Importance of Da'awa : Part I

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Diary and Da’awa

At last I finished everything and manage to dump some notes here so everyone could also get the benefit out of it. I wrote this diary last week around 14^th of July 2012 after I revised few materials. In this side, I basically don’t write for magazines for money or for any organization but writing and translating stuffs only for Him. 

Translating the tafseer and collecting notes in fact is not an easy job though I think everyone could do this but the way how writers write their articles or materials could be tough as well as the style of their language could not easily being conveyed in English as for example those which are shrouded with poems, getting the points from materials written in Classical Malay and with Malay pantuns segala mak nenek nya.

Translating and interpreting is a job of Faith. With Faith I am not sleeping at night and have to bear sufferings with sacred heart for these to reach audience from all over the globe because I am pretty sure this treasure is not reaching others as I had checked it all over the searching engines. Now everyone could enjoy these treasures from the East in English and they could translate this into Arabic, Persian, Russian, Hebrew, Spanish, German, French, Dutch, Japanese, Finnish whatever lingo it is that they use.

The tafsīr materials that I am using right now is from the tafseer written by an Indonesian national and a Sumateranese religious professor known as Dr. Abdul Malik Amrullah of Muhammadiyah movement and it is entirely in Malay language. He received the title of professorship ironically from the first established center of our ancestral tariqa which was from the al-Azhar University of Egypt. I am also upgrading my rudimentary Chinese for this and trying to polish up Arabic as my ancestral tongue. Wishing it inspires other Chinese speaking Muslims in our country and around to take opportunity from these treasures for their own benefit in the world and the hereafter. 

Mum went home to our village to call people for my third sister’s walimatul ‘urs or her wedding reception. So, basically I am the only one who finished my classes and stays home most of the time. I just helped dad with his diapers, showering him, helping him to perform salat, reciting prayers for him and giving him some milk and his medication since he cannot do anything on his own and it is my charge as a son. I cleaned the kitchen and cleaned the compound of the house too because these places seem quite out of the looking. Also did some hand-washing for clothes because I need them for prayer services and I can’t pour hot water into the washing machine. If I do not do these, nobody would do them for us. I do not care if people calling me things because I did all of these lame-slave things. I believe that Muslims must be clean in every place, clean in spiritual, mind, heart and physical. And I feel weird because why a man cannot do house chores apart of outdoor ones together with woman? Wasn’t our prophet Muhammad s.a.w also helped his wife with kitchens? Wasn’t he also mends his clothes by himself? So, he is not a man because of that?! Where is the notion about cleanliness and the obligation for us to be clean spiritually or physically? Where is gender equality as what I always heard here and there? 

My family actually is being tested by the Lord again and again. Since last two months, my dad had fallen down due to a severe stroke and it was classified at the hospital as the low risk fall. He had the symptoms since before my maternal grandpa passed away where his thinking becoming slower and slower and later he was attacked by few strokes and the recent one, he is paralyzed half part of his body. He could not speak any word and only using hand signals. I could say that my dad is quite a stubborn person. He seldom listens to this kid advising him, asking him to follow to fast and he’s not so religious because of his dad passed away early. Basically he was religiously illiterate. Part of it because he is a father and I understood that a father and a man have his ego too and I already tried to exercise my responsibility as an inferior son through politeness and discretion but guidance is His right. I faced this with my elder or younger sisters and also with my mother. Sometimes I would have to find a religious teachers and helping me in term of advising them but they only listen to these respected people for a moment. Later they’ll forget about it.

Besides of the pressures and depression that I had to face in the hostel, this news about my dad really affected me and it makes me even more “weird” in the eyes of people around me at that time. I lived there alone without any roommate or colleague so I can’t discuss anything. I only have Allah to talk with and I don’t know how pathetic I looked like in front of musalla’s congregation besides I cannot really hold my tears from flowing when praying because it feels like a mountain suppressing my head. I tried to meditate to substitute negativity around with positivity and practicing supplications that I learned from honorable teachers.

