Transactions in Islam

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I just returned home from USM Penang and arrived here in KL just after 'Asr time. I had submitted my thesis. Anyway, for postgraduate students who take full-time classes we actually have to write a five chapters mini-thesis other than hundreds or maybe thousands of weekly assignments. I shut myself down for about a year since the Gregorian New Year 2013 after my thesis being rejected for about.... Well, I do not know how many times.

For this time, I wish that they could accept my thesis and let me go through the candidature as a master graduate student. I did not sleep for about a week to manage my thesis right. Grateful to both sisters, Aida and Premawati. Because they contacted me and reminded me to the thesis, so I came to realize that I had wasted my time in the campus for another three years of my life just after I graduated from undergraduate class. Six years as a higher institution student, plus with my schooling times. I am not trying to brag myself but one could compare our maturity with those who had started their working life since after their schooling times or after their undergraduate times. We could analyze the situation better and not just working for the sake of saving our ass. We learned to be compassionate to other beings and feel others' sufferings.

Well, tonight I am connecting myself with the mosque again which is the al-Najah Mosque at the religious primary school in Precinct 9. I just love that imam guy. I feel connected spiritually to him and also some other guys but only specific people. It is like being connected to another brother when seeing him or other specific people. Coincidentally, there was a religious lecture related to communal activity component in Sharia Islamiyah or the Way of Islam. The ustad talked about the interest or in Arabic we call it as al-Ribaa. This is quite interesting because I learned about this but I had forgotten, lol. 

Basically, there are six matters which is mentioned in a Hadith I guess reported by Abu Sa'id al-Khudry r.a as interest matters. They are:

1. Gold 

2. Silver

3. Wheat grain

4. Dates

5. Salt

6. Barley

Well, because this country and most regions in South East Asia are following the jurisprudence of imam al-Shafi'ie rahimahullah then I am offering him my honor, love and respect. I will just mention about his method of jurisprudence other than my family in majority follows his method. In modern days, there are matters subjected to interests such as money and they are reasoned through a process known as deductive analogy by jurisprudence scholars. Not by commoners.

The imam al-Shafie jurisprudence method categorized interests into three categories:

1. Ribaa' al-Fadhl

2. Ribaa' al-Nasee'at

3. Ribaa' al-Yad

The adherents of Hanbali jurisprudence usually would follow the method of Ibnu al-Qayyim and other scholars from the particular school of jurisprudence where they recognize two categories of interests in transaction. It is not a problem at all but do not impose the method on others like they do not have their schools of jurisprudence or scholars of jurisprudence. 

I guess these are the summary for basic things in our daily transaction whether with money or barter system. These form the basis of our financial law and economic system where Islam is not based on any Enlightenment products from European continent but it is an "Enlightenment" product from Arabian Peninsula where the people there were regarded as barbarians although it is perhaps an overgeneralization by Orientalists or Western academicians.

I just read some books written in Malay language from our library in Hamzah Sendut USM. I guess I took two books about tariqas in South East Asia and one is the Book of Aphorism written by Ibn Athaillah al-Sikandari and compiled again by Sheikh Fadlullah al-Haeri of Karbala. The book about tariqas among them is known as the "Syariah: Ilmu Fekah Menurut Tarekat Qadiriyah" or "Sharia: Jurisprudence according to Qadiri Lineage" written by Haji Abu Bakar Aceh and published by Pustaka Aman Press. Another one is the "Tarekat Ahmadiah in Malay World" but I cannot remember the author's name and publication. Qadiri lineage is actually my paternal family lineage but we had forgotten and leave the practices behind when our elders passed away. My father was not properly educated (religiously speaking) and I am lamenting him because he is unfortunate. Basically I have some basic knowledge about the Qadiri lineage where I just look at the contents and I could elaborate them again from my basic understanding of Islam. Some of the practices I had already get from elders at our "centers" when I was little child. I am just referring to the book as to recall my memories back while waiting the time to take the bus to return to Kuala Lumpur. Did not have much time to xerox the book and violating the publication copyrights because I was rushing with thesis submission and others.

Tomorrow will be my first day working in an organization. It is just a contract based job but anything will do because I need some experience in working areas and getting used to whatever that I had left before. Thank you brothers and sisters for visiting this humble site. I am grateful for brothers and sisters prayers.

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

Bombings of Architectural Structure in Libya

Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I have heard about this for so long. It happens everywhere, in Iran, in Pakistan, in Syria and in Libya too. Though I read the treatise by Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab and I actually look like one of them when I am outside, but I am just an ordinary Muslim. How is that I look like them? I wear the trousers with the length of just enough reaching to my ankle or maybe above. My head is bald with some beard. What differentiate me from them is that I am usually in black and it includes my skull cap, hehe. It was not their style but my style since I was a young Muslim kid. I just wear like that again once I get the enlightenment about what should I be. 

