religion until they die? Saving them from torments in hereafter if it is a common belief in other religion about hereafter? If he can help others, can he show people that he could also save himself from torments and sufferings? If zillions of people become apostates of their religion and choosing your religion because you offer them something, will you be able to cater everyone with their needs as the "change" for their "faith"? What for quantities if people who claim themselves in documents or just because being offered by something are not sincere because of the God but because of their belly, their desire, their comfort. In the end, the real god for them are their belly, their desire, their comfort, etc...

Don't they read the Judaism 13 articles of faith concluded by Musa bin Maimun which is a Judaism teacher about the path that the God teach human-being never change? Sure they don't read it because they are Christians who zealously "following" the Christ and that is what they are called as... Christians... Later they call us Muslims as Mohamedans like our concept of how we view the God is the same like them. Our God is not Muhammad s.a.w... Muhammad s.a.w is a sage, a teacher, a messenger of the God like his brothers in soul such as Moses, like Jesus a.s, like Noah a.s, like Abraham a.s. We worship only the God...! We do not need Trinity nor anything taught by Church Fathers with the regard on dogma and creed and we don't need those teachings in Protestantism or Catholicism which has been around longer than Protestantism to have faith in Jesus Christ. We believe and have faith in Jesus a.s and those who are mentioned by the God in glorious Quran. We love all of prophets and messengers of the God no matter Muhammad s.a.w, Moses a.s, Jesus a.s, Noah a.s, Abraham a.s, Ismael a.s, Isaac a.s all equally. We have our own sciences about the creed and faith and we have our own scholars.

I memorized the articles of Jew faith perfectly in both Hebrew and Arabic and one of it says that : "the God will never exchange or alter His law for any other for all eternity."

Is it hard to understand that celestial revelation does not come in certain period or being known to the person who transmit it in this sense like Western understanding when they call Muslims as Mohammedans or Christians for those who follow the teachings which flows from Jesus Christ. Revelation as a sign of His Mercy toward the universe will descend each time when human-being fallen into the darkness or human-being simply love to play ignorant? Why when you (Western Christians) talk, you have to use religion as the shield to protect your attachment toward worldly desire? Don't lie to people around because the God knows what is hidden in ones' heart. Don't also assume that the God is STUPID! 

This kind of people according to the pillars of morality is considered as polytheists no matter how they claim that they are worshiping the Supreme Authority! So, what had been said by the God is true... They hated Him but His Words will never be eliminated by these flies. This universe is under His supervision and not under those hypocrites. Their heart is filthy with polytheism. If people hate the God, then say so, no need to use the pretext of this nation or that nation or this religion or that religion. If they wanted to dominate others, don't accuse it on others like throwing stones to others while others are not looking and then hiding the hand.

When the soul of prophet Muhammad s.a.w being raised by the God, we have the Quran and the prophetic tradition. We know our goal of life in which the purest goal of life is to see the God. We do not consider this earth as our possession. When I was a Buddhist, I also believed the same thing. I am not I am or what is concluded in Anatta and Sunyata concept. Nothing in my physical body is true and everything around me is fake. When I wanted to die and performing some difficult tapas (meditation) according to Hindu-Buddhist ways I believe that I could transfer my soul into a better place than this physical body because it is fake. There are some Buddhists of Lao descents who live in the U.S Long Island, usually they are rich people who ran from revolution in their country and they live like the average Americans and sometimes visiting Thailand to boast around. They keep throwing racist stuffs to Chinese people in Bangkok or Muslim Malays in Southern Thailand and when I talked about Anatta and Sunyata concept, they just keep their silence. So, it means that people sometimes know about the stuffs but they never practice whatever had been taught but they claim themselves as this and that. Later they try to ban others without they first understand the essence of the teaching that they claimed to follow.  

Through deductive and inductive analysis on Islamic Shari'a sources, it confirms that the goal and intention of shariah is to attract benefit and goodness for human-being and environment. It is rejecting harms from human-being toward environment. All of law provisions under the shariah jurisprudence shelter under the concept of the guarantee for human-being and environment benefits. It is not only the benefit of the world but also the hereafter.     

Al-'Iz bin Abdul Salam in his book Qawaid al-Ahkam fi Masalih al-Anam vol. 1 page 9 said that Islam (path) is for benefits. It is either bringing benefit or avoiding harm. The sermon that we just heard from Islamic Center defines on the meaning of maqasid or the goal and its position. It tries to elaborate in the most comprehensive and easiest way on various categories of goals according to variety of perspectives, benefits of understanding what is the goal and how to recognize the goal. And then to evaluate the goal on how important is the goal of shariah in the evaluation of certain decision made.  

Introduction to the Concept of Maqasid

What is the definition of maqasid? 

According to Ahmad al-Raysuni in the View of the Goal by Imam al-Shatiby (1992, p.g 13) : "Maqasid means the goal, the objective or the purpose which we wanted to achieve in doing something. In this context, the objective which is placed by the path in molding the provisions. Among popular terms used for this maqasid shariah, maqasid shari' Allah (the objective the God's path), maqasid shari'iyyah."

There are many definitions brought upon by the scholars of the origin of understanding about the goal or the objective of shariah. Classical scholars never propose any specific definition for the goal. Al-Shatibi who was the apprentice of the objective branch of knowledge also never provide any specific definition. But it does not mean that they had neglected the objective or the goal of certain provisions in the law.

There are many views regarding the objective in their scholarly works. We could also see various classical scholars' views which forms the elements of contemporary scholars preceding them. What is certain is that the values of objective in the path is consisted in the al-Quran and prophetic traditions.

Some of scholars assume that the objective signifies the benefits, whether it attracts benefit or it rejects the demolition of human civilization. Ibnu Qayyim al-Jawziyyah emphasized that shariah is based on wisdom and benefit for human civilization in the world and benefit them in the hereafter. The changes in jurisprudence and law could also take place according to period of time and place since it is flexible according to human-nature, cultural background and environment. It guarantees the benefit of human-being as a whole.

Some scholars define the objective as the matters which avoid harms toward human-being and environment. The jurist I'yad said that : "providing provisions within the framework of the path of the God is obligatory." Some characterize the objective as a way to avoid trouble for society. It was mentioned by Ibnu al-'Arabi with his statement : "There is no burden on someone if he is not capable of it." 

Some had understood the objective of shariah with five basic principles of Islam. Islam (the path of the God) is to protect :   

1. religion

2. soul and life

3. mind

4. pedigree

5. property

In other angle, there are also classical scholars who view the objective as the logic to be integrated as apart of the decision in making the judgement in the court. Contemporary scholars such as Imam al-Shatibi who are famous in the science of the objective never propose any specific definition for the term of the objective or maqasid. He perhaps assumed that everybody understood the term.  Try to compare them with principles of Civil Law and the whole process in Civil Law instead of attacking something which we don't really understand at because we are not even lawyers to begin with, lol....

This gonna take long because we learn about Civil Law or Common Law for racist Western society and their religion (whatever ideologies they proposed are their religions) for about 4 years to be a practical chambering lawyers or attorneys while we read something in the surface about Shariah and assume ourselves as professionally a Law attorney to criticize this and that, hahaha....

will be continued, inshaallah...