When I talked to my sisters especially one who always listens to religious lectures, she said that I should be patient and bear it. It is easy to say patience but to bear it is not as easy to say it out. I am sure this also happens to everyone. Especially, people begin to show the "true" traits of human-being. That is normal I guess. If normal human-being facing the problems here and there at a time, they maybe would die a tormenting death. My friend, Amir talked about tormenting death or mati beragan as we call it in Malay when we talked about this, haha. I am just kidding.

We have to be positive in all the time. I still have the Faith in Allah as my sole Savior and the only true Friend though many times I had this evil thought to commit suicide, just die and being something forgotten. Just like mother Maryam cried her self in the Surah Maryam 19:23. I seek forgiveness for my weaknesses dear Lord!

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love amin!

History Lesson 1 : Discovering the Past

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Introduction

Some people might found that history is a boring stuff and it is a good tool to make those who experience insomnia to sleep earlier. Some people love history and some even incorporate it as apart of their so-called conspiracy theories and later being disillusioned because their basis of understanding and knowledge is only half of it. 

So, what is history dear beloved brothers and sisters? In it's broadest sense, it is the story of people. It is the study of our past. Some parts of this side also talking about history and recording some part of history. In religious studies branches of study, we also have seerah or taarikh which deals with our chronicles and the history of our noble prophets.

Some historians might be looking at important events such as wars, revolutions and governments while others are interested in ordinary people's lives. Henry Ford, who is an American car manufacturer said that history is bunk. Most people would also disagree with him. 

Our lives today are shaped by decisions and actions made decades, centuries or even thousands of years ago. Through the understanding of the past, we may even get a more balanced view of the present.  

Goals of History

Basic aims of history are to record and explain our past. Whatever happens to me or to brothers and sisters who happened to pass by here is history. Historians study a wide range of oral and written evidence. Some are combined with archeology where later they may interpret the facts or data to build up a picture of the past. 

Beginning of the Study

The first people according to Westerners who study history seriously were the ancient Greeks. Around 5th BC, Herodotus set out to write a true and systematic record of the wars between the Greeks and Persians. He hoped to preserve the memory of past events and show how two peoples came into conflict with one another. 

The scientific study of archeology only began in the 18th century. Archeologists today investigate even the tiniest fragments left behind by ancient people to create a more complete picture of the past.

Closing

History is not just concerned with the distant past. It is the story of our lives. What is new today will be turning to be history tomorrow. Change can be sudden or dramatic, and long held ideas will be overturned tomorrow.

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

Ramadan Kareem 2012

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Wishing brothers and sisters a peaceful Ramadan and to Allah we're thankful for granting us health and safety throughout the year. Ramadan always reminds me to my time in the university either when I was alone or when I was with brothers in faith. Though I never talk so much in the crowd but I always regard brothers around me with respect and love. I never forget anyone who came to me and generously entertain me. I wish beloved brothers and sisters around the world firstly safety and good health. May you enjoy your quality time with your beloved ones whether your parents, your siblings, your husbands and wives, your brothers and sisters in faith and your friends regardless religion and background. Don't forget to share the blessings of Ramadan with your non-Muslim friends and treat everyone first as human-being. 

Special prayers for Rauhingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists in Rakhine state of Myanmar. May everyone being guided and receive enlightenment, amin!

Ramadan kareem, Ramadan mubarak.

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

Science of the Quran : Introduction

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Definition of the Quran

What is the Quran? Basically everyone know that it is our holy scripture. Now we introduce what is Quran according to our own standard. We don't need Oxford or Orientalism standard for this! You want to learn about Islam and Quran? Learn from the "practicing and faithful Muslims". Learn with the intention that you really want to know what is mentioned in the verses without any perception. Not from those from wherever it is claiming that they are ex-Muslim turning to Atheism or other faith because of this or because of that.  How can we get the benefit when our cup is fully filled with the tea? Try take a cup and fill it with the tea or water. See what happens when you pour the tea into the cup without stopping it. So, what is the use for you to get to know something if you already have the knowledge about it?  

Just cut those craps and stop bullshitting. That is my advice to those who commit this childish act. I learned Buddhism last time. I learned it from the "real acharyas" in temples, listening from Buddhist medias like Thai national radio making notes out of it, memorize the teachings, practicing them with myself and only speaking the truth. I never claim myself as an ex-Buddhist this or ex-Buddhist that to defame it or to make other Buddhists turning to my faith. That is the act of chickens who have no balls. It's not noble and you're lowering others' intelligence. 