Recently, there is a bombing event in a masjid attached with a tomb of a descendant of one of the Hassan, the grandson of prophet Muhammad s.a.w. His name is known as Sharif Abdussalam al-Asmar. The bombing was made legal by the grand mufti of Libya but many of the ulamas of Libya actually are not in agreement with the grand mufti who is influenced by the Saudi Arabia. From what I have heard about the Wahhabi movement, they believe that the act of visiting the tomb is equal to the worship of idol. Perhaps it is true for some ignorant people but as for me I would also chase those who pray to the soul of the dead and asking their assistance and not from Allah the Lord of the lords. I mean we don't have to be a follower of Wahhabi movement or Salafi movement to know this and why they are looking down to other Muslims who are not in accordance with them especially when those who returned from Saudi Arabia began to spread out their treatises and books in their country after studying there or after performing pilgrimage. One thing for sure, the Saudi government itself has banned the distribution of other movements' kitabs and treatise in Saudi Arabia and stopping them from being spread out. If it is not for political purpose, then what else? Only politicians put all lies to other believers to win vote. By hook or by crook. Politicians and the earthly rulers are among the lowest people in the earth when they try to win the influence. 

In the era of prophet Muhammad s.a.w he also visited the grave of his mother in Abwa'. His mother, Aminah was not even blessed with the mercy of Allah to testify witness on her son's prophethood because she passed away earlier. So, by the meaning of witnessing, she is not a "Muslim" by documentation validation. So, when prophet Muhammad s.a.w visiting her grave, did he commit idolatry and pray there??? Is he lower than the followers of Wahhabi movement who just recently getting into influence from 17th century with spilling blood of Muslim brethren wars in Taif and Madina al-Munawwara? Where is the morality and the manner of the Wahhabi movement followers who claim that they are of no jurisprudence school?  They are not speaking the truth. Salafi is the madzhab of imam Ahmad bin Hanbal. The scholar such as Ibnu Taimiyya was the adherence of Hanbali madzhab. And his guidelines at that time was based on the condition of his era. He's not the only Sheikhul Islam at the time while Wahhabi movement influenced people took his opinions like being revealed from Allah to a prophet. 

Last time, when I tried to join the circle in USM Masjid where the Syrian student became the naqib of the circle, I sensed that they are not of religious studies background although they speak in Arabic. When the guy said that after few lessons with them I would be an imam or ustad myself, then I just politely excuse myself and leaving them behind and it surprises them because I don't even care whether they are from Syria, from Lebanon or from whatever holy Arabic speaking country. High religious teachers would never say like that. There lies the boasting attitude in the speech. Just think of what prophet Muhammad s.a.w says when he was in the circle explaining the teaching of Allah to his companions. What would he say? How does his manner looks like? Even when he did not entertaining one of a blind companion eager to learn about revelation, Allah has revealed down the surat 'Abasa to him in order to correct his attitude to the companion. 

Other thing is that, the tomb of prophet Muhammad s.a.w and two of very close companions, Abu Bakr r.a and 'Umar r.a are also in the Prophet Mosque in Medina al-Munawwara. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w as we already know, live in the area of the mosque with the mother of the believers, Aishah r.a. When he passed away, he was buried there and noble companions also had discussed where to bury him under his pulpit and it shows that there is no problem for a tomb to be attached to a mosque. So, is this means these companions were ignorant and their knowledge about religious teaching is lower than of Ibnu Taimiyya or Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab? In Sunan Ibnu Majah no. 1628, it is mentioned that the practice of entombing a person in mosque or mosque area is common as it narrates that the place where a prophet being buried is the place where he breath out his last breath. Aishah r.a, the wife of noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w also prays beside the tomb or the grave of her late husband. She is one of the well-known female scholar of religious studies and hadith narrations. Should the practice of visiting grave and tombs of ancestors is a heresy and idolatry, then Aishah r.a would long asked the tomb of her husband being trampled down like what Wahhabi movement followers did to all of the architectural heritage of Muslim world.       

Besides, the legalization of the destruction of mosques and holy sanctuaries by grand mufti of Libya is not in accordance to the school of Maliki jurisprudence while he is still committed to the opinions of Maliki school's scholars. Unless if he turns to be a Hanbali school followers like the Salafi and the Wahhabi movement followers, then it would be another thing to discuss as there are many scholars of Hanbali schools like the father of Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab who was also a great Hanbali scholar that does not agree with the extremism of his son.   