Quran refers to the Word of the God. It is the miracle which was consecutively descended upon Muhammad s.a.w through the medium of archangel Gabriel a.s. It is now written in Arabic in copies being read by Muslims around the world as an act of worship and to seek divine inspiration from the God through His Word.

Definition of the Sciences of the Quran

It is the field of knowledge which argues the aspects related to the Quran. Among them are the beginning of how it has been revealed, the way it was revealed, the places where it was revealed, when it was revealed, the collection of the verses, its documentation and its stages, its miracles, nasakh and mansukh, muhkam and mutashabeeh, parables, arrangements of the divine letters, recitation branches of science such as tarannum or tajweed and etc.

Field of Quranic Science's Arguments

I found that it is very interesting dear beloved brothers and sisters. It covers questions such as follows:

1. Definition of Quranic science and its source.

2. Discussions on how it was revealed with its characteristics such as qaadim and azaliy.

3. Discussing the issues and causes which brings the revelation of the verses into its revelation.

4. Discussion about the Makki and Medini verses.

5. Arguments about the questions regarding mutashabeeh and muhkam verses.

6. Discussions about the mutashabeeh and muhkam verses.

7. Discussions about the earlier and ultimate verses which were revealed.

8. Arguments about the collection of Quranic verses and its history from the Muhammad s.a.w companions' era to the modern era.

9. Discussion about the questions regarding the exegesis of the verses, explanation of the verses and its translation. There are also principles in translating the verses of the Quran. 

10. Questions of revelation and the way it has been revealed from Allah to Muhammad s.a.w.

11. Discussing few objectives related to the revelation of Quran and its miracles. There are many more.

In the matter pertaining point no. 9... I also learned about Bible translation principles and Western ideas regarding translation when I was an undergraduate student yet I feel that my field of studies is useless since I could not use it as a tool to serve the nations and I wasted the time which I should have used it to memorize kitabs and sunans. Now I almost finished everything. I am sacrificing my limited time, my pride, my limited financial and energy wishing Allah to be my witness and helping me in the hereafter. I am also hoping that brothers and sisters could help me. Be mo'allims (teachers) for your people, teach them in your languages so they may understand everything well and practice them. Get the help of teachers in your areas and spread His light to everyone. Anything that you read here are just supplements not the real stuffs. Please get help from teachers and discuss them with other brothers and sisters. I really mean this.

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

Science of the Quran: Definition of Science

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

We typically always hear in schools that science should means something like physics, chemistry, biology or mathematics. We were told about Ismai'ili Shi'a Muslim achievements such as of Ibnu Sina without being told that he is a Shi'a Muslim and many people do not really like Shi'a Muslims here though they never befriend one.

It is not that I am an opponent to these sciences but I found that last time it was so intense and we as religious studies students were down-graded to the level that we feel like we were not human and we must be another person which was not us as the result to fit in. I became like I am now because of the situation in society that I have to live in. 

Now, let us see what is meant by science according to Quranic knowledge explanations. Actually this is the introduction of a kitāb that I read titled "The Sciences of Quran" written by Ustad Asmawi Eḥsan. I made notes out of what I had read and listened from teachers so it would not be a stiff translation but from what I understood in those things that I had read. It is actually a habit since I was a young kid...

There are many definitions according to fields of specialization such as philosophy, uṣūl, linguistics and religious studies. I wish beloved brother Idris could access this. I am doing this apart of it for brothers and sisters in China and those in areas with less Muslim population. I feel that I did not function well because I refuse to speak about religious studies in front of people of diverse background but that does not mean that we leave behind da'awa mission. It is in our blood and heritage.

Definitions

Philosophers

Defined science as a picture which exists or sparked from the mind of human-being in their assumption of a particular thing, event, situation or anything which he founds or faced. Some philosophers defined it as something which controls the soul and the mind of man-kind in their quest to explore a particular thing.

Uṣūluddin Specialists

They defined the term science as a nature which a human could achieve the highest position in his life and his affairs if he acquires it. Some defined it with a nature which would possibly determine a person to choose and deciding on something without any doubt though it is only through the usage of common-sense.