The conclusion from the treatise written by a Libyan Ulamas spoke person from the Libyan Ulama League mentions that the National Conference and Interim Government of Libya should charge those who raise up the animosity. The court must order them to reconstruct again what they had damaged and getting again what was plundered from the mosque and people. The officials who cooperated with the traitors and breaking the trust of citizens should be dragged into the court of justice. Interim Government of Libya and Libyan National Conference must pressure the government of Saudi Arabia to ban their ulamas from stirring up the internal affairs of others' country. Youngsters who were brainwashed by the Saudi led Wahhabi movement must be continuously schooled again as they plead allegiance to Saudi ulamas more than they plead allegiance to Allah and His prophet, Muhammad s.a.w through the promotion of the recordings and the free distribution of Wahhabi movement books and tapes, attacking the moderate religious tradition in Libya, and lowering the position of the native Libyan ulamas in their fatwa, ijtihad and guidelines. Official complaints must be sent to the Arab League and International Islamic Organization in relation to the act of Saudi Arabia and its citizen who are not respecting the Maliki school of Sunnah jurisprudence in Libya.    

As for what I could see, these people looks more like the ya'ajuj and ma'ajuj who will be followed with the rise of al-Masih Dajjal (the fake Messiah). They love bombs and fire so much. And weird it is why they hate Muslims of other denominations and who are not in accordance with them? I could only see that they are boastful, too much confident that they are free from any scholars' opinions though they actually still bounded to their 'prophet' Ibnu Taimiyya and other scholars' whom opinion is in accordance with their savage attitude. Further information could be checked with the Libyan Ulamas League documents. Recently too, there was a mosque cleric who puts the burned Quran parchments in the bag of a handicapped Christian girl in Pakistan and it was founded that the cleric is the one who did that. What is the purpose for him to do that? Who is behind this? What is the worldly gain for this? Are these kind of people really the believers of Allah and witnessing Muhammad s.a.w the prophet of mercy? Or they are the followers of al-Masih Dajjal in the pretext of Muslims??? It's a matter of polemics...

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad wa sahbihi ajma'in...

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love.

Every Soul Will Taste Death

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Alhamdulillah, we had safely finished our prayer services. More importantly I could pray together with congregation for Isya' because I had few times left behind due to that I live far from Islamic center. I hope to move inside since I wanted to join Islamic center activities and still thinking on how to deal with bureaucracy. Hope Allah helps me :'(

We also listened to the advice and preach given by the imam of Taraweekh prayer service. It is concerning death. The verse in surah Aal 'Imraan 185:  

Every soul will taste death. And indeed your merit will be completed in the Day of Resurrection. For those who are prevented from the Hell and they will be placed in the Paradise, they are fortunate. And this worldly life is nothing but merely a deceiving pleasure.

Everyone will face death. It is a fact. Muslim, non-Muslim, animals, affluents, paupers, and everyone will have to face this test. We do not know when and where we are going to die. We have to be ready and well-prepared to face the death. 

We will harvest and reap our charity and good deeds in the hereafter. It is during the Day of Resurrection when we will be judged by the God on what we had done in the world. 

This world is nothing but merely a deceiving pleasure. Indeed... I could see this since when I was a kid. Even when some people talking about this to us, they don't actually have inner feeling about this because they still are clinging to worldly pleasure. A brother from the so-called JT had just tyrannized me but I don't know what to say. I respect this movement and its founder. 

That's why I had provided shelter to him but it seems like some of them love to twist their words and using their movement name to deceive others. He said that he would be here for a while and I ask him no more as a matter of courtesy and politeness. Many people condemning Arabs as uncivilized race that makes a prophet being sent to these people but I guess after observing, we Arab descents are actually more polite and considerate about everything that happens around. 

I had also encountered problem with my current roommate because of this guy. Maybe I am a naive person and that makes me always a loner because I really need to be careful with my surrounding. 

Sometimes, I'm losing my faith toward Islamic brotherhood (not in Allah because I always believe in Him as my Protector and trustworthy Friend who never betrays me) because so many people who seems like following the teaching are inconsiderate, not compassionate and never think about other soul. I know it is not the teaching to be blamed but I guess their spirituality perhaps do not reach the level like what they externally displayed. 

Next time I would have to be really discreet, never easily entertain people around who come by to talk and I don't care if people wanted to condemn me for not strengthening the ukhuwah (brotherhood) because I am not friendly. We should not judge the book by its cover due to that sometimes people that we look as evil or bad are actually the most generous, polite, considerate and kindhearted person compared to ourselves.

I'm sorry for the rant and royanan (depression) after the preach sharing. I just don't know to whom should I talk about this except to the God. Just consider this as a complaint of a lowly servant to his beloved Master. Maybe this is a test from Allah to me in this blessed month and I have to bear with it. May He grants me strength to overcome this and I could finish my thesis writing according to time. Wish everyone happiness and peace. 

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

Recap: Taking BTS to Bangrak District

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

I wanted to have dinner at night but I cannot continue drinking tea in Chinese restaurants or Thai stalls at Silom road. It is not because I am a racist but I am trying to obey religious commandment, hehehe. So, I end up walking a little bit to Chong Nonsi BTS station. 

The reception lady earlier told me that they would lock their entrance door around 21:30. And I checked the time and it still early around 19:45 after I had performed jama' prayer of Maghrib and 'Isya services in my room. 

I could still unlock the door by swiping the card tied together with the keys if I come back late. We need to always be careful. Even in Kuala Lumpur, we can not just walk alone late at night. Better be careful than sorry. Recite some supplications invoking Allah's protection and tawakkal (dependence) on Him, then off we go.....  

From Chong Nonsi BTS Station, the road is heading to Bangrak district. I can not recall the road name nor I jot it down in my notes.

Cars coming from Surawong road.....

This is how the BTS station looks like... They say "Bee Tee Ehtt" in their slang the same like Northern Malaysian style when saying something ended with the letter "s". Just like in KL people are using public transportation too but it still jammed with cars down there, haha.

To go to Bangrak district, we need to wait at National Stadium side. I had wrongly wait at the other side and I asked the station guard there few times to conform with my ugly broken Thai, ahaha. The guard was quite polite as he thought I am from rural Thailand... Kita cakap bahasa Siam kampung saja, lol.

This is the area of Ban Ou Mosque in Bangrak district. I snapped the picture while rain was pouring down. The mosque is just after the market at the right side. In front of the mosque are random houses, also Chinese community houses could be seen there.

When I arrived at the BTS station near Bangrak district, I saw a Muslim girl wearing hijab there. I tried to greet her and asking her the direction to Ban Ou Mosque. The map and explanation which I jot down in my notes look like confusing. I could see a Chinese temple at the alley but I didn't know that deep down the alley is a mosque. 

The girl is quite helpful and she told me the direction to the mosque. I just cannot continue speaking in Thai with the girl because it would end up like a kutu (thug) talking to a girl and she is quite polite. I speak Thai in its rough form, hehehe. I guess not only her but most people there talking in polite manner and I do not know where exactly the specific place to use that frustrating "khraap". It seems like in every sentence we say, we must say khraap or kaah for female and I found that it is so not natural. Besides, their tone of accent is quite different and weird too.

There is also a shopping center like Macy at the left side of the motorcycles from front view....

I could hear the bang or adhan which is the calling of prayer for 'Isha' when I reached the mosque. I had already performed the jama' but I just joined the congregation again. Feeling so relieved to find our community there although we are of different countries. There were few Tabligh guys in the mosque and I guess they are not local but might be from Bangladesh based from their appearance. After the prayer, I approached the janitor of the mosque and telling him that I am not a local. I come to find some halal food and seeking the assistance of community to show me the place. 

Khao Mok Kai. It is served with Nam Tom Kai, the Chicken Stock Soup and some sweet chillies dipping which I have no idea on what they call that thing.

Then he walked with me to the food court just close to the market and ordering me a plate of khao mok kai which is a kind of rice with chicken hidden inside the rice. It seems a bit like Biryani but made by Thai Muslim. Then I had a conversation with the stall owner in broken Thai. He seems like trying to invite me to his house in Yaowa but I just politely turned his invitation down because I had already have a room in Silom and I feel it would be a burden for him.

However, I had to return to the mosque and luckily they did not lock the gate. I had forgotten my notes in the prayer hall. It is very important for me because I jot down everything in the notes and I also have some guides in the notes. I returned before 21:30 anyway and managed to buy some mineral water from 7E. Their 7E have no gardenia bread and only serves noodle and rice just like in Japan they serve sushi, udon, and those stuffs.  

Interestingly that I noticed most of the people there love to eat varieties of salad but rarely eat rice at night. They just take side dishes and not rice. They also have foot massages everywhere for 25 bhat (RM 2.48) per hour. I did not try it anyway. Hope that I could try it out in the next visit, hehe.

to be continued...

What does it mean to be Muslim for a Family?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

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

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

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

  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Importance of Tajweed

Peace!

Last two nights I had followed my mother to her Quran classes at the mosque in our vicinity. Very interesting although before I had giving her reasons not to follow her. The fact is that I am shy to enter to the classes although the teachers there are quite friendly and helpful. The first class that I had joined in this only one week holiday is Tarannum class but I did not try reciting the verses in melodious way because I am not accustomed to it.

The second night I went again to the mosque for Tajweed class. We recited surah aal-'Emran verses 1-22. Ouch, I could detect my mistakes in recitations too not only the Ustaz especially the part of Waagebul Ghunna (Obligatory Nasalization). This is so terrible, I might be making many mistakes in recitations without realizing it and accumulating sins. 

I still remember, when I was a lil kid and forced to study in religious evening schools I did not realize how important Tajweed is. I always fail the tests and couldn't barely remember the names of the rules for recitation. Now I am trying to memorize Quran after my repentance in Holy Mecca, I realized that I need Tajweed. God Will, I will learn from the scratch again.