Materialists

Science is defined by these people as something that would be believed and detected through the senses such as being witnessed by physical eyes. If it is not through this way such as the belief on supernatural matters and things that we listened or sam'iyyat could not be assumed as a science. Why? Because these things could not be touched, tasted, watched or witnessed and achieved by human senses. This is the view that we had been taught in schools in our country. It is intensely being focused by government policy in education in order to be a developed country though I fail to see what kind of development being brought so far. A body or a mass without soul has no value at all. It is not a holistic one. How about others in other parts of the world?

Linguists

Their opinion is that science means the knowledge which is possessed by someone that with it a person could get to know something in the universe.

Religionist

Define the science as the ability of a person in his quest to know His Creator and in the quest to prove His existence, His deeds to His creations and firming it in their heart.

Summary

Basically, these definitions mean that science is an ability on human-being granted by the God which could be used to make assumptions, to discuss and to argue something which has been faced by human-kind in the Earth. In Arabic, it is known as 'Ulūm which is the plural for 'Ilm. It means branches of knowledge since there are many subjects being discussed in the scientific arguments.

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

Qadiri Complex in China : 靈明堂 Ling Ming Tang

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Just few pictures from various websites...

Reporter Ibrahim Ma Weijun for China Muslim Youth Club and Imam Wang Shoutian

The reporter of China Muslim Youth Club and his friends warmly welcomed by the complex committee

Sources :

1. xaislam

2. muslimwww

3. china muslim youth club

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

Chinese Muslim Figure: Hilaluddin Qi Jingyi

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Ling Ming Tang Qadiri Order Complex in Gansu, China

Our Movement

First of all, I would like to highlight that my father family was not belonged to the Qadiri lineage but from another side of Yemenite and Egyptian order which remained in silence since we were once a closed community and I learned that they followed Shafi'ie madzhab for fiqhi sunnah but they are not really Sunni Muslim by today's classification due to that they recognized the guardianship of 'Ali k.w and the authority of this imam after prophet Muhammad s.a.w. I have great respect to honorable baba Abdul Qadir Jailani and regard him as one of us due to similarities in first few imams. Our lineage has the history from the Fatimid empire which was spread across the oceans but trying to tolerate the other schools. Anyway I am still an ordinary Muslim who perform all of the shari'a obligations like others and shifting to Hanbali fiqhi madzhab in term of sunnah angles since we faced many slanders from people around and that really affects our faith in Allah and our religion. So, after all of the past experiences... I turned to the strictest of fiqhi madzhab of "Sunni Muslim" if it is the classification for not being a deviant after I get the confirmation from the Saudi clerics in Mecca though I don't really like Saudi Arabia's government. And I received the kitabs for prayers from Qadiri mission teachers, because they gave it to me so I received it with smile and using them to respect them : )   

Ling Ming Tang interior side. Ling Ming Tang means the Hall of Spiritual Enlightenment : ) 

Hilaluddin Qi Jingyi

So, in this side I would like to introduce this figure from China and a Chinese master of tasawwuf teaching. His religious name is Hilaluddin and his native name is Qi Jingyi 祁静一 ...

His Life

Regarding the life of this figure, it was mentioned that when he was 16 years old, he met a master of Naqshabandi order known as Afaq Khoja in Xining around 1672. He begged the master to be his teacher but Afaq Khoja responsed that he was not the supposed teacher for Qi Jingyi. He mentioned more that his ancient teaching is not to be passed to Jingyi but by another teacher who has already crossed the Eastern Sea and arrived in the Eastern part of the land. He must quickly return home and he will be a well-known teacher in his land. Qi Jingyi studied under the supervision of Khoja Abdul 'Alla which is the 29th descent of prophet Muhammad s.a.w who happened to enter China around 1674. His mission order is under the circle of Qadiri lineage.

His Tomb and the Complex

Master Qi Jingyi was buried in Linxia city in Gansu province after his death. His tomb is among the center of ziyarat by the members of Qadiri lineage whether in the side of Sunni or Shi'a Muslims. It is located in the Hongyuan park. Another one is Ling Ming Tang Masjid complex like in the pictures.   

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